2020-01-14 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 14, 2020
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, held its annual meeting
and met in regular session on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers
of the Centennial Building.
Members present: Mayor Ray Salazar, Council Members Jeff Bergquist, Sherrie Pugh, Paula
Larson and Phil Velsor.
Members absent: None
Others present: City Manager Eric Hoversten, Mary Davis, Suzanne Berg, Alyssa Cruse, Molly
Egan, Cassidy Jenkins, Isabelle Ayaz, Emily Moore, Claire Russick, Bekah McCann, Ava
Chonia, Betsy Brady, Annabelle Wiskus, Megan Stacey, Sara Larson, Kate Wirth, Sophia
Cheib, Elena Schmidt, Callyn Tile, Christopher Twirror, Madison Steahl, Kalsa Steahl, Jim Kirk,
Jordan Deering, Claire Beard, Truman Rowbsky, Scott Qualle
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.
I Open meeting
Mayor Salazar called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m.
2. Pledge of Alleqiance
3. Approve agenda
MOTION made by Velsor, seconded by Larson, to approve the agenda. All voted in favor.
Motion carried.
4. Consent agenda
Pugh requested items 4D and 4H to be pulled for discussion.
MOTION made by Velsor, seconded by Bergquist, to approve the consent agenda as
amended. Upon roll call vote, all voted in favor. Motion carried.
A. Approve payment of claims $765,249.34
B. Approve minutes: 12-10-19 Regular Meeting
C. RESOLUTION NO. 20-01: RESOLUTION APPOINTING JEFF BERGQUIST AS
ACTING MAYOR FOR 2020
D. Removed.
E. RESOLUTION NO. 20-03: RESOLUTION APPOINTING CATHERINE PAUSCHE
AS THE ACTING CITY MANAGER FOR 2020
F. RESOLUTION NO. 20-04: RESOLUTION APPOINTING FIELD OFFICER
Mound City Council Minutes — January 14, 2020
ANDREW DRILLING AS ASSISTANT WEED INSPECTOR FOR 2020
G. RESOLUTION 20-05: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF
BONDING AS PROVIDED UNDER MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 412.111
H. Removed.
RESOLUTION NO. 20-07: RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE LAKER AS THE
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR 2020
Approve request for commercial kennel license for Mound Emergency Management
Division, waiving the fee
K. RESOLUTION NO. 20-08: RESOLUTION MAKING SELECTION NOT TO WAIVE
THE STATUTORY TORT LIMITS FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE PURPOSES
L. RESOLUTION NO. 20-09: RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING CONTINUATION OF
CDBG FUNDING OF WESTONKA COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (WeCAN)
M. Approve Hennepin County Assessor Open Book Meeting for Monday, April 27, 2020
from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
N. RESOLUTION NO. 20-10: RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 19-91
RESOLUTION ADOPTING FEE SCHEDULE FOR 2020
O. RESOLUTION NO. 20-11: RESOLUTION ORDERING THE ABATEMENT OF A
HAZARDOUS BUILDING LOCATED AT 1720 RESTHAVEN LANE IN THE CITY
OF MOUND
P. RESOLUTION NO. 20-12: RESOLUTION APPOINTING ABSENTEE BALLOT
BOARD FOR 2020
Q. Approve special meetings in 2020:
1) Feb. 18th 7:00 pm - Concurrent Planning Commission Meeting
2) Apr. 21 st 6:30 pm — Supervisors Annual Reports to City Council
3) Aug. 12th 7:00 pm — Rescheduled Aug. 11th Regular Meeting due to
Primary Election
4) Oct. 20th 6:30 pm - 2021 Budget and Long Term Financial Plan
4C. (Removed) Approve a resolution appointing City Council Members as Representatives of
the City Council to Committees and Commissions for 2020
Pugh requested this item pulled in order to request more diversity between those serving on the
committees and ask what procedurally would be needed for other members to join in on the
committee or commission meetings.
Mayor Salazar noted the outcomes of the meetings are discussed with total transparency to the
Council, and gave several examples, including the workshop in October 2019, and said that the
decision for appointments was based on the previous year and what best met the needs. Mayor
Salazar said if 3 or more members attend the meetings, there is a quorum, which requires the
need for posting the meetings in advance.
