City Council

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL January 9, 2024 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Oakdale was held on January 9, 2024 at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Zabel at 7:00 PM. CALL OF ROLL On a call of roll, the following were present: Mayor Kevin Zabel Council Members: Noah Her Jake Ingebrigtson Andy Morcomb Susan Willenbring Staff Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Sara Ludwig, City Clerk Jim Thomson, City Attorney Jesse Farrell, City Engineer Andy Gitzlaff, Community Development Director Nick Newton, Police Chief Lori Pulkrabek, Communications Manager Jim Romanik, Public Works Manager Kyle Stasica, Accounting Manager Kevin Zittel, Facilities Manager PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Scouts BSA Troop 580 conducted a Presentation of Colors flag ceremony and lead the Pledge of Alle- giance. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED FOR THE MEETING OF JANUARY 9, 2024. 5 AYES APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Workshop, December 12, 2023 Regular Meeting, December 12, 2023 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORCOMB, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGE- BRIGTSON TO APPROVE THE WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12, 2023. 5 AYES 1 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLEN- BRING TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12, 2023. 5 AYES INTRODUCTIONS a) Scouts BSA Troop 580 Mayor Zabel recognized Scouts BSA Troop 580 and each made an introduction with their name and scout rank. Each scout member was presented with a City lapel pin. PUBLIC HEARING None OPEN FORUM Mayor Zabel invited comments from the audience. No comments were heard. CONSENSUS MOTIONS a) Request that the City Council designate the St. Paul Pioneer Press as the official newspaper for the City of Oakdale for calendar year 2024. b) Request per City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article IV, Sec. 2-36(c) and per City Personnel Policy PE-031, Section 5.0, that the City Council appoint the Ice Rink Attendants, as noted. c) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to sign the deed of gift for all historical documents and collections previously owned by the now defunct Oakdale-Lake Elmo Historical Society which are currently housed in the basement of the Eder School House, to the Maplewood Area Historical Society. d) Request that the City Council approve the renewal and issuance of Twin Cities Pawn’s Pawnbroker License for the license term of February 15, 2024 – February 14, 2025. e) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt resolution 2024-03, delegating authority for paying certain claims to the Mayor and City Administrator. f) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2024-04, delegating authority to make electronic fund transfers for 2024. g) Request that the City Council waive reading and adopt Resolution 2024-05, designating official depositories and investment brokerages for the City of Oakdale for calendar year 2024. h) Request that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to enter into an agree- ment for professional services between the City of Oakdale and SRF Consulting Group, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $118,339.20. i) Request that the City Council amend City Policy PE-003: Cellular Telephone and Clothing/Uniform Reimbursements and rename it City Policy PE-003: Cellular Telephone Reimbursements. 2  Request that the City Council adopt City Policy PE-003A: City Apparel and City Reimbursement/Al- lowance. j) Request that the City Council approve the issuance of 2024 Sale of Tobacco licenses, as noted. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLEN- BRING TO APPROVE CONSENSUS MOTIONS A-J, AS PRESENTED. 5 AYES ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Economic Development Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Her) Environmental Management Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Zabel) Planning Commission (met on 01/04/2024, Council Liaison Ingebrigtson) Council Member Ingebrigtson reported that the Planning Commission reviewed a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for the new Public Works Facility as well as a Conditional Use Permit Amend- ment from Twin Cities Towing, LLC. Parks and Recreation Commission (no meeting, Council Liaison Morcomb) Tree Board (no meeting, Council Liaison Willenbring) AWARD OF BID None STAFF REPORTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT a) Approval of Plans and Specifications for City Project P2023-04; Willowbrooke Commons Park Community Development Director Andy Gitzlaff explained that the final construction plans and specifications have been prepared for City Project P2023-04 (Willowbrooke Commons Park) and are ready for bidding. He reviewed the project budget, concept plan, overall layout plan, and pro- ject timeline. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-02, APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR CITY PROJECT P2023-04; WILLOWBROOKE COMMONS PARK, AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR AND COLLECTION OF BIDS. 5 AYES CITY ATTORNEY No report 3 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT a) Approval of Amendment to Contract for Legal Services Between the City of Oakdale and Kennedy & Graven, Chartered Relating to Hourly Billing Rate Increases for 2024, 2025, and 2026 City Administrator Chris Volkers explained that Kennedy & Graven, Chartered is requesting a very nominal hourly billing rate increase for 2024, 2025, and 2026, as they have not increased their rates since January 2018. In response to Mayor Zabel’s question about these rate increases being included in the approved budget, Ms. Volkers confirmed that the funding is available. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOR- COMB TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF OAKDALE AND KENNEDY & GRAVEN, CHARTERED. 5 AYES b) Approve City of Oakdale 2024 Legislative Priorities Ms. Volkers explained that several years ago the City began creating and approving a formal leg- islative priorities list for the City. The 2024 Legislative Priorities were discussed at the November 28, 2023 Council Workshop meeting. She noted that this year’s priorities are organized into three categories: Oakdale-focused, East Metro-focused, and Statewide supported by Oakdale. Each pri- ority was then recapped by Ms. Volkers. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON TO APPROVE THE CITY OF OAKDALE 2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AS OUTLINED IN THE ATTACHED DOCU- MENT. Mayor Zabel thanked staff for their work on compiling and formalizing the priorities list. He encouraged residents to review the list on the City’s website at 2024 Legislative Priorities. 5 AYES c) Amend City of Oakdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 3 – City Council Ms. Volkers explained that this section of the City Code was amended to reflect current City prac- tices. Additionally, City staff recommended that Council compensation be increased beginning January 1, 2025 as there has not been an increase in pay for Oakdale’s elected officials since 2007. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLEN- BRING TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 921, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF OAKDALE, CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 3 – CITY COUNCIL. 5 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOR- COMB TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024-01, AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDI- NANCE NO. 921 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. 4 5 AYES COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS a) Acting Mayor Designation and Board and Commission Assignments for 2024 Mayor Zabel explained that each year the City Council selects a Council liaison for each advisory body and designates an Acting Mayor. These assignments were discussed at the December 12, 2023 Council Workshop meeting. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON TO AFFIRM THE 2024 APPOINTMENTS FOR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND DESIGNATE COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON AS ACTING MAYOR FOR 2024, AS NOTED ON THE ATTACHED. 5 AYES Mayor Zabel made announcements about the following: • On behalf of the City, he wished everyone happiness, success, and prosperity in the new year. • January 9th is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. He thanked the Oakdale Police Department for the work they do in the community every day. • There are two Indoor Markets coming up on Saturday, January 13th and January 27th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Discovery Center. • Beginning January 15th, the 4th Street bridge over I-694 will be closed between Hale Ave N and Hayward Ave N for the duration of the 2024 construction season. There will be detour signs posted during the closure. Visit www.oakdalemn.gov or the City’s social media pages for more information. • The City is hosting an Open House on Thursday, January 25th, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Oakdale City Hall to discuss the new Public Works Facility. • Public Works is still disposing of natural Christmas trees through January 31st. Residents can pay a nominal fee to drop off their tree at the Public Works campus during normal business hours. • City Offices will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. CLAIMS A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 13, 2023 TO DECEMBER 26, 2023 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,436,172.53. 5 AYES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOR- COMB TO APPROVE CLAIMS FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 27, 2023 TO JANUARY 9, 2024 IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,751,337.31. 5 AYES ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER INGEBRIGTSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:25 PM. 5 5 AYES Respectfully submitted, Sara Ludwig, City Clerk 6