HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 082520091
2 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
3 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
4 AUGUST 25, 2009
5
6 CALL TO ORDER.
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8 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
9
10 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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12 Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
13
14 ROLL CALL.
15
16 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Roth, Stille, and Thuesen
17 Absent: None
18 Also Present: City Manager Mike Momson and Finance Director Roger Larson.
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20
21 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
22 ITEMS.
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24 1. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 25, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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26 Motion by Councilmember Thuesen, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve the City
27 Council Meeting Agenda of August 25, 2009.
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29 Motion carried unanimously.
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31 11. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
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33 None.
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35 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
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37 A. Consider August 11, 2009 Council meeting minutes
38 B. Consider licenses and permits.
39 C. Consider payment of claims.
40 D. Resolution 09 -070: Amending the 2009 Standing Rules of Conduct
41
42 The following corrections were requested to the August 11, 2009 Council meeting minutes:
43 Page 4, Line 13: "...issues such as sidewalks will be fleshed flushed out."
44 Page 5, Line 10: "...on P-atd Pahl Avenue..."
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46 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve the Consent
47 Agenda items with the above corrections to the August 11, 2009 Council meeting minutes.
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49 Motion carried unanimously.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
Page 2
2 IV. PUBLIC HEARING.
3
4 None.
6 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF.
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8 A. Update on 2010 Budget. Mike Morrison, City Manager and Roger Larson Finance
9 Director. presenting_
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11 City Manager Morrison and Finance Director Larson addressed Council and reported on the City
12 of St. Anthony 2010 Proposed Budget and the following proposed 2010 levies: General Fund
13 Budget; Road Improvement Levy, Lease Revenue Bonds; Housing and Redevelopment (HRA);
14 Tax Abatement (Central/Emerald); and PERA Rate Levy. A PowerPoint presentation was
15 provided on the following information:
16 ■ Budget Calendar — 2009
17 ■ 2010 Budget Highlights
18 ■ General Fund Budget/Levy: General Fund Levy is the same as 2009 Levy @ $2,945.511
19 ■ State Legislature Levy Limit Requirements
20 • 2010 General Fund Revenues
21 ■ 2010 General Fund Expenditures
22 ■ 2010 Total Proposed Levy (Includes General Fund, Roads, Public Facilities, HRA, Tax
23 Abatement, and PERA): Total increase in all levies = $187,508
24 ■ Issuance of Debt/Levy Impact
25 • Summary of 2010 Budget
26 ■ Next Steps in the Budget Process
27
28 Councilmember Gray noted that the Metro Cities employer health insurance contribution average
29 is 62.1% per employer, while the City of St. Anthony will be down to 53.7% after this year. He
30 pointed out that after discussion on a $50 increase it had been decided that amount was too low
31 and to increase it to $100. He asked if other cities are going in the same direction as St. Anthony
32 with this contribution. City Manager Morrison replied that cities are all over the board as to what
33 they will do in this area.
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35 Mayor Faust requested City Manager Morrison to extend a thank you from Council to staff for
36 understanding the economic climate and the 0% increase in wages. He stated it sends a good
37 message to the taxpayers that staff is working for them and being part of the solution, rather than
38 part of the problem. He pointed out that the City has received over $15 million in grants over the
39 years, which is a substantial savings to taxpayers, and that St. Anthony has kept its tax rate
40 significantly lower than the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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42 Councilmember Stille pointed out that there have been many meetings with a lot of time and
43 effort put into the budget. He noted that employees that are members of certain health plans will
44 receive a net decrease in their take home pay due to this budget.
45
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
Page 3
1 B. Update on Tiered Water Rates Mike Mornson City Manager and Roger Larson Finance
2 Director. presenting,
4 City Manager Mornson addressed Council and discussed that Minnesota Statutes, Section
5 103G.291 was amended to include a requirement for public water suppliers serving more than
6 1,000 people to adopt a water rate structure that encourages conservation. To comply with law,
7 effective January 1, 2010, cities must implement a tiered system of water rates that charges a
8 higher rate per unit as water usage increases. The conservation rates are for all user groups
9 including residential, multi - family and commercial users of water. The implementation of a
10 tiered system is being administered by the DNR. Their recommendation includes to encourage
11 the conservation of water, the cost should be significant between tiers. City Manager Morrison
12 and Finance Director Larson provided a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed City of St.
13 Anthony Conservation - Tiered Water Rates. The presentation included the following
14 information:
15 ■ State Law Mandate — Water Conservation 2010
16 ■ 2008 Revenues & Expenditures
17 ■ Example of Current Uniform Rate / Example of Tiered Water Rate Structure
18 ■ Current Residential Water Usage
19 ■ Comparison of Water Bill — Residential/Summer Watering
20 ■ Future City Council Discussion Points
21 o Finalize Rate Structure
22 o Analysis of Base Rate
23 o Tiered System for all User Groups
24 o Sewer Rate Increase (Sanitary Water Disposal)
25
26 There was discussion on the following options for finalizing the rate structure:
27 a. 10 %, 12.5%,15%
28 b. 10 %, 15%,20%
29 c. 25%,25%,50% (DNR recommendation)
30
31 Consensus of the City Council was to direct staff as to provide specific numbers on the above
32 rates for review at a future City Council meeting.
33
34 Councilmember Gray stressed the importance of informing the residents that the 25 %, 25 %, 50%
35 tiered structure that was discussed in the City newsletter is the DNR's recommendation, and it is
36 not what is being put into effect at this point. He pointed out those examples of the City's water
37 conservation efforts should also be noted to the residents.
38
39 Councilmember Stille suggested including the topic of water conservation on the upcoming joint
40 meeting with the School Board.
41
42 Councilmember Roth requested information on expenditures from the sewer fund. Finance
43 Director Larson provided information on expenditures associated with the sewer fund, noting
44 that the major expense is sanitary waste disposal. Due to stable sewer fund costs a rate increase
45 has not been necessary since 2003.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
Page 4
1 Councilmember Roth questioned if a rate increase to .0036 rather than .0035 would be advised to
2 avoid the need for a readjustment in the next few years. City Manager Morrison indicated staff
3 will provide information on the .0035 rate in dollar figures, as well as other options.
4
5 Mayor Faust noted that in the past the City has attempted to make the sewer fund balance
6 without using it as a revenue source and/or anticipating and building up funds. A philosophical
7 discussion would be needed on any change in this practice.
9 Councilmember Roth requested that the next discussion on this topic includes a monthly or
10 quarterly sewer bill to provide context as to the sanitary sewer percentage of the budget.
11
12 Mayor Faust inquired about the required date for adoption of the tiered water rate structure.
13 Finance Director Larson indicated that the ordinance will need to be amended, which requires
14 three readings. The tiered water rate structure needs to be in place by January 1, 2010. There is a
15 little buffer in that the first quarter billing is not done until April, so the rate structure will need to
16 be completed by the end of this year or the very early part of next year. He advised that the rate
17 structure will be applied to all user groups, including residential, commercial, and multi - family
18 units.
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20 Mayor Faust suggested requesting a one year extension on the adoption of the tiered rate
21 structure to allow for a period of experience for analysis of conservation that may be achieved at
22 the School District due to the recent renovations of major buildings, water reduction devices, and
23 a new building maintenance management team. He noted there should also be discussions about
24 the requirement to change the rate structure with the commercial users in the City, such as
25 Happy's Potato Chips, which is one of the largest consumers of water in the City.
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27 City Manager Mornson indicated that this topic will be included in every City newsletter until
28 there is an adopted rate structure. The topic will come forward for further discussion by the City
29 Council at the last meeting in September or the first meeting in October.
30
31 Consensus of the City Council was to direct staff to request a one year extension on the required
32 adoption of the tiered water rate structure due to the changes discussed above at the School
33 District and the desire to hold discussions with the business community. The topic is to be
34 included on the September 29, 2009 scheduled joint meeting with the School District. Staff is to
35 inform Happy's Potato Chips ofthe State Statute requirements on the water rate structure. The
36 topic should come back before the City Council no later than the October 13, 2009 City Council
37 meeting.
38
39 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
40
41 None.
42
43 VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
44
45 City Manager Morrison reported on the following:
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
Page 5
1 ■ September 8, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting for the Water Re -use Facility
2 ■ Scheduled meetings on August 13 and September 31, 2009 with the City of New
3 Brighton to discuss next year's street project and whether New Brighton will be
4 replacing the utilities on Silver Lane during the project.
5 ■ Mississippi Water Management Organization Mowing Seminar
6 ■ Autumn Woods concept review was pushed from the August Planning Commission
7 meeting to the September Planning Commission meeting agenda at the request of the
8 applicant. Staff is also working with Autumn Woods on the feasibility of tax
9 increment financing assistance with the requirement for an escrow account to be set
10 up with the City.
11 ■ Silver Lake Village Update: Open houses were held at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today.
12 27 purchase agreements have been signed on the 40 available cooperative units.
13 ■ The Fire Chief has been speaking with various groups about the City's emergency
14 plan and precautions that can be taken with concerns such as H1N1.
15 • Officer Huddle will receive an award from the Military Order on September 1, 2009
16 at 5:30 p.m. for his actions in the SWAT incident that occurred in Roseville.
17
18 Mayor Faust suggested consideration of putting in a cul -de -sac at Silver Lane /16`h Street with
19 next year's street project as a method to reduce the number of cut - throughs in the area of TCF
20 Bank and Emerald Park.
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22 Councilmember Gray: No report.
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24 Councilmember Roth reported on the City's contract cost for 2009 with Northwest Youth and
25 Family Services in the amount of $3,806. The total service provided to St. Anthony residents by
26 the organization through June is $16,280.
27
28 Councilmember Stille: No report.
29
30 Councilmember Thuesen reported on a pamphlet labeled "May We Help You" that was
31 distributed at a previous Senior Advisory Council meeting. The pamphlet includes information
32 on things such as clinics, the Fire Department, food, health care, and housing. Individuals
33 interested in this type of information can contact Mary Bonneville at 612- 781 -8363. He reported
34 that members of the Cross Country Team may be providing volunteer time to help seniors.
35
36 Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the August 18, 2009 Association of Metropolitan
37 Municipalities Revenue and Taxation Committee meeting. Policies that will be brought forward
38 to the legislature and specific concerns of the Association were discussed and will be wrapped up
39 at the next committee meeting.
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41 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
42
43 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
44 are not on the regular agenda.
45
46 Hearing none, Mayor Faust moved forward with the agenda.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2009
Page 6
IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Mayor Faust announced that the current issue of the League of Minnesota Cities Magazine
includes the "Long View" article he had written to the residents of St. Anthony that he tailored to
address all the cities in the State.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Hamer
Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
City Clerk
r�� 1
Mayor