Mound City Council Minutes — January 14, 2020
Hoversten stated they would be able to participate in a discussion, but if there was any formal
decision making done by those commission bodies that have representatives on, only those
representatives appointed to that body would be able to vote and each could have different
scenarios that need to be handled ahead of time, but that often the meetings are quickly set, not
leaving enough time for the meetings to be posted in advance of the 3 business day minimum.
Bergquist pointed out that often the meetings are during the work day which can be difficult for
him to attend, and suggested Pugh be the Representative for Suburban Rate Authority (SRA). All
agreed.
MOTION made by Larson, seconded by Pugh, to approve the following resolution
amended to reflect Sherrie Pugh as the rep to the Suburban Rate Authority. All voted in
favor. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 20-02: RESOLUTION APPOINTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
FOR 2020
4H. (Removed) Approve a resolution designating the Official Depositories for 2020
Pugh requested this item to be pulled because she would like to be supportive of businesses in
the Mound community when possible, including creating smaller depository accounts.
Mayor Salazar explained that was the practice in the past, but the process has been streamlined
for the various funds in effort to work as efficiently and cost effectively as possible, and while it's
nice to spread that around, it's just added cost and added work.
Pugh requested to go on record as disagreeing with that being the case.
Mayor Salazar reiterated the importance to work as efficiently as possible, keeping in mind
countless budget cuts, reduced staffing by over 40%, the merge of the police force with Orono,
and the need to be cognizant of saving money for constituents, taxpayers, and being prudent with
tax dollars and time management.
Hoversten agreed and explained daily banking operations are done through Wells Fargo and the
other depositories are for specific investment products, making moving those around much more
difficult. Hoversten said the only flexibility is for the daily operations funds to be broken up
across several banks vs. keeping all accounts with the one bank that can offer the full services that
the city requires, making it a choice of level of effort or level of service.
MOTION made by Bergquist, seconded by Velsor, to approve the following resolution. All
voted in favor. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 20-06: RESOLUTION DESGNATING THE OFFICIAL
DEPOSITORIES FOR 2020
5. Comments and suggestions from citizens present on any item not on the agenda.
None
Mound City Council Minutes — January 14, 2020
Mayor Salazar invited a student representative of the class to come forward and introduce
the group.
Becca McCann, Senior at Mound Westonka High School, said the 12th grade Government
class requirement is to attend government meetings every quarter, receive sign -offs, and
report back to teacher, Mr. Kiel, noting it is a really a good class.
6. Orono Police Sgt Kenny Beck presenting the Mound Activity Report for December
Sgt. Kenny Beck gave a report on December's 139 calls for service: 9 suspicious
activities, 11 accidents, 3 civil, 29 medicals, 6 alarms, 18 domestics/disturbance, 11
theft/fraud, 8 welfare checks, 15 traffic complaints/parking issues. Beck noted lockouts
have really soared because of people leaving their cars running and locking keys in cars,
4 DWI, 3 animal calls, 20 miscellaneous assist calls, 2 juvenile cases, 1 sex crime. Beck
noted a total of 2,102 calls for 2019.
Beck extended an invitation from Police Chief Farniok to join team Frozen Cop -Sickles at
the Polar Plunge on January 25th and support the police department by jumping in freezing
Lake Minnetonka or by sponsoring the team.
7, Molly Egan of Special Olympics Minnesota providinga presentation on the Mound,
Lake Minnetonka Polar Plunge activities forthcoming, January 25, 2020
Molly Egan and Betsy Brady (also a citizen of Mound) gave a presentation on the Mound
Lake Minnetonka Polar Plunge activities planned for January 25th at Surfside Park and
noted this is the kickoff event for the season, and they actually have 30 different events
throughout the year.
Egan explained that a Polar Plunge is jumping into a hole, cut into a frozen lake to raise
money for Special Olympics of Minnesota, that it's a fun day, a nice Minnesotan thing to
do, which breaks up the winter while raising money for Special Olympics, and for those
that don't want to plunge, there is the "Too Chicken to Plunge" where you register, walk
out with your team and throw a rubber chicken in the water and return warm and dry.
Egan encourages people to register online, noting the different incentives, including
sweatshirts, hats, and jackets, and that any age can jump, making it a really fun
community event. Egan explained the water is 3'/2 -4 feet deep at the max, jumpers
should bring an extra pair of clothes, towel and shoes to wear (no flip flops- they fall
off/lost in the lake), and that the anticipation is the worst part of it, once you're done, you
get in the warm, heated tunnel, and you warm up really quickly again and kind of forget
and just get ready for next year.
Egan encourages people to come out, it is a wonderful time to see everybody, a lot of
people come in costumes, there's music, beverages, many businesses in the area donate
hot chocolate and coffee, it's fun to showcase the area in the wintertime and see the
national organizations doing interviews and commercials on TV.
Egan gave the details of the event, including Surfside Park & Beach at 1:00 on Saturday,
January 25th, registration starts at 11:00 am, (can still register on Friday 5:00-7:00 p.m. or
the day of), and on Friday night is a kick-off at Surfside Bar and Grill with music to start the
event and the celebration. Brady explained that parking on Saturday will be at the parking
ramp, with shuttles down to the beach, and noted the parking lot by the beach area will be
Mound City Council Minutes — January 14, 2020
closed off.
Egan stated they work with Orono Police, Mound Fire, Westonka Community and
Commerce, the Rotary and Surfside Bar & Grill to put on this event. Eagan noted all the
events are sponsored by the non-profit Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR).
Egan explained there are over 8,100 athletes served by Special Olympics Minnesota, the
Polar Plunge funds go not just to sporting events, but to leadership programs, unified
programs, noting Orono High School is one of the biggest unified schools, and other
groups working together to organize other sporting events or getting different clubs
together.
Egan stated there are volunteer opportunities on the website as well. Brady added that
there are some great opportunities even for students who want to jump as a team, and a
percentage of the money the students raise will go back to their school.
8. Evaluation of the performance of City Manager Eric Hoversten
Mayor Salazar announced this meeting is being closed under Minnesota Statutes, Section
13D.05, to evaluate the performance of Eric Hoversten, an individual subject to the
Council's authority.
Mayor Salazar closed the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
9. Motion to reopen/discussion and possible action on City Manager Employment
Agreement
Mayor Salazar reopened the meeting at 9:18 p.m. and stated the evaluation is complete
and directions were given on how to proceed with the City Manager's contract.
10. Information/Miscellaneous
Comments/reports from Council members/City Manager:
Pugh read a statement regarding the US Census, noting citizens of the United States
have two main responsibilities; to vote and to be counted. Pugh stated the constitution
mandates that all people in the United States be counted every 10 years, as the data
determines federal funding for housing, schools, public safety, transportation, vital
resources, and determines political representation in the state legislature and Congress.
Pugh encouraged all to participate, noting it's all electronic this year, and starting in April,
Hennepin County has jobs paying $27 an hour to be an enumerator for the census.
A. City Manager Hoversten announced the following dates:
Hoversten noted the special meeting activities approved on the Consent Agenda,
and noted there are still party caucuses on February 25th in spite of a Presidential
Nomination Primary, so the February 25th meeting may need to be moved to
February 26th per the law.
Hoversten highlighted other dates to be aware of, including March 3rd Presidential
Nomination Primary and the Westonka School District Spring Break from Friday
March 20th through March 29th, reminding Council to make Staff aware of any
absences ahead of time.
Mound City Council Minutes — January 14, 2020
Hoversten encouraged all to attend/participate in the Polar Plunge on January 25th
adding it should be an enjoyable day, including good and cold, which makes the
water feel warmer.
Pugh noted an Omelet Breakfast Fundraiser on February 9th for WeCan at the
American Legion.
B. Reports: Liquor Store — December 2019
C. Minutes: Planning Commission — December 3, 2019
D. Correspondence:
11. Adiourn
MOTION made by Bergquist, seconded by Velsor, to adjourn at 9:23 p.m. All voted in
favor. Motion carried.
&TA,,m4a4--Mayor Raymond J. Salazar
Attest: Catherine Pausche, Clerk