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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2015/02/09PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 9, 2015 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 9, 2015, City Council Agenda. Council Member Mueller requested the Council Business Items be addressed in the following order: Item A, Item C, Item E, Item B, and Item D. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the Monday, February 9, 2015, agenda as amended. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT None. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. 7:00 p.m. Public Hearing – Resolution 8374, A Resolution to Consider a Residential Kennel License located at 7768 Woodlawn Drive. Assistant City Administrator Crane stated Diane and Rachel Roland live at 7768 Woodlawn Drive and currently own two dogs. The homeowners are interested in rescuing a third dog and are in need of a kennel license. Staff visited the property and found no violations. For this Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 2 reason, staff recommended the Council hold a public hearing, take comments and approve the residential kennel license, contingent on the rescue dog being licensed with the City of Mounds View. Mayor Flaherty opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Hearing no public input, Mayor Flaherty closed the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. Council Member Hull asked if the property has had any dog complaints. Assistant City Administrator Crane reported the property has had no complaints or violations. Mayor Flaherty noted the property owners already owned a French bulldog and a husky mix. He asked how the two dogs got along. Diana Roland, 7768 Woodlawn Drive, explained that the two dogs got along quite well. She reported that if the dogs begin barking at the neighbor’s dog they were brought back inside. She indicated the back yard was cleaned regularly throughout the summer and fall months. Council Member Mueller questioned how long Ms. Roland has lived in Mounds View. Ms. Roland commented she has lived in Mounds View since March of 2011. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8374, A Resolution to Consider a Residential Kennel License located at 7768 Woodlawn Drive. Council Member Meehlhause discussed an email received from a neighboring property. He did not believe that the comments expressed in this email properly reflected the behaviors of Ms. Roland. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 8372, Adopting a Special Assessment Levy for a Private Sewer Improvement at 8130 Edgewood Drive. Finance Director Beer requested the Council consider adopting a special assessment levy for a private sewer improvement at 8130 Edgewood Drive. He discussed the complexity of the residential repair and explained the property owner had requested assistance from the City. Peter Slabiak, 8130 Edgewood Drive, discussed the work that took place at his home. He requested that the assessment be tabled for one month to allow him to discuss the proposed expenses with staff. Council Member Mueller asked if Mr. Slabiak recalled the expense within the original estimate. Mr. Slabiak believed that the estimate for the work ranged from $4,000 to 7,000. Finance Director Beer stated that estimate was for a standard sewer line repair; however, this property had several complications. Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 3 Council Member Hull questioned if the assessment could be tabled for one month as requested by the homeowner. Finance Director Beer did not object to tabling the matter. Mayor Flaherty believed it only appropriate to allow Mr. Slabiak to discuss the expense in further detail with staff. MOTION/SECOND: Flaherty/Meehlhause. To Table Action on the Special Assessment Levy for a Private Sewer Improvement at 8130 Edgewood Drive to the March 9, 2015 City Council meeting. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. E. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 897, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 603, Section 603.06, of the City Code Relating to Licensing Requirements for Garbage and Recycling Haulers (ROLL CALL VOTE). City Administrator Ericson stated in October of 2014 the Council overhauled the City Code regarding garbage hauling and recycling. He reported several amendments were proposed to provide a better opportunity for tracking the collection of garbage and recyclables while also creating more clear licensing requirements. However, feedback on these amendments was received from the National Waste and Recycling Association. Staff met with representatives of the licensed haulers, who expressed opposition regarding three parts of the new requirements: submission of maximum rates, reporting properties that are not recycling, and the reporting formulas on collected materials. City Administrator Ericson reviewed proposed Ordinance amendment, taking into consideration the comments from the National Waste and Recycling Association, with the Council and recommended approval. The ordinances would eliminate the need to report rates. Julie Ketchum, National Waste and Recycling Association, thanked the Council for their time. She stated her association represents haulers for both refuse and recycling in the City of Mounds View. She thanked staff for striking the language regarding rate reporting. She requested the City not require drivers to track residents that are not recycling. She discussed how safety was of the utmost concern to this