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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/27/2012LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 November 27, 2012 Mayor Pro Tem Gaasch called the City Council meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. Councilors present: Mayor Pro Tem Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Denise Hawkinson, and Lara Mac Lean. Absent: Mayor Jeff Dains. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Kevin Kelly, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Pro Tem Gaasch asked for changes to the meeting agenda. No changes were offered. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved to approve the November 13, 2012, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved approval of the claims totaling $32,321.94. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the consent agenda acknowledging the October 2012 finances; the step increase for the deputy clerk; the findings -of -fact for the variance request for 1746 Carl Street (Resolution 112712A); 2013 sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and recycling rates (Resolution 112712B); and application for the 2013 SCORE Grant for recycling (Resolution 112712C). Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Discussion Items: 2013 Budget and Levy The City portion of property taxes went down for most residents as the average property valuation for homes in Lauderdale decreased about 9%. Butkowski stated the proposed levy increase of 2% resulted in approximately $17,500 more in revenue than planned expenditures. The Council discussed whether to decrease the levy or use the money for sidelined projects or save the funds for future projects. Councilor Mac Lean inquired how improving street lighting would affect the 2013 budget. Butkowski said Xcel Energy covers the cost to install new street lights while the City assumes a monthly cost for the light of approximately $13. The Council directed staff to bring back a budget that funded the deputy clerk position at 32 hours per week (up from 28) for 2013 and budget for a transfer of the remaining funds to the street improvement fund. The Truth in Taxation hearing was scheduled for the December 11 Council Meeting. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 November 27, 2012 Non -Union Employee Compensation for 2013 Union employees will receive a 2% wage increase in 2013. Butkowski stated there are three union employees and two non-union employees at the City. The two non-union employees are the City Administrator and the Assistant to the City Administrator. Past practice has been for all employees to receive the same wage and benefits per the union contract. Councilor Hawkinson moved to extend the 2% wage increase to the positions of the City Administrator and the Assistant to the City Administrator. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Agenda items for the December 13 Council meeting will include a discussion on the billing agreement with St. Paul Regional Water Service, rental housing ordinance revisions, fire call charge backs, and application for the Public Entity Innovation Grant for recycling. 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. The Mayor Pro Tem asked if anyone present wished to address the Council. No one present addressed the Council. Eustis Street and Larpenteur Avenue Streetseape One of the sticking points of the Eustis Street sidewalk plan is Xcel Energy moving the utility lines from the west side of Eustis Street to the east side. Xcel Energy said the cost to the City may be up to $300,000. Ramsey County and the City take the position that the costs of moving the lines are to be paid by Xcel Energy. Ramsey County stated they may repave Eustis Street if the City builds the sidewalk. The Eustis Street sidewalk project would be paid for out of the TIF fund. City staff and councilors will meet with the owner of the BP station on Larpenteur Avenue on November 29 to discuss issues related to the redevelopment of their site. Animal Ordinance Revisions The animal control ordinance was revised in 2006. The ordinance needs to be amended to clarify licensing procedures and update the dangerous dog provisions. The Council discussed a document on animal control issues prepared by the League of Minnesota Cities. Staff will continue to work on the matter and bring it back for future discussion. Nightly Use of the Dog Park A resident asked if the hockey rink lights at Community Park could be turned on in the evening so the dog park can be used after dark. The park lights are controlled from inside the warming LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 November 27, 2012 house which is locked. The Council discussed allowing a limited amount of time each day for the lights to be turned on by a responsible person. The Council asked staff to send out a request on the dog park users' listsery to see if anyone would volunteer to turn the lights on and off. The Council Meeting went into closed session to conduct the city administrator's annual performance review at 9:00 p.m. The Council returned from the closed session at 9:13 p.m. 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 9:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin elly Deputy City Clerk