HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-2020 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
i CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE April 27, 2020
5 TIME STARTED 6:00 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED 6:30 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland,
8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty
9 MEMBERS ABSENT None
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11 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Finance Director Sarah Cotton;
12 Director of Public Safety John Swenson; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner;
13 Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City Engineer Diane Hankee;
14 Human Resources Manager Karissa Bartholomew; and City Clerk Julie Bartell
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16 The council meeting was held telephonically on the Zoom Meeting platform and as
17 allowed by Minnesota Statutes 13D.021.
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19 City Administrator Hiring Process — Human Resources Manager Bartholomew
20 explained that she is bringing forward a process proposed to fill the City Administrator
21 position since current Administrator Jeff Karlson will retire in August. The council has
22 previously approved a resolution including a preliminary offer of employment to Finance
23 Director Cotton. The process also considers filling the Finance Director position.
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25 Council Member Stoesz asked how a compensation plan would fit into discussion. Ms.
26 Bartholomew explained that a proposal for an employment contract including
27 compensation will be part of the discussion. Council Member Stoesz said he is looking
28 forward to the transition.
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30 Mayor Rafferty noted the proposed time line. He is wondering if the process is such that
31 there could be a little delay in hiring of another financial director.
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33 Finance Director Cotton noted that staff is looking into an option should the finance
34 director position not be filled. Staff would intend to bring forward that option.
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36 Mayor Rafferty remarked that he understands that the position has been combined by
37 some cities so it comes to mind in this situation. The mayor asked Ms. Cotton about her
38 interest in the position and Ms. Cotton said she is very excited to serve the City in the
39 administrator positon. Mayor Rafferty said he has gotten to know and work with Ms.
40 Cotton.
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42 Administrator Karlson said he is enthusiastically endorsing Ms. Cotton for the job.
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44 Ms. Bartholomew indicated that she would work with the City Attorney on drafting an
15 employment contract. Mayor Rafferty suggested that the council would benefit from
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
46 seeing that document before being asked to vote on it. When asked about the four month
47 timeline, Ms. Bartholomew indicated that she has offered that time frame to allow
48 flexibility in filling the Finance Director position.
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50 Council Member Lyden concurred with the Mayor's remark that Ms. Cotton is thorough
51 and easy to work with. It's a bonus to have someone coming in that already knows Lino
52 Lakes. He understands that filling the finance position is also driving the schedule.
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54 Council Member Stoesz remarked that it should be clear in setting up an agreement what
55 a remote work environment would look like for both the administrator and finance
56 director position.
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58 Mayor Rafferty noted the City Administrator job description currently and asked to see a
59 copy. Also he would like to see what has been rewritten into the position at this point.
60 He wants to fully understand what the administrator position entails and he asked that the
61 information be shared with all council members.
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63 Review Regular Agenda of April 27, 2020 —
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65 Item 2A — Finance Director explained that the resolution moves forward the process of
66 issuing and selling bonds for the water tower project. The process is fully laid out in the
67 staff report. She noted that financial consultant Terri Heaton of Baker Tilly will be
68 available to give a report at the council meeting.
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70 Item 3A — Joint Cooperative Agreement with North Metro Telecommunications —
71 Administrator Karlson noted that his staff report includes a marked agreement indicating
72 the changes being requested. He will review at the council meeting. The changes are
73 fairly routine.
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75 Item 3B —Protect Community Television Act —Administrator Karlson noted an order
76 issued by the FCC that would reduce certain franchise fees that go toward community
77 programining. The resolution supports protecting that funding source.
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79 Item 4A —Public Safety Director Swenson explained the donation coming. The donation
8o relates to the City's recent host role for an event for the canine organization.
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82 Item 5A — Lift Station No. 5 — City Engineer Hankee explained that she has been working
83 with Utility staff on a situation with a force main. It is an important fixture and staff feels
84 its repair should be attended to as soon as possible. Based on cost estimates, a new line
85 is seen as more cost effective and two quotes will be presented.
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87 Item 6B —Fog Seal on City Hall Parking Lot —City Engineer reviewed quotes received
88 and explained how the project could be coordinated.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
90 Item 6C — Trail Grant — Community Development Director Grochala explained the
91 opportunity to apply for federal grant funding that would be very helpful in adding to a
92 trail on the north side of the city.
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94 The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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96 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
97 May 11, 2020.
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101 ♦ ' i
102 u i e Barte , Ci Jerk Rob Rafferty, Mayor
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