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02-04-1985 CC MIN REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CI TY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1985 Members Present: Mayor Hinkle, Councilmembers Engstro~Williams, Schuldt and Gunkel. Members Absent: None 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Hinkle. 2. Agenda COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 4, 1985 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 3. Minutes The minutes of January 21, 1985 were not available for approval. 4. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. 5. City Facilities Discussion Mr. Jack Boarman was present to discuss various issues regarding the City facil- ities with the City Council. Mr. Jack Boarman indicated that after reviewing the Chamber of Commerce survey and his firm's survey regarding the City's facil- ities, it was his feeling that the primary issue was the cost factor. Mr. Boarman indicated that all the discussion seemed to lead back to cost. Discussion was carried on between Jack Boarman and the City Council regarding re- duction of the cost, the remodeliug of the ciL.Y hall and the construction of the public works garage. Discussion was carried on regarding the estimated cost of remodeling the city hall versus the cost of construction of a new building. Dis- cussion was carried on regarding the elimination of the fire department addition and the risks taken in the remodeling of an old facility. Discussion was also carried on regarding the projection of cost on a 10 year plan versus a 15 year plan. It was the consensus of the City Council that the cost of the referendum should be reduced significantly, that it is necessary to somehow get over the psychological barrier of the one million dollars. It was the consensus of the City Council to authorize Mr. Jack Boarman to come back to the City Council with a proposal that would fit within the $995,000 cost figure. It was also a consensus of the City Council that a member of the City Council, Jack Boarman, and the City Administrator meet with the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors regarding the discussion carried on between Mr. Jack Boarman and the City Council and request from the Chamber of Commerce a consensus of opinion regarding tne municipal faci~ities proposal. . . City Council Minutes Feoruary 4, 1985 Page Two 6. City Administrator Interim Services Resolution Mayor Hinkle indicated that he and Councilmember Gunkel had met with Mr. Orvil Johnson to discuss tne posslbility of Mr. Johnson serving as an interim until such time as a permanent replacement for the City Administrator is selected. Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. Johnson has retired from the City of Mendota Heights, and further indicated that Mr; Johnson has approximately 32 years of municipal experience. Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. Johnson would work for the City approximately three days per week and would also serve on the screening committee to screen applicants for the City Administrator position. Mayor Hinkle indicated that the salary proposed for Mr. Johnson is $150 per day which is equivalent to the current City Administrator's salary. Discussion was carried on regarding the use of the City vehicle for Mr. Orvil Johnson. It was the consensus that the City Council would provide the City Administrator vehicle for Mr. Johnson in his transportation between the City of Mendota Heights and the City of Elk River. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 85-4 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MR. ORVIL J. JOHNSON AS INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 7. School Street and Highway 11169 Intersection Signalization Resolution The City Administrator indicated that Resolution 85-3 is a resolution requesting the Minnesota Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway #169 and School Street. Discussion was carried on re- garding the completness of the resolution. The City Administrator was compli- mented on his drafting of the resolution. Discussion was also carried on re- garding who at the Department of Transportation would receive the resolution. The City Administrator indicated that he would possibly send the resolution to the Commissioner of Transportation. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 85-3 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSTRUCT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF U.S. TRUNK HIGHWAY #169 AND SCHOOL STREET IN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 8. Peterson Administrative Subdivision - Public Hearing Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. J.W. Peterson of Rogers, Minnesota has requested an administrative subdivision for property he owns near the intersection of County Road #12 and Filmore Street. Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. Peterson is requesting to divide his existing parcel of property into four parcels of approximately 3.4, 3.14, 6.88, and 10 acres in size. Mayor Hinkle opened the public hearing. There were no questions or objections to the proposed Peterson Administrative Subdivision request. . . . City Council Minutes February 4, 1985 Page Three COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE PETERSON ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISION REQUEST FOR PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD #12 AND FILMORE STREET. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 9. Joint Powers Agreement with Sherburne County regarding Landfill Refuse Tax The City Administrator indicated that in order for the county to implement the collection of the tax authorized by the City Council on waste deposited at the landfill, the City must enter into a joint powers agreement with the County. The City Administrator indicated that the agreement is fairly straightforward authorizing Sherburne County to collect the landfill surcharge for the City. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING COLLECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE LANDFILL SURCHARGE IMPOSED ON THE ELK RIVER LAND- FILL BY THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AND SHERBURNE COUNTY. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 10. Gates Avenue Improvement - Final Pay Estimate and Acceptance of Project Mayor Hinkle indicated that the Gates Avenue Improvement Project has been com- pleted and that the Engineer recommends acceptance and final payment to Bar- barossa in the amount of $58,553.91. Mr. Jeff Roos of Consulting Engineers Diversified indicated that in final inspection of the project with the city staff, it was determined that the ponding in the park was not deep enough, therefore, Barbarossa had to come back this winter to dig the hole deeper and finish the project. Mr. Jeff Roos indicated that the final cost of the project was very close to the original estimate made by the engineers. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO ACCEPT THE GATES AVENUE PROJECT AND APPROVE THE FINAL PAY ESTIMATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,553.91 TO BARBAROSSA AND SONS WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT THE CITY RECEIVES AN AFFIDAVIT OF WITHHELD TAXES, A CONSENT LETTER FROM THE SURETY COMPANY AND A CERTIFICATION OF CLAIMS PAYMENT. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. I 11. Beautification Committee Appointment Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. Tony Jaramoluk has indicated that he does not want to serve on the City's Beautification Committee. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED TO ACCEPT DR. TONY JARAMOLUK'S RESIGNATION FROM THE CITY'S BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. Discussion was carried on regarding the Beautification Committee, its purpose, and the number of people that might serve on the committee. Councilmember Schuldt indicated that he felt five members to the committee was a sufficient number of people to work on the projects that the City Council feels necessary. Mayor Hinkle indicated that he felt there should be more people on the committee to provide more ideas. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that there were three members whose terms were up at the end of 1984 and further indicated that she felt that if the City Council was not satisified with the accomplishments of the Beautification Committee, that the City Council should have replaced those people with new members to the committee. . . City Council Minutes February 4, 1985 Page Four The City Administrator indicated that the resolution the City Council adopted establishing a Beautification Committee allows for five voting members. Council- member Williams indicated that he felt the Beautification Committee needed direction and a list of priorities. Councilmember Williams indicated that he felt the City Council should develop a list and discuss with the Beautification Committee that list of projects that the City Council felt should be accomplished by a beautifica- tion committee. It was the consensus of the City Council that the City Council would meet with the Beautification Committee at the City Council's February 25th committee meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Elk River City Hall. 12. Library Board Appointment Mayor Hinkle indicated that Mr. John Noer has indicated that he no longer wishes to serve on the Library Board. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that she contacted a member of the Friends of the Library to discuss the need of another Library Board member. Councilmember Gunkel further indicated that the Friends of the Library would be meeting on Wednesday and owuld discuss the possibility of a member of the Friends of the Library serving on the Library Board. Councilmember Gunkel indicated that the Friends of the Library will make a recommendation to the City Council for an appointment to the Library Board. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF MR. JOHN NOER ON THE LIBRARY BOARD. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 13. Administrator's Update A. Liquor Convention COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE ATTENDANCE OF FRITZ DOLEJS AT THE MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORE"S LIQUOR CONVENTION. COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. B. Industrial Park Feasibility Study The City Administrator indicated that the City has received the feasibility study authorized by the City Council for the Industrial Park. The City Administrator indicated that Consulting Engineers Diversified was authorized to do the feasibility study in an effort to help Alltool and the Industrial Park for further development. The City Administrator indicated that the feasibility study was necessary to determine how much could be established for a tax increment. The City Administrator further indicated that the City Council cannot move on the project until they receive some feedback from Alltool and the owners of the Industrial Park. Further discussion was carried on regarding establishing a tax increment district in the Industrial Park. The City Administrator indicated that Alltool is planning a large expansion and an expansion for Tescom is also being planned. The City Administrator indicated that a tax increment district is a way to put in improvements and therefore, make the Industrial Park more attractive for developers. . . City Council Minutes February 4, 1985 Page Five C. Consulting Engineers Diversified Letter. The City Administrator indicated that Mr. John Gilbertson of Consulting Engineers Diversified has sent a letter to the City Council expressing his appreciation of the ability to work for the City of Elk River for the past year. Mr. Jeff Roos of Consulting Engineers Diversified indicated that Mr. John Gilbertson has left the employment of Consulting Engineers Diversified and further indicated that he would be filling in as Engineer for the City of Elk Riverfor the next month to six weeks until they assign a new engineer to work with the City of Elk River. Mr. Jeff Roos requested that the City Council discuss with him the level of service provided by Consulting Engineers and what the City would look to in the future for Engineering serv~ces . The Mayor suggested that Mr. Jeff Roos and the interim City Administrator, Orvil Johnson, decide on a time when the City Council and Mr. Jeff Roos can meet to discuss engineering service. D. City Administrator Pension Plan The City Administrator indicated that City Managers and City Administrators were allowed to opt out of the PERA retirement fund and contribute to a deferred compensation plan. The City Administrator further indicatE!d that he chose to establish a retirement plan with Equitable and in that plan, the City is the custodian of the funds contributed to the retirement plan, The City Administrator furthers indicated that Watertown, Connecticut does not have that type of plan andtheret~re he has chosen to withdraw his funds from the Equitable plan. The City Administrator further indicated that he would be contributing to the ICMA pension plan in Watertown, Connecticut. COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE RELEASE OF THE CITY ADMINI- STRATOR, ROBERT MIDDAUGH'S RETIREMENT FUNDS TO ROBERT MIDDAUGH. COUNCIL- MEMBER ENGSTROM SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 14. Check Register COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 31, 1985 CHECK REGISTER. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 15. Tentative Agenda City Hall Facilities, Library Board appointment and Planning Commission items are scheduled for the February 11 th City!~ounci1 Meeting. There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER ENGSTROM MOVED THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. COUNCILMEMBER GUNKEL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. Respectfully submitte~, (~~ tJ~~ Phyllis Boedi;hei~'r City Clerk/Treasurer