2015-12-01 Council Worksession Engineering StaffingCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Workshop Meeting
Held Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Pursuant to due cali and notice thereof, a workshop meeting of the City Council, City of
Mendota Heights, Minnesota was held at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota
Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Krebsbach called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Councilmembers present included
Norton, Petschel, and Povoiny. Councilmember Duggan was absent.
A1so Present: City Administrator Mark McNeill; Assistant to the City Administrator Tainrny
Schutta; Public Works Director John Mazzitello; City Attorney Tom Lehmann.
DISCUSSION OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STAFFING
The Council discussed the vacant engineering position, and whether the vacancy should be fiiled
by a full time position, or that a consulting position would be preferable. Councilor Petschel
asked whether it would be more cost-effective to use a consultant, rather than paying benefits for
a full —time employee. Mayor Krebsbach desired to see a matrix, in which the job
responsibilities of each position could be identified. She feit this topic should be examined at
one of the Council's worlc sessions in January or February.
Public Works Director Mazzitello entered the workshop at 6:28 p.m. He said that the existing
staff could design the Mendota Road/Warrior Drive Project, if the vacancy could be filled by a
GIS position.
The Council asiced if the vacant engineering position could be filled with solneone other than an
engineer. Mazzitello said that was possible and proposed exploring the creation of a GIS
position instead. Mazzitello further stated that however the position is structured, that a full time
(40 hours/week) position is needed.
The consensus of the City Council was that staff should prepare a matrix showing the job
responsibilities for the Engineering Department with the currently authorized position, and a
variation showing a Department with an Engineering Tech, professional engineer, and a GIS
position.
DISCUSSION OF DUMP TRUCK PURCHASE
Administrator McNeill said that the agenda item to authorize the purchase of a du�np trucic and
snow plow combination was on the regular Council agenda for consideration later that evening.
It had been determined that purchasing a piece of equipment valued at an amount in excess of
$50,000 requires the City to follow the State's competitive bidding process.
Councilor Povolny expressed concern that the recommendation for the purcllase of a Macic truck
oniy from the State Bid Contract is not in compliance with state law, as it is written around a
single product. The City Attorney did clarify that purchasing a specified single brand from the
State bid did comply with bid laws. The Public Works Director stated the reason for the desire
to purchase a Mack truck was to standardize as much as possible the City's fleet.
The consensus of the Council was that bids could be sought for the Mack trucic, but that, in
addition to the state contract, a formal bid process be used so that multiple bids could be sought.
Public Works Director Mazzitello said that the bids could be solicited and opened in January.
Formal approval to authorize this action would be considered at the regular City Council meeting
to foliow.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Krebsbach adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m.
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`'" Saz1d a Krebs�h
Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lorri mith
City Clerk
Decensber 1, 2015 Council Workshop Page 2 of2