HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/08/2003 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 8, 2003
APPROVED
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3 CITY OF LINO LAKES
4 MINUTES
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8 DATE : October 8, 2003
9 TIME STARTED : 5:40 p.m.
10 TIME ENDED : 7:34 p.m.
11 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson, Dahl, Reinert,
12 O'Donnell and Mayor Bergeson
13 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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15 Staff members present: Acting City Administrator/Administration Director, Dan Tesch;
16 Community Development Director, Michael Grochala; City Engineer, Jim Studenski;
17 City Planner, Jeff Smyser (part); and Chief of Police, Dave Pecchia (part)
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20 PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS — CANINE PROGRAM, DISCUSSION OF
21 ADMINISTRATIVE FINES, AND MULTIPLE -CALL ORDINANCE, CHIEF
22 PECCHIA
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24 Chief Pecchia stated the City has discussed the possibility of a canine program in the
• 25 past. The Public Safety Citizens Committee has determined the City should pursue a
26 canine program. The Police Department has three officers who are interested in
27 becoming canine officers. The start-up cost of the program is approximately $20,000
28 including $2,700 for the squad car upgrade. Veterinary bills will be approximately $750
29 per year and food for the dog will be approximately $600. There is also a one-time
30 $2,000 kennel cost. The over time pay will be approximately $7,500 per year which
31 includes meeting all requirements and training.
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33 Chief Pecchia advised the St. Paul Police Department would do the training of the canine.
34 The initial training fee is $5,500. The City will be eligible for a $2,000 grant from the St.
35 Paul Police Department to help off set those costs. The canine would also be trained in
36 drug enforcement.
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38 Chief Pecchia indicated the City has to commit to the program by October, 2003. He
39 requested feedback from the Council regarding the program. He stated he believes the
40 canine program would be very beneficial to the City. He also indicated he believes the
41 Police Department can find outside funding sources for the program. He noted there were
42 108 service calls last year where a canine officer could have been utilized.
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44 Councilmember O'Donnell clarified that the program would not have an impact of the
45 2004 budget. He also asked if the canine service would be used in surrounding
46 communities. Chief Pecchia stated surrounding communities have indicated they are
47 willing to pay for the service when a canine is necessary.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 8, 2003
APPROVED
1 Councilmember Dahl inquired about the yearly maintenance costs. Chief Pecchia
2 advised yearly maintenance costs would be approximately $8,800 including overtime
3 costs, veterinary services and food for the canine.
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5 Mayor Bergeson asked if the canine would go out on routine calls. Chief Pecchia stated
6 the canine would go out on daily calls. The canine sniffing a stopped car for drugs would
7 give the officer probable cause for a search. The canine would have a regular work
8 schedule.
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10 Chief Pecchia stated he would make a recommendation to the Council after the
11 department goes out into the community to solicit funds.
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13 It was the consensus of the Council to direct Chief Pecchia to further investigate the
14 canine program and solicit funds for the program.
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16 Chief Pecchia referred to a draft multiple -call ordinance. He indicated the City Attorney
17 is reviewing the ordinance. The multiple -call ordinance is similar to the alarm ordinance.
18 Staff is recommending a $250 fine for three or more multiple nuisance calls. He noted
19 what type of calls are considered nuisance calls.
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21 Mayor Bergeson inquired about the fine amount. Chief Pecchia stated that generally on
22 this type of call, multiple cars are necessary. Staff determined the costs involved with
23 responding to this type of call and determined a fine of $250 is appropriate. Other
24 communities also have their fine set at $250 also. He noted medical calls would not fall
25 into this category.
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27 Mayor Bergeson expressed concern regarding the pet aspect of the ordinance. Chief
28 Pecchia advised there are provisions in the ordinance stating an officer has to verify the
29 complaint.
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31 Chief Pecchia advised the draft ordinance would come before the Council for action at a
32 future City Council meeting.
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34 Chief Pecchia referred to the possibility of administrative fines indicating the goal is to
35 save costs. Staff looked at the citations and costs associated from January to September
36 of this year. The City could cut some costs but the state would lose revenue. The
37 legislature has indicated administrative fines are not against the law at this time.
38 However, the legislatures will make the fines against the law at the next legislative
39 session. Staff feels that at this time it is not appropriate to establish administrative fines.
40 The City should continue with the county tags.
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42 2004-2005 STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, MICHAEL GROCHALA,
43 JIM STUDENSKI
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45 Community Development Director Grochala advised the improvement hearing for the
46 2004-2005 road reconstruction projects would be held Monday night. A public hearing
47 will be held for the West Shadow Lake Drive area as well as the Shenandoah area. No
48 action is required other than opening and closing the public hearing. After the public
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 8, 2003
APPROVED
1 hearing is closed the sixty-day comment and petition period begins. It is staff's intent to
2 have a separate study for sewer and water improvements in the West Shadow Lake Drive
3 area if the street project moves forward.
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5 Community Development Director Grochala noted open houses regarding the projects
6 would be held in the next two weeks. The City is also doing a mailing to residents
7 regarding the referendum. There will also be information in the newspaper and on the
8 cable channel.
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10 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, October 13, 2003, 6:30
11 p.m.
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13 62ND STREET/HOLLY DRIVE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, MICHAEL
14 GROCHALA, JIM STUDENSKI
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16 Community Development Director Grochala stated staff is ready to move forward and
17 begin the right-of-way acquisition process for the 62' Street project. Work is still being
18 done on the plans and specifications. Construction is scheduled for next year.
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20 Community Development Director Grochala stated staff would like to begin work on the
21 plans and specifications for the Holly Drive project. The feasibility study originally
22 called for three phases within the project. Staff would like to revise the phasing areas
23 because the middle of the roadway should be constructed first. The Park and Trail plan
24 calls for an on road trail on both sides of the street. Residents have been indicating they
25 would prefer an off-road trail.
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27 City Engineer Studenski advised the road is a state aid roadway and will have to meet
28 certain criteria.
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30 Community Development Director Grochala stated there would be impacts whether the
31 trail is on or off the roadway. More information on those impacts will be determined
32 after the feasibility study is completed.
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34 VILLAGE PROPOSAL, MICHAEL GROCHALA
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36 Community Development Director Grochala advised staff is requested Council
37 authorization to commit dollars for the Village plan. He stated staff has been working
38 with the Hartford Group. There have been issues with the layout of the roads and the
39 location of the YMCA. Staff is now looking at the possibility of moving the location of
40 the YMCA. Staff received a proposal of $100,000 to firm up the details of the plan. The
41 City's cost of that figure is approximately $19,000. The dollars would come from the
42 Livable Community Grant and the Economic Development fund. A formal request for
43 the dollars will be included in the Friday update.
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45 This item will be added to the regular Council agenda Monday, October 13, 2003, 6:30
46 p.m.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 8, 2003
APPROVED
1 CENTENNIAL UTILITIES REQUEST FOR CAP ON FRANCHISE FEES, DAN
2 TESCH
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4 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch distributed a memo from the
5 Centennial Utilities. Centennial Utilities is requested the Council consider granting some
6 relief on franchise fees because natural gas prices are expected to increase approximately
7 30% during the coming winter.
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9 The previous City Administrator, Linda Waite Smith, recommended the Council adopt an
10 ordinance granting a one-time cap of $65,000. That is five thousand dollars more than
11 the City budgeted for 2004 revenue from this franchise.
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13 Mayor Bergeson stated if the City does grant a cap, a stipulation should be included that
14 Centennial Utilities does not continue to charge the fee to Lino Lakes customers.
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16 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch that stipulation could be one of
17 the conditions of the cap along with the understanding that the fee would be charged
18 again next year. He indicated he would contact Centennial Utilities and ask if the savings
19 will be passed on to residents. He advised he would also find out if the customers would
20 be informed that the City has capped the fee. An update will be given at the next Council
21 work session.
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23 CITY ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH UPDATE, DAN TESCH
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25 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch distributed a packet of
26 information relating to the search for a new City Administrator. The position was
27 advertised and 32 individuals applied. He reviewed the selection process noting the goals
28 for each interview. A list of proposed interview questions was also included in the
29 packet.
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31 Mayor Bergeson asked the Council to contact staff if they have any changes to the
32 proposed questions.
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34 The Council determined the first interviews would be scheduled on Tuesday, October 21,
35 5:30 p.m.
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37 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch noted the directors would also
38 be interviewing candidates. The intent is for the Council and directors to come to a
39 consensus on the top three candidates.
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41 Mayor Bergeson inquired about a rating system. Acting City Administrator/
42 Administration Director Tesch advised the Council could use a scoring system for each
43 candidate.
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45 REGULAR AGENDA, OCTOBER 13, 2003
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 8, 2003
APPROVED
1 Item 7F, Consideration of Resolution No. 03 —179, Approving Final Plat, Marshan Lake
i2 Industrial Park — Council directed staff to speak to the developer about the possibility of
3 changing a street name within the project.
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5 Item 10A, City Administrator Candidate Interviews, Tuesday, October 14, 2003 — the
6 date of the City Administrator Candidate Interviews was changed to Tuesday, October
7 21, 2003, 5:30 p.m.
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9 The Village Proposal/Request for Funding was added to the regular Council agenda.
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11 There were no other changes to the regular agenda.
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13 The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
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15 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
16 October 27, 2003.
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21 Ann Blr, City Clerk Jo ergeso ,Mayr
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• 24 Transcribed by:
25 Kim Points
26 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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