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Home My WebLink About11/14/2023LAUDhRDALF, CITY COUNCIL MI -I FETING MINUTb,S L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 1 of 4 November 14, 2023 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present Evan Sayre, Sharon Kelly, Duane Pulford, Jeff Dains, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilors absent: None. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, 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 Sayre moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the October 24, 2023 city council meeting. There being none, Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the minutes of the October 24, 2023 city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the claims totaling $133,220.56. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Sayie to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving the snow removal agreement with 8th Day Landscaping. Informational Presentations/Reports A. City Council Updates Mayor Gaasch said she attended a Ramsey County League of Local Governments presentation on age -friendly communities. Gaasch also said that she and a couple other council members attended The Fern's open house. Finally, she shared that the entire Council attended an open house at Falcon Heights regarding snow plowing. Councilor Pulford asked council members to sign a letter to oui congressional contingent regarding broadband legislation before them. Pulford also said that 30 units at The Fern have been tented thus far. LAUDERDALE, CITY COUNCIL METING MINUTF,S L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 4 November 14, 2023 Discussion/Action Item A. Resolution No. 111423A — Approving Conditional Use Permit at 2520 Larpenteur Avenue West SilverSky Auto LLC sought a conditional use permit for auto sales and service at the previous meeting. The Council supported their application with conditions, which were included in the resolution before the Council. Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 111423A — A Resolution Granting a Conditional Use Permit to SilverSky Auto LLC and Biait Commercial LLC for Auto Sales, Service, and Repair for a Portion of the Propeity at 2520 Larpenteur Avenue West. This was seconded by Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously. B Smoking of Tobacco and Cannabis in Public Parks Draft Ordinance The City Attorney, Ron Batty, attended the meeting via Zoom to discuss cannabis and tobacco use in the City's parks. Revisions for the park ordinance were presented for Council review. B atty discussed the draft ordinance with the Council in order to garner direction on how to finalize it. Topics of discussion included in what parks and open spaces tobacco and cannabis use would be prohibited and what the penalty would be for violators. When completed, staff will post the draft ordinance for a ten-day review period ahead of any votes on the matter. C. Agreement Regarding Suburban Representation of St. Paul Regional Water Board of Water Commissioners -,very eight to ten years, the suburban cities that sold their water utilities to St. Paul Regional Water have to adopt a new agreement. The agreement sets the schedule foi appointing representation to the Board of Water Commissioners. The suburban cities have two seats. Historically, Maplewood has had a permanent seat, as they aie larger than Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, and West St. Paul and the water utility is located in Maplewood. Since the last agreement in 2013, Mendota Heights sold their water utility to St. Paul Regional Water. The draft agreement adds them to the rotation with Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, and West St. Paul for representation on the Board of Water Commissioners. City Attorney Ron Batty drafted the revised agreement Lauderdale will appoint someone to the B oard of Water Commissioners for a two-year term in 2030 since Lauderdale had the appointment just prior to Falcon Heights. Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt the Agreement Regarding Suburban Representation on the Board of Water Commissioners. This was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried unanimously. LAUDF,RDALh, CITY COUNCIL MEFTING MlNUTFAS Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 4 November 14, 2023 D Long -Term Planning Follow -Up Session with Victoria Holthaus of AFM Financial Solutions The Council authorized Abdo to prepare a long-term financial plan for the City. The emphasis of the plan was to analyze the financial opportunity costs of Ramsey County's Fiustis Street turn back proposal. Based on the discussion from the last meeting, Vicki Holthaus of AKM Financial revised her analysis to include a twenty-year bond run. The longer payoff lowers the annual cost to property owners and reflects the minimum number of years a road lasts before it needs to be milled and overlaid. Vicki attended the meeting via Zoom to share her analysis. In order to pay for the City street repairs bonded for in 2026, the City must increase city taxes at least 25% in 2027. For the median value home, this results in a $223 property tax increase. About $65 will support the general fund and $158 will pay the debt levy for the street project. If the Council elects to pay the cost -share for F;ustis Street (and not take ownership of the road) and fund park improvements, the increase is at least 38% in 2027. For the median value home, this results in a $349 property tax increase. About $65 will support the general fund, $40 will support the park improvements, and about $244 will pay the debt levy for the street pioject and the county cost -shale. The additional cost per median value residential property to not take ownership of Eustis Stieet south of Larpenteur Avenue is $86 per year over 20 years. The Council discussed the options in detail. They decided to take two weeks to reflect on the new information and decide at the next meeting whether or not to accept the terms of the turnback or participate in the cost -share. F Resolution No. 111423B — Transferring the Final Portion of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds hstablished under the American Rescue Plan Act The ARPA fund balance is just over $146,000. The Council elected the revenue loss option for spending the funds. This means that the funds can be used for any general government purpose. This resolution would transfer the remaining balance to the General Fund for public safety costs. At year end, if more than 55% of the next year's operating costs are in the general fund, it will be transferred to capital funds in need of the support to meet projected long-term costs. Counciloi Sayre made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 111423BA Resolution Transferring the Final Portion of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Established under the American Rescue Plan Act. This was seconded by Councilor Dams and carried unanimously. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Butkowski stated that the November 28 council meeting will include the October financial report, the truth -in -taxation public hearing, and setting the 2024 utility rates. LAUDERDALI1, CITY COUNCIL MN N,TIl\G MIN-UTF,S L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 4 of 4 November 14, 2023 Work Session A. Community Development Update B utkowski shared that the Seminary Pond controlled burn is set for Novembei 15; the City received a tree removal and replacement grant from the DNR foi $39,000; and staff will be submitting grants for private and public inflow and infiltration grants. B Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council. There being nobody interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adj ournment Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk