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06-14-1999 CC MIN . Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1999 Mayor Klinzing; Councilmembers Dietz, Thompson, Farber, and Motin None Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Sandra Peine, City Clerk; Lori Johnson, Finance Director; Phil Hals, Street/Park Superintendent; Rich Czech, Ice Arena Manager; Tom Zerwas, Police Chief; Jeff Beahen, Assistant Police Chief; Peter Beck, City Attorney 1. Call Meetina To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 6:50 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing. 2. Consider Aaenda The City Administrator requested that Item 3.11. be withdrawn from the agenda. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE 6114/99 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. . 3. Consider Consent Aaenda Councilmember Motin requested that Item 3.1., Consider 5/17/99 Council Meeting Minutes, be tabled to the July 21, 1999, council meeting to allow staff to review the audio tape of the meeting regarding Item 6.9. He further requested an amendment to Item 6.1. of the 5/17/99 minutes. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS: 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. 3.7. . 3.8. CONSIDER 5117/99 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - TABLED TO THE 7/21/99 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CONSIDER 5/24/99 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - APPROVED CONSIDER CHECK REGISTER - APPROVED CONSIDER TEMPORARY ON SALE BEER LICENSE FOR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT ORONO PARK - ELK RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - APPROVED CONSIDER TEMPORARY ON SALE BEER LICENSE FOR THE PARISH FESTIVAL ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1999 - CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW - APPROVED CONSIDER APPLICATION TO CONDUCT EXCLUDED BINGO TO ALLOW BINGO AT THE SHERBURNE COUNTY FAIR FROM JULY 15-18 AND AT LAKE ORONO ON JULY 4, 1999 - ELK RIVER/ROGERS VFW LADIES AUXILIARY - APPROVED CONSIDER EXEMPTION FROM LAWFUL GAMBLING LICENSE TO ALLOW BINGO RAFFLES AND PADDLEWHEELS AT THE AMERICAN LEGION ON AUGUST 20, 1999 - GOLDENEYE DUCKS UNLIMITED - APPROVED CONSIDER APPLICATION FOR RAFFLE (EXEMPT PERMIT) FOR SUE BAILEY/ELK RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOLD A BENEFIT RAFFLE ON JULY 17. 1999, AT THE AMERICAN LEGION AND TO WAIVE THE THIRTY DAY WAITING PERIOD - APPROVED Elk River City Council Minutes June 14. 1999 Page 2 e 3.9. 3.10. 3.11. 3.12. 3.13. 3.14. 3.15. CONSIDER ORDINANCE 99-17 AMENDING SECTION 1000 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO STATE BUILDING CODE AND THE MINNESOTA ACCESSIBILITY CODE - APPROVED CONSIDER HIRING TEMPORARY SEASONAL BUILDING INSPECTOR - APPROVED CONSIDER HIRING CODE ENFORCEMENT INTERN - WITHDRAWN CONSIDER FIRE CHIEF ATTENDANCE AT NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY - APPROVED CONSIDER EQUIPMENT PURCHASES FOR STREET DEPARTMENT: 2 WHEEL TILT BED TRAILER FOR TRANSPORTING A WALK BEHIND MOWER AT $852.00 AND A 7 FOOT WIDE HEAVY DUTY FLAIL TYPE MOWER AT $6,075 - APPROVED CONSIDER SIGN CHANGES (YIELD SIGNS TO STOP SIGNS) IN BRENTWOOD AND RIDGEWOOD EAST AND MAIN/EVANS PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK SIGN- APPROVED CONSIDER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB MORTGAGEE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF ELK RIVER, FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ELK RIVER, AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELK RIVER AND TO AUTHORIZE ITS EXECUTION - APPROVED COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. 5.1. Consider Renewal of Liauor Licenses e City Clerk Sandra Peine presented the request for liquor renewal applications for the 1999/00 liquor licensing year. COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE LIQUOR LICENSES AS ATTACHED TO THE JUNE 14, 1999, MEMO TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM THE CITY CLERK FOR THE 1999/00 LICENSING YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.2. Consider Ice Resurfacer Bids Ice Arena Manager Rich Czech informed the City Council that he received one bid for the ice resurfacer (Zamboni). Rich reviewed the options presented in the bid and informed the council of the options he would not be recommending. He noted that the total cost with the deletion of some of the options and including freight and tax is $82,546.23. The City Administrator discussed funding options for this purchase. He indicated that the three options include 1.) the revenue from the Holt and Jackson property, when the property is sold, 2.) equipment reserves, and 3.) the NSP reserve fund. Councilmember Farber suggested reimbursing either the equipment reserve or the NSP reserve with the money from the Holt and Jackson property when the property is sold. e Mayor Klinzing stated she did not feel it was appropriate to request the purchase of this item at this time as it has not been budgeted. She suggested waiting until the council goes through the budgeting process. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE BID FOR THE ICE RESURFACING MACHINE AND TO USE THE RESERVE FROM THE NSP FUND FOR THE PURCHASE. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. Elk River City Council Minutes June 14. 1999 Page 3 e COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION BY ADDING THAT IF THE PROPERTY ON HOLT AND JACKSON AVENUE SELLS, THE FUNDS FROM THE SALE BE USED TO REIMBURSE THE NSP RESERVE FUND. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE AMENDMENT. THE MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED 3-2. Mayor Klinzing and Councilmember Motin opposed. 5.3. Discuss School Street Assessments The City Council discussed the issue of the School Board appealing its assessment for the School Street improvement. Discussion was held regarding the city not changing the assessment levied against the School District. The City Administrator informed the council that Dr. Flannery had indicated that the School Board was willing to pay $100,000 for the assessment. The City Council also discussed the possibility of offering the School District $39,170 to assist in the improvement of the existing parking lot, in lieu of reducing the assessment, as the city ice arena uses this parking lot. e MAYOR KLINZING MOVED THAT THERE BE NO CHANGE IN THE ASSESSMENT AMOUNT OF $139,170 LEVIED AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THAT THE CITY CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESURFACING OF THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE ICE ARENA IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,170, CONTINGENT UPON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DROPPING ITS SCHOOL STREET ASSESSMENT APPEAL, WITH THE FUNDS TO COME FROM THE STREET RESERVE FUND, AND FURTHER THAT THE MONEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BE USED FOR RESURFACING ONLY AND NOT FOR FENCING. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0- 1. Councilmember Dietz abstained. 5.4. Discuss City Attornev Status City Attorney Peter Beck noted that his law firm, Doherty Rumble & Butler, will be closing at the end of the month. He stated his interest in continuing to serve the City of Elk River as its city attorney using the same fee schedule. Peter Beck noted that the city's intentions will have an impact on his decision as to his future plans. Mayor Klinzing suggested that the city enter into the request for proposal (RFP) process as she felt it would benefit the constituency by ensuring the highest level of service, most efficient use of tax dollars, and greatest public accessibility. Mayor Klinzing indicated that she is satisfied by the work provided by Peter Beck. Discussion was held by the council regarding the pros and cons of requesting RFP's at this time. Councilmember Dietz indicated that there is no urgency to go out for RFP's and stated that the city should consider the years of service and work provided by Peter Beck. He indicated that he felt Peter Beck should have the first opportunity to retain his service with the city. He suggested allowing the city attorney to find a new firm and if at that time their pay structure changes, then the council can reconsider this issue. MAYOR KLINZING MOVED TO DIRECT THAT THE STAFF BEGIN THE RFP PROCESS FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE CITY. e Councilmember Motin indicated he did not feel this was the time to go out for RFP's. THE MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. Elk River City Council Minutes June 14. 1999 Page 4 e Mayor Klinzing indicated that the city must justify spending money for legal services as it has a responsibility to its constituency. 5.5 Consider Recommendations from Personnel Committee Finance Director Lori Johnson spoke on behalf of the Personnel Committee. Lori Johnson presented the committee's recommendations regarding the proposed pay plan, point ranking, pay grade, and classification changes as listed in the outline attached to the committee's memo. The City Administrator spoke to the pay plan in relation to the metro average for Group 6 (cities with a population between 10,000 and 25,000) cities. He indicated that the proposed pay plan is at 95 percent of the metro average for Group 6 cities. He further indicated that the council should review this issue and consider increasing the 95 percent to a percentage closer to 100 percent. Council member Dietz indicated that he feels the five step pay plan will create more uniformity and further stated that he would agree to look at increasing the 95 percent to 97 percent after receiving a report that reviews the city's benefit plan. e COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS (ITEM IV) IN STAFF'S PAY PLAN MEMO INCLUDING THE FIVE STEP PAY PLAN AT 95 PERCENT OF THE METRO AVERAGE OF THE GROUP 6 CITIES AND THAT THE 95 PERCENT BE REVIEWED FOLLOWING THE COMMITTEE'S REVIEW AND PRESENTATION OF THE BENEFIT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.6. Consider Wage Adiustments City Administrator Pat Klaers recommended wage adjustments for a number of employees and employee groups. The city administrator recommended the following: 1.) all employees that have been with the city for less than one year move to Step A of the pay plan, 2.) all employees that have been with the city for more than one year move to Step B of the pay plan, 3.) all other employees be slotted into the new pay plan according to their existing wage, and on July 1, move up one step, or to the top, whichever is less, and 4.) due to internal and external wage balance concerns, the city administrator recommended seven individual wage adjustments as indicated in his memo to the Mayor & City Council dated June 14, 1999. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR AS NOTED IN HIS MEMO DATED JUNE 14,1999, TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, AND MOVING CLIFF SKOGSTAD TO THE TOP OF HIS PAY PLAN. COUNCILMEMBER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Councilmember Farber requested that the Personnel Committee review the positions in the Planning Department and the Building and Zoning Department. e 5.7. Finance Department 1998 Annual Report Finance Director Lori Johnson presented the 1999 Finance Department Annual Report. Elk River City Council Minutes June 14. 1999 Page 5 e Lori Johnson informed the council that she has received two quotes to assist the city in amending its personnel ordinance and possibly putting together a personnel handbook. She requested the council to consider the quote of Labor Relations Association as she feels the city will receive a more in-depth review from this firm. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF LABOR RELATIONS ASSOCIATION TO ASSIST THE CITY IN REVISING ITS PERSONNEL ORDINANCE AND ADOPTING A PERSONNEL HANDBOOK. COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Business Councilmember Motin noted that his objection to purchase the ice resurfacer was due to the amendment to the motion allocating the funds from the sale of the Holt and Jackson property. 7. Staff Updates 7.1. Update on Sherburne County Fair Parade The City Clerk updated the City Council on the upcoming Sherburne County Fair Parade. 7.2. Seal Coatina Proaram e The City Administrator updated the City Council on the seal coating program. 7.3. Clarifier The City Administrator updated the City Council on the replacement of the broken clarifier at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 7.4. Y2K Issues at WWTP The City Administrator updated the City Council on Y2K issues relating to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the purchase of used generators. 8. Adiournment There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting at 9: 1 0 p.m. ~~~ Sandra Peine City Clerk e