Council Sept 5th Meeting Update

The Council passed, on a 3-2 vote, the preliminary budget with roughly a 1/2% increase in the levy and a 6% budget increase. Council Member Kennedy and I voted against this levy and budget. I had laid out my plan the last t three City council work sessions and meetings.

There was very little discussion at tonight’s meeting since the budget and levy were laid out at the last work session. Please read: http://georgewimmer.blogspot.com/2006/09/september-5th-council-meeting.html to learn more about my 8% tax reduction.

We had a surprise visit from the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. They asked the Council to reaffirm the commitment to the group's goals including an affordable housing project. I held a lengthy back and forth on the need for a housing study to determine the need of more "affordable" housing. Isanti has a vast quantity of housing options under $150,000 in the community. I am loath to use taxpayer’s money to subsidize more housing until the need can be proven. Many housing unit lay empty including new 2 bedroom condo units under $120,000.

I raised the point of the date certain GMHF had asked to have the Comp plan approve. They requested the second Council meeting in October. This is to soon considering the slow progress and mistake ridden comprehensive plan updates. The City Planning Commission has yet to even see the proposed plan.

The Street Improvement project for 2007 was discussed. I stated I did not believe a sidewalk was needed along Elizabeth. The damage to trees and the construction of sidewalk along a very low volume traffic road is not the best use of tax payer money. Council Member Johnson said he would never vote against a sidewalk.

Kennedy pointed out that Johnson made the motion to take the sidewalk out of the Richard, Shawn and Candy project. He said it was a mistake and would always vote to have sidewalk. I think this is a mistake to not consider if sidewalk is needed everywhere.

Sidewalk that destroys existing mature trees in a low traffic area is not needed. There is not the safety issue we face along major traffic corridors. We need to use the money on sidewalks in low traffic areas on sidewalks in high traffic areas. An example of this is continuing the work started this year on highway 23. We need to complete the trail and sidewalk connections along this whole route.

This makes the salient point in all our discussions. Planning Planning Planning..... We need to have long range planning so we can see how the $2,000,000 plus on next years street improvement projects will effect the possible expansion of the industrial park or the fixing of Credit Union drive or the future need for public works or the need to foster greater economic expansion or if we wait a year or two how much more will it cost or or or the many other possible City Projects.

We need to make planning priority number one. I asked in January at the Council Goal setting session to make financial planning a top priority. It was pushed down the list. If elected Mayor I will call for a Finance committee whose main goal will be to establish long term budgets and capital improvement plans from all City departments. This information will be readily available on the City website, for Citizens and Taxpayers to view and comment on.