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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.04.15 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, April 15, 2024 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 Engineer Mark Erichson, City Attorney Dave Snyder, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approval of Minutes for the April 1, 2024, City Council Meeting Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting held on April 1, 2024, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes for the April 4, 2024, Local Board of Appeal and Equalization Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting held on April 4, 2024, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Hugo Good Neighbor Days June 7 – June 9, 2024 The Hugo Lions Club’s annual Good Neighbor Days Community Festival was scheduled for June 7-9, 2024, at the new Lions Volunteer Park. This would be the first year the event was held at the new park. Lions Member Carrie Schweiger was in attendance to present information on the event to the Council and request the Council co-sponsor the event by waiving the Special Event Permit and providing Washington County deputies to be present during the event, as in the past. Carrie explained that this was the 48th year of the event. As in the past, they will have a beer garden, live music, craft and vendor fair, and Historical Commission display that will be inside the Pede Pedersen Pavilion. They will also have a talent contest, bingo, pickleball and cornhole tournaments, Ribfest with 20 rib masters, and Kidszone. The Kidszone will include face painting, caricatures, safari animals and a kid’s coin dig. At the skate park there will be Finger Council Meeting Minutes for April 15, 2024 Page 2 of 5 Boarding demonstrations. The event will conclude on Sunday with the Lions scholarship presentation and drawings. The festival begins at 5 p.m. on Friday. Miron made motion, Klein seconded to co-sponsor the event by waiving the Special Event Permit and providing Washington County deputies to be present during the event, as in the past. All Ayes. Motion carried. Washington County Sheriff's Department Annual Report Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry was in attendance to present the Sheriff’s Department 2023 Annual Report. He began by introducing Chief Deputy Doug Anschutz, Commander Sara Halverson, and Sergeant Joe Zerwas. He explained there are eight full time deputies assigned to Hugo, and there was coverage 24/7. The following deputies introduced themselves: Deputies Greg Reiter, Jeffry Workman, Ross Peterson, Jacob Monsma, Cassie Rice, and Detective Anthony Jaring. Starry presented the service cost breakdown for 2024 that totaled $1,603,369.29, equivalent to $94.25 per capita. In 2023, there were 9,098 calls for service, approximately 25 calls per day, and 321 of the cases were investigated. Starry spoke of a recent call where a child was taken by a parent. They were able to find her on the Virgin Islands, and Starry commended Detective Jaring and the other agencies on their good work. Starry provided call data saying most calls come in between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Thefts had increased due to thefts at construction sites and parents using the park and leaving valuables in their vehicles. There were 168 arrests in 2023, down a little from the last two years. There were 140 motor vehicle accidents and 197 mental health/person in crises calls, which were very time consuming. A lot of time was also spent on scams involving grandparents and BitCoin/Cryptocurrency. Starry talked about how they were responding to trends. They are one of nine agencies that received a grant from the state for $75,000 for the purchase of a distracted driving vehicle. Numbers are expected to climb with people using their phones while driving. They were also working with a Coordinated Response Team for mental health/crisis calls and adding another social worker. They continue to offer Employee Wellness for staff. Starry said Fentanyl continued to be an issue. Sixty-seven pounds were seized that had a $2.2 million street value. The Drug Take Back boxes had collected over 53 tons of medications since 2013, and he thanked the citizens for disposing of medications properly. He talked about their new crime mapping software that citizens can access through the County website, though a lot of the calls would not be mapped due to data practices. Recuriting and retention was one of their focus areas. They had new positions for community service deputies, and a fulltime clinician would be onboard in May. Telecommunicators week was April 14th – 20th, and he thanked their 34 - 911 operators for their good work. He thanked the City of Hugo and Council for their support. Petryk said she had never received a bad comment regarding the police department, and she thanked them. She talked about spam emails she received from the Mayor. Starry replied that the scammers were very good, and there was little the department could do except educate the public. She asked about mental health issues. Starry replied that the deputies take on extra Council Meeting Minutes for April 15, 2024 Page 3 of 5 training for mental health. There were classes and yearly refresher courses required by law. They also had social workers to assist. The department’s goal was to make sure those in crisis receive the services they need so they don’t have to call again. Miron said he appreciated all the deputies and noted the current City newsletter had information in it on the City’s relationship with the Sheriff’s office. Starry added that the sergeant acts as the police chief to make sure he knows what is going on in the City and offer advice. Deputies are assigned and stationed specifically in Hugo. Weidt said he often gets asked when Hugo will be big enough to have its own police department. He said the way it was set up worked fantastic, and the value was second to none. There were deputies and infrastructure available to handle any situation, and the City could not get that value with a standalone department. Starry concluded by saying the Sheriff’s Office has 120 deputies, and he wanted the citizens to know they were available at a moment’s notice. Approval of Consent Agenda Petryk made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Hiring of Public Works Seasonal Employees 3. Approve Resolution Establishing Water and Sanitary Sewer Service Rates 4. Approve Master Service Agreement with Baker Tilly for Municipal Advisory Services 5. Approve Purchase of Felling Pan Trailer for the Public Works Department 6. Approve Quote for 2024 Dust Control Project All Ayes. Motion carried. Approve Claims Roster Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Approve Hiring of Public Works Seasonal Employees In the 2024 General Fund Budget, Council approved funding for seven seasonal employee positions. There were two seasonal workers, Adler Siebenaler and William Heise, who would be returning from last year. Staff interviewed new potential hires and recommended the approval of five new seasonal employees. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the rehiring of last year’s seasonal employees Adler Siebenaler and William Heise and new seasonal employees Elijah Johnson, Beck Rogers, Cohen Yerkes, Jacob Weierke, and Kristofer Bower. Approve Resolution Establishing Water and Sanitary Sewer Service Rates The Finance Department had completed an analysis of water and sewer billing data and had recommended a water rate increase to separately metered irrigation accounts and a sewer rate increase to the sanitary sewer base fee. The water rate increase to separately metered irrigation accounts followed the established conservation rate schedule. The revenue generated would Council Meeting Minutes for April 15, 2024 Page 4 of 5 offset a portion of operating expenses to help keep lower rates for lower usage water users. The sewer rate increase to the sanitary sewer base fee would help cover the ever-increasing charges from Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) for sewage treatment. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved RESOLUTION 2024 – 10 ESTABLISHING WATER AND SANITARY SEWER SERVICE RATES THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR. Approve Master Service Agreement with Baker Tilly for Municipal Advisory Services The City entered into a contract with Baker Tilly (formerly Springsted Incorporated) on July 21, 2017, for municipal advisory services including debt issuance, arbitrage calculation and continuing disclosure. With the long lag between contract updates and current inflationary pressures, Baker Tilly had new Master Service Agreements (MSA) for Municipal Advisory Services with updated contract fees, which the City Attorney had reviewed. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Master Service Agreement with Baker Tilly for Municipal Advisory Services and authorize the City Administrator to execute the agreement. Approve Purchase of Felling Pan Trailer for the Public Works Department In 2003, the City purchased a tandem axle Felling skid steer trailer that was nearing the end of its useful life. Money was included in the 2024 budget to cover the purchase of a new Felling skid steer trailer, and the Public Works Department wanted to purchase it using the Mn/DOT Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CPV) State contract. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the purchase of the Felling pan tilt trailer from Lano Equipment Inc. in the amount of $17,125.44. Approve Quote for 2024 Dust Control Project The City of Hugo currently applied dust control to approximately 23 miles of gravel roads located within its municipal boundaries, and the City’s General Budget accounted for a dust control project in 2024. As in past years, staff would work with May Township to cost share for the application of dust control on the shared portion of Keystone Avenue.Two quotes for dust control were received and opened on April 9, 2024. The low quote was from Envirotech Services at $1.39 per gallon. With City Council approval, staff would coordinate with Envirotech Services to deliver and place a total of 109,000 gallons of calcium chloride in two separate applications, once in mid-June and again in mid-August. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the quote from Envirotech Services for calcium chloride for 2024 dust control. Approve Resolution Receiving Bids and Awarding the Contract for 125th Street and Dellwood Ridge Development Street Project At its March 4, 2024, meeting, Council approved a resolution approving the plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for the 125th Street and Dellwood Ridge Neighborhood street improvement project. City Engineer Mark Erichson explained where the project was located and provided details on the reconstruction of Heather and Upper Heather Avenue with a 28-foot-wide standard City street with surmountable curb. A reclamation project was planned for 125th Street, and speed limits would be modified in some areas. Eight bids were received and opened on April 12, 2024, with the low bidder being Dresel Contracting at $2,430,476.39 and the high bidder being Bituminous Roadways at $3,060,371.31. The engineer’s estimate was $2,751,552.00. He stated the assessment process followed State Statute 429 and the City’s assessment policy. Parcels on streets Council Meeting Minutes for April 15, 2024 Page 5 of 5 in Dellwood Ridge would be assessed $5,200 per unit for complete reconstruction. Parcels on 125th Street would be assessed $3,400 per unit for roadway reclamation and overlay. Erichson recommended Council accept the bids and award the contract to Dresel Contracting in the amount of $2, 430,476.39. Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2024-11 A RESOLUTION RECEIVING BIDS AND AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR THE 2024 125TH STREET AND DELLWOOD RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. All Ayes. Motion carried. Reminder - Council Workshop on Monday, April 22, 2024 Community Development Director Rachel Juba reminded the Council they had scheduled a workshop for Monday, April 22, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Pede Pedersen Pavilion to discuss bridges, cannabis and shoreland ordinances, and Fire Department staffing structure. Reminder – Metro Cities Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Community Development Director Rachel Juba reminded the Council they scheduled a meeting to attend Metro Cities Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Roseville Skating Center from 5-7 p.m. Schedule Diamond Point Park Neighborhood Meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Community Development Director Rachel Juba informed Council the Parks Commission had scheduled a neighborhood meeting for Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 7:00 pm at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion to view proposals from playground vendors for new play equipment. She recommended Council schedule a meeting if they wished to attend. Miron made motion, Strub, to schedule a meeting to attend the Diamond Point Park neighborhood meeting on May 15, 2024 All Ayes. Motion carried. Adjournment Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to adjourn at 7:57 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk