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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2023/01/09APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 9, 2023 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:00 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Cermak, Gunn, Lindstrom, Meehlhause and Hull NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, January 9, 2023, City Council Agenda. Council Member Meehlhause asked that the minutes from the January 3, 2023 Special City Council meeting be added to the Consent Agenda as Item 5D. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Lindstrom. To Approve the Monday, January 9, 2023, agenda as amended. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes: December 27, 2022. B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 9685, Adopting Changes to the City Pay Grid Retroactive to 1/1/2023. D. Approval of Minutes: January 3, 2023. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT None. Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 2 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. SBM Year End/Quarterly Report – Fire Chief Dan Retka. Fire Chief Retka provided the Council with a year-end report from the SBM Fire Department. He explained over the past 12 months he has served as the interim chief. He thanked his staff for serving the community well during this time of transition. He reported he recently named Matt Grant the Deputy Fire Chief. He stated 2022 was a busy year for him and noted calls for service were on the rise (500 over 2021). He anticipated this would continue to occur as the population ages and the population increases. He discussed how the shortage of EMT’s was impacting both the fire and police departments. Fire Chief Retka noted he would be working with dispatchers in the coming year to ensure they are properly dispatching police and fire resources. He stated he was proud of the fact a CAD interface task force has been formed. He explained by further educating dispatchers response times would be reduced. He commented further on how he was working to enhance the relationship between SBM and the Lake Johanna Fire Department. He stated his focus for 2023 would be on community risk reduction through education of the public. It was his hope that the number of calls for service could be reduced after education was offered to the community. Fire Chief Retka explained the department would be hiring a full time Recruitment/Retention Specialist to assist with retention of firefighters. He discussed how he was working on a new scheduling program which would allow volunteer firefighters to sign up for shifts. He noted he hoped to roll out the new staffing program in 2024. He then commented on the contract the SBM Fire Department entered into with the Centennial Fire Department. He reported he would continue to act as their chief in 2023. Fire Chief Retka discussed the 2022 budget noting for the most part he came in right on budget. He commented on the adjustments that were made to the 2023 budget in order to properly capture increases in the rising price for equipment and to provide funding for community education. Council Member Meehlhause welcomed Fire Chief Retka to the SBM Fire Department. He stated he looked forward to seeing the department roll out the new staffing model in the coming year. Council Member Lindstrom welcomed Fire Chief Retka and Deputy Fire Chief Grant to the SBM Fire Department. He explained he looked forward to working with both of them for the upcoming Festival in the Park. Council Member Gunn stated she appreciated seeing firefighters in her community. She looked forward to having SBM a part of the upcoming Festival in the Park. Mayor Hull thanked Fire Chief Retka for his presentation. Fire Chief Retka thanked the City Council for their continued support. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Community Center Expansion Exploration: Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 3 1. Resolution 9687, Approving Contract with Libby Law Office, Governmental Relations for Bonding for Mounds View Community Center Expansion. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a contract with Libby Law Office in order to assist with governmental relations and bonding for the Mounds View Community Center expansion. He reported the fee for the law office would be paid up front. Council Member Lindstrom explained Litchfield recently completed an expansion of their community center. He stated he looked into how they funded the project which led him to reaching out to the City’s State Representative Kelly Moller. After speaking with Representative Moller he understood she would be willing to carry a bill on behalf of the City. He recommended the City not hire a lobbyist, but that the City work with its local representatives in order to move this project forward. MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Hull. To Direct Staff to work with Representative Kelly Moller in order to have a Bill Drafted for Bonding Money from the State of Minnesota. Mayor Hull explained Litchfield had a funding source for their community center renovations. He reported Mounds View did not have a funding source, which was leading him to believe a lobbyist would be of great assistance through the State bonding process. Council Member Lindstrom questioned how the City was going to pay for the proposed lobbyists. He reported the City could consider a city-wide sales tax in order to assist with funding the community center expansion. Council Member Meehlhause stated he had great respect for Representative Moller. He indicated his only concern was that she had never carried a bonding bill through to completion. He explained Libby Law has people