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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.05.07 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES PRE-MEETING March 5, 2007 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Soderberg at 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: Soderberg, Fogarty, McKnight, Pritzlaff, Wilson None Joel Jamnik, City Attorney; Peter Herlofsky, City Administrator; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Lee Mann, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Brenda Wendlandt, Human Resources Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant 2. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by McKnight, second by Wilson to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS 4. COUNCIL REVIEW OF AGENDA Councilmember Fogarty asked about the dollar difference for 2008 for the Civil Engineer position. The amount would be $10,000 and it will be spread between several funds. Councilmember McKnight asked about the extension for recording ofthe plat for Charleswood Marketplace and what it does to the timeline for the development. City Attorney Jamnik explained it does not affect the timeline. The developer has requested the extension because time is running out for recording of the agreement. The Development Agreement is not ready and the developer is also not ready. The Development Agreement, other documents and the plat would all be recorded together. Councilmember Wilson also asked about the extension and if there was anything unusual causing the extension. There is not. He recalled one obstacle for the developer was working with Northern Natural Gas and asked ifthat had been resolved. City Attorney J amnik stated that has not been discussed in recent meetings. Councilmember Wilson asked how Finance Director Roland would characterize the $20,000 as a result of the sales tax audit. Finance Director Roland explained half of it is items that were fees and charges that were taxable, but were not taxed due to a misunderstanding ofthe law. The other half is use tax on items the City purchases. Councilmember Pritzlaff asked about summer hours. He noted last year he requested a tabulation as to how many residents benefited from being open early or late. He also Council Minutes (Pre-Meeting) March 5, 2007 Page 2 asked what other cities do. Surrounding cities do not have summer hours. He has received comments both ways from residents and felt it was not being used by the residents as much as anticipated. As far as City projects, Engineering is aware they may have to work Friday afternoons if a project requires it. There are also Park and Rec programs Friday afternoons, so they were allowed flexibility during the week. Councilmember Pritzlaff also received comments that being closed Friday afternoons hindered residents from getting inspections for weekend projects. He did not like the wording of the action requested as information only. It has not been made a City policy. Councilmember Pritzlaff also asked about going back to a Civil Engineering position. Staff replied the level of work requires a Civil Engineering degree. This also positions the City for having more City staff in the Engineering division. Councilmember Pritzlaff then asked about the list of bills and ifthey are paid before the list of bills is approved. He was concerned with the $2,275 for Pellicci Hardware. Staff explained this amount is for one month. Some of the bills are mailed prior to Council approval to take advantage of discounts. Significant sized payments are held until after the Council meeting. 5. STAFF COMMENTS City Attorney Jamnik added an item to the agenda to authorize staffto purchase property. There is a home on the market in the location for an extension of a City street. City Administrator Herlofsky will be out of the office the next two weeks and asked if Council wanted to postpone the regularly scheduled workshop. Council agreed to not hold the March workshop. There will be a quorum of the Council at the Partners in Progress event. It was decided to recess the regular meeting and adjourn the meeting after the event on Wednesday. Councilmember Wilson asked for a list of workshop topics. This will be included in the weekly update. 6. ADJOURN MOTION by Fogarty, second by McKnight to adjourn at 6:54 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~./Y7~ (/ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR March 5, 2007 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Soderberg at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Soderberg led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: Soderberg, Fogarty, McKnight, Pritzlaff, Wilson None Joel Jamnik, City Attorney; Peter Herlofsky, City Administrator; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Lee Mann, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Brenda Wendlandt, Human Resources Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Audience: 4. APPROVE AGENDA City Attorney Jamnik added item 12a) Acquisition to Purchase Property. MOTION by McKnight, second by Wilson to approve the Agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by McKnight, second