HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 04092013I
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CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 9 , 2013
CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance .
ROLLCALL.
Present: Mayor Faust ; Council members Gray, Jenson, Roth and Stille.
None. Absent:
Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey and Finance Director Shelly Rueckert.
Dave Unmacht (Springsted , Inc.) Guest:
CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
ITEMS.
l. APPROVAL OF APRIL 9, 2013, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve the City
Council Meeting Agenda of April 9, 2013.
Motion carried unanimously.
II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
None.
III. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Consider March 26, 2013, Council meeting minutes;
B. Consider licenses and permits; and
C. Consider payment of claims.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Council member Stille, to approve the Consent
Agenda items.
Motion carried unanimously.
45 IV. PUBLIC HEARING.
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47 None.
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49 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 9,2013
Page 2
VI.
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
A. Presentation of2013 Goals. Dave Unmacht, Springsted, Inc., presenting.
Mayor Faust introduced Mr. Dave Unmacht from Springsted, Inc.
Mr. Unmacht presented the 2013 goals prepared during the City Council's goal setting session
on January 10-11 ,2013. He commended the City Council for its significant experience in
preparing yearly goals and recited the City 's vision and mission statement, as well as the City 's
six strategic initiatives and seven goals for 2013. He explained that the vision, mission,
strategies , and goals are all connected and are followed by approximately 60 action steps. He
advised that the City Council and staff conducted extensive homework prior to the goal setting
session and commended City Manager Casey for taking the lead in preparing the City Council
for the session. He stated the 2013 goal setting session focused on the City 's vision and spent a
good deal of time talking about the long term vision of St. Anthony which has been laid out in
the strategic plan documents. He recited the session theme for the 2013 goal setting session
including a quote from Vince Lombardi about the importance of individual commitment to a
group effort. He stated the City Council also discussed its accomplishments in 2012 and
conducted an exercise on the City'S strengths , weaknesses, opportunities , and challenges . He
stated that St. Anthony is a widely respected city with a cohesive group that works well together ,
shares mutual respect , and understands its roles and responsibilities, adding the City Council and
staff share pride in working together for the best interests of the community.
Councilmember Stille stated that the community plays a significant role in development of the
goals and the action steps are a reflection of what the City Council and City staff have heard
from the community.
Mayor Faust expressed the City Council 's thanks to Mr. Unmacht for his assistance.
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Gray , to approve the 2013
Goals as presented.
Motion carried unanimously.
B. Resolution 13-034; Resolution Approving the Water, Sewer and Stormwater Rates for
2013. Shelly Rueckert, Finance Director, presenting.
Ms. Rueckert presented the 2013 utility rates and stated these rates represent a multi-year
approach toward reasonable rate adjustments that maintain an equitable sharing of costs,
encourage conservation, and retire debt. She presented a graph depicting historical and projected
revenues and expenses for the utility fund from 2010-2014 that shows a decline in operating
expenses for 2013 as a result of the refinancing of the water and sewer bonds in January 2013.
She presented historical and estimated revenues for 2010-2014 without a rate increase, noting
that the significant increase in 2012 revenues was attributed to rate increases and the dry summer
and water usage for 2013 does not assume continued drought conditions resulting in lower
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 9 , 2013
Page 3
revenues. She advised that if there were no rate changes in 2013, expenses would exceed
revenue and stated that a residential customer using 10,000 gallons quarterly would see an
increase of approximately $1.95 or 2.48%.
Councilmember Gray stated that the rate adjustment is intended to better align the City's
expenses incurred in providing water as well as to encourage conservation.
Mayor Faust stated the City Council will review its utility rates each year to ensure equitable
sharing of costs, adding that the quarterly increase of $1.95 is less than $8 per year.
Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Roth, to approve Resolution 13-
034; a Resolution Setting the Sewer, Water, Irrigation Rates and the Charges for Storm Water
Rates for the 2013 Utility Billing Cycle .
Motion carried unanimously.
C. St. Anthony Administration Annual Report . Mark Casey. City Manager, presenting.
City Manager Casey presented the 2012 Administration Department annual report and thanked
Barbara Suciu and Kelsey Johnson for their assistance in preparing the report. He stated the
Administration Department annual report is intended to provide a comprehensive look at the
operations of the City and the report will be available on the website and at City Hall. He
presented information regarding the number of resolutions and ordinances adopted by the City
Council and HRA in 2012. He discussed the City'S various communications and stated one of
the main areas of focus is the website , which now includes a sustainability page. He advised that
the 2012 elections had a 17% turnout for the primary election and an 87% turnout for the general
election. He stated the City has created a strong relationship with Greater MSP and implemented
the Open to Business program in 2013. He stated the Legacy senior living facility is being built
on the Autumn Woods campus and the City had five new businesses open in 2012 . He reviewed
the City's licensing and permit functions stating the City issued 272 building permits in 2012
with a combined value of over $13 million. He indicated the City began using a consulting
planner in 2012 and Planner Kelsey Johnson presented a cost reimbursement plan for adoption
by the City Council intended to pass direct costs back to the applicant. He stated the Planning
Commission held nine meetings in 2012 and heard six variance requests and one CUP request.
He stated the City has strong community affiliations with a wide range of organizations and the
City also works with the Historical Society and enjoys a Sister City relationship with Salo,
Finland. He discussed the City'S sustainability efforts which included amending the City'S
mission statement to add the word "sustainable" and stated the City was one of four cities to
receive a GreenStep 3 award. He stated the City is part of the Regional Indicators Initiative that
measures the City's carbon footprint and the City held a workshop series with the University of
Minnesota on sustainability. He indicated that as part of the City'S reorganization, the human
resources function was moved to a consulting position with services provided by Schawn
Johnson from New Brighton. He stated the City conducted an organizational assessment in 2012
to make sure the City is using its resources in the most appropriate manner and also participated
in a compensation study, revitalized the safety committee , and created an insurance benefits
committee. He stated the employee recognition committee presented its inaugural
S.E.R.V.I.C.E. award in 2013 to a public works employee. He stated that the City made
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 9, 2013
Page 4
important progress during 2012 that will help secure the City 's outstanding quality oflife into
the future and expressed thanks to the City Council for its ongoing support.
Mayor Faust expressed the City Council 's thanks and appreciation to City Manager Casey and
all City staff for their dedicated efforts.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
Council member Gray reported on his attendance at the April 4th North Suburban
Communications Commission meeting where the Comcast franchise agreement was discussed.
Council member Jenson reported on his attendance at the March 25 th St. Anthony Historical
Society meeting where it was reported that only 24 of the 1,000 St. Anthony history books
remain. He stated that the Historical Society has applied for a grant from the Minnesota
Historical Society to digitize all the St. Anthony records dating back to the late 1800s. He also
reported on his attendance at the April 4th Community Services meeting.
Councilmember Roth -no repoti.
Councilmember Stille -no report.
Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the April 8th Regional Council of Mayors meeting.
City Manager Casey announced that the City is the proud recipient of a Safe Routes to School
planning grant that will put the City in a position to receive an implementation grant. He also
reported that the City received a grant from MWMO for a rain garden and storm water education
program at St. Charles.
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.
Mayor Faust reminded residents that the week of April 15 th is Severe Weather Awareness week
and on Thursday, April 18 th , there will be a simulated tornado warning at I :45 and 6:45 p.m.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.
R"",,,fully "hm'""", ~ \ L
Barbara Hughes (FimeSaver Off Site Secretarial. Inc~--z/ . '7 C _ ~ buifiu . ~ . yI ~
ATTEST: ~k (! LLli Mayor
City Clerk