Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/09/1994 Council Minutes1 1 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 1994 DATE February 91994 TIME STARTED 5:00 P.M. TIME ENDED ! 6;P.4. MEMBERS' PRESENT: Reinert!, Neal, Kuether MEMBERS ABSENT None Elliott, Bergeson Staff members present: Chief of Police, David Pecchia; Public Works Director, Don Volk; Assistant to the City Administrator, Dan Tesch; City Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk - Treasurer Marilyn Anderson. Mayor Reinert referred to a letter he received from the City of Redwing outlining the impact of a possible adverse ruling regarding storage of spent fuel on the Redwing NSP nuclear power plant site. Mr. Schumacher explained that if NSP is not allowed storage on-site, the plant could be shut down causing a significant loss of revenue for the City of Redwing and to Goodhue County and also a significant increase in electric power rates statewide. He will contact the League of Cities to get their interpretation of the situation. Mr. Schumacher will keep the City Council updated on this matter. Council Member Kuether noted that the City of Lexington recently purchased insurance that will cover legal costs if a city council breaks an open meeting law either unintentionally or on purpose. Mr. Schumacher noted that this insurance is being provided through the League of Minnesota Cities. He will get additional information and update the City Council. CONSIDERATION OF CHANGES TO OVERWEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Mr. Schumacher has met with the Public Works Director and the Chief of Police to talk about possible changes in the current weight restriction policy. At the PM2 meeting issues of the level of enforcement were discussed. Presently City streets are posted at three (3) ton per axle and during spring "breakup" permits are issued that would allow trucks carrying five (5) ton PAGE 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 1994 per axle to use City streets. Mr. Volk is proposing that no permits be issued and the present policy of three (3) ton per axle be strictly enforced. This means that the City will be "shut down" for six (6) weeks in terms of construction. Mr. Volk explained that he had researched other cities and found that weight restricts vary a great deal but no other city allowed more than seven (7) ton per axle. He explained that his "gut" feeling is that streets in the west central portion of the City could support five (5) ton road limits, however, all other streets could support no more than three (3) ton per axle. Mr. Volk noted that construction is very limited in the west central portion of the City and said it would be best to leave all City streets posted at three (3) ton per axle. Mayor Reinert said he felt that as long as all builders are notified well in advance and the Police Department can enforce the law uniformly, there should be no problem. He also noted that a list of affected streets/roads should be made available to all City personnel and builders. Chief Pecchia noted that the penalty for violating street weight restrictions is substantial and will cause truckers to abide by the regulations. Mr. Volk explained that a Public Works Department employee will ride with the police officer to help operate the scales. Council Member Kuether asked if the cold weather will cause additional problems for City streets. Mr. Volk said yes, the frost is likely to go deeper in the street. Mayor Reinert asked Mr. Volk is he was asking the City Council to support the three (3) ton per axle weight restriction. Mr. Volk said yes. Chief Pecchia said he also supported the three (3) ton weight restriction to protect the roads and to save tax dollars. Mr. Volk gave the Council Members a copy of the "draft" notice that he proposes to give to the builders on Builders Day. He noted that this is not a "positive" matter for builders, however if the information is presented to the builders early and they can be given assurances that there will be extra patrol to protect the materials that they would store prior to the weight restriction period, some opposition can be averted. Mr. Schumacher noted that there will be extra patrol coverage of the building sites during the weight restriction period. POLICE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT Chief Pecchia gave the City Council Members a copy of the January PAGE 2 1 1 1 1 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 1994 report and outlined the report. The report contained updates on the Community Policing Program and personnel issues. Chief Pecchia noted that he is in the process of hiring another full time police officer. Information contained in the report included information regarding calls, arrests and citations, as well as newspaper articles, letters from citizens and the news release for the month. A mission statement is being prepared and will be available with the February report. Mr. Schumacher asked the City Council to contact him if there is anything else they feel should be in the monthly report. Mayor Reinert noted that this report contained a lot of material. He said he would browse through the report but would not have time to read all of it. Chief Pecchia said he would highlight important points in the next report. The City Council thanked Chief Pecchia for his report. RESTRUCTURING OUTLINE Mr. Tesch handed to the City Council an updated Organizational Chart, a Personnel Flow Chart and other written materials. Council Member Kuether asked what the numbers in parenthesis next to each employee meant. Mr. Tesch explained that these are job value points established for the Pay Equity Plan. Council Member Kuether asked if job descriptions had been completed. Mr. Tesch explained only current job descriptions are available. Mr. Tesch explained the purpose of the Organizational Chart and explained job titles correspond with job descriptions in the Stanton Report. He noted that there is no job description in the Stanton Report for an Economic Development Administrator. However, job duties are very similar to a Community Development Director and that is why the Organizational Chart shows Brian Wessel's position as Community Development Director. Mayor Reinert said that there is no way Mr. Schumacher can be in direct contact with all the department heads on a day to day basis. He felt this type of organization would make the department heads more accountable and eliminate the overlapping of duties. Mr. Schumacher explained that the purpose for the new organizational chart was to "flatten" out the structure. A proposed salary range handout was given to the City Council. Mr. Tesch explained that he used the Stanton Report and referenced cities of over 10,000 in population and cities under 10,000 in population but similar to Lino Lakes in terms of development and size. Mayor Reinert asked how long several PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 1994 employees have worked for the City. This information was given to him. Council Member Bergeson explained that he saw the need to prepare a new management structure but was concerned that when comparing the old structure to the new structure it appeared that a person has less responsibility and appears to have been demoted. Council Member Kuether expressed the same concern. Mayor Reinert said he knew Council Member Bergeson and Kuether were referring to one particular employee and explained that he did not feel that this was a demotion. However, cities in the same position as Lino Lakes usually hire engineers to be Public Works Director. He said he did see a good future for this employee because of the gas franchise situation. Mayor Reinert said he could envision that this employee would become head of an entirely new department. Council Member Kuether said she would not vote for anything that would mean a demotion or decreased wages for any employee. She noted that this looks like a retaliation against the person who formed the Lino Lakes Management Union. Mr. Schumacher gave the City Council copies of the "Salary Survey" he has prepared using cities of similar size and stage of development. This Survey indicates no impact on salary or demotion for any employee. Mayor Reinert again referred to the employee previously discussed and noted that this employee was "spread to thin". Council Member Kuether said she had talked to this employee who agreed that re -organization was needed. However she felt that this employee needed to be "protected". Mr. Tesch noted that the Salary Survey is indicating that a higher salary is projected for this employee. Council Member Bergeson noted that if job positions are moving toward more professional requirements, the City Council should look at programs that would assist the current employees to further their education or take programs that would enrich the present position. It was noted that the City already provides for tuition in most cases where it is demonstrated that the program or class would benefit the employee. However, the class or program must be related to what the employee is doing. Council Member Bergeson asked if there is a potential future for this employee in the gas utility area, can this be recognized in the new organization chart without interfering with the union negotiations. It was determined that the organization chart can be updated at any time. PAGE 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 1994 Mayor Reinert explained that he felt the City Council should not "micro manage" city hall. He said if Mr. Tesch and Mr. Schumacher see the re -organization chart as a way to streamline management, the City Council should adopt it. Council Member Kuether asked Mr. Schumacher if he has discussed this matter with the employee referred to earlier. Mr. Schumacher said not recently, however he has talked to Mr. Schneider about the re -organization. Mr. Tesch explained that the organizational chart was given to all employees. The only feedback came through Mr. Schneider. Mayor Reinert asked that this be placed on the agenda for Monday's City Council meeting and asked that if anyone has further recommendations of a positive nature to talk to Mr. Schumacher. Mr. Schumacher explained that if the organization chart is adopted Monday evening, he will work with all staff,. Council Member Neal said that the re -organization is needed and adjustments will be needed. Council Member Bergeson said he also sees a need to re -organize but felt the need to point out problems that should be discussed. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISCUSSION Mr. Tesch explained that there is $37,701.00 available through the 1994/1995 Community Development Block Grant. He presented a chart showing the 1993/1994 funding, the 1994/1995 requests for funding and the recommendations for funding from Mr. Schumacher. The City Council must finalize distribution of the funds and proper reports must be filed with Anoka County by February 28, 1994. Council Member Kuether said she felt that all organizations that presented a request for funding should be given something. Council Member Elliott presented her proposal which would keep the bulk of the funds in the City. Her proposal is as follows: $500.00 each to Rise, Inc., ACCAP, Alexandra House, Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau and the Community Emergency Assistance Program, Inc., $13,000.00 to the Lino Lakes Senior Program, $8,500.00 to the Land Use Housing Need/Economic Development Impact Study and $13,701.00 to the Lino Lakes Therapeutic Recreation Program and the Lino Lakes Americans with Disabilities Act. AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 14, 1994 The City Council reviewed all items on the proposed agenda for Monday. PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 9, 1994 The meeting adjourned at 6:12 P.M. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular City Council meeting held on March 14, 1994. ti Marilyn . Anderson, Clerk -Treasurer Vernon F. Reinert, Mayor PAGE 6 1 1