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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/2021LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Hli',LD IN-PERSON AT LAUDERDALE CITY HALL Page 1 of 3 August 24, 2021 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Roxanne Grove, Andi Moffatt, Duane Pulford, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilor absent: Jeff Darns. 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 or corrections to the meeting agenda. Butkowski stated that Inland Development Partners would no longer be presenting and added a discussion of protocols for future city council meetings. Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the July 27, 2021 city council meeting minutes. Theie being none, Councilor Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the minutes of the July 27, 2021 city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Mayoi Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the claims totaling $168,136.05. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving the city park application foi group use, the 2021 engagement letter with Abdo, Eick, and Meyers for auditing services, and the contract with Valley -Rich Company, Inc for repairs of the storm sewer pipe. Informational Presentations/Reports B. Tara Jebens-Singh from Northeast Youth and Family Services As the City looks for ways to support community mental health and offer tools to our police department, the Council asked staff to bring Tara Jebens-Singh, Executive Director of NYFS, to the meeting to discuss the benefits of becoming a partner of NYFS. She explained that Northeast Youth & Family Services (NYFS) is a nonprofit, community-based and trauma -informed mental health and community services organization that has been serving the northeastern suburbs since 1976. The City was previously a partner but stopped supporting them for financial reasons many years ago. Some in the City benefit from their services such as the senior chore program and their school-based therapy services through their partnership with Roseville Area Schools. The St. Anthony Police Department is working closely with NYFS as they have a youth LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL M HH TING MINUTES HELD IN-PERSON AT LAUDERDALE CITY HALL P age 2 of 3 August 24, 2021 diversion program and a new community advocate program. Officers call on INYFS when they encounter people whose needs cannot be addressed by law enforcement alone. This includes: mental health issues, family instability, medical care, and other needs. Addressing these underlying issues reduces the need for law enforcement intervention in the future. The Council discussed the merits of being a partner to allow residents to access NYFS services and be a member of the steering committee that sets priorities. Staff will work with Jebens- Singh on the membership agreement. Butkowski said that if the City becomes a partner, the cost will be budgeted under public safety in the General Fund. B . City Council Updates Mayor Gaasch stated that she and Councilor Pulford attended a League of Minnesota Cities Policy Committee meeting on the topic of public safety. Gaasch continued by thanking the Lauderdale residents planning the Halloween party this year. She mentioned they are looking for additional volunteers. Councilor Grove said she will attend a Ramsey County League of Local Governments meeting in September on the topic of mental health. Lastly Councilor Pulford mentioned that NineNorth was having an open house from 3-6 pm on September 30. Discussion/Action Item A. 2022 General Fund Budget B utkowski previewed the draft of the 2022 budget with the Council. The discussion centered on some of the projected revenue and expenses shills the City will experience in 2022 with the retirement of the residential and commercial building officials and hiring of a contracted building official. The budget is incomplete until the City if notified of fiscal disparities numbers. Those are expected shortly and a more complete draft of the budget will be available by the next meeting. B . Addition: Protocols for Future City Council Meetings When the Mayor ended virtual City council meetings with the termination of the Governor's Executive Authority in July, the world had yet to deal with the extent of the Delta Variant. The guards were coming down for those that were vaccinated but that has changed in recent weeks. The spread is high and vaccinated people are sometimes transmitters. The public health guidance is to remain vigilant and follow the same protocols for social distancing and mask wearing we adhered to prior to vaccinations. Butkowski mentioned it is difficult to adhere to the most basic guidance due to the size of the council chambers. Staff asked the City attorney if he had other clients in the same situation and what options are provided by state statute. As he has been here many times, he said it is not practical or prudent to hold in-person council meetings at Lauderdale City Hall as we do not have enough space to allow all who want to attend meetings to do so effectively and safely. The City attorney said the Mayor may determine that in-person meetings are not practical or prudent as the pandemic surges. The technology updates that will happen in the next few months LAUDhRDALFF, CITY COUNCIL MEI;Fi,TING MINUThS HhLD IN-PF,RSON AT LAUDFA,RDALF, CITY HALL Page 3 of 3 August 24, 2021 may offer alternative solutions, but for now, the options are either all in-person meetings or all persons meeting virtually. P ach council member expressed disappointment over the inability to meet in person but agreed that it is not practical to host in-person meetings at this time due to the Delta variant and the size of the Council chambers. Councilors mentioned that the development of 1795 Eustis Street and Luther Seminary's land in Lauderdale will bring more residents to meetings over the upcoming weeks than the council chambers can safely hold. The city attorney will draft a declaration to return to virtual meetings for the Mayor s consideration. Set Agenda for Next Meeting The next Council meeting may include representatives from Inland Development Group regarding development of Luther Seminary s property in Lauderdale, Patricia Hoffman of the Roseville Area League of Women Voters, the 2022 general fund budget, designation of a new building official, and the July financial report. Work Session A. Community Development Update Butkowski revisited the community meeting Inland Development Group held at City Hall on August 18, seal coating of the streets was done on August 20, and staff met with Pat Cook from NineNorth to discuss Council chamber upgrades. B. 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. Adjournment Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, (K` Heather Butkowski City Administrator