Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2010/12/13 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW go RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOT Regular Meeting December 13, 2010 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:01 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Flaherty, Stigney, Hull, Mueller, Gunn. NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, December 13, 2010, City Council Agenda. City Administrator Ericson requested Item 7H be discussed after Item 713 to address the Select Senior Living. The Council was in favor of this suggestion. MOTION /SECOND: Mueller /Hull. To Approve the Monday, December 13, 2010, agenda as amended. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Brian Amundsen, 3048 Wooddale Drive, thanked the public works department for clearing the City from the recent storm. He explained a great number of fire hydrants were buried by snow banks and requested that residents clear a path in case of a fire emergency. Mayor Flaherty thanked Mr. Amundsen for his comments and also thanked the public works crew for their cleanup efforts. Finance Director Beer requested that homeowners keep their natural gas meters free and clear of snow as well. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 3 need an additional two months to fill this position. Mayor Flaherty indicated he would be in favor of reducing the levy to 2% due to the reductions found in the budget over the last several weeks. AMENDMENT MOTION /SECOND: Flaherty/Hull. To increase the tax levy by 2 Council Member Hull questioned how much the tax levy increase would impact the average house in Mounds View. Finance Director Beer explained the impact would amount to approximately $20 for the average household. Council Member Mueller indicated the contingency fund was eliminated with the 2011 budget. The recent snow event would draw from these funds in 2010. She questioned how the City would be affected if this continued into 2011. Finance Director Beer indicated the City has drawn from the contingency fund in the past. However, with this fund being eliminated, staff would bring forward a resolution to request a fund transfer. Council Member Mueller requested further information from staff on the number of hours worked by the public works department to clear the streets and parks after a major snow storm. Public Works Director DeBar estimated his staff spent 70+ hours clearing streets and parking lots and another 40+ hours in the parks. Mayor Flaherty recommended the 2% levy increase over the 3% levy increase due to the fact that the City has recognized savings since originally discussing the preliminary budget in September. Council Member Stigney questioned if the 2% levy increase could be sustained. He felt the Council should be working harder to make reductions to assure that the decreases can be sustained into the future. The Council could then work to further reduce the costs to the City while utilizing the levy reduction fund. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Stigney: To increase the tax levy 0 The friendly amendment failed for lack of a second. Council Member Gunn questioned if the 2% tax levy was acceptable to staff. Finance Director Beer indicated the goals of the Council should be reflected upon. The State had a $6.2 billion deficit and additional market value homestead credits could be lost. However, the Council was very diligent on spending. Council Member Stigney stated he would support the motion for a 2% tax levy increase and not the originally suggested 3% tax levy increase. AMENDED MOTION VOTE: Ayes 5 Nays 0 Amendment carried. Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 5 H. Resolution 7717, Relating to Issuance of the City's Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds (Select Senior Living of Mounds View Project), Series 2010 as Temporary Bonds and Authorizing the Issuance of Multifamily Housing Revenue Refunding Bonds (Select Senior Living of Mounds View Project), Series 2011 and the Execution of Various Related Documents. Finance Director Beer explained the Council began the bonding process with Select Senior Living in July by passing Resolution 7672 which authorized the issuance of housing revenue bonds. At this time, Select Senior Living was requesting temporary bonds which would allow the market place to clear the over abundance of revenue bonds. Staff recommended approval of the resolution as submitted. Scott McLendan, Oppenheimer, explained Select Senior Living was facing several concerns with the timing of this bond issuance. The market was flooded with housing revenue bonds at this time due to the Build America Program. These excess bonds have created a glut in the market which needed to clear before a favorable bond rate could be guaranteed. The temporary issuance of the $14 million in bonds was a positive option for the developer to continue with the project. He indicated the bonds would then be refunded at a more favorable rate in the near future. Mr. McLendan further reviewed bond market specifications with the Council. Council Member Mueller questioned if the stock market had any bearing on the bond rating. Mr. McLendan stated the stock market had no effect on the bond rating but when there was more confidence on the stock market, funds moved from bonds to stocks. Council Member Mueller asked what impact an extension of the Build America bonds would have on the proposed housing revenue bonds. Mr. McLendan indicated he did not anticipate an extension of the program. However, there was always a chance and if extended more issuers would be moving to the bond market during third and fourth quarter of 2011. Council Member Mueller questioned if the City was at any additional risk by issuing temporary bonds that would then need to be refunded in the future. Mr. McLendan stated there was no more risk than the original request to issue bonds as Mounds View was acting as the conduit and was not fiduciarily responsible for these bonds. Jenny Bolton, Kennedy Graven, agreed there was no difference in this bond issuance as the borrower was responsible for the payments on these bonds. Council Member Hull asked why the request was before the Council and if the project was still on schedule. Joe Larson, Select Senior Living developer, explained the bond allocation was due tomorrow at noon and if not completed the project would be done. Mayor Flaherty questioned if Oppenheimer was underwriting the temporary bonds. Mr. McLendan stated a private purchaser was funding the entire $14 million in temporary bonds. Mayor Flaherty commended Mr. Larson for working so diligently on this project. He felt the project would greatly benefit the City of Mounds View. Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 7 Council Member Mueller understood the 12 hour shift rotation was allowing for a reduction in the budget. She indicated the sergeant would provide additional supervisory hours and would benefit the City greatly. Ayes 4 Nays 0 Abstain 1 Stigney) Motion carried. D. Resolution 7711, Approving the 2011 Recycling Grant Request to Ramsey County. City Administrator Ericson requested the Council approve the Ramsey County Recycling Grant for 2011. He reviewed the grant application stating the City was requesting $26,000 to assist with subsidizing expenses to the City. Additional discounts could be offered to the residents on clean-up days if the grant is approved. Council Member Mueller questioned if the deadline date had passed for the grant application. City Administrator Ericson stated the City was still within the proper timeline. Council Member Stigney asked if ads in Mounds View Matters could be paid for through these grant funds. City Administrator Ericson indicated clean -up events could be posted in the Sun Times or Star Tribune through the grant. MOTION /SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7711, Approving the 2011 Recycling Grant Request to Ramsey County. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. E. Resolution 7710, Setting the 2011 City Council Meeting Dates, Staff Retreat, and the 2011 Town Hall Meeting. City Administrator Ericson reviewed the 2011 City Council meeting date schedule with the Council, along with the staff retreat and 2011 town hall meeting. The Town Hall meeting could be held at City Hall or the Community Center. The Council would need to determine a date for that meeting. He requested the Council approve the meeting schedule as submitted. Council Member Gunn suggested the April meeting date be avoided as this was the Monday between Palm Sunday and Easter, as this may be the same week as spring break. She requested March 21 be chosen for the Town Hall meeting date. City Administrator Ericson noted spring break was the week of March 14 Mayor Flaherty commented he was more in favor of the April date as this may bring in a larger crowd, as the weather would be warmer. City Administrator Ericson indicated either date would have scheduling conflicts. The Council was in favor of holding the Town Hall meeting on April 18 th it Member Hull requested the staff retreat be scheduled on a Tuesday evening. Council q Y The g Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 9 several well buildings, along with a complete replacement of the Community Center roof. The estimated expense for the recommended roof replacements is $339,720. He recommended the Council proceed with the roof replacements and authorize INSPEC to design and preparing bidding documents. The City had $250,000 in the 2011 budget for the roof replacements. While the numbers were off by $90,000, staff felt INSPEC's preliminary numbers were quite high. Council Member Hull asked what would happen if the bids come in over $250,000. Public Works Director DeBar stated he would have to work with Finance Director Beer after receiving the plans and specifications from INSPEC. Council Member Mueller questioned if staff could complete the plans and specifications in- house. Public Works Director DeBar indicated the consulting costs were necessary as this was a public bid item. He noted there were not a lot of firms that complete this type of work. Council Member Stigney asked what the 20 year warranty covered for the roof replacement. Public Works Director DeBar explained the 60 mm membrane would have a 20 year warranty. He indicated he could provide the Council with further information within the design plans. Mayor Flaherty clarified that the City had $250,000 for this project in total and not just for City Hall. He questioned if the water tower revitalization surplus could be used on this project. Finance Director Beer indicated the funds to cover the water tower revitalization expense were from water funds and could only be used for the roof replacements on the wells. Public Works Director DeBar reiterated that this would be a public bid and the climate was highly competitive at this time. If the bids returned over and above $250,000 the Council could revisit the options or bid alternates of the project. Mr. Amundsen expressed concern with INSPEC bidding highly on these items. He questioned if the roof life would be longer than 20 years and if any of the roofs currently had a warranty. Public Works Director DeBar indicated bids typically had an inflated estimate as this would allow the numbers to come down in final design. He indicated the Community Center had a 10 year life and the 10 years had elapsed. Staff had confidence in INSPEC and their ability to complete the work on behalf of the City. MOTION /SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7713, Authorizing INSPEC, Inc. to Design and Prepare Bidding Documents for 2011 City Roof Replacement Projects. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. I. Resolution 7716, Amending the City of Mounds View Personnel Manual. City Administrator Ericson noted he spoke with the League of Minnesota Cities and the League recommended some disclaimer language be added to the personnel manual. The City had some language within the introductory paragraphs, but the proposed resolution would amend the personnel manual to meet the League's specifications as well as City Code. He reviewed the Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 11 Council Member Stigney questioned what fund would cover the mailing expense of the Mounds View Matters. City Administrator Ericson stated the general fund would cover this expense unless a grant was approved. He indicated the City hoped to reduce the printing costs in the coming months while increasing revenues through ads. Council Member Stigney suggested the City further investigate the option of emailing the newsletter to the City's residents to further assist with printing and postage expenses. Finance Director Beer indicated this would require a charter amendment but may become the trend. MOTION /SECOND: Stigney/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7714, Approving Direct Mailing of Mounds View Matters. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 7712, Authorizing a Garbage Contract for City Buildings. Council Member Gunn asked staff for the cost of the current and proposed garbage bills. Finance Director Beer indicated the current monthly expense was $1,025. The new bill, as of February 2011, would be $932 per month. MOTION /SECOND: Gunn/Stigney. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7712, Authorizing a Garbage Contract for City Buildings. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. 9. JUST AND CORRECT CLAIMS Finance Director Beer answered the Council's questions related to claims. MOTION /SECOND: Mueller Stigney. To Approve the Just and Correct Claims as presented. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. 10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. November 8, 2010, City Council Meeting Minutes. MOTION /SECOND: Mueller /Gunn. To Approve the November 8, 2010, City Council meeting minutes as presented. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. B. November 22, 2010, City Council Minutes. Mounds View City Council December 13, 2010 Regular Meeting Page 13 Community Development Director Roberts noted the new City signs were posted at the City limits. He thanked Traffixs Graphics and the public works department for their work to post the signs. City Administrator Ericson requested the Council decide where to hold the Town Hall meeting. The Council was in favor of keeping the meeting at City Hall. MOTION /SECOND: Mueller /Gunn. To hold the 2011 Town Hall Meeting at City Hall on April 18, 2011. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion carried. C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs had no report. 12. Next Council Work Session: Monday, January 3, 2011, at 7 :00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, January 10, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.