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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2015/04/13PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting April 13, 2015 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:00 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, April 13, 2015, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Approve the Monday, April 13, 2015, agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Deb Nygaard, 5084 Long Lake Road, presented the Council with a handout. She noted that she has had chickens in her backyard for the past 16 years and requested the Council allow this to continue. She indicated that her neighbors all supported her chickens. She explained that 24 communities in the metro area were now allowing chickens. She commented that both of her boys have autism and since going organic her boys no longer require any medication. She encouraged the Council to create a subcommittee and to reconsider their stance on chickens. Council Member Mueller thanked Ms. Nygaard for bringing her concerns to the Council. Mayor Flaherty asked how many fowl Ms. Nygaard had at this time. Ms. Nygaard explained she had four chickens and four ducks. Mayor Flaherty questioned if the Council wanted to discuss this topic further at a future worksession meeting. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 2 Council Member Meehlhause was not in favor of pursuing chickens further. Council Member Hull and Council Member Mueller were interested in discussing chickens. Council Member Gunn discussed the fowl activity at Irondale High School. She believed there was a great advantage to having fresh produce and would gladly revisit this topic. She commented that there was a need for more beehives as well. Mayor Flaherty requested staff place this topic on a future worksession agenda. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Audit Presentation, Aaron Nielsen, CPA, Principal at MMKR Certified Public Accountants (verbal report) Aaron Nielsen, CPA with MMKR, reviewed the 2014 audit with the Council. He reported the City was issued an unmodified opinion, which meant the financial statement was fairly presented as of December 31, 2014. He noted there was a lack of segregation of duties but understood this was due to the size of the City. He provided comment on the City’s tax capacity. He discussed the City’s fund balances and revenues changes. He provided an overview on the utility operations for the previous year and commended the City on its financial efforts. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the City’s water revenue was down due to the late spring. Finance Director Beer believed that the City was down 40 million gallons of water last year due to the late spring. Mayor Flaherty thanked Mr. Nielsen for his presentation and Finance Director Beer for his efforts on behalf of the City. B. Arbor Day Proclamation Mayor Flaherty read a proclamation declaring Friday, April 24, 2015 as Arbor Day in the City of Mounds View. He encouraged the residents of the City to take part in Arbor Day celebrations. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Resolution 8389, Appointing MMKR to Provide Auditing Services for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017. Finance Director Beer requested the Council consider a three-year extension of the City’s auditing contract by appointing MMKR to provide their services for 2015, 2016 and 2017. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8389, Appointing MMKR to Provide Auditing Services for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 3 Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 8372, Adopting a Special Assessment Levy for a Private Sewer Improvement at 8130 Edgewood Drive. Finance Director Beer explained that last summer there was a sewer line break at 8130 Edgewood Drive. The property owner signed a waiver of assessment, which allowed the City to make the repair. In the interim, the property owner filed a claim against the City and the insurance company had denied their claim. Finance Director Beer recommended that the Council adopt the 10-year special assessment, which would have a 5% interest rate and $35 administrative fee for the private sewer improvements at 8310 Edgewood Drive. Peter Slabiak, 8310 Edgewood Drive, thanked the Council for allowing him to voice his concerns. He explained that the entire assessment process has been a learning experience for him. He indicated that the initial estimate for the repairs was $4,000 to $7,000. He noted that the repairs came in at $12,600. This did not sit well with him due to the fact dewatering had to occur in order for the contractors to complete the work. He questioned why the dewatering expense was not written into the initial estimate as this may have led him to seek additional quotes for the work. Mayor Flaherty asked if the paper he signed had the initial estimate amount on it. Mr. Slabiak reported that the agreement he signed for improvements in the public right of way, the City estimated the expense to be $4,000 to 7,000. Mayor Flaherty reviewed the findings from the League of Minnesota Cities noting that the City was not negligent with regard to this case. He discussed how the Council was charged with spending the people’s money noting he would struggle with spending City funds on this assessment as the improvements provided personal gain to the Slabiak’s alone. He apologized that this happened to the Slabiak’s and that the sewer problem was worse than originally anticipated. Mr. Slabiak responded that he was an active member of the community and believed he was a benefit to the neighborhood as he has been rehabbing a rundown home. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the Slabiak’s pursued another vendor to complete the sewer repair. Mr. Slabiak indicated that he had spoken to other vendors, but there was a delay in getting a contractor on site to complete the work and he was told by the City to make the fix immediately. Council Member Meehlhause reported that if the Slabiak’s had hired a vendor to complete this work, it would have been on the homeowner’s dime and would not be assessed over 10 years. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 4 Mr. Slabiak asked if there was some sort of compromise that would be reached given the fact the dewatering expense was left off the original estimated expense. Mayor Flaherty apologized for the situation but stated there was nothing the City could do at this time. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8372, Adopting a Special Assessment Levy for a Private Sewer Improvement at 8130 Edgewood Drive. Council Member Hull asked if the City could split the difference and cover $5,000 of the expense. City Administrator Ericson reported that the findings on this case proved that the City was not negligent and therefore was not responsible for the expense of the repairs. Mr. Slabiak expressed frustration with the City and discussed a recent sewer line repair that was made at an apartment complex. He questioned why the City assisted in this instance but was not willing to help him. Mayor Flaherty apologized again but stated that the City was not able to help in this case. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 8392, Approving the Purchase of One 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicle and Setup Costs. Police Chief Kinney requested the Council approve the purchase of a 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicle with setup costs. He reported that the Police Department had $65,000 budgeted for vehicle purchases in 2015. He noted that a 2009 Crown Victoria would be replaced with the new vehicle. He explained that the base price of the vehicle was $26,000 and the set up costs were $9,400. Mayor Flaherty asked why the 2008 Crown Victoria wasn’t being replaced. Police Chief Kinney commented that this vehicle had fewer miles than the 2009 Crown Victoria. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8392, Approving the Purchase of One 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicle and Setup Costs. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 8393, Awarding a Construction Contract to Northwest Asphalt, Inc. for the 2015 Street and Utility Improvement Project – Area H. Interim Public Works Director Peterson reviewed the bids received for Area H of the 2015 Street and Utility Improvement Project. He discussed the bid amounts and noted Northwest Asphalt submitted the low bid of $3,186,557. He explained that the City had a good working relationship with this company and recommended the Council award the construction contract for Area H to Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 5 Northwest Asphalt, Inc. It was suggested the Council include a 3% contingency for this project. Mayor Flaherty questioned what the original estimate was for Area H. Interim Public Works Director Peterson explained that the engineer’s estimate was around $3.3 million. Finance Director Beer suggested the Braun Intertec fees be reviewed as the amount differed between the staff report and the Resolution. Interim Public Works Director Peterson provided the Council with the correct number. Council Member Gunn requested the bid amounts be reviewed by staff. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8393, Awarding a Construction Contract to Northwest Asphalt, Inc. for the 2015 Street and Utility Improvement Project – Area H as amended. Council Member Meehlhause noted Area H included a sidewalk along Groveland Road. Council Member Mueller was disappointed that the Council did not hear the voice of the residents within project Area H. Ayes – 4 Nays – 1 (Mueller) Motion carried. E. Resolution 8395, Approving the Revocation of MSAS Streets. Interim Public Works Director Peterson stated each year the City submits MSA mileage needs. The state then audits these forms and repots back to the City. After review of the City’s mileage, it appears that Mounds View is over on its MSA funding by 1.33 miles. He stated that all streets were reviewed by the City with the assistance of Stantec. He reported that City staff contacted the State to see what its options were and the City was told it would need to give back roads, preferably that have not been constructed in the last 19 years. Interim Public Works Director Peterson recommended that the following roads be revoked as MSA streets: Woodale Drive - Edgewood to Quincy Street Quincy Street - Woodale Drive to County Road H2 Bronson Drive - Edgewood Drive to Quincy Street Jackson Drive - County Road I to Hillview Road Interim Public Works Director Peterson discussed the payback expense that would be required from the City to the State, noting the funding would be taken from future payouts. Staff recommended that the Council adopt a Resolution approving the revocation of MSA Streets. Council Member Meehlhause asked when the State would take back their funds from the City. Interim Public Works Director Peterson explained that this may affect funding in 2016, but noted Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 6 the reimbursement would be made incrementally and would not be taken all at once. Mayor Flaherty asked if the City took MSA funds for these proposed routes. Interim Public Works Director Peterson stated the City has not received funding for these proposed routes in the past 20 years. Finance Director Beer noted that the City received roughly $325,000 in funding from the State each year for MSA streets. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8395, Approving the Revocation of MSAS Streets. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. F. Resolution 8396, Approving Bid Documents and Authorizing Advertisement of Bids for the Silver View Park Trail Rehabilitation Project. Project Coordinator Stenglein explained Silver View Park Trail was originally constructed around the pond in wood chips. The trail was converted to asphalt in 1993. The specifications for this trail required an eight-foot wide trail with four inches of aggregate base. He reported that this trail has failed due to environmental degradation, poor soil conditions and was in need of rehabilitation. Project Coordinator Stenglein indicated that in September of 2014, geotechnical samples were taken along the trail and it was found that organic material and wood chips were the base for the trail. AET was recommending that the trail be reconstructed with two inches of asphalt and eight inches of base material. He noted that Bolton & Menk met with AET to discuss the use of the trail. Project Coordinator Stenglein reported that staff has been working with Bolton & Menk to finalize the specifications for the trail. He noted that the project was anticipated to cost over $100,000, which would require the public bidding process. Staff recommended that the Council approve the bid documents and authorize staff to advertise for bids for Silver View Park Trail rehabilitation project. Mayor Flaherty asked how much the City budgeted for this project. Project Coordinator Stenglein explained that the Council budgeted $150,000 in 2015 for the trail rehabilitation. He indicated the estimate for the project was approximately $340,000. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8396, Approving Bid Documents and Authorizing Advertisement of Bids for the Silver View Park Trail Rehabilitation Project. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 7 G. Resolution 8397, Approving a Construction Contract with Cities Masonry Restoration, Inc. for the 2015 Masonry Restoration at 2MG Reservoir, Well House No. 2 and Booster Station Project. Project Coordinator Stenglein explained the City established an exterior wall management plan, which includes City and park facilities. He reported the exterior of the reservoir, well house No. 2 and the booster station all had cracks and were in need of replacement or repair. He reported that City staff sent out bid documents for this project and six bids were received from qualified masonry contractors. Staff recommended that the Council approve the low bid, submitted by Cities Masonry Restoration, Inc. in the amount of $122,600 plus a 10% contingency. It was noted that after the construction contract was approved, work was estimated to begin on this project in May of 2015. Mayor Flaherty was pleased that the work would be completed prior to Festival in the Park. He requested that the grass surrounding the reservoir, well house, and booster station not be destroyed. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8397, Approving a Construction Contract with Cities Masonry Restoration, Inc. for the 2015 Masonry Restoration at 2MG Reservoir, Well House No. 2 and Booster Station Project. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 8. CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Gunn asked to remove Items 8A and 8B. A. Resolution 8390, Accepting a Donation from Bethlehem Baptist Church and Authorizing the Redistribution of Funds. B. Resolution 8391, Accepting the Twin Cities Gateway 2015 Member City Marketing Grant. C. Resolution 8394, Approving the Purchase of Grouped Mailbox Supplies for the 2015 Street and Utility Improvement Project – Area H. D. Set a Public Hearing for Monday, April 27, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. for the Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 899, Amending the Mounds View Zoning Code to Allow Columbaria on Properties owned by Religious Institutions. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Mueller. To Approve the Consent Agenda as amended removing Items 8A and 8B. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. A. Resolution 8390, Accepting a Donation from Bethlehem Baptist Church and Authorizing the Redistribution of Funds. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 8 Council Member Gunn requested staff provide comment on how the donation from Bethlehem Baptist would be distributed this year. City Administrator Ericson explained that after much discussion, funding would be provided to the Safe Afterschool Programs for Youth, Music in the Park, the Annual Y Campaign, Tree Replacement Project, two Mobile Dental Clinics and for the Silver View Park Shelter project. He reported that all together a donation in the amount of $15,542.50 was being made to the City. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8390, Accepting a Donation from Bethlehem Baptist Church and Authorizing the Redistribution of Funds. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 8391, Accepting the Twin Cities Gateway 2015 Member City Marketing Grant. Council Member Gunn noted the City would be receiving a grant from Twin Cities Gateway in the amount of $6,504, which could be used to market the City of Mounds View. She commented that these funds were greatly appreciated and would be used to promote the Festival in the Park. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 8391, Accepting the Twin Cities Gateway 2015 Member City Marketing Grant. Council Member Mueller believed that attendance at Festival in the Park has increased due to the advertising that was conducted each year. Council Member Meehlhause thanked the City for allowing the Festival in the Park Committee to use these funds to advertise the Festival. 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/Meehlhause. To Approve the Just and Correct Claims as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 10. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 9 11. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Mueller reported the Ramsey County Dispatch Policy Committee would meet again on Wednesday, May 6th. She believed that the new CAD system was working well for the County, along with the new records management system. Council Member Mueller noted the Minnesota Women in City Government held a luncheon on March 27th where Kathleen O’Brien was the guest speaker. She explained the group would meet again in June at the League of Minnesota Cities Conference. Council Member Mueller stated the Ramsey County League of Local Government met recently and discussed railroad safety. She noted this meeting was very well attended by local officials. Council Member Mueller discussed the recent forum held at the Anoka County Airport. She invited the public to participate in Discover Aviation Days at the Anoka County Airport on May 30thand May 31st. Council Member Mueller thanked staff for coordinating the active shooter training at City Hall, which was attended by the Council and City staff on April 2nd. Council Member Mueller noted there would be a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Bel Rae Senior Living on May 11th. She was pleased to report that 25% of the new building was already reserved and residents would begin moving in next week. Council Member Mueller explained that the Festival in the Park Committee was still seeking volunteers to assist in planning this year’s event. The committee would meet again on April 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Council Member Meehlhause stated he would be attending a Northeast Youth and Family Services Personnel Committee meeting on Wednesday. Mayor Flaherty reported the New Brighton Area Historical Society would be holding its Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 23rd at the New Brighton Community Center at 1:00 p.m. Mayor Flaherty stated that CTV would be holding an Open House on Monday, April 27th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. to discuss What’s New at CTV. B. Reports of Staff. 1. Five Year Financial Plan Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Schedule Finance Director Beer reviewed the five-year financial vehicle and equipment replacement schedule with the Council. He explained that this was a required document for the Council to Mounds View City Council April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 10 have in place for budgeting purposes. He noted that the full five-year plan would be further reviewed by the Council in May. C. Reports of City Attorney. There was nothing additional to report. 12. Next Council Work Session: Monday, May 4, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, April 27, 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.