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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969/12/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ivLINUT 5 OF SPyCZAL CIT f COUNCIL MELTING ST , LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA December GG , 1969 A special meeting of the City Council was called t o order by G at 8 : 15 p . m . Mayor Thiel The following Councilmen were present : Richard C ra ;re s James Heltze r Frank Howard Robert Reynolds Leonard Thiel i Also present were the City Manager , Director of Public Works , City Planner , Director of Finance Assistant City Assessor and the City Attorney , Assessment Procedures - The Mayor announced that the primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss recent tax valuations and communications from the State Tax Commissioner ' s Office and to obtain answers to questions raised by the Councilmen regarding assessment procedures throughout the State and especially in l;ennepin County , Present to review this matter were : County Commissioner E , F. Robb , Wayne Johnson , County Assessor and Arthur C ," Roemer , Deputy Director , Office of State Tax Commissioner ' s Office . Mr . Roemer stated that the goal of the State Tax Commissioner ' s Office is to have all cities valuate on a one - third of market value . He advised the Council that each year his office holds a meeting with County assessors throughout the State and discusses the latest assessment ratings , including inflation , current sales ratings , and decides what percentage increase is necessary to bring valuations up to the legal requirements established by the State . Mr , Roemer said that the suburban areas have a serious inflation problem and that this was prunarily responsible for the increases needed this year . He said that the City Council and Assessor were being informed now in order to allow them to process the change without inter -" ference by the County Assessor ' s Office or the State Tax Commissioner ' s Office . He emphasized that the only thing the State Office was interested in was equalization throughout the Counties and State . After considerable questioning , Mr , Roemer explained that his office arrives at market value by comparing the price of a given piece of property sold at the last assessment and the price of the property to date . he 385 a l Council Iviinutes , December 22 , 1969 indicated that if there are insufficient sales to get an accurate sample then his office makes appraisals , although he seldom has to do appraisal work in the Metropolitan area due to the type of assessors available in the local jurisdictions . County Commissioner Bud Robb described the property tax as a complex , subjective , potentially dangerous , stable and productive source of revenue . IVir . Robb indicated that the Assessor is not a legislator but a man with a difficult job whose objective is to arrive at the current market value of property . His valuations must be objective and dependable and be supported by various data available to his office . Councilman Howard then asked a number of questions regarding the City ' s tax procedure and the State ' s recent communication requiring the City to increase its residential assessments to a 25 % figure . Councilman Howard stated that it appeared that " inflation stops at France Avenue " and wanted to know why IVlinneapolis was not being asked to raise their assessments as all suburban communities in Hennepin County . Mr . Roemer stated that the policy of the State is that when assessments are within 10 °Jo of the one - third figure , increases are not usually imposed upon communities . This allows for a margin of error and that in 1968 Minneapolis was within that 101jJo figure , according to Mr . Roemer . He went on to state that lva.inneapolis was currently undergoing a program for equalization and that the State was waiting for the City to complete the survey before imposing any increases or taking any further action . Various questions were asked by the Council including how private utilities are valued , why residential assessments were recommended for increases and not utilities , and other matters involving sales ratios , competitive analysis , differences in assessments between communities , and other matters of concern relative to the total assessment picture within the State of Minnesota and Hennepin County . Councilman Howard stated that homes are depreciating too fast creating a housing shortage and that there are problems in keeping senior citizens in homes where apparently inflation is causing tremendous increases in value but no increase in income * Fie indicated that if homes continue to increase in value faster than other commodities there will be real problems and that the citizenry cannot continue to take annual 20 to 25 per cent increases as suggested by the State Tax Commissioner ' s Office , County Commissioner Robb stated that these are questions and problems for the State Legislature , not for the County or the assessors . It was suggested that the League of Municipalities together with hennepin County League support a program to solve many of the problems discussed during the evening . iti.Lr . Roemer stated that the non - homestead tax rate had driven the single family rental homes and summer resort owners out of existence and that there had resulted in the legislatures appointing a committee to do a comprehensive study of the property tax . 