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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/11/11 Board of Equalization OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BOARD OF APPEALS AND EQUALIZATION MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2011 The following are the minutes for the Board of Appeals and Equalization for the City of Columbia Heights City Council held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2011 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights, MN. BOARD OF APPEALS AND EQUALIZATION 1. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Peterson, Council member Nawrocki, Council member Diehm, Council member Schmitt Tardy: Council member Williams 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW Peterson stated the purpose of this meeting is to review property valuations as of January 2, 2011 for taxes payable 2012, and to hear appeals from citizens who feel aggrieved or have questions regarding property valuations. 3. INTRODUCTION The City Manager introduced the Anoka County Appraisers present at the meeting. • Jim Rouleau, Senior and Commercial Appraiser • Mike Brown, Residential Appraiser Brown indicated this meeting is to discuss the value delivered with the tax statement. He stated this is from qualified sales of October 2009 to October 2010. Brow indicated the number and variety of parcels in the city. He referred to the 2010 arms length sales. The total Columbia Heights sales were 376, and of them 175 were bank or foreclosure sales and 1.06 were qualified sales. The rest were miscellaneous sales. 28% were qualified sales. This is a slight improvement over last year's bank or foreclosure sales. There is an overall value decrease of 4.8 %. Deflation appears to be slowing somewhat. Brown indicated and explained the median ratio, aggregate ratio, mean ratio, coefficient of dispersion, and the price related differential. Brown reviewed specific items in the hand out and answered Council questions. 4. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING PROPERTY VALUES Citizens in attendance were given an opportunity to raise questions regarding their property valuations. Gerald LaMere, 5080 Mulcare Drive and 3813 -15 Pierce Street, stated the appraiser carne through and some areas dropped substantially. His neighborhood had nicer homes and did not drop the value of their homes. He stated they have had many foreclosures in the area. Consequently, his values dropped. He listed the drop in amounts and gave the comparable value given by a realtor. He requested an adjustment to his value. Brown stated there were eight qualified sales in this area. Rouleau stated that we have to value what the market is, not what the bank sells foreclosed properties for. LaMere requested the property be reviewed. LaMere referred to his Pierce Street property and his refinance appraisal amount of $145,000. Brown listed the dates and decreases in value. He asked for further review of the property. Brown stated that the appraiser does not determine the tax, but only places a fair market value on the property Nawrocki asked when the bank did the appraisal. LaMere stated in July of 2010 for $145,000. Brown stated the property is appraised at $175,000. Motion by Schmitt, second by Diehm, to go back and review 5080 Mulcare Drive and 3813 -15 Pierce Street. Diehm indicated that if the value is lowered you will have a lower tax, but you will have a harder time selling the property. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Nancy King, 3717 Van Buren Street, stated three years ago there were four properties demolished near her leaving the area desolate and her value is way too high. She presented pictures of the area. Nawrocki stated that the city allowed the two commercial properties and the two homes to be removed and did not require the developer to finish off the lots. King stated the current value is $156,900. Diehm asked them to reexamine her property. Williams arrived at 6:48 p.m. Motion by Diehm, second by Schmitt to review 3717 Van Buren Street. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Lee Stauch, 1155 Khyber, stated that the property next to him sold for $153,000. His property is valued at $203,000. Motion by Schmitt, seconded by Williams, to review 1155 Khyber. Stauch requested the review of his properties on Khyber, Fillmore, Tyler, and Royce. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Robin Bari, 4250 Van Buren, stated that he bought house in September of 2010. The value went down $9,000. He bought it for $99,000. Brown stated that this was an estate sale and is disqualified as an arm length transaction. Fehst stated that he is paying the tax on the value of the house. Brown stated this property was valued as a disabled homestead. That classification now comes off and that is why the tax has increased. Rouleau indicated parcels that called and want their options to remain open for the County Board of Review are: 3900 Stinson, White Castle, and a bank in Columbia Heights. Brown indicated letters that were received that want their options to remain open for the County Board of Review are: Angela Gordon, 999 41 Avenue NE #124 and Lydia Jonak, 3929 Johnson Street. The properties were reviewed and reduced, but they want to keep their options open. 5. COUNCIL ACTIONS REGARDING SPECIFIC CASES OR CASES ON WHICH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS DESIRED Motion by Diehm, second by Schmitt, to continue the Board of Appeals and equalization meeting to April 25, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of hearing additional information regarding only those property values appealed and discussed on April 11, 2011 and to consider adoption of the 2011Property Assessment Rolls. 6. Adjourn At 7:05 p.m., Mayor Peterson recessed the meeting to 6:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011. ' . 'atty Muscovitz, CMC ity Clerk