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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/1985 Council Minutes1 1 1 COUNCIL MINUTES March 11, 1985 The regular meeting of the Lino Lakes City Council was called to order by Mayor Benson at 7:08 P.M. Council members present: Bohjanen, Reinert, Marier, Kulaszewicz. Mr. John Burke was there to act as City Attorney for Bill Hawkins; Public Works Director, Don Volk; City Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk- Treasurer, Marilyn Anderson were also present. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 25, 1985 Mr. Marier moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Kulaszewicz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 28, 1985 Mr. Bohjanen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Kulaszewicz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS - FEBRUARY 28, 1985 Mr. Kulaszewicz moved to approve the disbursements as presented. Mr. Marier seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS - MARCH 11, 1985 Mr. Bohjanen moved to approve the disbursements as presented. Mr. Reinert seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. CABLE TV UPDATE - HERB JOHNSON Mr. Johnson appeared before the Council to give them an update of the North Central Suburban Cable Communications Commission. He read a letter to Group W Cable from the Cable Commission regarding modification of the Cable System. The letter indicates 1) The Commission would require the public access studio to. remain in Coon Rapids and not be placed in a public building such as a school or library; 2) the Commission would .accept a $5.95 monthly charge for basic service on a second television set; 3) require construction of the institutional network as proposed; 4) suggested installation rates for basic services; 5) the franchise fee shall remain at 5% and calculated as ori- ginally proposed and incorporated in the franchise; 6) all equip- ment shall remain Group W's responsibility, as well as several other items. Mr. Johnson said he is representing the citizens of Lino Lakes and will fight for their best interest. Mr. Schumacher said he understood that Group W has financial troubles and has asked for 1.5% of the franchise fees to help pay for the 1.7 million dollar INET System. Mr. Johnson said it is the Commission's feeling that Group W is already installing the system as they had contracted and they will pay for it. 129 130 Page Two COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 1985 The total Commission is in agreement on these items. Mayor Benson thanked Mr. Johnson for coming and asked the Council be kept informed on the installation of the system. OPEN MIKE A. Gregg Dahl - Senator Dahl appeared before the Council to give them a brief update of legislative actions and specifically how they would affect Lino Lakes. He listed the major issues in this current session: 1) tax cut, approximately $600,000,000.00 (income tax cut, property tax cut, special other cuts); 2) address the crisis in rural Minnesota - farmers interest too high, no exports, victims of being good producers, just going to buy time); 3) major changes in superfund, impose cost on people who put pollutants in the ground; 4) Governor proposes a budget that limits state funding to a 4% increase in each year of the biennium. There are three items of legislative special interest to Lino Lakes: 1) Lino Lakes, Circle Pines Gas Commission - Senator Dahl is sponsoring the legislation in the Senate and Representative Quinn is sponsoring it in the house; 2) legislation on shared services is being introduced again; 3) legislation to try and reduce the tax burden in the Centennial School District, this has been introduced and referred to Committee. Senator Dahl said he is working on 24 other legislative matters. Mr. Schumacher asked about the farm bill that has been proposed. This bill will have a great impact on Lino Lakes budget since it will allow farmers to delay payment of property taxes. Senator Dahl said that today the Senate considered the bill and passed it out of Committee. He expects passage on Thursday. He felt it was not a good piece of legislation. Mr. Reinert asked where the Senate came up with the figure of $25,000,000 for low interest loans for farmers. This appears to be helping the banking industry more than the farmers. Senator Dahl explained that the need is so great it will not help much. This legislation was not designed to be a solution to the problems, only to buy some time; 120 days and is geared for farmers whose debt equals at least one half of their assets. The loan money will allow farmers to plant in the spring. Senator Dahl noted that the farmers lead the nation into the 1930's depresssion and wondered if this could happen again. 