HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-2009 Council Minutes (2) CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 28, 2009
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : September 28, 2009
5 TIME STARTED : 5:35 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 6:35 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council members Gallup, Reinert,
8 O'Donnell, and Mayor Bergeson
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Council Member Stoltz
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12 Staff members present: Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch; Director of Public Safety
13 David Pecchia; City Engineer Jim Studenski; Director of Finance Al Rolek; Economic
14 Development Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; Director of Community Development
15 Michael Grochala; City Attorney Joseph Langel; City Clerk Julie Bartell.
16
17 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
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19 Item 3A Charter Amendment Ordinance (Televising Meetings)—It was noted that all
20 council members would not be present for the council meeting(a charter amendment by
21 ordinance requires an affirmative vote of all members of the council). The city attorney
22 said it would not be a problem to table this item at tonight's meeting. The council will
23 consider the ordinance at the special council meeting on October 5, 2009.
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25 Item 4A, Resolution authorizing acceptance of Recovery Act Assistance Grant-
26 Police Chief Pecchia explained that the city has been awarded a grant for two patrol
27 officer positions, one effective 10/1/2009 through 9/30/2011 and another 1/1/2010
28 through 12/31/2011. Recent council discussions about the city budget and personnel
29 reductions indicated that the Police Department needed to look at reducing approximately
30 ten percent of its budget or$322,000. Using that figure as a guide, the department
31 applied for and was awarded grant funds. They plan to replace one position that is open
32 and to maintain the junior most position past that. Staff has received an opinion that
33 furlough and union concessions would not be considered supplanting as far these grant
34 funds and so those items will remain on the bargaining table with the unions.
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36 A council member noted that he originally had concern that accepting these grant funds
37 would mean that the Police Department budget couldn't be amended and that wouldn't
38 coincide with the council's direction that all areas of the city budget are expected to
39 participate in budget reductions. He now understands that this grant is about maintaining
40 the current level of sworn personnel.
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42 Item 6A, Resolution accepting the feasibility study for Pine Street paving
43 improvements—City Engineer Studenski reported that, after careful review, the
44 feasibility study proposes a project estimate somewhat changed from the original. Costs
45 are clearly broken down in the report. Staff has worked with the City of Columbus and
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 28, 2009
APPROVED
I can report that they(the City of Columbus)will bring the improvement project forward to
2 their council within the next couple of weeks. He reviewed the proposed project schedule
3 as well as maps of the area flood plains and soil. He added that, based on the petitioning
4 process, they are only proposing an improvement project up to 4th Avenue.
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6 Item 6B, First Reading of Ordinance relating to a Tax Imposed Upon Lodging-
7 Economic Development Coordinator Divine explained that she had discussed previously
8 the possibility of a group of cities in the vicinity of Lino Lakes opting out of the
9 Minneapolis North tourism group and starting a new group focusing more on the needs of
10 the northeast metro. The tourism groups function with revenue from a lodging tax and
11 the ordinance before the council would establish such a tax in the city. As the group
12 forms, the city would eventually be asked to enter into a joint powers agreement
13 establishing the terms of participation. Ms. Divine noted that the city has received a letter
14 of support for this action from both of the hotels located in the city. The group functions
15 under the direction of a board and the city will eventually be asked to appoint one
16 representative to that group (most often that would be the city administrator, economic
17 development staff or mayor).
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19 Connie Sutherland, 889 Main Street, remarked that a convention and visitors bureau
20 (CVB) is the focal point where all groups seeking convention facilities go to plan their
21 events. By not being connected to that resource, this area is definitely missing out.
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23 Item 6C, Extending Deadlines for: i) Main Street Village; ii) The Preserve; and iii)
24 Moon Marsh —City Planner Smyser noted that the council has previously adopted an
25 ordinance changing the staging plan and preliminary plat deadline requirements for
26 planned unit developments The three projects noted will not be meeting the deadlines
27 due to widespread development slowdown in the region. Staff recommends approval of
28 the extensions in these three cases.
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30 Item 6D, I-35E/CSAH (Main Street) Interchange—Community Development Director
31 Grochala requested that this item, relating to ordering the improvement and authorizing
32 execution of a joint powers agreement with Anoka County for the project, be removed
33 from the council agenda. Staff plans to bring these matters forward to a special council
34 meeting to be held on October 5, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. Discussion is still underway with
35 Anoka County on elements of the financing proposal.
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37 The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
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39 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
40 October 12, 2009.
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42 ' 114:P eafre)12
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44 Juliann artell, City Jerk John Bergeson, Mayor
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