2022-03-22 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
March 22, 2022
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Centennial Building.
Members present: Mayor Ray Salazar; Council members, Paula Larson and Sherrie Pugh
Members absent: Council Members Phil Velsor and Jason Holt
Others present: City Manager Eric Hoversten, City Clerk Kevin Kelly, Assistant City Engineer
Matt Bauman, Orono Police Department Sergeant Tim Sonnek, Mary Davis
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 7:01 p.m.
2 Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve agenda
Hoversten noted Council packet replacement page 617 to correct the minutes as requested by
Council Member Holt. Hoversten said the amendment was to correct the attribution of the quote
at the bottom of the page to Council Member Velsor.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Pugh, to approve the amended agenda. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
4. Consent agenda
MOTION by Pugh, 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 $330,430.24.
B. Approve minutes: 03-08-22 regular meeting
C. RESOLUTION NO. 22-25: RESOLUTION REESTABLISHING PRECINCTS AND
POLLING PLACES
D. RESOLUTION NO. 22-26: RESOLUTION APPROVING VARIANCE FOR 3061
WESTEDGE BOULEVARD PLANNING CASE NO. 21-19
E. Approve 2022 Planning Commission Work Plan and Staff Project List
5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda.
None were offered.
Mound City Council Minutes — March 22, 2022
6. Orono Police Sergeant Tim Sonnek presenting the February Activity Report:
Sonnek presented the February Activity Report for Mound. Sonnek stated there were 296 total
incidents compared to 264 incidents in February of 2021. Sonnek listed two crashes, 10 alarms, nine
animal complaints, two assaults, 59 medical calls, seven burglaries, one DUI, six domestic calls, four
mental health calls, seven thefts, 18 parking complaints, 14 welfare checks and 60 traffic stops.
Sonnek said that Officer Jay Dembowski will be retiring at the end of month after 30 years of service.
Sonnek said he has been the field trainer for the OPD and nearly all the officers received their training
from Dembowski. Sonnek added that Dembowski is also a former Marine.
Sonnek said there are a couple of promising candidates who are interviewing for the embedded Social
Worker position.
Sonnek mentioned a news article about the app named Neighbors in which people can send videos
from their Ring or Nest surveillance cameras to the OPD. Sonnek said the article gave the impression
that the OPD can look through these cameras at all times which he said is not being done.
Salazar said to thank Office Dembowski for his service.
Pugh asked Sonnek about the number of medical calls in the report which led to a discussion about the
trend in the increase in medical calls to both Police and Fire over the last few years.
Hoversten mentioned spring road restrictions are in place and Sonnek stated the OPD officers on the
day shift are actively looking for weight restriction compliance and Officers have two sets of scales to
weigh vehicles if needed.
7. City Engineer Matt Bauman from Bolton & Menk requesting discussion and action on the
following:
Bauman presented the results of four bids received on March 16th. Bauman said this is Phase 2
of the project and the low bid was 29% below estimates. Bauman said Widmer Construction
was the low bidder and have done similar work in the City. Bauman said the resolution is to
accept the Widmer Construction bid.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
a. RESOLUTION NO. 22-27: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BID AND APPROVING AWARD OF
CONTRACT FOR LYNWOOD WATERMAIN IMPROVEMENT PHASE 2: BIRCH TO
SOUTHVIEW; CITY PROJECT NO. PW 22-01
Bauman said the City received five bids on March 16th for the Liftstation project. Baumann said these
competitive bids were quite spread out with the low bid being 1 % below estimates and 30% below the
highest bid. Bauman said Pember Companies was the low bidder. Hoversten noted the City buys the
controls and technical equipment for the Liftstation which will cost $128K. Hoversten said the City
purchase of the tech equipment is part of resolution being approved by the Council.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
Mound City Council Minutes — March 22, 2022
b. RESOLUTION NO. 22-28: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BID AND APPROVING CONTRACT
FOR 2022 LIFTSTATION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT PW 22-03
Hoversten thanked the Council for getting these projects started last fall which allows staff to get
started early in this calendar year to get these projects out for bid in February. Hoversten said
getting four bids for the one project and five bids for the other indicate a healthy bid
environment.
Hoversten said there were revised estimates last year and the new estimates came in favorably,
especially the watermain project which was an excellent bid. Hoversten said staff read the
market well regarding the low bid for the lift station project.
8. Information/Miscellaneous
A. Comments/reports from Council members/City Manager:
Hoversten said he sent a note to Council Members about tax valuations being up in Mound.
Hoversten said the increase for off lake properties has gone up to 25% and lakeshore properties
tax values have increased 29% which reflects market behavior. Hoversten said there could be
a substantial change for individuals on their tax number but rising tides raise all boats.
Hoversten said the Hennepin County suburban average has gone up 18% which should allow
for only modest tax increases for most residences. Hoversten said there will probably be
questions from residents who can call the County Assessors with those questions. Hoversten
said the Hennepin County Open Book Meetings have been scheduled for April 2611 and 28tn
Hoversten said these will be virtual meetings for residents to ask their questions and make
arrangements from there.
Hoversten said Mound is a great place to be an owner of property right now and the City's
taxable market value will be up 25 or 26% which should lower tax rates. Hoversten added it is
the City's job to manage the tax levy and operating costs and not property valuations, noting
there shouldn't be too much fluctuation in individual property tax payments.
Larson congratulated the Westonka High School Boys Basketball team for making the state
tournament for the first time in 49 years.
B. Reports: Fire Department —February 2022
C. Minutes:
D. Correspondence: Mediacom Notification - Rate Increase
HC Elections Notification - Third Party Voter Registration
HC Assessors Notification — Open Book Meeting Schedule
9. Adjourn
ACTION by Pugh, seconded by Larson, to adjourn at 7:20 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
Mayor Raymond J. Salazar
Attest: in kelly, Jerk