2020-07-14 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 14, 2020
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Westonka Schools Performing Arts Center (PAC)
due to COVID-19 and the need to social distance.
Members present: Mayor Ray Salazar; Council members Phil Velsor, Jeff Bergquist, Paula
Larson, and Sherrie Pugh
Members absent: None
Others present: City Manager Eric Hoversten, Fin Dir/Clerk/Treasurer Catherine Pausche, City
Engineer Brian Simmons, Westonka Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Borg, Orono Police
Officer Tim Sonnek, Chris Carlson, Peter Meyer, Michelle Herrick, Pat Buffington, Karen
Buffington, Elizabeth Hustad, Stu Alexander, Rodney Beystrom, Venus Steffensen, Shane
Steffensen, Jeff Kueper, Colin Charlson, Diane Lachenmayer, Brant Nelson, Andrea Nelson,
Rob Ar, Gretchen Shaw, Lyle Shaw, Gretchen Shaw, Guy Jenken, Joan Jenken, Dan Saatzer,
Marc Doepner-Hove, Anna Peters, Jason Zattler, Merrick Morlan, Steve Zielinski, Joanie
Zielinski, Rich R, Kevin Johansen
Consent agenda: All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in
nature by the Council. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a
Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which event it will be removed from the Consent
Agenda and considered in normal sequence.
1. Open meeting
Mayor Salazar called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve agenda
Hoversten noted the following replacement pages: Item 4B page 1157, and Item 913 page 1208.
MOTION by Bergquist, seconded by Velsor, to approve the agenda. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
4. Consent agenda
MOTION by Velsor, seconded by Larson, to approve the consent agenda. Upon roll call vote,
all voted in favor. Motion carried.
A. Approve payment of claims in the amount of $1,427,268.20.
B. Approve minutes: 06-23-20 regular meeting.
C. RESOLUTION NO. 20-63: RESOLUTION ADOPTING CITY OF MOUND
COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS PLAN
D. Approve Pay Request No. 3 in the amount of $91,896.11 to Kusske Construction
Mound City Council Minutes — July 14, 2020
for 2019 Street, Utility & Retaining Wall Improvements, City Project PW -19-01
E. Approve Pay Request #3 in the amount of $89,536.93 to G. F. Jedlicki, Inc
for 2019 Commerce Blvd Watermain Project, Project No. PW -19-04
F. RESOLUTION NO. 20-64: RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION JUDGES AS
RECOMMENDED FOR THE STATE PRIMARY ELECTION ON AUGUST 11, 2020
AND THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020
5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda.
Peter Myer, 5748 Sunset, read in the Laker about Lifestyle Properties and wanted to express
his concern over density and height. He served on Parks Commission and Council and raised a
family here and questions why the move toward so much high density residential. Myer asked
for it to remain park land.
Chris Carlson, 5950 West Branch Road, said he lives in Minnetrista but owns rental property.
Carlson read a statement that stated he has previously written to Council on the concerns about
so much high density. Carlson said the Comprehensive Plan includes a traffic study by
Hennepin County that indicated the town is close to capacity and he knows many residents are
concerned about traffic. Carlson quoted page 49 from the Comprehensive Plan and noted his
biggest concern is the change in the small-town feel.
Karen Buffington, 4456 Radner Road, said they moved out here for the small town atmosphere
and they want the Commerce Place property to remain zoned for business. Buffington urged
the Council to table the issue due to the pandemic because no businesses are looking at
expansion but in a year or two they will come back. Buffington asked the Council to consider
other options for what Mound should be.
Venus Steffensen, 1838 Commerce Boulevard, read a statement that the majority of residents
are not in favor and that she has a petition were 97% have a disapproval rating of development.
Steffensen said Shafer Richardson is a member of the Met Council Urban Land Institute so they
know where the transit hubs will be developed, they buy property and let it deteriorate so cities
have to consider multifamily. Steffensen encouraged the Council to reach out to Anytime
Fitness and other owners. Steffensen said Shafer Richardson's strategy is to create
relationships with City Staff and create fatigue on the part of Council. Steffensen asked the
Council to question Shafer Richardson's motive and strategy and acknowledge that we are not
on a sinking ship and make Shafer Richardson come back with another plan.
Jason Zattler, 2345 Commerce Boulevard and business owner of Wiser Insurance, suggests the
City put together an advisory commission of local business owners to come up with alternative
solutions and not just go with Shafer Richardson's plan.
Matt Jenks, 6120 Beachwood Road, said he has been here a long time and that the City needs
people to go the extra mile to find out what is going on. Jenks pointed to the $30M investment
in the PAC the community was willing to invest and questioned the Council working with Shafer
Richardson and not coming up with alternatives.
Brant Nelson, 5527 Bartlett Boulevard, said he has lived here many years and recognizes
Mound has been slow to develop compared to our neighbors in Excelsior and Wayzata. Nelson
Mound City Council Minutes — July 14, 2020
said he is not aware of all the discussions leading up to this proposed development, but he
experiences high traffic near his home on Bartlett Boulevard. Nelson recognized his comment
is coming from an emotional place but asked the Council to listen to your constituents as they
want what is best for this community.
Merrick Morlan, 4842 Shoreline Boulevard and owner of 3soteric, said he talked to Shafer
Richardson about moving near to Anytime and it was cost prohibitive so he understands the
building as it is has to go, but he is wondering why the conversation on mixed use ended.
Chris Carlson, 5950 West Branch Road, asked about any discussions with Hennepin County
about how much traffic has to increase for changes to roads to be made and what those
changes might be.
