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Home My WebLink About03-15-2016 CCMCITY OF LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 15, 2016 CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pearson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PRESENT: Mayor Mike Pearson and Councilmembers Julie Fliflet, Anne Smith, Justin Bloyer, and Jill Lundgren. Staff present: Interim Administrator Schroeder, City Attorney Sonsalla, City Engineer Griffin, Finance Director Bendel, Planning Director Wensman, Fire Chief Malmquist and City Clerk Johnson. Others present: Parliamentarian Wendt APPROVAL OF AGENDA Approval of Minutes was removed from the agenda. Items 8 and 9 were moved to the regular agenda. Agenda approved as amended. PUBLIC COMMENTS/INQUIRIES Christine Nelson, 2871 Legion Avenue North, expressed concern for City staff and asked the Council to be respectful and consistent. Nadine Obermueller, 8696 42nd Street North, spoke about a letter she sent to the City Council and Commissions regarding disclosure of conflicts. PRESENTATIONS None CONSENT AGENDA 2. Approve Payment of Disbursements 3. Accept February 2016 Financial Statements 4. Accept February 2016 Assessors Report 5. Accept February 2016 Building Department Report 6. Approve Annual League of MN Cities Insurance Trust Waiver Form 7. Village Preserve 1st Addition – Approve Reduction of Security #1 7.5 Approve 3M Tolling Agreement Consent Agenda approved as presented. ITEM 8: Authorize Advertisement for Part Time Fire Admin Position Councilmember Bloyer, seconded by Mayor Pearson, moved TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ADVERTISE, INTERVIEW AND PRESENT A CANDIDATE FOR HIRING FOR THE PART TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OPENING. Motion passed 5 – 0. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 15, 2016 Page 2 of 4 ITEM 9: Approve Official Newspaper Designation Interim Administrator Schroeder reviewed the request to approve one newspaper for official publication without an alternate. Mayor Pearson, seconded by Councilmember Bloyer, moved TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2016-17 DESIGNATING THE OAKDALE-LAKE ELMO REVIEW AS THE CITY’S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER. Motion passed 5 – 0. ITEM 10: Savona 4th Addition Final Plat Planning Director Wensman presented an overview of the Savona 4th Addition plat, zoning, site information and issues discussed by the Planning Commission. Discussion was held concerning street naming and avoiding duplication of street names for streets elsewhere in the City that do not connect to Savona. Mayor Pearson moved TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2016-16 GRANTING APPROVAL OF SAVONA 4TH FINAL PLAT WITH CONDITIONS. Motion failed – no second. Mayor Pearson, seconded by Councilmember Bloyer, moved TO DENY THE SAVONA 4TH ADDITION FINAL PLAT. Motion failed 0 – 5. Mayor Pearson, seconded by Councilmember Smith, moved TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2016-16 GRANTING APPROVAL OF SAVONA 4TH FINAL PLAT WITH EIGHT CONDITIONS. Councilmember Fliflet, seconded by Councilmember Smith, moved TO ADD A 9TH CONDITION THAT THE PLAT FOLLOW THE CITY STREET NAMING CONVENTION POLICY. Motion passed 3 – 2. (Pearson, Bloyer –nay) Primary motion passed as amended 3 – 1- 1. (Bloyer – nay; Fliflet - abstain). Councilmember Bloyer stated he was opposed to forcing a naming policy on the developer. ITEM 11: Downtown and Village Parkway Lighting Design Planning Director Wensman reviewed the history of the design guidelines and lighting design the Council previously approved for downtown. Discussion held regarding the dark sky ordinance. Councilmember Lundgren, seconded by Councilmember Smith, moved TO APPROVE THE LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN STREET, DRAINAGE AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, BOTH PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2, AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY, WASHINGTON COUNTY AND SEH. Motion passed 4 – 1. (Bloyer – nay) Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Lundgren, moved TO INSTALL EVANS FIXTURES AT INTERSECTIONS WITH ACORN FIXTURES SPACED BETWEEN ON INTERSECTIONS ON VILLAGE PARKWAY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH DOWNTOWN LIGHTING. Motion passed 4 – 1. (Bloyer – nay) Councilmember Bloyer stated he would not support the lighting design as it does not comply with the City’s dark sky ordinance. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 15, 2016 Page 3 of 4 ITEM 12: Inwood Water Tower (No. 4) – Accept Bids and Award Contract City Engineer Griffin reviewed the project outline, bids received and the post bid project cost analysis. Griffin stated that City staff did not recommend adding the alternate for interior mezzanine storage space. Mayor Pearson, seconded by Councilmember Bloyer, moved TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2016-17, ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING A CONTRACT TO CB&I, INC. FOR THE BASE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,395,000 FOR THE INWOOD WATER TOWER NO. 4. Motion passed 3 – 2. (Fliflet, Smith – nay) Councilmember Smith stated she is opposed to exterior structures that may be needed in the future and would not support the project without the interior mezzanine storage. ITEM 13: Update on Building Official Position Interim Administrator Schroeder recommended that the Council appoint City Building Inspector Toni Liljedahl as the City’s Building Official on a temporary basis until a new Building Official is hired to allow the City to continue to issue building permits. Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Fliflet, moved TO APPOINT TONI LILJEDAHL AS BUILDING OFFICIAL ON MARCH 26, 2016 ON A TEMPORARY BASIS UNTIL ANOTHER BUILDING OFFICIAL IS APPOINTED. Motion passed 5 – 0. Interim Administrator Schroeder presented alternatives for building inspection services to cover the vacancy in the Building Department on a temporary basis. Councilmember Bloyer, seconded by Mayor Pearson, moved TO GIVE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR THE LATITUDE NEEDED TO FILL THE BUILDING OFFICIAL VACANCY. Councilmember Fliflet, seconded by Councilmember Smith, moved a substitute motion TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO HIRE TEMPORARY HELP IF NEED TO FILL THE GAP UNTIL A PERMANENT SOLUTION IS FOUND AND BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. Motion passed 3 – 2. (Pearson, Bloyer – nay) Primary motion passed as substituted, 5 – 0. COUNCIL REPORTS Mayor Pearson: Attended a press conference at Tartan Park, met with Lake Elmo Jaycees prepping for the 40th anniversary of Huff N Puff days, followed up with Sanctuary residents, spoke with downtown residents and business owners, meetings with residents. Commented on the censure of Councilmember Bloyer. Councilmember Fliflet: Announced selection of Kristina Handt as the new City Administrator, thanked Washington County staff for presentation on stoplights. Reported on the Environmental Committee meeting, attached Tartan Park press conference. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 15, 2016 Page 4 of 4 Councilmember Smith: Attended press conference at Tartan Park, worked on phone calls regarding City topics. Councilmember Lundgren: Attended Council workshop regarding traffic light at 50th Street, Lake Elmo Fire Relief meeting and Environmental Committee meeting. Announced new location for the Farmers Market and upcoming vendor meeting at the Library. Councilmember Bloyer: Met with Mayor Pearson and Washington County staff regarding a stop light on Manning at 50th Street, attended the Tartan Park press conference, noted no plan yet for the unionization vote, called on the Council to hire a third party to investigate allegations against him involving a staff member. STAFF REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Interim City Administrator Schroeder: Announced vacancies for citizens to participate in the Human Resources Committee, attended Tartan Park press conference, met with the City of Oakdale Administrator and Engineer, met with Washington County regarding Manning Avenue Phase 2, preparing for Parks Commission meeting and meeting with Washington County regarding the Library. Working on downtown cell tower locations and asked for the Mayor and one Councilmember to attend meetings with the union to negotiate the first contract. Mayor Pearson and Councilmember Fliflet agreed to attend. City Clerk Johnson: No report. Finance Director Bendel: Reported that the audit went well and is hoping to present the results at the last meeting in May. City Attorney Sonsalla: Reviewed the Mayor’s Handbook updates and meeting regarding the Nature Center. Planning Director Wensman: Working on ordinance reviews and preparing for the new City Planner to join the staff. City Engineer Griffin: Working on bids for the 2016 street improvements, securing Kelvin Ave. easements, downtown phase 2 project and other projects. Meeting adjourned at 10:56 pm. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: ______________________________ Mike Pearson, Mayor _______________________________ Julie Johnson, City Clerk