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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-02-2014 CCMLAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Page 1 of 4 CITY OF LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Mayor Pearson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PRESENT: Mayor Mike Pearson and Council Members Wally Nelson, Justin Bloyer, and Mike Reeves Absent: Council Member Anne Smith Staff present: City Administrator Zuleger, City Attorney Snyder, Community Development Director Klatt, Finance Director Bendel, and City Clerk Bell. PLEDGE OF ALLIGENCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA Item 10 was postponed. MOTION: Council Member Reeves moved TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 19, 2014 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. Council Member Nelson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. ITEM 1: ACCEPT MINUTES THE AUGUST 19, 2014 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS AMENDED BY CONSENSUS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL REPORTS: Mayor Pearson: attended Human Resources Committee Meeting, EDA Meeting Council Member Bloyer: attended library board meeting Council Member Reeves: attended Human Resources Committee Meeting. The group worked on performance reviews and salary pool. Council Member Nelson: no report. PUBLIC COMMENTS/INQUIRIES Paul Ryberg introduced Nate Deprey the new library director. Mr. Deprey expressed he is looking forward to working with the Council and the City. STATUS OF 100% DEVELOPER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT POLICY City Administrator Zuleger provided status presentation of the developer paid infrastructure. The policy of “growth pays for growth” was implemented in 2013. This has resulted in two positive bond ratings, including an increase from S&P. Council Member Reeves asked what the reaction has been from the developers. National and regional builders have understood the policy. Many have appreciated the discipline. There have been some who are not willing to come to Lake Elmo. Mayor Pearson recognized that the policy and staff’s efforts are doing as much as possible to minimize the risk to the City. ITEM 2: PROCLAMATION COMMUNITY MEDIA WEEK Mayor Pearson read the proclamation recognizing the week of September 15th 2014 as Community Media Week. FINANCE CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve Payment of Disbursements and Payroll 2. Approving the TNT Public Hearing Date for the 2015 Budget and Tax Levy; Resolution No. 2014-65 MOTION: Council Member Nelson moved TO APPROVE THE FINANCE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Mayor Pearson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. OTHER CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Bloyer pulled Item 8 for discussion. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Page 2 of 4 3. Encroachment Agreement – 1668 Ivy Ave N 4. Encroachment Agreement – 1650 Ivy Ave N 5. Encroachment Agreement – 10938 57th Street N 6. Library Board Appointment – Margo Sieleni MOTION: Council Member Reeves moved TO APPROVE THE OTHER CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Mayor Pearson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. ITEM 8: LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTMENT – MARGO SIELENI It was explained that Mayor Pearson appointed Ms. Sieleni during his report last meeting, but Clerk Bell prefers to have a formal vote with background documentation included for record purposes. Council Member Bloyer thanked Ms. Sieleni MOTION: Council Member Bloyer moved TO APPOINT MARGO SIELENI TO THE LAKE ELMO LIBRARY BOARD. Council Member Nelson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 9: SAVONA SUBDIVISION CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT; RES. NO. 2014-66 Community Development Director Klatt provided summary explaining the reason for the CUP application. Townhome units on a private street require a CUP, which the part of the next phase of Savona will include. The requirement is to make sure that the City’s needs are met in regards to the private street. The area that is involved was explained. MOTION: Council Member Reeves moved TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2014-66, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLINGS WITHIN THE SAVONA SUBDIVISION THAT DO NOT HAVE FRONTAGE ON A PUBLIC STREET. Council Member Nelson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. ITEM 11: APPROVE PROPOSED GENERAL LEVY AND PROPOSED 2015 BUDGET; RES. NO. 2014-67 Finance Director Bendel presented the proposed 2015 budget. Council Member Bloyer left at 7:30 pm. The general fund budget was explained. It was noted that the street maintenance expenses were now a permanent line item in budget. Ms. Bendel explained that the tax levy is staying level and the rate is actually decreasing. Ms. Bendel summarized the library fund. The end year cash reserves were explained. Council Member Bloyer returned at 7:34 pm. Council Member Reeves asked about part-time staffing at library for 2014. There was none in 2014, but it is budgeted in 2015. Mayor Pearson asked about Sanctuary neighborhood road. City Administrator Zuleger explained the steps that the City has taken. The road needs to be approved by MnDOT. It is believed that the developer funds are available to pay for some of it. Ms. Bendel read letter from Roger Johnson requesting city contribution of minimum of $20k for invasive species management on Olson/Demontreville Lakes. Council Member Bloyer noted that the previous June LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Page 3 of 4 request was only $25K. He would be in favor of city contributing 1/3 if all the lakes were evenly supported. He would like to have place holder in budget. Mr. Bloyer noted that recent letter from DNR found no natural erosion occur this past spring. Mr. Reeves believes the City should be engaged in treating the lakes, but he supports addressing all the lakes. He also wants to know more info about the VBWD study. The outflow of the water was discussed. It was noted that O/D levels are anticipated to increase. VBWD does not believe that increasing the outflow can be achieved. Mr. Zuleger explained the VBWD study. The consensus is to have a placeholder, but wait to hear study findings. Mr. Zuleger suggested that the Council commit funds from the storm water fund as the lake is a repository for storm water. Mr. Nelson wants to know if the watershed cities causing impact can be approached for contribution. Mr. Zuleger said the City can ask the DNR. Mr. Reeves asked if signage was sufficient. Mr. Zuleger said it was. It was noted that too much signage can cause confusion. It was explained that the City has not participated in the past. The Council discussed what the appropriate funding level and appropriate parties to pay. Council direction is that the lake property owners need to propose a plan where the City can collaborate. The consequences of using storm water funds were discussed. Future storm water expenses and needs are ahead for the Village drainage. The Council wants to make sure that the expenses are effective and the results are measurable. Ms. Bendel summarized the proposed debt service fund levy. MOTION: Mayor Pearson moved TO APPROVE GENERAL FUND LEVY OF $2,421,588.00. Council Member Reeves seconded the motion. The council acknowledged the tight budget that staff developed and the introduction of zero-based budgeting. MOTION PASSED 4-0. MOTION: Mayor Pearson moved TO APPROVE DEBT SERVICE LEVY OF $484,814.00. Council Member Reeves seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. The Council discussed how the library has done a good job of being frugal. Even with the 10% statutory reduction, the library levy is still more than the requested budget. A 10% percent reduction results in a $231,261.00. This is actually a 20% increase over the 2014 budget. MOTION: Mayor Pearson moved TO APPROVE LIBRARY FUND BUDGET AND LEVY AT AMOUNT OF $231,261.00. Council Member Nelson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. Mr. Zuleger clarified the resulting levy components – General Fund Levy: $2,421,588.00; G.O. Debt Levy: $484,814.00; Library Levy: $231,261.00; total levy: $3,137,663.00. MOTION: Mayor Pearson moved TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2014-67 ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY 2015 GENERAL FUND AND LIBRARY FUND ANNUAL BUDGET’S AND LEVIES. Council Member Reeves seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 4-0. ITEM 12: DISCUSSION ITEM: COUNCIL/STAFF INTERACTIONS Mayor Pearson explained the reason for this item. Concerns about interactions with Council Member Smith have been brought to the Council’s attention. Mayor Pearson noted that conversations were had and commitments to improve were made, but the incidents complained about allegedly have continued. The immediate concerns are exposing the City to potential legal liability and the non-recognition of staff chain of command. The Mayor asked Council for their suggestions. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 Page 4 of 4 It was noted that the discussion needs to be in an open meeting despite the desire to have it in private. The council wants there to be improvement. There have been demands for correction in the past, but there needs to be more improvement. There is concern about potential liability to the City. The Council also wants staff to have a healthy, productive, and safe work environment. The recent adoption of the civility initiative needs to be carried out, especially by council members. The Council wants things to be better. MOTION: Mayor Pearson moved “WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH WISHES TO CONTACT A CITY STAFF MEMBER, SHE IS TO ARRANGE FOR ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE IN ATTENDANCE. STAFF IS DIRECTED TO CONFORM TO THIS PARAMETER AS WELL.” Council Member Reeves seconded the motion. The Mayor hopes that this action improves the situation as everyone desires and they would not have to address this any further. The Council discussed the logistics and the effectiveness of proposed motion. The consensus was the City has an obligation to do something. Whether to include phone calls and adding a timeframe on the restriction were considered, but the original motion was not modified. MOTION PASSED 4-0. STAFF REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS City Administrator Zuleger: Staff is working on completing several final plats; Planning Commission will be touring a Hans Hagen development in Blaine; working on 2015 CIP budget. Goal is to have workshop in late September; meeting with Washington County Sheriff Hutton next week; Working with Gateway Corridor group involving a Bus Rapid Transit route through Lake Elmo; EDA will be submitting the Planning Commission a resolution for an EDA zoning area. City Attorney Snyder: handling routine matters with staff; reviewed lease for new city administrative space at 3880 Laverne. Community Development Director Klatt: Planning Commission is busy reviewing development applications. City Clerk Bell: reported that Lake Elmo Precinct 1 was randomly selected by the County Canvass Board for review. The precinct passed with no issues. Clerk Bell also announced that additional election judges are being sought for the general election. Finance Director Bendel: working on August financials, certification of levy, and storm water assessments. Mayor Pearson adjourned meeting at 8:34 pm. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: ______________________________ Mike Pearson, Mayor _______________________________ Adam R. Bell, City Clerk