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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2014/02/10PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 10, 2014 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, Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, February 10, 2014, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the Monday, February 10, 2014, agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Kenneth Leason, 116 96th Lane NE in Blaine, explained he wanted to bring a civil claim against the City of Mounds View. He believed the City has misappropriated utility funds. Finance Director Beer recommended these comments be directed to the City’s Attorney. Mayor Flaherty asked Mr. Leason to cease speaking and contact the City Attorney. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Presentation by Representative Barb Yarusso Representative Barb Yarusso presented the Council with information from the Legislature. She discussed the items that had been discussed by the legislature over the past year, including the sales tax exemption and increases to LGA. She reported a bonding request was made for the roadway improvements around TCAAP, which benefit traffic in and around the City of Mounds View. Further discussion ensued regarding the traffic issues along Highway 10. She asked for comments or questions from the Council. Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 2 Council Member Meehlhause requested further information on the street improvement district. Representative Yarusso discussed how the proposed street improvement districts would impact townhome developments with private roadways. Council Member Meehlhause recommended the County Road 10 roadway be renamed and the signs be changed out by MnDOT when work was completed on County Road H. Mayor Flaherty agreed stating the surrounding communities have come together and have come to agreement on a new name for County Road 10. Council Member Mueller questioned what committees Representative Yarusso served on. Representative Yarusso noted she served on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the K-12 Education Committee and the Civil Law Committee. She further discussed the issues that each of these committees would be addressing in 2014. Mayor Flaherty asked how the State’s surplus would be utilized. Representative Yarusso indicated there were several competing ideas on how the surplus would be used. One option would be to reduce business taxes. Other options include a cost of living increase to personal care attendants or increased funding to transportation. Finance Director Beer discussed the new sales tax exemption law passed by the State indicating there were still issues that needed to be resolved. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Resolution 8212, Authorizing the Advertisement for a Part Time Economic Development Specialist Position. City Administrator Ericson recalled that the City’s Economic Development Specialist recently resigned her position. He explained the job description for this position had been revised by staff. He requested the Council authorize staff to advertise for a part time Economic Development Specialist. Council Member Mueller recommended staff note within the Resolution that this position was originally full time to ensure that future Council’s are made aware that this position could shift from part time to full time in the future, if the need were to arise. She wanted to be assured that the City was properly staffed. Council Member Gunn understood this concern, however she did not want potential candidates believing it was a guarantee that this position will go full time. She recommended the job description and Resolution remain as submitted by staff. Mayor Flaherty agreed. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8212, Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 3 Authorizing the Advertisement for a Part Time Economic Development Specialist Position. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 8213, Approving Bidding Documents and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for 2014 Street and Utility Improvement Project - Area G. Public Works Director DeBar stated that the Street and Utility Improvement Project slated for 2014 was for Area G. He reported Stantec completed the construction plans. The total estimated cost for Area G is $2,047,300, with $436,300 of this expense covered by MSA for Ardan Avenue. He discussed the metro transit route along Ardan Avenue suggesting the Council consider a sidewalk along this roadway given the level of pedestrian traffic. He reviewed the utility improvements that would be included in the project. He further discussed the portion of the City that would be included in this project and requested the Council approve the bidding documents and authorize advertisement for bids. Staff hoped to have the project open for bidding by March 12th. Council Member Mueller asked if the Streets and Utility Committee supported a sidewalk along Ardan Avenue. She recalled that a sidewalk was not recommended. Public Works Director DeBar stated several of the homes along Ardan Avenue were very close to the right-of-way and this was the main concern. He explained this was an important corridor in the Comprehensive Plan. He reported an additional public feedback meeting could be held if the Council wanted to include a sidewalk along Ardan Avenue. Council Member Gunn questioned which side of the street the sidewalk would be located on. Public Works Director DeBar recommended the sidewalk be located on the north side of Ardan Avenue. He reviewed the proposed layout for the roadway noting a five foot bicycle lane and sidewalk would be on the north side of Ardan Avenue, with a parking lane on the south. Council Member Mueller expressed concern with the need for bicycle traffic to navigate safely through the Long Lake Trail System in the City to get to the Long Lake Regional Park. She understood that a great deal of pedestrian and bicycle traffic used Ardan Avenue to get from one park to another in Mounds View. Council Member Gunn supported the multi-use lane but not the addition of a sidewalk as this would negatively impact several homeowners. Council Member Meehlhause suggested the 14 homeowners on the north side of Ardan Avenue be contacted to discuss the potential of a sidewalk. Mayor Flaherty agreed with this suggestion. He recommended the Council approve the bidding documents, but that the previous discussions by the Council and Street and Utility Commission regarding Ardan Avenue be forwarded to the Council before making a final decision on the sidewalk. Public Works Director DeBar stated this could be done noting a bid alternate may Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 4 have to be added to the bidding documents if a sidewalk were added. He commented the bid dates could be pushed back if an alternate was added to the bidding documents. Mayor Flaherty questioned how much a bid alternate would cost the City. Public Works Director DeBar apologized for the late notice on this item and estimated this expense to be $5,000-10,000. He discussed further how the City would go about adding a bid alternate to the bidding documents. