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Home My WebLink About05-01-2012 CCMLAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2012 Approved May 15, 2012 1 City of Lake Elmo City Council Minutes May 1, 2012 Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Johnston, Council Members Emmons, Smith, & Pearson Also Present: City Administrator Zuleger, Attorney Snyder, City Engineer Griffin, Planning Director Klatt, City Clerk Thone, Fire Chief Malmquist, and Finance Director Bendel. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: City Administrator Zuleger asked that a Closed Session be added to the agenda to discuss recent developments with regard to the negotiations for purchase of real estate for the library use. Council Member Emmons asked that Item 6 on the consent agenda be moved to the regular agenda and Council Member Pearson asked that Item 8 on the consent agenda be moved to the regular agenda. MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve the May 1, 2012 City Council Agenda as amended. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. ACCEPTED MINUTES: The April 17, 2012 City Council Minutes were accepted as amended with one change to the total for the financial disbursements by consensus of the City Council. PUBLIC COMMENTS/INQUIRIES: Greg Stopka, Central Regional Director with the Alliance for Innovation gave a presentation to encourage the City of Lake Elmo to become a member in the organization to transform local government, advance community excellence through leading ideas and emerging practices mainly through webinars and workshops and access to case study results and members worldwide. City Administrator Zuleger added he would forgo his membership in ICMA at $900 annually and put the money towards membership in Alliance for Innovation which would cost $1825 annually and include all employees as he believes this is the best management practice group he has observed for local government and the program allows training with no added travel requirements. Council Member Pearson and Council Member Smith expressed their support for the program. REPORTS: Council Member Emmons reported he recently attended some beneficial sustainability training. Council Member Smith reported the planning for the Lake Elmo Fall Festival on September 8, 2012 will begin this week. Mayor Johnston reported the council/staff retreat was successful, The board of review was completed this past week, he attended the Rasmussen College open house, and the Metro Cities annual meeting where he was re-elected to a three year term on the board of directors. He attended a meeting of the leadership group at the Mahtomedi School District and discussed a Highway 36 LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2012 Approved May 15, 2012 2 Corridor Plan with other cities and made plans to further discuss a united plan. He reported he had meetings regarding the park and rides, met with a Village land owner requesting additional information on future plans for the area and gave the prayer for officials at the Woodbury Prayer Breakfast. City Administrator Zuleger reported Red Zone traffic study was completed and successful on Highland Trail and will move to 30th Street and then Jane Road, the draft executive report was submitted by Don Salverda from the retreat and a mission, vision statement and statement of values will be submitted at the next council meeting for approval, Council Member Pearson and he attended a positive roundtable with 26 local businesses where excellent open dialogue was had, work was continued on the safe route to school traffic calming option, Excel provided a downtown lighting demonstration, Rotary has funds to provide options for the downtown area, Ramsey Washington Cable Commission Franchise fund check of over $39k was received this week. City Attorney Snyder stated work is nearing completion on updating Administrative Penalty Fines. He stated a scheduling order in the detachment proceeding was received providing for a January 2013 trial date and some briefing considered for Fall of 2012. City Engineer Griffin reported they are working on the 2012 seal coat project, are progressing on the street improvement project for Demontreville and preparing for the May 8, 2012 workshop on Utilities and Growth. Planning Director Klatt reported they are scheduling meetings with the technical committee and will be meeting with Washington County and the State to talk about transportation improvements for Highway 5 to fit into the Village plan, planning for the special meeting being held on May 7, 2012 which includes two public hearings, the regular planning meeting on May 14, 2012 which will look at the comprehensive plan, and the last meeting which has been rescheduled due to the Memorial Day holiday and will be held on May 30, 2012 and Eco-Check will be giving a presentation on community treatment systems. Finance Director Bendel reported the audit had been re-scheduled for the week of May 7th, followed by the Workers Compensation audit the following week, the budget process will begin in early June and work on updating the financial content of the website is underway. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: Council Member Pearson moved to approve the Consent Agenda, removing items: Item 6 and Item 8 for further discussion and review. Council Member Emmons seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. 2) Approve Payment of Disbursements and Payroll in the amount of $111, 837.61 3) Approve Year End Fund Closing Transfers 4) 2012 Seal Coat Project: Approval of Plans and Specification and Ordering Advertisement for Bids 5) CSAH 10Mill and Overlay – Resolution Approving a County Project within Municipal Corporate Limits. 