HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 09082015I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
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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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11 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 Brever, Jenson, and Stille.
16 Absent: Councilmember Gray
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey, Finance Director Shelly Rueckert and Acting City
18 Engineer Justin Messner, John Ohl, Police Chief, Mark Sitarz, Fire Chief
19 Guests: Ms. Audrey Wagner
20
21 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
22 ITEMS.
23
24 I. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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26 Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
27 Council Meeting Agenda of September 8, 2015.
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29 Motion carried unanimouslv.
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31 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
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33 A. Donation from Mrs. Audrey Wagner to the St. Anthony Police and Fire Departments
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35 Mrs. Audrey Wagner stated George and she made the decision before he passed away in January
36 that they would give a donation to the St. Anthony Fire and Police Departments because they
37 have always been there for us and we know what a great job they do for the City of St. Anthony.
38 She had a check for each one of them and something for Mayor Faust. Police Chief Ohl, Fire
39 Chief Sitarz, Mayor Faust and Mrs. Wagner gathered for the presentations. She presented Mayor
40 Faust with a money clip that George received, although she does not know who he received it
41 from, which says St. Anthony City Council. Mayor Faust commented he does not have any
42 money and thanked her for the money clip.
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44 Police Chief John Ohl addressed the Council and stated it was very difficult to get Audrey to
45 come to the meeting and appear before the Council to make the presentations. It took three or
46 four weeks to convince her that this would be a good thing. He and Chief Sitarz wanted an
47 opportunity to say a few words about George, how they feel about the family, and the donation.
48 He felt they wanted to do this publicly rather than privately and he knows this was not Audrey's
49 choice. She is gracious enough to allow them to say a few words. In 2013, in his annual report
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 2
1 he noted what it takes to be a good citizen. In the report he gave to the Council, he wrote they
2 need the citizens to be engaged and active in a mutual collaboration with the Police to affect
3 crime. The Wagners were the epitome of being good citizens. George was one of those rare
4 people who truly cared more about others than he cared about himself. He cared deeply about
5 this community. It seems 20% of the people do 80% of the work and George was certainly one
6 of those 20 %. More than anything else, he was truly a nice guy. Police Chief Ohl stated his mom
7 used to tell him, John, it's interesting how far you can get in this world by just being nice. Be
8 nice to people. George and Audrey have been pillars of our community, strong law enforcement
9 partners and the City is grateful that they were part of this community and called St. Anthony
10 home. They were good citizens and George and Audrey define that term. Police Chief Ohl
11 thanked them very much for the donation, their friendship and their dedication to the City of St.
12 Anthony Police Department and the community. He really appreciates it.
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14 Fire Chief Sitarz stated he too has the honor of saying some kind words about George and from
15 his perspective, he really didn't get to know George until later on in the years. It was more so
16 dealing with him as a patient and as he got to know him more so at community events. He was a
17 very kind man and was Mr. St. Anthony. He wrote something brief and read it to Council.
18 Tonight we are witnessing a unique statement made by a pair of individuals, one who is no
19 longer with us physically but has touched this community once again in a unique way. His
20 dedication to this community was and is apparent in so many ways. He was a member of the
21 Planning Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, Park and Recreation Commission, Kiwanis,
22 and City Council. George wanted to make this community even better and he was willing to put
23 in the time and effort to do so. Now to extend his legacy even more, the Wagners have agreed to
24 give back to the community financially. On behalf of the Fire Department, Fire Chief Sitarz
25 stated he wanted to thank Audrey for the opportunity to speak about George to say some kind
26 things about her husband and to say what he did for this community that many of us call home.
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28 Mayor Faust stated Audrey and George were residents of St. Anthony for 40+ years. He knew
29 George for 25 years when he went on the Planning Commission in 1990 and no man does it by
30 himself. He needs to have someone by his side to give him love, caring, and support to keep the
31 home fires burning to know that he could always come home and have someone there that is
32 willing to listen to you in the good times and the bad times and Audrey had always done that.
33 He appreciated the money clip, noting he does not have one like this. Mayor Faust promised at
34 some time in the future, he would pass it on to another Councilmember to start a legacy of
35 keeping it going. He stated we will know who it came from and the kind of person George and
36 Audrey are. Mayor Faust stated it will be good for us who serve as George did and Audrey does
37 to remember what a gentleman and fine person he was. Mayor Faust stated his family has
38 known the Wagner family, are grateful for them, and care about Audrey. He thanked Audrey,
39 stating she is a national treasure and a City treasure.
40
41 III. CONSENT AGENDA
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43 A. Consider August 25, 2015, Council meeting minutes,
44 B. Consider licenses and permits, and
45 C. Consider payment of claims.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 3
1 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve the Consent
2 Agenda items.
4 Motion carried unanimously.
5
6 IV. PUBLIC HEARING
8 A. Resolution 15 -054 a resolution Setting the Proposed 2016 Tax Levy and General
9 Operating Budget for the City of St. Anthony Village.
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11 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m.
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13 Ms. Shelly Rueckert presented at the August 25 City Council meeting, the City Staff presented
14 the proposed 2016 General Fund Operating Budget and the 2016 Overall levy. Ms. Rueckert
15 reviewed the 2016 Budget Calendar. Ms. Rueckert presented a power point presentation
16 summarizing the 2016 Proposed Budget.
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18 City Staff is reaffirming the proposed 2016 General Fund operating Budget as presented at an
19 amount totaling $6,936,342. The 2016 proposed Overall Levy increase is $219,075 or 3.76%
20 increase from 2015 is also reaffirmed.
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22 Ms. Rueckert presented the components of the 2016 proposed Overall Levy.
23 The parameters for preparing the General Fund Operating Budget and Levy includes:
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25 • City revenues budgeted using current run rates for sources that are subject to trends and
26 conservative baseline estimates for re- occurring aids and charges for services.
27 • Liquor transfer reduced to match current operating results.
28 • Expenses budgeted at amounts that will maintain present level of City services.
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30 Each year the General Fund revenue and expenditure budget line items are examined for changes
31 in expected collections /charges, labor adjustments, changes in contract rates, insurance rates,
32 utility costs, usage of various materials or needs, etc. The findings of this examination produce
33 the drivers associated with the proposed 1.93% increase in the General Fund Levy:
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35 • Personnel costs
36 • Contracted services
37 • Property and liability insurance costs
38 • Pass through costs
39 • Remaining budget line items combined
40 • Impact of a reduction in liquor profits available for transfer was phased in through the use
41 of one time fees and fund balance.
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43 The HRA budget and Levy contains cost drivers similar to the general fund. Conversely, this
44 fund does not have the same resources and transfers available in order to offset cost drivers. The
45 proposed Levy increase for the HRA is 5.56% or $7,388.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 4
1 The 2016 Debt Related Levies are proposed to increase by a combined 1.87% increase over the
2 2015 combined levies. The $43,537 increase represents a 0.75% increase to the Overall Levy. A
3 debt levy reduction program (Peak to Plateau) began in 2014 to stabilize the annual increase in
4 levies created the annual street reconstruction plan. Without the use of resources committed to
5 this program the impact of 2015 street bonds issued along with existing debt service
6 requirements would have required a 5.05% increase in the Overall Levy.
8 The 2016 Capital funds Levies are proposed to increase by a combined $103,990. This increase
9 is part of the phase -in plan to recognize the liquor transfers are estimated to be $146,395 less
10 than 2015. The phase -in approach uses of one time fees and fund balance. The impact of the
11 Capital levies increase is eased by phase -in approach used within the General Fund Levy.
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13 Staff will continue to seek Grants and Donations from Federal, State and private sources to help
14 offset the cost of operations and capital equipment.
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16 The final presentation of the 2016 General Operating Budget and Property Tax Levy is
17 scheduled for the December 80', 2015 Council Meeting. At the meeting, Staff will present a recap
18 of the 2016 General Operating Budget and the impact of the 2016 Property Tax Levy.
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20 The General operating budget totals $6,939,342. Personnel costs are up 2.92% and are 73% of
21 General fund expenditures. Liquor operations transfers reduced by $146,395 and initiate a
22 building improvement levy of $73,000 in lieu of liquor transfer. Increase CIP levy by $30,990.
23 Increase in all levies totals $219,075 or 3.76 %.
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25 Since 1999 to date the City has received $19,405,122 in Grants and donations from local
26 businesses /residents.
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28 Councilmember Stille asked if anything had changed since the last presentation on August 25,
29 2015 and Ms. Rueckert stated it has not changed.
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31 Mayor Faust stated it is interesting where we put our money in and where we spend money it
32 comes down to infrastructure. Infrastructure includes roads, water, how we do things and it also
33 includes our people. He referred to a Star Tribune article about infrastructure and roads and
34 sewer and water and that sort of thing. They were having a call to arms and he kind of chuckled
35 at that. Mayor Faust noted St. Anthony has been doing this for 20+ years, heard the call a long
36 time ago, and invested in our community. He stated he thinks when the peak to plateau was done
37 and we were able to reduce that road levy impact, the City was able to keep this infrastructure
38 improvement going and this will pay off in the long run for current and future residents and it
39 will come to pass.
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41 Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:22 p.m.
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43 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to adopt Resolution 15-
44 054 a resolution Setting the Proposed 2016 Tax Levy and General Operating Budget for the Citv
45 of St Anthony Village.
46 Motion carried unanimously.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 5
2 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE.
4 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
A. Resolution 15 -055 a resolution Authorizing Acquisition of Easements for the Highway
Safety Improvement Program.
9 Mr. Justin Messner, Acting City Engineer, reviewed for Council consideration is a resolution
10 authorizing the presentation of offers for permanent easement, temporary easement, and cost to
11 cure for Highway Safety Improvement Project in the amount of $105,075.00. This project
12 includes the following improvements:
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14 1. Sidewalk on the south side of 37h Avenue from Stinson Boulevard to Highcrest Road
15 2. Sidewalk on the east side of Stinson Boulevard from 37h Avenue to Silver Lane
16 3. Intersection improvements throughout the City of St. Anthony Village.
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18 Mr. Messner noted the cost to cure element is something different from our typical City
19 projects. Cost to cure is the cost to reimburse residents for damages or replacement of fences,
20 retaining walls, trees, or other items located within the limits of construction for the Highway
21 Safety Improvement Project that the City will not replace with the project. On typical City
22 projects, St. Anthony Village would replace and restore items that were removed by the project.
23 Landowners will be compensated for the losses under the Federal rules, and the homeowner will
24 replace trees and fences as they desire.
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26 The project will commence during the construction season in 2016. Appraisals totally $105,075
27 were obtained for easements. He provided a list of the parcels and total compensation.
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29 Councilmember Stille asked why easements were needed for this street reconstruction, as he
30 does not recall this ever being done in the past. Mr. Messner stated work needs to be done into
31 the existing right -of -way. This is necessary to get the federal grant.
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33 Mayor Faust noted if any cure is necessary, the Federal grant will reimburse the residents for any
34 cures necessary for items removed.
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36 Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to adopt Resolution 15-
37 055 a resolution Authorizing Acquisition of Easements for the Highway Safety Improvement
38 Program.
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40 Motion carried unanimously.
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42 B. Resolution 15 -056 a resolution Receiving Feasibility Report and Ordering Plans and
43 Specifications for the 2016 Street and Utility Improvements
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45 Acting City Engineer, Mr. Justin Messner presented the 2016 Street and Utility Feasibility
46 Report for the following improvements:
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 6
2 Street & Utility Reconstruction
3 • Stinson Boulevard from 376 Avenue NE to Silver Lane NE
4 • 37th Place N from Stinson Boulevard to 37`h Avenue NE (Columbia Heights
5 Improvements)
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7 Trail and sidewalk Improvements
8 • 8' bituminous trail along west side of Stinson Boulevard between 37t' Place N and 40`h
9 Avenue NE (Columbia Heights improvements)
10 • Salo Park sidewalk replacement
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12 Railroad Crossing Improvements
13 • Re lace existing crossing on Stinson Boulevard NE located between 371' Avenue NE and
14 37 Place NE (This design anticipates the future HSIP project being constructed)
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16 Decorative Lighting and sidewalk Improvements
17 • Ease side of Stinson Boulevard NE between 37th Avenue NE and Silver Lane NE
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19 The timing on this project was revised in June 2015. They have received a number of complaints
20 due to the condition of Stinson Blvd as well as some water main breaks. The sidewalk
21 improvements will be done with the HSIP program.
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23 Mr. Messner stated the Sanitary Sewer will be replaced with an 8 -inch plastic pipe along with all
24 the manholes. There are actually two sanitary sewers along this roadway and Columbia Heights
25 does not plan to replace their sanitary sewer at this time however they will replace all manholes.
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27 Mr. Messner stated a number of drainage improvements will be done in the area. The project
28 cost is $3.9M. 35% of the improvements are assessable in the residential areas. The City will
29 apply for State Aid funding for these improvements. Mr. Messner reviewed the St. Anthony
30 Funding Sources, assessable and City portions, and Columbia Heights participation in the cost.
31 He reviewed the funding sources as Special Assessments, Street & Utility Reconstruction Funds
32 and Municipal State Aid Funds.
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34 Mr. Messner reviewed the Project Schedule. Construction would begin in May 2016 and final
35 paving would be done in June 2017.
