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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-03-2012 CCM LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 1 of 6 CITY OF LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Johnston, Council Members Emmons, Smith, Pearson, and Park. Also Present: City Administrator Zuleger, City Attorney Snyder, Planning Director Klatt, City Clerk Thone, and Finance Director Bendel. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve the June 19, 2012 City Council Agenda as Amended. Council Member Park seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. ACCEPTED MINUTES 1. The June 19, 2012 City Council minutes were approved as amended by consensus of the City Council. PUBLIC COMMENTS/INQUIRIES A) LAKE ELMO LIBRARY Steve DeLapp, Library Board President, introduced Olivia Moris, the new library director. Ms. Moris expressed her gratitude to the council for choosing her for the position. Ms. Moris stated she was excited for the opportunity to be involved with the new library, expressing it was a unique chance to create a vibrant local library. She explained September first has been proposed as a tentative date for the grand opening of the library. Council Member Pearson inquired about the type of volunteers currently needed. Moris replied there are numerous opportunities including data entry, cataloguing of materials, sorting, and shelving. Two Eagle Scout Projects are underway that include landscaping and furniture for the new library. Mr. DeLapp added that many volunteers would be needed to realize efforts to increase the hours of the library over current staffing levels. Ms. Moris gave the council a brief synopsis of her previous work experience. B) FRIENDS OF THE LAKE ELMO LIBRARY Karen Johnston, Friends of the Lake Elmo Library, reported that 1200 people have visited the Interim Library and 800 books have been checked out. Summer story time hours held on Friday mornings have been well attended. She expressed, on behalf of the group, their gratitude for all of the volunteers whose help and assistance in getting the new library ready for opening has been very much appreciated. C) HUFF ‘N PUFF EVENT Mayor Johnson read the Huff ’n Puff Proclamation. Jaycee’s Chairperson, Heather Noyes, and Rusty Monroe, State Jaycees delegate, spoke specifically about the vitality of the annual event and explained in detail the event activities and invited the community and surrounding communities to LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 2 of 6 participate in the event on August 9 through 12, 2012. They especially thanked the city for its continued support and for supporting the event for the past 36 years. Council Member Smith thanked the Jaycees for all of the work they do in the community and expressed her appreciation for the event for the city’s residents. PRESENTATIONS None CONSENT AGENDA 2. Approve Payment of Disbursements in the Amount of $130,984.61 3. Approve Resolution 2012-32 Designating Certified Building Official and Approval of Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Hugo 4. Approve Building Official Position, Posting and Recruitment 5. Proclaim August 9 through 12, 2012, Huff ’n Puff Days 6. Approve Temporary Liquor License for Lake Elmo Jaycees MOTION: Council Member Pearson moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 7: 2011 FINAL AUDIT REPORT REVIEW Finance Director Bendel reported the 2011 Final Audit Report had been received and introduced Matt Voss of Abdo, Eick and Meyers, LLP. He provided a brief summary of the City’s financial statement and reviewed the specifics of the management letter with the council. City Administrator Zuleger recognized Finance Director Bendel for her hard work in getting the city’s financial records into shape for the audit, and acknowledged the additional hours and weekends spent during this time. The City Council expressed appreciation for staff’s hard work as well. MOTION: Council Member Pearson moved to accept the 2011 Year End Annual Finance Report and Management Letter. Council Member Emmons seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0. ITEM 8: ORDINANCE 2012-60 ADOPTING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SALARIES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2013 Administrator Zuleger requested Council consider adopting the proposed ordinance compensating the council and mayor by raising the annual salaries. He explained that this was originally requested by the Council for consideration in November 2011 and presented by previous Interim Administrator Dawson. The ordinance failed with a 3-2 vote. City Administrator Zuleger stated a comparative study was included in the packet, and that a reasonable and adequate salary adjustment was being presented. Mayor Johnston spoke in support of the salary increase and stated although he voted against the increase in 2011, he has since heard much support for the increase in discussions with various residents. He added the compensation is minimal comparatively to the time involved in the position. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 3 of 6 Council Member Pearson expressed his discomfort with the salary increase coming back for approval on a typically minimal attended meeting and questioned the reasoning. He specifically questioned the perception or lack of ‘trust’ that may be created by the city leaders in this sort of practice. Council Member Pearson stated council has a second shot to get this right and feels this sends a negative message. Council Member Pearson continued he was not interested in re-hashing details regarding the salary increase but reiterated his disapproval for the increase. Council Member Park expressed her support for the increase. Council Member Emmons spoke in support of the increase. He expressed, although, that he was not excited about it. Council Member Smith expressed her support for the increase and stated the time at meetings at City Hall and outside of City Hall are numerous, and this increase does not seem unreasonable in the least. Currently, Lake Elmo does not pay for additional city council meetings and feels that could be addressed as well or at least discussion of limiting extra meetings. She stated in addition, the increase may be a draw for quality people as elected officials for the city. Mayor Johnston stated he was opposed to pay for extra meetings and stated these are just expected for people who enter into public service. Council Member Park explained her support for some type of compensation for extra meetings and stated it was likely the Council would continue to have more meetings than usual as the City continues to grow. Administrator Zuleger explained there are many communities that add compensation for special or additional meetings. MOTION: Mayor Johnston moved to approve Ordinance 2012-60 adopting annual mayor and council salaries to $6,250 and $4,860, respectively effective January 1, 2013. Council Member Park seconded the motion. Motion passed 4-1, Pearson - Nay. ITEM 9: COUNTRY SUN FARMS - AGRICULTURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Planning Director Klatt requested Council review the proposed request from Country Sun Farms and Greenhouse to construct two agricultural buildings on their property; a lean-to addition to an existing barn and a new structure replacing a farm building. Under the terms of the approved Interim Use Permit, the Council must review all new construction. Council Member Smith inquired if the parcel size had changed, and if Agricultural zoning still required a 20 acre minimum. Mayor Johnston asked if the proposed structure met the RR zoning requirements. Planning Director Klatt responded in the affirmative. MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to authorize construction authorize construction of two agricultural buildings at 11211 60th Street North that are consistent with the A – Agricultural and RR – Rural Residential Zoning for this property. Council Member Park seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 4 of 6 ITEM 10: THIRD QUARTER GOALS City Administrator Zuleger reported that the 2nd Quarter Work Schedule Program had been met with three exceptions due to disruptions and office modifications of City Hall and the HVAC system in the Annex. The Economic Development Authority (EDA) workshop is scheduled for the July 10th Council Workshop; the budget process is currently underway; City Engineer Griffin is working on the CIP process. Council Member Pearson inquired about the current status of organized trash hauling in the City. He expressed his concern for local business owners and their need for a decision on where this may be heading in the future. He expressed his frustration with the state of limbo, and hoped this would not be delayed until after November. Council Member Pearson expressed he is neither in support or opposed to organized hauling but encouraged the council to make a decision to move on it or not. Council Member Smith stated at the LMC conference they learned how difficult moving forward with the organized collections process may be, and deferred to Administrator Zuleger for details. Administrator Zuleger stated he had been gathering data on the impact multiple haulers have on the condition of the roads, the savings to the residents which appears to be in the amount of approximately 40 percent, and indemnification from future liability. Maplewood is one of the only local cities in 20 years to have successfully made this transition. He expressed it would be expected to be a 9 to 13 month process and would likely cause much external pressure and cautioned that it could take a considerable toll on council and staff. Council Member Smith suggested placing this on a future agenda as it was not on this agenda. City Administrator Zuleger asked whether council would like staff to schedule organized trash hauling on a future agenda. Council Member Park agreed with Council Member Pearson that the residents and business owners concerns should be addressed and there are several versions of organized collections, but suggested tabling the discussion until 2014. In response to Council Member Park, City Attorney Snyder stated it was not appropriate to make a motion on an item not on the agenda. Mayor Johnston asked staff to place this item on the next meeting’s agenda. Council Member Emmons clarified other communities have been successful at organized collection. Mayor Johnston stated our first responsibility is to our residents and there appears to be significant savings. He supported moving forward as is reasonably possible. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 5 of 6 Council Member Emmons added there would need to be some communication with the residents and discussion about the I-94 Corridor zoning for this to occur. Planning Director Klatt responded that base zoning was in place and materials will be provided to the Council to determine design areas in an efficient manner. SUMMARY REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Council Member Emmons welcomed DSG Architects, a new business located on Lake Elmo Avenue. Council Member Smith reported she received a design for the logo for Elmo Days and expressed her appreciation for the LMC conference, especially the key note speaker who spoke about the next generation. Council Member Park reported her son Bobby won the Minnesota Junior Gold Championship tournament with a score of 69. Council Member Pearson reported that he attended a Library Board meeting, expressing his appreciation for everybody’s work on the library and expressed his support in the hiring of Library Director Olivia Moris. He attended a Fire Department meeting with Bayport where he experienced being 110 feet high in the lift truck. Mayor Johnston reported he attended the LMC Conference, attended Metro Cities who are looking for people to fill various committees, and spoke highly of various communities’ Citizen’s Academy programs and the possibility of such a program for Lake Elmo in the future. City Administrator Zuleger reported he had a Citizens Academy at his former city and the closing session was a mock council meeting, which was very effective. Five attended the HOA meeting and the interaction and feedback was helpful; working on code enforcement; participated in a Moody’s telephone conversation confirming the City’s Aa2 bond rating; discussions with Washington County on Hwy 5 about a traffic and speed study; reviewed the design of brackets for flowering pots on utility poles; meeting with developers about a sophisticated greenhouse project that could provide developmentally disabled adults work; next week’s Council Workshop will expound on development of an EDA; he participated in the July 4th parade with his granddaughter Iris and expressed his appreciation for Steve Johnson for putting this very community oriented event together. City Attorney Snyder reported well #4 access easements are completed; internal staff issues have gone smoothly; Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Hugo was completed; a motion to dismiss for detachment hearing is scheduled at the end of July and requested Lake Elmo residents attend. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 3, 2012 Page 6 of 6 Planning Director Klatt reported that Whistling Valley development is complete; transition with the City of Hugo building officials was going smoothly; working on a more aggressive comprehensive plan schedule and upcoming public hearings. Finance Director Bendel reported on the completed audit; stated she along with City Administrator Zuleger participated in the Moody’s telephone call and received the final bond rating; City received the levy money today; Workers Compensation audit proved to save over eight thousand dollars, and was requesting appraisals on the facilities. ADJOURN: The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL _______________________________________ Dean A. Johnston, Mayor ______________________________________ Sandie Thone, City Clerk