120307 CC Sp MinCITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2007
MINUTES
1. CONVENE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 P.M.
Mayor Lizee called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present. Mayor Lizee; Councilmembers Callies, Turgeon, and Wellens; Adminishator Dawson;
and Finance Director Burton
Absent: Councilmember Woodruff
B. Review Agenda
Turgeon moved, Callies seconded, Approving the Agenda as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
2. TRUTH IN TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING
A. Staff Presentation
Administrator Dawson explained the City was holding the statutorily required Truth-in-Taxation Public
Hearing. The purpose of the Public Hearing was for Council to hear public con-iment on the City's 2008
Proposed Budget and 2008 Tax Levy. There would not be any action taken this evening. After this
evening's meeting Council could decide if it wanted to reconvene this public hearing at a future date and
the next date would be December 10, 2007. A reconvened meeting may take place at a regular Council
meeting. Action on the 2008 Proposed Budget and 2008 Tax Levy would be taken at the December 10,
2007, Council meeting. Although it was not required by State Statute, Staff would also be reviewing the
City's Enterprise Budgets which were not supported by taxes. This was not the forum to discuss the
assessor's evaluation of a property for tax purposes; that took place at the Board of Review, which was
generally conducted in mid to late April. The values for Pay2008 had been set and they could not be
changed at this meeting. Only the City's tax, which was slightly less than 25 percent of the total property
tax levied on a property, could be discussed.
Dawson went on to explain the City's taxes were the subsidy for the City's operations; the tax rate was
computed after the City set its levy and the rate changed every year. The City must submit a proposed tax
levy by September 15 each year; that proposed levy could not be exceeded at final certification. The
City's published proposed levy was to increase 9.3 percent or approximately $410,000. However, as the
Council continued its budget deliberations into the fall, the tax levy was revised to be an increase of 49
percent or approximately $215,000. The revised tax levy resulted in the same percentage increase in the
tax levy as it was for 2007. The resulting tax on an individual property may be greater or less than this
percentage, depending on whether the property's assessed market value rose more or less than the
percentage increase in the City's tax capacity, which was 9.05 percent. The 9.3 percent proposed levy
increase that was published was more than the estimated 9.05 percent increase in City's adjusted net tax
capacity, so the City's tax rate as shown increased slightly. With the revised 4.9 percent levy increase,
the City's tax rate would decrease slightly. Levy limits were not in place for 2008 and had not been since
Pay2004; levy linuts had been in place 26 out of the last 34 years.
SHOREWOOD CITY SPECIAL MEETING
December 3, 2007
Page 2 of 4
Dawson went on to explain overall City tax-supported expenditures and transfers were proposed to
increase 3.67 percent or approximately $188,000. Of that amount, there was a net increase of $81,000 in
Public Works which was the result of a $300,000 increase over the current level of roadway maintenance
improvements; most of the $300,000 was offset by not continuing the $170,000 level of funding in 2007
toward a new equipment bay at the Public Works building, and also by discontinuing a $25,000 transfer
to the stot-mwater management utility. There was a $69,000 increase in costs for police (South Lake
Minnetonka Police Department) and fire (Excelsior Fire District and Mound Fire District). There was a
$65,000 increase in costs for general government activities. There was a reduction of $24,000 for parks
and recreation, but there was no anticipated reduction in levels of service.
Director Burton first highlighted the City's 2008 proposed budget and tax levy. The highlights included:
there were no levy limits in place for Pay2008; the tax levy was reduced from the levy certified on
September 15; the budget included the use of $100,000 of the General Fund Reserves; transfers to the
Capital Funds were planned primarily to the Local Street Improvement Fund; expenditures without
considering transfers had decreased from 2007 levels; and, the City's tax base increased approximately 9
percent.
Burton then presented infornzation on the City's property tax distribution for 2008 and reviewed the
budget preparation calendar.
Burton stated the proposed General Fund Budget for 2008 (which was set in September 2007) was
contemplated at approximately $5,320,000, an amount that reflected an increase of approximately
$188,000 over 2007 (or 3.67%). That budget also reflected a tax levy of approximately $4,612,000. She
summarized the 2008 Proposed Budget revenues and expenditures. The City also received revenues from
sources other than taxes; revenues from licenses and permits were anticipated to decrease approximately
16 percent in 2008 and there was an increase in charges/services revenue which was the result from
rental income for the City-owned house. She then summarized the major contributors to the proposed
2008 levy increase. They were: 1) a $300,000 increase over the cun-ent level of roadway maintenance
improvements, which was mostly offset by not continuing the $170,000 in funding in 2007 for a Public
Works Building Addition and by discontinuing a $25,000 transfer to the stormwater management utility;
2) $69,000 for public safety costs; 3) $65,000 for general government activities; and 4) a $24,000
reduction in parks and recreation.
Burton reviewed the estimated tax impact of 2008 estimated over 2007 actual based on the September 15
certified tax levy. Total property taxes on a median value home of $431,000 home in Shorewood for the
City portion of that tax bill would be approximately $1,164 for Pay2008 or a $5 increase over Pay2007.
That tax amount would decrease as a result of the revised levy which had been reduced. For that amount
of money, residents received a value in City services in the areas of police protection, fire protection,
clean drinking water, snow plowing, street maintenance, parks and trails, building inspections, and other
City services.
Burton briefly summarized the Enterprise Funds, and subsequent proposed budgets for those funds,
including Water Operations, Water Debt Service, Sanitary Sewer, Stotmwater Management, and
Recycling. She noted those funds were designed to be self-supporting (i.e., they would be run similar to a
separate business). She highlighted the capital improvement projects planned for the City's Water
System (for a cost of $386,000) and its Sanitary Sewer System. She stated the largest anticipated project
(for a cost of $540,000) for the City's Stornlwater System (Amlee Road, Manitou Lane, and Glen Road)
was removed from the Stoi-mwater Budget; that budget did include $100,000 for yet-to-be determined
projects. She explained the largest expense in the Sewer Budget was for Metropolitan Council
Environmental Services (MCES) wastewater treatment charges. She noted that no rate increases were
SHOREWOOD CITY SPECIAL MEETING
December 3, 2007
Page 3 of 4
planned for the City's 2008 enterprise budgets. She commented the City's liquor operations would be
sold, therefore, no liquor budgets were required for 2008.
B. Public Hearing
Mayor Lizee opened the Public Hearing and Public Testimony of the Public Hearing at 7:16 P.M.
Ron Johnson, 5355 Shady Hills Circle, suggested the Council adopt Governor Pawlenty's leadership. He
stated the State was in a deficit; job growth in the State was almost zero; the Country was going into a
recession; and housing prices were dropping. Those demographics should be considered when finalizing
a budget. He stated when he would review corporate budgets he was used to seeing what was changing;
he stated he did not see much of what was changing for the Ciry in the budget presentation with the
exception of increased roadway improvements. He noted that the City of Deephaven accepted the
Governor's leadership and adopted azero-increase budget. He then commended Council for a number of
actions it had taken: it decided to sell its liquor operations; it reduced the scope of the renovation
to/replacement of Ciry Hall; and, it terminated the Amlee Road, Manitou Lane, Glen Road Road
Reconstruction project. He suggested Council adopt azero-increase budget for 2008.
Tom Skramstad 28020 Woodside Road, stated the City's portion of his Pay2008 proposed property tax
increased approximately 17 percent. The value of his property increased approximately 15 percent and
the Hennepin County portion of the property tax increased more than 15 percent. He stated he owned
property in Florida and the tax rates and values had been increasing for many years; this year the value of
his property decreased 20 percent and his property taxes also decreased.
Mayor Lizee closed the Public Testimony of the Public Hearing at 7:23 P,M.
Administrator Dawson explained because limited market value was phasing out he assumed that
impacted Mr. Skramstad's property taxes. He stated in this State local governments were highly
dependent on property taxes. The City did not receive any State aid towards the City's general revenue.
Some other states had other taxes and fees that were allowed, and those states may find other revenue
sources to offset property taxes.
Councilmember Turgeon stated the phasing out of limited market value had a more significant impact on
lakeshore property owners. She then stated Council was trying to find a way to improve the City's streets
which were in dire need of improvement.
Councilmember Wellens stated there had been reductions in some areas of the budgets in order to
increase the level of roadway improvements.
Councilmember Turgeon stated Deephaven was the only local city that had zero-budget increase, and the
City was second to Deephaven in having the smallest tax levy increase.
Administrator Dawson stated each city's circumstances were unique. He commented that this Council
had been diligently involved in the evolution of the proposed 2008 budget. He stated the Ciry had fallen
behind on roadway improvements.
Director Burton stated the Council had considered the budget based on exceptions and it scrutinized the
budget in great detail. She suggested that Mr. Skramstad contact the Hennepin County assessor about his
property valuation. Administrator Dawson explained the value of a property was determined by January
2, 2007, for Pay2008. It was his understanding that there would not be much of a tax base increase for the
City for Pay2009.
SHOREWOOD CITY SPECIAL MEETING
December 3, 2007
Page 4 of 4
Mayor Lizee thanked Staff and Council for its efforts.
Mayor Lizee closed the Public Hearing at 7:32 P.M.
C. Council Deliberation/Decision to Reconvene
There was consensus there was no need to reconvene.
OTHER
None.
ADJOURN
Wellens moved, Turgeon seconded, Adjourning the City Council Special Meeting of December 3,
2007, at 7:32 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder
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Christine"L`i"zee, Mayor