HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/23/2024LAUDFRDALFA; CITY COUNCIL
MIA hTING MINT JTFA;S
L auderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
L auderdale, MN 55113
P age 1 of 3 July 23, 2024
Call to Order
Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Roll Call
Councilors present Evan Sayre, Sharon Kelly, Duane Pulford, and Mayor Mary Gaasch.
Councilors absent Jeff Dains.
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 Pulford to approve the agenda. Motion
carried unanimously.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the July 9, 2024 City Council
meeting. There being none, Councilor Sayie moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to
approve the July 9, 2024 City Council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the July 15, 2024 Work Session.
There being none, Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to approve the
July 15, 2024 Work Session minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor
Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the claims totaling $153,663.57.
Motion carried unanimously.
Consent
Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Kelly to approve the Consent Agenda
thereby approving the Fourth Amendment to the Joint Cooperation Agreement with Ramsey
County for Pooling of the Community Development Block Grant Funds and Resolution No.
072324A Appointing a Responsible Authority and Assigning Duties (Data Piactices) and
acknowledging the June financial report and the second quarter investment report.
Discussion/Action Item
A. Resolution No. 072324B Approving of Letter of Concurrence for Watershed District
B oundary Change/Adjustment
Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) is one of three watershed organizations within Lauderdale's city
limits. RCWD did hydrological modeling to determine where, within their district, water actually flows.
Based on RCWD information, they want to move parcels in and out of their district to better align with
LAUD ERDALh CITY COUNCIL
Mb F,TlNG MINUTF,S
L auderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
L auderdale, MN 55113
P age 2 of 3 July 23, 2024
hydrological reality. The packet included maps and address lists showing which Lauderdale properties
will move into the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) or Capitol Region
Watershed Distiict (CRWD). No Lauderdale properties will move into RCWD territory.
Overall, Butkowski said that this is a positive step. We have a good working relationship with RCWD, but
regularly work more closely with CRWD, and have standing membership on the MWMO boaid In an
ideal world, Lauderdale would be in one watershed district. As that is not a possible outcome, these
changes are for the better.
Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 072324B Approval of Letter of
Concurrence for Watershed District Boundary Change/Adjustment. This was seconded by
Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously.
B . Contract to Repair Walnut Street Storm Sewei Pipe
Butkowski explained that the City has an easement for its storm sewer pipe that runs through 1769 Walnut
Street. The adjacent property owner recently notified staff that the pipe collapsed and separated from the
storm sewer manhole that it ties into. It is the City's responsibility to repair this.
Staff worked with the city engineer to put together a simple spec that was put out for quotes to at least four
contractors. Two responded The pricing was very similar, but Valley -Rich Co. Inc. was slightly cheaper
at $14,800 versus $15,152. The City has contracted with Valley Rich Co. Inc. in the past, and we
anticipate the work will be completed in the next month. Staff prepared our standard independent
contractor s agreement. To move ahead, the Council would need to approve this with a motion.
Councilor Sayre made a motion to approve a Contract between the City of Lauderdale and
Valley Rich Co. Inc. as presented. This was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried
unanimously.
C. 2025 Budget and Levy
B utkowski presented a rough first draft of the 2025 budget which includes many of the known
costs for next year including staffing costs. St. Anthony sent over a preliminary policing cost of
$1,052,453 or 7% over last year. Fire service costs would rise at a rate of 2.5%. The budget
includes funds to join the Minnesota Association of Small Cities. As you would expect, costs are
up across the boaid. Staff budgeted for the additional investment interest anticipated but LGA is
only going up $205. A 10.7% levy increase is needed to balance the budget. The Council saved a
third of the public safety funds provided by the legislature for 2024. Without that, the levy
increase would be approximately 13.5%.
Staff will continue to update the budget as information comes in. Nothing can be finalized until
the City receives the fiscal disparities revenue number and the taxable market values, which is
LAUDFiRDALF, CITY COUNCIL
Mb h,TING MINUTFI,S
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Stteet
L auderdale, MN 55113
P age 3 of 3 July 23, 2024
anticipated in late August.
Set Agenda for Next Meeting
B utkowski stated that the August 13 council meeting might include the 2025 budget and levy, a
one-year extension agreement with the City of St. Anthony for policing services, and a di aft of
storm water ordinances.
Work Session
A. Community Development Update
B utkowski reiterated that council members should finish their comments on the Uses chapter of
the new zoning ordinance and remit to the planning consultant. Councilor Pulford mentioned
that NineNorth met and that he is sitting on a couple of League of Minnesota Cities policy
committees. The Council also discussed funding that Lauderdale will receive from the small
cities' tiansportation funding pool.
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 Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Miles Cline
Deputy City Clerk