HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] Meeting Notes - May 31 2011Meeting Notes
JOINT AREA CITIES MEETING
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Hosted by the City of St. Joseph
A social /dinner gathering was held at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall.
CALL TO ORDER:
St. Joseph Acting Mayor, Dale Wick, called the St. Cloud Area Joint Cities meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
ATTENDANCE:
The following individuals were in attendance and introduced themselves:
Members:
St. Augusta_: Mayor Bob Kroll, Council Members Paul Reinert, Jim Diehl, and City Administrator Bill
McCabe.
St. Cloud: Mayor Dave Kleis, Council Members John Libert, Dave Masters, Sonja Berg, Jeff
Goerger, Nancy Gohman, Jeff Johnson, and City Administrator Michael Williams.
St. Joseph: Mayor Rick Schultz, Council Members Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz, Steve Frank, Bob
Loso and City Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Sartell: Mayor Joe Perske, Council Members David Peterson, Sandy Cordie, and City
Administrator Patti Gartland.
Sauk Rapids: Council Member Brad Gunderson and City Administrator Ross Olson.
Waite Park: Mayor Rick Miller, Council Members Chuck Schneider, Frank Theisen, and City
Administrator Shaunna Johnson.
MEETING NOTES OF MARCH 29,2011 (ST. CLOUD):
Motion by Council Member Symanietz seconded by Council Member Schneider unanimously passed approving
the meeting notes for the March 29, 2011 meeting.
HUMAN RIGHTS - RICHARD COUSINS:
In the absence of Richard Cousins, Human Rights Joint Powers Board Chair, Renee Symanietz, stated that she
would have a summary of the activities of the St. Cloud Office forwarded to the City Administrators for
distribution.
HALF CENT SALES TAX - LOOKING FORWARD:
St. Cloud Administrator Michael Williams lead the discussion on regional sales tax. The current legislation
authorized the collection of an additional one -half percent sales tax for thirteen years; however, the Cities of St.
Cloud and St. Joseph had voter authorization for seventeen years. Therefore, voter authorization extended to
2022 for St. Cloud and St. Joseph and 2018 for the Cities of Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park and St. Augusta.
The Administrators discussed whether the Cities should begin the process to extend the authority. Williams
provided a brief history on the sales tax and the use of a regional project for the basis of the tax. The first $
900,000 is transferred to a debt service to pay for the regional library and the remaining proceeds are distributed
using a formula including population and amount of tax collected. The area Cities have executed a Joint Power
Agreement which memorializes the distribution of the proceeds. The Joint Powers Agreement terminates on
December 31, 2018.
Williams stated that the area Cities should start thinking about extending the authority from 13 to 17 years or
requesting a broader approach. Part of the discussion should include what if any the regional project would be.
The following is a summary of comments and discussion items:
• Clarification that the Cities are looking to move forward collectively. Cities that have voter approval for
the additional four years cannot utilize unless the legislature grants the additional authority. All Cities are
looking to move forward together.
• Questions arose as to the definition of regional and how that is interpreted. Most Cities agreed that the
term regional is vague and not defined in the legislation. Each municipality will have to determine what
constitutes regional.
• Discussion on the regional project to be funded for the possible extension could include an aquatic center.
St. Cloud reported that they have recently started that discussion again. Other possible regional projects
discussed included some park initiatives.
• Discussion regarding strategy for moving forward and agreed to have the Mayors and Administrators
meet to continue the discussion and come back with a recommendation.
REGIONAL COOPERATIVE UPDATES:
St. Joseph Administrator Judy Weyrens reported that the area Cities continue to work on collaborative efforts and
have recently prepared the first joint bid for seal coating. In addition, St. Joseph is coordinating efforts to
consider regional compost areas and the area Cities have other cooperative initiatives in place such as the Gang
Task Force Officer.
CITY UPDATES:
A representative from each city reported significant activities in their respective city.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Weyrens, City Administrator
City of St. Joseph