Mayor Salazar thanked the audience and said the development will be discussed at the July 21
Planning Commission meeting, noting the public hearing was closed so any additional
comments will be at the Planning Commission's discretion. Mayor Salazar added the
comments are being listened to.
6. Orono Police Officer Tim Sonnek presenting the June 2020 Activity Report for Mound
Officer Tim Sonnek summarized the number of calls/activity for the month of June, 2020
as shown in the report for the packet.
Larson asked if 326 total calls was the total and why there is a discrepancy. Sonnek
said there is some information that does not get reported because if either a case
number or narrative report is not created, it is not included. Larson said she likes the
reporting and is wondering what the difference is year over year. Sonnek said it was
just six calls from June 2019 to 2020. Larson said she had an extremely positive
interaction on a recent call where the officers were very responsive. Bergquist thanked
the all of the officers' efforts during the recent rioting noting he felt very safe in Mound.
7. Cit En ineer Brian Simmons requesting a public meeting for public
comments on City of Mound Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit
Simmons summarized the presentation in one slide. Mound is required to have a Storm
Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a MS4 permit based on Mound's
population and proximity to Lake Minnetonka. Mound must meet some requirements to
maintain permit status, including holding a public meeting for public comment on storm
water management practices. Velsor asked if this is for individual projects and
Simmons said it is for the City as a whole.
Chris Carlson, 5950 West Branch Road, asked about the white pipe that comes out of
the building and discharging into grass/or storm sewer on Commerce. Simmons said
that is a correctly plumbed sump pump that allows regular sewer to be separate from
storm sewer, which is one of the objectives of the program/permit. Simmons noted no
formal action is required on the City Council's part.
8. City Manager Eric Hoversten requesting discussion on State of Minnesota
Cares Act Funding for counties cities and townships
Mound City Council Minutes — July 14, 2020
Hoversten stated the packet included some preliminary information on the Federal CARES Act
funding for local governments under 500K in population. The City received an allocation of just
over $700K for the city to recover costs related to COVID-19, business relief and other
qualifying individuals and organizations. Hoversten said any unutilized funds will go back to
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) per the CARES Act stipulations, any funds not used
by the county will be returned to the State of Minnesota. Hoversten said Staff is looking for
direction on how the Council may wish to proceed with looking at opportunities to assist locally.
Hoversten said municipal revenue replacement is explicitly prohibited, but the City will have
some qualified COVID-19 related expenses. Hoversten said it is important to ensure proper
oversight and one thought is to partner with established County programs for their
administrative services, but also acknowledged other taxing districts in our area may be
enduring even more hardship that ultimately will impact our tax base.
Mayor Salazar agreed it is important to take a look at potential uses. Salazar noted Staff's
recommendation to appoint two council members to an advisory committee along with three
members of the community for a panel of five. Pugh said she agrees this is really important and
the need is to act quickly to create partnerships and noted she would like to also participate on
the committee. Salazar said it is important to look at local opportunities in addition to
considering HCMC, which is a great institution. Salazar did an informal poll and all agreed with
Salazar and Pugh being the Council representatives.
Salazar invited Superintendent Kevin Borg to speak to the Council on some of the challenges
the school district is experiencing. Borg said he was just outlining the challenges to the school
board and although they recognize there are other potential uses for the CARES act funds, he
gave a series of examples of the challenges on how they are preparing their COVID-19
response. Borg said any of the plans —100% return with social distancing, hybrid, or all on-line
involve incremental costs, including technology to facilitate distance learning, PPE supplies, and
more significantly transportation — 6' social distance is 13 students on a 77 passenger school
bus. Borg said there are 15 routes already. Borg said the increased demand for keeping the
building safe requires 2 more janitorial staff and rethinking the cafeteria model, in addition to
more substitute teachers being needed to minimize classroom changes and in the event staff
has to quarantine. Borg said safety and high quality education are everyone's top priority. Borg
said there were some CARES Act funding for schools but it was only in the range of $170K
compared to Mound's $700+. Borg noted transportation servers both public and private schools
and keeping kids safe in our community is everybody's priority and benefits everybody.
Salazar thanked Borg and agreed our children are our legacy and wanting a safe, high quality
education is everyone's priority. Hoversten said Staff will reach out with Salazar and Pugh to
assemble the advisory committee. Salazar suggested 2 city council, 2 business and one non-
profit.
9. Information/Miscellaneous
A. Comments/reports from Council members/City Manager:
Hoversten said candidate filing begins soon and absentee balloting will be handled through
Hennepin County and the polls will be open August 11, noting the Tuesday City Council meeting
was moved to Wednesday, August 12.
Salazar said Jason Zattler reached out to him to note on page 3 of the quarterly newsletter was
a redevelopment recap that was well written, but omitted investments by Twin Cities Closets
and redevelopment of the parking lot in the Langdon District. Also, the Girlie Project
Mound City Council Minutes — July 14, 2020
Chiropractor also opened. Salazar thanked and welcomed these new businesses and thanked
the audience as well.
Larson complemented the recent application of mulch in the downtown on how good it looks. In
addition, Larson complemented the construction crews around the Shorewood Road sewer
project noting how well managed it was and how well traffic flowed. Hoversten thanked Bolton
& Menk for the day to day management of the City construction projects.
B. Reports: Liquor Store — June 2020 YTD
Mound Fire Relief Assoc. Pension Actuarial Report 2019
C. Minutes:
D. Correspondence:
10. Adourn
MOTION by Velsor, seconded by Pugh, to adjourn at 8:10 p.m All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
Mayor Raymond J. Salazar
Attest: Catherine Pausche, Clerk