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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/23/2024LAUDERDALF, CITY COUNCIL Mb 14,TING MINUTF,S L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Stieet L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 1 of 3 April 23, 2024 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present Fvan Sayre, Sharon Kelly, Jeff Dains, Duane Pulford, 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 Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the April 9, 2024 City Council meeting. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the April 9, 2024 City Council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. Councilor Kelly asked what the ACH payments represented. Staff responded that they were payroll liability payments. Thereafter, Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to approve the claims totaling $21,061.27. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving the March financial report and the first quarter investment report. Informational Presentations/Reports A. Annual Police Report by St. Anthony Police Chief Jeff Spiess Chief Jeff Spiess presented the highlights of the annual police report. The City Council engaged in a question and answer session with Spiess throughout his presentation on such topics as officer wellness, recruitment, their patrol philosophy, and crime statistics. B . City Council Updates Councilor Kelly shared that she and Councilor Pulford attended the police contract town hall discussion between St. Anthony and Falcon Heights at St. Anthony City Hall. Mayor Gaasch thanked the Council members who were able to attend the funeral for former Police Chief Jon Mangseth. LAUDERDALE, CITY COUNCIL ME,E',TING MINUTFS L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 2 of 3 April 23, 2024 Councilor Pulford stated that NineNorth posted three videos about Lauderdale on their website. Pulford continued to say that he and Mayor Gaasch were interviewed for the video regarding Lauderdale being named the second-best place to live in Minnesota. Mayor Gaasch shared that she, Councilor Dains, and many other Lauderdale residents attended the City's joint Faith Day celebration with Falcon Heights on April 22. Finally, Gaasch stated that the League of Minnesota Cities has been strongly advocating for cities to retain local zoning control and appear to have been successful in getting legislators to make changes to bills that would have affected that and the public hearing process that happens before votes on development projects. D iscussion/Action Item A. Tort Liability Waiver Form The City's workers compensation, property, liability, sewer backup, and auto insurance policies run from August to August. Staff work with our insurance agent annually to prepare the materials for the renewal. As part of this, the City Council must determine whether to waive the municipal tort liability limits established by state statute. The City has not waived them in the past as it opens the City to greater financial liability. Staff recommends maintaining that practice via the following motion. Councilor Dains made a motion authorizing staff to remit the Liability Coverage—Waiver from LMCIT as presented indicating the City does not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by MS 466.04. This was seconded by Councilor Kelly and carried unanimously. B . Draft Environmental Commission Ordinance City staff drafted an Environment and Sustainability Commission ordinance and sent it to the City attorney for review. The draft will be sent out for the required 10 -day community notification, and the Council will be able to adopt it at the May 14 Meeting. City staff will prepare the materials to advertise for commission members in the June newsletter. C. Resolution No. 042324A – Fair Housing Month Proclamation At the last meeting, the Council discussed adopting the fair housing proclamation mailed to Council Members by the St. Paul Area Realtors Association. Staff prepared the proclamation in our usual resolution format for Council consideration. The Council decided they would table this matter until the next meeting to allow Councilor Kelly to complete some research. LAUDFRDALN, CITY COUNCIL MF{;Fh,TING MINUTF,S L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 3 of 3 April 23, 2024 D. Setting Date of Day in the Paik The Council discussed possible dates for Day in the Park and concluded that July 18, the third Thursday in July, would work best foi full Council attendance. Set Agenda for Next Meeting B utkowski stated that the May 14 council meeting might include the April financial report, an environmental commission ordinance, and an energy audit partnership discussion. Work Session A. Community Development Update Butkowski shared that staff met with Bluechip Tree Company in regards to removing the remaining diseased ash trees along with a few sickly maple trees. She continued to say that citizens should hire an arborist with specific questions about their situation. 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. Adjournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to adjourn the meeting at 9:11 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk