1991-03-19 45
March 19, 1991
MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MARCH 19, 1991
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM. Members present:
Johnson, Smith, Ahrens, Jensen and Jessen. Absent: none. Also
present: City Manager Ed Shukle, City Engineer John Cameron,
Parker Hodges of the Sailor. and Tom Reese, LMCD Representative.
A brief review of the January 15, 1991 Committee of the Whole
minutes was held.
The Public Works material storage issue was discussed. The city
manager presented the appraisal as prepared by BCL Appraisals of
Minneapolis on the Anthony's Floral site. The appraisal, not
including soil corrections, was $70,000~ Discussion was held.
John Cameron, City Engineer, reviewed a cost estimate on
preparation of the site should the City acquire it for public
works storage. Cameron presented three alternates under phase
one with Alternate "A" estimated to be $163,000, Alternate "B"
$142,400 and Alternate "C" $131,900. Phase one represented
improving the area from Commerce Boulevard west back to the site,
with the marshy area being included under phase two. The phase
two under Alternate "Y" for $97,300, Alternate "Z" $80,600.
After some discussion, Council directed staff to forward the
appraisal on to Tony VanDerSteeg and to indicate to him that the
City was interested in pursuing negotiations on the property.
The factors that will have to be considered in negotiations are
soil borings, the driveway easement and dredging spoils that are
currently being dumped there by Minnetonka Portable Dredging.
Mayor Johnson agreed to assist the City Manager in negotiating
with Tony and trying to do that within the next week.
City Manager Ed Shukle and City Engineer John Cameron updated the
Council on the city hall project. They indicated that the
original estimate of $974,864 has been slightly exceeded. The
actual cost as of February 28, 1991 is $976,603.35 (please note
the revised contract amount includes change order #44 in the
amount of $6,610 for removal of contaminated soil which should be
90% reimbursable from the MPCA). Shukle and Cameron expressed to
the Council the concern that they had with the construction
observation portion of the cost. The estimate there was $28,941
and the actual cost incurred had been $48,690.55 as of 2-28-91.
They said that this is likely to increase if Shingobee continues
to delay the completion of the project. They advised the Council
that a letter had been sent to the vice president of Shingobee
dated March 19th, which they were shown a copy of, indicates that
the City of Mound and McCombs Frank Roos Associates is unhappy
with the amount of time it is taking to get certain items of the
punch list completed satisfactorily. They told the Council that
they had a meeting on February 28, 1991. They indicated that
Shingobee had assured the City that all items, with a few
exceptions on the punch list, would be completed by March 15,
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March 19, 1991
MINDTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MARCH 19, 1991
1991. It being past that date, they felt that a letter ought to
be sent which would serve the purpose of A.I.A. General
Conditions, Article 2.4.1, in which the Contractor has seven days
after receipt of the letter to satisfactorily complete all
interior work on the punch list. The letter further stated that
per the A.~.A. General Conditions 2.4.1 and Article 12.2.1, that
MFRA and the City of Mound were deducting the cost of MFRA's
additional services since December 15, 1991, which was the date
of substantial completion from the final contract amount. The
estimated costs since that date for MFRA services is $10,000.
They were told that the cost would continue to increase until the
project is completed. This letter had been reviewed with Curt
Pearson, city attorney, and upon his approval it was sent to
Shingobee Builders. Cameron and Shukle both stated that they
were concerned by the lack of attention to the punch list by
Shingobee and were hoping that the letter of March 19, 1991 would
serve the purpose in convincing Shingobee that they better act on
getting the project completed.
Tom Reese, LMCD Representative, was present to review the recent
information on the Long Term M~nagement Plan and Shoreland
Management Plan. Reese presented a letter dated March 18, 1991
which was written by Mr. Charles LeFevere of Homes and Graven,
emphasizing that the Long Term Management Plan was a plan. This
letter was sent to Gene Strommen, Executive Director of the LMCD
with the idea of transmitting this letter to all of the cities in
the LMCD. In addition, Mayor Skip Johnson's draft of a letter to
be sent to all mayors of the 14 communities was briefly
discussed. It was agreed to send this letter. The purpose of
the letter was to try to encourage cooperation amongst all the
cities by suggesting a meeting to be held at Mound City Hall on
April 17, 1991. Also discussed was the need to make an appeal to
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to consider the City of
Mound's interior lakes of Langdon and Dutch in calculating the
grant cost so that Mound can get credit for those lakes as part
of the joint venture of cities and the DNR in preparing the
shoreland management coordinates. The city manager will follow
up on this. Tom Reese also talked about the Milfoil program for
1991 and the legislative proposal of charging $2 per boat
surcharge for assisting in the fight against milfoil. Also
discussed was existing funds and private donations.
