just well good evening everyone it is 7 o'cl and it is Monday December 16th at 7 p.m. and I'm calling the city council meeting to order please stand for the Pledge of [Music] Allegiance I pledge Al to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all um before we begin our meeting this evening um we have the opportunity the Orno rotary is here to make a check presentation so I would like to invite forward the rotarians that are present with us tonight we have President Mary ban CL rotarian Kevin crch and secretary um Dave sha EST so they have a check presentation tonight but I would like to talk a little bit about rotary and share a little bit about the relationship with them so rotary is an international organization that embodies the spirit of service above self the city of Maple plane is honored to have a long-standing membership with the oral Rotary Club council member Fay and I have the privilege of serving as part of this remarkable Club um while come over face currently serving as a Treasurer and myself as past president the partnership between the rotary and the city is truly invaluable the relationships built the networking with neighboring cities business owners and fellow Ro Arians have enriched our community in countless ways tonight we are thrilled to announce and receive from the Oro Rotary Club presenting a generous $112,000 check to the city for Park improvements this substantial donation was raised through the incredible Community event Party in the Park in total $50,000 in cash has been donated to the city for Park improvements at Veterans Memorial Park along with a little over $10,000 for the Ben es in the concrete slabs around the Veterans Memorial yes us rotarians poured those slabs this project was made possible with support from many other rotary clubs we are eternally grateful for this partnership on behalf of the city of Maple plane I extend our deepest gratitude to the Orno Rotary Club and all who contributed to these efforts your generosity and dedication are deeply appreciated and will make a lasting impact on our community this is truly an example of together we are better I just want to say also we'll do a check picture after also we should thank all the sponsors who helped with the whole Party in the Park project okay you we'll do a picture check [Music] thank you guysare Parts one piece all to you I'm looking for a motion to adopt this evening's agenda I'll make that motion move by council member Francis second second by council member Fay any further discussion hearing none all in favor of adopting the agenda as is please signify by saying I I oppos same time the eyes have it 5 to zero our first it of business this evening is our truth and Taxation um presentation and I'm going to turn that over to our staff at Julie oh just administrative Mander thank you Madame mayor um would we go into the public hearing at this time I thought we'd do the presentation and do the hearing unless you want to do it the other way okay that's fine okay I'll turn it over to Julie thanks great thank you mayor and members of the council um as you recall the budget process started with staff um working through the budget in June July time frame um Council work sessions began in August and September in September the council approved the budget preliminarily as well well as the preliminary tax levy that preliminary tax levy was certified to henpen county in September and that brings us to tonight where we're um taking public comment on the budget and the tax levy and then um hope to have Council approve that final budget and tax levy to be certified to the county and the Department of Revenue by the end of the month um today we'll cover some key items we'll look at at the tax levy and then we'll look at the general fund revenues and expenditures a few key items in this budget are the LGA or local government Aid has a small increase for 2025 as compared to 2024 it's an increase of $396 for a total LGA Revenue coming in in 2025 of $266,300 the overall tax levy is set at an increase of $132,200 or 7.54% over 2024 in the budget all employees are projected to receive a cost of living increase of 4% and we've estimated a decrease in workers comp insurance and we um did not factor in any changes in the general property insurance looking at the tax levy the tax levy is broken down by the general Levy and the debt levies the general Levy is your main operating Levy for the city and those debt levies are required um Levy amounts based on bond issuance so the city's required to Levy 105% of the following Year's principal and interest payments looking at the general Levy we have an increase of $262 or 0.14% looking at the debt levies we're um increasing that Levy the total Levy by $3,171 the majority of that is due to the bond issue in 2024 that makes up all but five about $5,000 of that 30 $130,000 ,000 increase that gets us to a total City Levy of 1,886 434 again that increases $132,200 over 2024 or 7.54% in looking at the tax capacity for the city of Maple plane we're seeing a slight decrease in that overall tax capacity of about 2.63% the levy and tax capacity go into calculating the city's tax rate we're seeing a tax rate increase of about 4.66% so the estimated um tax rate for 2025 is 49.2 4% the next slide is a graphical representation of the tax levies the red is your general Levy the green is The Debt Service Levy so you can just see the trends over the last several years of the city's tax levy the next slide is the tax rate again we're looking at about a six-year history of