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02-14-1994 CC MIN e MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL FEBRUARY 14, 1994 Members Present: Mayor Duitsman. Council members Farber. Holmgren and Dietz Members Absent: Councilmember Scheel Staff Present: Pat Klaers; City Administrator. Lori Johnson; Finance Director. William Rubin; Economic Development Coordinator. Russ Anderson; Fire Chief. Tom Zerwas; Police Chief. Debbie Kleckner; Recording Secretary 1. Call Meetinq To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof. the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. 2. Consider 2/14/94 City Council Aaenda COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2/14/94 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e 3.1. Inspections Proaram Presentation bv Fire Chief Russ Anderson Mayor Duitsman stated that the issue of an apartment inspection program was considered in the 1994 budget discussions. He indicated that the Council was not asking the Fire Chief to address that issue at this time and that the Council directed him to come up with a commercial inspection program. Fire Chief Russ Anderson stated that he felt the apartment inspection program should take priority over commercial inspections. He indicated that since most of the commercial buildings in the City were built in the last ten years, fire code compliance and building code compliance were addressed during construction. Mayor Duitsman indicated that the City will address the apartment issue when the City hires a full-time building and fire inspector. He stated that he felt the plan should be to go into a building to inspect for both building and fire code compliance. The Fire Chief stated that he would like to change the Council's view of the issue and make apartment inspections a priority. Mayor Duitsman stated that the information provided by the Fire Chief in the Council's packet will be useful in the 1995 budget considerations. but that it does not address the commercial inspection program directed by the City Council. e Councilmember Dietz stated that it was his feeling that the Fire Chief did not consider the commercial inspection program important. He questioned whether Elk River City Council Minutes February 14, 1994 Page 2 . . the Fire Chief was ready to implement an apartment inspection program at this time. Fire Chief Russ Anderson stated he did feel commercial inspections were important but that apartment inspections should be a priority. Russ Anderson presented information regarding the fact that there are no fire chiefs in the State of Minnesota that do routine fire code inspections. He stated that the fire chief position is a full-time job in a city the size of Elk River. Russ Anderson explained that first it was necessary for the City to adopt a fire code and establish a fire bureau. He noted that at this time. the fire code has only been adopted in the building department. Discussion followed regarding the role of fire wardens in the City of Elk River. Council member Dietz stated that he was willing to authorize the Fire Chief to start with apartments in an inspection program. but that he wanted something started now. Council member Farber suggested that the Fire Chief start an inspection program with apartments and multi-dwelling rental units; for example. inspect one unit a week. The Fire Chief stated that he did not understand where the time would come from that is needed to do the inspections. e Discussion followed regarding the funding of the Elk River Fire Department compared to other cities. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO DIRECT THE FIRE CHIEF TO START AN INSPECTION PROGRAM OF APARTMENTS ON APRIL 1, 1994. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Council member Holmgren stated that the City also needs to inspect older rental units. Russ Anderson recommended that the City establish a fire bureau and adopt the fire code ordinance. He stated that the fire bureau could be made up of internal personnel on a part-time basis. or outside individuals hired by the Fire Department. working under a fire marshal's direction. Mayor Duitsman stated that the City Council intends to provide funding in the 1995 budget for personnel to inspect apartments for building and fire code compliance, and also for a fire prevention program. Fire Chief Russ Anderson announced that he plans to retire August 1, 1994. 5.1. Reauest to Update Scanners at Northbound Liauor e The City Administrator explained that the scanners currently in use at Northbound Liquor will handle only 10 digits. He stated that changes in the liquor industry have required systems using scanners to maintain UPC codes up to 11 digits. The City Administrator further stated that the present system and software are 8 years old and are outdated. The City Administrator asked that the City Council Elk River City Council Minutes February 14, 1994 Page 3 e consider purchasing 3 new scanners and software from Total Register systems, Inc., detailed on the second page of the memo on this topic. Mayor Duitsman questioned the need for training all personnel on the software and suggested that staff consider training only part of the liquor store personnel and have those people train the remaining clerks. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF 3 SCANNERS, SOFTWARE AND NECESSARY TRAINING FROM TOTAL REGISTER SYSTEMS, INC., AT A COST OF $6,829.00 FOR NORTHBOUND LIQUOR STORE, SUBJECT TO STAFF APPROVAL OF THE COST AND EXTENT OF TRAINING NECESSARY FOR OPERATION OF THE NEW SYSTEM. