HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.02.91 Council Minutes
13'1
MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR
DECEMBER 2, 1991
1. Mayor Kuchera called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Kuchera, Orr, Derington, Galler.
Members Absent: Mayer.
Also Present: Administrator Thompson, Attorney Harmeyer.
2. MOTION by Orr, second by Derington to approve the agenda with the following
changes:
a. Remove item lId - 4x4 bids - Fire Department.
b. Add discussion of utility vacation - Lexington Standard.
c. Add discussion of developers agreement release - Lexington Standard.
d. Add discussion of Doris Bower's assessment to item 6b.
e. Remove item 11g - EDC Joint Powers Agreement from the Consent Agenda for
general discussion.
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
3. MOTION by Orr, second by Galler to approve the minutes of the November 18,
1991 regular meeting. VOTING FOR: Orr, Kuchera, Galler. ABSTAIN: Derington.
MOTION CARRIED.
4. Henry Iwerks addressed the following items:
a. weight based scale system,
b. Council residency requirement,
c. frustration at not being able to obtain information from the City.
5. Tom Ryan stated the Council should consider buying or renting larger equipment
for snow removal.
6. Mayor Kuchera opened the public hearing to consider the City's 1992 Tax Levy
and Operating Budget (Truth in Taxation). Mayor Kuchera opened a public hearing
to consider the establishment of Tax District #3 and TIF Plan (Lexington Standard).
The Lexington Standard hearing was continued until later in the meeting.
7.
and
and
Mr.
Finance Director Henneke presented an
the purpose of the hearing, noting the
Budget during this meeting or continue
Henneke presented the revenue side of
overview of the truth in taxation process
Council must adopt the 1992 Tax Levy
the hearing until December 16, 1991.
the budget noting:
a. Tax Rates - 1984-1992,
b. Tax Capacity Rates - 1990-1992,
c. Breakdown of 1992 Taxes,
d. 1992 Taxes - General Levy vs. Debt,
e. 1992 Taxes on a $70,000 home,
f. 1992 Sources of Revenue.
Mr. Henneke noted that the major reasons for the tax increase was LGA reductions
and increased debt levy.
8. Administrator Thompson presented an overview of the 1992 Budget, noting the
following changes in spending:
1 Council Minutes - 12/2/91 - Page 2
Fund
% Change
from 1991
+ .6
+4.8
o
+2.8
-1.5
+1.2
General
Sanitary Sewer
Solid Waste
Liquor
Arena
Total
Administrator Thompson noted the following impact on City spending:
a. City Growth/Inflation (3%/3%),
b. Health Insurance,
c. Salaries (+2.8% base COLA),
d. Solid Waste Tip Fees,
e. MWCC Sewer Charges,
f. No new full time employees, but some increase in part time positions.
The following is a summary of the comments and the City's response (in parentheses):
a. If spending only increased 1.2%, why did my taxes go up 14%? (Mainly due
to State reduction in LGA, increased debt levy and increase in the value of
individuals' property.
b. Biggest complaint appears to be from apartment owners.
c. Liquor store facility should be increased or get out of the business. (City
is reviewing the issue.)
d. Who puts value on what a position should be paid? (City Council following
Comparable Worth guidelines.)
e. City should get an arena Board of Directors.
f. City should evaluate employee's productivity and performance and pay by
that. (Hard to find a system that would accomplish those goals.)
g. City should get rid of "loafers".
h. What was the Liquor Store profit last year? ($14,000 - That's why Council
will review the matter.)
i. Why did employees get a 2.8% increase when private sector gets no increase?
(It has been reported that the average salary increase in the private sector
was 5%.)
j. City's businesses are dying.
k. How much was the City's share of 208th Street? (After assessments, approximately
$160,000.)
1. The Council should send a strong message to its legislators regarding State
Aids.
m. City staff, upon advice of the City Attorney, wasted taxpayers' dollars by
placing an ad in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. (Allegation disputed by Council,
staff and attorney.)
9. MOTION by Galler, second by ~~~o continue the hearing until December 16th
at 7:00 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
10. Mayor Kuchera reopened the hearing to consider TIF District and Plan #3 for
Lexington Standard. HRA Executive Director Henricks presented an overview of
the proposed project and plan and introduced Lyle Huff and Dick Hanson of Lexington
Standard. Mr. Henricks noted the project was a "pay as you go" proposal with
Council Minutes - 12/2/91 - Page 3
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no financial commitment from the City or HRA. Mr. Hanson noted Lexington Standard
was landlocked at their present facility in Eagan and was looking for expansion
room. MOTION by Galler, second by Derington to set a public hearing for January 6,
1992 at 7:15 P.M. to consider the vacation of utility easements on Lots 1 and
5, Block 2, Farmington Industrial Park. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
11. MOTION by Galler, second by Orr to approve a partial release of the Farmington
Industrial Park Development Agreement (Lot 5, Block 2, Farmington Industrial Park)
contingent upon the payment of surface water and water area charges. APIF, MOTION
CARRIED.
