HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 04222014I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 APRIL 22, 2014
4
5 CALL TO ORDER.
6
7 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
8
9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
10
11 Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
12
13 ROLL CALL.
14
15 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Jenson, Roth and Stille.
16 Absent: None.
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey, Finance Director Shelly Rueckert, and Sustainability
18 Intern Nicole Nissen-Hooper.
19
20 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
21 ITEMS.
22
23 I. APPROVAL OF APRIL 22, 2014, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
24
25 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
26 Council Meeting Agenda of April 22, 2014.
27
28 Motion carried unanimously.
29
30 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE.
31
32 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
33
34 A. Consider April 8, 2014, Council meeting minutes;
35 B. Consider licenses and permits; and
36 C. Consider payment of claims.
37
38 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve the Consent
39 Agenda items.
40
41 Motion carried unanimously.
42
43 IV. PUBLIC HEARING.
44
45 A. 2015 Budget. Shelly Rueckert, Finance Director, presenting.
46
47 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m.
48
49 Finance Director Rueckert explained that tonight's public hearing is intended to provide an
50 opportunity for residents to have input in the budget process and following the public hearing,
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2014
Page 2
4
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34 V.
35
36 VI.
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
staff will participate in work sessions to further discuss the 2015 operating and capital budgets
culminating in a presentation to the City Council on September 9"' of the proposed 2015
operating budget and property tax levy and another meeting on December 9"' where the City
Council will adopt the final 2015 operating budget and levy. She reviewed the 2014 General
Fund revenues noting that the General Fund is the City's core fund for providing City services
and pointed out that the tax levy represents approximately one-half of the City's revenues. She
also discussed General Fund expenditures and stated that over 66% of General Fund
expenditures go toward public safety efforts. She also reviewed the overall levies for 2014
compared to 2013 and stated there was a 3.8% increase in overall levies in 2014, adding that a
$208,000 median value home paid $1,423 for City services in 2014.
Councilmember Jenson stated it appears that most cost areas are flat except for the road
improvement debt and asked if that increase was due to the fact that the 2014 street project is
larger than last year.
Finance Director Rueckert explained that the City had some refinancing of debt that occurred in
2014 and the City was able to lower some of its interest rates on the restructuring. She
acknowledged the increase was higher than the norm but the City has a levy reduction plan in
place to help mitigate increases and provide a more gradual or steady increase from year to year.
She stated that when the City received its LGA distribution in 2014, the City Council used its
LGA to meet previously unmet capital needs, as well as to put some away in reserves and
mitigate inflationary increases to provide tax relief. She added that the City anticipates it will
receive an additional amount of LGA in 2015 in the range of 12-18%.
Mayor Faust pointed out that the City did not receive LGA for twelve years prior to its receipt of
LGA in 2014 and it is going to take some time to catch up.
Councilmember Stille stated that the City's approach has always been to do what it can to keep
the general levy as flat as possible while still keeping an eye on necessary capital improvements,
specifically the City's roads, and levy increases are typically related to road improvements.
Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:14 p.m.
REPORTS FROM
AND STAFF - NONE.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
A. Sustainability Internship Presentation. Nicole Nissen -Hooper, Sustainability Intern,
presenting.
Mayor Faust introduced Nicole Nissen -Hooper, the City's Sustainability Intern.
Sustainability Intern Nissen -Hooper stated that the City planted a tree at Trillium Park today in
honor of Earth Day. She reminded residents of the City's annual cleanup day on Saturday, May
3`d, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and residents can check the website and various community
handouts for more information. She stated that a Sustainability Festival was held last year with
participation from Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, and University of Minnesota students. She
advised that the City removed over 400 invasive carp from Silver Lake this winter representing
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2014
Page 3
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36 VII.
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
about 36% of the carp. She reported that the rain barrel workshop was held last week and 22
residents received discounted rain barrels. She stated that projects started for next year's intern
include a project to install a green roof on top of the water tower, Tree City USA, and
construction of the rain garden at Central Park. She thanked the City for everything and stated
her internship has been a great experience.
Mayor Faust stated that Ms. Nissen -Hooper will be graduating on May 10`h and she is part of the
first graduating class with a major in sustainability. He expressed the City Council's thanks and
appreciation for all her efforts on behalf of the City.
B. Quarterly Goals Update. Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting.
City Manager Casey advised that work has commenced on the Silver Lake treatment/Salo Pond
and work will commence on the regional storm water treatment facility in late summer. He
stated the treatment facility was supported through a $1.2 million grant from MWMO. He
reported the City has been working with Rice Creek Watershed District on Mirror Lake and Rice
Creek Watershed District secured a $3 million water quality grant which is part of the regional
plan to address the issues in the region, adding that Ditch #3 is the area in St. Anthony that will
be most affected by this grant. He advised that the City has begun Phase 1 of its laser fiche
project with the goal of creating a public interface where residents can view all public files
online. He reported that the City received a $770,000 Federal Grant as part of its goals related to
accessible pedestrian signals (APS) and traffic studies and the City will look at several
intersections including Silver Lake Road north to south at Silver Lane, the shared intersection of
Kenzie and St. Anthony Boulevard, and the 37`h Avenue intersection with Stinson and Highcrest.
He added that some of this work would parallel some of the recommendations coming out of the
Safe Routes to School grant. He stated the City is currently conducting a citywide facility study,
the Police Department remodel is complete, and the Police Department locker room project is
currently underway. He stated the Planning Commission's work plan includes monitoring wood
fire impact and ensuring that the City Code reflects sustainability initiatives and the Parks
Commission's work plan includes exploring a dog park, enhanced pedestrian and bike friendly
routes, and new "SAV" signs on secondary streets.
Councilmember Jenson noted that during the first quarter, staff has taken action on 26 items and
he commended City Manager Casey and staff on their progress.
REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
City Manager Casey reported that a second carp removal effort at Silver Lake was done last
Friday with 60 carp removed for a total of 500 pounds, representing an approximate 41 % overall
reduction in the carp population. He stated the City needs to remove some debris from the lake
and plans to do that this summer with an additional carp removal effort next winter.
Councilmember Gray requested further information about the debris in the lake.
City Manager Casey indicated the City pulled a picnic table out of the lake this week. He added
that the ripping of the net earlier this winter might have been caused by some rebar.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2014
Page 4
1 City Manager Casey pointed out that the $3 million water quality grant secured by Rice Creek
2 Watershed District was the #1 choice of all the projects submitted and there was only $5 million
3 available statewide. He commended City Engineer Todd Hubmer for the significant amount of
4 work he did with Rice Creek Watershed District and stated that without Mr. Hubmer's help, this
5 project would not have been the #1 choice. He reported that the 2014 street project is starting
6 next week on the east side of EdRemere. He advised that the Safe Routes to School open house
7 is scheduled for Monday, May 5` , at 6:00 p.m. at Wilshire and the open house provides an
8 opportunity for residents to review and comment on the draft plan.
9
10 Councilmember Stille — no report.
11
12 Councilmember Gray reported on his attendance at the North Suburban Communications
13 Commission's public hearing on April 17`h regarding Comcast's franchise agreement proposal.
14 He advised that the public hearing is open until May 15` and the Commission will vote on the
15 agreement shortly thereafter.
16
17 Councilmember Jenson reported on his attendance at the April 10th and April 10 strategic
18 planning sessions with the School District where they discussed ways to enhance the School
19 District's mission, values, and vision and action steps needed to achieve their goals.
20
21 Councilmember Roth — no report.
22
23 Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the April 14th Regional Council of Mayors meeting
24 and a loss control workshop on April 16`h sponsored by the League Insurance Trust. He also
25 reported on his attendance at a meeting on April 18`h with officials from Anoka County and
26 Coon Rapids who were participating in a transit oriented development tour from the City of
27 Ramsey to the City of Minneapolis, including a tour of the Landings.
28
29 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
30
31 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
32 are not on the regular agenda. Hearing none, Mayor Faust moved forward with the agenda.
33
34 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
35
36 Mayor Faust reminded residents of cleanup day on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
37 noon and stated further information is available on the City's website.
38
39 X. ADJOURNMENT.
40
41 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
42
43 Respectfully submitted,
44 Barbara Hughes (TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.)
45
46 ATTEST:
47 City Clerk�7
Mayor