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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/11/2007LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 4 Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Council members present: Lara Mac Lean, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay Christensen, and Mayor Dains. Mayor Dains requested adding staff recognition and market analysis for the assistant to the administrator position to the agenda. Council member Christensen moved to approve the agenda and council member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried. Council member Hawkinson moved to approve the November 27, 2007, City Council meeting minutes. Council member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried. Council member Hawkinson asked about the Port -a -potty claim for the park. Butkowski responded the vendor used to refund the City's deposit after the City paid the final invoice for the year. The credit would then carry over to the next year. This year the City withheld payment for the October bill until the refund was applied. The claim reflects the amount due after the credit was applied. Council member Doherty moved to approve the claims totaling $74,313.09. Council member Mac Lean provided the second and the motion carried. No residents addressed the Council with issues or concerns not on the agenda. Council member Christensen moved the Consent Agenda establishing the 2008 Council meeting schedule, adopting the 2008 fee schedule, approving 2008 rental licenses, approving wage increase for the Assistant to the Administrator position, and acknowledging the engagement letter from Abdo, Eick, and Meyers, LLP for the 2007 Audit. Council member Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried. Mayor Dains welcomed Senator John Marty and Representative Mindy Greiling to the meeting and asked them to provide information on Trunk Highway 280. Representative Greiling told the Council she sent a letter to Commissioner and Lt. Governor Carol Molnau about the need for a sound wall along Highway 280 but she had LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 4 not yet received a response. She also told the Council she attended a meeting in St. Anthony Park on November 27 regarding their desires for sound wall improvements. Mn/DOT representatives at the St. Anthony Park meeting told Rep. Greiling that the proposed Lauderdale sound wall would not qualify for emergency funds because it would not be a temporary structure. Heck added that he spoke to Mn/DOT officials and was told the sound wall would not be included in the emergency fund request because the noise in the area is a pre-existing condition. The Mayor thanked Rep. Greiling for the update and asked Senator Marty and Rep. Greiling to provide their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Senator Marty started by saying this is the short session and the Legislature will focus primarily on the bonding bill. He anticipates the Senate will introduce a transportation bill. Senator Marty then explained his proposal for health care reform in Minnesota, which will be his primary focus this year. Rep. Greiling stated the House will work on a transportation bill and may consider the possibility of a veto override, as they were only seven votes short last session. She also indicated the bonding bill and health care were on the docket. The Council thanked Sen. Marty and Rep. Greiling for coming to the meeting. The meeting recessed for 10 minutes. The Council meeting reconvened at 8:20 p.m. Eagle Scout candidate Julio Herrera discussed with the Council his proposal to build, install and maintain wood duck and bluebird houses on City property. He described the houses and potential locations for their placement. Moved by council member Christensen to allow Julio Herrera to construct, install and maintain birdhouses on City property. Council member Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried. Mr. Herrera is to work with staff on the placement of the birdhouses. Heck outlined the final draft of the 2008 Lauderdale Budget. Heck indicated the levy will increase .13% over 2007 and total expenditures are estimated to increase 6% over 2007. Heck said existing fund balances and increased state aid will help keep the levy down. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 4 Council member Christensen moved Resolution 121107-A adopting the 2007, payable 2008 levy of $551,634 including an estimated $81,000 in fiscal disparity aid. Council member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried with Mac Lean, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Dains all voting yes. Mayor Dains recommended to the Council that staff receive a day of vacation in recognition for their dedicated work and service over the past year. The extra day is to be used before January 20, 2008, as authorized by the City Administrator. Council member Hawkinson moved to approve the recognition day for staff. Motion second by council member Mac Lean and carried. Mayor Dains asked when a market study for the Assistant to the Administrator was last completed. Heck stated he was not sure and indicated the City of Shoreview is hiring an Assistant to the Administrator and the wage range is similar to ours. Heck said he would provide market information to the Council on the position. Council Member Mac Lean asked about the Lauderdale Community Directory. She wanted to know if the directory had been mailed. Bownik addressed the Council. He stated the directory was mailed and would arrive at residents' homes sometime that week. Council members commented on the layout of the telephone directory and the print size. The Council directed staff to change the layout of the telephone directory and bring a draft to the next Council meeting for discussion on distribution of the revised directory. The Council set the agenda for the next meeting and then moved into work session at 9:06 p.m. The Council discussed the nuisance ordinance and enforcement. The discussion focused on whether enforcement should be proactive or complaint driven. Most of the comments centered on the section of the proposed ordinance relating to housing maintenance. Heck provided a brief summary of the areas of the ordinance he felt fit with proactive enforcement and those best left to complaints. Council member Christensen moved adoption of Ordinance 07-03 relating to Abandoned Vehicles. Council member Doherty seconded and the motion carried with all members voting yes. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 4 of 4 Council member Christensen moved adoption of Ordinance 07-04 relating to health and safety nuisances. Council member Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried with all members voting yes. Council member Christensen moved to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by council member Doherty and carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted Brian W. Heck City Administrator