6) Demontreville Park and Wildlife Area – Approve Parking Lot Improvements and Add to 2012 Street Improvement Project 7) Designation of South Washington County Watershed District as the LGU for Administering the LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2012 Approved May 15, 2012 3 Wetlands Conversation Act. 8) Approve Budget Adjustment/Designation and Donation for Maintenance of Historic District 12 School House ITEM 6: DEMONTREVILLE PARK AND WILDLIFE AREA – APPROVE PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS AND ADD TO 2012 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Council Member Emmons inquired about run-off, and where the water would go and whether there are rain gardens, etc. provided for in this plan. City Engineer Griffin responded there is a rain garden planned for the area for drainage. Council Member Smith added that it would be beneficial for the long range plan for the park to include shade trees and possibly a pavilion. MOTION: Council Member Emmons moved to approve Item 6. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. ITEM 8: APPROVE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT/DESIGNATION AND DONATION FOR MAINTENANCE OF HISTORIC DISTRICT 12 SCHOOL HOUSE Council Member Pearson expressed his hesitation for approving the donation citing with the information available to him at this time, it did not meet his threshold for donations of city funds. Mayor Johnston and Council Member Emmons explained their support for the donation. MOTION: Mayor Johnston moved to approve Item 8. Council Member Emmons seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-1, Council Member Pearson: Nay. REGULAR AGENDA: ITEM 9: PURCHASE OF LAKE ELMO FIRE DEPARTMENT TURNOUT GEAR City Administrator explained his support for the purchase of turnout gear for the fire department, citing safety concerns that needed to be addressed. He asked the city council to approve turnout gear for the fire department to meet current safety standards in the amount of $42,388 (at a forty-two percent discount), funds allocated in the 2011 surplus fund, to purchase 21 sets of firefighter personal protective equipment from Municipal Services, Inc. Fire Chief Malmquist further explained the justification for the purchase and Lake Elmo Firefighters highlighted the turnout gear and the most significant features. MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve the Purchase of 21 Sets of Lake Elmo Fire Department Turnout Gear in the Amount of $42,388 from Municipal Services, Inc. Council Member Pearson seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. ITEM 10: COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (EDA) City Administrator Zuleger discussed the city’s philosophy with regard to sustainable, planned and balanced growth. He explained four of the five top goals coming out of the retreat were centered on growth, exemplifying mindful and thoughtful growth. He presented the options for the EDA and other development tools and stressed the need to properly clarify and define the parameters of future growth. Mayor Johnston agreed that additional information on this topic would be helpful before making a decision. Council Member Pearson expressed his support for the EDA and development tools and stated this was a step in the right direction in being prepared and changing the perception of the city in a positive manner. Council Member Smith expressed her support for these beneficial development tools to help bring forth the vision for the city discussed at the retreat. Council Member Emmons expressed his support for development tools used mindfully. City Attorney Snyder LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2012 Approved May 15, 2012 4 recommended council advise staff to mock up the EDA documents to gain a better understanding of what an EDA is and does to which council responded in the affirmative. ITEM 11: AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE LANDSCAPE MATERIAL FOR MNDOT LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM PLANTING City Planner Klatt explained staff was requesting council to authorize the purchase of landscape material for MnDOT Landscape Partnership Program planting project. Staff is recommending the purchase through Abrahamson Nursery in the amount of $17,016 with a two-year warranty. He stated although the bid was not the lowest, it was under the $18,200 reimbursable amount, was the only complete submission and did include the two-year warranty. He reminded everyone to meet on June second in the Lake Elmo Bank parking lot at 9:00 a.m. to be a part of the planting project. MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to Approve Authorization to Purchase Landscape Material for MnDOT Landscape Partnership Program Planting through Abrahamson Nursery in the amount of $17,016 with a two-year warranty. Councilmember Pearson seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. The regular city council meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. to Closed Session to discuss developments, specifically the purchase price with regard to the city’s potential purchase of real estate. Present at the Closed Session to discuss developments, specifically the purchase price with regard to the city’s potential purchase of real estate were Mayor Johnston, Council Members Emmons, Smith and Pearson, City Attorney Snyder, Finance Director Bendel, City Clerk Thone and City Administrator Zuleger. The closed session adjourned at 9:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sandie Thone, City Clerk