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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_94Sep14CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 14, 1994 ~.~~ Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:07 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt, Asleson, and Maurer. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. MINUTES OF AUGUST 24, 1994 Minutes were approved as presented. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED At the request of Mayor Baldwin, Item C-2 was removed from the Consent Agenda and changed to a policy item. The remaining items, disbursements ($113,481.77) and payroll ($10,290.45), were approved by the Council by unanimous consent. POLICY AGENDA DISCUSSION REGARDING A WAGE INCREASE FOR ELECTION JUDGES Councilmember Hustad inquired as to why this increase was being requested. He commented that it was a small amount and asked if the raise was intended to compensate the judges for a particular raise in expenses. Administrative Assistant Asleson answered that the proposed increase is intended to bring the judges' pay in line with those in other communities. They have been paid at minimum wage for a number of years. She further explained that while most of the judges do not serve the city solely for the paycheck they receive, it seems fair to pay them the "going rate" among cities. Councilmember Hustad commented that he felt that election judging was a community-service type of position and that a seventy-five cent per hour raise seemed to be a token amount. Councilmember Gehrz spoke in favor of the raises, as she felt that by paying the judges minimum wage, the city was implying that they are of minimum importance. She also commented that election judges may incur day care expenses while serving and that this small raise might help with that expense. Councilmember Gibson Talbot also spoke in favor of the raise, explaining that she does not want people to feel excluded from the election process. Mayor Baldwin explained that he would abstain from voting because his wife may be an election judge in November and he didn't feel it would be appropriate to vote on her wage increase. Page 2 City Council Minutes September 14, 1994 ; ].~~~ Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to approve retroactively a wage increase for the city's election judges, from $4.25 per hour to $5.00 per hour. Motion passed with 3 ayes, 1 nay (Hustad) and 1 abstention (Baldwin). REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE RIDE ALONG PROGRAM The proposed fire department Ride Along program had earlier been given tentative approval for fire calls. At that time, the Councilmembers asked staff to address their concerns regarding the protection of confidentiality. The fire department's revisions to the policy include a confidentiality statement that all ride along participants would have to sign. It also includes a requirement that all rescue ride along participants first complete a 40 hour First Responder course. Greg Fuller of the Falcon Heights fire department was available to answer questions. Councilmember Gehrz asked how much the fire/rescue personnel knew about calls before they responded; for example, are they aware of a hazardous materials situation before arriving on the scene? Mr. Fuller responded that dispatch has been getting more specific. In the case of a hazardous materials situation, they probably would be aware of this before responding, and would have the option of leaving a ride along participant at the station rather than exposing him to the scene. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve the ride along program as presented. Motion was approved unanimously. AUTHORIZATION TO REQUEST A DONATION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FALL OPEN HOUSE Administrator Hoyt explained that the fire department is in the process of planning for its Fall Open House. Due to an increase in expenditures, the firefighters are requesting that the city either contribute an additional amount over the budgeted amount or allow them to approach the Lions Club for a contribution, specifically for T-shirts. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to authorize the fire department to submit a funding request to the Falcon Heights/Lauderdale Lions Club. Motion passed unanimously. RECOMMENDATIONS ON FALCON HEIGHTS' APPROACH TO THE FUNCTIONAL CONSOLIDATION OF RAMSEY COUNTY ROADWAYS City Engineer Maurer reported that Ramsey County officials and representatives from the county's cities have been discussing the possibility of the County turning some of their roads over to the City. The roads in question include Fulham Street, Hamline Avenue, Hoyt Avenue east of Snelling, and Roselawn Avenue. Engineer Maurer noted that all of these roads are shared with the neighboring cities of Lauderdale, St. Paul, or Roseville. Therefore, if the Page 3 City .Council Minutes September 14, 1994 1 ~.~J roads are turned back to the cities, it would require joint cooperation for maintenance and reconstruction. In addition, Maurer noted that the increased Minnesota State Aid (MSA) funds that the city would receive if the roads were turned back would probably not compensate the city completely for the increased costs of maintenance. As the benefits of accepting responsibility for these roads are minimal, the Council directed staff to move slowly with the county's proposal to turn back roads to the city. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH EXPENDITURES FOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS IN FRONT OF CITY HALL passed unanimously. Administrator Hoyt requested approval to use $1,200.00 out of the TIF capital construction fund for site improvements to the front of city hall. This will include removal and pruning of some of the trees and establishing a lawn in the bare areas. Motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to approve $1,200.00 from the TIF capital construction fund for city hall site improvements. Motion PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER NINE OF THE ZONING CODE RELATED TO THE HEIGHT AND SETBACK OF DETACHED GARAGES Administrator Hoyt explained that the planning commission has reviewed the zoning code requirements pertaining to the height and setback of detached garages and has recommended several minor changes. All are in keeping with what has been traditionally built in Falcon Heights and are intended to prevent excesses in height and to simplify code language. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve the proposed amendments to the zoning code. Motion passed unanimously. PROPOSED RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND CERTIFIED LEVY TO THE RAMSEY COUNTY AUDITOR Administrator Hoyt explained that Ramsey County needs a Council resolution certifying the general fund budget and levy. General fund expenditures are proposed to increase by 3.1~ and the amount of taxes levied by the city is proposed to decrease by 1.3~. Mayor Baldwin cautioned the viewing audience that although the city will be levying fewer tax dollars, their tax bill will still go up due to increased home valuations. Councilmember Hustad noted that increased 1995 policing costs represents a Large portion of the proposed 3.1$ increase in city spending. Mayor Baldwin concurred, noting that he's heard support for raising taxes to increase police presence in the city. Despite a substantial rise in 1995 policing costs, the proposed spending increases overall have been held to the cost of inflation. Page 4 City Council Minutes September 14, 1994 ~ •,~ Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to adopt the proposed resolution certifying the proposed general fund budget and certified levy to the Ramsey County auditor. Motion passed unanimously. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING DATES FOR THE TAXATION HEARING (COMMONLY CALLED TRUTH-IN-TAXATION) By unanimous consent, the council established the 1994 budget hearing for December 7, 1994 at 7:00 p.m. If necessary, a continuation of the hearing will be held on December 15, 1994 at 7:00 p.m. AUTHORIZATION OF CITIES WEEK EVENTS "Cities Week", an event promoted by the League of Minnesota Cities, has been scheduled for the week of September 26. The council authorized three neighborhood events on September 26, September 29, and October 1 in which the fire and police departments would be parked in the neighborhoods and refreshments served. Motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to authorize "Cities Week" neighborhood events. Motion passed unanimously. CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCII~IENTS Councilmember Gehrz announced that Dr. Peter Benson would be speaking at Roseville High School on September 29th. She also announced that Ted Johnson had been chosen as the new chair of the human rights commission. Councilmember Gibson Talbot announced that the parks and recreation commission had changed their meeting date to the third Wednesday of the month. She also noted that the Commission's new chair is Nancy Wickhem. Administrator Hoyt reported good voter turnout at the state primary election the previous evening (42~ precinct one and 51% precinct two). She also noted that city consultants had begun preliminary planning work on the Larpenteur Avenue project. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. ..~' ., ~, ,~, '' nn ,^,' ~ ) Tom Baldwin, .Mayor Carla Asleson Recording Secretary