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL MEETING Page Three March 11, 1985 Mr. Kulaszewicz noted there are other people in the State who needed help too; northern Minnesota. Senator Dahl explained there are a lot of funds from the metro areas to help northern Minnesota. That area needs to develop a good sound economic base to create jobs. He explained there are plans to let leases for gold prospecting. Mayor Benson noted the state's business climate and the worker's compensation laws. Senator Dahl said the worker's compensation issue has been laid to rest because the rates have gone down at least 50%. The unemployment compensation problems will be an issue because business and labor cannot agree on a solution. Mr. Bohjanen asked where the the gaming law stands. Senator Dahl explained the work of the gambling commission was very controversial because it affected a lot of chari- table organizations. Right now it is "on hold" for 90 days for a further look at the proposal. Mr. Reinert asked Senator Dahl if he was in favor of a reduction in the size of the legislature. Senator Dahl said "maybe ". Smaller legislatures require more staff per legislator and it would be harder for him to have a direct impact on issues important to his constituents. He would have less accessibility. Mayor Benson thanked Senator Dahl for coming and told him if he needs the Council's support on the issues directly affecting Lino Lakes or any issue where this Council could support him he should feel free to contact them. SECOND READING - ORDINANCE #85 - 01 - REZONE SURFSIDE SEAPLANE BASE Mr. Reinert moved to adopt Ordinance #85 -01 and to dispense with the reading. Mr. Kulaszewicz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. The text of this Ordinance can be found in the February 25, 1985 Council minutes. SECOND READING - ORDINANCE #85 -02 - REZONE JOSEPH SPETZMAN Mr. Marier moved to adopt Ordinance #85 -02 and to dispense with the reading. Mr. Kulaszewicz seconded the motion. Motion declared passed. The text of this Ordinance can be found in the February 25, 1985 Council minutes. 131 132 COUNCIL MEETING Page Four March 11, 1985 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT - DON VOLK Mr. Volk reported he had recently traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to bid on a Terex front end loader that was put on auction by the Internal Revenue Service. The loader sold for more than what he felt it would be worth to this City. The IRS representative said he would keep him on the list for future sales. Mr. Volk reported that he did not have problems with snowplowing this season. There has been about $1,000 worth of repair to the equipment. Mr. Volk told the Council he is updating his five year road program and will bring it before the Council shortly. Mayor Benson asked about the squad car purchase. Mr. Volk said that he has been told by Ford Motor that the vehicle production has been put 'on hold' because the engine did not meet EPA standards. CONSIDERATION OF WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS The Council has received a memorandum from Mr. Schumacher summarizing the actions of the Ways and Means Committee; 1) Status of 1985 contract mediation session with the teamsters (police), will continue with mediation; 2) Compensation package for Police Chief Campbell, starting salary of $31,000 with a six month review; 3) Compensation agreement for newly hired patrolman, Mike Jensen, compensation and benefits normally granted to a patrolman with one year of service; 4) consider a four (4) month extension for the Assistant Administrator, Dan Tesch. Mr. Kulaszewicz moved to approve the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee. Mr. Reinert seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Schumacher handed out a copy of the proposed legislation dealing with the Circle Pines Gas Utility, He explained the legislation allows the Cities of Circle Pines and Lino Lakes to have additional representation on the Circle Pines Gas Utility Commission. The two cities will determine the number of commission members they need. Mr. Marier explained he had been contacted by a member of Rice Creek Watershed District regarding the filling -in of wet lands behind Maudie's Bar in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR's)jurisdiction. The DNR wants the City to enforce its ordinances and stop this activity. The Council directed the Building and Zoning inspector to investigate this situation and be sure all city ordinances are being enforced. 1 1 1 1 Page Five OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business. COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 1985 Mr. Kulaszewicz moved to adjourn at 8:23 P.M. Mr. Bohjanen seconded the motion. Aye. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved by a regular Council meeting on March 25, 1985. 133 )1A(OuctA Marilyn G. Anderson, Clerk - Treasurer enjam G. Benson, Mayor