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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/22/2011LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page l of 2 March 22, 2011 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Councilor absent: Denise Hawkinson. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. Butkowski noted that she will set up a meeting with business owners to review the Municipal Liquor Store Market Study after the April 12 meeting. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the March 8, 2011, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved approval of the claims totaling $37,663.26. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains asked if councilors wished to remove items from the consent agenda. There being no one, Councilor Mac Lean moved the consent agenda items: 2011 HVAC and tree contractors licenses, tile maintenance project by Dalco Inc., street sweeping by Mike McPhillips, Inc., and a financial update for January and February. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. State Representative Mindy Greiling and State Senator John Marty addressed the Council. They discussed bills being drafted in the House and Senate that would impact the City and residents, such as cuts to education, health and human services, and local government aid. The deadline for budget bills to be passed out of committee was March 25, so the legislature will begin working on policy bills. The Council took a five minute break. Mayor Dains said that Councilor Gaasch, City Administrator Butkowski, and he had attended the House Property Tax Committee meeting where testimony was taken from city officials regarding proposed cuts to local government aid. He also mentioned city officials would be attending the annual legislative conference for cities, counties, towns, and school districts that week. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 2 Butkowski said Bonestroo completed the municipal liquor store market research and would be at the April 12 meeting to review the analysis. Councilor Hawkinson suggested the group tour 2417 Larpenteur (the Union Hall) as it is for sale. The Council proposed touring the facility at 9:00 a.m. on March 31 if the realtor was able to show it then. Staff will confirm the time and date and post notice at City Hall. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for the next meeting, which included the police contract, 2012 budget, municipal liquor store market research, and the annual SWPPP presentation on April 26. 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. Mayor Dains asked if anyone in attendance wished to address the Council. No one present wished to do so. Butkowski presented a draft 2012 budget based on recent legislative proposals. She said the first House proposal would have resulted in a 36% reduction in revenue. The draft budget was based on a 23% reduction, based on a revised House proposal. The numbers will continue to change until the legislature and governor agree on a budget. Overall, what the numbers and legislative arguments show is that state aids and credits will continue to be volatile and the City has to look for ways to weather the volatility. The City Council discussed the significant and unsettling impact the legislative proposals would have on the City. The proposed budget prepared by staff cut all non -mandates city services including the deputy clerk position, city events, warming house staffing, park and rec programming, and the city newsletter. Even with these cuts, the budget gap for 2012 was $34,000 and $163,000 for 2013. The Council discussed the options available to the City in the long -run including consolidation, reduction in public safety services, a municipal liquor store to generate revenue, and selling of assets. Further discussion and decision making will happen as aid cuts are finalized. There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Mac Lean moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, t` Y, I J Heather Butkows i City Administrator