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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1991/12/23. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 23, 1991 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Hwy. 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 CALL TO ORDER The Mounds View City Council was called to order by Mayor Linke at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 1991. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was said. LL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilmembers Wuori, Quick, Blanchard, Rickaby and Mayor Linke. MEMBERS ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Mark Rarney, City Attorney, Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, Ric Minetor, Public Works Director/City Engineer, Mary Saarion, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION/SECOND: Blanchard/Quick to table the December 9, 199.1 minutes. 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: There was no special order of business. RESIDENTS REQUESTS AND COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR ere were no residents requests or comments. Mounds View City Council Page Two ~gular Meeting December 23, 1991 PUBLIC HEARINGS: Mayor Linke closed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing regarding certification of delinquent utility bills and forestry invoices to Ramsey, County for collection with 1992 property taxes at 7:07 p.m. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, explained that letters had been written to those utility customers who were on the delinquency list advising them of the hearing. Since the letters were mailed, a number of the utility bills had been paid in full. The total amount involved is $4,421.98. Mayor Linke asked for any questions or comments. There were no questions or comments. Mayor Linke closed the public hearing at 7:08 p.m._ MOTION/SECOND: Rickaby/Wuori to approve Resolution No. 4150 Levying A Tax For Delinquent Utility and Forestry Charges Over A One Year Period 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried ONSENT AGENDA: amantha Orduno, City Administrator, read the items on the proposed consent agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Rickaby to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and waive the reading of the resolution. 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried COUNCIL BUSINESS: 1. Mary Saarion, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, reviewed Staff Report No. 91-125C regarding the bid from the printing company for the 1992 City Newsletter. Saarion stated that the City of Mounds View received three bids far printing of the City Newsletter. The lowest bid was for $14,608, or $83.00 per page, from Nystrom Publishing of Maple Grove. Saarion further stated that Nystrom Publishing has printed the City Newsletter. for the past two years and staff has been very pleased with Nystrom's ability to provide professional printing services in a timely manner. Councilmember Quick asked how many newsletters are included in the bid. • Mounds View City Council Page Three ~gular Meeting December 23, 1991 Saarion stated that bidding is done on the number of pages per .newsletter. The City Charter states that there must be six newsletters, published per year. Mayor Linke asked Saarion if the City Charter should be changed to four newsletters per year,. would the City be locked into paying for six. Saarion responded by explaining that the size of the newsletter could be increased if only four newsletters were to be published. MOTION/SECOND: Rickaby/Blanchard to approve bid from Nystrom Publishing in the Amount of $14,60$ to Print the 1992 City Newsletter. 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Samantha Orduno, City Administator, commented that she had spoken to an employee of the City of Maplewood and that Maplewood plans to model their City Newsletter after the City of Mounds View's. Ric Minetor, Director of Public Works/City Engineer reviewed Staff Report No. 91-126C regarding Ordinance No. 500 Revising Chapter 60 of the Municipal Code, Regarding Contractor Licenses. The 1991 Session of the .State legislature restricted the manner in which cities can require local contractor licenses. Minetor stated that the State will issue contractor licenses for remodelers and general contractors involved in residential construction. Minetor stated that Ordinance No. 500 would bring the Mounds View Municipal Code into conformance with the state's actions. Minetor further stated that the City would not be allowed to require city licensing of contractors licensed by the state, but the City would be allowed to charge a fee for checking the contractor's license status with the State. Councilmember Quick inquired as to how much the City was losing with the State now licensing the contractors. Minetor stated that the loss amount is approximately $6,000 but the City can make up some of that loss by license check fees. Mayor Linke stated that he would like to add "for residential work" to the ordinance. This would clarify that the City cannot license residential contractors but could license commercial contractors. Councilmember Wuori stated that the public should be reminded that • they have to contact the City to get their building permits as the contractors used to do this for the resident. unds View City Council egular Meeting Page Four December 23, 1991 Councilmember Quick would like the City Attorney to review this ordinance. MOTION/SECOND: Wuori/Quick to have the first reading of Ordinance No. 500 with the amended language, amending the Municipal Code of Mounds View by amending Chapter 60 Entitled, "Building Code and License Fees", and waive the reading. 