2022-10-11 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
October 11, 2022
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on
Tuesday, October 11, 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, and
Jason Holt
Members absent: Phil Velsor
Others present: City Manager Eric Hoversten, City Clerk Kevin Kelly, Administrative Services
Director Catherine Pausche, Fire Relief Association President Andrew Drilling, Greg Pederson,
Fire Chief, Kim Blievernicht, Owen Mayer, Eric Gansebom, Michael Jabs and Aaron Crandall.
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 7:02 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve agenda
Hoversten removed Item 6 from the agenda and amended the date in the Item 4D memo on
page 2429 from 2021 to 2022.
MOTION by Holt, seconded by Pugh, to approve the agenda as amended. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
4. Consent agenda
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to approve the consent agenda. Upon roll call vote, all
voted in favor. Motion carried.
A. Approve payment of claims in the amount of $360,709.93.
B. Approve minutes: 09-27-22 regular meeting
C. RESOLUTION NO. 22-86: RESOLUTION APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF
ELECTION JUDGES AS RECOMMENDED FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION ON
NOVEMBER 8, 2022
D. Approve Pay Request #1 in the amount of $74,297.13 to New Look Contracting for
the 2022 Paver Sidewalk Replacement Project — Phl , PW 22-08
E. RESOLUTION NO. 22-87: RESOLUTION APPROVING VARIANCE FOR DETACHED,
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE THAT EXCEEDS HEIGHT OF HOUSE AT 5108 TUXEDO
BOULEVARD
Mound City Council Minutes — October 11, 2022
5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda.
None were offered.
6. REMOVED - Sergeant Matt Siltala with the Mound Activity Report for September.
7. Public Hearings
Pausche addressed the Council with the annual public hearing for miscellaneous assessments which
are typically related to mowing and delinquent utility bills. Pausche said state statute allows cities to
assess delinquent utility bills to property taxes vs. having to administer credit and collections. Pausche
added that 20% of the properties listed will likely pay by November, noting the total amount of
delinquent utilities is $360K. Pausche said the Department of Commerce water assistance program
provided $15K in financial assistance to Mound residents and this program was reopened on October
1 st but with a reduced amount of funds available.
A. Action on Resolution Adopting Assessment for Delinquent Municipal Utility
Bills and Certifying to the County Auditor at 5% Interest — Levy # 22018
Salazar opened the public hearing on assessment of delinquent utility bills at 7:08. No one came
forward and the public hearing closed at 7:08.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-88: RESOLUTION ADOPTING ASSESSMENT FOR DELINQUENT
MUNICIPAL UTIITY BILLS AND CERTIFYING TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AT 5% INTEREST —
LEVY #22018
B. Action on Resolution Adopting Assessment for Miscellaneous Expenses
And Certifying to the County Auditor at 5% Interest — Levy #22020
Salazar opened the public hearing for assessment for miscellaneous expenses at 7:09 p.m.
Owen Mayer, 1723 Canary Lane, said the billing for the mowing assessment amounts are inconsistent
and expensive for his very tiny yard. Mayer wondered why some of the other assessments are at a
lower cost than his assessment.
Salazar said the City has contractors perform these services at the last minute and they have a price
they charge and then bill the City. Mayer said there should be competitive bidding. Mayer said he was
charged for two hours of mowing and his yard is 15' x 25' and can be cut in 15 minutes. Salazar said
the charge is the time for the contractor to get to the job and do the work.
Mayer said the City should hire a local contractor. Salazar said the contractor needs to be licensed and
bonded professional. Mayer said he didn't realize he could call Drilling and not be charged as Mayer
said he didn't mow his property due to being sick.
Mayer said the procedure should be reevaluated and the mowing is not a critical thing like a house
burning down. Salazar said the maximum height of weeds must be met before the City gets involved.
Mayer said he pulled most of the weeds and due to being sick he didn't get it all done.
Mound City Council Minutes — October 11, 2022
Pausche said the City does get quotes and enforcement is complaint based. Pausche said the City
uses Beniek Property Services in Chanhassen. Pausche said the higher cost is to act as a deterrent as
absentee property owners used to treat it as a lawn service in the past. Pausche gave Mayer her
contact information to follow-up on why the assessment amounts were different.
Mayer said there should be more flexibility and Pausche said the directive from Council and many in
the public has been to be more responsive to these conditions.
Salazar closed the public hearing at 7:18 p.m.
MOTION by Holt, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-89: RESOLUTION ADOPTING ASSESSMENT FOR MISCELLANEOUS
EXPENSES AND CERTIFYING TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AT 5% INTEREST — LEVY #22020
C. Action on Resolution Adopting Assessment for Hazardous Building Abatement
And Certifying to the County Auditor at 5% Interest — Levy #22021
Salazar opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. No one came forward and Salazar closed the
public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-90: RESOLUTION ADOPTING ASSESSMENT FOR HAZARDOUS BUILDING
ABATEMENT — LEVY#22021
8. Mound Fire Relief Association Pension Increase
Chief Pederson and Drilling addressed the Council. Pederson stated the Mound Fire Department is a
40-member department serving Mound, Minnetrista, Spring Park and Shorewood. Pederson said he is
representing the Fire Department and Drilling will be speaking on behalf of the Mound Fire Relief
Association.
