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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/2014LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 2 February 11, 2014 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Lara Mac Lean, Denise Hawkinson, Roxanne Grove, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Kevin Kelly, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. There were no changes offered. Councilor Grove moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the January 28, 2014 City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $52,420.44. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved approval of the Consent Agenda which included the 2014 garbage haulers licenses. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Discussion Items Postal Service within the City Butkowski stated that City Hall has been experiencing inconsistent mail delivery particularly since the postal service removed the mail collection box from City Hall two months ago. The USPS also took the only other collection box in the City which was at Larpenteur and Eustis Streets. Mayor Dains also stated that residents had complained to him about the quality of mail delivery. Butkowski drafted a letter to the postmaster describing the quality of service and the need for a collection box somewhere in the City. The Council agreed to the sending of the letter. Tobacco Ordinance Revisions Butkowski stated that City Attorney Ron Batty reviewed the draft ordinance. The ordinance will reflect a prohibition on the sampling of tobacco and include penalties for business owners caught selling tobacco illegally. Croix Oil Inc., the owners of Lauderdale BP, contacted Butkowski about the penalties for businesses which do not pass compliance checks. Croix Oil felt the two year license suspension for a third violation was steep. Councilor Gaasch stated that she was not interested in changing the ordinance to reduce the penalties to businesses for violations. Mayor LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 2 February 11, 2014 Dains and the Council agreed the penalties should not be changed. A public hearing on the Tobacco Ordinance will be held on March 25. Agenda items for the February 25 Council Meeting may include an Introduction to the Bhutanese Community in Lauderdale and the Larpenteur Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project. Mayor Dains explained that the Council was moving into the work session. Work sessions are a continuation of the meeting but not aired on community television. Mayor Dains asked if anyone wished to address the Council. No one came forward. Work Session: National League of Cities Membership Councilor Gaasch brought up for discussion the City becoming a member of the National League of Cities. Membership is $536 this year. Gaasch stated there were excellent training opportunities including webinars offered through the National League of Cities. The Council was open to the City being a member and would make a final decision when there was a training councilors would like to attend. Community Development Update Butkowski said Luther Seminary is close to selling their multifamily housing in Lauderdale. The Seminary will need to replat their land before the sale is final. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPGA) is reviewing the "No Association" request for 2430 Larpenteur Avenue. After the MPCA completes the review the closing for the property will be scheduled. There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Key Deputy City Clerk