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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2020/11/09APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting November 9, 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 stated due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting would be held virtually. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, November 9, 2020, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Bergeron. To Approve the Monday, November 9, 2020, agenda as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Gunn asked to remove Item 5C. A. Approval of Minutes: October 26, 2020. B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 9341, Approving Joint Powers Agreement Among Members of the Ramsey County GIS Users Group. D. Approving the 2021 SCORE Recycling Grant Request to Ramsey County. MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Meehlhause. To Approve the Consent Agenda as amended removing Item 5C. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 2 A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 9341, Approving Joint Powers Agreement Among Members of the Ramsey County GIS Users Group. Council Member Gunn requested the dollar amount per year for this agreement be filled in. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson reported this amount would be $1,224.01 per year. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9341, Approving Joint Powers Agreement Among Members of the Ramsey County GIS Users Group. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Mounds View Police Department 3rd Quarter Report. Police Chief Harder provided the Council with a presentation on the Police Department’s 3rd Quarter activities. He explained the City’s VCET officer continues to see record seizures and multiple federal indictments. He stated the department received a grant for a full-time DUI officer. He proudly reported Officer Alex Asse was recognized as the Minnesota MADD Rookie of the Year after having over 40 DUI arrests. He reported Officer Asse would be serving as the new full- time DUI officer. He explained the department has deployed its new radar sign and has been increasing traffic enforcement to pre-COVID levels. He commented further on the calls for service, arrets and crime calls for the third quarter. Mayor Mueller questioned how long the DUI grant funded position would last. Police Chief Harder reported this was a one year grant. Mayor Mueller thanked the Mounds View Police Department for sponsoring the Pink Patch event. She asked when additional patches would be available. Council Member Gunn explained new patches were now available from the Mounds View Police Foundation for $10. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Public Hearing: Resolution 9336, Adopting the 2021 Fee Schedule. Mayor Mueller reported a clerical error was made and this item did not require a Public Hearing. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 3 City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council adopt the 2021 Fee Schedule. He reported the Council reviewed the Fee Schedule at a worksession meeting in on November 2nd. Staff commented further on the adjusted water rates and recommended approval. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9336, Adopting the 2021 Fee Schedule. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Public Hearing: First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 973, Amending Chapter 1130 of the Mounds View Municipal Code Adopting Certain Roles of the Rice Creek Watershed District Regarding Stormwater Management. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council introduce an Ordinance that would amend Chapter 1130 of the Mounds View City Code that would adopt certain roles of the Rice Creek Watershed District regarding stormwater management. He explained the Council spoke at length about this at a worksession meeting. He reported the City would be taking on the permitting function of stormwater management. Currently, Rice Creek was doing the permitting. He indicated the City would continue to follow all stormwater management rules and regulations. He stated the reason the City was pursuing this Ordinance was to assist with streamlining the permitting process. He commented additional staff would not be required to take on this work. He explained the Planning Commission reviewed this item last week and recommended approval. Mayor Mueller opened the public hearing at 6:58 p.m. Hearing no public input, Mayor Mueller closed the public hearing at 6:59 p.m. Mayor Mueller stated this action would not weaken the City’s voice with the Rice Creek Watershed District. She discussed how past projects had been released without a final inspection from the watershed district. She explained that by the City taking on the permitting process, this will not occur in the future. She stated she supported the proposed Ordinance. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 973, Amending Chapter 1130 of the Mounds View Municipal Code Adopting Certain Roles of the Rice Creek Watershed District Regarding Stormwater Management. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 9335, Electing to Participate in the Local Housing Incentives Account Program Under the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 4 Community Development Director Sevald requested the Council adopt an Ordinance electing to participate in the Local Housing Incentives Account Program under the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. He discussed the grants that would be available to the City through this program. He commented on the City’s affordable, market rate and life cycle housing goals from the Met Council. He noted 85 communities in the metro area participate in this program. Mayor Mueller discussed how the MWF project met many of the City’s housing goals from the Met Council. She expressed concern regarding the goals that were set by the Met Council for life cycle housing given the fact Mounds View was fully developed. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9335, Electing to Participate in the Local Housing Incentives Account Program Under the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 3 Nays – 1 (Mueller) Abstain – 1 (Bergeron) Motion carried. D. Resolution 9337, Utility Agreement with City of New Brighton. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson requested the Council approve a Utility Agreement with the City of New Brighton. He explained the property at 1321 County Road H in New Brighton was currently served by the City of Mounds View water. The property is being sold and needs to hook up to sanitary sewer and the closest option was with the City of Mounds View. He indicated staff has reviewed this along with City Attorney’s for both cities. He commented further on the request and recommended approval. Mayor Mueller opened the meeting for public comment. Holly Osterman, 4619 Staudert Lane in White Bear Township, explained she was the trustee for the property at 1321 County Road H. She reported her mother was 90 years old and has moved into a memory care facility. She indicated the property at 1321 County Road H was for sale and understood the septic system failed inspection. She stated this property was the last one in New Brighton that had a septic system. Because of the location of this property, she was advised by the City of New Brighton to request a sanitary sewer hookup from the City of Mounds View. She thanked both cities for being highly cooperative. Council Member Meehlhause asked where this property was located. Ms. Osterman indicated this property was close to Edgewood Middle School across from Bona Road. Mayor Mueller asked if there were any properties in Mounds View that were still on a septic system. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson stated he was aware of one home in Mounds View that was still on a septic system. Mayor Mueller closed the meeting for public comment. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 5 MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9337, Utility Agreement with City of New Brighton. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. City Administrator Zikmund recommended Item 8E be discussed after Item 8G. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Amend the Agenda moving Item 8E after Item 8G. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. F. Resolution 9339, Authorizing a Recruitment Process for Ice Rink Attendants and Approving the Job Description. Human Resources Coordinator Ewald requested the Council authorize the recruitment process for ice rink attendants and approve the job description. She explained staff was seeking to post this position this week and would be hiring up to 12 rink attendants. She reported the attendants would begin working in early December and would continue through mid-March. It was noted the rink attendants would be paid $12 per hour. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9339, Authorizing a Recruitment Process for Ice Rink Attendants and Approving the Job Description. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. G. Resolution 9340, Authorizing the Mounds View Nonprofit Relief Grant Program. Finance Director Beer requested the Council authorize the Mounds View Nonprofit Relief Grant Program. He stated the Council had expressed the desire to create a grant program for nonprofits in Mounds View at the November worksession. He reported staff borrowed various grant programs from other cities. Staff requested the Council consider how much money should be set aside for this program and how much should be offered in each grant. Mayor Mueller asked if staff had spoken to the City Attorney to see if religious organizations could participate in this program. City Administrator Zikmund indicated religious organizations would not be eligible for this program. Council Member Hull questioned what other cities were doing with respect to grant sizes. Finance Director Beer commented grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,000 with anywhere from $20,000 to Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 6 $50,000 set aside for the program. He stated with the limited number of non-profits in the City of Mounds View, this amount could be on the lower end. City Administrator Zikmund commented the amount of CARES Act funding Mounds View received was lower than surrounding communities, which should be taken into consideration. He then reviewed the number of organizations in the City that would be eligible for grants, which was six to ten. Mayor Mueller questioned what action staff was seeking at this time. City Administrator Zikmund reported staff needed the Council to set a limit on the grant amounts and the amount of money that should be set aside for this program. Council Member Meehlhause recommended $25,000 to $50,000 be set aside for this program. He suggested the individual grants have a maximum of $5,000. Council Member Hull supported the program have a maximum of $40,000 set aside with the grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for non-profit organizations. Council Member Bergeron stated with the recent news surrounding COVID-19 he believed concessions should be taken into consideration for Mounds View businesses as well, given the fact there may be further shut downs. He urged moving forward with this program with a touch of caution. Council Member Gunn supported all of the comments that have been made and she understood the City’s small businesses were going to need further assistance. She asked how much CARES Act funding the City had left for this program. Finance Director Beer commented the amount left was not relevant, but rather the timeframe to implement the program was the concern for staff. Mayor Mueller stated she could support $25,000 to $35,000 being set aside for non-profits in the