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07-12-1993 CC MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, JULY 12, 1993 Members Present: Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Holmgren, Scheel, Farber and Dietz Members Absent: None Staff Present: Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk; Russ Anderson, Fire Chief; Tom Tyler, Police Investigator 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. 2. Legislative Update - State Representative, Stephanie Klinzing Stephanie Klinzing, State Representative for House District 19B, updated the Council on several issues which were discussed during the 1993 Legislative Session. Representative Klinzing discussed the increase in Local Government Aid and the effects it has on the City of Elk River. She also reviewed other issues which were before the 1993 Legislature such as Tax Increment Financing, Truth in Taxation, and ditches. Representative Klinzing also answered questions from the Council pertaining to health care and gun control. The Council thanked Representative Klinzing for the update and stated that they would like to hear from her again in the future. Bill Pollard requested that the City take action to have the property next to his house, located on the 1600 block of Main Street, cleaned up. He indicated that the property is full of weeds and has not been maintained for a long time. The Council recessed at 7:00 p.m., and reconvened at 8:50 p.m., following the EDA meeting. 5.1. Consider Special 6/1/93 CIP Work Session Minutes COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE 6/1/93 MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. 5-0. CIP WORK SESSION THE MOTION CARRIED . . .. Elk River City Council Minutes July 12, 1993 Page 2 5.2. Consider Special 6/15/93 City Council Minutes COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL 6/15/93 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.3. Consider 6/21/93 City Council Minutes COUNCI LMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED CARRIED 5-0. 6/21/93 CITY THE MOTION. COUNCIL THE MOTION 6. Update on Open House Plans and Review Plaque Proposal The City Clerk updated the Council on the Open House plans. She indicated that the Open House will be held on September 11, and that it will be held jointly with the Elk River Fire Department. The Council reviewed the City plaque proposals. After much discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to accept the recommendation made by the EDA for Option #1. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO HALL/POLICE DEPARTMENT PLAQUE. MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. APPROVE OPTION #1 FOR THE COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED CITY THE 7. Update on Library Expansion Project Councilmember Dietz updated the Council on the Library expansion plans. He stated that the Library Board has met with the President of Eos and has discussed the general expansion ideas. He indicated that this does not commit the City to using Eos as the Library's architect and that the Library Board will be requesting quotes from at least one other architect for the expansion project. Councilmember Dietz requested authorization from the Council to spend approximately $5,000 from the 1993 Library budget to have Eos work with the Library Board to create a schematic Library expansion plan so that accurate cost estimates can be obtained. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF $5,000 FROM THE 1993 LIBRARY BUDGET TO PUT TOGETHER A SCHEMATIC PLAN OF THE LIBRARY EXPANSION. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. Frequent Flyer Policy The City Administrator indicated that the 1992 Legislature approved a law which requires local governing bodies to develop and implement policies covering frequent flyer benefits for municipal employees and officials. The City Administrator presented a draft policy for the Council review. Mayor Duitsman indicated that he agreed with the draft pOlicy, however, he would like to see language added that would require the employee to look for the lowest possible fare for airline tickets. . . . Elk River City Council Minutes July 12, 1993 Page 3 It was the consensus of the Council to authorize the City Administrator to add a sentence to the draft policy stating that the employee shop for the lowest possible fare. Mayor Duitsman requested the City Administrator to bring the policy back for Council review with the added language. 9. Consider Pay Estimates 9.1. Pay Estimate #1 - Heritage Landing 9.2. Pay Estimate #3 - Main Street/Highway 169 9.3. Pay Estimate #3 - 4th street and Holt Avenue 9.4. Pay Estimate #5 - Hillside Estates 9.5. Pay Estimate #8 - Western Area COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING PAY ESTIMATES: PAY ESTIMATE #1 IN THE AMOUNT OF $173,976.17 TO LATOUR CONSTRUCTION FOR WORK COMPLETED ON THE HERITAGE LANDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. PAY ESTIMATE #3 IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,587.27 TO GMH ASPHALT, INC., FOR WORK COMPLETED ON THE MAIN STREET/HIGHWAY 169 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT. PAY ESTIMATE #3 IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,317.90 TO BITUMINOUS CONSULTING AND CONTRACTING, INC., FOR WORK COMPLETED ON THE HOLT AVENUE/4TH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. PAY ESTIMATE #5 IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,292.62 TO R.L. LARSON EXCAVATING FOR WORK COMPLETED ON THE HILLSIDE ESTATES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. PAY ESTIMATE #8 IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,961.64 TO ARCON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR WORK COMPLETED IN THE WESTERN AREA IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 10. Budget Discussion Police Department Discussion was held by the Council regarding the number of patrol officers needed to adequately patrol the power shift. The City Administrator stated that he is suggesting the Council add 1 additional patrol officer and the Police Chief is requesting to add 2 additional patrol officers. This is in addition to the new D.A.R.E. Officer that will be added through the D.A.R.E. TO BUILD A HOUSE PROGRAM. Following Council discussion regarding the number of patrol officers to add to the patrol force in 1993-94, the Council consensus was to add the D.A.R.E. officer and one patrol officer in 1993. The Council also agreed to increase the CSo hours by 10 hours in 1994. Mayor Duitsman stated that he did not see the need for super department heads at this time. The Council concurred with the Mayor. . . . Elk River City Council Minutes July 12, 1993 Page 4 Fire Inspection Russ Anderson, Fire Chief, requested the Council to consider the implementation of a fire prevention program. Russ Anderson explained the basics that would be involved in a fire safety and inspections program for apartment complexes and retail and industrial establishments. He indicated that the implementation of a program would require approximately 30 hours per week. Russ Anderson requested the Council to consider adding and hiring a full time position for this program. The Council discussed the possibilities of training existing firefighters to do these inspections. The Council also suggested that the fire chief start a program and inspect these buildings on a part time basis as time allowed. The Fire Chief was opposed to this as he stated he did not have enough time to implement a program of this size. He stated that he could not do arbitrary inspections, but would have to devise a plan which would include inspecting all businesses in the City. Councilmember Farber suggested that it would be best to have one person responsible for the inspections in order to maintain continuity and consistency. Discussion was also held regarding the inspection of existing residential homes, houses that are rented out, and apartment buildings. The Council discussed the idea of having one person conduct both fire and housing inspections. Councilmember Holmgren indicated that this would not be possible as fire inspections are completely different than uniform housing code or housing maintenance code inspections. No decision was made on housing inspections. The Council directed the Fire Chief to research the number of hours needed for both a full time and part time fire inspector. Street Department The City Administrator indicated that Phil Hals is requesting additional help to mow grass during the summer and plow snow in the winter. The Council discussed the options in Phil's memo (to Patrick Klaers) dated July 2, 1993. The City Administrator recommended that the Council consider hiring more summer help and then add another full time person in 1995. Discussion was held regarding the need for additional personnel during snowplowing season. The City Administrator indicated that the full impact of all of the new plats will not hit until 1995. The Council consented to hire additional summer help as needed and no other personnel at this time if the snowplowing is not affected. . . . Elk River City Council Minutes July 12, 1993 Page 5 11. Staff Updates The City Administrator informed the Council that the health insurance rates have increased by 18%. The City Administrator informed the Council that the MnDOT tour has been cancelled. The City Administrator informed the Council that the Street Superintendent is requesting authorization to hire Bauerly Brothers for the following jobs: --Paving the parking lots in the Oak Knoll Fields - $20,950 --Overlay of Boston Street - $2,400 --Overlay of Concord Street - $3,500 COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AWARD THE PROJECTS OF BOSTON STREET AND CONCORD STREET TO BAUERLY BROTHERS. DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. OAK KNOLL, COUNCILMEMBER Councilmember Holmgren suggested that the Council consider an ordinance amendment which would allow only City residents to serve on the Park and Recreation Board. He indicated that because of the 728 Areawide Recreation Program, there is no need for a City Recreation Board. He suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission be changed to Park Board. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO REFLECT THE ORIGINAL PARK BOARD ORDINANCE WHICH REQUIRES THAT MEMBERS BE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-1-1. Councilmember Dietz opposed and Mayor Duitsman abstained. Councilmember Farber informed staff that he received a complaint regarding traffic on 4th Street and Morton Avenue west of the Dairy Queen. He indicated the complaint was that of excessive speeding and a request for a stop sign. The City Administrator indicated he would bring the matter to the Police Chief's attention. Mayor Duitsman suggested that the Council consider designing a City Flag. . . . Elk River City Council Minutes July 12, 1993 ------------- 12. Check Register Page 6 COUNCILMEMBER FARBER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 13. Adjournment There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER ADJOURN. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. 5-0. The meeting of the City Council adjourned at 10:50 p.m. J---h ~ Sandra Thackeray City Clerk HOLMGREN THE MOTION MOVED TO CARRIED