2017-01-05 Council Work Session and Closed Session Minutes
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Council Workshop
Held Thursday, January 5, 2017
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a workshop of the Mendota Heights City Council was held at City
Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, Paper, and
Petschel were also present. Staff in attendance included City Administrator Mark McNeill, Assistant City
Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, City Attorney Tom Lehmann, Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, and City
Clerk Lorri Smith.
CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCTIONS
City Administrator McNeill asked the Councilmembers to summarize why they ran for City Council and to
summarize three things they were like the Council to accomplish in the next two years.
Mayor Garlock summarized his experience in law enforcement and hopes the Council can be very
transparent during his tenure. He hope to see order restored to the Police Department, hopes to improve
employee morale, wants to assure that the Council keeps the City on track with infrastructure upkeep, and
would like to see the site of the Mendota Motel redeveloped.
Councilmember Liz Petschel summarized her experience serving on the Noise Oversight Committee and
the Airport Relations Committee. She hopes to see the Council make a strategic decision on the fire
station, hopes to see the Hwy 13/Hwy 55 property redeveloped, and hopes to see an assessment completed
of employee positions and salaries.
Councilmember Joel Paper stated he ran for City Council to give back to his community and hopes to offer
a different perspective to the Council. He hopes to see the City’s website updated, the parks staffing
adjusted to be more efficient, the trash collection in the city to be consolidated so less garbage trucks are
driving through the neighborhoods which would save wear on our streets. Councilmember Paper also
presented a drawing of the Bourne property redeveloped with a sports dome and outdoor soccer fields
surrounding it.
Councilmember Ultan Duggan stated he started in City government when the Hwy 110/Dodd Road area
was being redeveloped. He hopes to see the City complete a survey of the residents to find out what
direction they would like to see the City go in. He also hopes to build our relationships with surrounding
cities and the school district. Councilmember Duggan also stated he would like to see the Bourne
property/Hwy 55-Hwy 13 redeveloped, possibly with a Planner review and analysis of the area, sharing
their vision of the area with the Council.
Councilmember Jay Miller has an interest in local government and hope to give back to his community. He
wants to see the infrastructure and maintenance of the city streets and trails be kept up to our standards, the
City expand its pollinator friendly policies and see its ordinances amended for the keeping of bees, He also
would like to see the creation of some sort of a multi-generational destination in Mendota Heights.
CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS LABOR GRIEVANCE
Mayor Garlock adjourned to closed session of the City Council at 2:10 pm to discuss attorney/client
privilege matters relating to an existing labor grievance. Those present included Mayor Garlock,
Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, Paper, and Petschel. Also in attendance were City Administrator Mark
McNeill, Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Police Chief Kelly McCarthy, City Attorney Tom
Lehmann, and Labor Attorney Kevin Rupp.
No official action was taken by the Council in this meeting. The Council will summarize the discussion at
the next Council meeting.
Motion by Councilmember Petschel, seconded by Councilmember Paper to reopen the workshop meeting
at 3:10 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OPERATIONS
Administrator McNeill discussed with the Council the seating arrangement for Council meetings.
Councilmember Paper suggested the Council meetings begin at 6:00 pm. Petschel stated she feels the
meetings should begin at 7:00 pm to give the residents time to arrive after a work day. The Council
directed staff to gather more information on meeting start times.
Administrator McNeill suggested that staff be allowed to leave the Council meetings after the consent
agenda has been acted upon if they do not have an item on the agenda. He also suggested that the
Community Announcements be discontinued at every meeting, unless there is an item of interest to the
public.
th
The Council discussed the upcoming workshop meetings of Jan 17-Park/Rec Commission applicant
stth
interviews; January 31 – discussion of economic development issues; February 8-joint meeting with
Airport Relations Commission.
ADJOURN
Motion Councilmember Paper, seconded by Councilmember Duggan, to adjourn the meeting at 4:10 p.m.
Motion carried 5-0.
____________________________________
Neil Garlock, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
January 5, 2017 Mendota Heights Council Workshop Page 2