City Council

MAHTOMEDI CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 3, 2016 Mayor Jud Marshall convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. with Council members Timothy Deans, Joel Schilling, Richard Brainerd and Lael Ramaley in attendance. City Administrator Scott Neilson, City Attorney Jay Karlovich, City Engineer Jay Kennedy, Finance Director Scott Schaefer and City Clerk Mary Solie were also in attendance. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AGENDA Item 8c. Solar Garden Subscription Agreement was added to the agenda. Council member Deans moved and Council member Brainerd seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was unanimously approved. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Council member Schilling said he had a problem with the April 19th City Council Workshop meeting minutes and was uncomfortable with them. He said he would prefer to not talk about his concerns with them as it is a possible legal issue. He said there should have been a better job done reflecting the discussion of the EPA complaint against the City. He said he may have the votes to table them or I can vote no and said he would see if there was enough votes to do so. Council member Ramaley moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the Council Workshop minutes as presented with Council member Schilling voting no. The motion was approved. Council member Schilling questioned the April 19th City Council meeting minutes regarding Staff Report 8b. He said it would be useful to have something more than saying that staff consulted with Pete Genzel from Washington County. He was hoping there was an email or other written communication instead of just “consulted with”. He said this is a substantial change to the ordinance and there should be more documentation. Planner Perdu not at the meeting and Engineer Kennedy said he was not sure if there was some written documentation. Council member Schilling said he would make the motion to approve and direct staff to provide more documentation of the discussion with Mr. Genzel. Council member Schilling moved and Council member Brainerd seconded the motion to approve the April 19th City Council meeting minutes and have staff provide documentation about the discussion with Mr. Genzel from Washington County regarding the septic system discussion. The motion was approved. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -2- MAY 3, 2016 4. PRESENTATIONS 4a. Presentation of 2015 Audit Daniel Persaud and Lucas Chase from CliftonLarsonAllen presented the audit for Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2015. Some of the highlights are as follows: • The City had a “Clean Opinion” on the 2015 financial statements • The City again received the award for “Excellence in Financial Reporting” from GFOA for 2014, this is the 24th consecutive year the City has received the award • There were no findings of noncompliance for 2015 • There were no exceptions noted in internal controls • The financial statements include the impact of the adoption of GASB Statement No. 68 which is related to the recognition of the City’s share of PERA, both the General Fund and the Police and Fire Fund, net pension liability. Mr. Persaud also outlined emerging GASB issues for 2016 and later. The Council congratulated City Staff for the excellent work on the 2015 audit. 5. DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE Steve Wolgamot was present to suggest the use of advisory bike lanes on Warner Avenue and Birchwood Road and Hall Avenue. He said the design consultants who prepared the Safe Routes to School Study suggested them for Warner Avenue near O.H. Anderson School where the road is narrow and there are a lot of children walking to school. Mr. Wolgamot outlined the advisory lane concept. The road is defined by dashed lines painted about five feet from each side of a narrow road. The centerline is eliminated. When cars meet, they are permitted to cross the dashed lines to pass, but must yield to pedestrians or bikes in the advisory lane. He said the most significant aspect of them are the reduction in vehicle speed along the entire route. He said there have been many studies done about them showing the benefits. He said he is requesting the City to study this and give it serious consideration to do it sooner than later. Council member Schilling asked what MNDOT thinks about this. Mr. Wolgamot said they are generally in favor of them. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -3- MAY 3, 2016 5. DISSCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE-Continued. Council member Schilling said they need a lot more information about this and is not in favor of more signage. Council member Deans asked when the studies would be available. Mr. Wolgamot said some of them are available now. Council member Brained asked staff to look at this and see if this is something that could work. Erin Roach, a resident that lives in the Eastgate development, said she supports the Safe Routes to School and urges the City to support it too. Anna Raway, Director of Outreach for Conventry properties, invited the council members to an Armed Forces Day BBQ on Saturday, May 21 at Coventry of Mahtomedi beginning at 10:30 a.m. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Council member Schilling moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. a. APPROVAL-Assessment Agreement with Washington County. The Assessment Agreement with Washington County was approved. This is an ongoing agreement that directs the County Assessor to perform assessment services until otherwise directed or terminated by either party. b. APPROVAL- Authorize the Preparation of Plans and Specifications and Advertisement for Bids Phase 1 – White Bear Lake Outlet Improvements. During the city-wide annual outlet inspection, Public Works identified a need to evaluate and rehabilitate a number of storm sewer outlets that discharge to White Bear Lake. This project will evaluate the current condition of the outlets in coordination with the DNR, and proposed improvements to be completed in the upcoming fall/winter season. Outlets for this phase of construction are downstream of the Phase 1 and 2 Historic District Improvement project areas. This project is budgeted in the 2016 CIP. The authorization was approved. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -4- MAY 3, 2016 6. CONSENT AGENDA-Continued. c. APPROVAL-Resolution Adding Locust Street between Warner Avenue North and Mahtomedi Avenue to the City’s Municipal State Aid System. The Municipal State Aid Street System allows cities over a population of 5,000 to be eligible to receive additional funding for road improvements and maintenance. Each year, staff performs a review of the street network to determine if additional streets could be designated. Based on this review, it was determined that the City has an additional 0.07 miles of street available to be designated as State Aid. The City request to designate Locust Street from Warner Avenue North to Mahtomedi Avenue was approved. d. APPROVAL-Authorization to Hire Public Works Seasonal Employees. The Council approved the hiring of 3 seasonal public works employees contingent upon successful completion of driver’s license checks, drug test, criminal background check, and physical exam. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS-None 8. STAFF REPORTS 8a. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Appointment of Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Administrator Neilson requested the approval of the following advisory commission members to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The members are Greg Maples, Finance Commission, Scott Peterson, Environmental Commission, Christine Ahmann-Maples, Environmental Commission, Susan Stewart, Planning Commission, Mike Hedquist, Planning Commission, Jeff Charlesworth, Parks Commission, and Ben Reiss, Parks Commission. Administrator Neilson said the first meeting will be in a couple of weeks and would meet every other month with a draft Comp Plan by the end of 2017. Mayor Marshall suggested two council members and an alternate. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Ramaley seconded the motion to approve Council member Deans and Mayor Marshall to serve on the steering committee with Council member Schilling serving as the alternate. The motion was approved. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -5- MAY 3, 2016 8b. DISCUSSION – Quarterly Budget Report. Finance Director Scott Schaefer presented the Quarterly Budget Report through March 31, 2016. Finance Director Schaefer said the General Fund revenues show a slight decrease over 2015’s first quarter. The expenditures are also slightly lower than 2015. He said that is typical for the first quarter of the year as a lot of it is a timing issue. 8c. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Solar Garden Subscription Agreement-added Administrator Neilson provided a brief review of the Solar Garden Subscription Agreement. The City of Mahtomedi was chosen for multiple solar gardens and this is the first agreement to be approved. This agreement is for Sunrise Community Solar located in North Branch. He said the savings to the City could be as high as $6,700 a year. The credit would be shown on the City’s Xcel bill and we would then pay the Solar Garden Operator. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Schilling seconded the motion to approve the Solar Garden Subscription Agreement. The motion was approved. 8d. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Bill List Council member Ramaley moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the bills as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 9. REPORT FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Administrator Neilson said the RITE of Spring was very well attended. He said Washington County is conducting a yard waste survey to determine where residents bring their compost. Administrator Neilson said he had discussed the parking issue around the Piccadilly Square construction with the HRA. The HRA will talk with the contractors to remind them there is parking available at Wildwood Park for construction workers. The construction for the County Road 12 improvements will begin late fall or possibly next spring. Administrator Neilson was asked about the land west of Neptune that would be used for a trail. City Attorney Karlovich said the City does not have any property rights to the land CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -6- MAY 3, 2016 9. Continued. in question. He outlined options the City could peruse, but said they would be very expensive. 10. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL Council member Schilling said there is a Water Level Enhancement line item, on the Senate side for $1.78 million. 11. CLOSED SESSION – None Scheduled 12. ADJOURNMENT Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Schilling seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. The motion was unanimously approved. ATTESTED: APPROVED: ___________________________ ___________________________ MARY SOLIE, CITY CLERK JUD MARSHALL, MAYOR