01-26-2015 Council Meeting Minutes

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COUNCIL MINUTES APPROVED January 26, 2015 91 92 There was no report from the Public Services Department. 93 94 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REPORT, MICHAEL GROCHALA 95 96 6A) Public Hearing and Consideration of Resolution No. 15-09, Approving Municipal Consent 97 for the I -35E MnPass Lane- City Engineer Hankee gave a PowerPoint presentation (on file) 98 reviewing a project by MnDOT that adds a MnPass special lane to Interstate 35E and includes a 99 portion through Lino Lakes. She reviewed the lane location, the request for municipal consent to the 100 project, and noted that additional information is available through the state Website. 101 102 Mayor Reinert noted that he isn't largely supportive of special lanes and would prefer to see lanes for 103 regular use, however this is a state level project. 104 105 When a council member asked what would happen if the city denied municipal consent, staff 106 explained that it normally results in cost arbitration but since there is no cost to the city involved, it's 107 difficult to say if there would be any changes as a result. The city engineer suggested that such an 108 action would probably slow the project but ultimately not stop it. 109 110 Mayor Reinert opened the public hearing. There being no one present wishing to speak, the public 111 hearing was closed. 112 113 Council Member Rafferty moved to approve Resolution No. 15-09 as presented. Council Member 114 Stoesz seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote; Council Member Roeser and Kusterman 115 recorded as voting "no". 116 117 6B) Consideration of Resolution No. 15-02, Approving Classification of Tax Forfeited 118 Properties — Community Development Director Grochala explained that each year the county 119 forwards a list of tax forfeited properties, with opportunity granted to the city to approve the 120 classification of the properties or hold them for public purpose. The resolution before the council 121 includes four properties and staff is recommending that all four be classified as tax forfeited for sale. 122 The council reviewed each parcel and discussed with staff why the properties would not be useful to 123 the city. 124 125 Council Member Kusterman moved to approve Resolution No. 15-02 as presented. Council Member 126 Roeser seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. 127 128 PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT REPORT, JOHN SWENSON 129 130 4A) Consideration of Resolution No. 15-11, Grant Funding for Police Officer Dedicated to 131 Traffic Safety — Police Chief Swenson reviewed the Police Department's request to accept grant 132 funds from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to fund one police officer position (and related 133 squad and equipment) for four years for the provision of DUI prevention and enforcement services. 134 He reviewed specifically what is reimbursed under the grant. When a council member asked about 135 the use of the equipment (purchased under the grant) for other police uses, Chief Swenson explained 3