Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2021/05/24APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 24, 2021 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, Cermak, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, May 24, 2021, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Approve the Monday, May 24, 2021, agenda as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes: May 10, 2021. B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 9428, Adopting and Reporting Performance Measures. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Meehlhause. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 David Farrell, 7700 Bona Road, discussed the rain gardens that were installed in 2013 with the street improvement project. He explained he now has a large hole in his yard that collects no water from the street, except for the water from his driveway. He indicated tree roots were growing up through the rain garden and stated he would like to see it filled in. He reported he discussed this matter with staff and provided staff with photos of the rain garden. City Administrator Zikmund stated he was familiar with this rain garden and noted Mr. Farrell was a volunteer firefighter with the SBM Fire Department. He indicated he was working with the Rice Creek Watershed District to see if there was an alternative. He commented well testing was being completed, along with the numerics for the drainage. Council Member Hull requested further information from staff on the progress that was being made on this matter at a future workshop meeting. City Administrator Zikmund reported he would provide the Council with a weekly update and noted rain gardens would be discussed at the July workshop meeting. Mayor Mueller discussed how the Rice Creek Watershed District had relaxed their rain garden standards and hoped this change should assist staff with the request from Mr. Farrell. She thanked Mr. Farrell for his service to the community and reported staff would continue to work on this matter. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson stated he spoke with James Holman, Mounds View’s Engineering Technician, and noted measurements would be taken of the driveway to better understand how much water was being taken into the rain garden. He anticipated he would have an answer from the watershed district later this week. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the City would have more control over the rain gardens once it became an LGU. City Administrator Zikmund indicated this would not be the case. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Chief Smith – Quarterly Fire Department Update. Fire Chief Smith presented the Council with a quarterly update from the SBM Fire Department. He discussed the night time volunteer crew that was being considered for Station 5. He noted the Centennial Fire District requested a proposal from the SBM Fire Department and explained SBM would now be providing services for the Centennial Fire District. He reported he would be working on a contract to provide these services. Council Member Meehlhause asked if this contract would be financial neutral or would there be a slight positive impact on operating costs. Fire Chief Smith anticipated the department would see a net profit from the contract. Council Member Meehlhause questioned what the equipment requirements would be for Station 5 if a night time crew were created. Fire Chief Smith explained the equipment required would be firefighting gears for the firefighters. He noted this would be a minimal cost to the department. Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 3 Finance Director Beer inquired what impact the night crew at Station 5 would have on Station 6. Fire Chief Smith reported there would not be any impact, except for reducing response times. Mayor Mueller questioned how large or what size area would be covered for the Centennial Fire District. Fire Chief Smith indicated the department would be gaining two fire stations and estimated area was four square miles. City Administrator Zikmund clarified that SBM would not be taking over the Centennial Fire District, rather they were hiring SBM for two staff members and administrative services. He indicated the Centennial Fire District would be covering Centennial and SBM would be assisting with administrative coverage. He explained that SBM trucks would not be responding to Centennial calls, except if mutual aid was requested. Fire Chief Smith discussed recent training the department attended from MN Fire. He commented on the importance of his firefighters having two sets of gear. He explained he requested $1.9 million from the State for a Regional Public Safety Training Facility for police and fire. He noted the organization was working on updating its strategic plan and all stakeholders will be urged to contribute in this process. Planning for civil unrest was discussed in further detail. He commented on the role of the duty chief for nights and weekends within the department. He described how the department was responding to COVID requirements. Lastly, he discussed the property that was being considered for Station 6. Council Member Meehlhause asked if the SBM Fire Department has been eligible for any federal or state COVID funding. Fire Chief Smith reported the first round was quite restrictive. He noted some reimbursements were required and he thanked the City of Mounds View for their generosity and assistance with this. He stated he was thankful the department did not incur any additional costs during the pandemic. Further discussion ensued regarding the departure of Deputy Fire Chief Maddison Zikmund and how his position would be filled within the department. Mayor Mueller asked when the Fire Chief would be coming before the Council next. Fire Chief Smith anticipated he would be coming to the City Council in September. Mayor Mueller thanked Fire Chief Smith for his presentation. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS None. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Meehlhause stated he would be attending an NYFS Board meeting on Thursday, May 27th. Council Member Meehlhause thanked the public for attending the Lions garage sale and for supporting the Mounds View Police Foundation sale of brats and hot dogs. He commented further Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 4 on the Mounds View Police Foundation fundraiser that occurred at the Manitou Grill in White Bear Lake. He thanked all of the residents that participated in the K-9 walk that was held on Saturday, May 22nd. Council Member Meehlhause proudly reported MnDOT now has two signs posted for Mounds View Boulevard on US Highway 10. Council Member Bergeron explained he attended a Nine North Cable meeting last week where the group discussed production and the budget. He indicated David Rosenblum would be retiring from Nine North. He commended Dana Healy for the changes she has implemented since she became Director. Mayor Mueller reported last Tuesday she attended a Ramsey County Dispatch meeting noting the group discussed budgeting. Mayor Mueller stated the Festival in the Park Committee met last Tuesday as well and this group was still seeking volunteers to assist with planning this year’s event. She commented further on the schedule of events that were in place for Festival in the Park which would be held Friday, August 20th and Saturday, August 21st. Mayor Mueller explained the North Metro Mayors group met last Wednesday and on Thursday the Ramsey County League of Local Government Collective Workforce met to discuss mental health issues. Mayor Mueller reported the Minnesota Women in City Government Board of Directors met last Friday to evaluate the April “MWCG Presents: Lessons Learned During the Pandemic Program” panel discussion. The MWCG Board is currently planning their annual membership meeting that is held during the LMC Annual Conference in June each year. MWCG Presents is planning a special program in September regarding HR matters and a special presentation in November to celebrate 101 years of Women’s Suffrage. It was rescheduled from 2020 due to Covid-19) Mayor Mueller stated May 25th would mark the one year anniversary of the tragic death of George Floyd. She commented on the media coverage this event would be getting. She discussed the crime rates in Minneapolis and understood crime was up everywhere in the metro area. Mayor Mueller reported she would be attending a Met Council Environmental Services Budget meeting on Tuesday, May 25th. Mayor Mueller discussed the Back to the 50’s car show event that was being planned for June 17th through June 20th at the State Fair grounds. Council Member Meehlhause provided the Council with an update from the Twin Cities Gateway Board. He noted Arden Hills was interested in joining this group. B. Reports of Staff. Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 5 Community Development Director Sevald discussed several grant opportunities the City could pursue for the beautification of the Mounds View Boulevard corridor. He indicated the City currently has no funding set aside for this. He questioned what the Council wanted to do long-term with respect to the corridor. Finance Director Beer reported MSA funds may be a possible funding source to assist with the beautification of the Mounds View Boulevard corridor. City Administrator Zikmund clarified $400,000 in MSA funds would be available in three years. Community Development Director Sevald commented further on the grant opportunities available to the City Council. It was noted one of the grants has a due date of June 1, 2021. Council Member Hull asked if staff supported the City spending $2,000 on a grad student at this time. Community Development Director Sevald reported the quality of the work completed by a grad student would not be the same as the services that could be provided by Stantec. Council Member Cermak indicated she did not support the City spending $2,000 for this work at this time. Council Member Meehlhause stated the Council may need to readdress the Mounds View Boulevard corridor within the strategic plan at a future workshop meeting. He stated it was important to have the County mowing the medians and picking up trash consistently. Council Member Hull agreed it would benefit the Council to further discuss this matter prior to spending funds on engineers. Assistant City Administrator Beeman indicated he spoke with the County on Friday and understood the County wants cities applying for their corridor update planning grants. City Administrator Zikmund explained the Council could discuss this matter further at the July workshop meeting. He stated there was a communication and safety component for the corridor. Mayor Mueller agreed it would be prudent for the Council to discuss this matter further at the July workshop meeting. Council Member Meehlhause stated the plans that were done in 1998 and 2002 were before his time of community involvement. He understood that the project was estimated to cost $25 million back then and would cost a great deal more today. He questioned if MSA funding could be used for semi-four replacement. Finance Director Beer reported this would be allowed. Finance Director Beer explained MWF was going to abandon the tax credits and was now considering conduit debt for their project. He indicated this matter would be coming before the Council on June 14th. It was noted the conduit debt would not be a responsibility of the City but rather would be MWF’s responsibility. Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 6 Assistant City Administrator Beeman stated a TIF letter of support for MWF would be considered by the EDA on June 14th. He commented further on how this project had changed noting Bauer and MWF had not come to an agreement on the two acre parcel. He explained this meant only the 112 units of senior housing would be going forward at this time. City Administrator Zikmund indicated all of these changes took place this week. He asked if the Council wanted to keep an easement in place to provide access to the Bauer property. The Council supported the City keeping an easement in place directing staff to speak with Bauer. City Administrator Zikmund explained the Public Works staff was testing the Splash Down pad system in order to prepare it for opening on Saturday, May 29th. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson provided the Council with an update from the Public Works Department. (DIRECTOR PETERSON’S AUDIO WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR). Council Member Hull recommended Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson provide the Council with an email update. C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs had nothing additional to report. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, June 7, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, June 14, 2021, directly following the EDA meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial