HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/02/2007 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 2, 2007
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : July 2, 2007
5 TIME STARTED : 5:35 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 9:30 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson, O'Donnell,
8 Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Reinert
10
11
12 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development
13 Director, Mike Grochala; Public Safety Director, Dave Pecchia; Police Captain Kent
14 Strege; City Engineer, Jim Studenski; Finance Director, Al Rolek; Public Services
15 Director, Rick DeGardner; Economic Development Coordinator, Mary Alice Divine;
16 Associate Planner, Paul Bengtson; and City Clerk, Julie Bartell
17
18 ANDERSON BUILDERS UPDATE
19
20 Economic Development Director Divine reported that Anderson Builders has submitted a
21 concept plan for the city -owned three acre site on Lake Drive north of 77th Street.
22 Questions arose at a previous work session regarding the realignment of 77th Street and
23 also about the amount of the purchase offer. A second appraisal of the property that takes
24 into consideration current market conditions and property use restrictions was completed
25 in June and the value came in within range of the current offer.
26
27 Dave Anderson, Anderson Builders, announced that they are still interested in working on
28 developing this site; he reviewed a concept plan drawing. Regarding roadway alignment
29 planning, they have obtained purchase agreements from the two affected property owners.
30
31 The Council agreed to consider the conveyance of land and approval of the proposed
32 preliminary development agreement at the July 9, 2007 council meeting.
33
34 CITIZENS TASK FORCE REPORT
35
36 Kathi Gallup, Chair of the Citizen's Task Force to Review Charter Provisions Pertaining
37 to Local Improvements, presented a review of the group's report. Also present was Jon
38 Lathum and Laura Carlson, members of the task force.
39
40 The group looked at the city's Pavement Management Plan and found that Lino Lakes is
41 unique in requiring a local election for each street reconstruction. The group did not only
42 rely on existing information, however, but reached out and sought input on the subject.
43 Three major reasons were noted for seeking a change: finance, safety and public support.
44
1
•
•
•
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 2, 2007
APPROVED
1 Chair Gallup noted that the Charter Commission does not support a change. She read the
2 task force recommendations included in the report.
3
4 The Council confirmed that the definition of "local improvement" would include new
5 development areas and that improvement costs associated with new developments have
6 not been passed on to the taxpayers and that shouldn't change.
7
8 Steve Bubul, attorney with Kennedy & Graven, advised that if the council wants to
9 pursue a charter amendment, they could put the recommendations in ordinance form and
10 send them forward to the Charter Commission.
11
12 The council thanked the task force for a good process and report and confirmed that the
13 recommended change (charter amendment language) had been reviewed for legality and
14 also confirmed that the presented recommendations represent a strong concensus of the
15 group.
16
17 Administrator Heitke noted that communication would be key if the proposal were to
18 move forward, including where the law and the charter end and policy fits in. To
19 preserve the possibility of the amendment appearing on the fall ballot, the change (in
20 ordinance form) would have to be considered at the July 9 council meeting. The city
21 attorney has advised that the ordinance can be referred to the Charter Commission after
22 its first reading.
23
24 The council concurred to consider first reading of an ordinance on July 9.
25
26 LINO LAKES AMBASSADORS PROGRAM REPORT AND REQUEST
27
28 Blue Heron Days Committee members Alyssa Stull, Lynn Bergman, Stephanie Smith
29 (Treasurer), Bill Combs (parade coordinator) and Dave Bauer (Jaycees) presented the
30 council with a letter requesting a cash donation in 2008 for Blue Heron Days and showed
31 a PowerPoint presentation on the Miss Lino Lakes Ambassador Program. Relative to the
32 ambassador program, the group requested use of a city vehicle and possibly a driver to
33 facilitate pulling the float in area parades. The council reviewed photos of city cars from
34 other area cities pulling floats.
35
36 The council agreed to add consideration of Blue Heron Days funding to the 2008 budget
37 discussion. It was suggested, however, that if one non-profit funding request is
38 considered in the budget, all "causes" should be allowed to submit requests. Regarding
39 provision of a vehicle and driver for the float, the council directed that city staff
40 investigate the details and provide information back to the council.
41
42 The mayor urged all council members to attend this year's ambassador's coronation
43 program.
44
•
•
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 2, 2007
APPROVED
1 Parade Coordinator Bill Combs showed a 4 foot by 4 foot advertising banner that the
2 Blue Heron Days Committee would like to strategically place at a few places in the city;
3 permission is requested to place the banners for longer than is allowed by the city code.
4
5 The council requested that staff review the banner issue.
6
7 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION SYSTEM, ANN ANTONSEN, SPRINGSTED
8
9 Ms. Antonsen, human resources consultant with Springsted, noted that the council
10 recently considered salary adjustments and requested assistance in getting outstanding
11 questions answered, including institution of a performance based pay system.
12
13 Council comments included confirmation that the city administrator review should occur
14 and remaining concern about the impact recently approved adjustments could have on the
15 pay equity picture.
16
17 Ms. Antonen explained that the pay equity report filed with the state is an ever changing
18 document; salary adjustments between reporting periods are not unusual.
19
20 The council indicated they are interested in receiving a proposal to establish a process the
21 city can use in determining and documenting a clear compensation program.
22
23 Ms. Antonen responded to whether or not there are governmental employers utilizing
24 performance pay based compensation systems. There are some cases but they are hybrid
25 and generally that element is just one component of the system. Funding can be a key
26 question if there is a desire to differentiate.
27
28 The council requested an estimate from Springsted of the cost of a study that would
29 document what's in place, comparisons to other cities and recommendations for
30 improvement for the city's union and non-union wage systems.
31
32 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
33
34 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda.
35
36 CRIME FREE MULTI HOUSING CODE
37
38 Captain Strege explained that police staff have reviewed what's going on in other cities in
39 the area of rental housing regulations, and is working with the Community Development
40 division to bring forward a crime -free rental housing code as well as an incentive program
41 (Star Program) for landlords to keep housing safe and livable.
42
43 Public Safety Director Pecchia added that this licensing would be new to Lino Lakes and
44 is proposed to be enforced by inspections through the Police and Community
45 Development departments. The focus will initially be on multi -units but will apply to all
•
•
•
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 2, 2007
APPROVED
1 rental housing in the city, including single family. Resources that area needed will be
2 determined as the program moves ahead.
3
4 The council recommended that any rejection criteria or policy should be reviewed by the
5 city attorney.
6
7 The ordinance will appear on the July 23 council agenda or August work session.
8
9 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
10
11 Public Safety Director Pecchia explained that there is a new ordinance being prepared as
12 well as a joint powers agreement from the county attorney (that would also include the
13 prison facility). When that information is in place, the city's formal plan can be updated
14 and approved for submission.
15
16 2007-2008 COUNCIL GOALS
17
18 Since all council members were not present, review of goals was held over to the next
19 meeting.
20
21 2008 BUDGET PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
22
23 Finance Director Rolek reviewed the proposed schedule. When asked about any revenue
24 or resource implications, he explained that the assessor's information is not yet available
25 but the valuations are basically historical (previous year) for this year's revenue.
26
27 The council rescheduled their budget work session to August 22, 4:00 p.m.
28
29 VLAWMO BUDGET/JPA UPDATE
30
31 Lino Lakes VLAWMO representative Donna Carlson updated the council. The proposed
32 budget has increased and may continue to do so. The board voted to send the budget to
33 area councils, however, it hasn't been received as yet. It may be feasible for the council
34 to look at the budget at the next work session (July 23). It was confirmed that BWSR
35 will not approve the required water plan without resolution of the JPA issue.
36
37 The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
38
39 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
40 July 23, 2007.
41
42
43
44 �,�
455 e Bartell, •'ty erk
4
J‘94,,p8r4„,/
ohn Bergeson, Mayor