HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.01.19 CC Minutes. - Goal Setting Session14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North- Hugo, MN 55038
Minutes
HUGO CITY COUNCIL
GOAL SETTING SESSION
HUGO CITY HALL/REMOTE MEETING
TUESDAY. JANUARY 19.2021— 6 P.M.
Meeting was held remotely pursuant to MN Statute Sec. 13D.021.
ZOOM Meeting ID: 892 9322 7333
Passcode: 679522
Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT REMOTELY: Haas, Klein, Miron, Petryk, Weidt
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT REMOTELY: Finance Director Ron Otkin, Community Development
Director Rachel Juba, Finance Coordinator Anna Wobse, City Engineer Mark Erichson, Fire
Chief Jim Compton Jr., Assistant Fire Chief Dave Jensen, Building Official Joel Hoistad
PRESENT AT CITY HALL: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Clerk Michele Lindau
City Administrator Bryan Bear began by stating that much of the work plan had been
predetermined. A big project for 2021 was the Lions Park project that should be under
construction in June. Committees were working on the pavilion and playground site amenities.
Budgeting was ongoing and bonding steps needed to be done. Related to the park was the
downtown street reconstruction project that included right-of-way and easement acquisitions.
Also taking place at the same time will be an apartment project adjacent west of the park and the
CSAH 8 water reuse project that will serve many sites in the park area. The City Hall parking lot
will be redeveloped. The playground equipment will be moved to Beaver Ponds Park and that
site will need to be prepared.
There was a purchase agreement for the Egg Lake property across from City Hall for
development. The new Public Works facility will be under construction throughout 2021. There
will be discussions on what will happen to the rest of Irish Avenue Park. Time will be spent on
the WBL lawsuit, and it is not anticipated it will be appealed so the original ruling provisions
would still be in effect, and that will hamper the City's work on water conservation. He talked
about the work attached to the successful bond referendum in the White Bear Lake School
District that included a new elementary school, addition to Oneka Lake Elementary, conversion
of Hugo elementary to an early childcare center, and potentially the reuse of the existing Public
Works facility as the grounds maintenance facility for the school district. He talked about
technology improvements that included new AV equipment, transition to online permitting, and
the change to new radio read water meters. COVIDI9 had impacted the City's day to day
operations, and some time had been spent on protest activities during the summer.
Weidt asked that staff include in goals discussion with Washington County Sheriff's Department
on staffing. Bear stated the Sheriff will provide their annual report this spring.
Klein asked if there would be a negative impact with the White Bear Lake court order. Bear
replied it was counter intuitive, requiring the City to focus on formulas and creating plans the
City would not use. Efforts would be directed in an unproductive use of time, and it could result
in a lot of court time.
Fire Chief Jim Compton Jr. addressed the Council on his goal to create a transition plan for the
Fire Department to have a full time chief and daytime administrative staff. Staffing levels were
down to 23 firefighters. He talked about hiring a third party company to do an operational study
at a cost of approximately $30,000. Centennial and Lake Elmo Fire Departments recently had
studies done, and there was discussion on reviewing those and possibly doing Hugo's study in-
house. Assistant Fire Chief Dave Jensen briefly spoke about the companies that could
potentially do the study. Compton stated the studies already done had not provided any
unanticipated information. Council agreed to use the expertise of the City's own Fire
Department and staff and do an in-house study.
Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to adjourn at 6:42 p.m.
Roll call vote — all ayes. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Michele Lindau
City Clerk