Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 – 7:29 PM COLUMBUS CITY HALL 1. Roll Call: Council President Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:20 pm. Present: President Ryan, Adams, Gray (via Zoom), McCabe, Pyfferoen (via Zoom), Reid, Thom; City Administrator Ellefson, City Attorney Johnson (via Zoom), City Engineer Lietha, City Clerk Goebel, City Staff: Meyers, Schreiber, Kaltenberg, interested citizens Henry St Maurice, Ron Curtis, JD Milburn. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by Adams, second by McCabe to approve agenda. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: Henry St Maurice and Ron Curtis will speak at items #8 & #11 respectively. 5. Committee Minutes: Placed on file: CAEMS – 09/02/20, CHLPC – 10/8/20, CWL – 9/17/20 6. Review & discuss Resolution naming CWL as Authorized Representative to file for DNR Lead Service Line Funding Applications: application for funding to replace customer side lead laterals. CWL passed a resolution authorizing, but the resolution is required to go through the municipality. Forward to 11/17 Regular meeting. 7. Review & discuss donation of Christmas decorations from the CDDC/Chamber of Commerce beautification fund: discussion of staff time and future funding for decorations. Forward to 11/17 Regular meeting. 8. Review & discuss Rotary Park electrical outlet donation: Henry St Maurice, member of Rotary, updated the Council about adding lights and electrical outlets to Rotary Park. Supplies have been ordered and CWL is ready to finish the work. Forward to 11/17 Regular meeting. 9. Review & discuss Disposal of Surplus Equipment – 2 Police Squads: Chief Weiner requesting the two retired squads be sold on auction. Forward to 11/17 Regular meeting. 10. Review & discuss Garbage/Recycling Fees: currently at a $20,000 deficit, would like a months worth of payment set aside. 3 options to close the deficit: Option 1: charge exact amount of $179.77 which would change each year but does not accommodate any unexpected expenses like new homes; Option 2: charge 9.5% increase of $184 and the charge may not cover future contract increases, requiring another increase in 2022; Option 3: charge 11.9% of 188 and is the largest considered but would have greatest chance of covering contract increases for several years without additional increases. Forward Option #2 to 11/17 Regular meeting. 11. Review & discuss Stormwater Utility Update: storm water impact study was briefly covered by City Engineer Lietha discussing 2nd Ward Creek, Udey Dam, Robbins Creek. Other studies were done with developments but no city-wide study was done. Several recommendations were given and some were done, some partially done. City Administrator Ellefson discussed the storm water utility option and stressed it would not eliminate flooding, but would reduce the impact. The creation of a storm water utility would have to go to referendum, preferably in April; and if passed, would allow the City to invest in improvements and mitigate flood events. Consensus to continue moving forward with the utility. Ron Curtis, 100 Brookside Lane, is appreciative of these efforts and supports the project. Has concerns what will happen if the referendum fails and flood events continue. 12. Review & discuss City Contract Renewals: contracts for Hillside Cemetery Internment, Hillside Cemetery Turf Maintenance, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Tree Service, and Weed, Grass, Shrubbery will need renewal. Consensus to advertise and bring bid recommendations back to Council for review. 13. Review & discuss Knights of Columbus Proposal and Draft Agreement: the draft agreement does not address the funds which were turned over to the City with the statue. Alder Gray stated the funds shouldn't go with the statue if the City has no say in the maintenance. McCabe, Thom, Ryan stated the funds go with the statue. Schreiber will reach out to the Knights and get an updated agreement to include the funds. Forward to 11/17 Regular meeting. 14. Convene to closed session per§ 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved in: Motion by Adams, second by McCabe to convene to closed session. Roll call vote unanimous. 15. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Adams, second by McCabe to reconvene at 9:13 pm. Carried voice vote.  Page 2 – Common Council – COW – 11/02/20 16. Convene to closed session per § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically DPW Recruitment status, strategies and options: Motion by Adams, second by McCabe to convene to closed session at 9:14 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 17. Reconvene to Open Session: Motion by Adams, second by Thom to reconvene to open session at 9:52 pm. Carried voice vote. 18. Convene to closed session per § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically employee compensation, City Administrator compensation: Motion by Gray, second by Adams to convene to closed session at 9:54 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 19. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Adams, second by McCabe to reconvene to open session at 10:07 pm. Carried voice vote. 20. Adjourn: Motion by Adams, second by Thom to adjourn at 10:09 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk