Loading...
1999-09-21MINUTE8 - MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 The Committee of the Whole for the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in regular session on Tuesday, September 21, 1999, at 7:30 P.M., in the Council Workroom at 5341 Maywood Road, in said City. Those present were Mayor Pat Meisel, Councilmembers: Andrea Ahrens, Mark Hanus, Leah Weycker. Absent and excused: Councilmember Bob Brown. Also in attendance: Acting City Manager Fran Clark and City Attorney Karen Cole. Others present: City of Mound Fire Department staff: Jeff Andersen, Randy Engelhart (treasurer), Lisa Johnson (secretary), Greg Pederson (chief), Mike Savage. Mayor Meisel opened the meeting at 7:31 P.M. 1.01 FIRE DEPARTMENT RELIEF ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION. Mr. Andersen introduced those fire department staff members present to the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Andersen stated he and Mayor Meisel discussed the upcoming budget and have worked out a plan for the year 2000. Mr. Andersen handed out a packet of information giving details on the background of the Relief Association and some statistical budget information from other cities regarding calls. Mr. Andersen stated an actuarial would be presented at the end of the year showing unfunded liability. The Relief Association is 92 percent funded and they had received a raise of $460 to $510 per month in their pensions. There was discussion by Ms. Johnson and Mr. Andersen regarding the apportionment agreement. Ms. Johnson stated that Maple Plain Fire Department was apportioned 20 percent of the 2 percent money from the state fire area fund and in actuality they cover only 6 percent. Mr. Pederson and stated that Mound and St. Bonifacius were the only cities with changes in their apportionment agreement. That is because the Mound Fire Dept. picked up approximately 100 parcels in the City of Minnetrista from the St. Boni Fire Dept. Mr. Andersen stated he has spoken with the Mayor about forming a Committee consisting of about six people, to set goals for the future of the Fire Dept. He suggested the Committee meet in January of each calendar year. The Committee could consist of the Mayor, the Finance Director, a retired fire fighter and active members of the Fire Dept. Mayor Meisel stated it has been 14 years since the Fire Dept. has received a raise in their hourly rate for fire and rescue calls. Mayor Meisel would like this committee to meet on January 24 in hopes of coming up with a numbers that work for fire calls and for the Relief Association. 698 MINUTES - MOUND COMM1TIEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 Mr. Andersen stated that some of the fn'e department prefer receiving the raise in their pension rather than an increase in the dollars per hour for fire and rescue calls. Mr. Andersen further stated that when the Association comes to the City for a raise, the monies are available as stated in the actuarial due to investments and elimination of administrative expenses by the Fire Department. Mr. Pederson stated currently the fire department's rate of pay is $6.50 per hour for fire and rescue calls. Mr. Pederson stated there is concern by some of the younger fire fighters about their per hour pay for fire and rescue calls and Mound would like to keep the younger volunteers happy. There is interest of having the Committee that looks at this be balanced appropriately with both the active volunteers and the retirees. Ms. Johnson stated even though each of the City of Mound fire fighters have their full-time jobs elsewhere, the fire fighters still spend about 75 hours per month at the fire station because of calls, drills, etc. Mr. Pederson compared the survey of other fire departments in the area with Mound's cost for fire service and found even though Mound had the most calls, they are the lowest cost per call. Mr. Pederson also stated that in comparison to other cities our size fire fighters receive in the range of $6.50 to $10.00. Councilmember Hanus asked if the salary were increased, would this be enough to keep the younger fire fighters in the department. Mr. Pederson stated the department needs to come up with more creative ways to keep the people as volunteer fire fighters. Mr. Andersen stated there are about 15 fire fighters available during the day. Mr. Andersen also stated that the fire fighters have to live in Mound or a distance of no more than 3 1/2 miles out from the fire service area to be considered as a fire fighter. The Council and the Fire Dept. are looking forward to forming the Committee and meeting on January 24th of next year. 1.1 PRESENTATION BY CITY ATTORNEY - BAILEY V. LIEN, ET AL. City Attorney Karen Cole gave an update on this case. She briefed the Council on the work that needed to be done to complete the settlement agreement. She stated that 80 of the households have signed the agreement. She stated the title work has been completed to date and now the legal papers could be served. Ms. Cole presented a Notice of Hearing that was put in laymen's terms so that all the petitioners would understand. The next step would be to participate at the hearing within 30 days of service of this Notice. After the hearing and the judge makes his ruling, the LMCD would need to give their final approval. MINUTES - MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 Thc consensus by thc Council was to go ahead with the draft of the Notice of Hearing presented tonight by counsel. 