HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 030820111 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 MARCH 8, 2011
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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.
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 Gray, Jenson, Roth, and Stille.
16 Absent: None.
17 Also Present: City Manager Mike Mornson, Finance Director Roger Larson, Police Chief John Ohl,
18 Public Works Director Jay Hartman, Hennepin County District Court Judge Mary
19 Vasaly, and Leah Slye (ISD #282 Board MemberNice Chair and Chair, St. Anthony
20 New Brighton Endowment Foundation).
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23 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALI. OF THE FOLLOWING
24 ITEMS.
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26 I. APPROVAL OF MARCH 8, 2011 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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28 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
29 Council Meeting Agenda of March 8, 2011.
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31 Motion carried unanimously.
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33 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
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35 A. Swearing In of Police Officer Kiel Rushton.
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37 Mayor Faust conducted the official swearing in of Police Officer Kiel Rushton.
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39 B. Update on Foundation. Leah Slye, member, presenting.
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41 Mayor Faust introduced Leah Slye, ISD #282 Board Member and Vice Chair.
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43 Ms. Slye presented an overview of the St. Anthony New Brighton Endowment Foundation, a
44 newly formed entity on which she serves as Chair. She stated that St. Anthony is fortunate to
45 have a nationally recognized school district that offers life - preparing skills to its students. She
46 indicated that the school district's funding from the State, which serves as its primary source of
47 income, has been lagging for several years and will continue to lag for the foreseeable future,
48 putting some programs at risk. She explained that the St. Anthony New Brighton Endowment
49 Foundation's philosophy is to provide a source of funds that will help keep key programs in
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2011
Page 2
1 place and sustain the excellence of the school district's programs. She stated that the Foundation
2 received a $100,000 pledge from John Mondati with the provision that these funds be matched
3 within three years. She indicated that the School District website has a link to the St. Anthony
4 New Brighton Endowment Foundation.
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Mayor Faust stated that the Foundation is a worthwhile cause that will help keep St. Anthony
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schools strong and vibrant.
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III.
CONSENT AGENDA.
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A. Consider February 22, 2011 Council meeting minutes;
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B. Consider licenses and permits; and
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C. Consider payment of claims.
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Councilmember Stille requested that the third line of the first paragraph on page 4 of the
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February 22, 2011 City Council meeting minutes be revised to reflect that the accurate amount of
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the grant funding application is $600,000 and not $60,000. He also requested that the references
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to Dominium be corrected to state "Dominion."
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Motion was made by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the
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Consent Agenda items, as amended.
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Motion carried unanimously.
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IV.
PUBLIC HEARING.
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None.
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V.
REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF.
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None.
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VI.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
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A. Judge Mary Vasaly, Hennepin County Fourth Judicial District Court.
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Mayor Faust stated that he requested a Hennepin County Judge provide remarks to the City
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regarding the vital role of the court system and how budget cuts are having a negative impact on
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communities. He introduced Mary Vasaly, Hennepin County District Court Judge, who was
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appointed by Governor Pawlenty in 2010.
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Judge Vasaly congratulated Police Officer Kiel Rushton and stated that law enforcement plays
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an important role in the court's efforts to enforce the rule of law. She discussed the
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repercussions of funding cuts and stated that these cuts impact anyone who uses the legal system,
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including cities. She noted that the State's judicial system has been a good steward of the money
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it receives and in 2001, the State Auditor conducted an analysis and found that Minnesota courts
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2011
Page 3
handle 49% more cases than its surrounding states; in addition, the Hennepin County court
wanted to know whether it was handling cases appropriately within its budget and it was
determined that Hennepin County is handling 100% more cases than other large urban courts,
e.g., Phoenix. She stated that the court is currently funded at 91% of need but the caseload
remains the same and there are several open positions currently on the bench. She expressed
concern that further budget cuts will result in a serious inability to get the work done and address
grievances properly within the court system. She discussed the prioritization of cases within the
court system and how low level civil matters may need to be put on temporary hiatus which is
unfortunate because the payable citations in these cases represent monies that come back to St.
Anthony and other communities. She expressed her appreciation to the Council for the
opportunity to discuss the court system.
B. Finance Department 2010 Annual Resort. Roger Larson. Finance Director, presenting.
Finance Director Larson presented the Finance Department's 2010 annual report. The report
covered the following information: Overview of Finance Department, Long Range Financial
Planning, Total Operations 2010 Budget, General Operating Levy, General Fund Balance, Debt
Service, Infrastructure Projects Finalized in 2010, Financial Strength, Water Rates, Sanitary
Waste Disposal Costs, Grants, and 2011 Projects.
Finance Director Larson answered questions of the City Council regarding the accountant
position in the Finance Department and stated that 75% of her duties are related to liquor store
operations, including tracking of expenditures, and her salary is reimbursed 100% by the liquor
operations budget.
Councilmember Stille pointed out that the City has worked hard to maintain a 0% increase in the
general operating levy for the past three years and that some capital improvement projects have
been delayed and salaries were not increased. He indicated that the City has always tried to
serve its residents to the best of its ability at the most cost - effective price, and has never imposed
the maximum levy available.
Finance Director Larson agreed and added that some capital equipment purchases have also been
deferred. He stated that rising fuel costs will need to be addressed in 2011 as well.
Councilmember Roth requested further information regarding the City's debt service.
Finance Director Larson stated that the City carries approximately $35 million in debt, which
includes some Series 2006 and Series 2007 revenue bonds; those bonds are funded by tax
increment dollars and are not all the responsibility of the taxpayer.
Mayor Faust commended Finance Director Larson and the Finance Department staff for their
efforts.
C. Public Works 2010 Annual Report. Jay Hartman, Public Works Director, presenting.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2011
Page 4
Public Works Director Hartman presented the Public Works' Department's 2010 annual report.
The report covered the following information: Public Works Mission Statement, Streets
Division, Parks Division, Water /Sewer Division, Vehicle Maintenance Division, City Buildings,
2010 Public Works Department Training, 2010 Street and Utility Improvement Projects, 2010
Mill and Overlay Project, 2010 Water Reuse Tank Cleaning and Inspection, Proposed 2011
Street and Utility Projects, 2010 Project Awards and Grants, and 2011 Projects and Events.
Public Works Director Hartman discussed this year's snow removal budget and stated that the
City has had almost double the amount of full snow events compared to prior years. He also
discussed the City's maintenance of vehicles and indicated that the oldest plow truck is 22 years
old; the City does not own any plow equipment that is newer than seven years.
Councilmember Stille expressed his appreciation to City staff for using cutting edge technology
as it relates to salt and sand.
Mayor Faust expressed the City Council's thanks and appreciation to the Public Works staff for
their efforts, particularly this winter.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
City Manager Morrison reported on the following:
• City Council Regular Meeting on March 22 will include a first reading of the new
tobacco ordinance, as well as the bond sale for the 2011 street improvement project.
• April 25 — Residents can meet with the County Assessor regarding their property
valuations from 5:00 -6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
• The Fire Chief has been meeting with Columbia Heights and Fridley to discuss
combining purchasing power for gear, computers, pagers, and/or fire trucks as a way to
save money. Staff is also looking at other vendors to see if additional money can be
saved.
• Ramsey County Emergency Division meeting regarding potential spring flooding.
Councilmember Roth reported on his attendance at the North Suburban Cable Commission
meeting last week. He stated that the Cable Commission has moved to its new location in
Roseville and the remodeling of the space is anticipated to be completed in July and there will be
an open house at the new facility. He reported that the North Suburban Cable Commission
discussed the contract renewal with Comcast and whether Comcast would be interested in
extending the current arrangement instead of going through the three year process of renewal.
He stated that Comcast has indicated it would be in the best interest of residents to review all the
technologies currently available to ensure citizens have the most competitive products available.
He added that scholarships are available through the North Suburban Cable Commission, in
conjunction with Comcast, to applicants who are receiving a degree in communications.
Information is available at www.ctvnorthsuburban.org and applications are due April 8. He also
stated that CTV has an outstanding creative programming award with ten programs being
nominated. Residents can go to the website and place their vote for outstanding creative
programming before the end of the month.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2011
Page 5
Mayor Faust reported on the following:
• March 1, 2011, MWMO Executive Committee meeting.
• Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Coordinated Planning Group meeting at the
Pollution Control Agency regarding coordination of water reporting requirements.
• March 8, 2011, MWMO board meeting.
Councilmember Stille: No report.
Councilmember Gray: No report.
Councilmember Jenson: No report.
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.
IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
None.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Hughes
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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ATTEST: • G,.
City Clerk
Mayor