Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/2010LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 4 January 12, 2010 Prior to the meeting, a reception was held to thank out -going city council members Clay Christensen and Karen Doherty for their years of service to the City. The Mayor called the City Council meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. City administrator Butkowski performed the swearing in of Mayor Jeff Dains and councilors Mary Gaasch and Roxanne Grove. 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. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. There being none, councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains recognized out -going council member Clay Christensen for his years of service to the City. Christensen initially served as a member of the planning and zoning committee and then as a council member. Both councilors Hawkinson and Mac Lean elaborated their appreciation for his service and what they were able to achieve together. After councilor Hawkinson read the Resolution of Commendation for Christensen, councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the commendation. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains recognized out -going council member Karen Doherty for her service to the City, initially as a member of the parks and community involvement committee and then as a council member. Both councilors Hawkinson and Mac Lean elaborated their appreciation for her service and especially her finance skills. After councilor Hawkinson read the Resolution of Commendation for Karen Doherty, councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the commendation. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The Council took a five minute break. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the December 8, 2009 City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 4 Councilor Mac Lean asked how tree trimming was handled and whether the hockey rink staff uniforms turned out well. Butkowski said this was the first tree trimming of 2009. The crew cut down three dead boulevard trees and trimmed almost all of the boulevard and park trees within the City that needed it.. She also mentioned the skating rink staff jerseys were completed. Councilor Hawkinson mentioned the rink staff wears them proudly. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $119,899.13. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains asked if members of the public wished to address the Council. Steve Monson of 1703 Malvern Street addressed the Council regarding the fence Mn/DOT placed along TH280. He noted the following concerns: the new fence is being damaged by the snow piles, the garbage trucks must back up in the alley because the corner at the southern end of the alley is too tight in winter, loss of parking spaces, and concern regarding electromagnetic flux if the fence is too close to the electrical line buried along the alley. The Mayor asked the city administrator to look into the issues. Mayor Dains asked if councilors wished to remove items from the consent agenda. Councilor Mac Lean removed item D regarding the recreation agreement with Falcon Heights. Councilor Mac Lean moved the remaining consent agenda items including: 2010 rental housing and business licenses, 2010 city council meeting schedule, 2010 official newspaper, zoning code update agreement with Bonestroo, resolution 011210A approving the 2010 depository and investment institutions, and the PCIC minutes. Councilor Hawkinson 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 2010, such as approving a commercial plan review fee for mechanical systems. Councilor Hawkinson moved to adopt Resolution 011210B adopting the 2010 fee schedule. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski discussed the city's investment policy. She said it is normally a consent agenda item but in light of the banking situation in America, she asked the councilors if they had any questions. The document would largely remain the same but allow staff to purchase more CDs as they are the among the safest investment options right now because of the FDIC insurance. Councilor Mac Lean moved to adopt the 2010 investment policy as presented. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 4 Annually, the city council selects a mayor pro tem and makes committee assignments. After discussing each position, the council made the appointments. Councilor Hawkinson moved to appoint councilor Mac Lean as the mayor pro tem and bank signatory and adopt the 2010 committee assignments as discussed. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The zoning update consultant, Tina Goodroad of Bonestroo, would like to meet with the council to begin gathering feedback for the zoning ordinance revision. She suggested meeting at 5:00 pm on January 20. Buticowski said she would email the Council to determine availability. The Council discussed the recreation agreement with the City of Falcon Heights, which was removed from the consent agenda. Councilor Mac Lean asked if this impacted Lauderdale residents' use of Falcon Heights' facilities. Buticowski said it did not; it only related to Falcon Heights' use of Lauderdale facilities for running recreation programs. Councilor Mac Lean moved approval of the recreation agreement with the City of Falcon Heights. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for the next meeting, which included: 2010 bond payments and gas station licenses. 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 said the police chief asked city staff whether they wanted to ticket during the Christmas snow event. The Mayor asked what the councilors' thoughts were should the event happen again. The council thought ticketing should happen as usual as unplowed roads become a frustration in the long run. Mayor Dains recused himself from the union contract discussion and left the room. Mayor pro tem Mac Lean said the city council was moving into a closed session to discuss union contract negotiation strategies, time being 9:08 p.m. Mayor pro tem Mac Lean resumed the regularly scheduled council meeting at 9:49 p.m. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 4 of 4 There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Heather Butkowski City Administrator