Anoka City Council

September 3, 2019 (Regular) Page 1 of 4 REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANOKA CITY COUNCIL ANOKA CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pro Tem Freeburg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. ROLL CALL Present at roll call: Mayor Pro Tem Freeburg, Councilmembers Barnett, Skogquist, and Wesp. Staff present: City Manager Greg Lee; Police Chief Eric Peterson; Electric Director Greg Geiger; and Public Services Director Mark Anderson. Absent at roll call: Mayor Rice. 3. COUNCIL MINUTES 3.1 Minutes of the August 19, 2019, Regular Meeting. Councilmember Skogquist requested corrections to Page 3: “Tom Boras Boros, 2259 Green Avenue, shared concerns about the weekly car show in…”; Page 5: “Councilmember Freeburg said he would like to see the plan be more refinement refined…”; and Page 6: “He said outlined the process to…” Motion by Councilmember Skogquist, seconded by Councilmember Wesp, to waive the reading and approve the August 19, 2019, Regular Meeting as corrected. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. 4. OPEN FORUM 4.1 Proclamation; Constitution Week, September 17-23, 2019. Barb Thurston, Daughters of the American Revolution, stated annually the City proclaims the week of September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week in the City of Anoka. Ms. Thurston presented a Constitution quiz to the Council and shared about the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage amendment that allowed women to vote. September 3, 2019 (Regular) Page 2 of 4 Councilmember Barnett asked where she could obtain the Medal of Honor book. Ms. Thurston said the book was available at the Anoka Historical Society and shared proceeds go towards helping veterans. Councilmember Skogquist noted Ms. Thurston was his mother and shared a quote about how well-behaved women rarely make history and the importance of commemorating the women’s suffrage amendment and thanked the Daughters of the Revolution. Mayor Pro Tem Freeburg read the Proclamation into the record and thanked Ms. Thurston and the Daughters of the Revolution for their work, adding the Constitution is the most incredible document ever written. 4.2 Police Activity Update. Police Chief Eric Peterson shared the Labor Day weekend was uneventful until the storm occurred that resulted in 31 calls for service reporting, power outages, downed power lines, and trees blocking roadway. He said the fire department had 28 fire related calls but no fires, adding one call involved a large tree on a house on Benton Street but no reported injuries. Chief Peterson shared the first day of school went well and reminded drivers to use extra caution during the school day, especially near school zones and crosswalks. He stated officers are actively enforcing bus stop arm and other driving violations and said while the fine is significant the consequences for placing children in danger are even more significant. He said security officers have been reassigned to Anoka High School and that new part-time security has been hired to remain in the park areas for the remainder of the year, 24 hours per day. He said the department has seen an increase in vandalism in the parks and are working to identify who they believe to be a small group of juveniles causing the damage. Chief Peterson said they have seen an increase in car thefts on the east side of the City and are working to identify who they believe to be the same individual then reminded residents to remove valuables and always lock their vehicles, especially overnight. He shared how the department was beginning to prepare for the many Fall events for Anoka Halloween, including the Grand Day Parade. Chief Peterson said they are working with the Anoka County Emergency Management Director and all first responder partners to ensure they are aware of this large event in case of the need for mutual aid but said the department is very good at handling these events and is confident it will be successful again. Mayor Pro Tem Freeburg said the City looks forward to these many events and thanked the department and officers for their hard work during this time. 5. PUBLIC HEARING(S) September 3, 2019 (Regular) Page 3 of 4 None. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Councilmember Wesp, seconded by Councilmember Barnett, to approve Consent Agenda 6.1 through 6.4. 6.1 Approve Verified Bills. 6.2 Revising and Setting Council Calendars. 6.3 Consideration of Setting Public Hearing for Assessment for Services. 6.4 Issuance of a Massage Therapist License for Courtney Larsen of Zimmerman at Anoka Massage and Pain Therapy, 710 East River Road. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. 7. REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 7.1. Planning Items: None. 8. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION None. 9. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS None. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 11. NEW BUSINESS None. 12. UPDATES AND REPORTS 12.1 Tentative Agenda(s). The Council reviewed the tentative agendas of the upcoming Council meetings. September 3, 2019 (Regular) Page 4 of 4 12.2 Staff and Council Input. Councilmember Skogquist said he was pleased to see the South Street reconstruction project was complete before school began and noted while there were still sidewalk panels and signage to be completed, he appreciated the work to get the main areas done in time. Public Services Director Mark Anderson said that area was staff’s focus to complete and that the contractor was made aware of the deadline early in the process and agreed they did a good job. He said the missing sidewalk panels were due to utility pole relocation and that the areas will be filled with Class V in the interim and that he would follow-up on the remaining signs. Councilmember Skogquist said people gravitated to the east side which worked well and commented how it will be nice to have the wider sidewalks in this area. City Manager Greg Lee encouraged residents to utilize the Anoka County Compost site for any tree branches and debris as a result of the recent storm. Mayor Pro Tem Freeburg said at times the City would coordinate a tree debris pick-up but that the storm did not reach that level this time. 13. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Barnett, made a motion to adjourn the Regular Council meeting. Councilmember Skogquist seconded the motion. Vote taken. All ayes. Motion carried. Time of adjournment: 7:28 p.m. Submitted by: Cathy Sorensen, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Approval Attestation: Amy T. Oehlers, City Clerk