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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.10.02 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, October 2, 2023 7:00 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call COUNCIL PRESENT: Klein, Miron, Petryk, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Attorney Dave Snyder, City Engineer Mark Erichson, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approve Minutes for the September 15, 2023, Dream of Wild Health Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the Dream of Wild Health Celebration held on September 15, 2023, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Minutes for the September 18, 2023, Council Meeting Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on September 18, 2023, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Minutes for the September 27, 2023, Neighborhood Meeting on 2024 Street Project Strub made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for the Neighborhood Meeting on the 2024 improvement project, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the agenda as amended to include approval of Jim Roettger as a Temporary Seasonal Public Works Worker. All Ayes. Motion carried. Council Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2023 Page 2 of 5 Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network President Chuck Haas President Chuck Haas was in attendance to provide the Council an update on the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network activities. He began by saying the leadership of the YRN begins with Council’s support and he referred to the certificates of appreciation that were mounted on the back wall of the Council Chambers saying they were emblematic of the that support. Over the past three months, the YRN participated in 17 different events including pheasant hunts, care packaging events, Unit Family Days, burger nights, Veteran’s Rodeo, Shoot for the Troops, Lions golf event, and provided financial aid to a number of military families. Over the past there months, they had served over 2,000 service members and put in over 500 hours of volunteer time. The YRN was recognized at the state level when a certificate of appreciation was presented to them at the State Fair this year. Haas shared pictures of past events. Future events include the Secret Santa Program, Washington County Shop with a Cop, University of MN concession stand at the MN Gopher Games, and Bingo and meat raffles at the Hugo American Legion and Sal’s Angus Grill. Consent Agenda Petryk made motion, Miron seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: 1.Approve Claims Roster 2.Approve Annual Performance Review for Accounting Clerk Amber Lozier 3.Approve Annual Performance Review for Finance Director Anna Wobse 4.Approve Donation to the Hugo Fire Department from the Hugo American Legion 5.Approve Recommendation from the EDA to Sponsor Kidz ‘n Biz Festival 6.Approve Pay Request No. 2 from Arnt Construction for 159th St/TH61 Improvements 7.Approve Hiring of Jim Roettger as a Temporary Seasonal Public Works Worker All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Claims Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Annual Performance Review for Accounting Clerk Amber Lozier Amber Lozier was hired as the Finance and Public Works Administrative Assistant on October 8, 2018. On November 15, 2022, Amber was promoted to Accounting Clerk. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Annual Performance Review for Accounting Clerk Amber Lozier. Approve Annual Performance Review for Finance Director Anna Wobse Anna Wobse was hired as the City’s Accounting Clerk on October 27, 2008, and worked in accounts payable and payroll functions. In March 2018, Council approved Anna as the new Finance Coordinator and in October, 2021, as the new Finance Director. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the annual performance review for Finance Director Anna Wobse. Council Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2023 Page 3 of 5 Approve Donation to the Hugo Fire Department from the Hugo American Legion The Hugo Lions Club wanted to donate $1,000 to the Hugo Fire Department for equipment and training. Donations to the Fire Department needed to be approved by the City Council. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the donation of $1000 from the Hugo American Legion to the Hugo Fire Department. Approve Recommendation from the EDA to Sponsor Kidz ‘n Biz Festival At its September 19, 2023, meeting, the EDA voted unanimously to recommend Council approve the sponsorship of the Kidz ‘n Biz Festival in the amount of $1,000 as requested by the Hugo Area Business Association. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the sponsorship of Kidz ‘n Biz for $1,000. Approve Pay Request No. 2 from Arnt Construction for 159th St/TH61 Improvements Arnt Construction Company had submitted Pay Request No. 2 in the amount of $644,308.83 for work certified through September 27, 2023, on the TH61/159th Street Roundabout Improvement Project. Underground utility work was completed and concrete curbs were currently being installed in the main portion of the roundabout. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved payment to Arnt Construction Company in the amount of $644,308.83. Approve Hiring of Jim Roettger as a Temporary Seasonal Public Works Worker City Administrator Bryan Bear added this to Consent Agenda to get approval to hire Jim Roettger as a Temporary Seasonal Public Works Worker. Jim has been a volunteer firefighter with the Hugo Fire Department since 2009. Adoption of the Consent approved the hiring of Jim Roettger. Recap of Neighborhood Meeting on 125th St. and Dellwood Ridge Street Project A neighborhood meeting was held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, to present information and get feedback on a proposed 2024 street improvement project that included 125th Street (from Goodview Avenue to County Road 7), and Heather Avenue North and Upper Heather Avenue North in the Dellwood Ridge Development. City Engineer Mark Erichson provided an update saying there was a decent turnout. Individual meetings had been set with several property owners. Prior to the neighborhood meeting, Mark said he received a number of calls, and all had positive comments regarding the project. At the October 16, 2023, Council meeting, staff will be requesting approval to accept the feasibility study and set public hearing for November 20, 2023. Reminder – Hugo Citywide Bus Tour on Saturday, October 7, 2023 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council the Hugo Citywide Bus Tour was scheduled for Saturday, October 7, 2023, beginning and ending at the Public Works Facility. Bus will begin loading at 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. departure and return at approximately noon for a barbeque lunch. Council Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2023 Page 4 of 5 Reminder - Hugo Fire Department Open House on Saturday, October 7, 2023 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council a meeting was scheduled to attend the Fire Department Open House on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Santa Party on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council the third annual Santa Party will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion. Miron made motion, Petryk seconded, to schedule a meeting to attend the Santa Party on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. All Ayes. Motion carried. Schedule Holiday Party for Thursday, December 7, 2023 Annually, Council holds a holiday party in appreciation for staff and commissioners. Staff recommends Council schedule the holiday party for Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion. Petryk made motion, Strub seconded, to schedule the Holiday Party for Thursday, December 7, 2023. All Ayes. Motion carried. Adjourn to Executive Session - White Bear Lake Homeowners Association Lawsuit Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05 Subd. 3(b) the Council may adjourn to executive session to discuss upcoming hearings related to the lawsuits filed by the White Bear Lake Homeowners Association and their demanded domestic water restrictions. City Attorney David Snyder and City Administrator Bryan Bear recommended Council move to Executive Session in order to provide them an update on the restrictions to various municipal water permits (OAH Master Docket No. 8-2002-37733). Weidt made motion, Klein seconded to adjourn into Executive Session at 7:26 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Return to Regular Session Strub made motion, Miron seconded, to enter back into regular session at 8:27 p.m. City Attorney explained the Council had just met in Executive Session pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05 Subd. 3(b) regarding attorney client privilege to discuss litigation in connection with the White Bear Lake Homeowners’ lawsuits as the matters are set for legislative hearings. The trial is set for October 17, 2023, that concerns the demands of the White Bear Lake Homeowners Council Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2023 Page 5 of 5 Association and the White Bear Lake Restoration Association to impose severe restrictions on domestic water supply for cities in the east metro. Restrictions include a watering ban should White Bear Lake level drop below 923.5 feet. It was also demanded that City adopt a gallons per day water consumption limitation of 75/90 gallons for residential and commercial water use per day. Snyder explained, in the Executive Session, he had updated the Council and advised them the trial is set for October 17, and invited Council and anyone interested to attend electronically or in person. Present in the executive session were the City Clerk, entire Council, City Administrator, and the City Attorney. Weidt appreciate the update saying the City of Hugo and Council over the last ten years has taken it very seriously to use the City’s water judiciously to help reduce the water that is taken out of the aquifer for irrigation. Many new developments use stormwater to irrigate, and settling with the conditions in this lawsuit would take the City backwards. The ban of residential irrigation would make it impossible to use the City’s stormwater systems where the City has saved over 100 million gallons of water a year from being pulled out of the aquifer. He supported moving forward with this quest to have sensible rules to make an effect on maintaining the recreational uses that are so important to the homeowners around White Bear Lake while protecting the water uses of all other residents. Encourage Council and City Attorney to continue to move forward on this path. Petryk thanked Dave Snyder and Bryan Bear for their hard work saying they have become leaders and probably have the most expertise in this area. She said there would be severe repercussions by agreeing to settlements that some cities have. Hugo’s wells have little or no impact on the lake and for Hugo to be included it this type of legal action is unacceptable. Petryk made, Klein seconded, to schedule the trial date of October 17, 2023, as a meeting for the Council to attend. All Ayes. Motion carried. Klein said the City has been recognized in water conversation efforts both state and federally, and have done everything to be proactive in water conservation. He said the community has been extremely supportive. The City should not be punished for the things it has done and needs to be proactive on this to keep our water conservation efforts in place Adjournment Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to adjourn at 8:38 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk