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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/14/2006LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2006 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. and asked the Administrator to take the roll. Members present: council member Karen Gill -Gerbig; council member Karen Doherty; council member Denise Hawkinson; council member Clay Christensen; Mayor Jeff Dains. Staff Present: Brian B. Heck, City Administrator, Jim Bownik, Assistant to the Administrator and Heather Butkowski, Deputy City Clerk. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and Hawkinson seconded the approval of the Agenda with the following changes: addition of Snow'commotion update, social room complaints and removal of the police contracts from the consent. Motion carried. Council member Christensen moved and Doherty seconded approval of the January 24, 2006 City Council meeting minutes as amended. Council member Gill -Gerbig requested a change to page 2, paragraph 4 line 2 to read ", on the next business day, March 20, staff is to arrange for the trees removal as soon as practical. " Motion carried. Council member Hawkinson moved and Gill -Gerbig seconded the payment of claims totaling $67,281.92. Motion carried. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and Hawkinson seconded a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of authorization to let bids for seal coating; enter agreements for new health insurance plan; and approval of 2006 licenses for tree contractors, garbage haulers, gas stations, and tobacco. Motion carried. Administrator Bakken Heck provided the Council with information on the progress of the animal control ordinance. He stated the council has been looking at this for some time and the city attorney reviewed and placed the ordinance in the form necessary for passage. Council member Gill -Gerbig stated she will provide her comments to staff. Ordinance will be placed on the February 28 council meeting agenda for action. Bakken Heck provided information on the Xcel Energy franchise agreements. The mayor indicated this has been before the council in the past and he feels addressing the city's right of way ordinance is the best approach. He also commented on the collection of franchise fees and at this time, such a charge would not be feasible in his mind. Staff will review and revise as necessary the city's right of way ordinance. Council member Doherty asked Jim Bownik, Assistant to the Administrator, to comment on the Snow'commotion event held on January 28. Bownik informed the council the event went well, but attendance was low possibly due to the rainy weather. He stated the event lost a bit of money as well. Page 1 of 3 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2006 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL The Council thanked him for the update and also thanked all the volunteers who made the event possible. Bakken Heck provided information on the purchase of a speed cart. Bakken Heck presented information on the joint purchase of a speed cart with the cities of Falcon Heights and St. Anthony. The council commented on the distribution of the funding. The general feeling of the council is the funding needs to be more equitably based on community size, road miles, potential usage, etc. Bakken Heck will talk with Chief Ohl to ensure there is discussion about the speed cart and its effectiveness when the Chief appears before the council on March 14 to present the annual report. Bakken Heck presented the police contract for consideration by the council. At the request of Council member Doherty, this item was removed from the consent. The contract calls for 16 hours of patrol service in the city and is going from a two-year agreement to a three-year agreement. The annual increase is 5.5%. Council member Doherty moved to approve the three-year police contract for 16 hours per day with the City of St. Anthony. Council member Gill -Gerbig seconded the motion and it carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Doherty, Hawkinson, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. There being no further formal business, the council moved into work session at 8:10 p.m. Bakken Heck provided some background on the goals and objectives and the council moved through and discussed each one independently. Staff will add the comments and bring them back for final action at the February 28 meeting. Administrator Bakken Heck walked the council through the draft policy and procedures manual and answered questions posed by the council. Staff will make the changes suggested and bring it back to the council for final action at an upcoming meeting. Mayor Dains suggested the city attorney review the document with regard to the at will employment section. Council member Christensen presented a list of individuals he spoke to regarding serving on the comprehensive plan task force. The council discussed additional methods to attract new and interested residents to participate. Staff will revise the draft application and send to those who have been talked to by council members and to post notice of the task force in local media. Page 2 of 3 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 14, 2006 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL Council member Doherty raised the issue of the social room and the need to address the heating. She stated there are several groups who use the room who are very upset there is no heat in the room and she is concerned about refund requests. She also raised the issue of ants in the room. She stated if there is food on the floor, 100's of ants will appear. She feels if people and groups are paying to utilize the facility, the city needs to provide adequate facilities. Staff will research the cost to repair the furnace and ant extermination and bring it back to the council. - Motion by Doherty, second by Christensen to adjourn and carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:09 P.M. Page 3 of 3