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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/24/2006MINUTES OF THE LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2006 7.30 p.m. Lauderdale City 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 Cleric and Assistant to the City Administrator, Jim Bownik. Mayor Dains asked if there were additions or deletions to the agenda. Heck recommended removal of the closed session to discuss labor negotiations as he has not heard from the union since the last meeting. 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 October 10, 2006. There were none. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and council member Hawkinson seconded approval of the October 10, 2006 meeting minutes. The motion carried. Mayor Dains asked if there were any questions on the claims. There was none. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved approval of the claims in the amount of $32,432.79. Council member Christensen seconded the motion and it carried. The mayor stated this was 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. Bownik provided the council with an update on the Halloween party planning progress. He indicated they are expecting approximately 200 kids and set up for the event is happening this week. He encouraged residents to make donations of candy or money. Butkowski provided the council with an update on the work of the comprehensive plan task force. She summarized the informal interviews conducted by some of the members. She said one of the big issues seems to be housing and the related nuisance ordinance. She said the committee is looking at ideas to provide more "carrots" than "sticks" to encourage residents to clean up their property. The committee also discussed a truth in housing program and the consensus seemed to be a program such as this is not warranted at this time. The committee also discussed the need to look at the nuisance ordinance and possibly include language that addresses the appearance as well as health and safety issues. The committee will continue to look at more housing related issues at the next meeting. Bownik addressed the progress of the tennis and basketball court project. He provided a timeline that has the courts receiving the base layer of asphalt this year and the final layer and colored surface in the spring. Heck provided the council with an update on the status of the storm pond improvements at the seminary. He said a quote was received from the contractor doing the park improvements and the quote was too high and the contractor proposed to increase the height of the berm two feet instead of approximately seven inches. Heck said quotes are being sought from a couple smaller firms and a recommendation will be presented to the council at the next meeting. He stated that this is being done in conjunction with the seminary and the city agreed to improve the height of the berm if it was determined to be necessary. Heck addressed the request made by The Children's Home Society and Family Services to have no parking signs installed near the entrance and exit to their parking lot. Heck received a letter from Dave Smith, VP of Administration and Finance, that there have been a few accidents and close calls due to vehicles parking right up to the edge of the entrance/exit area. Mayor Dains stated he observed this area for a few days and noticed that while vehicles were parked very close to the driveway opening, he witnessed several vehicles leaving the lot without stopping. He said that in addition to parking restrictions, the CHS/FS should install stop signs. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved to direct staff to contact the county and request no parking signs be installed along Eustis to provide adequate visibility at the openings to CHS/FS as well as the park and ride and near the stoplights. Seconded by council member Doherty and carried with Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. Bownik presented information and quotes on furnace options for the social room. He said four companies provided information and quotes. Cashion Home services had the lowest quote for two residential furnaces at $6,835. Air conditioning would increase the cost to just over $12,000. The installation includes the coils should the council choose to install air conditioning now or at some point in the future. Bownik stated installation of the system will be done on Saturday, October 28. The council discussed the need for air conditioning and after discussion decided to forgo air conditioning at this time. Council member Christensen moved and Gill -Gerbig second the motion to accept the quote by Cashion Home Services for the installation of new furnaces for the social room. Motion carried with Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Mayor Dains all voting yes. The Council moved into the work session portion of the agenda at 8:26 p.m. George Fairbanks, Editor of the Roseville Review, was present to discuss coverage and delivery issues with the council. The council cited the removal of Lauderdale from the mast head and inconsistent delivery as major problems as well as general lack of coverage for city events. Doherty stated she didn't see the Lauderdale Halloween Party listed in the special Halloween section. Bownik stated he provided a press release two weeks ago and it was printed this week, but not as part of the special section. Mr. Fairbanks stated he would look into the masthead issue. He did not know about this or who made the decision. As for the Halloween Party issue, he said another individual handled this part of the paper and begins to assemble this section at the end of September. The council asked if Mr. Fairbanks could provide staff with the various deadlines. Mr. Fairbanks stated he would do that. The council then discussed the issue of the inconsistent delivery. Butkowski said she receives calls from residents who do not receive the paper or the paper is at the ends of driveways, in the boulevard, or in snow banks in the winter. Mr. Fairbanks said delivery issues are resolved by the circulation department. He said residents should call circulation when they do not receive the paper. He provided the number so staff can distribute it to residents. Mr. Fairbanks took a moment to introduce Adam Fletcher as the reporter who will cover the City of Lauderdale. After a bit more discussion, the council thanked Mr. Fairbanks for his time. The council then discussed the budget. Council member Doherty asked if the budget would be presented and discussed before the Truth in Taxation meeting in December. Heck stated it would. Doherty commented there were a few pages that did not match the narrative. Doherty then asked about the city's audit firm and prospects for sending out an RFP for auditing services yet this year. Council member Christensen moved to directed staff to prepare a Request for Proposals for auditing services for 2006 if it can be done and a proposal for audit services for 2007. Council member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried with Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. There being no further items to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:26 on a motion by Doherty and a second by Hawkinson.