that tax rate um in 2020 the tax rate was at about 68.1 2% and we have um reduced that to 49.2 4% for 2025 again that is a slight increase increase from 2024 um where in 2024 that tax rate dropped significantly from 2023 um this next slide we review um tax impacts to different properties within the city for Residential Properties we're looking at Market values of 200,000 to 500,000 within that range um property taxes are expected to increase between $38 and $191 for a year we also looked at commercial properties ranging from 500,000 in market value to 1.5 million in market value the um estimated taxes and this is just the city portion I should clarify that um are anticipated to increase ranging from $431 to1 $362 when we look at the Residential Properties um we do need to mention that the market value exclusion formula changed for 2025 so we do see um some shifts in that formula between when we're comparing 24 to 25 and then we will look at the general fund revenues and expenditures overall the general fund revenues are decreasing $ 57,7 158 the majority of this decrease is in that intergovernmental Revenue line in 2024 we had um revenues budgeted for arpa those funds are no longer available they were all used in 2024 so that revenue is reduced for 2025 we do see some small shifts in charges for services and fins and forfeitures and we did increase interest earnings due to um the way that he is handling cash and Investments again that property tax line um we are seeing a slight increase there of about $2,000 in the next slide we look at the summarized expenditures for the general fund we do present a Balan budget so the change from 2024 budget to 2025 budget is again a decrease of $ 57,7 58 the majority of the change that you'll note is within the highways streets and roadways and the parks there were some shifts in categorization ation of expenditures between those two departments so you're seeing a decrease in the highway streets and Roads and an increase in Parks um and then police Administration um that is changing due to the um police contracts and then assessing I'll point that way out as well the county is no longer charging cities for assessing services so that line item will be zero for 2025 and with that I will take any questions at this time I am looking for a mo excuse me at this time I looking for a motion to open the public hearing sove second moveed by council member DeLuca second by council member any further discussion all in favor of opening the public hearing please signify by saying I I post same sign the public hearing is open at 7:13 at this time I'd like to invite forward anyone to speak for the public comment just like i' like to remind you that you have up to three minutes we'd ask that you'd only speak once and that you'd be respectful and a reminder that this is not a time for um dialogue but for you to communicate with us I'd like to invite anyone to the podium to speak for public comment I'll go thank you please state your name and your address John adson 1490 Park View Road how was everybody tonight good all right um number one I appreciate the stuff that comes out to us so thank you for especially making it visual for a guy like me um now this dollar bill that's here it's it's split into the different percentages my question uh to the group is this what is proposed or is this what has was this from 2024 when it says Parks is 7.3% of where my tax dollar goes was that last year or is that this upcoming year um it's for the 2025 okay so when I see over here that the parks is going to go up 49% that would have been on a dollar value right so last year Parks didn't receive 7.3% it would have been significantly less than that that is correct okay um also um I had wrote down that uh for a $500,000 home um um the increase should be $191 mine is going to be proposed at $421 which is a 17.6% increase and I don't know why when the market value only went up $3,000 so again this is more personal than it is global but this is what brings me here and that a 42 $1 increase puts my total taxes with the increase from henpen County over $7,000 to live in a very modest home in a wonderful Community with a great School District but pushing these this uh pushing that over $7,000 to me is uh it it pushes somebody like me to start looking elsewhere uh to live because again I appreciate everything that our money goes to um but to pay over $7,000 a year in taxes for a modest home you know modest Community is I think it's asking a lot so that's all I have to say Thank you Mr adson do you want to talk about administrative poer would you like to address the breakdown I haven't seen one I haven't seen one of those oh all right sorry so I would you like mine bring it up yeah so what we're referencing Mr Asam is referencing is there are different portions of this that is being addressed tonight this section only addresses the city cor so we'd have to go before the county we'd have to go before the school for the others so no no no the 421 increase is just the city okay on yours yep all right thank you J yes so I do have one piece of information I did mention that the market value exclusion changed for 2025 okay um homes valued over $57,200 no longer qualify for that exclusion okay so then what's the value who comes up with that cost that would be the county the county does all of the assessments yes so the county comes up with the market value of your home yeah and then they take the market value of every home within the city and divide out the tax levy so you're saying that my increase