HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 04102012I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETfNG MINUTES
3 APRIL 10 ,2012
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5 CALL TO ORDER.
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7 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
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9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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II Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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13 ROLL CALL.
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15 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Jenson, Roth, and Stille.
None. 16 Absent:
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey and Finance Director Shelly Rueckert.
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CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
ITEMS.
I. APPROVAL OF APRIL 10,2012, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Gray , to approve the City
Council Meeting Agenda of April 10 , 2012.
Motion carried unanimously.
II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
None.
III. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Consider March 27. 2012. Council meeting minutes;
B. Consider licenses and permits;
C. Consider payment of claims; and
D. Cons ider Resolution 12-041; Accepting a Donation for the Summer Survival Program
Hosted by the St. Anthony Police Department.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Council member Jenson, to approve the Consent
Agenda items.
Motion carried unanimously.
47 IV.
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PUBLIC HEARING.
49 None.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10 ,2012
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REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF.
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
A. Ordinance 2012 -04; Amending Sections 33.018 Sewer Charge Rates and Metro Waste
Surcharge. 33.036 Water Rates and 33.090 Charges for Stonn Sewer Faci lities of the St.
Anthony City Code. Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting.
City Manager Casey presented a proposed Ordinance allowing the City's utility rates to be
amended by resolution, which is a more efficient and less expensive way of revising and
updating utility rates. He stated this amendment will mean the City does not need to go through
the codification process whenever amendments are made.
Mayor Faust stated this will allow the City to review and revise rates annually by resolution and
will give provide sufficient time for the City to properly analyze the rates in a timely manner.
Motion by Councilmember Stille , seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve Ordinance
2012-04; Amending Sections 33.018 Sewer Charge Rates and Metro Waste Surcharge , 33.036
Water Rates and 33.090 Charges for Storm Sewer Facilities of the St. Anthony City Code , and to
waive the first and second readings.
Motion carried unanimously.
B. Resolution 12-042; Setting the Sewer Rates, the Water Rates and the Charges for Stonn
Water Facilities for the 2012 Utility Billing Cycle. Shelly Rueckert, Finance Director,
presenting .
City Manager Casey introduced Finance Director Shelly Rueckert.
Finance Director Rueckert presented the proposed 2012 utility rates and explained the storm
water charge has remained the same since 1998 and the recommended increase is in the range of
2.7%. She noted that two proposals are included in the agenda that model this percentage
increase, one is a flat dollar amount per year and the other is a percentage . She advised the
sewer usage rate has been in place since 2010 and metro treatment costs have been increasing
resulting in a proposed sewer rate increase of20% to correspond with the City's increased
treatment costs , which equates to an increase of approximately $2 per quarter. She stated the
current water usage rate is $2.60 per 1,000 gallons and has not been changed since 2007. She
stated the proposed water usage rate is $2.67 per 1,000 gallons based on first tier pricing with
subsequent tiers raised similarly, which equates to an approximate 2.7% increase . She added the
overall impact on a quarterly bill is approximately $3 per quarter or $12 per year.
City Manager Casey noted the resolution contained in the agenda is incorrectly numbered and
should state Resolution 12-042.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10 , 2012
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Mayor Faust stated that a typical resident is currently paying $75.59 per quarter and the proposed
rates, including the State surcharge, equal $78.63 per quarter or an additional $3.04 per quarter.
Councilmember Stille stated the City is billed for sewer and storm water treatment and
adjustments are needed because the City is lagging behind in recouping its treatment costs. He
indicated the DNR also requires cities to bill for water on a tiered system and adjustments to the
water rates currently being charged are necessary.
Councilmember Jenson requested further information regarding the calculation used for
determining sewer usage.
Finance Director Rueckert explained that sewer rates are based on a residential user's first
quarter's water usage . She stated this calculation is intended to factor winter usage when no
sprinkling or irrigation is occurring so that residents are not charged for spikes during the
summer months in determining sewer rates. She added the sewer rate then remains in place for
the balance of the year.
Motion by Councilmember Roth , seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve Resolution
12 -042; Setting the Sewer Rates , the Water Rates and the Charges for Storm Water Facilities for
the 2012 Utility Billing Cycle.
Councilmember Stille noted there are two storm water rate options for City Council approval.
He indicated his preference would be to approve a flat fee increase of $.35 per quarter for storm
water charges.
Council member Roth indicated his preference would be to approve the 2.5% increase per year
for storm water charges.
Mayor Faust stated the utility rate increases pertain to 2012 only and the City will evaluate its
utility rates again next year to determine if any adjustments are needed. He indicated the flat fee
storm water rate increase of $.35 is easier to recognize on your utility bill and residents will not
be required to figure out a 2.5% increase.
Councilmember Roth amended his motion to approve Resolution B contained in the agenda.
Councilmember Jenson seconded the amended motion to approve Resolution B contained in the
agenda.
Motion carried unauimously.
C. Resolution 12-043; Authorizing Participation in the 2012-2013 GreenCoros Program.
Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting.
City Manager Casey advised the GreenCorps program is part of the AmeriCorps program
coordinated by the Pollution Control Agency. He stated the City proposes to apply for grant
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10 ,20 12
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funding to be a host site to have a GreenCorps member placed in the C it y for eleven months
begilming in September.
Co uncilmember Gray requested confirmati o n that the City would participate in the GreenCorps
program only ifit received the grant. He also asked if the grant would cover all the City'S
expenses and no funds would be expended by the City.
City Manager Casey replied that the C ity would only participate in the GreenCorps program if
funding were received. I-Ie added the City would only be required to provide approximately two
hours o f supervision per week as well as filling out log sheets and evaluations.
Mayor Faust stated the GreenCorps pro g ram is an eleven month program that benefits the City
and will further the City's environmental endeavors. He expressed thanks to C it y Manager
Casey fo r pursuing the GreenCorps program funding.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson , to approve Re so lution
12 -043 ; Authorizing Participat io n in the 2012-2013 GreenCorps Pro g ram .
Mayor Faust noted that participation in the GreenCorps program will go hand in hand with the
University of Minnesota's project on sustainability as well as the Green Step program and the
City 's work with the Freshwater Society.
Motion carried unanimously.
D. Quarterlv Goals Update. Mark Casey, C ity Manager. presenting.
City Manager Casey pre se nted the first quarter goals update and stated that 53 goals were
identified with each goal assigned to a staff member to ensure completion. He prov ided a brief
update o n the following goals :
• The City is continuing its wo rk on the Green Step program .
• Review of the City'S organizational stmcture is complete and recommendations are being
implemented.
• City staff has met with Chamber of Commerce officials and is working on solidifying its
goals.
• City staff will continue to explore a joint fiber partnership as well as a cultural-historical
center.
REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
C ity Manager Casey -No repo rt .
Councilmember Gray -No report.
Councilmember Jenson reported on hi s attendance as the City Council representative at the
March 31 Cub Scouts Pack # 153 pinewoo d derby event. He stated the City Co uncil came in
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10 , 2012
Page 5
I fourth place . He also reported that the St. Anthony Civic Orchestra will be holding a benefit
2 concert on May 1211'.
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4 Councilmember Roth reported on his attendance at the April 9th City Council worksession at
5 which time the City Council discussed the flooding event. He stated the City Engineer presented
6 possible solutions and the City Council directed the City Engineer to continue to pursue some of
7 the recommendations with various State agencies .
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9 Councilmember Stille -No report.
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II Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the following :
12 • April 9th City Council worksession.
13 • April 9th Regional Council of Mayors meeting. He stated that Maureen McAvey from the
14 Urban Land Institute gave a presentation on real estate in the new economy. He noted
IS that Ms. McAvery 's PowerPoint presentation will be obtained and distributed to the City
16 Council. He stated that Matt Schmitt from the Urban Land Institute also gave a
17 presentation on infrastructure in the new economy and the impact of broadband. He
18 added that Mr. Schmidt's presentation will be shared with the City Council.
19 • April 9 th meeting on the Northeast Diagonal. He stated the original project report was
20 written in 2002 and nothing has happened since that time; however, the City should keep
21 this on the forefront of future discussions.
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23 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
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25 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
26 are not on the regular agenda.
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28 Ms. Becky Cole, 373 Old Highway 8 SW, #206 , New Brighton, appeared before the City
29 Council and stated she lived in the Equinox apartments for approximately three years and her
30 experience with this property has been a nightmare. She stated she was twice threatened with
31 eviction for non-payment of rent even though her rent was not late. She stated she was told she
32 could have a satellite dish on her balcony if she secured an insurance policy for half a million
33 dollars naming the property as beneficiary . She stated she told them that this violated the FCC
34 rules and she was required to sign a form but did not have to get insurance; however, the satellite
35 technician refused to install the dish because there was no safe place to ground the satellite dish.
36 She stated that her air conditioner did not work properly last summer and the building
37 management kept coming up with excuses for why it did not work. She stated she moved out on
38 February 29, 2012, because the building management refused to renew her lease. She stated she
39 was frequently told that the building management wanted to show her apartment but no one
40 came to view the apartment. She indicated she had movers at the apartment on February 22 nd in
41 order to give herself time to clean the apartment before surrendering the keys on February 29th •
42 She stated she had the building management do a walk-through and they deducted several items
43 from her security deposit even though she had the apartment cleaned professionally. She stated
44 she wanted to bring this to the City Council 's attention because the Equinox apartments and
45 other building managers do what they do because they can and cities have regulatory authority
46 over how these businesses are run. She asked the City Council why it was okay for this business
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City COlmcil Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10,2012
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to be run in this manner and asked what the City Council was willing to do to let residents know
that the City Council cares about what happens within the city limits.
Mayor Faust stated that the City Council does not normally comment on items during
Community Forum. He suggested that Ms . Cole seek legal counsel if she feels aggrieved.
IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Mayor Faust reminded residents that Village Notes has been mailed and copies are available at
City Hall.
Councilmember Stille stated the high school will be performing The Crucible on April 13, 14,
and 15.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Hughes
TimeSaver OjJSite Secretarial, Inc.
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ATTEST: {}Jul~ULJ.
City Clerk (