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8213, Approving the revised Bidding Documents and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for 2014 Street and Utility Improvement Project - Area G. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 8. CONSENT AGENDA None. 9. JUST AND CORRECT CLAIMS Finance Director Beer answered the Council's questions related to claims. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Approve the Just and Correct Claims as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 27, 2014, Closed Session #1 MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Approve the January 27, 2014, Closed Session #1 meeting minutes as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. January 27, 2014, Closed Session #2 MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Approve the January 27, 2014, Closed Session #2 meeting minutes as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 11. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 5 Council Member Mueller reported the Mounds View Business Council would meet on Wednesday, February 12th at the Community Center at 7:30 a.m. She commented the Festival in the Park Committee was still seeking volunteers. The next Festival in the Park Committee meeting would be February 18, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Council Member Mueller explained that resident Lisa Ripley would be assisting the City in writing a history of Mounds View from 1976 to 2010. Interviews would be held with key residents. Those interested in assisting with this project are encouraged to contact City Hall. Council Member Meehlhause recognized the Irondale Cross Country Ski Teams. Council Member Gunn discussed an upcoming event for the Irondale Robotics Team. B. Reports of Staff. 1. Police Department Annual Report Police Chief Kinney reviewed the 2013 Police Department Annual Report with the Council. He discussed the crime statistics, noting arrests and burglaries were down, along with calls for service. He reviewed the benefits of the DARE program along with the police presence at area schools. He was proud to report that local businesses passed both their tobacco and alcohol compliance checks last year. Police Chief Kinney provided comment on the Towards Zero Deaths campaign noting the department had two saturation events each month. The program was funded by Federal dollars. He reported the K-9 unit received a PD1 certification last summer and was pleased to report that Officer Niko received a ballistics vest. He thanked the community for continuing to support the K-9 unit. Police Chief Kinney discussed the staffing changes and new hires that occurred in 2013, stating he was proud the department. He thanked each of his officers for filling in when needed and for their assistance in training the new recruits. He explained Officer Darrel Meyer received a Life Saving Award from the City of New Brighton for his assistance in resuscitating a young woman. Mayor Flaherty appreciated the gun safety classes offered in the community noting there was a large number of students enrolled each year. Council Member Gunn discussed a self defense class she attended which was taught by Officer Keckheisen. She was impressed by instruction and involvement by the girls at the class. Council Member Meehlhause questioned who would be stepping into the School Resource Officer position. Police Chief Kinney explained that Officer Knitter has served as the SRO for six years and would be returning to patrol. The department would be seeking a patrol officer that was interested in serving in this capacity. Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 6 Council Member Mueller thanked Police Chief Kinney for his thorough report. She questioned what challenges the department would be facing in 2014. Police Chief Kinney stated training, education and the stability of his staff would be key in 2014. In addition, the department would hope to advance an officer to sergeant. Mayor Flaherty requested further information on the license plate readers with regard to data privacy laws. Police Chief Kinney explained the department was drafting a policy noting all data collected by the readers would be kept by the Mounds View Police Department for 90 days. However, this was a hot topic and further direction may be provided by the State. 2. Review Position Description for Project Coordinator (Public Works) Public Works Director DeBar explained an Engineering Project Coordinator position was being proposed for the Public Works Department. He reviewed a drafted job description in detail with the Council and requested comments. Council Member Mueller questioned if there was anyone currently on staff that would qualify for this position. Public Works Director DeBar reported there may be one person on staff that qualified; however, he was close to retirement. Council Member Mueller asked how the City would advertise this position. Public Works Director DeBar commented the City would post the position on the League of Minnesota Cities website. Mayor Flaherty supported the position and noted it would greatly benefit the Public Works department. Public Works Director DeBar appreciated Council’s support on this position. Finance Director Beer explained he was reviewing performance measures at this time. Mayor Flaherty indicated the Council would be meeting with staff on February 11, 2014 at the Community Center from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to discuss the City’s goals and priorities for 2014. C. Reports of City Attorney. There was nothing additional to report. 12. Next Council Work Session: Monday, March 3, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 24, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. Mounds View City Council February 10, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 7 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.