City Manager Ed Shukle outlined the Local Government Aid cuts as
proposed by Governor Arne Carlson. He indicated that $40,000
proposed by Carlson and approved by the legislature, will be cut
out of the July 1991 LGA payment. He stated that Carlson has
proposed to cut $40,000 out of the December 1991 LGA payment, but
the legislature has not acted on this proposal. He indicated
that he anticipates that LGA will be severely cut, if not
eliminated, in the 1992 budget year. In order to react to these
March 19, 1991
MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MARCH 19, 1991
cuts, John Norman Finance Director and Ed Shukle examined the
1991 budget to see if line items could be reduced in order to
make up for the loss coming out of the July payment. Shukle
explained they went through the line items in the General Fund
and came up with $9,353 in reductions. They also stated that
they could transfer $6,000 8ut of the Recycling Fund to cover a
portion of the Recycling Coordinator's salary and $21,000 out of
Liquor, Water and Sewer to reflect salaries of the Finance
Department which spend time working in those areas. The balance
of $3355 could be taken out of contingency to come up with the
$39,705 cut. They suggested that instead of absorbing $40,000
out of the General Fund reserve for anticipation of a cut in the
December 1991 payment, that services be looked at and this
translates into staffing changes. Shukle indicated that there is
adequate time to really analyze service levels and staffing so
that within the 1992 budget process, recommendations and
ultimately decisions could be made on cutting some services and
or staffing. Shukle emphasized it is important that the reserve
fund not be relied upon to absorb further cuts from the State of
Minnesota through its Local Government Aid Program.
A possible service organization sign was discussed. Ed Shukle
presented a concept which had been developed by Ted Ganzel
following the January COW meeting. Council directed the city
manager send a letter to service organizations regarding their
participation.
A possible city flag was discussed. Consensus was to order an
outdoor flag which could be carried and hung on a pole at a size
smaller than the US flag. It would be a royal blue with white
background, incorporating the Mound City Days emblem.
City Manager Ed Shukle updated the Council on the open house for
city hall which is scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 1991 between
the hours of 1 - 4 PM. He indicated that speakers would be
designated and plaques would be presented. He also indicated
that the Public Facilities Task Force would be asked to host the
tours of the building. Coffee, cookies, etc. will be provided.
Invitations will be sent out in early April.
The annual Goal Setting/Team Building session will be held on
Saturday, April 6, 1991 from 8 AM to 4 PM at city hall. The
facilitator will be Barbara Arney. Information was distributed
from past sessions and the joint meeting with advisory
commissions and Council held February 19, 1991.
City Manager Ed Shukle reviewed with the Council some information
that was put into the fire chief's annual report regarding the
fire station addition and pensions.
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March 19, 1991
MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - H~RCH 19, 1991
City Manager Ed Shukle asked about his performance evaluation to
be done by the Council. He wanted to know when and what type of
format. The Council said they would meet individually with the
city manager to discuss his evaluation.
Proposed legislation regarding the Hennepin County Parks Board
was discussed. Information was distributed. Council directed
that this matter be placed on the next regular meeting agenda.
Adopt a Green Space was briefly discussed.
Jessen updated the Council on the program.
Councilmember Phyllis
Skip Johnson and Ken Smith agreed that they would prepare a
proposal on the idea of a~ "paint-athon". They would go to
service organizations with the proposal for assistance. The
"paint-athon" would be held in Mound.
The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 1991,
beginning at 7 PM, at city hall. Mayor Johnson and Councilmember
Ahrens were reminded that the Smoking Committee will meet prior
to the COW meeting at 6 PM, at city hall.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15
PM.
R~~~,/~ectfully submitted,
City Manager
ES:ls