12. MOTION by Orr, second by Kuchera to close the hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
13. MOTION by Orr, second by Galler to adopt RESOLUTION NO. Rl17-91 approving
the establishment of TIF District #3 and TIF Plan. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
14. MOTION by Galler, second by Derington to set
1991 at 7:30 P.M. to consider amending the zoning
Recovery and lot sizes outside of the MUSA and to
Rock, Eureka and Empire Townships to the hearing.
a public hearing for December 16,
ordinance as it relates to Resource
invite representatives of Castle
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
15. MOTION by Orr, second by Kuchera to continue the hearing on the Silver Springs
plat until December 16, 1991 at 8:00 P.M.. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
16. The Council next considered a reduction of the assessment against Clayton
Nielsen's property (Project 91-1) per the Administrator's memo dated November 27,
1991. A lengthy discussion followed. MOTION by Derington, second by Kuchera
to reduce Mr. Nielsen's assessment for Project 91-1 by eliminating the sidewalk,
sewer service and driveway assessments because:
a. Mr. Nielsen had recently installed new sidewalk and driveway.
b. A new sewer service was not installed to Mr. Nielsen's property.
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
17. Doris Bower was also present to contest the assessment against her property.
Mrs. Bower argued that her driveway was in good shape and should not have been
replaced. City Engineer Kaldunski stated that it was in good shape, but had to
be widened to meet City standards and the grade had to be changed. MOTION by
Galler, second by Orr to reduce the Bower assessment for Project 91-1 by $206.50
(one half of the driveway assessment). APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
18. MOTION by Orr, second by Kuchera to adopt RESOLUTION NO. Rl18-91 requesting
the County to change the name of the extension of Pilot Knob Road south of 190th
Street from Essex Avenue to Pilot Knob Road. APIF, MOTION ~ARRI~D.
19. The Council next reviewed the Police Chief's memo dated November 25th to
re-evaluate the snow removal ordinance. It was the consensus of the Council that
the ordinance should be changed back to the original form with some minor modifications
and the staff bring the matter back to the next regular meeting.
20. MOTION by Derington, second by Kuchera to approve the following licenses
and permits:
Council Minutes - 12/2/91 - Page 4
Firm
Farmington Lanes, 27 5th Street
Budget Mart, 705 8th Street
Budget Mart, 18256 Pilot Knob Road
Tom Thumb, 5th & Elm Streets
Tom Thumb, 22280 Chippendale Avenue
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
Type
Gaming
Beer - Off Sale
Beer - Off Sale
Beer - Off Sale
Beer - Off Sale.
21. MOTION by Galler, second by Derington to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
a. Approve building lease - Wenzel - Public Works;
b. Approve change orders #3 and #4 - Project 91-10;
c. Approve School/Conference Request - Public Works;
d. Approve capital outlay request - EMS Funding - $480 for Hurst Tool accessory,
and $847.95 Trainer Kit;
e. Adopt RESOLUTION NO. R120-91 accepting EMS Donation from Dakota County;
f. Approve Payment #2 - Project 91-10 - Arcon - $329,931.51;
g. Approve Payment #4 - Project 91-1 - Rice Lake Contracting - $31,773.72;
h. Approve final payment for mini-pumper - $8,398.90;
i. Approve School/Conference Request - Police Department;
j. Acknowledge receipt of 1992 Consulting Engineering rates - Bonestroo, Rosene
and Anderlik;
k. Approve payment of the bills as submitted.
APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
22. Counci1member Galler updated the Council on the status of the EDC, noting
that it was reevaluating its mission and would report back to the Council. MOTION by
Galler, second by Orr to approve the proposed amendment to the EDC Joint Powers
Agreement as submitted. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
23. The following items were discussed during roundtable:
a. Update on golf course development;
b. Dinner meeting hosted by Dakota Electric Association on December 12th;
c. Possibly changing landfills;
d. Downtown snow removal policies and procedures;
e. Fall Survey results - next agenda.
24. MOTION by Orr, second by Kuchera to adjourn at 10:45 P.M. APIF, MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
/fjt ~IU
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Larry Thompson
City Administrator
Approved
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