HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/23/2018LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 1 of 5 October 23, 2018
Roll Call
Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Councilors present: Andi Moffatt, Roxanne Grove, Kelly Dolphin, Jeff Dains, and Mayor Mary
Gaasch.
Councilors absent: None.
Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City
Administrator; and Miles Cline, Deputy City Clerk.
Approvals
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any additions to the meeting agenda. There being none,
Councilor Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the agenda. Motion
carried unanimously.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the meeting minutes. There being none,
Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the minutes of the
October 9, 2018, city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor
Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the claims totaling $34,382.20.
Motion carried unanimously.
Consent
Councilor Dolphin moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the Consent Agenda
thereby approving the SCORE Grant Funding for Recycling Program — Resolution 102318A, the
sidewalk snow removal contract with 8th Day Landscaping, and the September financial report.
Informational Presentations/Reports
A. CTV Update
Councilor Dolphin stated that she attended a CTV meeting and presented a handout showing the
programming CTV did for Lauderdale in September.
B. Halloween Celebration
Bownik updated the Council on Halloween Party planning. He reminded residents that the party
will be taking place on Wednesday, October 31 from 5-7 p.m. at City Hall. Bownik continued
with a message to residents that donations and volunteers are still needed for the event.
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 2 of 5 October 23, 2018
C. Absentee Voting and Election Day
Butkowski stated that absentee voting continued at City Hall. All Lauderdale residents of legal
voting age can stop by during business hours to vote prior to Election Day. Voters can also
obtain absentee ballots directly from Ramsey County by filling out an application form at
www.mnvotes.org. Residents voting on the day of the election will do so at City Hall between
the hours of 7 a.m. — 8 p.m.
D. City Council Updates
Roxanne Grove stated that she received a survey from the Ramsey County League of Local
Governments, Councilor Dolphin mentioned that she has an upcoming meeting with the North
Suburban Cable Commission, and Mayor Gaasch added that she attended a League of Minnesota
Cities Director's meeting.
Public Hearings
A. Public Comment Opportunity Regarding Jurisdictional Transfer of Eustis Street and
Roselawn Avenue
Staff shared a PowerPoint presentation that described the existing condition and maintenance
needs of the two county roads. Included in the presentation were the financial implications of
the City taking ownership of the roads and plans for their rehabilitation and continued
maintenance if owned by the County versus the City.
After the presentation, Mayor Gaasch opened the floor at 8:05 p.m. to anyone in attendance that
wanted to address the council.
Matt Koncar, 1736 Malvern Street, approached the dais. He expressed his support for the
jurisdictional transfer as he believed the City would do a quality job in improving them. He
looked forward to the streets being rebuilt for biking purposes among other things.
Dan Lemke, 1832 Eustis Street, approached the Council. Lemke stated that he strongly opposed
the jurisdictional transfer. He believes that there is too much money tied up in the 1795, 1821,
and 1825 Eustis Street properties as well as the Service Station. He also stated that special
assessments are not good for low income families.
Fabian Roers, 1761 Eustis Street, approached the Council. He was supportive of the idea and
noted that special assessments could be spread across a number of years. He thought the
improved roads would add more value than the cost of the assessments. He mentioned that
perspective buyers of homes for sale near him looked put off by the condition of the roads.
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 3 of 5 October 23, 2018
Melissa Walker, 1895 Pleasant Street, approached the Council. She supported the transfer of the
roads and hopes that the Council can get the best possible deal from Ramsey County. She asked
for a FAQ to be published to answer basic questions regarding the transfer of the two streets.
Darren Amundsen, City Engineer, approached the dais. He answered a few questions from the
Council and addressed a couple of topics that were mentioned in the public hearing.
Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 8:22 p.m.
Council members shared their perspectives and thanked the residents for attending the meeting to
share their thoughts. The Council will continue to discuss with plans to make a decision on the
matter before the end of the year.
Discussion/Action Items
A. Ordinance No. 18-02 Amending the Code of Ordinances Regarding Tobacco, Tobacco
Products, Tobacco -Related Devices, Nicotine or Lobelia Delivery Devices, and Electronic
Delivery Devices
At the previous meeting, the Council took comments from the public on the draft ordinance and
was provided with written comments. From the perspective of the license holders, increasing the
sales age to 21 was easier to implement than selling their flavored tobacco stock. The Council
looked at an effective date around 90 days from adoption. Staff suggested an effective date of
February 1, 2019, which would be 101 days from the date of adoption. If adopted, staff will
prepare a resolution to publish by title and summary at the next meeting.
Councilor Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to adopt Ordinance 18-02, an
ordinance amending Title 3, Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Tobacco, Tobacco
Products, Tobacco -Related Devices, Nicotine or Lobelia Delivery Devices, and Electronic
Delivery Devices. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Contract with Better Futures for the Deconstruction of 1821 and 1825 Eustis Street
Butkowski said staff has been working on an agreement with Better Futures for the
deconstruction of 1821 and 1825 Eustis Street. Better Futures is a Minnesota non-profit that
deconstructs buildings so that the materials can be reused or recycled. They offered to
deconstruct the homes at no cost to the City. The costs would be covered by a grant they
received from the State of Minnesota Environmental Trust Fund administered by the Legislative
Citizens Commission for Minnesota's Resources (LCCMR). They are looking to start the project
in late November or December based on the following agreement.
Staff also has been working with demolition contractors that would pick up where Better Futures
leaves off in getting the foundation and remaining debris removed from the site along with
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 4 of 5 October 23, 2018
capping the sewer and water lines. Due to the uncertainty of what will be left on site, staff asked
the contractors to hold off on submitting bids until after the deconstruction in a few weeks. Staff
anticipates bringing proposals for the final demolition after the start of the New Year.
Councilor Moffatt made a motion to enter into an agreement with Better Futures for the
deconstruction of 1821 and 1825 Eustis Street as presented. This was seconded by Councilor
Grove and carried unanimously.
C. Electrical Quote for Rewiring Community Park Security Light
The City Council received comments from neighboring property owners to Lauderdale
Community Park that the parking lot light near the dog park is intrusive in their homes. As Xcel
Energy would not install a timer on the pole to allow the City to control the times of day the light
was on, the City purchased the pole from Xcel Energy.
The City received two proposals. Parsons Corporation had the best pricing for doing the
electrical work necessary to rewire the pole and install a timer. The base price is $3,975 which
could be reduced if the $500 material allowance for Xcel Energy is not required.
Council members discussed their concern over spending nearly $4,000 to install a timer for the
light. There was no motion made on the matter and staff will explore alternative options.
Set Agenda for Next Meeting
Administrator Butkowski stated that the November 13 council meeting may include canvasing of
election results, the Third Quarter Investment Report, and a Ramsey County Sheriff's update.
Work Session
A. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council
Mayor Gaasch opened the floor at 8:45 p.m. to anyone in attendance that wanted to address the
Council.
Fabian Roers, 1761 Eustis Street, addressed the Council. He thanked the Council for allowing
the Roseville Area Youth Baseball Association to use the ballpark. He said everything was
going well; the only complaint was the infield weeds. He wondered if anything could be done.
There being no other interested parties to speak, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 8:50 p.m.
B. 2019 Draft Fund Budgets
Butkowski went through the first run of special revenue, debt service, capital improvement, and
enterprise fund budgets for 2019. There is a new 305 Fund to track the debt service for the bonds
issued for 1795 Eustis Street and a new 416 Fund which tracks the TIF dollars for that -site.
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 5 of 5 October 23, 2018
Butkowski presented the recycling rates Eureka has proposed for the contract renewal and what
staff believes the recycling rate would need to be increased by to absorb some of those costs.
Butkowski continued that staff discussed the 23% municipal wastewater charge increase with the
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services staff. The number was reflected in the budget. The
goal outlined by the City Council has been to set aside $20,000 each year for future system
repairs, mainly the sewer lining projects. The wastewater increase results in a $31,000 budgetary
shortfall to meet this goal. Staff has not analyzed the rate increase necessary to make up the
shortfall.
Staff will continue to refine the budgets in anticipation of the Truth -in -Taxation hearing on
November 27 and budget adoption on December 11.
C. Community Development Update
Butkowski informed the Council that staff is still engaged in ongoing discussions related to
Luther Seminary's sale of their land in Lauderdale.
Adj ournment
Councilor Mofatt moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to adjourn the meeting at 9:24 p.m.
Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Miles Cline
Deputy City Clerk