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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/20063 MINUTES OF THE LA UDERDALE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006 7:30 p.rn. Lauderdale Ciiy Hall, 1891 Walnut Street Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked administrator Heck to call the roll. Council members present: Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay Christensen and Mayor Jeff Dains. Also present for the meeting: Brian B. Heck, City Administrator and Heather Butkowski, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Dains asked if there were any additions or deletions to the agenda. Mayos- Dains added discussion on the nature area and discussion on political lawn signs. Councilmember Gill -Gerbig moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by council member Doherty and carried. Mayor Dains asked if there were any comments or changes to the council meeting minutes of September 26, 2006. There were none. Council member Christensen moved and council member Hawkinson seconded approval of the September 26 meeting minutes. The motion carried. Mayor Dains asked if there were any questions on the claims. Council member Doherty questioned the rental license refunds. Butkowski explained the refunds were for a group home that is exempt from the rental housing provisions and a home owned by a resident who is currently serving in the Iraq war. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved approval of the claims in the amount of $84,846.55 Council member Christensen seconded the motion and it carried. The mayor stated this is the time established for members of the public to address the council with issues not present on the agenda. There being none, the meeting continued. Mayor Dains asked if there were items members of the council wished to remove from the consent agenda: Mayor Dains removed approval of the planning agreement with Don Brauer and Associates. Council members Doherty and Hawkinson provided an update on the progress of planning the annual city Halloween party. The party will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and there will be games, food, and candy for all who attend. It is free and the city is looking for donations to make the party a success. Mayor Dains stated a couple of residents approached him about lawn signs located in the public right of way. He indicated there are only a few and just wants the community to 4 know signs are not allowed in the right of way. After additional discussion, the council directed staff to contact those residents who have signs in the right of way if there is a complaint. Staff presented the resolution on setting an administrative fine for those landlords who do not comply with the rental housing ordinance. Staff suggested the administrative fine be set at the statutory maximum of $1,000.00. Council member Hawkinson moved Resolution #101006A Establishing an Administrative Fine of $1,000.00 for Noncompliance with the Rental Housing Licensing Ordinance. Motion seconded by council member Gill -Gerbig and carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. Heck provided a summary of the recycling contract. Council member Hawkinson commented that she would like to hear community opinion and comments before moving to weekly collection. Council member Christensen moved to extend the existing recycling contract with Eureka! for an additional two years at the same terms, conditions, and costs. Motion seconded by council member Hawkinson and carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. The council took up the issue of the proposed agreement for planning services offered by Don Brauer and Associates for anticipated work on the southwest corner of Eustis Street and Larpenteur Avenue. Mayor Dains wanted to be sure work would not begin on the project until the owners and the city had an opportunity to meet as the outcome of the meeting might alter the direction the project might take. Council member Christensen stated he did not understand the clause on billing. It was his understanding the billing would be based on a phased approach and moving from one phase to the next would be approved by the council before work is done or time is billed. Following additional discussion, the council directed staff to work with Ehlers and Associates and Don Brauer and Associates to simplify the billing and costs so all have the same understanding as to the administration of the contract. The council requested staff to bring the item back to the council for consideration at the November 14 Council meeting. Mayor Dains brought up the issue of the nature center and agreed with council member Gill -Gerbig on her assessment of the nature area not being maintained. Mayor Dains stated he felt the trails were not put in very well in the beginning and any improvements need to follow the contour of the terrain. He also asked staff to look in to the resolution adopted when the area was acquired as the mayor recalled there being restrictions on how the area could be used. Council member Gill -Gerbig stated her goal is multifold. She mentioned erosion, storm water run-off, drainage, invasive non-native species, best maintenance practices and answering the questions of what is the area for and how does the city define its use. The council discussed the update by the City Administrator. Mayor Dains commented on the vacation item and suggested the Administrator send an e-mail to the council members notifying them when he plans to be out of the office on vacation. Council member Doherty asked about the 2007 budget and if the council will have an opportunity to discuss it before the December Truth in Taxation hearing. Heck stated he would include a couple of budget documents in the Friday Report Packet and place the budget discussion on the agenda. The mayor asked that data be gathered on the cost of running a police department for a city the size of Lauderdale. The council discussed some additional supervisory issues and moved into closed session to discuss labor negotiations at 9:36 p.m. The council moved back into open session at 10:17 p.m. and adjourned on a motion by Doherty and a second by Hawkinson at 10:18 p.m.