HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/14/2021LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
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Call to Order
Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Roll Call
Councilors present: Roxanne Grove, Duane Pulford, Jeff Dains, 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 or corrections to the meeting agenda. Councilor
Dains added a staff appreciation item to the Additional Items section of the agenda.
Administrator Butkowski added an opioid settlement resolution to the Additional Items section
as well. There being nothing else, Councilor Glove moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to
approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the November 23, 2021 City Council
meeting minutes. There being none, Councilor Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford
to approve the minutes of the November 23, 2021 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
Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the claims totaling $245,256.05.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Consent
Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the Consent Agenda
thereby approving Resolution No. 121421A — Accepting the Redistribution of Unrequested
Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund hstablished under the American Rescue Plan Act;
Resolution No. 121421B — A Resolution Establishing License and Permit Fees and
Administrative Fees and Fines; an agreement with Northeast Youth and Family Services; the
final pay request for Allied Blacktop for 2021 seal coating project; pay request No. 1 from Visu-
Sewer, Inc. for 2021 sanitary sewer lining project. the 2022 SafeAssure contract; yearend
accounts payable authorization; hieing of seasonal staff for the warming house and rink
maintenance; and acknowledging the November financial report.
Special Order of Business/Recognitions/Proclamations
A. Resolution No. 121421C Commending David Hinrichs on his Retirement after 37 Years of
Service to the City
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Dave Hinrichs' last day will be December 31 after over 37 years of service to the City as the
public works coordinator and building official. Mayor Gaasch read the resolution.
Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421C — A Resolution of
Commendation for Public Works Cooidinator David Hinrichs on his Retirement. This was
seconded by Councilor Grove and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Informational Presentations/Reports
A. City Council Updates
Councilor Pulford stated that NineNorth is searching for a new executive director with the
resignation of Dana Healy at the end of the month. Pulford said he would assume the role of
secretary -treasurer for the North Suburban Cable Commission In the new year.
Mayor Gaasch stated that she attended a Minnesota Mayors Together meeting. The organization
beings together urban and rural mayors throughout the state to bridge partisan divides and find
common ground. The conversation at their recent meeting centered on mental health. Gaasch
said there was an upcoming League of Women Voters meeting on January 20 from 6:30-8:00
p.m. She was hoping that another council member can attend since she is unable to on that date.
Finally, Gaasch thanked City staff for their efforts over the challenging past couple of years.
Public Hearings
A. Catholic Eldercare Bond Modification Public Hearing and Resolution Nos. 121421D and
121421E Approving Amendments to the Senior Housing Revenue Note (Catholic Eldercare
Project), Series 2014A and 2017A, and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents
Related Thereto
In 2014 and 2017, the City of Lauderdale assisted Catholic Eldercare with the issuance of debt
with the City acting as the conduit. Catholic Eldercare is making modifications to the debt as
explained by the City's bond counsel, Julie F ddington. She asked the City Council to approve
both resolutions after holding a public hearing.
Mayor Gaasch opened the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. No one present wished to address the
Council and the public hearing closed at 7:25 p.m.
Councilor Moffatt made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421DResolution Approving
Amendments to the Senior Housing Revenue Note (Catholic Eldercare Project), Series 2017A,
and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents Related Thereto. This was seconded
by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Moffatt made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421E Resolution Approving
Amendments to the Senior Housing Revenue Note (Catholic Eldercare Project), Series 2014A,
and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents Related Thereto. This was seconded
by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
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B. Truth -in -Taxation Piesentation and Public Hearing
Administrator Butkowski shared infoimation on the proposed 2022 budget and levy and
answered questions from the Council. Thereafter, Mayor Gaasch opened the public healing at
7:34 p.m. No one piesent wished to address the Council and the public hearing closed at 7:35
p.m.
Discussion/Action Item
A. Resolution No. 121421F — Adopting the 2022 Final Property Tax Levy
Councilor Grove made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421F A Resolution Adopting the
2022 Final Property Tax Levy. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously
on a roll call vote.
B Resolution No. 121421G — Adopting the 2022 Final Budget and Establishing Fund
Appropriations
Councilor Grove made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421G A Resolution Adopting the
2022 Final Budget and Establishing Fund Appiopriations. This was seconded by Councilor
Dains and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
C. Resolution No. 121421H — Providing Preliminary Approval to the Issuance of Revenue
Obligations under Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 462C and 474A, as Amended, and Taking other
Actions in Connection Therewith (Regarding 1795 Eustis Street Redevelopment)
The primary financing tool Real Estate Equities (REF) plans to use to construct a senior rental
apartment at 1795 Eustis Street is tax-exempt bonds. In order to apply to the state for these
bonds, they need a resolution of support from the City Council. The resolution is non-binding in
that rt neither creates a financial obligation for the City nor conveys land use rights.
Julie hddington, the City's bond counsel at Kennedy and Graven, addressed the Council to
explain the process and answer questions.
Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121421H A Resolution Providing
Preliminary Approval to the Issuance of Revenue Obligations under Minnesota Statutes,
Chapters 462C and 474A, as Amended, and Taking Other Actions in Connection therewith. This
was seconded by Councilor Moffatt and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
D. Consideration of an Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Butkowski shared the draft COVID-19 vaccination policy with the Council. The public works
candidates were told that the vaccination policy likely would be approved ahead of any job offers
with the effect of vaccination being a condition of their employment. The Council considered the
policy and amended the draft before adoption.
Councilor Dains made a motion to adopt the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy as amended. This
was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
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Offer of Employment for the Public Works Position
Ovei the past few weeks, staff interviewed candidates for the open public works position. The
City administrator and Counciloi Dains held second interviews. Based on the interviews,
personality profiling, and refeience checks, the team recommended hiring Tom Douvier with the
conditions put forward in his offer letter. If the City Council agrees, staff anticipate that Tom will
start sometime in early January.
Councilor Moffatt made a motion to appoint Tom Douvier to the public works utilities and
maintenance position effective upon successful completion of the conditions noted in the offer
letter. This was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Additional Items
A. Staff Recognition
Councilor Dains voiced his appreciation for City staff for their work throughout the course of the
year. In recognition, he proposed staff be granted two personal days to be used at the City
Administrator's discretion.
Council Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to grant two personal days to staff to
be used at the discretion of the City Administiator. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call
vote.
B. Opioid Settlement Resolution
The city attoiney recommends the City Council approve the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
and participate in the opioid settlement proceedings. All cities are eligible to participate in the
settlements, but in order to do so, they must approve and sign the MOA and various participation
forms on or before January 2, 2022. Participating in the settlements requires the City to release
any claims we might have against the opioid distributors and manufacturers. Only ceitain
Minnesota cities are entitled to receive local allocations under the settlements and Lauderdale is
not one of them. However cities are only eligible for future grant moneys and programming that
originate fiom the hundreds of millions in settlement dollars if they participate in the settlements.
It is unknown whether the City may want to participate in state or county grants or programming
that may exist in the future, but a failure to participate in the settlements now will preclude such
paiticipation. Participating will not create or impose any additional obligations administrative
duties, record keeping activities, or otheiwise on cities that are not receiving a local allocation.
The only potential obligations would be those tied to any programming should the City desire to
participate down the toad.
Councilor Moffatt made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 1214211 A Resolution Approving
the Memoiandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State of Minnesota and Local Governments
and Authorizing Participation in National Opioid Settlements and directs the Mayor and
Administrator to take any actions necessary to effect participation. This was seconded by
Councilor Grove and carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
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Set Agenda for Next Meeting
The next Council meeting may include the 2022 City Council meeting schedule designating
official depository and investment institutions, and committee appointments and assignments.
Work Session
A. Community Development Update
B utkowski said there were no additional updates.
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 one interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor.
Adjournment
Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Mieefr Gear
Miles Cline
Deputy City Clerk