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10-24-1994 CC MIN e MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1994 Members Present: Mayor Duitsman; Councilmembers Dietz, Farber, Holmgren; Councilmember Scheel arrived at 6:30 p.m. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Peter Beck, City A ttorney; Lori Johnson, Finance Director; Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk; Tom Zerwas, Police Chief 1. Call Meetina To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Duitsman called the Elk River City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Consider Aaenda e Item 6.3, Clerical position update, was added to the agenda. Items 8.2 and 8.3 were moved to follow Item #2. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE 10/24/94 COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 7. Call Executive Session of City Council COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO CALL AN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: · POLICE UNION WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR 1995-96 · PENDING LITIGATION OF HOHLEN PROPERTY · PENDING LITIGATION ON HOULTON FARMS COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The City Council recessed at 6:02 p.m. into executive session. The City Council reconvened at 6: 16 p.m. 3. Consider 10/10/94 City Council Minutes COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE 10/10/94 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e City Council Minutes October 24. 1994 Page 2 e 4. Verbal Uodate On Holt Street And Jackson Avenue Intersection The City Administrator distributed a memo dated October 19. 1994. addressed to the Mayor and Council and City Department Heads regarding this issue. City Administrator Pat Klaers updated the Council on the Holt Street and Jackson Avenue intersection alignment. He informed the Council that a concrete median was extended along Jackson A venue which blocked access to Jackson from Holt Street. The City Administrator indicated that he has directed the City Engineer to remove the median to allow access to Jackson A venue from Holt Street. The City Administrator indicated that the original plans which call for the realignment of Holt Street slightly to the West, have not been authorized. After further evaluation of the situation, the City Administrator indicated that it is necessary to move forward with the project at this time. He stated that a change order of approximately $80,000 is necessary for the project to move forward. COUNCllMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE REALIGNMENT OF HOLT STREET AND JACKSON AVENUE AS ORIGINAllY PROPOSED IN THE ELK PARK CENTER PROJECT. COUNCllMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0. e The City Council requested an update from the City Attorney on the status of Ditch # 1 O. The City Attorney indicated that he is working with the County A ttorney on this matter. Mayor Duitsman indicated his desire to have this work completed before spring. 5. Budaet Worksession Finance Director Lori Johnson distributed a handout and reviewed the net tax capacity (NTC) for 1995 as compared to 1994. She indicated that the taxable NTC for 1995 is proposed to increase 15.64%. The Council discussed the surface water management levy and how it has affected the NTC. The City Administrator indicated that the city has a $112.500 budget deficit to deal with in order to balance the 1995 general fund budget. Councilmember Farber stated that the Utilities Commission have indicated that they may be willing to fund $50,000 toward the purchase of a front end loader. He also suggested that the $40,000 from the proposed surface water management levy, that will not be required for bond payment in 1995, be used to balance the budget. Councilmember Dietz indicated he would rather lower the tax levy and cut the budget deficit in other ways. e The City Administrator indicated he would prefer that the Utilities Commission contributes a percentage of gross revenues to the city rather than funding City Council Minutes October 24, 1994 Page 3 e special projects or equipment. He stated that this would eliminate the need for the City to request funds from the Utilities on a yearly basis. Councilmember Farber requested that the City Council discuss wage issues for department heads. He stated that this issue has been put on hold for a long time. It was the consensus of the Council to discuss this issue at another meeting. The Council discussed areas in which cuts could be made to balance the budget. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO BALANCE THE 1995 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS FOLLOWS: $30,000 -- SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT FUND $55,000 -- UTILITIES FOR PURCHASE OF LOADER $10,000 -- COUNCIL CONTINGENCY $17,500 -- GENERAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-2. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ AND COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL OPPOSED. Council member Scheel indicated she opposed because she did not feel the money from the proposed storm water management levy should go into the general fund. e Councilmember Dietz indicated that he supports the storm water management fund, however, he feels the proposed funds should not be used to balance the general fund budget. He indicated he would prefer to lower the general levy fund and balance the budget using some other method. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 94-110, A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT IMPACT FEE RATES. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION 'CARRIED 5-0. Gary Street Water Tower The Finance Director indicated that she is in the process of planning for a bond sale for the Gary Street water tower project. In order to finalize the financial framework of this project, a resolution must be adopted by the City Council directing tax increment financing funds from tax increment financing district No.4 to be applied to the project. Following discussion of this matter, there was Council consensus to defer action on this issue until the joint meeting with the Utilities Commission. The Finance Director was instructed to proceed with the bond issue for the Western Area project. Liauor Store e The City Administrator indicated that the Council previously directed him to contact Mr. Rick Foster regarding a commercial lot as a potential liquor store site. The Council discussed the possible need for a new liquor store site in the future. City Council Minutes October 24, 1994 Page 4 e COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO PURSUE THE PURCHASE OF THE SITE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HIGHWAY 169 AND 193RD AVENUE AT MARKET RATE FOR A FUTURE LIQUOR STORE SITE. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The City Administrator indicated that Mr. Foster has requested to serve as the construction manager of the site. The City Administrator informed the Council that he has had preliminary discussion with property owners in the western area of the City regarding the future purchase of a site for a possible "Westbound" liquor store. He indicated that this would be in the long-range plans for the City. The City Administrator updated the Council on the progress of the western area appraisals by Panger and Benson. The City Administrator indicated that staff has removed the Boelter property and the Custom Motors property from the Western Area Phase II project. He indicated that it made more sense to have them served by utilities in Phase III when they can redevelop in conjunction with Wapiti Park. 6.1. Reschedule ioint City Council Utilities Commission meetina date from 11/10 to .llL.JA e COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO DELETE THE UTILITIES JOINT MEETING FROM THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CALL FOR 11/10 AND TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1994, AT 5:30 P.M. FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING WITH THE UTILITIES COMMISSION. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6.2. Consider appointment of desianee to County Board of Canvass MAYOR DUITSMAN MOVED TO APPOINT COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF CANVASS. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6.3. Clerical Update The City Clerk updated the Council on the status of the receptionist position. She indicated that the ad for part time receptionist ran for two weeks. She stated that the City received 8 applicants, none of which met the minimum qualifications for the position. She stated that the low response could have been either from the position being part time or because of the salary. The City Clerk stated that Kristy Mansfield has indicated an interest in a full time position as the City's receptionist. Kristy Mansfield was recently hired by the City as receptionist on a part time basis. e COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO OFFER THE POSITION OF FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST TO KRISTY MANSFIELD BEGINNING OCTOBER 25, AT $6.50 PER HOUR. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. City Council Minutes October 24, 1994 Page 5 e There being no further business, COUNCllMEMBER SCHEEL MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCil. COUNCllMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The Meeting Of The City Council Adjourned At 8:38 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, ~~~ Sandra A. Thackeray City Clerk - e