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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 120920251 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 9, 2025 I. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Webster called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. H. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Mayor Webster invited the Council and audience to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance. III. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor Webster, Councilmembers Lona Doolan, Nadia Elnagdy, Jan Jenson, and Thomas Randle (arrived at 7:06 p.m.). Absent: None. Also Present: City Manager Charlie Yunker, Assistant City Manager Ashley Morello, Finance Director Deborah Maloney, and Police Captain Mike Huddle. Others Present: None. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. IV. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. Motion by Councilmember Doolan, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City Council Meeting Agenda of December 9, 2025, as presented. Motion carried 4-0. V. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE. VI. CONSENT AGENDA. A. Approve November 25 2025 Council Meeting Minutes. B. License and Permits. C. Claims. D. Resolution 25 078 Approving the 2026 Appointments and Appointing the Chair and Vice Chair to the Planning; Commission. E. Resolution 25 079 Approving the 2026 Appointments and Appointing the Chair and Vice Chair to the Parks and Environmental Commission. F. Resolution 25 080 Approving the 2026 Salary of Charlie Yunker, City of St. Anthony Village City Manager. G. Resolution 25 081 — Authorizing_ Transfers and Closing of Specified Funds. H. Resolution 2-082 — Approving the 2026 Fee Schedule. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 2 1 I. Resolution 25-083 — To Enter into a Grant Agreement Between the City of St. Anthony 2 Village and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services for the Improvement of 3 Publicly Owned Infrastructure. 4 J. Resolution 25-084 — Accepting the Environmental Response Fund Grant and Subgant 5 Agreement for the Tibyan Community Center. 6 7 Motion by Councilmember Elnagdy, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the 8 Consent Agenda items. 9 10 Motion carried 4-0. 11 12 VII. PUBLIC HEARING. 13 14 A. Resolution 25-085 — Setting; the Final 2026 Tax Levy and General Operating; Budget for 15 the City of St. Anthony Village. 16 17 Mayor Webster provided a recap of the process thus far and noted that on September 9, 2025, the 18 City Council set the Preliminary Tax Levy at 9.18%. 19 20 Finance Director Maloney reviewed a PowerPoint presentation for the 2026 Proposed Budget 21 including the 2026 Budget Calendar, 2026 Budget Parameters, Overall Levy by Fund Type, 2026 22 General Fund Revenues, 2026 General Fund Expenditures, Pathway to the 2026 Levy, 2026 23 Budget Cost Drivers, General Fund and Levy Options, Fire Department Funding Request, 24 Funding Options Considered, 2026 Final Levy, 2026 Median Value Home Impact, 2026 25 Distribution of City Taxes, General Fund Support of City Services, and Council Action 26 Requested. 27 28 Also Provided for Council Consideration were the Staff Memo, Presentation, General Fund 29 Revenues Summary, General Fund Revenues Detail, General Fund Expenditures Summary, 30 General Fund Expenditures Detail, Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service Funds, Public Hearing 31 Notice, and Resolution 25-085. 32 33 Ms. Maloney stated that the final 2026 Tax Levy is $10,409,140, representing a rate of 7.51%. 34 The final 2026 General Fund Operating Budget totals $9,715,196. 35 36 Mayor Webster opened the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. 37 38 Mr. Cody Holliday, 3528 Skycroft Drive, the current President of the St. Anthony Area Chamber 39 of Commerce, presented a resolution encouraging the Council to reject the Tax Levy increase. 40 He read the resolution verbatim. 41 42 Councilmember Doolan stated she and Councilmember Jenson talked to 141 residents while 43 door -knocking, regarding the 9.18% tax levy increase and fire, police, and schools. She also had 44 contact with 14 other residents. A letter received from Mr. Ledford recommended a long term 45 strategy. She feels comfortable that the Council is doing what they need to relieve the need for 46 the fire department now. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 3 2 Councilmember Jenson stated he door -knocked for 250 homes, and most people could see the 3 number of fire calls had significantly increased, and some changes need to happen. He did not 4 get a strong push back. He is happy to see that we were able to drop the debt levy. 5 6 Councilmember Elnagdy stated Council does not take the tax levy lightly. Given the level of 7 service the Fire Department provides, additional staffing was needed to continue to provide the 8 current level of service. 9 10 Councilmember Randle stated he did not do door -knocking. The City has always been about 11 services. He agrees with Councilmember Elnagdy. He also has a higher tax bill for next year. We 12 can't say we want services but don't want to pay for them. He enjoys the fire department 13 response time. The cost is worth it. 14 15 Mayor Webster stated that after adopting their children, she was concerned about keeping them 16 safe. She is grateful for the 2-minute response time of the fire department. 25% of the population 17 is 65 years and older. The fire department service is valued and allows some older residents to 18 remain in their homes. She thanked Staff. 19 20 Mayor Webster closed the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. 21 22 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Doolan, to approve Resolution 23 25-085 — Setting the Final 2026 Tax Levy (7.1 %) and General Operating Budget for the City of 24 St. Anthony Village. 25 26 Motion carried 5-0. 27 28 VIII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE. 29 30 IX. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 31 32 A. Resolution 25 086 — Authorizing; to Enter into An Agreement with Axon for a Ten -Year 33 Contract for Video Recording System Services. 34 35 Mayor Webster reminded Council that on October 23, 2025, the City Councils of Lauderdale, 36 Falcon Heights, and St. Anthony met to review and discuss the outdated video recording system 37 currently being used. He provided background explaining how we got to this point. The current 38 system is called Arbitrator from Panasonic and began use in 2018. The current system expires at 39 the end of 2026. The new system is more secure and will save time. Captain Huddle reviewed 40 the enhancements of the new system. 41 42 Police Captain Mike Huddle reviewed a PowerPoint of the Video Recording System Services, 43 including Industry Changes, Vendor Options, Vendor Axon, Vendor Motorola, Cost 44 Comparison, Considerations, Implementation Timeline, and Feedback for Tonight. Axon has 45 85% of the market share. 46 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 4 1 Staff recommends approval of the Axon contract with a ten-year term to maximize long-term 2 cost savings, and directions to proceed with implementation of the new video recording system. 3 The new system cost options include Option 1: Five-year contract $104,000 annually, or Option 4 2: 10-year contract $105,000 annually. The cost would be shared proportionally based on the 5 shared services contract. The cost includes any software upgrades and new hardware every 2 '/2 6 years. Cost is not the only factor. Reliability is everything. Cameras must work every time. 7 During a critical incident, if cameras fail to activate, there will be no grace or understanding from 8 the public. 9 10 Captain Huddle reviewed the implementation timeline. In February 2026, video migration from 11 the current server to cloud storage would take place. This must be completed by December 2026 12 to avoid Panasonic server fees. 13 14 Also provided for Council consideration were the presentation, quote, agreement, and Resolution 15 25-086. 16 17 Councilmember Jenson stated this is the second detailed presentation made to Council, and he is 18 convinced that the Police Department has done significant due diligence, there is a plan in place, 19 and he supports the agreement. 20 21 Councilmember Doolan stated she also appreciated the earlier presentation, and she had asked 22 about the data privacy risk. There are no concerns about security with managing the recordings 23 in the cloud. This helps us keep pace with technology. Councilmember Doolan asked if there are 24 any changes in policy with this new system, or improvements in practices or procedures. There is 25 an automated process for redacting. There is also an Al report assistant. Captain Huddle stated 26 that it is the available technology, but currently, that does not fit the department's model. 27 28 Councilmember Elnagdy stated that most departments she works with use Axon. She feels it is a 29 good move and makes sense. 30 31 Mayor Webster asked about the current technology that will become obsolete and asked what 32 year the department first adopted the body -Worn cameras. Captain Huddle stated that in 2012, 33 squad cameras were implemented. The software has not evolved since that time. Some server 34 updates have occurred. In 2018, the department evaluated body -worn cameras and purchased the 35 hardware with a grant. 36 37 Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Elnagdy, to approve 38 Resolution 25-086 — Authorizing to Enter into an Agreement with Axon for a Ten -Year Contract 39 for Video Recording System Services. 40 41 Motion carried 5-0. 42 43 44 B. Ordinance 2025-07 — Amending; Multiple Sections of Chapter 33 Relating to Sewer 45 Charge Rates, Water Rates, and Storm Water Facilities Charges. ►,, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 5 1 Finance Director Maloney reviewed this is the third reading of Ordinance 2025-07. The first 2 reading and public hearing were held on November 11, 2025; the second reading was on 3 November 25, 2025. There were no recommended changes to the draft ordinance from the first 4 or second readings. 5 6 Also provided for Council consideration were the presentation, Utility Fund Summaries, Water 7 Fund, Sewer Fund, Utility Fund Summary, Utilities Infrastructure Fund Summary, Stormwater 8 Fund Summary, Rate Survey, Long -Range Utility Revenue Plan, and Ordinance 2025-07. 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 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Staff recommends approval of this final reading of Ordinance 2025-07. Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to approve Final Reading and Adopt Ordinance 2025-07 — Amending Multiple Sections of Chapter 33 Relating to Sewer Charge Rates, Water Rates, and Storm Water Facilities Charges. Motion carried 5-0. C. Resolution 25-087 — Approving; the Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-07. City Manager Yunker reviewed this resolution to approve a summary publication for Ordinance 2025-07. Motion by Councilmember Doolan, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to approve Resolution 25-087 — Approving the Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-07. Motion carried 5-0. X. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. City Manager Yunker thanked the entire St. Anthony Staff for all their work this past year. Councilmember Randle had no report. Councilmember Doolan stated on November 29, she attended Small Business Saturday. On December 2, she attended the School Board's Truth in Taxation. On December 6, she attended the Mounds View Town Hall Meeting. Councilmember Jenson stated on December 4, he attended the Northeast Youth and Family Services Board Meeting. On December 5, he attended the Ramsey County Local League of Governments Board Meeting. Councilmember Elnagdy stated on November 29, she attended Small Business Saturday. Mayor Webster stated on December 4, she attended the Nine North Executive Board Meeting, followed by the Nine North Board Meeting. On December 6, she attended the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters. She also attended the community forum at Mounds View. On December 8, she met with School and City Partners from St. Anthony and Columbia Heights. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 6 2 XI. COMMUNITY FORUM. 4 A. Public Comment — 2026 Budget. 5 6 Dr. Bibi Neumann, 3404 Silver Ln NE, St. Anthony Village, submitted written comments 7 regarding the 2026 budget. She requested that the City publish the full 2026 budget packet 8 immediately, correct the inaccessible website links, and acknowledge in the meeting record that 9 residents did not have access to the required materials during the public -comment window. 10 11 B. Public Comment — 12/9/2025 City Council Meeting. 12 13 Dr. Bibi Neumann, 3404 Silver Ln NE, St. Anthony Village, submitted written comments for the 14 December 9, 2025, City Council Meeting. The City's online public comment form currently 15 returns a 404 error, so I am providing these comments by email to ensure they are included in the 16 meeting packet and made part of the public record. Her comments regarding: 17 18 VI.A — Approval of the City Council Meeting Minutes (11-25-2025). 19 VI.B — Licenses and Permits. 20 VI.0 — Claims 12-9-2025 Check Register. 21 VI.D — Resolution 25-478: Planning Commission Appointments. 22 VI.E — Resolution 25-479: Parks & Environmental Commission Appointments. 23 VI.F — Resolution 25-480: 2026 Salary of City Manager. 24 VI.G — Resolution 25-581: Fund Transfers and Closures. 25 VI.H — Resolution 25-582: 2026 Fee Schedule. 26 VI.I — Resolution 25-583: Grant Agreement — Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. 27 VI.J — Resolution 25-584: Environmental Response Fund — Tibyan Community Center. 28 VII.A — Resolution 25-585: 2026 Tax Levy & General Operating Budget. 29 IX.A — Resolution 25-686: Ten -Year Axon Video Recording Contract. 30 IX.B — Ordinance 2025-07: Utility Rates (Water, Sewer, Stormwater). 31 IX.0 — Resolution 25-587: Summary Publication for Ordinance 2025-07. 32 XI.A — Public Comment on 2026 Budget. 33 34 C. Public Comment — Chamber of Commerce Rejects Tax Lew Increase. 35 36 Mr. Cody Holliday, 3301 Silver Lake Road NE, St Anthony Village submitted comments 37 regarding the Resolution of the St. Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce Encouraging the St. 38 Anthony Village City Council to Reject the Proposed Tax Levy Increase. 39 40 D. Public Comment — Fire Department Costs. 41 42 Mr. Mike Mayne, 2705 Silver Lane NE, St. Anthony, submitted comments regarding the St. 43 Anthony Fire Department. 44 45 No one appeared in person to address the City Council. 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 7 XII. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. A. Future Agenda Items. Councilmember Doolan announced there are outgoing Commissioners on both the Parks and Environmental Commission and Planning Commission, whom she thanked for their service. Mayor Webster stated the 4 h — 6th graders will share their essays on December 10 for Mayor for a Day. The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on January 13, 2025. XIII. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Councilmember Elnagdy, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to adjourn the meeting. The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debbie Wolfe TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. ATTEST: A�dp J\I&A City Clerk Mayor Motion carried 5-0.