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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/1998 Council MinutesCOUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6, 1998 CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNCIL MINUTES DATE May 6, 1998 TIME STARTED 5:30 p.m. TIME ENDED 9:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Council Members Bergeson, Dahl, Lyden, Neal and Mayor Sullivan MEMBERS ABSENT None Staff members present: Assistant to the City Administrator, Dan Tesch; Community Development Director, Brian Wessel; Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Rick DeGardner; Building Official, Pete Kluegel; City Attorney, Bill Hawkins;f of Police, David Pecchia; Environmental/Forestry/Solid Waste Coordinate M. Asleson and Clerk -Treasurer Marilyn Anderson were present. HAY STUDY, DAVE PECCHIA Chief Pecchia introduced Dan Schleiter who_prepared the`Hay Study of pay equity for the City. Mr. Schleiter explained that job evaluation focuses on the job not the people performing the job. He presented a detailed outline_: of his study as well as the final recommended job evaluation rankingchleifer also noted that the City was not in compliance with the State mandated Comparable Worth Pay Equity. Mr. Schleiter rec following: 1. Prepare sally scale that brings those salaries below desired position up to that level n. ea e €hose above desired position where they are. 2. Bringlary ranges in line with other similar cities. 3. Improve internal equity. The Council asked Mr. Schleiter several questions: - Is this study a team based study? Mr. Schleiter said no. - Is it legal to discriminate based on education? Mr. Schleiter said that education is based on the person. If a job requires a particular degree, the person would be paid based on education. - Is this a customized study to fit the City? Mr. Schleiter said yes. - In a bargaining unit (union), who is responsible for equity? Mr. Schleiter said that collective bargaining would have to be considered in the future. - In general the entire pay scale moves ahead. When you have to make choices between PAGE 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6, 1998 giving everyone an inflation increase and make increases due to job evaluation, does the City make the choice? Mr. Schleiter said yes, and suggested that the City break the increases into steps. The Council thanked Mr. Schleiter for his presentation. Mayor Sullivan asked the Council to give their impressions of the study and to suggest what steps should be taken by the Council. Council Member Bergeson felt the first step was to accept the study and then discuss recommendations. If the City is not in compliance with pay equity, a reasonable time should be allowed to address the solution. Council Member Dahl said she wanted to study the report. Council Member Lyden said that timing is critical and expressedthe recd to some changes that may impact classes or structures. Council Member Neal suggested that all employees join a union fits ed that the study cost $8,000 and would have rather given that money to the employees. Mayor Sullivan felt that there should be.more discussion on what was the intent of the study, gender pay scale issues, determine level of accountability, decision making, know- how and determine if the process has de tified all issues. This matter will be discus #,at the nekt.work session. UPDATE, SHOREyV,IEE' J T POWERS AGREEMENT, MARY VASKE Ms. Vaske s a memorandum outlining the history of the Shoreview Joint Powers Agreement. Vaske, Mr. Ahrens and Chief Pecchia met with Shoreview representatives on Friday, May 1st. All of the issues were discussed and the final result was that Lino Lakes will pay Shoreview $303,000 for service and lost interest. In addition, the Lino Lakes City Attorney and the Shoreview City Attorney will meet and prepare an updated Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). The new JPA will be presented to the City Council upon its completion. Mayor Sullivan noted receipt of a letter from the City Auditor who has sent a letter to both the State Auditor and the County Attorney stating that they were mislead on this matter. Dave noted that he had received a telephone call from the County Attorney who is assigning an attorney to investigate the matter. The County Attorney does not intend to perform a criminal investigation. Mayor Sullivan said that she wanted the citizens to be satisfied that the City has a clean slate. She asked Council for authorization to hire an independent attorney to review PAGE 2 • • • COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6, 1998 • letters from the auditor and review the audit that is in process. Mayor Sullivan asked that this matter be resolved quickly. s • After further discussion, authorization to hire an independent attorney at a cost not to exceed $5,000 to review the letters from the City Auditor and review the audit in process will be placed on the May 11, 1998 Council agenda. Mayor Sullivan suggested several names of attorneys who could do the independent investigation. Mayor Sullivan, Chief Pecchia and Mr. Hawkins were asked to select one of those suggested or another person if these were all unavailable. Council Member Bergeson asked that a letter of engagement be prepared outlining the scope of the investigation. CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT The Centennial School Early Childhood Center Lease Agreemen1was discussed. It was noted that two (2) different leases were prepared. The first lea � ctuded a of the bonding costs. The second lease said that Centennial Schools, would f td $1,200,000 only. The second lease agreement was signed bytl�e Cente 'al School District. Recent conversations with the Centennial Superintendent °off' Schools °resulted in the threat of legal action if the City pursues additional funding from the School District. At all times, the Council was top building. Neither staff or Coon The issue is whet where will fundin entcnnial Schools would pay all costs for this old about the second lease. at t e ad econd lease was approved by the City Council and if so, nal $600,000 of bonding costs come from. It was decided to research the minutes on this issue to determine if Council authorized the second lease agreement. The minutes will be given to Bill to see if the City is obligated to pay the additional $600,000. Ms. Vaske explained that the Area and Unit Fund will finance the additional costs if it is determined that the City is responsible. There was discussion regarding legal action because this matter was not brought to the City Council. Mr. Hawkins will try to determine what the staff person negotiated and if this person purposely did not bring the matter to the attention of the Council. A closed Council meeting to discuss this matter was tentatively set for Monday, May 11, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Sullivan noted a telephone call from the Quad Press reporter regarding funding for a new YMCA in the civic complex. The reporter also asked general questions about financing for the civic complex. She asked if the City should make a statement about hiring an independent attorney. PAGE 3 COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6, 1998 It was decided to make a formal statement on the matter to the Quad Press and to direct all telephone calls to Chief Pecchia. EXCESS FUND BALANCE Ms. Vaske explained that when the audit is completed each year, a fund balance is determined. If the City realizes a positive fund balance (more receipts than expenditures) for any year, a resolution must prepared outlining how this fund balance is to be used. Now that the 1997 audit has been completed, the City is showing a positive fund balance for 1997. Ms. Vaske is in the process of preparing a resolution that will designate the use of the 1997 General Fund balance. Randy Schumacher's severance package was not anticipated in the 1998 General Fund budget. Ms. Vaske suggested that his severance package be financed thsoie of the 1997 excess funds. Ms. Vaske will bring a detailed recommendation for the severance package to the next work session. UPDATE SAC, PETE KLUEGEL r. Schumacher's Sewer Availability Charges (SAC) wee charged bythe Metropolitan Council on all new home building permits issued to since" approximately 1971. A northern suburb challenged Metropolitan Counei s pr edures''including the collection of SAC in areas that will not get sanitary sewer scrvice'fhr a long time. The northern suburb won their court suit. The re tt was th etropolitan Council offered to reimburse SAC charges collected on new Ouse permit 'fin areas where sanitary sewer was not available and not expected tea •. ailabe until sometime in the future. The City prepared a list of the permits affected by the court ruling and requested a refund of the SAC from Metropolitan Council. The SAC was refunded to the City but never returned to the property owners. The funds were kept in a separate account and allowed to accumulate interest. Problems occurred when some of those homes began connecting to sanitary sewer services and Metropolitan Council requested payment of the SAC. The originally SAC payment sitting in the City account was considerably less than the current SAC charges. Who was going to pay the difference? The Council decided that SAC for each of the homes connecting to sanitary sewer would be paid from the City SAC account. In addition, staff was directed to send letters to the homeowners not connected to sanitary sewer offering to refund the SAC with interest back to the date the City received the SAC refund. Staff was also directed to try and get Metropolitan Council to take back the SAC payments from property owners who do not PAGE 4 • • COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6,1998 want their SAC refunded because sanitary sewer may be extended into their area in the near future. A draft letter announcing the offer to return the SAC to the property owners was presented to the Council. There was discussion as to who should contact Metropolitan Council. Since this is a political issue, it was suggested that Council Member Bergeson make the call. The amount of interest on the SAC was discussed. It was decided the interest should be 4%. Staff was asked to make sure that the language in the letter was specific. Staff was also directed to refund the money to the current homeowner only. DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE FOCUS GROUP, INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT PLAN, 1998, MARTY ASL,IO Mr. Asleson explained the purpose of the focus committee and;asked selecting committee members. He noted that Mike Trehus haslite Planning and Zoning Board as their representative. dfor assistance in appointed by the After discussion by the Council, Council Member Lyden wassdesignated as the Council representative and Mr. Wessel was designated as the Economic Development representative. Mr. Asleson suggested tha landowners represent n be designated as the Park Board and et Mr. Montain. This committee it disbaded on January 1, 2000. PDI UPDA AN SCH PDI is recrui g candidates for the City Administrator position. Currently there are 32 candidates. During the week of May 18th, PDI will forward candidate information to the Council. By June 1st, a list of six (6) or eight (8) candidates will have been selected by PDI and the Council. Interviews and testing will begin to determine the top three (3) candidates. Discussion followed regarding the membership of the groups conducting the interviews. It was decided to include staff representatives, department heads, advisory board representatives and the entire City Council in the interview groups. Mayor Sullivan asked that PDI submit a list of questions to be used for the interviews. PAGE 5 COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 6,1998 There was discussion regarding transportation, lodging and meal costs for candidates who are not from this area. Mr. Tesch explained that typically the employer requesting the interviews pays these costs. A salary schedule for the new Administrator was discussed. PDI will be asked to make a recommendation. SET JOINT COUNCIL MEETING, CITY OF CENTERVILLE, CITY OF HUGO, DAVE PECCHIA Chief Pecchia noted a letter received from the City of Hugo which included five (5) items that they would like to discuss with the Lino Lakes City Council. The meeting was set for May 20, 1998, 7:00 p.m. The City of Centerville and City of Lino Lakes meeting is planned for late Jze or early July. Staff was asked for an update regarding the upgrade of 21 st Avenue "south of Main Street which is located on the boundary of Centerville and Lino Lakes Staff explained that Centerville has proposed a Joint Powers Agreement that ;includes extension of 21st Avenue north of Main Street and a water interconnect Mr. Ahrens was asked to attend the next work session to update the City Council on this matter. REGULAR AGENDA:,. Ms. Vaske explained Agenda Items No. 3. Mr. Wessel .gained Agenda Item No. 4A. He noted that Al Brixius will summarize the Comp Plan ess to date. This presentation will "kick off' the final drive to prepare the new Comp Nan. It was noted that Ms. Wyland is in the process of scheduling the Vision Bus Tour. Brian will update the Council on this matter Monday evening. Chief Pecchia explained Agenda Item No. 6A and noted the need to be timely. Mr. Wessel outlined other projects that have engineering issues. A closed meeting was scheduled for May 20, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss personnel issues. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. PAGE 6 • • • COUNCIL WORK SESSION These minutes were considered, corrected and approved atare on May 10, 1999. M. Viger, Deputy Clerk Printed 5/13/99 • • Ki i ly A.V%Jvan, Mayor MAY 6, 1998 lar Council meeting held PAGE 7