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HANDOUTS 02-14-2011.] REQUEST FOR ACTION To Item Number Ci Council Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Februa 14, 2011 Bradle R. Rolfe, Chief of Police Item Description Reviewed by Approval to Promote Patrol Sergeant Reviewed by Action Requested Council authorize promotion of Darren McKernan to Patrol Sergeant effective February 21, 2011. Background/Discussion Since the promotion of Sergeant Ron Nierenhausen to Patrol Captain, a vacancy has existed in the position of Patrol Sergeant. The Council previously gave authorization to proceed with the selection process to fill that vacancy. A thorough selection process has been completed and Detective McKernan has been selected as the most qualified for the position. • Darren McKernan is an eleven year member of the police department. He currently serves as a juvenile detective. He has a BA from Concordia University and an AAS from Alexandria Technical College. He is a department peer counselor, SWAT team and bike team member, and Reserve Unit Liaison. Darren is a member of the county-wide crime scene team. He has received numerous department awards and commendations. Financial Impact The position is currently budgeted. Pay rate will be at starting sergeant level per the current collective bargaining contract. Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up ,] N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Police\2011\Sergeant Promotion.docx // • ".~ Elk River • .7 REQUEST FOR ACTION TO ITEM NUMBER Ci Council AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY February 14, 2011 Tina Allard, City Clerk ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Consider Special Council Meeting for Tuesday, February 22 REVIEWED BY ACTION REQUESTED Council motion calling a special meeting for Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. at Lions Park Center. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION As Council is aware a meeting is already scheduled for Tuesday, February 22 to follow up with consultant Jermaine Davis regarding the city's visioning and goals process. Mr. Davis is recommending that the meeting be moved to Lions Park Center due to space and room layout needs. Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up C:\Documents and Settings\ljohnson\Local Settings\Tempoxaxy Internet Files\Content.0udook\490LMD05\Davis Special Meeting.doc By RICI~IARD MERYHEW • richm@startribune.com ~~ or more than 20 years, Carol Becker has listened to the protests of Minne- ~'~ apolis taxpayers. She had never seen " one cry. ~;,~~ :` Until December, when three elder- ly women teared up as they took turns telling a packed City Hall hearing that their property tax bills have pushed them to the edge. "I've never seen that type of anger and frustra- tion,"said Becker, an elected member of the city's Board of Estimate and Taxation. "'This is real pain for real people:' Homeowners across the Twin Cities metro area are feeling the CITY DREAMS weight of a tax bur- den that's falling BUCKLEUNDER their shoulderseBut TAXES' WEIGHT perhaps nowhere is the stress greater, and the stakes high- s Fallin home values and er, than in Minneap- g olis, the state's most rising property taxes unnerve populous city, its Minneapolis homeowners. l7usiness center and the place that has long prided itself on having the means and the will to be the region's sports, entertainment and convention hub. Many homeowners are facing double-digit tax percentage increases in 20ll -and the prospect of more hikes to come. Under that pressure, deep frustration is replacing the pride of a city long willing to pay for the extras. Some people talk of moving out, if they can. Others are struggling to better communicate their anger to city leaders they often perceive as deaf to their concerns. "Is there something going on here?" asked Becker, anout-of--work homeowner who testified herself at the December hearing. "I'd say `yes: It's not just one-year crankiness:' Mayor R.T. Rybak, no stranger to tough budgets since taking office in 2002, admits this year has been one of the most trying for the city. "State cuts and pension issues have especially made it hard for us to balance the budget without Taxes continues on A9 - * ee ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ a w ~ ~ ~ ~+9 STAR TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE IEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Steve and Rachel Maves bought their south Minneapolis house eight years ago for $180,000. Its value first went up but has since fallen to $165,OOO.Their property taxes continue to rise. i -~ • e11~1 tr ~ re ~ p: g . _ ~ TAXE5 FROM AS iviIIdNEAPOLI5pgOPgRTyVAL[JES]~NDTAXTTtEND5 ------- Commercial, industrial and residential shares of the city's tax base. passing on taxes that I think are way too high," he said. "People are very afraid:' Council Member Rob- ert Lilligren, who repre- sents neighborhoods south of downtown, also has noted the change of tone. "In my ward, there are many people who would say, 'Tax me more if I get a cop on the street. Tax me more if my street gets better lighting. Tax me more if my street gets paved; " he said. "They see a value in being taxed for some- thing if they get something in return. But I think now we're at a breaking point " Nearly a decade in the mak- ing, the situation has been shaped by forces partly be- yond the city's control. It started with a change in classification rates by the Legislature that resulted in a shift of the property tax bur- 1996 PAYABLE IN 1997 2010 PAYABLE IN 2011 TRENDS IN MARKET VALUE AND TAXES The upward trend in market value and taxes paid fox a home on E. 50th St. west of Lake Nokomis in south Minneapolis. Taxable Total Percent Year market value local taxes change 2003 &165;000 52,438 n/a 7004 5184.800 $2,730 12.0% 2006 2008 a.~~,. ...r~,,.,._ ._,_e_..< ~,„,., . _ dustrral properties to residen- tial. Arun-up in home values source: City ofMinneapolls Staz lYibune several closed pension funds for police and firefighters in- to astatewide fund also could have along-term impact. Knowing the squeeze may well get worse, the mayor plans to meet with neighbor- hood groups incoming weeks to talk about budget and tax is- sues in hopes of finding solu- tions to ease the pain. "There are no easy answers to holding down property tax- es and continuing to fight to lower crime and fix the pot- holes in aperiod where all the buildings are worth less and there are huge cuts from the state and there are huge pen- sion debts;' Rybak said. "But part of my job is to get the right balance." The mayor's long-term strategy is to attract business- es downtown to fill up office buildings and increase their market value. boosting the `"I'he more people in the city, the more they share the burden;' Stiles said. There are signs the down- town business climate is im- proving. Vacancy rates down- town declined slightly in 2010 while employment was up, according ro Sam Grabarski, president and CEO of the Min- neapolis Downtown Council. "We're not out of the woods yet;' Grabarski said. "But Rybak is correct - if down- town thrives, it really helps in sustaining the neighbor- hoods and the police and the fire protection throughout the whole city." For Steve and Rachel followed, bringing a steady climb in property taxes. On- going cuts in state aid to local governments, along with the so actually cut the budget;' said Scot Pekarek, 37, a Realtor and 'irnro feazs After hours of testimo- city's financial commitment rental property owner whose ny that December night, the to sports and entertainment home is in the East Calhoun City Council approved a $1.36 venues and its obligation to neighborhood. billion 2011 budget that rais- pay into public pension funds Others said they simply es citywide tax collection by added to the burden. can't afford to pay more. 4.7 percent, down from the ZS Then came the recession, "I didn't lose my job. I'm not percent maximum increase job losses, wage cuts and the out of work. But I'm just think- proposed in August. The housing crash. City, county and hig,'In a down economy, this is council also cut the city work- schooldistricts have struggled, acceptable behavior by my lo- force by 80 people, including looking to tax increases as part cal government?"' said Steve 32 firefighters and 24 police of the solution. Maves, a 37-year-old engineer officers. Even so, public jobs and who also faces adouble-digit The vote offered no reas- services are being cut, mak- percentage tax increase on his ing the tax increases sting south Minneapolis home. surances. "There are two fears here;' Maves, good news can t come soon enough. They bought even more. The pain will be felt outside Becker said. "One is that we're their Phillips area home for "I was born and raised Minneapolis, too. getting screwed. And the sec- about $180,000 eight years ago, here and have never left the "Things don't stop at the and fear is that it's going to get seeing it as the perfect place to city and I don't particular- border;' said Mark Haveman, But the tax situa- executive director of the Min- want to l worse:' The city projects its tax need raise their four children. "We just love the diversi- . y tion is something they need nesota Taxpayers Association. will increase by 5.5 percent to ty;' said Rachel Maves, astay- is a "The cit h to address," said Joyce Suek, Minneapolis has "benefits that who faces adouble-dig- other cities take advantage of." 59 6.7 percent in each of the next five years. y ome mom. at- very rich place for families , it percentage tax increase on Tens of thousands of work- her home near Lake Nokomis. ers commute to Minneapo- In an economy where few can dream of annual salary to be:' Their home's value has l hi h f m "I can afford it. Some people lis each day. Thousands more increases of that magnitude, near y g o a dropped fro can't. And Iwon't beable to af- show up at night to take in some owners are feeling that $200,000 to about $165,000 in ford it forever." sports and entertainment ven- nes and restaurants. the math is against them. "You can't pay your wort- 2010. Their property taxes are still rising. "While they're here, we take >n bubbled care of them;' said John Stiles, ber night at communications director for Hall budget Rybak's office. `.If there is a fire Many scolded the mayor and council members for what they saw as poor management and for not cutting deeper at a time when homeowners are making their own tough choices. "I think there has to be a more creative way to not only cut the rate of growth, but to al- to a'P heart to respond. And if you have an accident on the street, Minne- apolis cops will respond ... "There are a lot of benefits to hosting these people. But the burden falls on Minneap- olis property owners." food, "saic laid off frw at the Unix to in Septe feels "clos, buzz saw." ,her No easy answers How bad it gets over the next year depends on how much the Legislature cuts from the current $8Z5 mil- e Maves said some ors have told him that be gone if not for the h real estate market. t his wife have thought noving, too. 're feeling trapped," said. Hakes me think 'Do we it's going to get any ' If it's not, I should just ,y huge loss and leave stead of sticking around ~ five vears, being in an