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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/28/2010LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 September 28, 2010 Starting at 6:00 p.m., Councilors Gaasch, Hawkinson, Grove, and Mac Lean and staff members Butkowski and Bownik toured St. Anthony Village Wine and Spirits with Mike Larson, Liquor Operations Manager. He explained how municipal liquor stores differ from privately owned stores, the viability of liquor stores, and the process St. Anthony undertook to open their stores six years ago. The tour ended at 7:15 p.m. and the Council returned to Lauderdale City Hall. Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Denise Hawkinson, Roxanne Grove, 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 the claim for newsletter postage. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the September 14, 2010, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved approval of claims totaling $24,090.16 plus $450.00 for newsletter postage. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains asked if members of the public wished to address the Council. Paula Moyer, 1938 Carl Street, asked the City to pass along her thanks to the Boy Scouts for the benches at the dog park. She also thanked Councilor Mac Lean for inviting the dog park users to participate in the Day in the Park parade. Mayor Dains asked if councilors wished to remove items from the consent agenda. Councilor Hawkinson removed the PCIC minutes. Councilor Mac Lean moved the remaining consent agenda items approving a 2011 rental housing license and acknowledging the finances from June, July, and August. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Bownik explained that he had found another company capable of removing, moving, and reinstalling the playground equipment. MN/WI Playground quoted $13,988 and Koolmo Construction quoted $13,800. He also noted that the PCIC provided feedback on the proposal to move the playground equipment to the Ione/Walnut Park. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Fall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 Mayor Dains opened the public hearing at 7:54 p.m. Dan Lange, 1725 Malvern Street, addressed the Council. He expressed concern about the age and condition of the equipment, the cost to move it, and whether the equipment would attract criminal activity. Steve Monson, 1703 Malvern Street, doesn't want to see an increase in alley traffic. He also asked that the park area be plowed for parking during snow events. The public hearing was closed at 8:05 p.m. Mayor Dains opened the floor for council discussion. Councilors expressed concerns similar to those mentioned during the public hearing, but also noted the desire to develop the park in some way. The discussion then focused on whether a smaller portion of the play equipment could be moved to save money and leave more open space. Councilor Mac Lean moved to direct staff to get quotes for moving the "southern" portion of the playground equipment. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Butkowski presented financial information on the sanitary sewer system. The Council raised sewer rates last year; they previously had not been raised since 2003. A 2.5% increase would cover the anticipated costs for 2011 but would not allow the Council to put money aside for future construction projects. The Council settled on a sanitary sewer increase of 7.5% for 2011, an increase of $3.39 per quarter per residential property. Staff will bring back a resolution for adoption at the next meeting. Butkowski presented financial information on the storm sewer system. The City has been tracking the operational costs of the sanitary sewer system separately from the capital improvement fund since 2008. Over time, the operational costs have increased due to requirements of the City's storm sewer permit. The Council raised sewer rates last year; they previously had not been raised since 2003. Two years of 15% increases are required to reach a point where the Council may begin setting aside funds for infrastructure improvements. The Council settled on a storm sewer increase of 12.5% for 2011, an increase of $1.03 per quarter per residential property. Staff will bring back a resolution for adoption at the next meeting. The Council reviewed an analysis of the recycling fund. The current rates continue to meet the needs of the fund due to revenue sharing. The Council did not propose and increase in the recycling rate for 2011. Staff will bring back a resolution stating as much for consideration at the next meeting. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 The Council discussed the PCIC minutes, which were removed from the consent agenda. The Mayor expressed concern over the inference that the Council had to comply with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. He reminded all that the Comprehensive Plan's goals are guidelines, not mandates. Councilor Hawkinson suggested that the Day in the Park parade be moved to a week night with post signs along the route to encourage more parade watchers and create a buzz for Day in the Park. She also asked about a replacement banner for Day in the Park. Butkowski reviewed the preliminary agenda for the next meeting, which included a review of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), playground quotes, and a liquor store discussion. Since the Mayor was unable to attend the tour at St. Anthony Village Wine and Spirits, he asked for a summary. Councilors said they learned more about the need for a good manager along with a suitable location for a municipal liquor store. Butkowski said she would follow up with marketing consultants to see if they would attend a council meeting to help determine how to identify suitable locations for a store. 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 9:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 17 Heather Butkowski City Administrator