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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.03.97 Council Minutes COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MARCH 3, 1997 1. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ristow at 7:00 P.M.. Members Present: Ristow, Cordes, Fitch, Gamer, Strachan. Members Absent: None. Also Present: City Administrator Erar, Attorney Grannis. 2. Mayor Ristow led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. MOTION by Gamer, second by Strachan to approve the agenda with the removal of item 5b - Administrator Performance Review - to clarify the date. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Mayor Ristow noted the proclamation setting March 2-9 as Volunteer of America Week in Minnesota. There were no citizen comments from the audience. 5. MOTION by Fitch, second by Gamer to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: a) Approve minutes - 2/18/97 - Regular b) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R23-97 approving a gambling premise permit for the Senior Center to conduct bingo at their building - 431 Third Street. c) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R24-97 approving a gambling premise permit for the Church of St. Michael to conduct a raffle at the American Legion - 10 N. 8th Street. d) Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R25-97 accepting bids and awarding contracts for the purchase of a skidster and attachments. e) Acknowledge receipt of information regarding the formation of a Crime Free Multi Housing cooperative effort between the Police Department and rental properties managers and owners. f) Approve payment of the bills APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 6. Member Cordes requested clarification of the dates for the Administrator's performance review. After discussion, Council set April 11, 1997 as the cut off date to return the evaluation forms to Attorney Grannis and placed the review on the agenda for April 21st. MOTION by Cordes, second by Fitch to place the Administrator Performance review on the April 21, 1997 Council agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 7. Outdoor Warning Siren Police Chief Siebenaler explained that quotes had been received and accepted for the purchase of the first of several warning sirens for the City. The first siren will be placed at the southwest corner of Akin Road Elementary School property. Chief Siebenaler had received approval for this placement from both the School District Superintendent and the Akin Road Elementary School Principal. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to approve the placement of the siren. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 8. Council By-Law Amendments Administrator Erar stated the amendments to eliminate the Personnel and Finance Committees, the starting time of public hearings, and the housekeeping change to remove Council participation in labor negotiations had been discussed during the Council retreat. Councilmember Strachan questioned whether the change eliminated Council participation in the hiring process for Department Heads. Administrator Erar stated that current practice was for Department Heads/supervisors to interview and recommend a final candidate for staff positions to the Administrator, who in turn, would recommend ratification to Council. The Administrator, using an interview panel, interviews candidates for Department Head positions, and then recommends a candidate for Council ratification. Member Strachan felt Council should be involved in the hiring of department heads. Administrator Erar clarified that the amendment being discussed regarding the Personnel Committee dealt with Council participation in compensation studies, comparable worth issues and wages. Member Strachan stated he concurred that Council should not be involved with those issues, however, he stressed once again his belief that they should be involved in hiring department heads. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to eliminate the Personnel and Finance Standing Committees from the Council By-Laws. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Fitch, second by Strachan to eliminate the Council representative during labor negotiations. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to amend the By-Laws by setting the starting time of all public hearings at 7:00 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 9. 1997 Seal coat Project Interim Engineer Mann reviewed the seal coat program with Council, noting the City was in the 4th year of the 7 year program. He also explained the difficulty of sealcoating in cul-de-sacs due to excessive turning and tracking of the aggregate. He suggested the use of finer aggregate for cul-de-sacs, which would cost more than the larger grade. He also noted that higher oil prices will increase the cost of the project as well. Council discussed the method of assessing the project noting past practice had been a static cost assessment. The effect of rising sealcoating costs on the City's Road and Bridge fund if the static assessment price remained was considered. After discussion, Council decided to retain the static assessment rate for 1997 and consider the standard 65/35 cost split in the future. MOTION by Strachan, second by Ristow to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R26-97 accepting the feasibility report, ordering the preparation of plans and specifications and setting a public hearing to discuss the project for April 7, 1997 at 7:00 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Cordes, second by Gamer to use Assessment Option One as described in Mr. Mann's memo. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 10. Pilot Knob Liquor Store Expansion/Lease Liquor Operations Manager Asher provided an overview of the proposed use of space and benefits of acquiring the expanded rental area. He also noted the need to fast track the project to allow completion of the expansion before the spring/summer busy season. MOTION by Gamer, second by Fitch to directing staff to move forward with expansion plans and forward the lease addendum later. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 11. MUSA Expansion Approval Planning Coordinator Smick informed Council notice had been received from Met Council staff that they were recommending granting the City's request for 714 acres of MUSA expansion. Ms. Smick stated that fine tuning the area to be added to MUSA to eliminate wetland areas, revising the land use map, determining the staging of the growth area, road access issues, and adoption of a resolution creating height restrictions near Airlake Airport remained to be completed. It was her belief the finalized version of the expansion would be brought back to Council in late Mayor early June. City Administrator Erar acknowledged the contributions of staff in making the expansion a reality. Councilmember Strachan noted that the expansion was the result of long range planning initiatives and would provide needed flexibility in development issues and acknowledged the contribution of the Planning Commission. 12. 1998 Budget Process City Administrator Erar briefly explained the goals outlined in his agenda memo, noting that no local tax increase was proposed. He stated staff would again be fully involved in the process, which should flow more smoothly this year than last. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to adopt the financial goals as outlined in Administrator Erar's memo. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 13. Roundtable Member Gamer - Reported that he and City Administrator Erar had attended an ALF Ambulance meeting and all was progressing well. Mayor Ristow - Reviewed the following correspondence he had received: . Two open house tours - Farmington Elementary School Expansion - 7:00 A.M. - 3/4, and the new North Trail Elementary School at 7:00 A.M. on 3/5. Invited Council and Administrator to attend. . Citizen concern regarding handicapped parking signs at library. Dwight Bjerke, Facilities Supervisor, had taken care of the problem. . Letter from the Department of Revenue complimenting the Police Chief on his help with a recent call the Department had made in Farmington. Administrator Erar - Reminded Council of the following dates: . PARAC/Council meeting on Park Referendum issue - March 5th . CIP Workshop - March 31 at 5:30 P.M. . Joint Commission/Chamber/Council Workshop on March 8th at Senior Center. . Community Development Director Reception on March 10th - 4:30 to 6:30 P.M.. . Chamber Mixer - March 15th at 7:00 P.M. at the American Legion. 14. MOTION by Gamer, second by Cordes to adjourn at 8:25 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Mary Hanson Clerk/Typist