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09-26-1988 CC MIN e e e MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL SEPTEMBER 26, 1988 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Gunkel, Counci1members Tra11e, Schuldt, Dobe1, and Holmgren MEMBERS ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Tom Zerwas, Chief of Police; Lori Johnson, Finance Director; and Patrick K1aers, City Administrator 1. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of Elk River City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Gunkel. 2. Consideration of 9/26/88 Agenda Item 9, Other Business, was changed to Item 7.5 and Administrator Update was added under Other Business. the City COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE 9/26/88 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consideration of 9/19/88 City Council Minutes Mayor Gunkel indicated that on page 3, Item #1 of the motion for agenda Item 6.1, needed the word "building" added before "permit issuance." Mayor Gunkel also indicated that on page 4 of the minutes prior to motion, a sentence needed to be added indicating that the Mayor opened the public hearing, nobody was present to speak on this issue, and the Mayor closed the public hearing. COUNCILMEMBER AS AMENDED. CARRIED 5-0. SCHULDT MOVED TO APPROVED THE 9/19/88 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION 4. Recommendation on Hiring of Police Officers Chief of Police, Tom Zerwas, was present to discuss with the City Council the recommendation for hiring of a full-time Police Officer (Officer #12) and the hiring of a part- time Police Officer. At this time, the Chief distributed a memo dated 9/26/88. This memo indicated the staff recommendation to hire Matt Habben from St. Louis Park as a full-time Elk River Police Officer, and to hire Ronald Nierenhausen from St. Cloud, as a temporary part-time Police Officer. The Chief indicated that if the part-time Police Officer worked out well, that consideration would be given to elevate in this individual to permanent full-time status. Both of these individuals being hired is contingent upon them passing their medical examination on 9/27/88. Their employment is to begin the first week of October. Both individuals will be paid at the entry level range for their positions and the full-time officer would be placed on a one year probationary period. Page 2 Elk River City Council Minutes September 26. 1988 e COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF MATT HABBEN AS A FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER WITH A ONE YEAR PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND RONALD NIERENHAUSEN AS A TEMPORARY PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER. CONTINGENT UPON THESE INDIVIDUALS PASSING THEIR MEDICAL EXAMINATION. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5. Consideration of Central Business District Beautification Reassessment For Mr. Dale W. Johnson/Public Hearing The City Administrator reviewed the assessment process and the improvement project for the beautification of the Central Business District. He noted that Mr. Dale W. Johnson appealed his assessment and that following a pretrial discussion with the judge. it was determined appropriate by the City Council to offer Mr. Johnson an assessment for one unit or $2.950.00 instead of the previously levied two assessment units or $5.900.00. The City Council approved making this offer in July. 1988. and Mr. Johnson excepted the offer in August. 1988. In order for this decision to be finalized. the City must go through the reassessment process and. accordingly. must hold a public hearing in order to receive public input on this reassessment. Following the public hearing. the City Council needs to adopt a resolution reassessing the properties. e At this time. the Mayor opened the public hearing on this issue. Nobody was present to speak for or against this issue. The Mayor closed the public hearing. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED ADOPTING FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 88-83. A RESOLUTION COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. 6. Consideration of Softball Complex Lighting Bids The City Administrator informed the Council that according to the advertisement for bids for this project. the staff had received bids and opened them at 11:00 a.m. on 9/26/88. The only firm submitting a bid and the only firm submitting the required background information was Musco Sports Lighting represented by Craig Gallopp of Sports Technology. Inc. in Golden Valley. It appeared to Staff that the bid met the specifications and that the bid amount was a fair and appropriate price for the lighting system. Additionally. the references and work experience for supervising the installation of the lighting system were very positive. Staff recommended approval of the bid from Musco Sports Lighting on a lease/purchase plan in the amount of $9.695.39 per year for five years. COUNCILMlMBER DOBEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE LEASE/PURCHASE LIGHTING SYSTEM BID FROM MUSCO SPORTS LIGHTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $9.695.39 PER YEAR FOR rIVE YEARS. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. e Page 3 Elk River City Council Minutes September 26. 1988 e 7. Consideration of Softball Complex Lighting Pole Quotes The City Administrator indicated that in addition to the quote received from Cretex for concrete poles. that the staff had also received a quote from Whitco. Inc. in Fort Worth. Texas. for steel galvanized poles in the amount of $1.768.00 per pole. Staff recommended the purchase of the 12- 70 foot concrete lighting poles from Cretex Company. Inc. in the amount of $1.000.00 per pole. This quote was submitted by Cretex representative Brad Fossum. in a letter dated May 10. 1988 to the City Park and Recreation Department. COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE QUOTE FROM CRETEX COMPANY. INC. FOR 70 FOOT CONCRETE POLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.000.00 PER POLE FOR 12 POLES FOR THE SOFTBALL LIGHTING PROJECT. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 7.5. Other Business e A) City Administrator informed the Council that Economic Development Coordinator. Dick Fursman. would be completing his six month probationary period on September 28. 1988. Unless the City Council had some objections. the Staff is recommending that Dick be give a letter indicating that he had successfully completed the probationary period and would receive the wage adjustments as agreed upon when hired. The City Council concurred that the work performed by Mr. Fursman had met with the City Council's approval and had met the expectations of the position. B) The City Administrator distributed a letter from the City Engineer dated 9/22/88. which indicated that the plans of the Minnesota Department of Transportation District 3 Office calls for the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 169 and 193rd Avenue. The plans at this stage call for the completion of the installation to be in late 1989. C) The City Administrator Inc.. requesting final consulting services on is also recommending the amount is within proj ec t. distributed a letter from Eller Associates. payment for the work completed for the downtown lighting project. City Engineer approval of this request of final payment and the contracted maximum amount for the COUNCILMIMBER DOBEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE FINAL PAYMENT OF $880.00 TO ROBERT A. ELLERS ASSOCIATES. INC. FOR THEIR CONSULTING ENGINEERING WORK IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE DOWNTOWN LIGHTING PROJECT. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. e Page 4 Elk River City Council Minutes September 26. 1988 e D) City Administrator informed the City Council that Building Official. Ken Norquist. has resigned from his position and his last date of employment with the City would be October 7. 1988. The Building and Zoning Administrator and the City Administrator are recommending that Building Inspector. Cliff Skogstad. be elevated to the position of Assistant Building Official effective immediately. As Cliff's duties would then be shifted to commercial and industrial inspection and his responsibilities increased. the Staff is recommending a pay increase to $27.500.00 effective immediately. Cliff would be in this position as Assistant Building Official for a six month probationary period. If everything worked out at the end of the six month probationary period. Staff would be recommending Cliff be elevated to Building Official and that he receive the entry level wage of this position. A letter of recommendation to the City Council on this issue dated September 26. 1988. from the Building and Zoning Administrator was distributed. e COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF KEN NORQUIST. AUTHORIZED THE STAFF TO ADVERTISE FOR A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSPECTOR. AND THE PROMOTION OF CLIFF SKOGSTAD TO ASSISTANT BUILDING OFFICIAL ON A SIX MONTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD WITH A WAGE OF $27.500.00 EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY PER RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUILDING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR IN HIS MEMO DATED 9/26/88. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. Consideration of 1989 General Fund Budget Mayor Gunkel informed the City Council that at the end of the last budget meeting raising General else be on 9/21/88. the City Council was left with the di1ema of either revenues or cutting expenditures in order to have a balanced 1989 Fund Budget. The amount that needs to be cut from the budget or raised in revenues is $109.400.00. e Mayor Gunkel indicated that one of the most significant areas that could be looked at in terms of balancing the 1989 General Fund Budget has to do with Staff additions. The Street Department has requested an additional empo1yee. the Fire Chief has requested full time status. the Police Department has requested a second Community Service Officer. and the Administration Department has requested a personnel coordinator/adminis- trative assistant. The total amount in the budget for these four positions amounts to $100.000.00. The main topic of discussion with these personnel additions related not to whether the positions were needed. but if the City could afford the positions and when the positions should be added. The number one priority of the City Council was the request of the Fire Chief. This position was viewed as the most important of all the Staff addition requests. A lengthy discussion between the City Council members took place on this position and the discussion related to the need for a detailed job description. how future Fire Chiefs would be appointed once Mr. Russ Anderson no longer desires this position (Fire Department Bylaw amendments may be required). and whether or not some clerical help would assist the Fire Chief and allow him to concentrate his efforts on the most important issues relating to public safety rather than the more mundane day to day activities. e e e Page 5 Elk River City Council Minutes September 26. 1988 At this time the City Council took a ten minute break. When the City Council reconvened the Staff was directed to make the following adjustments in the 1989 General Fund Budget: Cut $50.000.00 by way of having the four personnel positions begin at mid year. Cut $2.600.00 from the City Council Travel Budget. Cut $2.000.00 from the City Council newsletter project. Cut $2.000.00 from the B & Z Department Travel Budget. Cut $2.500.00 from the Data Processing Reserve Budget. Cut $6.200.00 from the Police Department Capital Outlay Budget. Cut $1.000.00 from the Street Light Budget. Cut $1.000.00 from the Recreation Budget for a consultant. Cut $23.700.00 from the City Council Contingency Budget. The total amount of the above listed cuts or deletions from the requested 1989 General Fund Expenditure Budget amounts to $91.000.00. The City Council then directed the Staff to increase revenues by $18.400.00 in order to have a balanced budget presented at a future City Council meeting. The areas for revenue increases include: Plan Check fees. Fire Contract fees. Building & Zoning Permit fees and Liquor Store Transfers. The Staff indicated that the appropriate resolutions and background material would be presented at a future City Council meeting in order for the City Council to adopt a balanced 1989 General Fund Budget. 9. Adjournment There being no further business COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE 9/26/88 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER DOBEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The meeting of the Elk River City Council adjourned at approximately 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~~:s D. cK/~ City Administrator