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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/28/2012LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 February 28, 2012 Mayor Pro Tem Gaasch called the City Council meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. Councilors present: Roxanne Grove, Denise Hawkinson, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Pro Tem Mary Gaasch. Councilors Absent: Mayor Jeff Dains Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; Kevin Kelly, Deputy Clerk. Mayor Pro Tem Gaasch asked for changes to the meeting agenda. There were no changes offered. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the February 14, 2012, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $27,851.16. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved the consent agenda approving 2012 rental housing and business licenses, Resolution 022812A - Hamline Autobody's conditional use permit, the tile flooring maintenance agreement, and acknowledging January finances. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Chief John Ohl of the St. Anthony Police Department presented the 2011 Lauderdale Annual Police Report. Chief Ohl outlined the four goals of the PD for Lauderdale. Those goals are to arrest criminals, prevent crime, increase the community's quality of life, and to solve problems. Chief Ohl stated that Part I Crimes were essentially static in 2011 Burglaries were up in 2011 but there were zero rapes, murders, or aggravated assaults. Many of the burglaries were of garages. Part II (less serious) crimes were down slightly in 2011. The City generated 2,188 calls for service in 2011. These calls were either to 911 or the City of St. Anthony office staff This was a significant increase from 2010 as the measurement of calls changed for 2011 to reflect the number of total interactions of residents with the SAPD. Chief Ohl thanked residents for being the eyes and ears of the SAPD. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 Chief Ohl stated the SAPD will continue to focus efforts on community orientated policing, on- going training of SAPD officers, and prompt initial investigations into all calls to the SAPD. The Council discussed the use of Stantec to complete more research on the Eustis Street sewer lining project. Stantec will also develop the framework for a quote for the project. Stantec will do this work for no more than $1,000.00. Councilor Mac Lean moved to hire Stantec to review the Eustis Street sewer line video and prepare cost estimates for the project. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The City retains 60% of the next year's operating budget in the General Fund at year end to pay for ongoing operations until the first property tax settlement in June. After the 2011 audit, the city had more than 60% in reserves; the excess totaled $135,982. The Council has historically put these funds into the Park Improvement and Street Improvement Funds. Councilor Hawkinson moved to adopt Resolution 022812B — a resolution depositing the excess unreserved fund balance into the Capital Improvement Funds. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The City must establish new precinct boundaries after each US Census. The City does not have to make any adjustments to existing political boundaries. Councilor Grove moved to reestablish current City precinct boundaries. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for future meetings which include personnel policy changes, legislators John Marty and Mindy Greiling addressing the Council on April 28, and an emergency management activity with Kristy Stauffer in May. Mayor Pro Tem Gaasch explained the Council was moving into the work session. Work sessions are a continuation of the meeting but not aired on community television. Pro Tem Gaasch asked if anyone present wished to address the Council. Matt Howard addressed the Council. Matt is a Boy Scout from Troop 254 who was observing the operation of the council meeting as part of a merit.badge project. The Boy Scouts are also looking to complete service oriented projects in the community as part of earning Eagle Scout honors. The Liquor Store Committee met with city consultant Paul Bilotta of Stantec and representatives of Croix Oil (the operators of the BP station in Lauderdale) last week. Councilor Hawkinson stated the Committee was urged by Bilotta to think big for this project as the lots on Larpenteur LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 Avenue are small by today's commercial standards. The Committee looked at the entire area from Highway 280 east to Eustis Street. A new building on existing lots would severely limit space for parking. Croix Oil would like to build a convenience store and have the Municipal Liquor Store as a tenant. This arrangement would be less financially risky for the City. Staff will get input from Stacy Kvilvang at Ehlers regarding financing options for the liquor store and corridor planning. The Council moved into closed session at 8:20 p.m. to discuss the union contract. The Council came out of closed session at 8:39 p.m. The Council agreed to all the terms in the union contract regarding employee health benefits, deferred compensation, and wages with the exception of the proposed 2% employee wage increase in 2013. The Council proposed a I% increase instead. 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 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Heather Butkowski City Administrator