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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />September 6, 2016 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson <br /> Councilmember Gina Bauman <br />Councilmember Brian Strub <br /> Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br />Councilmember Mary Burg <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Dean Lotter, Craig Schlichting, Brenda Davitt, Sandy Brueur <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />2017 Budget <br />Lotter provided the Council with a presentation on the revised 2017 budget. He explained the 2017 budget <br />would not use any reserve funds. He reported a community survey would be com pleted in 2017 and a trend <br />analysis would be completed on the responses. He described the proposed revenues and expenses, also <br />commenting on how the City has worked to increase its non -property tax revenue. The City’s evolving park <br />and recreation programs were discussed. Further comment was provided on the City’s staffing model. The tax <br />levy impact to the median homeowner was reviewed with the Council. He was pleased to report home values <br />were on the rise in New Brighton. He noted the preliminary tax levy would have to be approved by the <br />Council in September and the final tax levy would be approved in December. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strub thanked staff for the thorough report. He appreciated the fact that staff listed both <br />essential and non-essential items. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson asked how the median value home would be impacted if $1.3 million were placed back in the <br />budget. Lotter explained he would have to run the numbers prior to responding to this question. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen thanked staff for the great presentation and for answering his questions prior to the <br />meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bauman did not approve of the comparison cities that have been chosen. She believed the <br />proposed levy was high given the fact New Brighton had an aging population. She stated income was not on <br />the rise in this community and for this reason, recommended that the City’s demographics be more closely <br />examined before proposing tax increases. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson questioned if Councilmember Bauman had the demographics of the neighboring c ommunities <br />that she would like the City to be compared to. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bauman stated she had some of this information, but not all. She again encouraged staff to <br />pursue demographic and income information from new cities. Lotter believed the analysis provided showed <br />comparable cities while also removing bias. He noted St. Anthony, Arden Hills and Mounds View had been