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4- O. 5.2. Request to Purchase Self-Contained Breathinq Apparatus (Fire Department) COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF 12 SCOTT SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (S.C. B.A.) FROM CLAREY'S SAFETY CO., AT A COST OF $23,291.55. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 6. Council Updates e COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY COUNCIL TO MEET AT 7:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1994, INSTEAD OF 6:00 P.M., AS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The City Administrator stated that the Building and Zoning Administrator has requested that the Gravel Mining Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.) public hearing be held at 6:00 p.m. , on March 21, 1994, rather than 7:00 p.m. The Council had no problems with this public hearing being held before 7:00 p.m. The City Administrator advised the City Council that an article will be appearing Wednesday in the Star News, stating that the bid award date for the Highway 101 project has been changed but should not affect the scheduled completion time. He stated that the reason for the change is due to the delay in obtaining right-of- way from certain property owners. The City Council called a recess at this time (6:50 p.m.) The Elk River Economic Development Authority meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 8:50 p.m. 4. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO TABLE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHEN A FULL COUNCIL IS PRESENT. 4.1. COMPARABLE WORTH LAW UPDATE; 4.2. REVIEW OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS; AND, 4.3. REVIEW OF PERSONNEL ORDINANCE, e COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Elk River City Council Minutes February 14, 1994 Page 4 e 4.4. Review Personnel Issues from January 3, 1994 Meetina Item #2 - Police Chief Reauest for Temporary Assianment and Pav Increase For T.A.C. Employee COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE POLICE CHIEF'S REQUEST FOR THE TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT AND PAY INCREASE FOR THE T.A.C. EMPLOYEE. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Councilmember Dietz requested that the Police Chief report back to him in 60 days to advise whether or not the problems have been resolved in his department. The pay increase was $.52 per hour and retroactive to 1/1/94. Item #3 - Accountina Clerk and Secretary Retroactive Pay The City Administrator explained that the salaries for the accounting clerk and secretary positions were previously set by the Council and that the purpose of this discussion is to address retroactive pay. Council member Dietz noted tha+ staff is authorized to have the accounting clerk work up to forty (40) hours a week if necessary. The City Administrator indicated that he is awa;-e of that and that funds for the additional hours will come from the Council Contingency fund. e COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE RETROACTIVE PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR ACCOUNTING CLERK BRENDA EBNER AND ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY ALICE HEINECKE OF SEVENTY CENTS ($.70) PER HOUR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 1993, TO DECEMBER 31, 1993. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-1. MAYOR DUITSMAN OPPOSED. Item #4 - Clerk Typist and Receptionist COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE A CLERK-TYPIST II POSITION AT A MID-POINT WAGE BETWEEN THE CLERK-TYPIST I POSITION AND THE RECEPTIONIST POSITION AND THAT GERYl ROGERS SERVE THE CITY IN THIS CAPACITY; AND, THAT THE RECEPTIONIST POSITION BE RETITlED TO RECEPTIONIST/CLERK TO MORE ACCURATELY REflECT THE DUTIES OF THIS POSITION. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Item #7 - EDA Executive Director The City Administrator explained that he is recommending that Economic Development Coordinator William Rubin be appointed as EDA Executive Director. The City Administrator further recommended that Mr. Rubin's salary be increased to $45,000 for 1994 for this added responsibility. e Bill Rubin explained his request for an additional week of vacation time. He stated that he did not understand that vacation time was a negotiable issue of employment with the City, but became aware of the fact when the City Planner, Steve Ach, was hired with three weeks of vacation. Elk River City Council Minutes February 14, 1994 Page 5 e COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO TABLE WILLIAM RUBIN'S VACATION REQUEST UNTIL CITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF THE CITY'S VACATION POLICY. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-1. MAYOR DUITSMAN OPPOSED. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EDA THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AS THE EDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WITH AN INCREASE IN SALARY TO $44,750 FOR 1994. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Item #8 - Employee Vacation Schedule COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL DISCUSSION OF THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT WHICH EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 1994. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AMEND HIS MOTION UNDER ITEM NO.7 - EDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AS FOLLOWS: TO TABLE BILL RUBIN'S VACATION REQUEST UNTIL DISCUSSION OF THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT WHICH EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 1994. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4- O. 7. Staff Updates There were no items for discussion. - 8. Adiournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ,1)u~ ~ (~) Debbie Kleckner Recording Secretary e