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CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 11, 2014
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.
ROLL CALL.
Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Jenson, Roth and Stille.
Absent: None.
Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey.
Guests: Senator Barb Goodwin and David Griggs (Greater MSP).
CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
ITEMS.
I. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 11, 2014, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
Mayor Faust noted that item VI.C. was removed from the agenda under advice from staff.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
Council Meeting Agenda of February 11, 2014, as amended.
Motion carried unanimously.
II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE.
III. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Consider January 28, 2014, Council meeting minutes;
B. Consider licenses and permits; and
C. Consider payment of claims.
Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve the Consent
Agenda items.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE.
V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE.
VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
Motion carried unanimously.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2014
Page 2
1 A. Presentation by Senator Barb Goodwin.
2
3 Mayor Faust introduced Senator Barb Goodwin.
4
5 Senator Goodwin provided a recap of the last legislative session and advised that the legislature
6 was able to balance the State's budget without any shifts and the State has a healthy reserve. She
7 stated that LGA funding increased by $80 million and the formula was changed resulting in St.
8 Anthony receiving $473,110 in LGA funding. She advised that residents will receive more in
9 the form of homestead and renter's credits this year that should offset any increases in their
10 property taxes and overall, this should stabilize property taxes without the need for significant
11 increases. She stated that eligibility for property tax refunds will increase from $103,000 to
12 $105,000 and the maximum refund amounts have increased for every eligible income bracket; in
13 addition, eligibility for renter's refunds will increase from $56,000 to $57,000 and the maximum
14 refund amounts have also increased for all eligible brackets. She stated that the next legislative
15 session will start on February 25`h and this session will focus on the bonding bill that will be used
16 for repairs and replacement of State buildings, as well as some highway and transportation and
17 bridge projects. She indicated she will be seeking funding for Springbrook Nature Center and
18 noted the Governor has indicated he would sign it if it gets through the legislature. She advised
19 she participated in a workgroup on fraud in the insurance industry and a bill that prohibits an
20 insurance company from raising premiums if someone calls in about a claim or pays a claim by
21 himself. She stated she is also working with a group on expungement of low level criminal
22 offenses and explained that people with low level crimes are having difficulty getting housing
23 and jobs and an alternative to expungement would include a State certification that a person has
24 maintained a clean record. She stated she is also working on mental illness in jails and prisons
25 and a diversion program that would keep people out of a jail situation.
26
27 Councilmember Stille thanked Senator Goodwin for her presentation and requested comment
28 regarding Sunday liquor sales and the sale of wine in grocery stores. He stated the City is not in
29 favor of this, adding the City has two municipal liquor stores that help subsidize the City's taxes
30 and the City wants to retain its ability to control liquor sales.
31
32 Senator Goodwin stated she would not support a bill that would allow Sunday liquor sales or the
33 sale of wine in grocery stores, adding she felt it was important to understand that this could affect
34 property taxes in the long run and affect City services as well.
35
36 Mayor Faust stated the City levies approximately $3 million in property taxes that goes into the
37 General Fund and has liquor store revenue of approximately $500,000 and this proposed
38 legislation could result in a 12.5% increase in taxes in order for the City to maintain the same
39 level of services, adding that having liquor stores open on Sundays would only increase the
40 City's costs and dilute net profit. He pointed out that the primary mission of the municipal liquor
41 stores is to maintain the control of the sale of alcoholic beverages.
42
43 Mayor Faust thanked Senator Goodwin for the update. He stated that the City was previously
44 given some funding as part of a bonding bill that was used for flood mitigation and encouraged
45 anyone in the legislature to come out to the City to see how the money was spent. He also
46 expressed support for the expungement program.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2014
Page 3
1 B. Greater MSP presentation. David Griggs, Greater MSP, presenting.
2
3 Mayor Faust introduced David Griggs from Greater MSP.
4
5 Mr. Griggs explained that Greater MSP represents the 16 -county MSA region and Greater
6 MSP's mission is to accelerate job growth and capital investment in the Greater MSP region with
7 three key areas of focus, including regional economic development strategy, marketing,
8 branding, and promotion, and job retention, expansion, and attraction. He explained Greater
9 MSP's research function and stated they have identified five sectors of strength including
10 financial services and insurance, advanced manufacturing and technology, health and life
11 sciences, headquarters and business services, and food and water solutions. He stated that
12 Greater MSP has tools and databases available to all of its partners that can help with
13 information gathering and analysis and they are able to produce a variety of data driven reports
14 to focus on an industry or opportunity with solid research. He advised that Greater MSP can also
15 help its partners respond to Requests for Information (RFI) from site selectors. He stated the
16 research department also conducts a variety of studies and discussed a recent perception analysis
17 that was completed where site selectors and corporate executives around the country and Canada
18 were asked what they thought about Minneapolis/St. Paul and the overall perception was
19 positive. He discussed Greater MSP's marketing tools and capabilities and the brand platform of
20 "Business and People Prosper Here." He also discussed Greater MSP's business attraction and
21 expansion efforts and the job growth goal of a total increase of 100,000 net new jobs lost during
22 the recession and indicated that 66,000 net new jobs have been created through 2013. He
23 presented the 2013 business investment results including 130 projects and over 4,900 jobs
24 pledged, adding that 80% of projects are due to companies currently located in the Greater MSP
25 region. He also discussed the Business Retention and Expansion program and the resources
26 available to partners, including an online tool that partners can use to gain access to the database.
27
28 Councilmember Stille thanked Mr. Griggs for his presentation and requested an example of other
29 successes Greater MSP has had with a first ring suburb that is fully built out, similar to St.
30 Anthony.
31
32 Mr. Griggs stated that a community like St. Anthony would probably have companies looking to
33 expand and Greater MSP can help the City compete by bringing in experts that can identify
34 different opportunities a company may not have thought about with regard to their own footprint.
35 He added that Greater MSP has identified 27 strong subsectors in this region and these are
36 companies with high growth potential and the City may or may not recognize these subsectors
37 within its community and Greater MSP is working to make municipalities aware of these
38 companies and potential opportunities for cities to expand their employment base without doing
39 a lot of work other than making sure a company has what it needs to grow.
40
41 Councilmember Jenson asked what the City could do to promote under-utilized areas that are
42 zoned light industrial.
43
44 Mr. Griggs suggested that the City make sure these properties are being represented by a
45 MNCAR broker and also suggested the City work with Megan Livgard who handles Greater
46 MSP's Business Retention and Expansion program.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2014
Page 4
Councilmember Gray asked about Greater MSP's work with local chambers of commerce.
3 Mr. Griggs stated they work primarily through the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce as well as
4 the St. Paul and Minneapolis Chambers, adding that they primarily work with local Chambers of
5 Commerce through the Business Retention and Expansion program. He acknowledged the
6 importance of the relationships fostered by local Chambers of Commerce and stated the local
7 Chambers are essential to the work of Greater MSP.
8
9 Mayor Faust thanked Mr. Griggs for his report.
10
11 C. Resolution 14-020; a Resolution Approving the Lease and Solar Easement Entered into
12 between Saint Anthony Village and MN Community Solar LLC, Subject to its Terms and
13 Conditions, including the Review of Relevant Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
14
15 This item was pulled from the agenda and not considered by the City Council.
16
17 D. Administration 2013 Annual Report. Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting.
18
19 City Manager Casey presented the 2013 Administration Annual Report and stated the City has
20 five departments with 58 full-time and 73 part-time employees and the City works with
21 consultants to provide engineering, human resources, bonding, legal, and planning services. He
22 provided a summary of 2013 City Council meetings including special guests and community and
23 staff presentations, and highlighted some of the significant actions taken during 2013. He also
24 provided a summary of actions taken by the Housing & Redevelopment Authority during 2013
25 as well as actions taken by the Planning Commission. He discussed the City's various
26 communication tools, including the website, CTV, quarterly newsletter, and social media, adding
27 that a social media policy was developed in 2013 to make sure the City delivers a consistent
28 message. He advised the City continues to work with Ramsey and Hennepin County on its
29 refuse and recycling program and held a cleanup day on May 4`h with 243 participants. He stated
30 the City partners with several organizations on a regular basis, including the Aging in Place
31 initiative and GMHC, and has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with its sister city in Salo,
32 Finland. He discussed the City's economic development efforts including its work with Greater
33 MSP and Open to Business, and reported that construction is underway at the 172 unit senior
34 living facility at the Landings and ten new businesses opened in 2013. He stated that St.
35 Anthony was honored to receive the City of Excellence Award in 2013 by the League of
36 Minnesota Cities. He added the Administration Annual Report is available on the website and
37 hard copies are available at City Hall.
38
39 Mayor Faust extended the City Council's thanks and commended City Manager Casey for an
40 outstanding job.
41
42 VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
43
44 Councilmember Gray reported on his attendance at the North Suburban Communications
45 Commission meeting and advised they are still negotiating the contract with Comcast and are
46 waiting for Comcast's response to the latest offer.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2014
Page 5
1 Councilmember Jenson reported on his attendance at the February 3`d work session and the
2 February 6d' St. Anthony Community Center Advisory Committee meeting. He also reported on
3 his attendance at the February 10`h meeting with District #282 to discuss the future direction of
4 the school district to aid in preparation of their strategic plan.
Councilmember Roth reported on his attendance at the February 3rd work session.
8 Councilmember Stille reported on his attendance at the January 30`h Family Services
9 Collaborative board meeting where a representative from Community Action Partnership
10 announced the availability of free tax preparation for single persons with incomes less than
11 $35,000 and for families with incomes less than $50,000. He stated further information is
12 available from Wendy Webster or City Hall. He reported on his attendance at the January 3 0
13 Urban Land Institute meeting where speakers from the University of Minnesota and Met Council
14 gave a presentation on protecting the region's water. He stated that the speakers indicated that
15 by 2050, it is estimated the aquifers will be reduced by 50' and the speakers also indicated that
16 more water is being put into the river than is being taken out and the aquifers are being depleted,
17 which is not sustainable. He also reported on his attendance at the February 3`d work session.
18
19 Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the January 30`h Metro Cities water forum where
20 representatives from the State, Met Council, and MPCA discussed water resources. He also
21 reported on his attendance at the February 3`d work session and the February 10`h Regional
22 Council of Mayors meeting.
23
24 City Manager Casey requested that the City Council acknowledge the efforts of the Finance
25 Department in working with FEMA to recover $25,000 from the June 21-22 storm, adding that
26 the City is also in line to get another $52,000 from FEMA.
27
28 Mayor Faust expressed the City Council's thanks to the Finance Department for their efforts.
29
30 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
31
32 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
33 are not on the regular agenda. Hearing none, Mayor Faust moved forward with the agenda.
34
35 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS - NONE.
36
37 X. ADJOURNMENT.
38
39 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
40
41 Respectfully submitted,
42 Barbara Hughes ('TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.)
43
44
45 ATTEST: Wyf , 1f Wt
46 City Clerk