Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/13/2012LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 November 13, 2012 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Denise Hawkinson, Lara Mac Lean, 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. The Mayor added Ramsey County's plans to update its computer aided dispatching software to the agenda. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the amended agenda. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved to approve the October 23, 2012, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $98,302.07. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved to approve the consent agenda acknowledging the Third Quarter Investment Report. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Special Order of Business: Canvas Election Results —Resolution 111312A Councilor Grove moved to approve Resolution 111312A — A Resolution Certifying the Election Returns of the November 6, 2012, General Municipal Election. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and the resolution passed unanimously. Informational Presentations/Reports: Prosecuting City Attorney Katrina Joseph on proposed changes to the Court Schedule — Resolution 111312B. Katrina Joseph addressed the Council regarding the scheduling changes proposed by Ramsey County District Court judges. The new schedule will increase the hours required by Katrina to represent the City. She said it would affect all suburban Ramsey County cities in the same way. The scheduling change will ultimately result in greater legal expenses for the suburban cities. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 November 13, 2012 The police chiefs and public defenders in Ramsey County also oppose the change. Katrina asked for Council consideration of a resolution supporting her efforts to keep the schedule unchanged. Councilor Gaasch moved to adopt Resolution 111312B — A Resolution Requesting the Ramsey County District Court Retain the Current Scheduling System for Suburban Criminal Cases. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Discussion Items: Variance Request for 1746 Carl Street John Hazen, the owner of 1746 Carl Street, proposed adding a second story to his garage. The variance was requested because the existing garage is located within the side -yard setback area. When the garage was constructed in 1980, the owner received a two -foot variance to the side - yard setback. To expand the structure in that footprint requires a variance. Mayor Dains opened the public hearing regarding the variance request for 1746 Carl Street at 7:45. No one came forward and the hearing was closed at 7:46. Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the variance request and directed staff to prepare findings -of -fact for the next meeting. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Revisions to the Open Burning Ordinance 5-7 Butkowski informed the Council that the city attorney had reviewed the proposed changes. The changes bring the ordinance in compliance with the State Fire Code. Mayor Dains opened the public hearing regarding the Open Burning Ordinance at 7:49. No one came forward and the public hearing closed at 7:49. Councilor Grove moved to adopt Ordinance 5-7 regarding Open Burning. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 2012-2013 Union Contract The City Council and union employees agreed to a 2% wage increase effective January 1, 2013. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the union contract addendum increasing wages by 2% for 2013. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 2013 Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and Recycling Rates Bownik stated the Recycling Fund is healthy and didn't propose any changes to the 2013 recycling rates. Bownik also didn't recommend an increase to the sanitary sewer rate as the LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 November 13, 2012 wastewater treatment costs set by the Metropolitan Council remain flat. Bownik recommended a 12.5% increase in storm sewer rates for 2013 to cover expenses and maintain a healthy fund balance. He will prepare a resolution setting the 2013 rates for the next council meeting. Additional Items: Ramsey County Computer Aided Dispatch The Mayor updated the Council on the discussion had by the Ramsey County Board with regard to the replacement of their dispatching system. Two years ago, the cities of St. Anthony and Roseville were forced to update their records management software. As the vendor of the software purchased by the cities was not selected by the County, there will be costs to integrate the cities' records management software with what the County has selected. Some County Board members believe integration costs should be borne by the cities. Other County Board members argue that the County did not make timely decisions with regard to the dispatching software which created this situation so the costs should not be borne by the cities. The integration costs are estimated at $250,000.00. Agenda items for the November 27 council meeting will include a discussion on the 2013 budget and levy, application for the 2013 SCORE grant for recycling, application for the Public Entity Innovation Grant for Recycling, establishing utility rates for 2013, and a new billing agreement with St. Paul Regional Water Services. Mayor Dains explained the Council was moving into the work session. Work sessions are a continuation of the meeting but not aired on community television. The Mayor asked if anyone present wished to address the Council. No one present addressed the Council. City Logo The Council reviewed the logo design prepared by Councilor Hawkinson. The Council liked it and staff will work on it with Councilor Hawkinson. There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. l ectfu y submiitted, n lly Deputy City Clerk