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried 3. Ric Minetor, Public Works Director/City Engineer reviewed Staff Report No. 91-127C Regarding Ordinance No. 501 - Revision of Chapter 70 of the Municipal Code, Requiring Mandatory Water Connections. Minetor stated that there are thirteen residences in the City of Mounds View not connected to the City's municipal water system, although there are no state regulations that require buildings to hook up to the City water system. Minetor stated that most cities in the Metropolitan Area require all buildings to be hooked up to the City water system. Minetor further stated that Chapter 70 of the Municipal Code does not require connection to the water system. The benefits of hooking up to City water are primarily public health benefits as shallow wells can be impacted by drought and contamination much more easily than deep wells serving the municipal system. MOTION/SECOND: Blanchard/Rickaby to have the first reading of Ordinance No. 501 Amending Chapter 70 of the Municipal Code of Mounds View to Require Connection to the Municipal Water System for All Buildings Designed for Occupancy in the City. Mayor Linke stated that the ordinance would go into effect thirty days after its date of publication which doesn't give existing building owners much time to come into compliance with this ordinance. Minetor suggested that the Council could adopt a policy that would give the building owners to September to hook up to the municipal water system. This timeframe would extend through the construction season. Councilmember Blanchard concurred with Mayor Linke and moved that the amended language to the ordinance should be to include that existing buildings have until September 15, 1992 to comply with this ordinance. • 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Mounds View City Council ~gular Meeting Page Five December 23, 1991 4. Public Works Director/City Engineer Minetor reviewed Staff Report No. 91-128C Regarding Resolution No. 4156 Regarding A Budget Transfer for Snow Plowing Costs. Minetor stated that with the record snowfall to date the street department has overrun the budget for overtime and materials for snowplowing. There was a significant underrun in street materials this year and this should offset the overrun for snow removal supplies such as sand and salt. Overtime during the two storms was $5975. Transfers from the contingency account to the street department are necessary to cover this expenditure. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Rickaby to adopt Resolution No. 4156 Regarding a Budget Transfer for Snow Plowing Costs. 5 ayes Q nays Motion Carried 5. Public Works Director Minetor/City Engineer reviewed Staff Report No. 91-129C Regarding a request for the City to accept Lake • Court Drive and Lake Court Circle as public streets. Minetor presented some background information on the ownership of these two streets and the concerns regarding unsafe conditions on these two roads as a result of the heavy snowstorms this year. These two streets are privately owned. Staff has some concerns regarding plowing and maintenance of private roads as the City is liable for actions in performing services outside of City property and the precedent which may be set by providing services on a private road. Staff presented three options the City could take. Of these three options, Staff recommended that the City should develop an agreement between the Homeowners Association and the City to continue to provide services with certain stipulations. Councilmember Wuori stated that the City should not accept. these roads as public streets because they are substandard in construction. Wuori concurred that an agreement should be entered into with the Homeowner's Association and the City to continue to provide services with certain stipulations. Councilmember Quick stated that the Council should give staff the time to develop an agreement with the Homeowner's Association and bring it forth to the Council for review. Councilmember Blanchard stated that the City should not accept substandard roads and should enter into an agreement with the Homeowner's Association. • Mounds View City Council ~gular Meeting Page Six December 23, 1991 Cliff Ash, President of the Silver Lake Woods Homeowner Association, stated that the City has taken-care of these streets for ten years. Mr. Ash stated that he was recently made aware that the City did not own the two roads and that they were privately owned. Mr. Ash stated that Marv Anderson said the streets were put in by city contractors so why were they constructed substandard. Minetor stated that the physical dimensions of the roadway are compatible with City standards, the minimum right-of-way width for a City street is 50 feet and for a cul-de-sac a 65 foot radius. The majority of the structures in this development are at the minimum setback from the edge of the outlot. Mr. Ash was concerned that if the streets are privately owned then the parking ordinance would be null and void and the Homeowner's Association would not want that. Mr. Ash encouraged the Council to accept the streets as they are and continue plowing and maintenance of these streets. Mayor Linke polled the Council and it was agreed that staff would work with the Homeowner's Association to develop an agreement. In the . meantime, the City will continue plowing. Mr. Ash requested that the Council let him know when the agreement would be discussed. 6. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 91-130C regarding Resolution No. 4152 Approving 1991/1992 Pay Equity Adjustments. Orduno stated that in 1990 the Pay Equity Act was amended by Legislature. Orduno discussed what impact the amendment had on the City of Mounds View and how the pay equity system works. MOTION/SECOND: Wuori/Quick to adopt Resolution No. 4152 Approving 1991/1992 Pay Equity Adjustments Councilmember Rickaby stated that the Mayor would have a conflict of interest with this item. Mayor Linke stated that there is no conflict of interest unless the item covered only his wife's salary and performance. Mayor Linke had previously checked on this item with the League of Minnesota Cities. Councilmember Quick stated that many times Councilmembers or the Mayor have had to step down when a vote involved their family member(s). 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried U Mounds View City Council Page Seven ~gular Meeting December 23, 1991 7. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 91-131C regarding the designation of all City Buildings and City Vehicles as Smoke Free. Orduno stated that the trend nationwide has been to designate all government buildings and vehicles as Smoke Free. Orduno stated that this No Smoking policy will go into effect January 1, 1992 with two designated smoking areas. These designated areas are the Police Garage and the Public Works Garage. Orduno said she had received many complaints regarding smoking from non-smoking employees and residents. Councilmember Blanchard stated that the City has loyal, long-ti.me employees that are smokers and there was .nothing in their job descriptions stating they couldn't smoke. These individuals are not second class citizens and they too have rights. Orduno stated that smoking is offensive in areas where people .eat and it is a proven health hazard. Orduno further stated it is for the health, safety and welfare of all the employees to have the building smoke-free. Orduno again stated that she had received complaints from staff as well as residents regarding smoking in the building. Orduno stated that in no way does this smoking policy refer to the smoker's as • second class citizens. Councilmember Rickaby suggested that instead of Mounds View buildings the policy should read any "City-owned" buildings. Mayor Linke asked when this policy was brought up to the employees. Orduno stated that the department heads had been discussing it for about a month in their department head meetings and that she. had held an employee meeting two weeks ago and had informed the employees. Orduno further stated that at this time there are two designated places for smoking and that eventually these two areas would be phased out and the building would become smoke-free. Discussion followed by the Council regarding the penalties for violation of the smoking policy. Councilmember Rickaby inquired as to how long the suspension would be with regards to the third violation. Would the Council wait until the employee violates the third time and then decide how long the suspension would be without pay? Mayor Linke indicated provisions are set in the personnel code with regards to suspension of employees. Councilmember Rickaby commented that this leaves the City open room to discrimination. unds View City Council egular Meeting • Page Eight December 23, 1991 Mayor Linke stated that the Personnel Code, which is a part of the Mounds View Municipal Code, would be the guide to having the penalty fit the crime. Mayor Linke stated that personalities couldn't get involved in the decision regarding suspension. Orduno stated that a paper trail has to be made with regard to those that are disciplined. Councilmember Blanchard asked how this policy would be enforced. Blanchard stated that it would have to be enforced across-the- board and that one's eyes could not blink when it involved certain employees. Councilmember Wuori asked if this policy would include park buildings. Orduno stated that the park building is a City-owned building so therefore it would be included in this policy. Councilmember Blanchard asked for a definition of what is considered the public works garage and where would the smoking be allowed. Public Works Garage is too general. Orduno defined the non-smoking Public Works Garage area as the offices, breakrooms, bathrooms and storage areas. MOTION/SECOND: Rickaby/Wuori to adopt Resolution No. 4153 Designating All City-Owned Buildings and Vehicles Smoke Free Effective January 1, 1992 with the new language to define Public Works Garage and insert in the Administrative Policy and in the resolution that "City buildings" changed to "City-owned buildings." 4 ayes 1 nay Motion Carried 8. Bill Frits, 8072 Long Lake Road stated that Orduno had referred to an employee policy committee and wanted a clarification as to who or what this committee consisted of. Orduno explained that what was being referred to was the department head team and this team meets weekly. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 91-132C regarding the establishment of a Street Light Utility Fund. The Street Light Utility Fund would be set up to account for the activities of the utility, all revenues and expenditures would be accounted for in that fund, an annual budget would be prepared for the fund and an annual financial report would be prepared for the fund in the same manner as other City funds. Mounds View City Council Paqe Nine ~gular Meeting December 23, 1991 MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Blanchard to adopt Resolution No. 4157 Establishing the Street Light Utility Fund 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried 9. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 91-133C and Resolution No. 4155 regarding the amendment of the 1992 General Fund. Orduno stated that the resolution transfers monies from the General Fund that was budgeted for street lights to the street light utility fund, amends the General Budget for the funding of the Administrative Intern's position, and transfers the unused portion of funds from the 1991 General Fund Budget that were designated for Lambert Park improvements to the 1992 General Fund Budget for that same project. Mary 5aarion, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, stated that by transferring this money the Department would be able to buy another piece of equipment for Lambert Park. MOTION/SECOND: Rickaby/Blanchard to adopt Resolution No. 4155 Establishing the Street Light Utility Fund 5 ayes REPORT OF COUNCILMEMBERS: 0 nays Motion Carried Councilmember Blanchard: Councilmember Blanchard had no report but wished everyone a "Happy Holiday Season." Councilmember Wuori: Councilmember Wuori had no report but concurred with Councilmember Blanchard in wishing everyone a "Happy Holiday Season". Councilmember Rickaby: Councilmember Rickaby had no report. Councilmember Ouick: Councilmember Quick had no report. REPORT OF THE MAYOR: Mayor Linke wished everyone a "Happy Holiday Season". Mayor Linke stated that the Police work through the holidays and if they see a police officer to wave and wish them a Merry Christmas. Mayor Linke again wished all a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. REPORT OF ADMINISTRATOR: 1. Orduno introduced Resolution No. 4158 Authorizing Budget Transfers for 1991 Salary Adjustments. Orduno explained this resolution as Mounds View City Council Page Ten ~.ziar Meeting December 23, 1991 being a "housekeeping item". Orduno stated that basically this resolution authorizes the transfer of money from the General Fund to the Departments for salary adjustments. MOTION/SECOND; Blanchard/Wuori to adopt Resolution No. 4158 Authorizing Budget Transfers for 1991 Salary Adjustments 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Orduno wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. REPORT OF STAFF 1. Ric Minetor, Public Works Director/City Engineer reviewed a Staff Report regarding the purchase of a file server for a computer network. This file server would enable persons to communicate with other computers. There is also an electronic mail sign on feature and this system can be utilized to communicate via modems with computers outside of City Hall such as the City Attorney's office. The cost of the file server would be $3,624. MOTION/SECOND: Rickaby/Quick to approve purchase of file server not to exceed $3,624. 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried 2. Ric Minetor, Public Works Director/City Engineer reviewed a Staff Report regarding the purchase of building permit tracking software. Minetor stated this tracking software would be useful in tracking open permits, reviewing permits at any address, completing sophisticated reports regarding surcharges and censuses, and calculation of fees. The cost of this unit would be on a weekly basis and other building and planning related activities. MOTION/SECOND: Wuori/Rickaby to approve purchase of building permit tracking software at a cost not to exceed $1,600 from Yancey Computer Applications 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried REPORT OF ATTORNEY.: Mark Barney, City Attorney, had no report. everyone a Merry Christmas from Dick Meyers Mayor Linke announced that the next Council 1992 and the next Regular Council Meeting w _. City Attorney Karney wished and himself. Work Session would be January 6, ould be January 13, 1992. ounds View City Council Page Eleven ~~ular Meeting December 23, 1991 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the Council, Mayor Linke adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Respectfully su itte , Michele Severson Deputy Clerk ~~ •