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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993.12.20 CC MinutesMINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 199= The meeting was called to order by Mayor Stoltzman at 7:00 PM. PRESENT: Barnes, Brunotte, Leroux, Miron, Stoltzman City Administrator, Robert Museus City Attorney, Greg Galler City Clerk, Mary Ann Creager Brunotte made motion, Starnes seconded, to approve the minutes for the regular City Council meeting of December 8, 1993, as submitted. All aye. Motion Carried. Leroux made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the claims for December 8, 1993, in the amount of $42,740.64. All aye. Motion Carried. REQUEST TO CONDUCT A SNOWMOBILE RACE The City received a letter from the Hugo Snowmobile Club requesting permission to conduct a snowmobile race on Egg Lake on Saturday, January 8, 1994, from 12 noon to 4:00 PM, with registration beginning a 9:00 AM. The City has no complaints on file from previous such activities. Russ �astorius, representing the snowmobile club, presented a site plan for the Jay's event, and explained, in detail, the event to the Council. Miron made motion, Brunotte seconded, to approve the request from the Hugo Snowmobile Club to conduct a snowmobile race on Egg Lake on January 8, 1994, and in the event of poor conditions on the 8th, permission granted for January 15 and 22, 1994. Approval is subject to 18 special conditions on file in the office of the City Clerk. All aye. Motion Carried. FINAL PAYMENT (HENNA AVENUE PROJECT) The Council reviewed the City Engineer's recommendation to accept the Henna Avenue reconstruction project, and make final payment to Valley Paving, Inc., in the amount of $8,097.00. There was some further discussion regarding acceptance of projects, and financial guarantees following their acceptance. Miron made motion, Stoltzman seconded, to accept the Henna Avenue reconstruction project and make final payment to Valley Paving, Inc., in the amount of $8,097.00. All aye. Motion Carried. REQUEST FOR LETTER OF CREDIT REDUCTION (BIRCH TREE PONDS) Ir. James Merila requested reduction in the letters of credit for Birch Tree Ponds 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Additions. The City Engineer recommended approval of said request. Approval of these reductions would close out the Birch Tree Ponds 2nd and 3rd Additions, and leave $800 as security for tree planting in Birch Tree Ponds 4th Addition. City Council meeting of December 20.. 1993 Page 2 Stoltzman made motion, Barnes seconded, to reduce the Letters of Credit for Birch Tree Ponds 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Additions as follows: 1. Birch Tree Ponds 2nd Addition from $60,000 to $4.00. 2. Birch Tree Ponds 3rd Addition from $14,774 to $0.00. 3. Birch Tree Ponds 4th Addition from $49,492 to $800 (tree planting). All aye. Motion Carried. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (STOLTZMAN) Wally Stoltzman reviewed the latest version of his Settlement Agreement with the City Attorney and City Council. Leroux made motion, Brunotte seconded, to table this matter until the meeting of January 3, 1994, to allow time for Mr. Stoltzman's mother and attorney to review the new Agreement. All aye. Motion Carried. 1994 BUDGET RESOLUTIONS The Council considered two resolutions: one adopting the City's 1994 general fund budget, as well as a resolution levying a property tax of $958,439. Both the budget and tax levy represent no change as reviewed during the Truth in Taxation hearing conducted on December 8, 1993. The Council had expressed an interest in providing additional funding to the Fire Department for 1994, beyond that which is in the proposed blAdget. After serious consideration, staff recommended that, if there are any unexpended funds remaining from 199•?, a portion of these be dedicated to the Fire Department in the City's capital improvement fund. Exact details of the remaining funds, if any, will not be known until March, 1994, when all the City's 1993 bills have been paid. Miron made motion, Barnes seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 93-18, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE 1994 FISCAL YEAR. All aye. Motion Carried. Stoltzman made motion, Brunotte seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 93-19, RESOLUTION APPROVING 1993 TAX LEVY COLLECTIBLE IN 1994. All aye. Motion Carried. Barnes made motion, Leroux seconded, to review the Fire Department's request for 1994 expenditures in March, 1994. All aye. Motion Carried. CONTRACT (1994 POLICE SERVICES) The Council reviewed the Washington County Sheriff's proposed contract for police services in 1994. The contract represents no change in service City Council meeting of December 20, 1993 Page .. levels from recent years. The contract cost of $242,281.63 represents a 5.1% increase over the same contract in 1993. This figure will be reduced by the cost of a squad car the City will purchase for use by the Sheriff's deputies in late spring or early summer, 1994. The City staff recommended approval of the contract. Miron made motion, Stoltzman seconded, to approve the Contract between Washington County and the City of Hugo for police services in 1994. All aye. Motion Carried. NOTICE OF SUIT The City received a letter from Mr. Wilbur F. Dorn, attorney representing Ronald Istvanovich, regarding Mr. Istvanovich's claim that he was wrongfully terminated from his position as Fire Chief for the City of Hugo. The City Attorney's review and opinion of the claim was submitted to the Council for their review. No action was required on this matter. DISCIPLINARY HEARING On December 8, 1993, the Council received a request from a member of the Hugo FD for a hearing before the Council regarding recent disciplinary action he was subject to by the Hugo Fire Chief. The Council scheduled tonight's meeting as the time to hear the case. This hearing was closed to the public as the subject fire fighter did not request the hearing be conducted in public. Starnes made motion, Stoltzman seconded, that, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 471.705, Subd. id(c), we close the public portion of this meetinq and adjourn into a closed session for preliminary consideration of allegations or charges against an individual subject to our authority. All aye. Motion Carried. The City Council has completed its closed meeting for preliminary consideration of allegations or charges against an individual subject to its authority. The Council has concluded that discipline of any nature may be warranted. Further meetings or hearing will be open to the public as required by M.S. 471-705, Subd. id(c). Miran made motion, Brunotte seconded, to hold a public hearing on this matter at tonight's meeting. All aye. Motion Carried. Miron made motion, Brunotte seconded, that the City Council uphold the Fire Chief's decision to suspend Mr. Ronald Istvanovich, Jr., for 30 days due to insubordination and, furthermore, that this suspension begin on December 2, 1993, and expire on January 1, 1994. VOTING AYE: Barnes, Brunotte, Leroux, Miron VOTING NAY: Stoltzman Motion Carried. City Council meeting of December 20, 199= Page 4 Miron made motion, Leroux; seconded, that the Fire Chief implement the following policies: 1. Any discipline of a fire fighter be documented in writing. 2. Discipline of a fire fighter follow a certain course of action. 3. Any meetings to discuss disciplinary actions be done in writing. 4. Use of obscene language or swearing be prohibited among fire fighters on duty with the City. 5. Scheduled time be provided to fire fighters for airing questions or disputes with departmental operations. All aye. Motion Carried. MISCELLANEOUS Council member Barnes briefed the Council on her meeting with the Rice Creek Watershed District. It was suggested that RCWD Administrator, Kate Drewry, be invited to attend a Council meeting in January, 1994. Brunotte made motion, Barnes seconded, to adjourn at 11:00 PM. All aye. /Motion arried. Mary n Creager City erk