Pederson said Fire Department is made up of three different entities; the Mound Volunteer Fire
Department, Mound Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association, Inc. and the Mound Volunteer Fire
Department Auxiliary which is primarily made up of members' spouses.
Pederson said the call activity level is extremely high as there were 659 calls in 2021 and there have
been over 700 calls in 2022 already. Pederson said staff accumulated 18,391 hours of service time in
2021.
Pederson said the Fire Chief of Eden Prairie conducted a wage survey in January 2022 of 27 Fire
Departments in the metro area. Pederson said the survey revealed the hourly rate of paid on call for
EMS and Fire response on average is at $15.92 an hour while Mound's pay is at $9.50 an hour.
Pederson noted Chaska members were the highest paid at $18.93 an hour.
Pederson said Fire Department members love their job and do many community activities which are
unpaid, noting the members are dedicated, committed and are not in it for the money.
Mound City Council Minutes — October 11, 2022
Pederson said the hourly rate of pay and the pension plan was brought to the attention of the Fire
Commission. Pederson said the pension amount contributed is $5862 per member and is fully vested
at 20 years. Pederson said the Fire Commission is made up of Mound and the three other cities served
by the Fire Department who pay 45% of Fire Department budget. Pederson said those three cities
approved the pension increase when it was presented to them.
Drilling said the Relief Association is required to do an actuarial study every two years which was
completed at the end of 2021 by Van Iwaarden and Associates.
Drilling said there are two pension plans for members who were hired after January 1, 2013; one which
is a lump sum benefit and the second a monthly benefit with each being based on years of service.
Drilling said a member is fully vested after 20 years of service. Drilling said the current pension benefits
are $635 monthly and $5862 a year. Drilling added the proposal before the Council is to increase the
monthly contribution by $33.50 a month to $670 a month, or 5.5%.
Drilling said based on the 2021 investment valuation from Van Iwaarden the 5% increase will reduce
the percent of the pension being fully funded from 107.25% to 102.1 %. Drilling said this percentage will
most likely be lower due to the performance of the stock market this year but the pension percent
funded should remain strong.
Drilling said 2019 was the last benefit increase for members and the previous pension fund increases
were in 2013 and 2001 prior to that.
Drilling added that the Relief Association held their annual meeting on October 31 and the active and
retired membership moved and seconded the proposal to request the 5.5% increase.
Hoversten said the firefighter pay increase has been incorporated into the Fire Department
budget which will bring fire fighter pay closer to average of other metro departments. Hoversten
said this will need to be adjusted year to year going forward. Hoversten said this action on the
pension is based on past performance of the fund and the annual contribution which is a budget
line item. Hoversten added this request is for the Council to put more money into the fund every
year in order to grow the pension side of fire fighter benefits.
Salazar said we have a remarkable Fire Department with 40 members while surrounding area
Fire Departments are in a perpetual `now hiring' status. Salazar said the department has a
great `esprit de corps' benefiting the City and the increase in the hourly wage is greatly
deserved.
Larson said her brother was Assistant Fire Chief on the Mound Fire Department and her son
also retired at the lieutenant rank. Larson said thanks also goes out to the family members who
support members and thanked the department for their work.
Pugh said she went to the Fire Department open house and it was quite wonderful to see kids
getting rides on the fire trucks. Pugh thanked and congratulated the Fire Department for their
volunteer service. Pugh added the Fire Department is a community attribute and the shining
star of the City.
Salazar said he also attended the fire prevention event last night.
MOTION by Holt, seconded by Pugh, to approve the fire department pension increase. All
voted in favor. Motion carried.
Mound City Council Minutes — October 11, 2022
Pederson added that next year is the 1001h year of the Mound Fire Department and planning for a big
celebration is under way.
Larson said her family has old film of Island Park Fire Department events held in Swenson Park and it
is fascinating. Pederson said he would like to take a look at the film.
9. Information/Miscellaneous
A. Comments/reports from Council members/City Manager:
Hoversten highlighted the following:
• Council Workshop on October 18th at 6:30 p.m.
• November 8th Council Meeting rescheduled to the 91h due to the General Election
• December 27th meeting is cancelled
• The Mound Farmers Market and More is over for the year
• November 19th Tree Lighting activity
• November 19th Harbor Wine and Spirits will hold a live auction at the Depot at Surfside
Park with liquor and beer memorabilia collected over the years with proceeds to go to
the Surfside Park improvements
B. Reports: Liquor Store — September 2022
Finance Department — August 2022
C. Minutes: Planning Commission — September 6, 2022
D. Correspondence: MPCA memo — MCES Proposed Blue Lake Improvements
10. Adjourn
ACTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
—A, offx�
Mayor Raymond J. Salazar
Attest: vin Kelly, le