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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/2011LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 January 11, 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 claim for the public works coordinator's annual wastewater training. Mayor Dains added a discussion on security to the work session. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved to approve the December 14, 2010, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved approval of the claims and bond payments totaling $748,807.35 plus the $300 claim for the public works coordinator's annual wastewater training. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains asked if anyone in attendance wished to address the Council. Harvey Skow, 1931 Carl Street, addressed the Council. He submitted a criminal complaint against Robert A. Alsop, City of Lauderdale Attorney, to the police officer in attendance prior to the meeting. Skow questioned why Ramsey County did not extend the existing berm until it reached the apron in the alley behind his property. He said county staff told him that was being done at the request of the city. Butkowski reiterated that the city had not made that request of the county and she couldn't explain why county staff had told him otherwise. Skow also asked about the legal description for the easement agreement signed during the court settlement. Butkowski responded that the city surveyor confirmed the legal description was correct. Skow requested a formal response on the issue. Dawn Bartylla, 1911 Eustis Street, addressed the Council about standards for alley plowing and suggested that parking on Eustis Street be limited to one side due to the narrowing of the road from snow. Butkowski said she would check with Ramsey County since Eustis Street is a county road. ,, LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 Mayor Dains asked if councilors wished to remove items from the consent agenda. Mayor Dains removed the Chinese Christian Church donation of $1,500 and Councilor Mac Lean removed the recreation agreement with Falcon Heights. Councilor Mac Lean moved the remaining consent agenda items: 2011 rental housing licenses, 2011 business licenses, 2011 City Council meeting schedule, 2011 official newspaper, PCIC minutes, updated collateral pledge from North Star Bank, 2011 Investment Policy, and Resolution 011111A designating 2011 depositories and investment institutions. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Bownik updated the Council on plans for Snow*Commotion, which was scheduled for January 29. The event features skating, a medallion hunt, and cardboard sled races. He encouraged residents to come to the park for fun and food. Annually, the city council selects a mayor pro tem and makes committee assignments. After reviewing the positions, the council made the appointments. Councilor Hawkinson moved to appoint Councilor Gaasch as the mayor pro tem and Councilor Mac Lean as bank signatory and adopt the 2011 committee assignments as discussed. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski said the city council discussed the fee schedule extensively at the beginning of 2009 and raised a number of fees based on the cost of providing services. Staff recommended a few small changes for 2011, such as removing the gas station license fee and setting the state mandated surcharge for plumbing and mechanical licenses at $5.00. Councilor Mac Lean moved to adopt Resolution 011111B adopting the 2011 fee schedule. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski said Joe Hughes would be gone for three to four weeks from the end of January to mid-February. Since it has been such a snowy year, public works staff asked whether there should be someone to assist with snow plowing if needed. The Council discussed the options presented by staff which included hiring a temporary snow plower, hiring an independent contractor, or contracting with Falcon Heights for emergency situations. Councilor Gaasch suggested hiring someone for the interim and the other Councilors felt the same. Staff will follow up with a prospective candidate and bring back an agreement for Council approval at the next meeting. The Council discussed the items removed from the consent agenda. Mayor Dains thanked the Chinese Christian Church for their generous donation of $1,500. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 Councilor Mac Lean commented on the confusion regarding the basketball program that Falcon Heights planned to host in Lauderdale Community Park last year. She reiterated the need to be sure the facilities were appropriate prior to scheduling the classes since many families were disappointed when the class had to be moved to Falcon Heights Elementary. Councilor Hawkinson moved to accept the Chinese Christian Church donation and approve the recreation agreement with the City of Falcon Heights. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for the next meeting, which included municipal liquor market research and a discussion about the future of the deputy clerk position. Mayor Dains explained the Council was moving into the work session. Work sessions are a continuation of the meetings but not aired on community television. In light of the recent events in Florida and Tucson, the Council discussed whether security at City Hall could or should be improved. Staff was asked to invite Chief Ohl to the next council meeting for his input. 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 8:41 p.m. Respectfully ectfully submitted, Heather Butkowski City Administrator