by Fogarty to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approved Council Minutes (2120/07 Regular) (2/16/07 & 2/26/07 Special) b) Approved School and Conference - Fire Department c) Approved School and Conference - Fire Department d) Received Information Summer Hours - Human Resources e) Received Information January Financial Report - Finance f) Authorized Sales Tax Audit Results - Finance g) Approved Findings of Fact - Devney Property - Planning h) Approved Extension for Recording of Plat - Charleswood Marketplace - Planning i) Approved Engineering Organizational Options - Human Resources j) Approved Bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Council Minutes (Regular) March 5, 2007 Page 2 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS a) Amend 2007 Fee Ordinance - Parks and Recreation Staff proposed increasing fees at the ice arena from $155 to $170 per hour for prime time and from $125 to $155 for non-prime time. MOTION by Pritzlaff, second by Wilson to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Pritzlaff, second by Wilson to approve the amended hourly ice rental fees. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. b) 2007 Seal Coat Project Assessment Hearing - Engineering This program is implemented in a seven-year cycle. The City participates in a Joint Powers Agreement with several other cities. The total estimated project cost is $210,000. The assessment policy indicates a 50/50 split between the City and benefiting properties. The estimated assessment is $79.30/REU. The oil specified in the joint powers agreement was changed which resulted in an increased bid amount. This oil is polymerized and is more expensive. This would result in an estimated assessment of $86.60/RED. Staff contacted the low bidder to provide the standard oil used in the past. Therefore, the assessment will be $79.30/RED. Areas due for reconstruction will not be seal coated. MOTION by McKnight, second by Pritzlaffto close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fogarty, second by McKnight to adopt RESOLUTION R26-07 ordering the 2007 seal coat project, approving the plans and specifications and authorizing the City to complete these improvements as part of the Joint Powers Agreement with Burnsville with the non-polymerized (standard) oil. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. A WARD OF CONTRACT 10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Elm Street Project Communication Group - Engineering Staffwill be developing a communication plan for the Elm Street project and would like to form a communication group. The group will be comprised of City staff, County staff, businesses owners and residents. Staff requested Council appoint one Councilmember to the group. MOTION by Soderberg, second by Wilson to appoint Councilmember Pritzlaffto the Elm Street communication group. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 12. NEWBUSINESS a) Authorization to Purchase Property - City Attorney There is a property for sale that is in an area designated for the extension of a City street. City Attorney Jamnik requested authorization to make a formal offer based on a standard purchase agreement with an environmental review, $5,000 down Council Minutes (Regular) March 5,2007 Page 3 payment and a closing date in 60 to 90 days. The cost will be charged back to the project in the future. Currently, the costs would come from the road and bridge fund. How to recover the costs will be determined at the time ofthe project. MOTION by Pritzlaff, second by McKnight to authorize the purchase of real property. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Councilmember Wilson: Congratulated the girls hockey team. He noted 280 people raised $70,000 for the Special Olympics in the Polar Plunge. Councilmember Pritz/aff: He agreed the Polar Plunge was for a good cause and he thanked those that supported him. City Administrator Herlofsky: He provided Councilmembers Pritzlaff and Wilson with pictures of the Polar Plunge. He also noted Mayor Soderberg won the Star of the North Award from Congressman Kline's office. The Mayor and his family raised $5500 at the Charity Ball. The money is given to the Community Action Council and is used to partially provide for the Family Support worker in the Middle School. Finance Director Roland: The City has officially gone live with the new utility billing system. She recognized her staff, Rosemary Swedin, Deb Richter and JoAnn Eagan for their fabulous work. Mayor Soderberg: The City received a thank you letter regarding assistance from Sgt. Kevin Mincke to an out-of-town traveler. 14. RECESS MOTION by Fogarty, second by McKnight to recess the meeting to the Royal Cliff, Eagan, at the Partners in Progress event at 4:30 p.m. on March 7,2007. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 15. ADJOURN The meeting reconvened on March 7, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. at Royal Cliff, Eagan. Councilmember Fogarty was absent. A quorum of the Council was present at the Partners in Progress event. The meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sr~Jr7~ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant