HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-2010 Council Minutes (2) CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION AUGUST 9, 2010
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : August 9, 2010
5 TIME STARTED : 5:33 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 6:30 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Gallup, O'Donnell,
8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
10
11
12 Staff members present: Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch; Community Development
13 Director Michael Grochala; Director of Public Safety Kent Strege, Director of Finance Al
14 Rolek; City Engineer Jim Studenski; City Clerk Julie Bartell
15
16 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS (August 9,2010 Council Meeting)
17
18 1A. Consideration of Expenditures—After requesting additional explanation on
19 several individual expenditures, the council requested that staff should provide the
20 council with more special expenditure information including a budget to expenses
21 comparison. That could be a future work session discussion item if necessary.
22
23 3A. Hiring of City Administrator—Acting Administrator Tesch reported that he had
24 sent out a copy of the proposed employment contract this afternoon to council members
25 and Mr. Karlson. Mr. Tesch briefly reviewed the terms of the proposed contract. He
26 recommends that the council consider a tentative offer of employment at the council
27 meeting tonight and, barring any issues, Mr. Karlson will be able to start on Monday,
28 August 16.
29
30 6A. First reading of Ordinance No. 09-10 Establishing a Storm Water Utility—
31 Community Development Director Grochala noted that a public hearing is scheduled at
32 the council meeting to consider first reading of this ordinance that establishes a storm
33 water utility for the city. He introduced Jeremy Walgrave of SEH, consultant on the
34 project who would provide answers to questions that were posed at the recent
35 informational public meeting and others (how fees will impact taxes, how would funds be
36 used, fees for single family and townhomes, and concerns generally on the cost of storm
37 water management).
38
39 Mr. Walgrave noted that a question about how condos and townhomes should be charted
40 was posed and while those units were originally included in the flat rate with a small
41 reduction, they are now recommending application of a factor based on that type of
42 structure's higher density.
43
44 When the council asked about administrative costs that could be associated with
45 implementing the utility into the billing system, Finance Director Rolek explained that
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION AUGUST 9, 2010
APPROVED
46 there certainly could be costs especially in the area of start up and following properties
47 with credits. Staff plans to use the existing utility billing system and, for those properties
48 not on water and sewer, they would be billed once annually.
49
50 The council asked for an explanation of how the city would guard against using any of the
51 utility funds to balance other areas of the budget. Mr. Grochala noted that the council has
52 control over the budget and has directed that staff would shift only appropriate costs from
53 the general fund budget. For instance, some engineering costs related to storm water
54 utility would be shifted from the community development department's budget to the
55 utility. Finance Director Rolek noted a couple of additional areas where funding will be
56 shifted. When asked if funds can be "banked" from year to year, staff indicated in the
57 affirmative and added that bonding for larger expenses can also occur.
58
59 A council member noted that city accountability will be a key element—this is not
60 intended as a funding source for other things. In that light, the citizens and the council
61 should have some more information on specifically what will be funded and how it was
62 funded previously. That is the information that makes this understandable and
63 acceptable. It is a system that is being abused in other cities. The council will not act on
64 the ordinance this evening but will open the public hearing since that has been noticed.
65 The council looks forward to receiving more information on the budget for discussion at
66 the longer work session.
67
68 6B. Resolution No. 10-71, Calling for a Special Election, Lake/Main and
69 Birch/Ware Intersection Improvements—Community Development Director Grochala
70 explained that staff is planning for the council to consider this resolution at a special
71 council meeting already called for August 11, previous to the work session that evening
72 since all the numbers associated with the projects are not yet finalized. One question for
73 the council will be approval of the ballot question and whether or not the two projects are
74 posed as separate questions on the ballot. The projects, if approved, would likely be
75 constructed in 2012 so there are some unknowns. Currently Birch/Ware is in the area of
76 $900,000 while Lake/Main is estimated higher at $1.7 million, with costs to the city
77 estimated at $1.6 and $1.7 million, not including bond issuance costs.
78
79 City Engineer Studenski briefly reviewed the proposed project layouts. He noted that the
80 projects do include road widening because the addition of turn lanes is required.
81
82 This item will be pulled from the agenda and discussed at the August 11 special council
83 meeting.
84
85 The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. These minutes were considered, corrected and
86 approved at the regular Council meeting held on August 23, 2010.
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89( -
90 Julia e Bartell, City lerk e inert, Mayor