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Home My WebLink About09/10/2019LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 4 September 10, 2019 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Roxanne Grove, Jeff Dains, Kelly Dolphin Andi Moffatt, 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 Dolphin moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the August 27, 2019 city council meeting. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the minutes of the August 27, 2019 city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Dolphin moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the claims totaling $102,418.09. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Dolphin to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving Northdale Construction's pay request number 4 and the September Farmers Market performance agreement. Informational Presentations/Reports A. 2019 Infrastructure Improvement Project Administrator Butkowski provided an overview of progress on the project. B. September Farmers Market Assistant to the City Administrator Bownik highlighted the vendors and entertainment for the September 19 Farmers Market. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 4 September 10, 2019 C. City Council Updates Councilor Dains shared that he attended a Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) meeting where they discussed street sweeping and the possibility of MPCA rebates. Dains also attended a St. Paul Water Board meeting where they discussed ways they mitigate against lead pipes in the water system. Mayor Gaasch added that the Metropolitan Council extended an invitation to the Council to visit a wastewater treatment plant. Public Hearings A. Conditional Use Permit Application by Lauderdale BP to Open Three Service Bays Bownik approached the Council to share a proposal submitted by Lauderdale BP to reopen three service bays for automobile services and repairs. Bownik continued to go through the requirements BP would need to follow in order for the conditional use permit to be approved. Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to anyone in attendance that wanted to address the Council at 7:54 p.m. Anne Feider, 1698 Eustis Street, stated that she supports the proposal as long as the hours of operation are moderated and the noise levels are controlled. There being no other parties interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 7:55 p.m. Butkowksi stated that staff and the city attorney will finalize a resolution for the next meeting that incorporates the conditions established through the application process. Discussion/Action Items A. 2020 Budget, Levy, and Goals Increases in home values were significant across Ramsey County. Lauderdale's median home value will increase by 5.8% for 2020. A median valued home for tax purposes in 2020 is $218,300 compared to $206,300 for 2019. If the City does not increase its levy, homeowners of median valued homes will experience a $61 property tax increase based on Ramsey County's plan to increase their levy by 4.75%. To balance the budget for 2020, the total levy would need to be increased by $35,510 or 4.4% (a 5.5% local property tax increase). Among the notable expenses were public safety, which is up $32,152, and rewriting the zoning ordinance budgeted at $15,000. Butkowski noted that the City's market value went up considerably for 2020 so the levy increase results in only a slight increase in the tax rate. The proposed tax impact summary she presented showed that the 5.5% levy increase would result in a $39.79 property tax impact on a median value home. If someone's home value stayed exactly the same, they would see little increase in their city property tax. With the proposed $61 dollar Ramsey County levy increase, a median LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 4 September 10, 2019 valued home would expect a $101 property tax increase (excluding levies of other taxing entities such as the school district). Butkowski also went through staff goals for the upcoming year. B. North Suburban Access Corporation Professional and Technical Services Agreement CTV's executive director has been updating service agreements and asking the member cities to take action on them. The City would continue paying for cable casting and web streaming and remain in the Neighborhood Network Service to get two production videos done in the upcoming year at the cost of $1.00. Councilor Dolphin made a motion to enter into the North Suburban Access Corporation Professional and Technical Services Agreement as presented. This was seconded by Councilor Grove and carried unanimously. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Administrator Butkowski stated that the September 24 council meeting may include a resolution setting the 2020 budget and levy, and a resolution regarding Lauderdale BP's conditional use permit application. Work Session A. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to anyone in attendance that wanted to address the Council. Roxanne Grove, 1966 Eustis Street, stated that she would like to install a parking pad where her current gravel driveway exists to reduce the erosion of sand and gravel. The ordinance currently would not allow her to build one unless she has the required space for a driveway and parking space in her front yard. Staff will work with her on establishing her property lines and determining her options within the zoning code. There being no other parties interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. B. Follow Up to GARE Training Session In early June, the Council began the GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) training in partnership with the League of Minnesota Cities. Lauderdale is the League's pilot program for determining how to make the training possible for small cities with resource limitations. The purpose of this meeting was to review, edit, and add to staff's notes from the brainstorming session as well as plan for events the Council will host this fall in the apartments south of Larpenteur Avenue. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 4 of 4 September 10, 2019 The Council tentatively planned on hosting the first of two events on September 23 from 5-7 p.m. at City Gables. The second event was scheduled for October 7 from 5-7 p.m. at a location yet to be determined. C. Community Development Updates Butkowski stated that Cynthia Ahlgren sent her an e-mail regarding a conservation easement for the "Breck Woods" site. Butkowski continued to say that she and Mayor Gaasch met with the Falcon Heights mayor and administrator to discuss their plans to replace the fire chief. Staff also will bring options on a moratorium for the fence ordinance to discuss additional conditions for front yard fences. Adjournment Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk