HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.01.24 CC Minutes. - Goal Setting Session
Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 5:10.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Klein (arrived at 5:12), Miron, Petryk, Strub, Weidt
COUNCIL ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, Finance Director Anna Wobse, City
Engineer Mark Erichson, Fire Chief Jim Compton Jr, City Clerk Michele Lindau
City Administrator Bryan Bear provided a recap of the goals developed by staff for 2022, saying
many of the goals had been started last year and will be finished this year. He highlighted the
White Bear Lake lawsuit regarding the lake level as being the biggest issue facing the City due to
further restrictions that are likely to be imposed on the City on water appropriations permits.
Bear reviewed the 2022 goals from the EDA, Planning Commission, Parks Commission, and
City staff. Some areas of focus were development of the City owned property on Egg Lake, the
165th Street Corridor, Oneka Parkway reconstruction and the City’s drainage system. There
would be discussions with the State of Minnesota and Washington County on the TH61vision
study that may include the Hardwood Creek Corridor and future light rail. Goals specific to the
Parks Commission included the completion of Lions Park, and discussions on the Bernin
property, Sunset Lake Property and trails to North Star Elementary. Administrative goals
included determining the fate of the Hopkins schoolhouse, reorganizing the Public Works
Department, and improving communications which may require additional staff. There would
also be discussions on COVID cash, and room and security camera policies.
Council talked briefly about high speed internet. Bear explained staff was not really hearing a
lot of complaints about it, so it may not be as bad as originally thought since there are many
technology options. Money in the federal infrastructure fund could be applied for and staff will
continue to pay attention to areas that residents alert staff about.
Bear began discussion on the hiring of a full time fire chief by providing statistics on call
volume. This included automatic mutual aid calls to other cities and medical assists to help the
ambulance provider, which the City does not charge for. He divided cost of running the
department by the number of calls, and it showed each call cost around $1,735. The actual cost
to respond was less than $300, which shows a vast majority of the cost goes into running the
department. Call volume does not have a high impact on the chief, whose main duty is to
manage the department, which involves taking care of staff, equipment, training, fleet, along
with other duties that take time and effort.
Bear provided options for running a fire department ranging from doing less than the department
is doing now (by sharing services or combining with other departments) to having a full time
department.
Minutes
HUGO CITY COUNCIL
GOAL SETTING SESSION
HUGO CITY HALL
JANUARY 24, 2022 – 5 P.M.
Council talked with Fire Chief Jim Compton, Jr. about working with other departments, budget
impacts, bringing a chief in from outside the department, workload, and different models of other
cities. Compton explained the difficulties of merging with other departments who each have
their own system of operating under different counties and PSAs (Primary Service Areas). He
felt there was enough work to do, and to bring in a chief from outside the City may change the
culture a bit, but there would still be salaried positions within the department that would assist
the chief. It was generally agreed by Council that more discussions on this needed to occur.
Bear next presented information on ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds saying the City
was to receive $1.6 million and an additional $53,000 in redistributed funds. This was presented
to Council last year, and the use of funds was broken into categories: responding to economic
impacts; pay for essential works; investing in water, sewer or broadband; or replacing revenue
lost from pandemic. The final rule in January 2022, offered a standard allowance option of up to
10 million, and allowed cities to use funds for general government services. The City has until
2024 to spend the money. Bear said the money could be used for CIP projects, unfunded
projects such as paving of 165th, Hopkins Schoolhouse, business assistance, or stormwater
projects. Council indicated they were not ready to make a decision and acknowledged further
discussions need to take place.
Bear discussed a problem with the microphones in the Council Chambers not always picking up
what was being said. Council directed staff to look at getting longer necks for the microphones
to see if that would solve the problem.
Klein made motion, Miron seconded, to adjourn at 7:07 p.m.
All ayes. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Lindau
City Clerk