community. However, she had hoped that faith-based programs could participate in this program, which was not the case. She recommended the pool of money be split equally between the non- profits that apply for a grant. Council Member Hull suggested the non-profit program have $35,000 allotted to it and that the grant amounts be no more than $5,000. City Administrator Zikmund stated staff could work with these numbers. Council Member Bergeron supported the grants being equally divided among the non-profit organizations that apply for a grant. The Council was in agreement with this suggestion. Council Member Meehlhause asked how the City would market this program. City Administrator Zikmund reported staff has made the local non-profits aware of the proposed program and noted this information would be posted on the City’s website and social media as well. MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9340, Authorizing the Mounds View Nonprofit Relief Grant Program as discussed. A roll call vote was taken. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 7 Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. E. Resolution 9338, Approving Two Year Lease Agreement with Rise, Inc. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a two year lease agreement with Rise, Inc. He explained Rise enjoys using space at the Community Center. He reported Rise, Inc. has had an agreement with the YMCA in the past and this agreement was being transferred to the City of Mounds View. He noted the City Attorney had reviewed the lease agreement and was recommending approval. Mayor Mueller asked if a reduction was made to the lease amount, would this set a precedent for future lease agreements. Finance Director Beer reported the Council could reduce the lease amount for 2021. Council Member Bergeron suggested the first year of the lease be reduced to $1,200 / month with the amount going back to $1,500 / month in 2022. He explained he was proposing this reduction due to the impacts COVID-19 has had on Rise. Council Member Hull supported this recommendation. Finance Director Beer stated staff could amend the agreement to make this change. MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Hull. To Amend the Lease Agreement with Rise, Inc. to have the 2021 monthly payments be $1,200 and the 20222 monthly payments be $1,500. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9338, Approving Two Year Lease Agreement with Rise, Inc. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Gunn invited residents to visit City Hall on Tuesday, November 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to participate in the Fill a Squad Full of Coats event. She explained all of the coats would be donated to worthy causes in the community. Council Member Meehlhause reported the Twin Cities Gateway Finance Committee met today to discuss the 2021 budget. He stated the Finance Director from the City of Blaine, Joe Huss was in attendance at this meeting and provided an update on the Gateway’s 2020 finances. He indicated Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 8 the news was better than expected and hotel occupancy in September was roughly 49%. He explained the maximum grants that would be given to cities in 2021 would be $3,500. Mayor Mueller reported she spoke to the Director of the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, John Connelly noting he would be giving the Council an update in January or February on how local businesses were managing through the pandemic. Mayor Mueller explained the governor would be speaking to the public on Tuesday, November 10th. Mayor Mueller stated on Monday, November 23rd she would be attending a virtual St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Mueller commented on Tuesday, November 24th she would be attending a Ramsey County League of Local Government Mental Health Task Force meeting at 8:30 a.m. Mayor Mueller reported the Ramsey County Dispatch Policy Committee would be meeting on Tuesday, December 1st. B. Reports of Staff. 1. Presale Water Treatment Plant Bonds. Finance Director Beer explained the City would be issuing bonds in December for water treatment plant work. He noted the City would have 18 months to spend this money. He explained the City was nearly finished with water treatment plant 3 and work would begin on water treatment plants 1 and 2 this spring. He reviewed the presale report from Ehlers noting the City would be letting 15 year bonds. He recommended the City do the credit enhancement for the bond sale for cost saving purposes. He anticipated the City’s bond rating would remain as is or even improve through this bond sale. He reported the Council would be authorizing the bond sale on December 14th and the bond sale would take place on December 30th. Mayor Mueller asked when this matter would come back to the City Council. Finance Director Beer stated this bond sale would come back to the Council on Monday, December 14th. City Administrator Zikmund reported the Pioneer Press has hired a new virtual reporter named Deanna Weniger. He explained Ms. Weniger reached out to him and requested office space one day a week. He told Ms. Weniger that he could accommodate her in a public Conference Room. He stated he had seven different possible stories and these would be reviewed with Ms. Weniger this Thursday. City Administrator Zikmund commented the City’s joint venture with the city of Spring Lake Park was strengthened today when Jeffrey Baker successfully passed his certified building official test. City Administrator Zikmund reported the Council would be holding a Special Canvass Meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 4:00 p.m. Mounds View City Council November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Page 9 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, December 7, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, November 23, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial