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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2020/07/13APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting July 13, 2020 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:30 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Mueller reported this meeting would be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Gunn, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: Hull (excused). 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, July 13, 2020, City Council Agenda. City Administrator Zikmund requested an item be added under the City Administrator’s Report to allow him to discuss Snap Market. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Bergeron. To Approve the Monday, July 13, 2020, agenda as amended adding Snap Market under the City Administrator’s Report. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Mueller asked to remove Item 5A. A. Approval of Minutes: June 22, 2020. B. Just and Correct Claims. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Approve the Consent Agenda as amended. A roll call vote was taken. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 2 Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. A. Approval of Minutes: June 22, 2020. Mayor Mueller requested a change to the minutes on Page 2, Line 9 stating the line should read: She reported the City, as recently as September 2019, reviewed all of its policies. Mayor Mueller requested a change to the minutes on Page 3, Line 19 stating the line should read: noted funds could be distributed to cities to assist businesses with losses. MOTION/SECOND: Mueller/Gunn. To Approve the June 22, 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes as amended. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. John Connelly, Twin Cities North Chamber – Business Update/COVID Impacts. John Connelly, Twin Cities North Chamber, thanked the Council for their time. He updated the Council on how businesses were being impacted by COVID. He was pleased that he was seeing optimism amongst business owners even through the challenges within the current environment. He indicated the retail and hospitality industries were taking a hard hit. He stated patio and outdoor dining was helping restaurants remain open at this time. He appreciated the fact that Mounds View had eased liquor license fees for its local license holders. Mr. Connelly explained he was now calling on local businesses and appreciated the fact he could speak with business owners in person to learn how they were adapting. He commented on the conversations he had with Mounds View business owners. He discussed how the economy would continue to be impacted in the short term. He encouraged the City of Mounds View to consider using CARES Act dollars to promote local businesses inviting people to visit in hopes they will spend dollars in the community. Mayor Mueller thanked Mr. Connelly for his presentation. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the City’s CARES Act dollars could be used to assist local businesses. Finance Director Beer reported these dollars could be provided to local businesses to assist with covering the expense of PPE. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 3 Council Member Meehlhause questioned if the City could use these dollars to promote businesses in Mounds View. Finance Director Beer stated this may be a stretch noting the dollars must be spent on COVID-related matters. However, it was explained the dollars could be granted to local businesses and these businesses could prioritize the use of the funds. He commented further on the City of Fort Worth’s tiered business funding program. City Administrator Zikmund explained it would take the City some time to sort through how the CARES Act funds can be utilized by the City. He reported this matter would be further discussed at the August worksession. He indicated the City would have until November 15th to distribute the funds. Mr. Connelly commented further on how he recommended the CARES Act dollars could be used to assist in spurring local economies. He stated the sooner the City can distribute these dollars the better. B. Police Chief Nate Harder – Second Quarter Report. Police Chief Harder provided the Council with a summary of the second quarter report from the Mounds View Police Department. He discussed the challenges the department faced during the second quarter which had to do with COVID-19 and civil unrest. He explained traffic stops were down tremendously along with TZD stops. He anticipated TZD patrols would begin again in August. He commended his staff for adapting to the ever changing environment. He stated community outreach was not possible right now due to the pandemic and he understood the community missed these opportunities. He thanked the Council for their time and stated he was available for questions or comments. Council Member Meehlhause thanked the Police Chief for his report and stated he understood why the numbers differed in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. He indicated this was a very difficult time and he appreciated the efforts of the entire Police Department. Council Member Bergeron stated it has been extremely difficult for people who have been homebound due to COVID. He explained he couldn’t imagine how difficult the past four months have been on the Police Department having to go to work and work through the pandemic. He commended the Police Department for their tremendous efforts on behalf of the entire community. Council Member Gunn thanked Police Chief Harder for his strong leadership and the entire department for their service to the community. She asked if the Police Department had held interviews. Police Chief Harder explained interviews were held and the department had a first candidate and second candidate in mind. He reported the department would be holding off on hiring at this time until further information was made available from the school district. He indicated he had applied for a full-time DUI grant in the event the school district were to pull its SRO’s. Mayor Mueller stated she anticipates more civil unrest will occur in the near future. She questioned if additional SWAT or riot training could be offered to Mounds View Police Officers. She indicated the National Guard may be a good resource for this training. Police Chief Harder explained the police and military training are very different. He commented there was training available but noted this was difficult to complete due to COVID. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 4 Mayor Mueller thanked Police Chief Harder for his presentation, all of his efforts on behalf of the City of Mounds View and for keeping the community safe. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Resolution 9290, Authorize Sanitary Sewer Manhole Repairs. Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council authorize sanitary sewer manhole repairs. He stated after routine inspections, staff found three manholes that require maintenance. He reviewed the estimates he received for the work needed and recommended the Council approve the low bid, which was submitted by Thul Specialty Contracting of Elk River. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9290, Authorize Sanitary Sewer Manhole Repairs. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 9291, Authorize Repairs to Unit #723 - Backhoe. Public Works Director Peterson requested the Council authorize repairs to Unit #723, which was the Public Works Department’s Caterpillar backhoe. He reported this unit was scheduled to be replaced in 2020. However, because the unit had a low amount of hours and was in excellent working condition, staff recommended the unit be overhauled instead. Staff reviewed the quote from Ziegler Cat and requested the Council authorize the repairs. Council Member Meehlhause questioned what a new backhoe would cost. Public Works Director Peterson estimated the cost would be $150,000 to $200,000. Mayor Mueller asked if the backhoe repairs would be completed in Mounds View or if it would be transferred to Ziegler. Public Works Director Peterson stated the estimate from Ziegler included transfer to and from their site for the necessary repairs. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9291, Authorize Repairs to Unite #723 - Backhoe. Mayor Mueller thanked the Public Works Department for taking such good care of its equipment so that the useful life can be extended. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 5 Council Member Meehlhause reported he would be attending a Twin Cities Gateway Executive Committee and Board meeting next Tuesday. The Executive Committee will discuss a succession plan for the Executive Director. Council Member Bergeron stated he would be attending a virtual hybrid Cable Commission meeting on Thursday evening. Mayor Mueller indicated she missed the Ramsey County League of Local Government meeting last Friday morning noting she did not receive a Zoom link for the meeting. Mayor Mueller explained she virtually attended the City of Independence Council meeting last Tuesday to present an Elected Leadership Award to Lynn Betz from the Minnesota Women in City Government. Mayor Mueller stated she was proud of the fact the City had achieved Step 2 in the GreenStep Cities Initiative. Mayor Mueller reported at the end of May there was a house fire in Mounds View where Darrell Lego, Sr. passed away and his wife Sandra was rescued but recently passed from a heart attack. She explained the home was a total loss. She sent her condolences to the Lego family. B. Reports of Staff. Assistant City Administrator Beeman reported staff received training on the new web design today. He reported staff hoped to have the City’s new website launched next week. Public Works Director Peterson reported crack filling was completed in the City and seal coating would occur in the next few weeks. He noted the Street Improvement Project was ahead of schedule and curbing would be installed later this week. He indicated the water treatment rehabilitation project was behind schedule due to COVID-19 and the hot weather. Public Works Director Peterson updated on the Council on the improvements occurring at City Hall and noted the new front entrance should be completed next week. City Administrator Zikmund reported work began on Tommy’s Car Wash today. 1. City Administrator. a. Easement Parcel Purchase Price Discussion City Administrator Zikmund stated BioClean reached out to staff and would like to acquire the easement parcel. He noted the courts have opened back up and a hearing will be held on Friday, July 17th. Staff anticipated the land would be awarded to the City. He asked if the Council wanted to set a price on the easement parcel higher than the legal costs that have been incurred. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 6 Council Member Bergeron supported the City simply recouping its costs. The Council was in agreement. b. LGU Update City Administrator Zikmund indicated staff was able to work with Stantec on the six things the City needs to complete, noting four items have already been completed. He reported the City’s stormwater management plan needs to be updated. He stated the plan would be for staff to bring all of this information forward to the Council at the August worksession meeting. c. Snap Market City Administrator Zikmund reported staff was contacted by a company that wants to run an adult daycare facility out of the Snap Market property. He stated this use would meet City Code but noted parking may be a concern. He questioned if the Council supported this use. Council Member Gunn explained this would be a good fit for this property. She discussed how adult daycares operated and commented she did not believe parking would be a concern on this site. Council Member Bergeron commented on a discussion he had with Assistant City Administrator Beeman regarding the City’s parking requirements. Assistant City Administrator Beeman discussed the City’s parking requirements and how these requirements had kept some businesses from moving into Mounds View. He indicated it would be a good idea for the City Council to review its parking ratios at a future worksession meeting. Council Member Bergeron supported the Council addressing this issue and stated he agreed with Council Member Gunn noting most of the traffic would be in and out and would not remain on the site. Mayor Mueller questioned what the hours of operation would be for the adult daycare. City Administrator Zikmund stated he could only speculate and anticipated the hours would be similar to a childcare facility which were 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Council Member Meehlhause supported the Snap Market being utilized and explained this may be a use that was greatly needed in the community. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, August 3, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, July 27, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. Mounds View City Council July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 7 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial