City Council

MAHTOMEDI CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 Mayor Jud Marshall convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. with Council members Jeff Ledermann, Richard Brainerd and Steve Wolgamot in attendance. Council member Tim Deans was absent. City Administrator Scott Neilson, City Attorney Jay Karlovich, City Engineer Alex Miller, Fire Chief Terry Fischer, Finance Director Scott Schaefer, Public Works Director Bob Goebel and City Clerk Mary Solie were also in attendance. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AGENDA Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Council member Wolgamot moved and Council member Ledermann seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 4. PRESENTATIONS-None 5. DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE There was no discussion from the audience. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Council member Ledermann moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. a. APPROVAL - Schedule Public Hearing to Consider Certification of Delinquent Utility Accounts to Washington County for Collection with 2019 Property taxes for September 18, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. A public hearing was scheduled for September 18, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. to consider certification of delinquent utility accounts to Washington County for collection with 2019 property taxes. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -2- SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 6. CONSENT AGENDA-Continued. b. APPROVAL-Park Fund Balance Policy. The Fund balance policy addresses the need for investment and improvement to the City’s parks and trails system and meets one objective of a long term parks funding plan. The Policy was approved by the Finance Commission at the August 21, 2018 joint meeting. The policy was approved. c. APPROVAL-Construction Pay Voucher No. 2 and Final in the amount of $7,907.70 for Insituform Technologies USA, LLC for 2018 Sewer Lining Project. Construction Pay Voucher No. 2 and Final in the amount of $7,907.70 for Insituform Technologies USA, LLC for 2018 Sewer Lining Project was approved. d. APPROVAL-Construction Pay Voucher No. 3 and Final in the amount of $9,244.43 for G.L. Contracting, Inc. for Phase 2 Katherine Abbott Park Improvements. Construction Pay Voucher No. 3 and Final in the amount of $9,244.43 for G.L. Contracting, Inc. for Phase 2 Katherine Abbott Park Improvements was approved. e. APPROVAL-Fire Department Pager Grant. The Fire Department was awarded a $2,500 matching grant from the DNR to purchase pagers. f. APPROVAL-MPCA Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant Application. A grant application for an electric vehicle charging station at Veterans Park was approved. The total project cost is estimated at $9,000 with grant funds requested of $5,000. These funds are part of the VW settlement. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7a. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Request to Vacate a Portion of Mae Avenue. Engineer Alex Miller said the City has received a petition to vacate a portion of Mae Avenue located behind 850 Wildwood Avenue (Dairy Queen). CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -3- SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 7a. Continued. Mae Avenue was dedicated as part of the McGill’s Corner plat that was recorded in 1938. The Mae Avenue right-of-way has no City utilities in it and connects to no other dedicated unvacated right-of-way in the City of Mahtomedi. There is a 100 foot stretch in the City of White Bear Lake directly to the west but that right-of-way also does not connect to any other right-of-way. Mayor Marshall opened the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. Karl Brogen, who owns land south of the Dairy Queen, said he is in favor of the vacation. Robert Viau, owner of Auto Edge, also said he is in favor of the vacation. Dan Reagan, whose father owns the lots to the west of the Dairy Queen, said they are also in favor of the vacation. Mayor Marshall asked if they have any plans for the lots. Mr. Reagan said not at this time. The public hearing was closed at 7:28 p.m. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve Resolution No. 2018-40 Providing for the Partial Vacation of a Street. The motion was approved. 7b. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Preliminary 2019 General Fund Budget, Certification of 2019 Levy to Washington County, Schedule Public Hearing for Consideration of Final Budget Approval and Certification for December 4, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. and Schedule Public Hearing for 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan for November 5, 2018. Finance Director Scott Schaefer said the Finance Commission and City Council held a joint meeting on August 21, 2018 to review and discuss the preliminary budget and levy being proposed for 2019. General Fund Revenues and Expenditures are proposed to increase 11.16% from the 2018 Budget, with budgeted revenue and expenditures of $6,103,232. The 2019 General Fund Tax Levy proposed is $3,207,984, a 9.70% increase from 2018. The 2019 Special Levy proposed is $1,535,532, a 31.17% increase from 2018. The 2019 Total City Levy proposed is $4,743,516, a 15.84% increase from 2018. The 2019 Proposed Levy must be certified to Washington County by September 15, 2018. The City Council may lower, but may not increase, the amount of the proposed CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -4- SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 7b. Continued. certified levy when it adopts the Final 2019 General Fund Budget and establishes the Final Certified Levy in December. The City Council also scheduled the public hearing for final budget and levy consideration on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. The public hearing will be held and action on the 2019 budget and levy will be taken at this meeting. The City Council also scheduled a public hearing to discuss the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan at the City Council meeting held on Monday, November 5, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Marshall opened the public hearing at 7:55 p.m. Loretta Harding asked to have the tax impact explained again. The public hearing was closed at 7:58 p.m. Council member Brainerd said the levy can be lowered but not raised after this meeting and is in support of the increase. Council member Wolgamot said the city got behind in doing capital improvements and that is why there’s a large increase in the debt levy. Council member Brainerd commented the city has been pretty prudent in hiring in the past and said the additional personnel for the fire department is needed at this time. He thanked staff and the Finance Commission for their effort in preparing the budget. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve Resolution No. 2018-21 Approving the Proposed 2019 Annual Budget for General Fund. The motion was approved. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve Resolution No. 2018-42 Approving Proposed Tax Levy for 2019 and Cancellation of Debt Levy in the Amount of $1,510,428 for Taxes Payable in 2019. The motion was approved. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -5- SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 8a. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Appointment of Advisory Commission Member. The City Council held an interview for an applicant for the Environmental Commission at a work session earlier this evening. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to appoint William Seuffert to the Environmental Commission. His term will run through April of 2021. The motion was approved. 8b. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Bill List Council member Wolgamot moved and Council member Ledermann seconded the motion to approve the bills as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 9. REPORT FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR City Engineer Alex Miller provided an update on the various construction projects. 10. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL There were no comments from the Council 11. CLOSED SESSION – None Scheduled 12. ADJOURNMENT Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The motion was unanimously approved. ATTESTED: APPROVED: ___________________________ ___________________________ MARY SOLIE, CITY CLERK JUD MARSHALL, MAYOR