386 Council Minutes , December 22P 1969 On questions about inflation and valuations on industrial replied that inflation has not affected these ro eproperty , lti, r . Roemer �� oemer said that if studies show there are ine u tiesiles as much as residential . q n one area then they should be adjusted the same as residential properties , Councilmen Heltzer then asked if there were any kinds of corr�prehensive o n industrial values throughout Of Count or thestudies being performed were on residential properties . Roemer saidy State like there time any studies or surveys being conducted because there were not at the current sales of industrial property se of the number of P p rty and that such studies of industrial property are difficult and expensive to make „ It was pointed out b Mr . that the State 'Tax Commissioner ' s Office is not suggestingy Roemer Council raise all residential property 25 % across hboard tbut rather hat the y that a level be increased to ensure equalization and that such a level of increase should be in the aggregate , Each of the properties throughout a community should be adjusted individually to ensure equalization . Councilman Toward then stated that St . Louis Park ' s assessing Department has a continuing program for keeping assessments within the law and wondered what was being done in other areas . Mr . Roemer stated that rural areas often could not perform such a continuing program on a professional basis such as St . Louis Park due to the lack of adequate trained personnel . In such cases , State assessors are often brought into these areas upon request or a complaint of inequity by taxpayer . Councilman Howard stated that his concern was that St . Louis Park might be paying a disproportionate share of governmental expenses due to this lack of equity among communities , Following a lengthy discussion , the meeting was recessed at 10 : 00 p . m . The Council meeting reconvened at 10 : 15 p . m . Approval of Road Plans - lviinnetonka Boulevard - The City Council next reviewed the proposed construction plans prepared by the Hennepin County highway Department for R,linnetonka and Lake Street area . These plans were approved by the Planning Commission ' s special sub - committee on roads and highways and the Planning Commission , The County requested that the City approve these plans in order for specifications and bids to progress for early construction date in 1970 . Councilman Graves felt that the proposed plan did not meet his approval inasmuch as no provisions were made for signals to stop all vehicles at the inter - section . He felt that the proposed " free right turn " lane was adequate at this intersection to protect pedestrians . Councilman r• eltzer indicated that he felt a comprehensive study should be made of all such intersections to ensure adequate safety precautions . Mayor Thiel agreed that such a study would be worthwhile and that Minnetonka Boulevard should be given priority in such a study . 387 Council 1winutes , December 222 1969 After due consideration , lwr : heltzer moved , seconded by Iv. r . Frank Howard , that the construction Plans be approved based. on the condition that provision r be made for a signal at Toledo and that a signal to stop vehicles (pedestrian activated o r similar ) be installed to protect right turn movement at Lake and Minnetonka Boulevard . The motion carried by a vote of 5 - 0 . Hockey Study Committee Members - Mayor Thiel suggested . that Messrs , Floyd Nerheirn , 2904I- Hampshire , and Bill ellendrung , 3349 Sumter , be appointed to serve with Robert Mueller , 9244 West 23rd Street , to submit recommendations for a ice hockey area facility . Councilman Heltzer moved , seconded by Councilman Reynolds , that both be appointed to serve on the study committee . Motion carried by a 5 - 0 vote . Burdick Grain Malting Plant - A brief discussion was held regarding the proposed malting plant operation in St . Louis Park . The Mayor indicated that engineering reports on the effects of the plant on the City ' s water and sewer utilities have been completed . Councilman Heltzer moved , seconded by Councilman Howard , that this matter be placed on the January 5 , _1970 agenda for discussion . The vote carried 5 - 0 and the City Manager was instructed to contact applicants relative to this meeting schedule . Snow Ranch Operation - The Mayor brought to the attention of the Council that many persons were concerned about the Snow Ranch snowmobile operation . The City Attorney was asked about his opinion regarding the legality of the use of the Meadowbrook Golf Course for such a private , commercial operation . The City Attorney indicated that it was his opinion that the Snow Ranch operation constituted a " new " and unallocated use and is illegal and would require a special use permit . The Attorney suggested that the Council has the right to set standards regulating such uses , such as hours of operation , closeness to residential areas , etc . It was also discussed that the tax assessor was looking into the tax aspect of such a private venture on public - owned lands . Councilman Graves stated that he opposed public , tax supported lands to be leased for profit . Councilman Howard then moved that the City Manager notify the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and officials of Snow Ranch , Inc . of the apparent zoning violation and that violation tags be issued within one week if use is not ceased . He further stated that officials of both agencies be contacted to appear before the Council and show cause why the City should allow this new usage . The motion was seconded by Councilman Reyrolds and carried by a vote of 5 - 0 . 388 Council lv. inutes , December NZ , 1969 architectural Contract Approval - The contract with Liebenbera Glotter and Associates , arch * tectural firm fora n � Kaplan , proposed Central Garage was discussed . After due consural work on the 1-seltzer moved , seconded by Clderation , Councilman ouncilman Craves that the Iviayor and City Manager be authorized to execute the contract , lviotion carried 5 - 0 There being no further business , motion was made and seconded that the meeting be adjournede lviotion carried unanimous ) at 11 : 58 p . m . y and the meeting ended � ~ onard J. Thiel , i or Atte t . Earl Hanson , A ng Secretary 389 1