HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-2014 Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 23 , 2014
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE June 23 , 2014
5 TIME STARTED : 5 : 30 p . m .
6 TIME ENDED 6 : 30 p . m .
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz , Kusterman ,
8 Rafferty , Roeser ( arr . 5 : 40 pm ) and Mayor
9 Reinert
10 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
11
12
13 Staff members present : City Administrator Jeff Karlson ; Community Development
14 Director Michael Grochala ; City Planner Katie Larsen ; Finance Director Al Rolek ; Public
15 Safety Director John Swenson ; City Engineer Diane Hankee
16
17 Review Agenda for Regular Council Meeting —
18
19 Consent Agenda — A council member had contacted the City Administrator about an
20 expenditure of the Centennial Fire District for website work . Mr . Karlson explained that
21 the funds involved are through a FEMA grant ; he will investigate further on the benefits
22 of the website .
23
24 Item 4A , Resolution No . 14 - 61 , Creating a Wage Schedule for Paid On - Call Fire
25 Personnel . Chief Swenson review the rate schedule staff is recommending for Paid On-
26 Call Firefighters within the fire services division of the Public Safety Department , The
27 schedule was put together using information on rates for similar positions throughout the
28 metro area . A monthly stipend is recommended for certain leadership positions .
29
30 Item 4B , Resolution No . 14 - 62 , Establishing an Incentive Program for the
31 Recruitment of Paid On - Call Fire Personnel . Chief Swenson noted that the city is
32 setting up a fire department and within a certain time frame so it is necessary to begin a
33 process of recruiting fire personnel as soon as possible . Staff believes that an incentive
34 program will be helpful in the effort . He reviewed the three levels that are intended to
01 35 attract new and experienced fire fighters . The budget impact of the incentive program
36 was reviewed .
37
38 Item 4C , Enrollment in Statewide Lump - Sum Volunteer Firefighter Retirement
39 Plan Administered by PERA — Chief Swenson explained that since a firefighter pension
40 plan will be a part of a new fire department , the city commissioned a report by
41 Springsted , Inc . to consider pension options . He introduced Terri Heaton of Springsted
42 to review the report .
43
44 Ms . Heaton explained that the report before the council outlining pension options is still a
45 " broad brush" report . The report compares pension implications for firefighters that
1
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 23 , 2014
APPROVED
46 would be joining the city fire department — that could be new , current and firefighter
47 moving from another department . The report compares a city administered program with
48 one administered by the state Public Employees Retirement Association ( PERA) . She
49 reviewed the assumptions and tables indicating lump sum accruals , vesting possibilities
50 and compared options .
51
52 The mayor suggested that firefighters will have questions about their pension options and
53 he recommends that Ms . Heaton hold a meeting at the firehouse to give information and
54 answer questions . Council Member Kusterman clarified how benefits are or could be
55 portable for members .
56
57 The council heard about the growing popularity of the PERA administered plan . Staff is
58 recommending that plan for the city and , if the council supports that direction , enrollment
59 with PERA could occur the first of the year . Ms . Heaton noted the initial funding
60 difference and the benefit of going to PERA ; she also noted the calendar of dates included
61 in the report .
62
63 Item 4D ) Authorization to Post New Public Safety Positions — Chief Swenson
64 reviewed the three new positions needed to augment the incorporation and operation of
65 fire services in the Public Safety Department . Administrator Karlson spoke to the
66 research behind the salary levels being recommended . The council discussed the timeline
67 for filling the positions and Chief Swenson urged that the positions need to be filled as
68 soon as possible .
69
70 The meeting was adjourned at 6 : 3 0 p . m .
71
72 These minutes were considered , corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
73 July 14 , 2014 .
74
75
76
wool
77
awa
78 Juliann Bartell , City/clerk Jeff Reinert , Mayor
79
2