2014-09-03 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in special session on
Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the Centennial
Building.
Members present: Mayor Mark Hanus; Councilmembers Kell! Giliispie, Ray Salazar, Mark
Wegscheid and Heidi Gesch
Others present: City Manager Kandis Hanson, Community Development Director Sarah Smith,
Public Works Superintendent Ray Hanson, Liquor Store Manager John Colotti, Public Works
Director Carlton Moore, Fire Chief Greg Pederson, Finance Director /Clerk/Treasurer Catherine
Pausche, Accountant Noah Iverson, Jameson Smieja, Pamela Myers, Vern Brandenburg, Ron
Pauly.
Open Meetinn
Mayor Hanus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Kandis Hanson made some introductory
comments,
1. Westonka Historical Society— Vern Brandenburg and Ron Pauly
A. Request for funding agreement with cities
Brandenburg read from Minnesota State Statute authorizing cities to spend public funds on historical
preservation purposes.
Pauly summarized the request made to area cities to contract for services with the Westonka Historical
Society with funding based on population. Pauly said Spring Park gave $3,000 in 2014 and authorized
another $3,000 for 2015. Pauly proposed $1.50 per resident, which would equate to $13,597.50 for
Mound. Pauly stated they would like to expand into Level 4 of the Centennial Building.
Discussion ensued and it would was stated funding would be considered either later on in the
workshop or in a future budget meeting.
2. Finance and Admin — Catherine Pausche, Finance Director /Clerk /Treasurer
Pausche went over the packet materials for the following topics: fund balance and key
statistics, major contracts and procurement, staffing proposal and capital expenditures.
Pausche stated much of the information was provided for reference and could be referred back
to in future budget discussions. Pausche summarized the reduction in FTEs since 2008 and the
need to add back a position that was vacant and eliminated in 2014.
Metropolitan Environmental Wastewater treatment fees were discussed, including the need to
track/measure I & I elimination efforts and corresponding impact on fees.
3. Fire Department — Greg Pederson, Fire Chief
Pederson went over the packet materials for the following topics: purchase of a ladder truck
and long -term staffing needs.
Hanus questioned how much the ladder truck is used and Pederson said in a recent study,
mainly due to the size, it is only used 12 —15 times a year, whereas engines get used 275 times
per year. Pederson said the committee to evaluate equipment is looking at a combined use,
smaller ladder /engine and what the trade -offs would be.
4. Liquor Store — John Colotti. Manager
Colotti gave a technology update that includes the proposed purchase of a point of sale
(POS) /register system. Colotti stated the current POS system is over 10 years old and the
proposal includes the registers but not annual maintenance. Colotti stated it would streamline
many processes, including inventory management, which would free up management and
possibly reduce the need for part-time payroll. Salazar asked about the life expectancy and
Hanus asked about the pay -back period, for which Colotti stated he would further investigate.
S. Public Works — Carlton Moore, Public Works Dir & Ray Hanson, Public Works Supt
Moore gave an overview of bid alternates, change orders and what is included in the
indirect/contingency costs. Moore also discussed engineering costs in general.
Discussion ensued about why vendor bids can't incorporate the need for changes and Gillispie
questioned the difference between what the Council approves and what is actually paid for. It
was agreed to have Staff provide further analysis on a project by project basis, over the life of
the project, breaking out the construction amounts and soft costs by category, and bring back to
the October budget workshop.
6. Community Development — Sarah Smith, Community Development Dir
Smith gave an overview of a staffing proposal for a Field Officer position and summarized
marketing and developer attraction efforts. Hanus stated that now that a market study has been
performed, it is time to "re- vision" what Mound should be.
Council members were then invited to give their thoughts on the budget and what was
presented. Hanus stated he has concerns about funding the Westonka Historical Society
because there are organizations who also wish to be funded, but that once the 10 -year Gillespie
Center agreement is completed, there may be an opportunity to divert those funds or provide
some kind of contribution in the meantime. Hanus said that could be discussed in future budget
discussion and did not have to be decided tonight. Hanus said he would agree to Scenario 2,
which was a 3% General Fund Revenue Levy /1.75% Total Levy increase, which included the
staff proposals presented at the meeting.
Wegscheid stated he also agreed with Scenario 2 and the personnel adjustments and Gesch
agreed. Wegscheid expressed concern over a potential back -lash from people opposed to the
City Hall move if the Council funded the Historical Society when we already discounted the rent.
Gillisple stated she agreed with Scenario 2 and stated she would like Staff to revisit the contract
with Hennepin County Assessors Office to try to incorporate cost/increases and possible
incorporate rent for the Centennial Building.
Salazar stated he agreed with Scenario 2 and the staffing changes and stated that perhaps
2016 would be a better time to consider funding the Historical Society. Hanus suggested a
ramp -up approach may work but that it did not have to be decided tonight.
Adjourn
MOTION by Wegscheid, seconded by Gesch, to adjourn at 9:45 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
X4P—
%t "� .,,� Mayor Mark
Attest: Catherine Pausche, Clerk