on the city taxes is due to the county and not it's the my city it's the city's Levy but the county determines the market value of your home so it's kind of twofold right um the city's responsible for the city Levy portion yep the remainder of the um market value and then that breakout and allocation among all properties within the city the county handles that okay so the city has no responsibility for that number for the market values that goes into that about the market value I'm talking the $421 increase are you telling me that the city does not have responsibility for that number the city does have a responsibility for that for the levy for the $421 increase thank you madam mayor Mr adsom yes $421 is the increase to your property based off of the tax levy right yes okay okay are there others to speak tonight for public comment anyone else to speak tonight for public comment at this time I'm looking for a motion to close the public hearing I'll make that motion motion by council member Francis second by council member bck any further discussion all in favor of closing the public hearing please signify by saying I I oppose same sign public hearing is closed at 7:20 p.m. next item of business is visitors to be heard are there any visitors to be heard this evening see no one coming forward we will move on to our consent agenda our consent agenda includes items a through e minutes of the November 25th city council Workshop minutes of the November 25th public hearing regarding assessing delinquent utility bills minutes of the November 25th city council business meeting minutes of the October 28th 2024 city council workshop and 2025 staff wage increase looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda this evening so moved moved by DeLuca second second by Francis any further discussion hearing none all in favor of approving the consent agenda please signify by saying I I I oos same sign motion carries 5 to Z next item of business before us this evening is our staff reports those have all been submitted before us and we've had time to review those oh excuse me I jumped ahead to number 10 next it of business before us is accounts payable and I'm going to turn that over to um staff for an update getting there hey 16 thanks thank you Madame mayor members of the council um for some reason in the back that I'm looking at it didn't have they were blank so um City bills uh that we are putting forth to you is 272,000 $766 the a payments of 9,786 110 and 224 Street project payment of$ 29,548 188 for a grand total of$ 311,000 $45.62 does anyone have questions for staff regarding City bills H Bills or the 2024 project bills hearing none I'm looking for a motion to approve a CS pable this evening I'll make that motion motion by Beck second second by Francis any further discussion all in favor of approving counts payable please signify by saying I I I oppose same sign motion carries 5 to zero now the next item of business before us is our staff reports um this month all staff reports have been submitted in writing we've all had a chance to review and read those um does anyone have any questions regarding staff reports for administrator will Ender tonight okay hearing none I'm looking for a motion to receive the staff reports as submitted from the fire department West tenan public safeties our city engineer Public Works our city planner Administration and finance motion move by council member Fay second second by council member DeLuca any further discussion hearing none all in favor of receiving our staff reports please signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries 5 to zero next item of business is resolution 24-21 16-1 is our arpa funds and I'm going to turn that over to staff thank you madam mayor members of the council this resolution is repealing a previous resolution number 24923 two uh to create a clear and more accurate uh view of the expenditures of the arpa dollars um total arpa dollars that we received from the federal government was $231,200 33 and we have uh spent or have obligated $231,200 cents thank you for that update um any questions regarding this adoption and approving expenditures right looking for a motion to adopt resolution 24-26 one approving arpa funding expenditures I'll make that motion move by council member ver second second by council member DeLuca any discussion hearing none all in favor please signify by saying I I oppose same sign motion carries 5 to zero next item before us this evening is resolution 24-1 12162 um donations uh accepting all ations received and I will turn that over to administrator Cole Andrew for a brief update thank you madam mayor uh total um donations received for the year 2024 was $245 that was $3,000 from the West Tonka J's for Park improvements from the ordinal rotary of $9,000 for Park improvements to the maple plane fire rescue of $50 from the American Legion auxiliary and uh as we seen tonight the $112,000 from rotary for Park Improvement funds as well thank you looking for a motion to approve resolution 24-21 16-2 for donations received in 2024 can I ask a question first yes you can council member Faith didn't we didn't we formally move already $9,000 into the park dedication fund administrator cander thank you Madame mayor council member John um Fay sorry um yes but any donations received requires a resolution at the end of the year to receive them into the city funds so we just moved it in there and we didn't actually receive them correct got it thank you it's a good CL clarifying question all right so I am