HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 06232015I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 JUNE 23, 2015
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5 CALL TO ORDER.
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7 Mayor Pro Tem Gray called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
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9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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1 I Mayor Pro Tem Gray 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 Pro Tem Gray; Councilmembers Brever, Jenson, and Stille.
16 Absent: Mayor Faust.
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey and City Engineer Todd Hubmer.
18 Guest: Peggy Moeller, CPA (Redpath and Company).
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20 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
21 ITEMS.
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23 I. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 23, 2015, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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25 Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
26 Council Meeting Agenda of June 23, 2015.
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28 Motion carried 4 -0.
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30 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE.
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32 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
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34 A. Consider June 9, 2015, City Council meeting minutes;
35 B. Consider licenses and permits; and
36 C. Consider payment of claims.
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38 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to approve the Consent
39 Agenda items.
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41 Motion carried 4 -0.
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43 IV. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE.
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45 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE.
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47 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
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49 A. Resolution 15 -041 Ordering 2016 Street and Utility Reconstruction Feasibility Study.
50 Todd Hubmer. Cit�En Engineer, presenting.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2015
Page 2
2 City Engineer Hubmer explained that the 2016 street and utility project was previously proposed
3 for Skycroft Drive south of 36`h, however, based on a number of concerns and the possibility of
4 partnering with the City of Columbia Heights, the 2016 street and utility improvement project is
5 proposed to be changed to include street and utility reconstruction on Stinson Boulevard from
6 37`h Avenue to Silver Lane and on 37`h Place from Stinson Boulevard to P Avenue in Columbia
7 Heights. He presented the project schedule and stated that three public information meetings
8 will be held as well as the public hearing for the project and assessments and construction is
9 anticipated to begin in May 2016 with substantial completion in October 2016.
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11 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to adopt Resolution 15-
12 041 Ordering Preparation of Feasibility Report for the 2016 Street and Utility Improvements.
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14 Motion carried 4 -0.
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16 B. Resolution 15 -042 Awarding Bid for Construction of Regional Stormwater Research
17 Facility. Todd Hubmer, City Engineer, presenting.
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19 City Engineer Hubmer advised that four bids were received for construction of the regional
20 stormwater research facility and the lowest responsible bidder is St. Paul Utilities and
21 Excavating, Inc., at $1,494,860. He explained this project has been pending for a number of
22 years and due to inflationary factors and other changes in the design to accommodate MWMO's
23 desires, contract costs were approximately $1.6 million; as a result, staff worked with the
24 contractor and eliminated some of the design elements that resulted in significant cost savings
25 without changing the operational performance of the facility and a Change Order has been
26 negotiated resulting in a net decrease of $113,500 for a contract price of $1,381,360. He added
27 that construction will not start until all permits and agreements for the project have been received
28 from the City of Minneapolis.
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30 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to adopt Resolution 15-
31 042 Awarding a Bid for the St. Anthony Stormwater Research Facility Project.
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33 Motion carried 4 -0.
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35 C. Amendment to the St. Anthony Regional Stormwater Research Facility Capital Project
36 Agreement. Todd Hubmer, City Engineer, presenting.
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38 City Engineer Hubmer explained that the City's existing agreement with MWMO for the
39 Stormwater Research Facility provided $1,209,000 in funding and the MWMO Board recently
40 agreed to increase its grant to $1,609,000 to cover the cost of construction of the facility.
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42 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve Mississippi
43 Watershed Management Organization Amendment One to Capital Project Agreement (MWMO
44 Agreement #204- 12 -01).
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46 Motion carried 4 -0.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2015
Page 3
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City Manager Casey presented the second reading of the Ordinance amending Chapter 112.15 of
the City Code to allow 4 on -sale liquor licenses in the City. He stated that since the first reading,
the City has received no comments or calls and the final reading is scheduled for July 14, 2015.
He stated that at the June 9, 2015 City Council meeting, a question was raised about the 60 -40
ratio and his response was incorrect in that the 60 -40 rule applies to strong beer and wine
licenses and the ratio is 50 -50 for a full on -sale liquor establishment.
Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve Second
Reading of Ordinance 2015 -03 Amending Chapter 152 to Change the Number of On -Sale Liquor
Licenses Allowed in the City.
Motion carried 4 -0.
E.
City Manager Casey presented the second reading of the City's Solar Ordinance and stated the
proposed amendments provide clarification on the definition of flush mounted systems, clarify
and expand the purpose of the Ordinance, allow solar panels in residential districts, require a
Conditional Use Permit for all commercial installations, require proof of structural integrity,
allow freestanding solar energy systems in rear yards of residential properties with applicable
standards including double side yard setbacks, add standards for light poles, and add design and
performance standards for solar energy systems. He stated that since the first reading, the City
has received no comments or calls and the final reading is scheduled for July 14, 2015.
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve Second
Reading of Ordinance Amending 152.008 Definitions and § 152.187 Solar Energy Systems to
Update Provisions Pertaining to Solar Energy Systems.
Motion carried 4 -0.
F. Presentation of 2014 Audit. Peggy Moeller, Redpaath and Company, presenting.
Peggy Moeller, CPA, reported that the City received an unmodified or clean opinion on its 2014
financial statements. She stated that the State Legal Compliance Report summarizes the results
of their testing required by Minnesota Statutes and there were no findings of noncompliance.
She stated that the Report on Internal Controls includes one finding and is the same finding the
City receives every year regarding segregation of duties. She explained that the City's Finance
Department is too small to segregate all duties and this is probably a finding that the City will be
unable to eliminate. She stated that 2014 General Fund actual revenues were $6,625,690
compared to a budget $6,056,021, an increase of $569,669, and most of this increase was related
to increased collection of property taxes. She stated the General Fund year end balance was
$2,475,481 with non - spendable prepaid items totaling $91,136 and the remainder classified as
unassigned in the amount of $2,384,345. She stated the City's net 2015 budget was $5,424,322,
the City's minimum fund balance policy is 30 -35 %, and 30% of this amount is $1,627,297 and
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2015
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the net unassigned fund balance was $2,384,345, resulting in a minimum fund balance of
43.96 %. She pointed out that the General Fund was used to provide interfund loans totaling
$639,128 and these interfund loans are not available to meet the cash flow needs of the General
Fund so the minimum unassigned fund balance was reduced to $1,745,217, resulting in a
minimum fund balance of 32.17 %, consistent with the City's 30 -35% minimum fund balance
policy. She presented a six year history of the City's water operations and stated this fund's
2014 operating income was $45,090. She advised that for the past six years the City has not had
sufficient revenue to cover sewer operating expenses and recorded a loss of $137,155 in 2014.
She stated that 2014 net income before transfers from the Liquor Fund was $262,942 and the
total HRA fund balance was $586,098. She advised that there were no changes in accounting
policies during 2014, there were no disagreements with management and no difficulties were
encountered in performing the audit. She thanked Finance Director Rueckert and her staff for
their assistance with the audit. She advised that a new accounting standard will be required for
the year ended December 31, 2015, and requires any city participating in a defined benefit plan
to book its share of the net pension liability on its financial statements.
Councilmember Stille requested further information about the City's increased revenues.
City Manager Casey explained that part of the increase in revenues was due to a higher
collection rate for property taxes compared to past years. He stated the increased revenue was
also attributable to the decertification of the Cub Foods TIF District.
Councilmember Stille stated that the increase in revenues demonstrates that there are factors that
positively or negatively impact the City's budget and that is one of the reasons for maintaining a
cash balance of approximately $2.3 million to provide some cushion.
Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to accept the 2014 audit
as presented.
Motion carried 4 -0.
REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL
City Manager Casey reported that 50 children attended the annual Summer Survival School held
last Thursday and Friday and highlights included a presentation by the Police Department on gun
safety, a bike rodeo, SWAT team presentation, and the State Patrol helicopter. He stated the Fire
Department provided a fire truck demonstration and first aid information. He commended the
Police Department and Fire Department for another job well done.
Councilmember Brever — no report.
Councilmember Jenson reported on his attendance at the June 22nd St. Anthony Fire Relief Fund
monthly meeting. He announced the St. Anthony Orchestra concerts on Thursday, June 25`h, at
Chandler Place; Sunday, June 28h, at Como Park; and Thursday, July 2 "d, at Salo Park.
Councilmember Stille reported on his attendance at the June 19`h open house at the Legends and
the June 22nd Planning Commission meeting.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2015
Page 5
Mayor Pro Tem Gray advised that the franchise agreement between the North Suburban
Communications Commission and Comcast is not ready and is anticipated to be ready in July.
4 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
6 Mayor Pro Tem Gray invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on
7 items that are not on the regular agenda.
9 Ms. Kathy Ahlers, 4010 Hayes Street NE, Columbia Heights, stated she does some event
10 planning in the area and has heard people asking for a healthy sit down restaurant where they can
I 1 have a meeting or reserve a room for a group. She stated it seems there are a lot of burger places
12 around and the area around the former I -Hop property has a lot of older people in high density
13 housing who are looking for more healthful fare.
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15 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
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17 None.
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19 X. ADJOURNMENT.
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21 Mayor Pro Tem Gray adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.
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23 Respectfully submitted,
24 Barbara Hughes (Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.)
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26 ATTEST: 4 Mayor ro T: -effi
27 City/ Merk