2003.03.31 CC Minutes - Council Workshop

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MINUTES FOR THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP OF MARCH 31, 2003 Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 8:00 am. PRESENT: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron City Administrator Mike Ericson CD Director John Rask City Engineer Dave Mitchell City Finance Director Ron Otkin Public Works Director Chris Petree Financial Advisor Nick Dragisich from Springsted PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM At its February 3, 2003, the Council discussed the pavement program with City Engineer Dave Mitchell and Chris Petree. Council had previously adopted the street assessment policy, which prescribed a 50/50 cost share for street reconstruction projects. Council stated that it was important to identify a funding source and to prioritize the road in order to proceed with the program. Council agreed that a workshop was necessary to review the program and identify a project for 2003. There are a number of roads in the City that are in poor condition and in need of immediate attention. Staff suggests that the reconstruction of Goodview Avenue may be the street reconstruction project for the Council to consider in 2003. This project would be an excellent opportunity to maximize a small amount of City funds with a significant majority of the cost being paid for by the developers desiring housing developments in the area Since the reconstruction of Goodview Avenue has been scheduled further down on the City's priority list, this would be an opportunity to get a much "bigger bang for the buck" over the City's current 50/50 cost sharing formula City staff provided additional information at the meeting. Council would like to set a fixed amount for the City's contribution. 2003-2007 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM City staff has met with financial advisor Nick Dragisich from Springsted twice over the past three weeks in order to further define the City's 2003-2007 capital improvements program. Staff has pared down the list of projects and equipment, reassigned to later years some of the proposed equipment purchases, and categorized, in terms of need, the essential project and equipment purchases for the next five years. Finance Director Ron Otkin and Nick Dragisich have prepared a revenues and expenditures summary. City Administrator Mike Ericson provided a brief review of the proposed projects and equipment purchases. The issue critical to the Council is the proposed legislation HF 751/SF 748, which include local aid cuts, levy limits for 2004, reverse referendum, and also a limitation in a city's ability to issue special levies for debt service. In short, staff suggests that the Council cannot accurately make a recommendation on the capital improvements program until after the Minnesota State Legislature adjourns in late May. Staff believes that the focus of the workshop should be on the City's legislative lobbying efforts to our local representatives to get their support to allow the City of Hugo the authority to issue debt, if it feels the demonstrated need. Granger made motion, Haas seconded, directing staff to send a letter in support to our local legislators. Motion Carried. APPROVE TEMPORARY 3.2 BEER LICENSE (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH) At its special meeting on Friday, March 14, 2003, the Council issued three temporary 3.2 beer licenses to St.