HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2023/05/08APPROVED
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Regular Meeting
May 8, 2023
Mounds View City Hall
2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112
6:00 P.M.
1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL: Cermak, Gunn, Lindstrom and Meehlhause
NOT PRESENT: Mayor Hull
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A. Monday, May 8, 2023, City Council Agenda.
MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Cermak. To Approve the Monday, May 8, 2023, agenda as presented.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes: April 24, 2023.
B. Just and Correct Claims.
C. Resolution 9749, Approving the Hire of Cody Shawbold to Facility
Coordinator.
D. Resolution 9748, Approving the Status Change of Agnes Quasabart from Full-
Time to Part-Time effective June 5, 2023.
MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Cermak. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
A. Honor New Police Chief Ben Zender – Badge Pinning.
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City Administrator Zikmund administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Police Chief Ben
Zender and his badge was pinned on. A round of applause was offered by all in attendance.
Police Chief Zender thanked the Council for their support. He then recognized the law enforcement
officers that were recently killed in the line of duty in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He thanked
Sergeant Kampa, Sergeant Nelson, Sergeant Menard and Police Chief Harder for sharing their
leadership and mentor skills with him. He thanked his wife and family for their tremendous
support. Lastly, he thanked his officers for working so diligently on behalf of the community.
B. Citizen of the Year Presentation – Kathie Anderson.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause recognized Kathie Anderson as the Mounds View Citizen of the Year
for 2022. A round of applause was offered by all in attendance.
Kathie Anderson thanked her family and the Lions for their support. She also thanked the City of
Mounds View and stated she loves living in this community.
The Council thanked Kathie Anderson for being a tremendous steward for the community.
C. Coach of the Year Presentation – Adnan Omanovic and Robert Turner.
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Thomas recognized Adnan Omanovic and Robert Turner as
the Mounds View Volunteer Coaches of the Year for 2022. A round of applause was offered by
all in attendance.
Adnan Omanovic thanked the City for this recognition.
Robert Turner thanked the City for this honor.
D. Public Works Week Proclamation.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause read a proclamation in full for the record declaring May 21 through
May 17, 2023 to be National Public Works Week in the City of Mounds View.
Council Member Gunn thanked the Public Works Department for all of their efforts on behalf of
the community.
E. MVPD Quarterly Report – Police Chief Ben Zender.
Police Chief Zender provided the Council a quarterly update from the Mounds View Police
Department. He explained VCET continues to be active in the community. He reported he
nominated several of his officers for traffic related awards. He thanked the community for
supporting and attending the Daddy Daughter Dance in February. He discussed how he was
partnering with the community on the Tribute Park. He stated the City recently held a DNR
hunter’s safety course, which was the first class held since COVID. He explained in January the
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department participated in the Polar Plunge in order to raise funds for Special Olympics Minnesota.
He discussed the recent life saving awards that his officers received. He then commented on the
crime stats for the first quarter of 2023 and he noted he would be working to update the
department’s website.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause thanked Police Chief Zender for his report and for his efforts on behalf
of the community.
8. COUNCIL BUSINESS
A. Public Hearing: Resolution 9738, Considering a Honeybee-Keeping License
for Dustin Nyffeler for the Property at 8136 Red Oak Drive.
City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council consider a honeybee-keeping license for
Dustin Nyffeler for the property at 8136 Red Oak Drive. He reported the applicant has complied
with all ordinance requirements except for the fact he does not have any formal education.
However, he has received a recommendation of approval from Assistant City Administrator Brian
Beeman. Staff commented further on the request and recommended approval after the Council
holds a public hearing.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause opened the public hearing at 6:32 p.m.
Jerry Peterson, 8125 Red Oak Drive, stated he fully supported the applicant’s request. He noted
his grandfather and father raised bees. He stated bees were very gentle and he did not see this as
being an issue.
Hearing no further public input, Acting Mayor Meehlhause closed the public hearing at 6:33 p.m.
MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9738,
Considering a Honeybee-Keeping License for Dustin Nyffeler for the Property at 8136 Red Oak
Drive.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
B. Public Hearing: Resolution 9739, Considering a Residential Dog Kennel
License for Christina Wessel at 8373 Groveland Court.
City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council consider a residential dog kennel license for
Christina Wessel at 8373 Groveland Court. He explained the applicant meets all requirements and
exceeds the limit of two dogs. He noted the applicant does not intend to breed or sell dogs from
her home. He commented further on the request and recommended approval.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause opened the public hearing at 6:36 p.m.
Christina Wessel, 8373 Groveland Court, thanked the Council for considering her request. She
explained she has three dogs in her home, which required her to have a residential dog kennel. She
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reported she trained and competed in dog agility challenges.
Hearing no further public input, Acting Mayor Meehlhause closed the public hearing at 6:37 p.m.
MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9739,
Considering a Residential Dog Kennel License for Christina Wessel at 8373 Groveland Court.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
C. Resolution 9750, Adopting the Five Year Financial Plan for 2024 through
2028.
Finance Director Beer requested the Council adopt the Five Year Financial Plan for 2024 through
2028. He reported the Council reviewed this plan at their worksession on May 1. He explained the
only change was that funding had been set aside for the Tribute Park. He commented further on
the proposed plan noting how inflation was making impacts and recommended approval.
Council Member Lindstrom asked if the property tax levies were estimates. Finance Director Beer
reported this was the case.
City Administrator Zikmund commented on the projected increases the City would be receiving
from the Met Council in 2024.
Council Member Gunn expressed concern with how the rates being charged by the Met Council
continued to go up exponentially each and every year.
MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Lindstrom. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9750,
Adopting the Five Year Financial Plan for 2024 through 2028.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
D. Resolution 9751, Approving Various Sanitary Sewer Manhole Repairs.
Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson requested the Council approve various
sanitary sewer manhole repairs. He stated as part of the Public Works ongoing maintenance
efforts, several manholes required repairs in order to address INI issues. He reviewed the cost for
the project with the Council and recommended approval.
Council Member Gunn requested further information regarding INI. Public Works/Parks and
Recreation Director Peterson stated INI stood for inflow and infiltration, which was excess water
or groundwater that was getting into the sanitary sewer system. He discussed how the City was
working to reduce its INI in order to reduce the fees that have to be paid to the Met Council.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause questioned how many homes have gone through the point of sale
program since its implementation. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson reported
567 homes have gone through this program.
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Acting Mayor Meehlhause asked if staff could receive an update from the Met Council to see if
the City’s INI percentage has been reduced. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson
indicated he would reach out to Met Council for an update.
MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9751,
Approving Various Sanitary Sewer Manhole Repairs.
Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
9. REPORTS
A. Reports of Mayor and Council.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause opened the meeting for public comment.
Robert King, 7408 Silver Lake Road, expressed frustration with the fact the City did not let the
residents or Lions know that the EDA meeting time had been changed.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause reported the Closed EDA meeting was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. He
explained this meeting was delayed until after the City Council meeting due to the fact there would
be special guests in attendance at the Council meeting.
Renee Johnson, 7385 Pleasant View Drive, stated when the Council has worksession meetings,
she feared the Council was not proactively allowing the public to interact and speak. She suggested
the Council allow for comment at their worksession meetings. In addition, she supported the City
better communicating with the public through its website in order to keep the residents properly
informed on civic matters.
Council Member Lindstrom reported the Festival in the Park Committee would be meeting next
on Tuesday, May 16 at the Public Works building at 7:00 p.m.
Council Member Gunn stated she and Council Member Cermak attended the fundraiser for the
Quincy House.
Council Member Gunn explained the first Human Rights Task Force would be meeting on
Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Council Member Cermak reported the Police Foundation would be meeting on Tuesday, May 9 at
5:30 p.m. at Hodges Park.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause indicated he would be attending a convention bureau meeting on
Tuesday, May 9, along with Council Members Cermak and Gunn.
Acting Mayor Meehlhause stated next week on May 17, May 18 and May 19 the Mounds View
Lions would be hosting their annual garage at Hillview Park from 8:00-6:00 on Wednesday and
Thursday and 8:00-2:00 on Friday.
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Acting Mayor Meehlhause commented on the 8 Mayor/Manager meeting he attended this
afternoon with City Administrator Zikmund.
B. Reports of Staff.
1. Creative Kids Lease.
City Administrator Zikmund stated the Creative Kids lease would be up in August. It was his
understanding the tenant would like to make improvements to the space. He stated staff was
recommending a 3% increase to the lease. He commented on the situation further and requested
direction from the Council on how to proceed.
Council Member Lindstrom stated he could support the proposed increase.
Council Member Gunn commented on the number of families that depend on this business for
child care and noted she supported staff negotiating with Creative Kids on a new lease.
Finance Director Beer reported the City had another conduit debt opportunity that would be
coming before the Council at a future meeting. The Council supported staff bringing this matter
forward.
Finance Director Beer explained the Council would be holding a retreat on Monday, May 15 to
discuss the 2024 budget.
City Administrator Zikmund stated the organized solid waste collection resident information
sessions would be held on Wednesday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. He explained
Nine North would be taping these events.
C. Reports of City Attorney.
City Attorney Riggs had nothing additional to report.
10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, June 5, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Next Council Meeting: Monday, May 22, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
Transcribed by:
Heidi Guenther
Minute Maker Secretarial