that have done this for years and he preferred to see the City go this route. Council Member Gunn thanked Council Member Lindstrom for his information. She stated she appreciated the efforts of Representative Moller, but noted she would be more comfortable going with Libby Law because they have more experience with State bonding. Mayor Hull agreed the lobbyists have more experience and would be able to focus their efforts on the needs of Mounds View. He thanked Council Member Lindstrom for providing the Council with this information, but noted he would like the City moving forward with a lobbyist. Council Member Cermak supported the City pursuing a lobbyist to assist with the State bonding. Mayor Hull questioned if the City should consider a city-wide sales tax. City Administrator Zikmund reported the City could follow up on this further and noted the deadline for such a change was January 31st. He commented on how the sales tax could only be considered if there was a regional impact. Aye – 2 Nays – 3 (Gunn, Meehlhause, Hull) Motion failed. Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 4 MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9687, Approving Contract with Libby Law Office, Governmental Relations for Bonding for Mounds View Community Center Expansion. City Administrator Zikmund reported the expense for this contract would come out of the Special Projects Fund. Ayes – 4 Nay – 1 (Lindstrom) Motion carried. 2. Resolution 9688, Approving Contract with Morris Leatherman for Community Survey regarding Community Center Expansion. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a contract with Morris Leatherman in order to complete a community survey regarding the Community Center expansion. He commented on the timing of the proposed survey and recommended approval. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9688, Approving Contract with Morris Leatherman for Community Survey regarding Community Center Expansion. Council Member Lindstrom suggested some diversity questions be considered for the survey. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 3. Resolution 9689, Approving Contract with Jill Brown and Associates for Communication Services related to the Community Center Expansion. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a contract with Jill Brown and Associates for communication services related to the Community Center expansion. He reported Jill Brown would provide communications to residents in the form of printed mailers. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9689, Approving Contract with Jill Brown and Associates for Communication Services related to the Community Center Expansion. Council Member Meehlhause stated there was a real good synergy for the Community Center expansion both for the City and the region. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Mayor Hull reported he attended the Nine Mayors meeting today with City Administrator Zikmund. Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 5 Council Member Lindstrom explained the Festival in the Park Committee would be meeting next on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Works Facility. Council Member Cermak noted the Mounds View Police Foundation would be meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Hodges (formerly Random) Park where the group would be discussing the Daddy/Daughter Dance which would be held on Saturday, February 4. The Council thanked the Public Works Department for all of their efforts during the recent snow events. B. Reports of Staff. 1. Establish date/time for Strategic Plan Update Workshop. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council set a date and time for a strategic plan update workshop. Council consensus was to hold the strategic plan workshop meeting on Monday, February 20. 2. Establish date/time for 2024 Budget Discussions. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council set a date and time for the 2024 budget discussions. Council consensus was to hold the first budget discussion workshop on Monday, May 15. 3. Establish date/time for joint meeting with Charter Commission. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council set a date and time for a joint meeting with the Charter Commission. Council consensus was to hold a joint meeting with the Charter Commission on Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. 4. Establish date/time for joint meeting with Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council set a date and time for a joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. Council consensus was to hold a joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission on Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Meehlhause suggested the Council also attend a joint meeting with the Planning Commission. Council consensus was to hold a joint meeting with the Planning Commission on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m. 5. Discuss Council and Workshop meeting start times. City Administrator Zikmund asked if the Council wanted to move the Council and Workshop meeting start times to 6:00 p.m. Council consensus was to begin holding Council and Workshop meetings at 6:00 p.m. beginning February 6, 2023. Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 6 6. Kiosk Follow Up. City Administrator Zikmund provided the Council with follow up information on the kiosk and asked how the Council wanted to proceed. Council consensus was to not proceed with the kiosk. C. Reports of City Attorney. There was nothing additional to report. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, February 6, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, January 23, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial