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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/14/2020LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 1 of 4 July 14, 2020 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Andi Moffatt, Jeff Dains, Kelly Dolphin, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilor absent: Roxanne Grove. 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 Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the June 23, 2020 city council meeting. There being none, Councilor Dolphin moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the minutes of the June 23, 2020 city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the claims totaling $105,425.06. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Consent Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Dolphin to approve the Consent Agenda thereby acknowledging the June Financial Report and approving the Northdale Construction pay request number seven for the 2019 infrastructure improvement project. Informational Presentations/Reports A. City Council Updates Councilor Moffatt has been working with city staff and the Capital Region Watershed District on wetland rules associated with the Seminary Pond project. Councilor Dains said the Metropolitan Council and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization were working on their ten-year comprehensive plans but progress has been slow to due to the virtual meetings. Councilor Dolphin added that on July 13 there was a special meeting for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee of Ramsey County to brainstorm ideas amongst community members and officials regarding policing and criminal justice reform. Mayor Gaasch shared that the Ramsey County League of Local Government and the Regional Council of Mayors have been engaged in discussions about the difficult decisions involved in reopening our state. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 2 of 4 July 14, 2020 Public Hearings A. Annual Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Public Hearing Butkowski explained that annually the City must report on its storm water efforts as one of the requirements of our Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit. The 2019 Annual Report submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was included in the packet. Mayor Gaasch opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. to anyone interested in addressing the Council on this topic. There being no parties interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the public hearing at 7:51 p.m. Discussion/Action Item A. Joint Powers Agreement between the City and the City of St. Paul for Fire Services The City Council has been negotiating a contract with the city of St. Paul for fire services after Falcon Heights' mayor and staff informed Lauderdale's mayor and staff that Lauderdale would have to accept slow or failed responses to calls as the department was not staffed. During conversations with the St. Paul Fire Chief about extra coverage they were providing for neighboring communities, the Council began considering contracting with the St. Paul Fire Department (SPFD). The change would provide the City with a fire response from one of the most trained and equipped full-time fire departments in the state and align provisions of services since SPFD already provides the City's emergency medical (ambulance) services. At the last meeting, the Council took public comment. Additional comments received by staff were forwarded to council members. The comments indicated community support for the change. To finalize the change in fire service providers, the Council needed to approve the agreement with the City of St. Paul in the packet. Councilor Moffatt made a motion to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of St. Paul and the City of Lauderdale as presented. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. B. Draft Fence Ordinance Revisions Earlier this year, the City Council held two discussions regarding the fence ordinance focusing on front -yard regulations. The purpose was to determine whether to allow front yard fences. The Council studied the ordinances of neighboring communities (Roseville, Falcon Heights, St. Anthony, Minneapolis, and St. Paul). They allow front yard fences with varying parameters for fence height, site lines, and aesthetic standards with the goal of creating standards that apply to everyone to avoid arbitrary decision-making processes. Since the full Council was not present, the discussion was tabled. C. Request for a Fence in the Right -of -Way at 2445 Summer Street — Resolution No. 071420A Due to one of the council members being absent from the meeting, Councilor Moffatt made a LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 3 of 4 July 14, 2020 motion to table item 8C, a request for a fence in the right-of-way at 2445 Summer Street. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. D. Quotes for the Installation of Playground Equipment and Surfacing at Skyview Park Butkowski noted that at the last meeting, the Council authorized the purchase of playground equipment for Skyview Park. Since the project is subject to Davis -Bacon rules, all of the quotes involving labor need to be acted on at one time. The quotes for turf installation, playground installation, excavation, and concrete were: Playground equipment: Turf (including installation): Playground installation: Disposal, excavation and concrete: $73,216 (on order) $44,344 $16,500 $38,470 $172,530 Ramsey County is paying $115,000, leaving a balance of $57,530 to the City that would be paid out of the park improvement fund. Prior to installation, staff will coordinate for the removal of trees on the site. The concrete work will start about a month before the playground installation to allow the concrete time to cure. Councilor Dolphin made a motion to approve the quotes from Midwest Playscapes for synthetic turf safety surfacing; the quote from Midwest Playground Contractors Inc. for the playground installation; and Goodmanson Construction for earthwork, drainage, and concrete. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. E. Election Judge Appointments The Council was presented with a listed of election judges eligible for the primary and general election. Judges must attend a two-hour training session every two years as required by State Law. The judges receive $12.50 per hour for training and on Election Day. Those that work a full day receive $200 and the head judge $220. In the event that the City needs additional judges, staff requests the authority to hire more. Councilor Moffatt made a motion to approve the election judge list for the 2020 primary and general elections and grants staff the ability to hire additional judges as needed. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Administrator Butkowski stated that the July 28 council meeting may include the quarterly investment report and the tabled fence discussions. Work Session A. Coronavirus Impacts Update LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 4 of 4 July 14, 2020 Butkowski reminded everyone that Night to Unite was rescheduled for October 6. Staff mentioned in the newsletter that the City was seeking alternative Halloween ideas since the event can't take place as usual at City Hall. B. Community Development Update Butkowski stated that the City just paid Northdale Construction for alley paving but noted a few minor items were left to finish in order to wrap up the project. Staff met with the fence contractor to discuss options for fixing the dog park fence. A quote was expected shortly. Councilor Dains made a motion to open the dog park to groups of five people or less on the conditions that there is appropriate social distancing and signage. The motion failed for a lack of a second. Butkowski stated that the City will be reimbursed for Covid-19 related costs through the CARES Act. C. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened up the floor to anyone in attendance interested in addressing the council. There being no people interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adj ournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk