The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About08-21-01 CCMMINUTES APPROVED: SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 21, 2001 6:00 p.m. Fiscal Year 2000 Audit Report L AGENDA 2. MINUTES: August 7, 2001 3. CLAIMS 4. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL: 5. NEW BUSINESS: 6. CONSENT AGENDA 7. MAINTENANCE/PARK/FIRE/BUILDING: A. Update in Maintenance Dept. Activities: Report from MDH: Dan Olinger B. Update on Parks Dept. Activities: Mike Bouthilet - POSTPONED C. Update on Fire Dept. Activities: Fire Chief Greg Malmquist D. Update on Building Dept. Activities: Jim McNamara 8. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT: A. Well No. 2, Partial Payment No. 3 B. 2001 Seal Coating Final Payment 1. Jerome Court North C. Approve Plans & Specs for Eagle Point Blvd., No Parking Resolution on Eagle Point Blvd. D. Update on 151h Street 9. PLANNING, LAND USE & ZONING: A. Vacation of Drainage/Utility Easements - HOA Subdivision B. Preliminary Plat, PUD Plan Amendment and Site Plat - United Properties/Deverne II - POSTPONED C. Old Village Propertyowners Workshop D. Hiner Development Proposal 10.CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT: None 11.CITY COUNCIL REPORTS 12.UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 13.FINANCE DIRECTOR'S REPORT: A. Resolution approving closure of Fund 305 - Closed Bond Fund B. Set Budget Workshop Dates 14.CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: A. Assessment Policy Amendment B. Street Light Agreement for 15" Street and County Road 13 C. Recommendation for Auditing Services LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 21, 2001 Mayor: Lee Hunt Councilmembers: Steve DeLapp Susan Dunn Rosemary Armstrong Chuck Siedow Lake Elmo City Council Tuesday August 21, 2001 3800 Laverne Avenue No. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 777-5510 777-9615 (fax) LakeElmoMK@aol.com E-Mail Please read: Since the City Council does not have time to discuss every point presented, it may appear that decisions are preconceived. However, staff provides background information to the City Council on each agenda item in advance; and decisions are based on this information and experience. In addition, some items may have been discussed at previous council meetings. If you are aware of information that has not been discussed, please fill out a "Request to Appear Before the City Council form; or, if you came late, raise your hand to be recognized. Comments that are pertinent are appreciated. Items may be continued to a future meeting if additional time is needed before a decision can be made. 6:00 p.m. Fiscal Year 2000 Audit Report Agenda City Council Meeting Convenes 7:00 PM Pledge of Allegiance 1. Agenda 2. Minutes August 7, 2001 3. Claims 4. PUBLIC INQUIRIESANFORMATIONAL: 5. NEW BUSINESS: 6. CONSENT AGENDA: 7. MAINTENANCE/PARK/FIRE/BUILDING A. Update on Maintenance Dept. Activities: Report from MDH:Dan Olinger B. Update on Parks Dept. Activities: Mike Bouthilet C. Update on Fire Dept. Activities: Fire Chief Greg Malmquist D. Update on Building Dept. Activities: Jim McNamara 8. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT: Tom Prew A. Well No. 2, Partial Payment No. 3 B. 2001 Seal Coating Final Payment Lake Elmo City Council Agenda August 21, 2001 Page 2 C. Approve Plans & Specs for Eagle Point Blvd., No Parking Resolution on Eagle Point Blvd. 9. PLANNING, LAND USE & ZONING: C. Dillerud A. Vacation of Drainage/Utility Easements HOA Subdivision B. Preliminary Plat, PUD Plan Amendment and Site Plan — United Properties/Deverne II C. Old Village Propertyowners Workshop 10. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT: A. 11. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS: A. Mayor Hunt B. Council Member DeLapp C. Council Member Dunn D. Council Member Armstrong E. Council Member Siedow 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 13. FINANCE DIRECTOR'S REPORT: A. Resolution approving closure of Fund 305 — Closed Bond Fund B. Set Budget Workshop Dates 14. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT A. Assessment Policy Amendment LAKE ELMO CITY COUN,.IL WORKSHOP AUGUST 14, 2001 1. Review Assessment Policy A. Current Assessment Policy B. Changes proposed by Council Member DeLapp C. Assessment for gravel roads 2. Preliminary Budget A. Assistant to Building Official B. Erosion Control Officer C. Fire Dept. Inspections 3. Variance Public Hearings: Change from PZ to CC Mayor Hunt called the workshop to order at 5:10 p.m. in the Council chambers. PRESENT: Siedow, Hunt, Armstrong, DeLapp, Administrator Kueffner, City Planner Dillerud and Finance Director Terry Berg. ABSENT: Council member Dunn M/S/P Armstrong/Siedow - To discuss the preliminary budget before the assessment policy because Finance Director Berg has to attend another meeting. (Motion passed 4-0). 1, Preliminary Budget A. Assistant to Building Official Planner Dillerud reported there are mandatory inspections on a new single family home, 1/2 hr. for each inspection, recall time, 1/2 hr. per plan review, which equals 1000 Hours. There is 200 Hrs. for vacation time, which equals 1200 Hours. He is not ready to do a time study. Erosion Control Ordinance enforced during months of March through October when the water runs. That would be 1/2 day to make tour and funded $20/report per ordinance. No vacation or sick leave account to be charged. The budget was charged out for 1/2 person. It is hard to quantify hours and feels Jim is busy. Mayor Hunt stated no more intuition, just numbers, but he is willing to listen why things aren't getting done. Councilmember Armstrong responded that Jim goes out on the complaint calls, but never comes to a conclusion. Administrator Kueffner stated Code Enforcement is not getting done. She doesn't know if she's dealing with I don't want to do it OR don't have time to do code enforcement. She explained she cannot get her own work done because she is busy doing code enforcement. Council member Siedow stated the Administrator should first ask Jim to do the work, then tell him, and then make him. Mayor Hunt and Council member Siedow were in agreement to fund a contract person. Council member DeLapp asked that the staff build the job description. Finance Direciur Berg suggested hiring a person to learn the job and take over when Jim McNamara retires. M/S/P Siedow/Armstrong - to direct the staff to consider discussion and bring back at a future workshop a recommendation of two alternatives for code enforcement and inspection issues and staff s preference as to why. (Motion passed 4-0). The Council will consider Fire Chiefs needs for fire inspections. Greg Malmquist explained he would look for fire hazards, exit locations, do an annual inspection, look at chemicals stored, and should have plans of all commercial buildings. Malmquist was called to do new inspections of the Machine Shed restaurant and Cennex gas station. The Fire Dept. could justify a man wearing many hats, but could not justify a full-time person. Daytime Fire response is getting slimmer. Planner Dillerud responded that this person would report to City Hall. Mayor Hunt thought a workshop was needed to discuss changes. Administrator Kueffner stated it might be time to share services because it's becoming so expensive. The Fire Chief will bring back to the Council with the next Fire report. 2. Review Assessment Policy A. Current Assessment Policy Administrator Kueffner explained under the 429 Assessment for Local Improvements, the City could assess gravel roads. Council member DeLapp thought City Engineer Tom Prew could put a tape down on the street to count cars and then have him interpret the figures. Assessments should be based on usage. Mayor Hunt felt what Mr. DeLapp was describing was a street utility. Assessments based on classifications. Councilmember Siedow thought you should pay a portion of your road improvement. The main concern was how to assess property on cul-de-sac when making improvements to the street providing access to the cul-de-sac if the cds is not in need of the improvement. He did not like the idea of keeping a road in poor condition to be used as speed control. Mayor Hunt thought the City should collect enough revenue for General Fund. Let's put something in to cover cul-de-sacs. M/S/P Siedow/DeLapp - to direct the staff to draft ordinance assessing cul-de-sacs fairly by assessing property on cut -de -sacs when making improvements to the street providing access to the cul-de-sac, even if the cul-de-sac is not in need of the improvement. (Motion passed 4-0). 3. Variance Public Hearings: Change from PZ to CC Administrator Kueffner recommended that the Planning Commission hold the variance public hearings and pass their recommendation to the Council, who will make the final decision. Council member Armstrong stated there are several on the Council who have been with the city a long tirinc and know the history and ask questions. The Council members are accountable to the people because they were voted in. The Planning Commission members are volunteer. Planner Dillerud stated that variances should not be political, variances should be quasi jurisdiction by Board of Adjustment of Appeals. Dates will be set on Tuesday.