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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-2023 Council Meeting Minutes LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DATE: June 26, 2023 TIME STARTED: 6:30 PM TIME ENDED: 9:47 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilmembers Stoesz, Lyden, Cavegn, Mayor Rafferty MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmember Ruhland Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Human Resources Director Meg Sawyer; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; Director of Public Safety John Swenson; City Engineer Diane Hankee; City Clerk Jolleen Chaika. PUBLIC COMMENT Public Comment was opened at 6:33 PM. Mr. Tim Henderson, 6987 West Shadow Lake Drive,thanked City Council and the mayor for the work put in over the past year. He noted that he was a member of the original YMCA and the issues surrounding that—the decisions and funding that the city engaged in to open up the Rookery. He noted he reviewed the meeting minutes when the plan was being put into place and that he has been an employee at the Rookery for a year. He commented on getting to know staff over the course of the year and that the hiring of staff has been great, there have been good hires. Mr. Henderson noted that working with Maddie (Rosewood)has empowered him to do a lot of things that he did not think he could do. He thanked Council for all that was done and said that he was not commenting to gripe, rather that he recalled hearing the Mayor previously comment on making big decisions and gathering facts before making decisions and that Council has done that. He closed by noting he was proud to call them the Mayor and Councilmembers. No further public comment was received. 1) Motion to: Close Public Comment at 6:36 PM. RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Cavegn SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: All in favor ABSENT: Ruhland SETTING THE AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented with no additions or changes. SPECIAL PRESENTATION Legislative Update, Senator Heather Gustafson Minnesota Senator Heather Gustafson introduced herself to Council and shared that she wants to be a resource to Council and the community. Senator Gustafson welcomed open lines of communitcation and encouraged Council to reach out to her. Senator Gustafson highlighted the work she did with the recent public safety bill which will result in over$900,000 in funding for Lino Lakes Public Safety. Mayor Rafferty, on behalf of the Council and the City of Lino Lakes, thanked Senator Gustafson for her work on that bill and the recent bonding bill. SPECIAL PRESENTATION American Legion Post 566, Presentation of Awards: - Lino Lakes Police Officer of the Year: Samantha Bergeron - Lino Lakes Firefighter of the Year: Luke Evens Legion Commander Paul Lesch and incoming Commander Scott Nordstrom presented a Fire Fighter of the Year award to Firefighter Luke Evens and noted that Figherfighter Evens has exhibited a strong desire to serve others. Commander Lesch presented a plaque to Figherfighter Evens. Commander Lesch and incoming Commander Nordstrom presented a Police Officer of the Year award to to Officer Samantha Bergeron and highlighted her service and dedication to the community. Commander Lesch presented a plaque to Officer Bergeron. 1. CONSENT AGENDA A. Consider Approval of Expenditures for June 26, 2023 (Check No. 118783 through 118875) in the Amount of$323,814.13 B. Consider Approval of June 5, 2023 Council Work Session Minutes C. Consider Approval of June 12, 2023 Council Work Session Minutes D. Consider Approval of June 12, 2023 Council Meeting Minutes i. Motion To: Approve Consent Agenda Items 1(A)-(D)as presented RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland 2. FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT No report was presented. 3. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REPORT A. Consider 2"d Reading of Ordinance No. 03-23,Adjusting the Salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers City Administrator Sarah Cotton presented the second reading of proposed Ordinance 03- 23, Adjusting the Salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers. She noted that these salaries are required by Minnesota law to be established by ordinance. If approved,the effective date of the new salaries will be January 1,2024. i. Motion To: Dispense with full reading of the proposed ordinance of Ordinance Number 03-23 RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland ii. Motion To: Approve Ordinance 03-23 ROLL CALL RESULT: CARRIED [4 TO 0] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland B. Consider Appointment of Part-Time Firefighter Human Resources and Communication Manager Meg Sawyer presented a recommendation to approve appointment of Eric Curtis as Part-Time Firefighter i. Motion to: Approve the Appointment of Eric Curtis as Part-Time Firefighter RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Cavegn SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Cavegn,Stoesz,Lyden,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland 3. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARMENT REPORT A. Consider Acceptance of Donated Gift Cards Public Safety Director John Swenson requested Council approval to accept gift cards that have been donated to Public Safety by generous, supportive community members. He noted that because the gift cards have a monetary value over $5.00,they cannot be accepted by staff. City Administrator Sarah Cotton added that Council had previously approved a Pay-It- Forward policy to use donated gift cards; however, based on a recent finding by the Minnesota Legal Compliance Office and the Office of the State Auditor, there is no public purpose to accept and use gift cards in a pay-it-forward program. City staff recommended Council accepting the gift cards at this time; use will be in accordance with public purpose expenditures. Chief Swenson noted that staff have been directed to no longer accept gift cards. i. Motion to: Approve Acceptance of Gift Cards RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland 5. PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT No report was presented. 6. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT A. Public Hearing. Consideration of Resolution No. 23-58, Adopting Five Year Street Reconstruction Plan and Authorizing Issue of Bonds Communtiy Development Director Michael Grochala provided Council with background on the street reconstruction plan and noted that the current plan under consideration distributes improvements on both the north and south sides of the city. He advised that per state law, a reconstruction plan must be prepared and a public hearing must be held. Following the public hearing a 30 day window is open for receipt of petitions against the reconstruction plan. If no petition is received, staff will bring forward a request to Council to move forward with a feasibility study. If a petition is received, and statutory requirements are met, the question of the reconstruction plan and related bonding would be placed on the 2023 ballot. Mayor Rafferty opened the Public Hearing at 7:02 PM. No public comment was received. i. Motion to: Close Public Hearing RESULT: CARRIED[UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Cavegn SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Cavegn,Stoesz,Lyden,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland The Public Hearing was closed at 7:03 PM. B. Consider Resolution 23-59, Order Project,Approve the Plans and Specifications and Authorize the Ad for Bid 2023,Lake Drive Trunk Water Main Improvements City Engineer Diane Hankee presented on the Lake Drive trunk watermain project, stating that the purpose of the project is to strengthen water pressure and flow in the city. Engineer Hankee also informed Council that this project will require an easement with a property owner in the project area and that an agreement has been reached with that property owner; staff will bring forward an easement agreement for Council consideration at the next regular meeting. i. Motion to: Approve Resolution 23-59 RESULT: CARRIED[UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Closed Session: Consider Allegations Against an Employee. Mayor Rafferty stated that pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subdivision 2D,the City Council shall close the meeting when an allegation of employee misconduct is brought forward. i. Motion to: Close Meeting pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05, Subd. 2D. RESULT: CARRIED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Lyden SECONDER: Stoesz AYES: Lyden,Stoesz,Cavegn,Rafferty ABSENT: Ruhland The meeting was closed at 7:07 PM at which time Council retired to the Council Workroom to commence the closed session. Councilmember Ruhland joined the closed session at approximately 8:15 PM. The Regular Meeting was reconvened and reopened at 9:43 PM. City Administrator Sarah Cotton recommended discharge of Employee A based on the findings of the investigation, effective June 26, 2023. i) Motion To: Approve Discharge of Employee A RESULT: CARRIED [4 to 1] MOVER: Stoesz SECONDER: Ruhland AYES: Stoesz,Ruhland,Lyden,Rafferty NAYS: Cavegn City Administrator Sarah Cotton recommended discharge of Employee B based on the findings of the investigation, effective June 26, 2023. ii. Motion To: Approve Discharge of Employee B RESULT: CARRIED [4 to 1] MOVER: Stoesz SECONDER: Ruhland AYES: Stoesz,Ruhland,Lyden,Rafferty NAYS: Cavegn 9. COMMUNITY EVENTS Mayor Rafferty reviewed the upcoming Community Calendar. ADJOURN 1. Motion to: Adjourn RESULT: CARRIED[UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Cavegn SECONDER: Lyden AYES: Cavegn,Lyden,Stoesz,Rafferty Meeting Adjourned at 9:47 PM. These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council Meeting on July 24, 2023. Jolleen Chaika, City Clerk Ro. ' of P•rty, Mayor