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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2020/01/27PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 27, 2020 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:12 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: Bergeron (excused). 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, January 27, 2020, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Approve the Monday, January 27, 2020, agenda as presented. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Mueller asked to remove Item 5D. A. Approval of Minutes: January 13, 2020 B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 9226, Accepting Miscellaneous Donations for 2019. D. Resolution 9228, Appoint Planning Commission Chair for 2020. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Approve the Consent Agenda as amended removing Item 5D. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 9228, Appoint Planning Commission Chair for 2020. Mayor Mueller stated the Planning Commission recommended Gary Stevenson serve as the Chair for 2020. She thanked Gary Stevenson for his dedicated service to the community. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 2 MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9228, Appoint Planning Commission Chair for 2020. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Kathie Anderson, 8370 Sunnyside Road, stated as a citizen of Mounds View she found great joy in the City having decorations for Christmas. She supported the City decorating the three large spruce trees in front of City Hall. She noted the Mounds View Lions would be interested in partially sponsoring the purchase of these lights. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Resolution 9227, Amending Section 3.20(D) of the Personnel Manual to Increase the Amount of Sick Leave Allowed to be Converted to Health Club Dues. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council amend Section 3.20(D) of the Personnel Manual to increase the amount of sick leave allowed to be converted to health club dues. He explained the current policy allows for the conversion of sick leave to cover the expense of health club dues as a part of the benefits package. He recommended the Council make this available to all employees including Police Officers and Sergeants. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9227, Amending Section 3.20(D) of the Personnel Manual to Increase the Amount of Sick Leave Allowed to be Converted to Health Club Dues. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 9221, Approving a Three Year Labor Agreement with LELS 232 Police Sergeants Effective January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2022. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a three year Labor Agreement with LELS 232 Police Sergeants effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. He discussed the negotiations that were held with the Police Sergeants noting all discussions were positive. He commented on the COLA adjustment and noted the department was in the top one-third of the departments in the State of Minnesota. He reported a rate study would be needed for the next contract. He commented on how important it was for the City to maintain its highly trained officers and sergeants. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 3 Council Member Gunn noted several grammatical changes within the Labor Agreement. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9221, Approving a Three Year Labor Agreement with LELS 232 Police Sergeants Effective January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2022. Council Member Meehlhause thanked City Administrator Zikmund and staff for working through the labor negotiations with the Police Unions. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 9220, Approving a Three Year Labor Agreement with the LELS 204 Police Patrol Effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a three year Labor Agreement with LELS 204 Police Patrol effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. He discussed the negotiations that were held with the Police Patrol and Investigators noting all discussions were positive. He commented on the COLA adjustment and noted there was a desire to convert SRO and FTO stipends. He explained a market rate study was requested and staff denied this request. However, he noted a market rate study would be required with the next contract. He reported an increase was requested for FTO and comp time for outreach. He noted this request would be further considered through an MOU. He explained the Council would be discussing this matter in further detail at a Closed Session on Monday, February 3rd. He indicated he would be meeting with the HR Committee later this week. Mayor Mueller stated she supported the Council approving the contract as submitted and looked forward to discussing the MOU matters with staff on Monday in a Closed Session meeting. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9220, Approving a Three Year Labor Agreement with the LELS 204 Police Patrol Effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Council Member Meehlhause commented on the labor agreement and recommended seniority not be the number one criteria when considering forced reductions within the Police Department. He recommended job performance be used for this measure. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 9229, Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Bidding for the 2020 Street Project. Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council approve the Plans and Specifications for authorizing bidding for the 2020 Street Project. He explained the 2020 project would include of Quincy Street from County Road H2 to County Road I along with Sherwood Place, north of Mounds View Drive. The project costs and project timeline were reviewed in further detail with Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 4 the Council. The location of the school and trail crossing was described. He commented further on the improvements that would be made and recommended approval of the Plans and Specifications and authorizing the project for bid. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the Street Improvement Fund would cover this cost. Finance Director Beer reported the City had enough funds in reserve to cover the expense of this project. Council Member Meehlhause recommended the sewer lines along Sherwood Place be slip lined. Mayor Mueller questioned if how long each of the projects would take. Public Works Director Peterson reported Sherwood Place would be completed in a day or two and Quincy Street would be a longer project. Mayor Mueller requested Quincy Street be completed or be open for use by August 20th in order to accommodate the Festival in the Park parade. Public Works Director Peterson stated he would make the contractor aware of this requirement. Finance Director Beer reported there would be no street improvement projects in 2021 as the City would be rebuilding its funds in order to complete more projects in 2022. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9229, Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Bidding for the 2020 Street Project. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. E. Resolution 9230, Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Bidding for Building Repairs at Wells 5 and 6. Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council approve the Plans and Specifications and authorize biding for building repairs at Wells 5 and 6. He reported the City was working to rehabilitate its water treatment facilities. The project timeline was described. Staff reviewed the estimated expense for the repairs with the Council and recommended approval. Mayor Mueller asked if the wells would remain in service during the repairs. Public Works Director Peterson reported the wells would remain in service and there would be no interruption in City services. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9230, Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Bidding for Building Repairs at Wells 5 and 6. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. F. Resolution 9231, Authorizing Conveyance of the City of Mounds View Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 5 Property to the Mounds View Economic Development Authority. City Attorney Riggs requested the Council authorize the conveyance of the City of Mounds View property to the Mounds View Economic Development Authority (EDA). He explained the EDA discussed this matter previously. He explained the conveyance would allow the City’s right with respect to the remnant property and the property would be properly transferred to the EDA. Mayor Mueller asked if the deed tax due on this property was $1.65. City Attorney Riggs reported this amount was correct. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9231, Authorizing Conveyance of the City of Mounds View Property to the Mounds View Economic Development Authority. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. G. Resolution 9232, Approving the Purchase of Two Portable Basketball Hoops for the Community Center. Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council approve the purchase of two portable basketball hoops for the Community Center. He explained the existing portable hoops were 15 years old and were in need of replacement. He reported the expense for two new portable hoops would be $15,749.74. Staff recommended the Council approve the purchase from BSN Sports. Finance Director Beer recommended the last “whereas” statement within the Resolution be struck. Mayor Mueller noted a typo within the Resolution and recommended a sentence be removed. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9232, Approving the Purchase of Two Portable Basketball Hoops for the Community Center. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Gunn reported the Mounds View Police Foundation would be meeting on Tuesday, February 4th. She encouraged residents to purchase their tickets for the Daddy Daughter Dance which would be held on Saturday, February 8th. Council Member Gunn explained the Festival in the Park Committee would be meeting on Tuesday, February 18th at the Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 6 Council Member Meehlhause stated he attended a Twin Cities Gateway Board of Directors meeting last week. He was pleased to report 2019 was the second best year for this organization. With this being said, he estimated the City would be receiving less in funding from Twin Cities Gateway because budgeting changes were made. He encouraged the Council Members to visit Twin Cities Gateway’s new website. Council Member Hull reported he spoke with a landlord at Landmark Estates regarding concerns he had with his rental license fee noting it increased from $1,600 to $4,500. He reported this landlord was delinquent on this fee which led to additional late fees. He questioned what the City could do to help this individual who now owed the City around $8,800. City Administrator Zikmund stated the City Council could discuss this matter at the March worksession meeting. He explained the Council discussed adjusting rental license fees last August after finding the City’s rental license fees were less than half of comparable cities. He indicated the City did not move to the top this list, but moved to be more competitive. He reported these new fees could be deeply discounted if the landlord were to participate in the crime free multi-housing program. He stated Landmark Estates fees could have been reduced to $2,200 but they did not participate in either program. He commented further on the timeline that was followed for the rental licenses. He noted this was the only large apartment complex in the City that was not in compliance. He clarified for the record there was intentional behavior on the landlord’s part to not pay the fee. He indicated the landlord had paid the fee but has not paid the late fee. Council consensus was to discuss this matter further at the March worksession meeting. Council Member Gunn questioned if Airbnb’s were included within the rental license process. City Administrator Zikmund reported Airbnb’s were not licensed in the City. He recommended the Council discuss this matter further at the March worksession. City Attorney Riggs advised it was his understanding a use was not allowed if it was not covered in City Code. Mayor Mueller noted volunteers were still needed to assist with planning this years Festival in the Park. She encouraged residents to consider getting involved by serving on the Festival in the Park Committee. Mayor Mueller reported she attended a League of Minnesota Cities Training Conference last Friday and Saturday. She discussed the training sessions she attended. Mayor Mueller stated registration opened today for a League of Minnesota Cities Webinar on the Do’s and Don’ts for Social Media. She urged other City officials and staff to register for this training. B. Reports of Staff. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 7 Finance Director Beer reported the City was undergoing an audit at this time and the official report from MMKR would go to the Council in April. He noted he received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 17th time. City Administrator Zikmund stated the City received an appraisal on the street parcel for the Long Lake Woods project. He explained he would visit with the property owner. He noted efforts that have been made by Kennedy & Graven have not been successful. He reported the City would be going to court to get a quick claim deed for the street parcel. The Council supported staff speaking with the land owner. Mayor Mueller recommended the Council revisit this issue at the Closed Session meeting on Monday, February 3rd after staff speaks with the property owner. City Administrator Zikmund reported the documentation for the Tom and Lisa Fields easement was now complete. He explained staff would be sending the Fields the entire agreement in order to get this property platted. C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs had nothing additional to report. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, February 3, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 10, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial