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Home My WebLink About2001-08-15 PACKET 03.B�. � . i � '• � June 20, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The City Councii of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80` Street South. Mayor Shiely called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Sandy Shiely CounciFMemberRod Hale Councii Member Cheryl Kohis Council Member Pat Rice Gounci( Member Jim Wolcott Also Present: Ryan Schroede�, City Administrator Ron Hedberg, Finance Director Jerry Bourdon, City Engineer, BRAA Les Burshten, Public Works Director - Kim Lindquist Director of Community Deve{opment Corrine Thompson, City Attorney, Kennedy and Graven Mayor Shiely presided over the meeting, WORKSHOP SESSION — STORMWATER UTILITY RATES City Administrator Schroeder stated that at the June 6, 2001 meeting, the Council passed the ordinance creating a stormwater utility, He stated the resolution establishing the rates was tabled until after a workshop session couldbe held to discuss the proposed rates. Schroeder stated thatthe purpose of this speciai meeting was to discuss the proposed rates. He reviewed the quarterly fees charged by the City of Rosemount. Eugene Smallidge, 10992 Point Dougias Road South, acknowledged the $8:85 per parcel or $0:10' cents per acre rate charged by Rosemount for undeveloped/unplatted property: He commented that the per parcei rate is discriminatory if you own severai acres. He stated that the agriculture property owners do not have the system that needs the fee. He stated it is an inequitable exchange of Iand for a system of development for land. He stated that system maintenance should be paid for f�om the City's general fund. Carl Glasrud, 11261 East Point Douglas Road South expressed concem that nothing was being done on the ponds and asked what the City needed the money for. He asked the Council to ciarify what the doliars are for and who would benefit. Special Meeting — June ZQ 2001 Cottage Grove City Council Page 2 i-. City Administrator Schroeder stated that they need to conduct more maintenance of ponds and other infrastructure compa�ed to what is now occurring and clarified the environmental requirements. Mayor Shiely asked for clarification regarding the benefits to the buiiders and others. Eileen Tank, 10052 80`" Street South, stated that they want a zero rate for agricultural land as farmers practice good soil and water conservation. She stated that all other land uses create more runoff. She expressed concems regarding the proposed cost per parcei, stating that $33.60 per parcel is ridiculous. Lenny Borne�, 8601 Lamar Avenue South, stated that it is tough enough to be a farmeratlding that he is no longer a dairy farmer as the taxes are high. He stated that he was not aware that hewas responsible for cutting the grass in the ditches and thaYhe may be willing to pay for his house but not for open land. Ruth Radke, 12721 70`" Street South stated she owns seven parcels, no roads, no buildings, and'no welis and is located in agricultural preserve. She questioned why she should pay any fee and requested the Council to reconsidec Biil Amundson, 6056 Hadley Avenue South, expressed his supportfor the farmers. He'stated that philosophically, he has problems with any new tax. He stated that the Council should reduce taxes not raise them. The utility tax is not necessary. Amundson suggested that they deal with this issue by effectively managing Yhe existing budget. He stated that there is no benefif to it, adding that none of the water run-off comes from the farms. He asked how this relates to the Watershetl District and asked for clarification on how the Watershed assesses Woodbury since it is'their waterthat is coming through the City. He asked what the expected revenue would be if they raise'the taxes: Ralph McHattie, 9165 Military Road, stated that there are several drainage districts in the City and questioned how that worked in Rosemount He stated his farm has been in the family for many years' and tlieir water run-off goes into the lake. He stated it has nothing to do with the storm sewet system, as the lake is a land-Iocked basin and asked why he would be expected to pay for storm sewer when his stormwater doesn't go into the existing system. He stated that the "per parcel" basis is siily+antl " requested it be charged by sub-watershed storm sewer in the watershed. Gordy Tank, 10478>80` Street South; stated that most people do not have the .10-cenf per acre applied because the minimum fee is tequired: He stated that it might be okay to pay on a house buf" not for bare iand. Steve Biscoe, 13329 70th Street South, stated they also have ponding situations on their farms adding thaYall but one of the farms have largeponds on their property. He stated they"have thei� " own storm water under controi; none of it goes-into the city storm water ponds that they want to tax the farmee to maintain. He suggested this budget be inciucJed with the Street Department stating that he is against the tax: He commented fie wouid be wiliing to pay the'$20.00 for his residence but nofi' on bare fa�miand. Jim Jansen, 9649 90�' Street South, stated they #ave approximately 174 acres in Cottage Grove. Approximately 6-7 acees slope and drain into the Mickelson development. The rest of his land d�ains entirelyinto the Ravine Park under Co. Rd. 1'9 into a culvert. He stated that=if he is causing' problem5for the County, they should do the maintenance: He stated he did not feel they should be taxed by the City of Cottage Grove. Specia! Meefing — June 20, 2001 Cottage Grove City Council Page 3 Mayor Shiely stated that they are not taiking about stormwater infrastructure and clarified that they are nottalking about building pipes with this money. She stated that the impression is that the Gouncil does not appreciate farmland and stated this is not true. She confirmed the CounciPs support and concern about the preservation and maintenance of operr spaces in the community. One of the ways to do this is through farming. She stated that where she lives, which is rural residential, the utility goes beyond Iocalized drainage. She stated that the City benefits in that it would provide the maintenance and emergency funding for projects such as the dredging of the Hamlet pond or the french drain in Old Cottage Grove. She stated that sbe supports the payment based upon home ownership and sees this as a communiYy effort and a community benefit. Council Member Kohls expressed her agreement with Major Shiely's perspective. She stated that basing it on an i�dividual residential homeowner fee is a fair option. She explained her background and acknowledged that everyone in the community will eventually have to pay for storm water issues and projects for the Watershed District. She stated that there will be higher budget draws in the future and acknowiedged that the City will be required to do water testi�g and other stormwater projects. She stated that if it comes out of the General Fund everyone shares in the expense. Council Member Hale expressed his agreement with Mayor Shiely and Council Member Kohls. He stated that one of the reasons they do not have commercial individuals in the audience is because they can actually see the changes on the prope�ty. When it comes to a farmer they have not'seen any changes on their property in over 30 years. The Council is sympathetic to this issue. He stated that they are stiil getting information and when it comes to increasing taxes, the Council does not take this lightly. He stated that assessing on the value of your home is not a rationai process, adding that basing it on a homestead is rational and fair in that peop(e will be paying the same. He ciarified that most farms are not directly served by a storm sewer system but most are indirectly served by a system and should be jointly sharing in the maintenance. He supports the consideration of a homestead rate on agricultural land. Council Member Woicott stated that they have had good dialog. He referenced verbiage regarding parcels and payment and stated that they would need further discussion to clarify. He suggested a break before the regular meeting. Gene Smaliridge; 10992 Point Douglas Road, referenced Mayor Shiely's closing statements and expressed his appreciation to the Council for hearing their concerns. Mayor Shiely adjourned the special meeting at 7:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bonita Sullivan TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, fnc. ,' f . :� f` f