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10-09-2006 CC MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL MONDAY, OCTOBER 9,2006 Members Present: Mayor Klinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Farber, Gumphrey, and Motin Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Lori Johnson, City Engineer Terry Maurer, Community Development Director Scott Clark, Fire Chief Bruce West, Human Resources Representative Lauren Wipper, Street Superintendent Phil Hals, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator Gary Leirmoe, and City Clerk Joan Schmidt 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 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Klinzing. 2. Consider Council Agenda MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consider Consent Agenda MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CONSENT AGENDA: 3.1. MASSAGE THERAPIST LICENSE - MARANDA THOMAS 3.2. CONSIDER PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 23-27,2006 MN MANUFACTUREWSWEEK 3.3. OCTOBER 2, 2006 COUNCIL MINUTES MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Open Mike Noone appeared for Open Mike. 5. Worksession 5.1. Council Open Forum Council did not have additional items for open forum. 5.2. Authorize an Expanded Downtown Redevelopment Plan and Appointment of a Taskforce Community Development Director Scott Clark explained that at the October meeting, the BRA acted to formally request that the City Council authorize completion of an expanded City Council Minutes October 2, 2006 Page 2 downtown redevelopment plan, and the council's appointment of a taskforce. The composition of this taskforce would consist of four HRA Commissioners, one Heritage Preservation Commissioner, one Planning Commissioner, one Park & Recreation Commissioner, one Economic Development Authority Commissioner, two to three business representatives and two resident representatives. The information provided to council had the names of the recommended commissioners. . Councilmember Farber stated that he felt that all commissions should consist of town residents, in particular for discussion of the downtown area, and did not support one of the commissioners recommended to be on this taskforce since he resided outside of Elk River. Councilmember Morin felt that it was generally okay to have commissioners from outside the Elk River area but not on a taskforce for redevelopment purposes. He then asked how the names were selected. :Mr. Clark stated that members concurred about having a taskforce. Four or five were volunteers and some Planning Commission members were approached and asked. The HRA wanted individuals on this commission that would stay the course. He stated that representation should not be misconstrued in that they would not see the plan. This'plan would go back to the HPC, the Planning Commission, and the EDA for all to see with the inclusive process. Councilmember Dietz stated that he did not have a problem with Dave Anderson being on this taskforce, that this taskforce would not be spending money and that :Mr. Anderson had worked in the downtown area for 30 plus years. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF A TASK FORCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETING THE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH THE COMPOSITION OF MEMBERS AS LISTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DAVE ANDERSON AND TO HAVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION NAME SOMEONE ELSE TO BE ON THIS TASK FORCE. MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmember Dietz opposed. . MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO AUTHORIZE THAT A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN BE PREPARED FOR THE EXPANDED DOWNTOWN ELK RIVER AREA PER STATE STATUTE. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.3. Public Works Master Plan Update City Administrator Lori Johnson informed the Council that staff had met with Oertel Architects and it was decided that more time was needed to review the project with the architect before discussing the Master Plan with the City Council. She stated that this item will be back at the November worksession. 5.4. WWfP Master Plan Review Present were Bill Chang and John Stewart of BDM Consulting Engineers and Surveyors to explain the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Master Plan. City Engineer Terry Maurer . City Council Minutes October 2, 2006 Page 3 . explained that Phase 1, which consisted of headwork improvements project to resolve a hydraulic bottleneck at the plant, was almost completed. He explained that a four step program had been laid out and gave some of the project background. Mr. Chang and Mr. Stewart explained that it was necessary to get the phosphorus level down to 1 mg/1 in year 2007 and to reduce the mercury to 10 ng/1 in year 2008. They explained that Phase 2 would be an advanced treatment upgrade costing $4 million which would include the phosphorous and mercury control, replacement of the 20 year-old UV system, addition of permanent standby generator, a garage expansion for vacuum truck, and other miscellaneous improvements. They also explained Phase 3 and Phase 4 which would not be for several years. Ms. Johnson stated that there is currently $5.7 million in the sewer fund from sewer connection charges and that this project should be able to be funded through the treatment funds. Mr. Maurer stated that he will be working with Finance and Community Development regarding SAC charges, the possibility of raising them and to what extent. It was stated that the cost of Phase 3 and Phase 4 would be growth dependent and the need would become apparent when the gravel mining area is opened up. . MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 06-118 ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PHASE 2 IMPROVEMENTS OF 2006. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBMER FARBER TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO RESTART CONVERSATIONS WITH GREAT RIVER ENERGY FOR LAND ACQUISITION. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.5. Gas Station Ordinance Counci1member Morin had requested that discussion take place regarding an ordinance requiring alternative fuels at city gas stations. He stated that we talk about being an energy city, so he wanted to know if the Council wished to look at this. Mayor Klinzing asked if the ordinance would require every station to offer E85. Counci1member Motin stated that he feels every new station or expansion could be pursuing this. Counci1member Farber agrees and felt that tlle City should take the lead on this issue. Ms. Johnson stated that currently no other city could be found that is doing this, but the state has grants to promote production issues. . It was the consensus of the council to send this item to the Energy City Commission and have them look at the possibility. City Council Minutes October 2, 2006 Page 4 5.6. Consider Contribution for LibraJ;y Project . Councilmember Motin had forwarded to the City an offer from Econar to contribute geothermal pumps to the Library project. Ms. Johnson stated that staff has been working with KKE Architects and Econar to work through the details of the proposed donation. It was felt that additional time was needed to address the desjgn and specification questions. This item will come back to Council on October 16th. 5.7. Pay Plan Reclassification Study City Administrator Lori Johnson explained that at previous meetings the Council had reviewed the proposed hierarchy and pay plan prepared by Rod Kelsey of Riley, Dittman and Kelsey. The third step is to develop an implementation plan. This study was done to address internal issues in the City's pay structure due to the reorganization and to check our pay against the market and to adjust it accordingly. This study produced a proposed pay plan that provides internal balance and places the city's pay in the 60 percentile of the comparable cities used for the market study. As a result, pay range adjustments were made to most positions. Council is asked to provide input and direction to staff on the final hierarchy, which version of the pay plan the Council prefers, and the proposed implementation plan. The following is what the Council decided: . The hierarchy would be as presented with the exception of putting back into pay grade 5 the position of Street Maintenance Operator 1. The hierarchy as presented does have separated out into pay grade 15 Community Development Director and Fire Chief; and into pay grade 16 Finance Director and Police Chief. . The employees would receive a cost of living increase on January 1, 2007. . Employees continue to receive steps on July 1 if their performance is satisfactory, including employees who are at the top of their current pay range, but no longer are because their pay range has increased. . No employee has his/her pay reduced below last year's pay rate even if the reclassification caused his/her pay range to decrease. . Employees who are above the pay plan continue to receive a pay increase equivalent to the cost of living increase with one half of it being applied to the base pay. . Employees who currently are below the bottom of their new pay grade: If the annual difference is less than $3,000, the employee will go to step A on January 1, 2007, if it is above $3,000 the difference would be made up in thirds on January 1, 2007, July 1, 2007, and January 1, 2008. . The position of Community Development Director would be at step B+. . The position of Parks and Recreation Director would receive pay retroactive to July 1,2006 and the position would go to D+. . A pay increase and promotion would be given to two individuals to the Maintenance II position in the Streets Department as of October 1. . The positions of Assistant Administrator, Public Works Director, and City Engineer would be placed into the plan. . The Assistant Liquor Store Manager for Westbound Liquor would be given COLA then brought back into pay plan, but not pay per old plan as requested. . Council wishes to have tlle summary of these groups on the regular agenda for October 16. Formal action on this item will be taken at that time. . . . . City Council :Minutes October 2, 2006 Page 5 MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO PROMOTE MIKE ZAPPA AND PERRY MILLESS TO OPERATOR II POSITION IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT AS OF OCTOBER 1ST. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR WOULD RECEIVE RETROACTIVE PAY FROM JULY 1,2006. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6. Other Business No other business at this time. 7. Council Updates Mayor Klinzing stated that she had received a letter from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency citing issues. Ms. Johnson stated Gary Leirmoe has responded to MCP A's letter. A copy of Mr. Leirmoe's letter and MPCA's letter will be included as information in the next Council packet. 8. Staff Updates Ms. Johnson reminded the Council of the October 17th Manufacturer's Week tour of the Northstar Business Center. She informed the Council that the YMCA project will be on an upcoming agenda so the Council can decide if the tax levy for the project will begin in 2007 or 2008. Fire Chief West informed the Council of a forum that will take place at Elk River High School in the rAttle Theater on October 30th, with the format being, "Are You Ready". This forum would inform the public about a pandemic as well as otl1er slin1ffier/winter time issues. The CERT team will be doing the presentation. 9. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Klinzing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 8:39 p.m. \4f..J J o.~h Sthmidt City/ lerk J lj i~J~