Loading...
10-12-2009 CCMP'IE~T'ING OF °rHE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL 1-iELD AT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER (UPPER TOWN CONFEREP~ICE ROOM) MONK AY, OC'TOBEfZ 12, 2009 Members Present; Mayor I~.li.nzing, Councilmembers ~'estgaard, Gumphrey, Morin, and ~erWaS Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Lori Johnson, Finance Director Tim Simon, Public ~Uorks Director Terry Maurer, Street Superintendent Phil Hals, Assistant Street Superintendent Mark Thompson, Parks and Recreation. Director Bill Mae~•tz, Parks Foreman Rodney Schreifels, Chief of Police Jeffrey Beahen, Fire Marshal Cliff Anderson, and Recording Secretary Jessica Miller . 1. Call_ Me~~tn~ _To_ ~~cde Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, tlae meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at G:oa p.m. by Mayor I~linzing. 2. Consider Council Agenda MaVED BY C®UNCILMEMBER ZER~IAS AND SECGNDED BY CGUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TD APPRGVE THE AGENDA. M~TIGN CARRIED 5~0. 3. Consider Consent Agenda . -~- MGVED BY C~UNCILMEMBER V~ESTGAARD AND SECONDED B'Y CC~UNCILMEMBER MGTIN TG APPROVE THE FC~LLD~IING CONSENT AGENDA: 3.I. CGUNCIL MINUTES ~ SEPTEMBER 2~, 2009 REGULAR ~ SEPTEMBER 2S, 2009 JOINT FOCUSED STUDY ~CTGBER 5, 2009 REGULAR MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Gen Mike No one appeared for open mike. ~.I. Interview Herita e Preservation Commission A licant The Council interviewed Mark I~onietzko. MOVED BY C~UNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED B'Y CGUNCILMEMBER WESTGAARD TD APPQINT MARK I~DNIET~RD T® C~t~r Couric~ M117lltes dctouex 12, 2009 Page 2 THE HERITAGE PRESERVATI~~ C011~l~IISSIDN FQR A TERIVI TD EMPIRE FEBRUARY 2~, 2Q~Z. MGTIGN CARRIED 5-0. 5.2. Ca ital lm rovement Plan .Discr~~s .~ro~ram Facili y Mr. Maurer presented tlae staff report. He added that staff is unable to find any legal documentation that requires the access from Baldwin Avenue to Main Street to remain open.. Consensus of the Council was to remove the program facility building since it is in disrepair. Councilmember Morin indicated he is not sold on doing a rain garden. Ms. Johnson stated ghat staff will come back to tl~e Council with landscaping plans. Side~val~ .plo~in~ .~oute~ Mr. Maertz presented the staff report and outlined maps showing the current sidewalk plow routes, proposed sidewalk routes, and the routes proposed for removal. Ms. Johnson stated that this is one of the areas that is being reviewed in an effort to be more efficient in tight budget times. She indicated that there is no funding for parks maintenance overtime in tl~e budget to cover sidewalk plowing. Plus, if routes are changed as proposed, a sizable capital expenditure maybe reduced or elirrv.nated. She furtlaer noted that she has received calls from residents wondering why their development's sidewalks are not plowed while other residential sidewalks are. She added that if tl~e Council wishes to cont~.nue to plow all of tlae sidewalks the policy should be reviewed. Mr. Maertz explained that if the city continues to plow all o.f the sidewalks currently plowed it would be essential to purchase a new sidewalk plow at a cost of about X150,000. He added that, if the proposed sidewall~s are eliminated, the city maybe able to purchase a less expensive machine because it would get less use. The Council expressed concern with not following the existing city policy. Council consensus was for staff to make the proposed changes to the sidewalk plowing routes. ~'ublic Wlarks .faster .flan Mr. Maurer presented tlae staff report. Cauncilmember westgaard questioned i£ there is a deadline for replacing the fuel tanks. Mr. Maurer stated only aself=imposed deadline. He explained that if the city is unable to provide leak detection or if something fails the city would be in an emergency situation. Mr. Hals added that staff provides a monthly leak detection report but at the very least the leak detection system needs to be updated as repair parts are no longer available. Councilmember Morin indicated he is okay with the process of selecting an architectural faxm but suggested the process wait until after a public works director is hired, Mr. Maurer indicated lae is okay with waiting but wanted to discuss this issue now because X100,000 is programmed in the 2009 C7P for the streets/parks building master plan process. Consensus of the Council was that they agree with the process outlined to select an architectural firm but the process should wait until tl~e public works director selection process has moved forward. City Council Minutes Page 3 Octobex 12, 209 Ca ital ~m rovement Plan CrP Mr. Simon presented the staff report. He outlined various funds including the following; equipment Replacement .Fund Mr. Simon indicated that based on earlier discussion, the sidewalk machine currently listed will be replaced with a less expensive piece of equipment after review by the fleet committee, Mr. Simon indicated that Rescue #~ is listed to be replaced in 200. He explained that it is his understanding Exam talking to Fire Marshal Cliff Anderson that the emission requirements for fire Mucks will be changing in 2010 which could increase the cost of the truck by 10% to ~5%. Consensus of the Council was to bid the truck in 2QQ9 but wait until 2010 to award tlae bid. Government $uilding .Fund Mr. Simon stated that staff suggests designating $50,000 a year in this fund for future building repairs and maintenance. Council consensus was to designate the money for future repairs and maintenance. ParkDedication ~`und Mr. Simon indicated that no projects have been programmed in this budget because of the f red obligations, Ms. Johnson added that the park dedication revenues are estimates based on development projections from the community development department and contingency plans are in place for the .fixed obligations in case the revenue estimates are not met. Mr. Simon noted that the Park Dedication Fund receives a transfer in from the NSP fund for half of the Pinewood payment. Mayor I~linzing stated that once the economy turns around and the park dedication fund revenue increases, she would like the Parks and Recreation Commission to look at requesting cash rather than land. Par, .1•mprovement .Fund Mr. Simon reviewed this fund. NSP .Fund Mr. Simon reviewed the NSP fund. Street .improvement Reserve .Fund Mr. Maurer reviewed the street CAP projects. He questioned if the Council is interested in having a grand opening for 193ra Avenue. The Council expressed an interest in having a grand opening. Ms, Johnson will work with the Council to schedule the event. ~'echnolo~y Replacements Mr. Simon reviewed this fund. Ice arena .Building Projects Mr. Simon reviewed the ice arena building projects. Discussion took place on coin-operated heaters and the dollar ticket surcha~•ge. City Council Minutes Page 4 October 12, 2009 .vies aid .Bands Mr. Simon reviewed current debt levies as well as estimates for new levies and bonds, Ms. Johnson noted that the public works facility levy, 2013 improvement bond levy, and the ice arena bonds listed are for illustration purposes only and the Council has taken no action on these ttemS. Dther .items Mr. S:im.on reviewed additional funding sources. He explained there is a possibility that public safety lease revenue bonds can be refunded to reduce the tax levy if the short term interest rate drops to realize enough savings. He further explained that a public hearing is required and he would recommend conducting it during the CiP approval process in order to be prepared in the event interest rates drop. 5.3. Council Owen Forum There were no items discussed for open forum. 6. Other Business There was no other business. 7. Council Updates x There were no Council updates, 8. Staff Updates Mr. Simon explained that last year the city applied to participate in the State fuel program that allows the city to purchase bulk fuel at a f xed rate; however, only the seven county metro area was allowed to participate. He indicated that this year the program has been extended to Sherburne and wriglat counties and the city would life to participate. He stated that the city must commit to the purchase of a set amount of fuel and Mr. Hals and Mr. Maurer are comfortable setting that amount between 50% and 75% of the current fuel usage. Councilmember Humphrey expressed concerns with committing to more than 50% of the current fuel usage. Mr. Hals explained that the city participated in a similar smaller scale program offered by Beaudry Oil and we were able to accept all of the transports on tithe. ~t was also noted that Elk River Municipal Utilities ~ERMU~ could participate in the program as well and could be incorporated into our fuel card system if necessary. Mr. Hals will discuss the program with Troy Adams from ERMU. Consensus of the Council was to participate in the program but only commit to fuel purchases up to 75% of our current fuel usage. Ms. Johnson stated that she anticipates public works director interviews will be held the fast week of November. She questioned which Councilmembers would like to be on the interview committee. Councilmembers Moon and Westgaard volunteered to be on the committee. City Council Minutes October 12, 2009 9. Adjournment _- ,-~ Page 5 There being no fi~rther business, Ma~ror Klin~ing adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 8:09 p,m, Minutes prepared uy Jessica Miller. .~ - ;~ ~~ Tina Allard, City Clerk ,, ,~ ,. ~~ Steph- ie l~'1in~ing, May~~ -