1.2 STORM SEWER RATE STUDY/CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. The Acting City Manager stated Mr. Daniel Hartman of Springsted Public Finance Advisors sent a proposed work plan for a storm sewer rate analysis (SSRA) and capital Improvement Program (CIP). The SSRA for the City of Mound would determine the appropriate rate structure needed to pay for ongoing operations and a planned capital improvement to the Storm Sewer Utility established in City Code Section 650. This CIP would develop a plan that assists the City in its budgeting process by outlining its CIP and identifying the different funding options. The Plan also would include the possibility of a street lighting utility. The cost is approximately $10,000. Councilmember Hanus stated the rate for this study is about one-third of the cost of the actual implementation of the Plan. After discussion, the consensus from the Council was to have Ehlers submit a proposal. This will then be brought back to the Council for their review at a future meeting. 1.3 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT. The Acting City Manager stated the Consumer Confidence Report was presented tonight as information for the Council to be aware of what action is being taken in case they receive any phone calls from concerned citizens or other individuals regarding the water samples being taken. This is a requirement of the Minnesota Dept. of health. 1.4 CITY MANAGER SEARCH UPDATE - MERCER GROUP. The Acting City Manager stated Mercer Group, Inc. has signed the Agreement to start a search for a new City Manager. Mr. Mercer will prepare a Position Profile based on information received from the City, Councilmembers and Department Heads. After the compilation was complete, a specific profile for a City Manager for the City of Mound would be sent back to Mercer Group, Inc. for review. Mr. Mercer will be available to conduct interviews with the Councilmembers and Department Heads on October 5* and 6% 1999. 700 MINUTES- MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 Mayor Meisel called the Council's attention to the questions for the City Council which were attached to the Agreement tonight. The Acting City Manager will coordinate times for everyone to meet with Mr. Mercer. 1.5 RF-~TO~ON OF CRESCENT PARK, JIM'S MEMO WAS SENT TO THE CITY PROSEt~UTQR AND HE HAS OK'D IT, IF THE COUNCIL AGREES. CRAIG MERTZ WILL SEND A LETTER TO MR, BAUER. The Acting City Manager presented this case. Evidently, Mr. Bauer did not perform the restoration to replace trees he cut down in 1997 in a timely manner according to Resolution //97-100 and an extension was given in 1998 which had now expired. Even though planting did not occur, the Acting City Manager stated nature had taken its course and new trees and brush have grown to a level where the cutting down had occurred in 1997. Staff is recommending that Mr. Bauer's Public I_ands Permit be retracted and a letter be sent notifying him that any further cutting on public lands will be given to the City Attorney for immediate prosecution. After discussion the consensus by the Council was to have the City Attorney write a letter to Mr. Bauer explaining if further cutting does occur, he will be immediately prosecuted. STREET LIGHT REQUEST ON ALEXANDER LANE. THIS WILL BE ON THE SEPTEMBER 28TM AGENDA. The Acting City Manager explained that a the present the light that is there is a security light that was put in by NSP at the request of the previous owner. The current owner is having problems with it and NSP cannot repair it because of its age, therefore, the installation of a street light has been requested to replace it. The request was reviewed by the Police Dept. and Staff and the recommendation was to approve the installation. This will be before the Council at the September 28, Council Meeting. 1.7 LIOUOR STORE LEASE NEGOTIATION. The Acting City Manager stated Joel Krumm, the Liquor Store Manager, informed her the three-year lease agreement on the Liquor Store will expire at the end of this year. Shoreline Plaza is presenting a $.50 per square foot increase ($7.50 per square foot to $8.00 per square foo0 from last year which will result in about $1,500 of additional expense to the liquor store. A decision needs to be made regarding the renewal of the lease and for how long of a time period. 701 MINUTES- MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 The Acting City Manager stated the liquor store manager does not want to be put in a cubbyhole in the downtown area with the redevelopment of the downtown area. Ideally, the manager of the liquor store would like to build a new store in the Lost Lake area. The Liquor Store Manager submitted a memo to the Council addressing the following: 1. Staying where he is at the new $8.00 per square foot. 2. How important location is for this store. 3. How this could work if the City built a free standing new store. The Council discussed various options. The consensus of the Council was to try to extend the current lease for two more years with a one year option. The Council appreciated Mr. Krumm's ideas concerning the liquor store which could be discussed at a later date and time. 1.8 APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY COMMISSIONS. Mayor Meisel stated this matter has been tabled to a future COW meeting. 1.9 LOCAL PROGRAMMING FACILITIES AGREEMENT WITH LAKE MINNETONKA CABLE COMMISSION. The Acting City Manager stated the most significant change in the Agreement is LMCC proposing the City dedicate not only the $.84 per subscriber per month which the City receives for support of PEG access from Triax/Mediacom, but also a portion of the City's franchise fees to help offset the costs associated with the operation of the studio. This is a proposal at present and the City will be getting back to the LMCC in October. In the meantime, the City of Mound does not have anyone to do the reruns of the tapes of the Council Meetings so they are not being shown. More to come at a future meeting. 1.10 SCHOOL DISTRICT. Mayor Meisel stated she had delivered the redevelopment agreement to the School Board with all Councilmembers' stamp of approval. The School Board's attorney reviewed the agreement and talked about it at their Monday night Board meeting. There were arrangements made by Mayor Meisel and a representative of the School Board to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the redevelopment agreement and have a copy available for Mayor Meisel to bring to the Council on Tuesday night. Instead of presenting the agreement to Mayor Meisel, the Board tabled the Agreement. Before the agreement is signed by the Board, the Board wants the City to write a letter stating the City owes the School Board money and that the City of Mound is willing to negotiate. Mayor Meisel stated the 702 MINUTES- MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 agreement is worthwhile for the School Board to sign, but yet they want a letter from the City as well. Mayor Meisel stated that legally the City does not owe the School Board anything, but yet they still want this letter from the City. The meeting recessed at 9:45 P.M. into executive session to discuss this possible litigation. The Committee of the Whole Meeting was called back into session at 10:10 P.M.. The Mayor stated the following was discussed in Executive Session. That in a conversation with the City Attorney, John Dean, felt that in his opinion the City would be successful in a court case if such was brought against the City. That the question at hand is whether there is an interest by the City Council to negotiate with the School Board on what they think is owed by the City of Mound. The consensus was that there may be room for negotiation. INFORMATION ITEMS. 1. Financial report for August as prepared by the Finance Director, Gino Businaro. 2. L.M.C.D. information on private dock on wexford road. Information on the two new police officers, Jam, Burke and Michael Bruckner. They will be sworn in at the September 28, 1999, City Council meeting. Hiring schedule for a replacement for Bob Shanley who will be retiring on January 3, 2000. Memo regarding CDBG funding for the year 2000. The Acting City Manager spoke with Rod Wara and this could mean a 6 percent reduction in our CDBG funding for next year. Mayor Meisel informed the members tonight she wanted to reschedule the next Committee of the Whole Meeting to October 5th because she will be out of town between October 16th and October 24th. and the COW Meeting on October 19' was to have the department heads present their budgets 703 MINt]lEg- MOUND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- SEPTEMBER 21, 1999 The Acting City Manager was instructed to inform the following department heads to be in attendance at the next Committee of the Whole Meetings would be October 5th and October 14th for the department heads to present their budgets for the year 2000. Scheduled for October 5'~ to discuss their budgets for the upcoming year will be Len Harrell, Jim Fackler, and Joel Krumm. Scheduled for October 14th will be Greg Skinner, Jon Sutherland, Fran Clark, Gino Businaro, and Greg Pederson. MOTION by Ahrens, seconded by Weycker to adjourn at 10:24 P.M. The vote was unanimously in favor. Motion carried. Francene C. Clark, Acting City Manager Attest: Council Secretary 704