looking for a motion to receive the donations and approve resolution 24-21 16-2 I'll make that motion motion by council member Francis second second by council member Beck any further discussion or questions all in favor signify by saying I I post same sign motion carries and again just a debt of gratitude to all of the organizations that support the city and the park improvements we um truly appreciate it and it does help make our community a great place to live work and play and we are grateful for everyone's support next item of business before us is resolution 24-26 d03 the final tax levy and budget on page 114 and I will turn that over to administrator bander thank you madam mayor members of the council um as was just presented uh before the hearing the tax levy that staff is recommending um is at U that sorry 7.54% um for 2025 looking for a motion to approve resolution 24-1 12163 the final tax lby and budget so moved moved by council member DeLuca second second by council member bureck um before I call for a vote on this I would just like to extend um gratitude to staff and to councel we have spent many hours um grueling over this and trying to be good stewards of every penny and to um continue to honor every penny that comes in and make the most of it and I'm just grateful that we serve a city and neighbors that support Public Safety and I think this budget shows that taking care of our streets um which is hard because that bond is a substantial part of the increase um but again that's something for the future for years to come and with the street Improvement plan the cital Improvement plan and our Public Safety these are all things that need to be done and nobody ever likes um to see an increase and everyone is affected and just acknowledge that times are tight and we want to retain all of our staff both administrative and um public public safety personnel so council member Dua this is I think the 13th or 14th budget I've gone through and these are never easy I I take taxation very seriously I've always said that I do think what you said mayor is worth emphasizing though prior to years ago no Street projects were done this Council took a took a priority to improve the streets and that has had a significant impact on our operating budgets as our finance area was talking about we're required to budget a certain percentage of the bonds every year and we did another project this year we'll start paying for it in 25 and if you actually look at the new dollars that are going into the budget Almost 100% of those are because of the bond so we're running a very lean operation here and that's thanks to our staff and it shows that we are committed to keeping the water running the sewage flowing the streets going and keeping safe and we've done a good job of that so my thanks to to council and to staff I am looking for a motion to approve resolution 24-1 1216 03 the final tax levy in budget I'll make that motion motion by council member Fay second second by council member Francis any further discussion or questions hearing none all in favor please signify by saying I I I oppose same sign motion carries 5 to Z next time of business before us this evening is resolution um 24-21 16-4 the whips jpa agreement and that is before us just for approval of the update um of the years in the um jpa I move we approve the resolution uh changing that the 24-1 1266 six- Z4 all right we have a motion by council member DeLuca to approve resolution 24-21 16-4 the whips jpa West henan Public Safety jpa agreement looking for a second a second second by council member bureck any further discussion or questions all in favor please signify by saying I I I I post same sign resolution passes 5 to zero next item of business before us this evening is an ordinance ordinance 332 amending chapters 3 and four requiring city taxes and bills to be paid in order to obtain a liquor license or building permit and I will turn that over to staff if there's anything you'd like to add to that thank you madam mayor I don't have anything to add okay then I am looking for a motion to approve ordinance 332 amending chapters 3 and four requiring city taxes and bills to be paid in order to obtain a license or building permit I'll make that motion motion by council member Francis second second by council member Buck any further discussion or questions hearing none all in favor please signify by saying I hi oppose same sign eyes have it 5 to zero administrator cander thank you Madame mayor I would also ask the council for a uh approval of the um summary printing of the summary um publishing of the summary thank you publishing of the summary of the ordinance um also looking for approval to publish the summary of the ordinance I'll make that motion motion by council member Faith second second by council member Buck any further discussion or questions hearing none all in favor please signify by saying I I oppose same sign all right the eyes have it um 5 to zero next item of business before us this evening is city council reports and we will start with council member vac all right um I started out you Santa this month it was a great night for that could not complain about the weather it was a great event um holidays are around so it's a light business meeting light month for workshops no watershed this month which is kind of nice but we'll miss that um I do want to say John thank you for your service um the last two years serving on the council with you has we're going to do that next what I'm cutting you off doing John's Nest this is just