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37 Councilmember Jenson asked what percentage the MSA would pay and Mr. Messner stated the
38 City is eligible to request the total amount for street reconstruction and a calculation of the storm
39 sewer reconstruction can be requested. Within the next few years we will start incurring a State
40 Aid Fund balance. We will make the claim and as money is put back into the fund it will be
41 returned to us for use. It generally runs between 55 -60% of participation on the State side for the
42 storm sewer.
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45 Mayor Faust asked if it would be safe to say that because we have been building roads, that we
46 used up our MSA credit with the State. Whereas if we haven't been building roads we would
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 7
have credit and crappy roads. Mr. Messner stated that is exactly true. The City has a very
aggressive approach to replacing the infrastructure and we've funded the project, worked
through it, and received that credit from the State after the fact. Mayor Faust stated that puts the
City in a good position in the future as we will be getting those monies as time goes on. St.
Anthony isn't getting it now but the City isn't putting the public through duress and heartache
when driving on bad streets.
8 Councilmember Stille asked if the streetlights would be the same style and Mr. Messner stated
9 the decorative street lighting would be consistent with the other streetlights in the City. He noted
10 Columbia Heights opted not to do any decorative street lighting.
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12 Mayor Faust confirmed there would be continuity with the decorative streetlights and there
13 would be clear delineation between the communities. He noted the budget is $3.9 million with
14 $1.8 million St. Anthony and $1.8 million Columbia Heights. Mayor Faust asked if WSB will be
15 engineering the entire project and Mr. Messner stated Columbia Heights will be reimbursing
16 90% of the costs upfront to the City. Mayor Faust stated we will not be their bank. We had a
17 similar agreement with New Brighton and it worked out well. Mayor Faust mentioned the
18 sinking and location of the manhole covers. He stated when coming down Silver Lake Road to
19 the north of New Brighton, they put the manhole covers right in the driving path which doesn't
20 seem very bright because that constant driving over them by cars is only going to lower the level
21 of the manhole covers. He would like WSB to consider location and not right in the middle of
22 the driving area. It seems extenders are needed 10 -15 years after construction to raise the
23 manhole cover to the surface of the road. There is ample time for resident input on each street
24 reconstruction project.
25
26 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson to adopt Resolution 15-
27 056 a resolution Receiving Feasibility Report and Ordering Plans and Specifications for the 2016
28 Street and Utility Improvements.
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30 Motion carried unanimously.
31
32 C. Ordinance 2015 -05 an Ordinance Amending Mayor and City Councilmembers Salaries
33 (151 of 3 readings)
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35 Mayor Faust presented the proposed ordinance amendment would increase the monthly salary
36 for the Mayor and Councilmember's by $50.00 per month. This will increase the Mayor's salary
37 from $675 to $725 /month. This will increase the Mayor Pro Tern's salary from $613 to
38 $663 /month. This will increase the Councilmember's salary from $550 to $600 /month. To
39 comply with Minnesota State Law this ordinance will take effect January 1, 2016. For historical
40 purposes the last time this ordinance was amended was three (3) years ago in 2012. This is the
41 first reading of this ordinance amendment.
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43 Mayor Faust noted for the public, this is the only compensation the City Council receives in
44 remuneration for its efforts. There are no other benefits in terms of healthcare, no reimbursement
45 for electronic equipment used (computers and cell phones). This is keeping up with the times.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 8
Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve First Reading
of Ordinance 2015 -05 an Ordinance Amending Mayor and City Councilmembers Salaries.
Motion carried unanimously (4/0)
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
No report given by the City Manager.
Councilmember Stille stated August 31, the Council attended a workshop session. The Mayor
and Councilmembers were all present.
Mayor Faust stated on September 1, he participated in an interview with the Legends on video
held in the St. Anthony Council Chambers to promote what was done at the Legends in a
partnership with MN Housing Finance Corporation, Ramsey County, and City of St. Anthony.
He thinks this will be used in other communities as they are having other counties looking at that
as a way of providing affordable housing throughout the State. It's a service. They have been
good corporate citizens and the City needs to respond in kind to them.
Mayor Faust stated today he attended the Mississippi Water Management Organization bi-
monthly meeting and two things of significance were they approved: a draft budget; and, the
Preliminary Budget was $5.7 million.
On September 19, there will be a grand opening celebration at the Mississippi Water
Management Organization.
VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
are not on the regular agenda. Hearing none, Mayor Faust moved forward with the agenda.
32 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
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None.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Wolfe
Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Mayo
ATTEST:
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2015
Page 9
City Clerk
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