November/December 2003

Public hearing on 2004 city budget set for Dec. 8
Highlights of the 2004 city budget
Where do your taxes go?
How does the cost of city services stack up?
Plowing crew's goal is to clear city streets in 8 hours
Council Perspective: Study reaffirms limits on retail development
Santa is coming to Central Park
Comment on storm water program at Dec. 9 meeting
Recycle holiday trees Jan. 3 or 10

Public hearing on 2004 city budget set for Dec. 8

Though Woodbury's primary operating budget is decreasing by nearly half a million dollars in 2004, residential property owners can expect a slight increase in their city taxes next year. That's the bottom line coming out of the proposed 2004 city budget, which will be reviewed at a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.

"The proposed 2004 budget reflects a decrease of $455,129 in the General Fund, which is the city's primary operating fund," said City Administrator Barry Johnson. "The decline is mainly due to the loss of more than $1 million in state aid, and to a state-imposed limit on the tax levy, with no allowance for growth or inflation."

The city will recover 60 percent of lost state aid - the maximum allowed by law - through an increase in the tax levy, Johnson said. As a result of the levy proposed for 2004, city taxes on a single-family home valued at $264,757 - the average value for taxes payable in 2004 - will go up an estimated $39 if the home experiences a 12 percent increase in market value. That means taxes will increase 4.9 percent, from $804 to $843.

It's important to note that market values, and thus taxes, do not increase the same for all properties. The example above is for the average value home experiencing the maximum increase in value that is allowed for tax purposes.

General Fund budget
For 2004, the General Fund budget is recommended to be $20,783,432. This compares to $21,238,561 for the 2003 General Fund. The City Council made significant cuts in the General Fund last spring following state aid reductions.

"While the General Fund is decreasing, the numbers are somewhat misleading in terms of what is happening to city operations," Johnson said. "That's because the 2003 budget included slightly more than $1 million in capital expenditures for new fire trucks. If you subtract that amount and compare the two budgets, the increase for city operations from 2003 to 2004 is 2.7 percent."

Property taxes at $14.4 million account for 69.3 percent of the General Fund. Other sources of revenue include permit fees from new home and business construction, charges for various services, miscellaneous revenues, and transfers from other funds.

Total city expenditures for 2004 are estimated at $35,671,209. This includes the General Fund and all other city funds, such as the storm water utility, emergency medical services, Eagle Valley Golf Course, Bielenberg Sports Center, and others.

Providing a good value
The 2004 budget is very much a "status quo" budget, according to Johnson. The city's operating expenses are essentially unchanged, there are no new staff positions or major new programs proposed, and the only new area of activity is elections, which occur every two years.

"The City Council's objective, as we work on the budget each year, is to give our taxpayers good value for the property tax dollars they pay," said Mayor Bill Hargis. "For about $70 per month, the average homeowner receives police and fire protection, snow plowing and street maintenance, park development and maintenance, recreational programs and facilities, and many other services. I believe this compares well to what we as consumers pay monthly for services such as phone and cable TV, or for entertainment such as a concert, sporting event, or theater performance."

City taxes constitute about 29 percent of the total property tax bill for Woodbury homeowners residing in School District 833 and the South Washington Watershed District (amounts will vary somewhat for other school and watershed districts). Property owners should review their truth-in-taxation notice, which Washington County was expecting to mail by mid-November. It will show the projected tax impact of the proposed city, county, school district, watershed and other levies.

Summaries of the proposed 2004 city budget may be obtained at the Finance Department in City Hall. The complete budget also is available for review at the Finance Department or the R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury.

The City Council will accept public comments on the city budget at the public hearing in the City Hall Council Chambers on Dec. 8. For more information, contact the Woodbury Finance Department, (651) 714-3503.

(Back to Top)

Highlights of the 2004 city budget

The 2004 General Fund budget contains no new programs or staff positions. Personal services are proposed to increase 4.5 percent. These increases reflect: the need to include full-year funding for positions that started in mid-2003; insurance increases; step and longevity increases; a one percent cost of living adjustment; funding for elections staff; and increased fire relief retirement fund contribution.

The 2004 budget does include $512,100 in expenditures for the first year's debt service on the Public Works building expansion, slated to start construction in 2004.

Utility rates
The 2004 budget proposes increases in water and sewer rates. The water portion of the utility bill is going up due to the need to create a financing source for replacement of failing water and sewer lines. The change will result in a 13 percent increase to rates, averaging $2.60 per quarter for the typical single-family customer. Water rates were last raised in 1998, and a conservation rate increase for usage that exceeds 30,000 gallons per quarter was adopted in 2001.

Sewer rates also are proposed to increase by 13 percent. The hike will amount to an additional $5.12 per quarter for the average single-family user. Sewer rates were last increased in 1996.

