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2015-02-17 Council minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota was held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Krebsbach called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present included Povolny, Petschel, and Norton. Absent: Councilmember Duggan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, the audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA ADOPTION Mayor Krebsbach presented the agenda for adoption. Councilmember Norton moved adoption of the agenda. Councilmember Povolny seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Krebsbach presented the consent calendar and explained the procedure for discussion and approval. Councilmember Norton moved approval of the consent calendar as presented and authorization for execution of any necessary documents contained therein, pulling items e.) Approval of Installation of Street Light at Round Hill Road and Dodd Road and i.) Approval of Resolution 2015-14, City Administrator Employment Contract. a. Approval of February 3, 2015 City Council Minutes b. Approval of February 3, 2015 City Council Workshop Minutes c. Approval of February 3, 2015 City Council Goal Setting Minutes d. Approval of 2015 City Council Goals List February 17, 2015 Mendota Heights City Council Page 1 e. Approval of Installation of Street Light at Round Hill Road and Dodd Road f. Approval of Contract for Ivy Hills Tennis Court Repairs g. Approval of Police Department Travel Request h. Approval of Fire Marshall Travel Request i. Approval of Resolution 2015-14, City Administrator Employment Contract j. Approval of Personnel Action Items k. Approval of Claims List 1. Approval of Contractor List m. Approval of Building Activity Report Councilmember Petschel seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 PULLED CONSENT AGENDA ITEM E) APPROVAL OF INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHT AT ROUND HILL ROAD AND DODD ROAD Councilmember Povolny noted that this item was tabled at the February 3, 2015 Council meeting to allow staff additional time to notify the adjoining residents. Public Works Director John Mazzitello stated that the adjoining residents had been notified and responses were received from all but one of the residents. Three residents were in opposition of the installation of the street light at Round Hill Road and Dodd Road, and one resident was in favor. Councilmember Petschel explained the City does not put up street lights casually and there is a light located only a half a block away. She believes one of the issues with this intersection is the condition of the current street sign and proposed replacing it with a larger one with more reflective lettering. Councilmember Petschel moved to deny the installation of a street light on Round Hill Road at Dodd Road and to direct staff to change the street signage with larger and more reflective lettering. Councilmember Povolny seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 Councilmember Petschel asked Public Works Director Mazzitello to follow-up with the residents informing them of this decision. He confirmed that the residents would be informed. I) APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2015-14, CITY ADMINISTRATOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT Mayor Krebsbach brought this forward so the Council could vote on it together, to approve the appointment of Mark McNeill to the position of City Administrator effective February 23, 2015. February 17, 2015 Mendota Heights City Council Page 2 Councilmember Povolny moved to approve the appointment of Mark McNeill to the position of City Administrator effective February 23, 2015 and to adopt RESOLUTION 2015-14, APPROVING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. Councilmember Norton seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Pat Hinderscheid, representing himself and also as chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission, came forward to speak about a dog park location. He stated the Parks & Recreation Commission was given five sites by the City Council to review. Four were approximately one acre and one was zoned commercial. Because of that, the Commission decided to not approve any of the sites. Subsequently, the Commission received some renewed interest, started researching again, and discussions were had that maybe all of the sites should not have been declined. Mayor Krebsbach stated that there were mixed feelings on the Council about the site at Pilot Knob; at least two Councilmembers thought it was a good site. Mr. Hinderscheid continued that the Parks and Recreation Commission was looking at the Sibley Memorial Highway site, a one -acre site. He acknowledged that there are some financial considerations, however, some of the feedback received from the residents was that a one -acre site does not have adequate space. Councilmember Norton stated that there should be a unified effort amongst the citizens to figure out what they want as a group and approach the Council. There are different groups that want different things. As a small city, Mendota Heights is limited in the amount of land available. Mr. Hinderscheid stated that, with balancing the cost of the Pilot Knob site, and speaking as a resident and not the chair of the Commission, he believes a dog park in the community, at the right size, would be a great legacy for the City and provide an outdoor recreational opportunity for decades to come. Councilmember Norton noted that at the Council Goal Setting session, the Council instructed Recreation Program Coordinator Sloan Wallgren to speak with the City of St. Paul to find out what they are doing with their potential dog park site near the Pool & Yacht Club and perhaps some cost sharing could take place. Also, as a group, the Council asked for more cost information on the Sibley Memorial Highway site to prepare it for an off -leash dog park. PRESENTATIONS A) INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR, MARK McNEILL Mayor Krebsbach noted that Mr. Mark McNeill comes to the City with 30 years of experience in city management; most recently 18 years with the City of Shakopee. He has a Bachelors Degree from February 17, 2015 Mendota Heights City Council Page 3 Northern Iowa in Political Science and Business, a Masters Degree in Public Affairs from the University of Iowa. Mr. McNeill is also a member of the International City/County Management Association. Mr. McNeill expressed his appreciation to the City Council for their earlier vote and his excitement and honor for being chosen as the City of Mendota Heights City Administrator. He also introduced his wife, Sheila McNeill. Mayor Krebsbach took this opportunity to commend Assistant to the City Administrator Tamara Schutta for her work as the Interim City Administrator. B) EAGLE SCOUT ADAM WHITCOMB PROCLAMATION Mr. Adam Whitcomb, a member of Troop 264, gave a presentation regarding his Eagle Scout Project, the restoration of a butterfly garden at Mendota Elementary. The project included the building of five portable benches, weeding the gardens so they could be planted again, and building two pits into the ground for future fitness stations. He had other boy scouts and family and friends come out and work for four hours to complete the project. Mayor Krebsbach read and presented the proclamation recognizing Eagle Scout Adam Whitcomb. C) DAKOTA COUNTY HWY 110 PEDESTRIAN CROSSING PRESENTATION Public Works Director John Mazzitello explained that Dakota County has developed a master plan for the Mendota Lebanon Hills Greenway. Part of that master plan identifies a need for a grade separated pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Highway 110 and Dodd Road. The crossing would connect to the River -to -River Greenway, formerly known as the North Urban Regional Trail. Mr. Jacob Rezak, Senior Project Manager for Dakota County, provided an update on where the county is with respect to the development of this project. Mayor Krebsbach also recognized the presence of Mr. Tom Egan, Dakota County Commissioner, who represents the City of Mendota Heights. Mr. Rezak gave a brief history of the project, the background for the Mendota Lebanon Hills Greenway, the current project team, the project scope and goals, and the proposed schedule for the project. The sole source of funding is from a $1M Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant that Dakota County received, along with a Dakota County match of 20%, with construction proposed to begin in 2017. Construction would coincide with the Minnesota Department of Transportation's plans to rehabilitate Highway 110. Councilmembers asked questions and made observations regarding bicycle and handicap accessibility, lighting, length and width of the different crossing alternatives, and the adequacy of the current funding sources to completely fund the project. February 17, 2015 Mendota Heights City Council Page 4 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no new and unfinished business. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Interim City Administrator Tamara Schutta made the following announcements: o March 4th at 6:30 p.m. is the informational meeting regarding the upcoming Victoria Road improvement project. ® The Par 3 is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. for winter activities. Fat tire bikes and snowshoes are available for rent at $5/hour. COUNCIL COMMENTS Mayor Krebsbach noted the passing of Bill Wolston who died on January 25, 2015. He was a local historian on Town Square Television for 15 years, producing more than 200 local history segments for Insight 7. ADJOURN Councilmember Petschel moved to adjourn. Councilmember Povolny seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 Mayor Krebsbach adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m. (---- -Sandra Krebsbach Mayor ATT Lorri Smith City Clerk February 17, 2015 Mendota Heights City Council Page 5