HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-24-2023 Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : April 24, 2023
5 TIME STARTED : 6:00 PM
6 TIME ENDED : 6:18 PM
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmembers Stoesz, Lyden,
8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Councilmember Ruhland
10 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Director of Public Safety John
11 Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala, Environmental
12 Coordinator Andy Nelson; City Clerk Jolleen Chaika
13 Review Regular Agenda:
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15 Item 3A: City Administrator Sarah Cotton presented on Item 3A: Resolution 23-34,
16 related to the tentative AFSCME Labor Agreement for Local No. 2454. She provided an
17 overview of the two-year contract terms as negotiated, including term modifications to
18 wages/classifications with contemplated 3% general wage increase plus a .75%market
19 adjustment for 2023 and 2024; insurance, holidays - including further discussion about
20 Juneteenth; and, PTO. Administrator Cotton advised that she will recommend approval
21 of Resolutions 23-34.
22 Councilmember Lyden inquired of the further discussion of the Juneteenth Holiday.
23 Administrator Cotton advised that discussions will continue as the State has already
24 added Juneteenth as an official holiday in 2024; however,there are discussions at the
25 legislature to implement Juneteenth as a holiday in 2023 which may cause the City to
26 address the issue yet this year as no business could be conducted if the State is closed.
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28 Item 3B: City Administrator Sarah Cotton reviewed Item 3B,Non-Union Compensation
29 Plans, She highlighted that section 207.04 city code requires the City Administrator to
30 establish and maintain a compensation plan for all positions in the City, which is to be
31 reviewed and approved by the City Council. The recommended salary adjustments are
32 consistent with the LELS (Local 260), LELS (Local 299), AFL-CIO (Local 49) union
33 contracts that were previously considered and approved by the Council, as well as the
34 AFSCME (Local 2454) contract that is being considered for approval by the Council at
35 the April 24th meeting. The 2023 adopted budget includes resources sufficient to cover
36 the 3% wage adjustment plus a .75%market adjustment. She advised that she will
37 recommend approval of Resolutions 23-35 and 23-36.
38 Item 3C: City Administrator Sarah Cotton reviewed Item 3C, Opioid settlement: Multi-
39 state agreement, and advised that the City is not slotted to receive any direct funds but
40 may benefit from money going to the State and County. She further advised that LMC has
41 recommended all cities with populations over 10,000 to sign off of the agreement. Mayor
42 Rafferty inquired about several cities listed to receive compensation. Administrator
43 Cotton clarified that those cities are eligible for funds due to populations over 30,000.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
44 Items 4A: Public Safety Director John Swenson advised council that approval is being
45 sought to sell Fire Division Grass#1 to the Scandia Valley Fire Department in Cushing,
46 MN for$15,000, consistent with the Council's recommended sale price.
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48 Item 4B: Public Safety Director John Swenson highlighted his staff report, including a
49 recommendation to renew the expiring lease with Allina Ambulance for a three-year(3)
50 extension for space at Fire Station#1 at$700 per month.
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52 Mayor Rafferty asked of any improvement to ambulance response times. Public Safety
53 Director Swenson noted that Allina has met with Public Safety and improvements have
54 occurred, though there is still work to do.
55 Councilmember Lyden asked of the current monthly rate and Public Safety Director
56 Swenson advised that the current rate is also $700/month, as is the proposed rate in the
57 agreement before the Council tonight. Councilmember Lyden asked if any consideration
58 was given to a rate increase based on the current market and inflation. Public Safety
59 Director Swenson advised that an increase was considered but the value that the City
60 receives by having an ambulance service housed locally is a great benefit to residents and
61 given that factor, an increase in monthly rates was not pursued.
62 Councilmember Stoesz asked where the income from this lease is applied. Public Safety
63 Director Swenson confirmed the funds are directed to the buildings and facilities fund.
64 Councilmember Stoesz inquired if the funds could be redirected to the General Fund. City
65 Administrator Cotton advised that is not recommended because the lease is not a
66 perpetual revenue source and moving the income to the General Fund could result in a
67 levy increase if the lease is not in place in the future.
68 Item 6A: Environmental Coordinator Andy Nelson reviewed his staff report and
69 recommendation to approve Resolution 23-37, Spring Boulevard Planting. He noted that
70 the boulevard tree planting is for new residential lots and replacements of trees removed
71 in the previous year(mostly ash). 91 trees will be planted this year;this number is
72 consistent and in line with past years.
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74 The work session was adjourned at 6:18 PM.
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76 These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council meeting May 8, 2023.
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79 t / 'r ' pt4 `
81 Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk Rolf fferty, Mayor
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