The city's storm water utility fee is recommended to increase $5.25 per quarter or $21 per year for the single-family residence. A small portion of the increase will go toward the city's federally mandated Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. The bulk of the increase is needed to replace storm sewers in the Park Hills area and to construct improvements in the South Washington Watershed District. The current charge is $10 per quarter; with the increase, residents will pay $15.25 per quarter.

EDA levy
Again in 2004, the Woodbury Economic Development Authority is proposing a levy to fund affordable housing programs. This is separate from the city's tax levy and is included on the truth-in-taxation notice in the listing for "other" government agencies. The proposed levy totals $351,500; the tax impact is an estimated $16.58 for the average value home. This compares to $14.90 in 2003.

(Back to Top)

Where do your taxes go?

Figures represent the projected annual cost for the average value home ($264,757) in 2004.

*Development control includes planning, economic development, building inspection, engineering.

**Other includes administration, buildings, finance, MIS, assessing, etc.

(Back to Top)

How does the cost of city services stack up?

COMPARE TO:

On average, a Woodbury homeowner would spend more on cable TV service than on the combined cost of police and fire protection, snow plowing and street maintenance, development control, and parks and recreation services.

*Annual price is calculated on the projected cost for the 2004 average value home of $264,757.

**Development control includes planning, economic development, building inspection, engineering.

(Back to Top)

Plowing crew's goal is to clear city streets in 8 hours

If you think that your commute during a winter snowstorm can be stressful, imagine what it's like to be one of Woodbury's snow plow operators.

As if driving a massive truck on slippery residential streets in flying snow and sometimes heavy traffic doesn't pose a big enough challenge, the city's plowing crew strives to clear all city streets within eight hours. It's a tough job, so the city recognizes its top snow plow operator each year.

Public service workers Tom Erdes, Dan Groskopf and Mike Meister tied as recipients of the Snow Fighter Commendation for the 2002-2003 snow plowing season. The award is presented to the plow operator who receives the fewest complaints over the winter season. All three had not a single complaint last year. Groskopf also won the award for the 2001-2002 season.

"The earlier you start, the more pleasant the plowing is because there is less traffic," Erdes, who has plowed Woodbury's streets for 13 years, said. "Once the morning rush hour hits, things get a lot tougher."

Meister, a snow plow operator for five years, agrees that the most challenging part of snow plowing is maneuvering through the high traffic volumes of the morning and evening rush hours.

"Not only are you battling the snow and the roads, but you have to constantly watch other drivers as well," Meister said. "If we're able to start before the morning rush hour (often around 2 a.m.), it makes the plowing a lot easier. It also helps the residents because many of the roads are already plowed by the time they wake up."

Plows are called out
Plowing activities begin in Woodbury whenever icy or slippery conditions make driving difficult. Roads adjacent to schools and primary streets, such as Tamarack Road, Woodlane Drive, Lake Road, Bielenberg Drive and Hudson Road, are given first priority for plowing. Residential streets and cul-de-sacs are cleared next.

"Our goal is to have the primary roads cleared before the morning and evening rush hour," Streets Supervisor Jim Triebold said. "Heavy accumulations or high winds sometimes make that impossible, though."

Objects such as mailboxes and trash cans routinely become obstacles. The city's policy is to plow from curb to curb, so trash cans sitting in the streets -- as opposed to driveways -- make plowing difficult for the operators. Citizens can help the plow drivers by clearing toys and athletic equipment such as basketball hoops from streets and cul-de-sacs before the season's first major snowfall. Parents also should not allow their kids to build snow forts on or near city streets or cul-de-sacs.

In an average winter, Public Works crews plow city streets about 25 times. Each time they are called out, plow operators clear the equivalent of 488 miles of one-lane roadway. That's about the same as driving from St. Paul to Kansas City. And it doesn't include the 448 cul-de-sacs that also must be cleaned.

Last winter, the city spent $269,728 -- or about $14.86 per household -- on snow removal operations. That includes staff time, equipment and materials. The amount varies each year, depending on the severity of the winter season.

Questions about plowing procedures should be directed to the Public Works Department at (651) 714-3720.

(Back to Top)

Council Perspective: Study reaffirms limits on retail development

The land use plan, adopted by the City of Woodbury in May 2000 as part of the comprehensive planning process, sets aside 203 acres of vacant land for retail development. In comparison, there are more than 1,300 acres for office/industrial uses. The plan reflects the city's preference to limit retail development and expand commercial and industrial development in Woodbury.

The city is receiving development proposals for some of the areas designated for retail, such as the property east of State Farm, where a lifestyle center is being proposed. In addition, a number of developers have approached the city with requests to set aside even more land for retail development. They suggest there is significant market demand for additional retail development in Woodbury; in comparison, industrial and office development has slowed.

In an effort to determine the appropriate mix of development and provide some uniform guidelines for responding to developer requests, the Woodbury Economic Development Commission (EDC), a citizens advisory group, initiated a study in January of this year. The study concluded in October with several recommendations to the City Council.

To obtain an objective view of market demand for both the retail and office/industrial sectors, the Economic Development Authority (EDA), another volunteer advisory board, hired the McComb Group, a consulting firm. The consultant analyzed both short-term (year 2010) and long-term (2025) demand for the two types of land uses.

In addition, the consultant addressed several other strategic questions, such as whether the city should allow auto dealerships or consider changes in the zoning ordinance to better attract office and industrial development. This information assisted the EDC in preparing its recommendations for the City Council.

The recommendations
So what was the outcome of this nine-month study? In broad terms, the study reaffirmed the city's comprehensive plan and confirmed that our land use plan, with a couple of tweaks, is appropriate. And while the EDC's recommendations allow some flexibility in areas that have high potential for retail use and low potential for industrial use, the city is pretty much on target in its planning for the amount of land for retail development.

More specifically, the major recommendations are:

• To keep the land around the Tamarack Road-I-494 interchange as a high priority area for office and industrial development, particularly for high-quality, corporate campus sites.
• To review the Business Campus District ordinances that establish standards for mixed use, to determine how retail can appropriately be used to encourage office development.
• To consider rezoning requests on a case by case basis for sites that have a high potential for retail development and a low potential for office/industrial development. An example is the property south of Sam's Club on Woodbury Drive. Due to the cost of development (assessments, etc.) and the number of competing sites that are less expensive, the potential for industrial or office development here is low. There is high potential, however, for retail development.
• To encourage upscale/quality retail development whenever possible. It should be noted, though, that the city has limited ability to influence which retail stores end up here. We do not offer any incentives nor do we do any recruiting for retail development. We allow the marketplace to determine specific retail uses.
• To consider auto dealerships as a separate land use category. Although they represent a retail use, auto dealerships offer jobs and wages that are consistent with the city's economic development goals for office and industrial uses. In addition, the city's zoning ordinance establishes architectural standards that would keep auto facilities consistent with building standards for other types of development.
• The area referred to as the Northeast Business Park, south of I-94 near Manning Avenue, should be studied in detail in conjunction with the next update of the comprehensive plan, anticipated around 2010. Expensive infrastructure that would be needed here requires a more complete evaluation of the land use plan.
• Consider additional neighborhood retail areas when the comprehensive plan is updated in 2010.

To summarize, the EDC study provided a great deal of information about market demand that will help us evaluate requests for land use changes in the future. No changes have been made as a result of this study, however, and there are very limited areas where changes are likely to occur.

(Back to Top)

Santa is coming to Central Park

Santa Claus is taking a break from making toys at the North Pole to visit Woodbury's Central Park for two events in December.

Pictures with Santa
Put on your holiday smiles and come to Central Park's indoor amphitheater to have your picture taken with Santa Claus Saturday, Dec. 6.

Two sessions are available: 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $2 per person posing with Santa. The number of photos per seating is limited to the number of persons in the photo (excluding Santa). For example, two pictures with two children posing with Santa would cost $4. Four pictures with two children and two adults would cost $8.

Bring your own camera and film. Limit one camera per family. There is no pre-registration for this event. Participants will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Breakfast with Santa
Join Santa Claus and a few of his favorite elves for a catered breakfast Saturday, Dec. 20, in the Valley Creek Room at Central Park.

Participants are encouraged to bring cameras and take a picture with their jolly ol' friend. Santa wants to see you dressed in your holiday best! A holiday story also will be read.

The event is recommended for ages two and up, with an adult. Cost is $11 per child and $13 per adult. Two seatings are available: 8:30 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you wish to dine with another family, please notify the Parks and Recreation Department at the time of registration to ensure that you will be seated together.

For more information about either of these events, contact the Woodbury Parks and Recreation Department at (651) 714-3583.

(Back to Top)

Comment on storm water program at Dec. 9 meeting

In conjunction with a federally-mandated storm water permit program, the City of Woodbury will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 to receive citizens' comments about the city's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).

This meeting allows citizens an opportunity to review the SWPPP and give written or oral input on the program. The city must consider these suggestions and make appropriate adjustments to the program when submitting its annual report to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

A copy of the SWPPP is available in the Community Development Department at Woodbury City Hall for review by interested citizens. The SWPPP also can be viewed in the "Environment" section of the Woodbury Web site at www.ci.woodbury.mn.us.

The meeting will be at Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at (651) 714-3533.

(Back to Top)

Recycle holiday trees Jan. 3 or 10

The Woodbury compost site will be open two Saturdays in January for disposal of holiday trees. Residents may drop off trees only (no leaves or yard waste) on Jan. 3 and 10, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. A fee of $5 per tree will be charged.

All ornaments, lights, tinsel, plastic bags, nails, and tree stands must be removed so trees may be chipped. Flocked trees and wreaths are not recyclable.

The compost site is at 4600 Cottage Grove Drive, half a mile south of Bailey Road. The site is operated by Composting Concepts, Inc. under an agreement with the city. Questions about the compost site should be directed to Composting Concepts at (651) 436-1213.

(Back to Top)