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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008.09.02 CC MinutesMINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. PRESENT: Granger, Haas (arrived at 7:12), Petryk, Puleo, Miron ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Mike Ericson, Community Development Director Bryan Bear, Finance Director Ron Otkin, City Engineer Jay Kennedy, Disaster Recovery Coordinator Nate Ehalt, and City Clerk Michele Lindau Approval of Minutes for the August 18, 2008 City Council Meeting Puleo made motion, Granger seconded, to approve the minutes for the August 18, 2008 City Council meeting as presented. All Aye. Motion carried. Approval of the Agenda Miron made motion, Petryk seconded, to approved the agenda as presented. All Aye. Motion carried. Hugo Tornado Video Presentation by Producer Steven Johnson City staff was approached by Hugo resident Steven Johnson one day after the May 25, 2008 tornado disaster with an offer to produce a video from film footage shot by himself as a photo journalist from KSTP Channel 5. He and his family live across the street from the Prindle Family. Steve stated that he would produce a video with his film footage as well as KSTP Channel 5 film footage shot by other photo journalists on the day of the tornado and the days afterwards. Steve has produced an excellent video of the events on and after the May 25th tornado, which he has provided to the City of Hugo and the Long Term Disaster Recovery Committee at no charge. The Council reviewed this video and requested it be distributed to all civic organizations and departments who assisted the City in the days after the tornado as well as be available to the residents. Producer Steven Johnson attended the meeting, and Mayor Fran Miron thanked him for documenting this historical event. August 2, 2008 FSN Sports Video of Twins Pregame Show in Hugo — Nate Ehalt, Recovery Committee Coordinator Committee Coordinator Nate Ehalt presented Council with the video produced by Fox Sports Network (FSN) from the August 2nd Twins Pregame Show that was held in Hugo at which a number of residents and family members attended. Nate provided Council with an update on work of the Committee to date as well as providing Council with a report on the expenditure of funds from the Hugo Tornado Relief Fund, which were being paid out directly to vendors providing goods and services to those in need. He updated the Council and residents on upcoming public events including a Back to School Bash on September 7th, neighborhood meeting on September 22"d , and a Pancake Breakfast on September 271h, which is free for all residents affected by the tornado. Letters have been sent out to agencies thanking them for their help, and "thank you" postcards have been sent to financial donors and volunteers. Items City Council Meeting of September 2, 2008 Page 2 of 5 from the tornado continue to be collected for the 2011 exhibit at the Minnesota Science Museum. The Council viewed a clip from the August 2nd Twins Pregame Show. Nate informed the Council he would be done working on September 26, 2008 as the Long Term Recovery Coordinator. Mayor Fran Miron thanked him for all his work. Approval of Consent Agenda Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: Approval of Claims Approval of Resolution Relating to Incomplete Improvements in Generation Acres Approve Pay Requests No. 10 and No. 1 I from Keys Well Drilling Company for Work Completed to Date on Well House No. 5 All Aye. Motion carried. Approval of Claims Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approval of Resolution Relating to Incomplete Improvements in Generation Acres City Staff has been working with developer Seth Marshall on his development of townhomes off Oneka Lake Boulevard known as Generation Acres. Staff had renewed the letter of credit in the amount of $137,501.30 last year for the remainder of the improvements that need to be completed for the development, primarily the bituminous wear course on the City streets. Community Development Director Bryan Bear has been in contact with Seth Marshall and his bank, which is a financial holding company that provides the financial backing for the letter of credit. Since the letter of credit was set to expire on Monday, August 25, 2008, Community Development Director Bryan Bear drove to the company in Eagan and presented the City of Hugo's official redemption letter requesting a check in the amount of $137,501.30. Bryan met with a principal from the company who stated he could not issue the City of Hugo a check for the amount owed, and he would have to discuss it with his attorney. City Attorney Dave Snyder prepared a resolution which preserves the City of Hugo's authority to obtain the funds by way of legal obligation to the City of Hugo. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved RESOLUTION NO. 2008-40 A NOTICE OF THE CITY OF HUGO ACTION REGARDING INCOMPLETE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PLAT OF GENERATION ACRES. Approval of Pay Requests No. 10 and No. 11 from Keys Well Drilling Company for Work Completed to Date on Well House No. 5 The City of Hugo has received pay requests No. 10 and No. 11 from Keys Well Drilling Company for work completed to date on the construction of Well House No. 5. Senior Engineering Technician Scott Anderson has reviewed the requests and found them to be consistent for work completed to date on the project. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved pay request No. 10 for $1,710.00, and pay request No. 11 for $10,229.75 from Keys Well Drilling Company for work completed on the construction of Well House No. 5. City Council Meeting of September 2, 2008 Page 3 of 5 Report on Finalists for the New Public Works Director At its August 18, 2008 meeting, the Hugo City Council listened to an update on the applicants for the new Public Works Director position to replace former Public Works Director Chris Petree who has been hired as the City of Lakeville's Public Works Director. A total of 24 applicants applied for the position and interviews were conducted on August 19th with 13 of the applicants after which five were selected for second round interviews which were held on Friday, August 28, 2008. City Administrator Mike Ericson reported to Council the results of the interviews and provided a short list of three applicants, which was requested by the City Council. Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to schedule interviews with the three finalists for September 12, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at Hugo City Hall. The three finalists were Nate Ayshford, Bill Dirks, and Scott Anderson. All Aye. Motion carried. Report on August 28, 2008 Neighborhood Meeting Regarding 129th Street Improvement District — City Engineer Jay Kennedy On Thursday, August 28, 2008, the City of Hugo hosted a neighborhood meeting at Hugo City Hall with residents living in and around 129th Street with direction from Council to inquire as to their interest in the creation of a street improvement district. City Engineer Jay Kennedy and Senior Engineering Technician Scott Anderson along with Mayor Fran Miron and Council Member Becky Petryk attended the meeting in order to take public comment on the interest on creation of the district. City Engineer Jay Kennedy provided Council with a recap of the meeting. Approximately 12 property owners from the area attended, and much of the discussion had focused around the timing of the utility extension and development of the Melody Stables property. Miron made motion, Haas seconded, to schedule a public hearing for October 20, 2008 on the proposed 129th street improvement district. All Aye. Motion carried. Presentation of Preliminary City Tax Lew for 2009 At its August 5, 2008 Midyear Budget Workshop, Council listened to a presentation by Finance Director Ron Otkin in regards to the financial position of the City through the first six months of 2008 as well as some projections for the remainder of the year. Ron shared with Council a report on the affects of the tornado disaster and the devaluation of many homes along with the reduction of home values of more than 80% of the homes in Hugo. Council directed the Finance Department to prepare a proposed 2009 City budget which could reflect a City tax rate decrease for the sixth consecutive year. Finance Director Ron Otkin provided Council with a PowerPoint presentation proposing a 2009 preliminary City tax levy of $5,329,096. He explained MN State Statute states that the City must certify its proposed City tax levy no later than September 15th of the year, and that the tax rate cannot be increased but it can be decreased following the Truth in Taxation public hearing. Since the Council's second meeting in September is on September 15th, the Council must set the proposed 2009 City tax levy at this meeting. The Mayor noted that though the City tax rate decreased, the amount shown on residents' property tax City Council Meeting of September 2, 2008 Page 4 of 5 statements include other taxing jurisdictions such as the school, watershed districts, and Washington County. Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 2008-41 APPROVING PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY PAYABLE IN 2009, and schedule the Truth in Taxation hearing for December 1, 2008 and adopt the final budget and tax levy on December 15, 2008. Upon roll call voting Aye: Puleo, Petryk, Granger, Haas, Miron Voting Nay: None. Motion carried. Haas made motion, Granger seconded, to schedule a budget workshop for Friday, September 12 at approximately 9:45 a.m., following the interviews for the Public Works Director. All Aye. Motion carried. HBA Tree Planting on September 11, 2008 at Oneka Heritage Park City staff was contacted by the Hugo Business Association who would like to commemorate and remember Nate Prindle and the Prindle family on their loss in the May 25, 2008 tornado disaster as well as the soldiers who have served in the military. Specifically, the Hugo Business Association would like City approval for the planting of two trees on September 11, 2008 in Heritage Ponds Park, located at Empress Avenue North. As it did in 2007, they would like to commemorate and remember the Prindle Family on September 11, 2008 as well as the memory of the attack on America by Al-Qaeda extremists on September 11, 2001. Deb Johnson from the Hugo Business Association was present at the meeting and explained a pine tree would be planted in honor of those who fought and were fighting in Iraqi, and it was undecided what type of tree would be planted in memory on Nate. The Mayor thanked Deb for her leadership. Puleo made motion, Granger seconded, to approve the planting of two trees in Heritage Park on September 11, 2008. Mayor Fran Miron made a friendly amendment to the motion to direct staff to notice the tree planting as a meeting to allow Council attendance. All Aye. Motion carried. Council Presentation - Letters of Credit Council Member Haas brought up the discussion on Letters of Credit and what type of guarantee was provided to insure the City would be able to collect on them. Finance Director Ron Otkin said the City had discretion in the development agreement to decide what would be an adequate guarantee, and he suggested the ranking of the bank be used to establish which financial institutions the City would accept a letter of credit from. Haas made motion, Granger seconded, to direct staff to provide a recommendation to the Council on City Council Meeting of September 2, 2008 Page 5 of 5 Letters of Credit and other financial guarantees for improvements required as part of the development agreements. All Aye. Motion carried. Adjournment Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to adjourn at 8:37 p.m. All Aye. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk