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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/30/2011LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 August 30, 2011 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Denise Hawkinson, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Councilors absent: none. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. Butkowski added a discussion on the proposed Vikings Stadium and gave notice that the city engineer would be leaving his post at Bonestroo at the end of the week. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the August 9, 2011, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $30,077.47. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved the consent agenda acknowledging the PCIC minutes, a 2011 rental housing license, and approving Resolution 083011A — Findings of Fact for Variance Granted to 1732 Malvern Street and Resolution 083011B - Findings of Fact for Variance and Encroachment Granted to 1931 Carl Street. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. County Attorney John Choi addressed the Council. He plans to update the Council annually on his work and goals. Right now he is focusing on a number of initiatives including programs that address domestic violence, increase the number of cases tried (versus declined), and juvenile crime prevention. The Mayor told Choi he was the first county attorney, to address the city council in his twenty plus years as mayor. He thanked him for his work and efforts to coordinate with the City and St. Anthony Police. Councilor Mac Lean expressed her frustration with the workings of the criminal justice system, especially as it related to juveniles. She thanked him for aggressively implementing his campaign promises. The Council took a 5 minute break to say good-bye to Mr. Choi. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 Mayor Dains thanked those that attended the Community Meeting. He said it was successful at educating and gathering input from the community. Chief Ohl said he felt the meeting was expertly run by the council and staff and that the community seemed willing to accept a municipal liquor store if it meant being able to maintain the existing services such as 24-hour police patrol. Councilors each expressed their appreciation for the insight and direction from the community. Mayor Dains said the input received from the community meeting ties directly to the budget discussion. He asked Butkowski to explain where the budget stands. She said the budget presented reflected two options. Option A factored a net tax levy decrease of $14,000. This bare bones budget does not factor in such things as continued costs to pursue a municipal liquor store. Option B held the total levy flat but compensated for the $9,500 loss in fiscal disparities revenue. Staff prepared a document showing how the changes to the Market Value Homestead Credit Program will impact residents differently based on the values of their properties. County estimates show that the owner of a median valued home in Lauderdale will see a $123 property tax increase even if the city levy does not change. Staff will prepare updated figures for the next Council meeting and show the impact of a levy increase to cover anticipated expenses for continuing research on a municipal liquor store and some small capital projects. Councilors Mac Lean and Gaasch and Administrator Butkowski met with the three finalists for the deputy clerk position. They recommend the Council hire Kevin Kelly based upon his education and experience. Councilor Hawkinson moved to appoint Kevin Kelly to the deputy clerk position effective August 31, 2011. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski mentioned that Peace Lutheran Church was seeking a grant and Mn/DOT approval to have a community garden behind the fence at Skyview Park. The grant would bring water to the site and enclose Mn/DOT's "flat area" on top of the hill overlooking TH280. Church members asked for Council support for the project. Church volunteers were going to draft a letter for Council consideration but staff hasn't seen it yet. Instead of waiting, staff asked the Council for feedback and whether they -generally supported the concept. If the Council supports the idea, staff will prepare the letter of support and the Council will not have to take further action. Councilor Hawkinson suggested a fence gate be installed to allow access through the park as opposed to the alley for safety reasons. Overall, the Council supported the communii)� garden concept. Staff will prepare a letter of support when needed on behalf of the Council. Butkowski added a discussion on whether the Council would like to host a meeting about the proposed Vikings Football Stadium in Arden Hills to the agenda. Dennis Egan, public relations LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 consultant for Ramsey County, sent a letter to all Ramsey County cities offering to host a local informational session in the upcoming week. The Council discussed the offer and felt they were not interested at this time. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for the next meeting, which included the preliminary 2012 budget and levy, ball field improvement quotes, and parking on Carl Street south of Larpenteur. The Mayor asked if anyone present wished to address the Council. No one present wished to do SO. 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 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, r, Heather Butkowski City Administrator