Council reports John playing the mayor card council member Duo do you have a report this month I do all right I do uh several workshops C Personnel committee where we were working on uh performance issues pay increases for our staff uh we did a performance re uh review with with the city administrator uh Chief The View Santa another hit always is I hope even when you retire they will continue to see the wisdom of that event continuing forever um we also this month had another citizens advisory committee our new process of trying to get some City involvement and by the way if anybody would like to join that group we do have some openings in that um that group we're looking at public spaces in order to try to see what we could do to improve our public spaces so Council be prepared in the spring Kevin and I are going to be bringing some recommendations back to the council about how to improve our public spaces in a way that even we were not seeing things that our citizen advisory committee has has seen so some good stuff coming thank you for that update council member Dua council member Francis thank you mayor uh started off the month also with the view Santa it's always a highlight I love the little bag of treats that get handed out um attendant Planning Commission a lot of exciting things happening there um that hopefully Council will see in the next couple months uh attended workshops uh and tonight's Council and I think the only meeting I have left for this month is our rebranding uh so it's been a light month but a busy month with the holidays coming up in the next two weeks so that's all I have to report council member Faith would you like to give your Council report for my last one um like council member Barack and Francis said it's been a light month we're only halfway through it but it has been light um I continue to attend and will continue to attend oral rotary um and as you saw in tonight's presentation and what the mayor had mentioned it's a it's a good relationship that uh the Rotary Club has with the city um to date I've uh attended a pair of workshops tonight's business meeting uh we had an administrator review uh earlier and as far as VI Santa I was not in town for that so that is literally the first time and I don't know how many years I have not seen view Santa but I got to tell you something funny a new Resident Chief said talked to my daughter and said you're not going to believe it this city has a one float [Music] parade welcome to Maple play a one Flo r there's a lot of so congratulations on another successful the weather cooperated too um yes it has been a slower month I've been able to attend rotary uh we adopted 11 seniors at Haven home so that's always fun to shop for them and drop off the gifts and see their faces so again just such an honor to be part of that group on behalf of this city we've had workshops uh Regional Council Mayors um we spent a lot of time hearing about um how IAL Norms are changing and then the last half of the meeting we heard from four outgoing Mayors and those Mayors together um respectively represented 106 years of service so they were each given 10 to 15 minutes to share words of wisdom and um it was amazing and very inspiring so one of them being our very own um mayor Marvin Johnson next door so kudos to all of them and um their wisdom and the what they have done personnel has been busy with just evaluations and everything going on some stuff tonight rebrandings been meeting Northwest sen upan League of municipalities we met and all of the mayor elects were invited and we did City updates with the big discussion being City levies and just how hard um cities all around us and especially in hanen County are being hit and just how hard um that is for everyone I was able to attend mayor Johnson's last council meeting and we had a cake reception after year afterwards for his 45 years of service in Legacy so it was an honor to be there and hear him hit the gavel the American Legion auil holiday gathering is always a great time to be together view Santa which has been going on for 44 years I've lived in this community for 45 years so it's just so many great memories I remember being a kid when they used to give out basketballs and softballs and from Gauge marketing and um this year Chief KS was inter interviewed by car 11 so it was fun to see Maple plane on the news and um just a great long-standing tradition another reason to be proud of this community uh was able to attend a reception at the schools um honoring outgoing school board members um Mike Bash and Ali Hal so thank them for their service and again you know great cities need um Great Schools so with that we will now move on to the farewell presentation and I did not mean to so rely cut you off but at this time if any council member would like to say anything I will um give you a couple minutes before I begin the official presentation so we will start with council member B since I know we have something all right I'll just you want to stand up nope you sure y okay I just want to say over the last two years Ser council with you has been truly enjoyable your meticulous Approach at every issue and your unwavering advocacy for the community has made a significant impact I will I will sincerely miss your Insight and dedication As you move on to your new Endeavors know that you have left a lasting contribution looking forward to seeing you as a visitor to be heard and as a valued Citizen and our council chambers thank you John we might have to limit those visitors to be here passes three minutes just kidding anyone else have anything before I start I I do John you and I you and I have worked together for eight plus years years um I've gotten to know you as a colleague as a friend I don't think I've ever seen somebody as as attentive to the details as you are that will be missed here and when it comes to time dedicated to studying a packet to reading the materials figuring out what's behind the numbers or behind the the story I can't think anybody better to do that as you walk away from this know you have served this city well and people will look back and go John did well and I hope you think the same way thank you council member Dela council member Francis John it's been a pleasure I came into this very green being appointed I got to spend time with you on the finance committee and it's fun to see someone else excited about numbers because as I'm an accounting professional and we're usually pretty dry and people's eyes glaze over when we talk numbers but with you you taught me some some great insights and helped me to to expand my knowledge of those numbers help me to understand what city budgets are all about uh I've enjoyed my time time there were times where I was frustrated but I learned from them you know and you were always open to discuss and to talk and I appreciate that very much think you will be missed thank you you do you want say something all right administrator canders give me the look byebye just Kidd that's brutal I actually want to say although be it sometimes a little annoying you truly do pay attention to the numbers and I have graciously appreciated that um I am not a huge numbers guy I've always said that and uh some of our conversations have made some things make sense and makes me look at a different direction uh and I have to say I really appreciate that and I'm going to miss that so feel free to continue looking at the packets and uh sending me you know that advice but I really do appreciate it anyone else at the table want to say anything all right so for the past 13 years council member Fay has sa Faithfully served this community eight years as a council member and five years prior as a planning commissioner in his 13 years of dedicated service I can't even begin to estimate how many meetings he has attended how many packets he has read and how much time he has spent preparing and researching for meetings anyone who has had the privilege of serving alongside council member Faith knows that he is a numbers person and has an astonishing in attention to detail both skills we will truly miss council member Fay has been a steadfast leader Forward Thinking prepared for challenges and well organized he has Faithfully served this community in various roles the Watershed Fire Commission finance committee Personnel committee rotary and many others he is not afraid to get his hands dirty and lead by example in those roles he has poured concrete built Gaga pits walked parks and streets pounded numerous Stakes into the ground compiled data designed and built American flake storage boxes and so much more since its in Inception he has been a driving force behind partying the park giving countless hours to ensure its success council member Fay you have clearly made a significant impact on this great community and built a lasting Legacy even though farewell seems a bit too final it's reassuring to know that you will still be around as a neighbor a friend and a community leader public service is a calling it is hard work and often unsung but you have done it so well I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside you on the same team on behalf of our neighbors the city council and the staff it is my privilege tonight to present you with this street sign as a small token of our appreciation and I know this is scary but I'm going to give council member F the mic no so do we need to set the timer no okay no it's your turn sir what she if youd like to say turn on your microphone what you said um thank you all um really thank I need to reciprocate the thank yous because it's we all come from different walks of life and we all bring a completely uh different skill set to this entity and and City governance is a is a collaborative group and I think um um um over the course of the past eight years with multiple City administrators and different council members and different staff and things of that nature I think we've done a pretty good job um and prior to running I did try to believe it or not start to account for the amount of hours that went in and uh I stopped and because it literally is Thousands so so when we when we take an aggregate group and say the preparation for and the attendance in business meetings and workshops and public hearings and closed door meetings and commissions and clubs and all that we literally have thousands and thousands of hours into this but we do it for one reason and that is to really uh um Supply uh great public services at a responsible cost to the taxpayers and that's the bottom line so um my thanks go out to you the kind words I'll appreciate it forever thank you all of you and uh um I wish this was not goodbye but goodbye well I don't believe it's in goodbyes I believe in seers so again thank you for your public service and we are grateful for you and the Legacy you have left thank you with that I am looking for a motion to adjourn can I can I can I make that motion it be honored and a second second motion by council member Fay second by council member Francis to adjourn the meeting the meeting is adjourned at 7:48