HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_02Jan9City of Falcon Heights
City Council Minutes
January 9, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gehrz at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Kuettel, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present was Administrator
Worthington and Deputy Clerk Phillips
OATH OF OFFICE
Mayor Gehrz administered the oath of office to Laura Kuettel and Robert Lamb, councilmembers elected in the November, 2001 city election. Their terms of office run through December
31, 2005.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of December 12, 2001 and December 27, 2001 were approved as written.
Councilmember Kuettel made a motion to approve the following consent agenda with one minor
typo correction in No. 4. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT
General disbursements and payroll.
Licenses
Review and adopt council standing rules
Resolution designating official depositories for 2002
Consider resolution 02-02 approving a 3% standard compensation increase for regular employees in 2002
Appointment of City Engineer and City Attorneys for 2002
POLICY
Appointment of Ann Ziebarth and re-appointment of Melissa Maher to the Planning Commission
Mayor Gehrz said Ann Ziebarth has been appointed to the Planning Commission for a 3 year term and Melissa Maher agreed to serve a second 3 year term. Both terms will expire December
31, 2004. Councilmember Lindstrom moved to approve this appointment and re-appointment. The motion passed unanimously.
Designation of official newspaper for 2002
Administrator Worthington explained that state statute requires the city designate a legal newspaper of general circulation in the city. The newspaper is used to publish legal notification
regarding public hearings, elections and city financial matters. Staff recommends that The Roseville Review be designated as its legal newspaper for 2002 because it circulates to most
households in Falcon Heights and the rates are competitive. Councilmember Talbot moved to approve the designation of The Roseville Review as the city's official legal newspaper for
2002. The motion passed unanimously.
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Council Minutes
January 9, 2002
Approval of a reduction in the retainage held for the 2001 street repairs and alley improvements project
Administrator Worthington explained that the work on the 2001 street repair and alley improvement project is functionally complete. There is one small item left to be completed in the
spring of 2002. Worthington said the contractor is requesting that the city reduce the retainage held on the project to reflect the cost of that remaining work which should not exceed
$2,500.00. The consulting engineer recommended payment of the balance of the retainage, minus $2,500.00. After brief discussion, councilmember Kuettel moved to approve the reduction
of the retainage from $22,310.75 to $2,500.00 and payment of the balance of $19,810.75 to the contractor, Hardrives, Inc. The motion passed unanimously.
Creation of Neighborhood Security Commission and adoption of resolution 02-04.
Administrator Worthington gave a brief overview of the work of the Security Task Force
and their recommendation to create a formal Neighborhood Security Commission. Mayor Gehrz introduced Bruce Mielke, chair of the Neighborhood Security Task Force whose function was to
research and identify ways to improve security and communication in Falcon Heights. Mielke said the task force has met over the past several months and has completed their mission.
The task force is now seeking to create a formal commission which would meet monthly and provide information to the council on issues related to neighborhood security. The commission
would consist of 8-10 residents of Falcon Heights representing the five generations and the four quadrants of the city. Some of their responsibilities would be to recruit and retain
neighborhood liaisons; update and distribute a neighborhood handbook; plan two yearly events for neighborhood liaisons; communicate changes to the residents regarding updates to the
city's security plans or programs; provide suggestions on communicating with residents on how to keep neighborhoods connected; work with blocks to hold neighborhood meetings/block parties;
and to strengthen and build neighborhoods. A draft of the commision structure was presented and Mayor Gehrz had suggestions for some minor changes. Mayor Gehrz asked the council for
comments and/or questions and councilmember Lamb had several issues regarding the clarity on data privacy, participation and duplication. Lamb was concerned about how we safeguard information
that is gathered and felt it had the potential for inadvertent abuse. He questioned whether this would be duplicative of Neighborhood Watch. Lamb said he supports the thrust of the
commission but feels it needs more thorough examination and suggested the council delay acting on this matter for a month. Councilmember Talbot said the council could perhaps have oversight
and review of the commission for a period of time. After considerable discussion regarding delaying or moving forward with the creation of the commission, councilmember Kuettel moved
to approve the creation of the Neighborhood Security Commission and adoption of Resolution 02-04. The motion passed with four yeas. Councilmember Lamb voted nay.
Approval of changes to the city's fee schedule for 2002 and adoption of Resolution 02-03
Administrator Worthington said staff reviewed the fees for service and building rental fees which the city charges and determined that changes be made in the fees for zoning review,
variance
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January 9, 2002
request, and community park and city hall rental. Councilmember Lamb moved to approve the fee changes and to adopt Resolution 02-03. The motion passed unanimously.
Purchase of a new copier
Administrator Worthington said staff had researched several models of copiers and had them in the office for a brief period of time on a trial basis. The model that staff recommends
is a Kyocera Mita, 4230 Digital Copier System from Coordinated Business Systems, Ltd. The old copier was scheduled to be replaced in 2002 and the new one will be funded out of General
Capital. Councilmember Lindstrom moved to approve this purchase. The motion passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Councilmember Lindstrom said he had recently participated in the Ride Along program with a St. Anthony police officer.
Mayor Gehrz said there will be no change in commission appointments for 2002.
Councilmember Kuettel said due to a work conflict, she will no longer be able to be the liaison to the Northwest Youth and Family Services. Councilmember Lindstrom offered
to replace her on this program for 2002.
Mayor Gehrz said the Ramsey County League of Local Governments meets the third Thursday at 7 p.m. and asked that each council member attend the monthly meetings on a rotating basis so
everyone has an opportunity to interact with this group.
Mayor Gehrz said to date, the Homeland Security Kits have been emailed to 51 cities and 10 counties. Gehrz also updated the council on her recent trip to Washington D.C. and the Homeland
Security office.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Phillips
Deputy Clerk