industry and she did not want drivers taking their eyes off of the road. She did not want to add another distraction to the drivers. She recommended that instead the City take a positive approach to recycling and not a punitive approach. She believed this would be best for the City and its recycling program. She discussed how her company was advancing recycling efforts throughout the State of Minnesota. Mayor Flaherty questioned how drivers knew which houses to stop at each week. Doug Green, Public Services, explained the drivers had a route sheet. Mayor Flaherty inquired how Ms. Ketchum’s organization encouraged recycling among its customers. Ms. Ketchum explained that her organization was one of the leading recycling companies in the State. She then provided further comment on how her company was educating Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 4 and encouraging recycling residents while finding new and innovative ways to reuse recyclables. Mayor Flaherty stated the original intent of the City with the recycling program was just to encourage homeowners to recycle while explaining the positive benefits. Ms. Ketchum believed there was a better way to affect change than by reporting the homeowners to the City for not recycling. She suggested that she be allowed to work with the City on educational materials through flyers and mailers. Mayor Flaherty discussed feedback the City received from Ramsey County regarding the lack of reporting of recyclables in Mounds View. He questioned how this situation could improve. Ms. Ketchum indicated changes have been made at both a local and State level for reporting. She believed that homeowners were still recycling; however the weight of the material was declining due to better product packaging and engineering. Mayor Flaherty did not believe that the City would be placing a burden on the refuse haulers given the fact Ramsey County had information on every other community in the County, except for Mounds View. Somehow, recycling information was being gathered by haulers in every other community. Ms. Ketchum encouraged the City to work with her organization on recycling education materials. Mayor Flaherty recommended that the Ordinance be approved as recommended by staff and that the recorded information be reviewed by the City in six months. Council Member Gunn encouraged Ms. Ketchum to not view the recording as a violation, but rather information on who is and is not recycling on a regular basis throughout the City. Council Member Meehlhause stated that the information gathered by the drivers would assist the City in creating a list of residents that need further education material on recycling. Mayor Flaherty asked if the Code had a timeline for the reporting information. City Administrator Ericson commented that the recycling information was to be provided to the City on a monthly basis. Council Member Hull questioned what the Council would do with the information after it is gathered by the haulers. City Administrator Ericson anticipated that property owners found to not be recycling would be provided with educational information on the City’s recycling program. Mayor Flaherty believed that haulers would be able to make a determination on the customers that do and do not recycle. Council Member Mueller saw the reporting as an opportunity for the haulers to provide superior service to its customers, as it may provide the haulers with a chance to change out defective containers. She did not want to see the City at the bottom of the County’s list based on its recycling efforts. She wanted to see Mounds View achieve its recycling goals. Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 5 Mayor Flaherty was in favor of revisiting the recycling program in one year in order to reassess the situation. MOTION/SECOND: Flaherty/Meehlhause. To Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 897, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 603, Section 603.06, of the City Code Relating to Licensing Requirements for Garbage and Recycling Haulers. Council Member Mueller was in favor of revisiting this issue. She believed that the information gathered would assist the City in saving money on printing costs for educational materials that would be provided to homeowners. ROLL CALL: Gunn/Hull/Meehlhause/Mueller/Flaherty. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 8375, Approving the 2015 Public Works and Parks Seasonal Positions. Assistant City Administrator Crane discussed the process for hiring seasonal employees. She reviewed the hourly wage for new and returning seasonal employees. It was noted that seasonal employees could not work more than 119 calendar days for the City of Mounds View due to the new healthcare act. Staff requested the Council approve the hire of 10 seasonal employees for 2015. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8375, Approving the 2015 Public Works and Parks Seasonal Positions. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 8373, Setting a Public Hearing for February 23, 2015 for Mustang Drive and Mustang Circle for Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvements. Acting Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council set a Public Hearing for February 23, 2015 for the Mustang Drive and Mustang Circle Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvement project. Staff provided further comment on the improvements proposed for this project. Council Member Mueller questioned how the Mustang Drive and Mustang Circle project cost compared to other street improvements projects in the City. Christina Mlejnek, Stantec, believed this project compared quite similarly based on the scope of the project. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8373 to Set a Public Hearing for February 23, 2015 for Mustang Drive and Mustang Circle for Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 6 Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvements. Council Member Mueller asked if property owners along Mustang Drive and Mustang Circle would be notified of the public hearing scheduled for February 23rd. Acting Public Works Director Peterson stated this was the case. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 8. CONSENT AGENDA A. Resolution 8371, Authorization to Approve Animal Impoundment Contract Services with Brighton Veterinary Hospital. B. Resolution 8376, Approving a Janitorial Cleaning Contract for the City Hall/Police Facility and the Mounds View Community Center. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 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/Hull. To Approve the Just and Correct Claims as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. 11. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Mueller explained on Tuesday, February 10th at 6:00 p.m. the City Council would be having a retreat. She noted the Mounds View Business Council would be meeting on Wednesday, February 11th at 7:30 a.m. at the Community Center. Council Member Mueller indicated the Festival in the Park Committee would be meeting again on Tuesday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall and the group was still in need of volunteers. Council Member Meehlhause stated last Thursday he attended the North Suburban Cable Commission meeting for the Mayor. He explained he would be attending the NYFS Service to Youth Award Ceremony. Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 7 Council Member Meehlhause congratulated the Boys and Girls Irondale Nordic Ski Teams for their 2nd Place Finish at the sectional meet. He wished both teams well at State. Mayor Flaherty reported he recently attended a school board meeting at Snail Lake Elementary. The attendees discussed issues affecting the community. Mayor Flaherty commented he and City Administrator Ericson went to the Capitol today to support Senator Bev Scalze as she introduced Bill 276, which requested a sound wall in Mounds View adjacent to the mobile home park and Laport Meadows neighborhood. Mayor Flaherty reported that on Wednesday, February 11th at 10:30 a.m. at the local Ramsey County Library there would be Reading with the Mayor. B. Reports of Staff. 1. Police Department Annual Report. Police Chief Kinney reviewed the 2014 Police Department Annual Report with the Council. He discussed highlights from the year, noting calls for service have continued to increase. He provided comment on the number of calls to the mentally ill. He reviewed the crime trends over the past several years. He noted efforts on behalf of the Towards Zero Death campaign continue. Police Chief Kinney reported on the current hiring process and noted the list of candidates had been whittled down to two. Both were offered positions with the Mounds View Police Department, which brought the department back to its full contingent. He was pleased to report that National Night Out was a huge success again this past August, along with Festival in the Park. He thanked the Council for their support by approving the new records management system. He indicated the new system would be implemented in March of 2015. Mayor Flaherty recommended that the Police Department attend or be provided with training on how to best manage mentally ill. Police Chief Kinney anticipated that training would be held this year as funding from the State for mental illness awareness was increasing. Council Member Mueller requested further information on the LIDAR training attended by the police department. Police Chief Kinney commented this was similar training as RADAR training, except the LIDAR device was handheld. Council Member Mueller questioned if the Police Department has considered purchasing body cameras. Police Chief Kinney explained the department has one body camera at this time, but this device has had a number of technical issues. He intended to expand this operation once a decision could be made on the proper vendor. He commented that policies, data management and data privacy practices would also need to be determined. Council Member Meehlhause asked why the number of complaints for the department doubled from 2013 to 2014. Police Chief Kinney discussed the complaints received in 2014 and noted this was attributed to the increased number of calls being responded to by the Police Department. Mounds View City Council February 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 8 Council Member Meehlhause was pleased that the department was able to stay under budget in 2014. Mayor Flaherty thanked Police Chief Kinney for his report and for his dedication to this community. Finance Director Beer reported he attended an Ehlers Conference last Thursday and Friday. City Administrator Ericson stated Corbin Hilgeman recently updated the City’s history pamphlet. He thanked Mr. Hilgeman for his efforts. The Council offered Mr. Hilgeman a round of applause. C. Reports of City Attorney. There was nothing additional to report. 12. Next Council Work Session: Monday, March 2, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 23, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.