2017-08-16 Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Council Workshop
Tuesday, August 16, 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 1:35 p.m. Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, Paper and
Petschel were also present.
Also present: City Administrator Mark McNeill, Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Finance
Director Kristen Schabacker; City Clerk Lorri Smith, Community Development Director Tim Benetti,
Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, and Public Works Supt. Terry Blum.
2018 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Community Development--Tim Benetti, Community Development Director, discussed the Comp Plan
budget with the Council. He said that there will be a special council meeting in the future for the Comp
Plan. Councilmember Duggan encouraged the Councilmembers to review the current Comp Plan so
they are familiar with it.
Ryan Ruzek, Public Works Director, explained the request for a new position to add a GIS Technician to
assist with mapping, records management, plans and specs, code enforcement, and other miscellaneous
duties.
Building Official - City Administrator Mark McNeill discussed the Building Official's budget and
explained that it should be proportionate to the revenues generated from that department.
Dodd Road Traffic Study - The Council was in agreement that a traffic study should be completed for
the entire stretch of Dodd Road, using reserve funds. Councilmembers stressed the importance of
obtaining a impartial firm that currently has no connections to the building of the Vikings facility or
previous Dodd Road studies. The contractor should review how the fully-developed Vikings facility
will affect trafiic patterns on Dodd Road.
Councilmember Duggan suggested the City send letters of concern regarding the traffic problems on
Dodd Road to the City's current representatives at the county, state, and national levels.
Recycling — Ryan Ruzek explained how the recycling budget will increase due to an increase in funds
from Dakota County. It is recommended to increase the hours of the Recycling Coordinator position
from four hours per week, to ten hours per week. He said that the City will also be putting out an RFP
for a single waste management contractor for the city-owned facilities. An organics recycling site will
also be explored in 2018.
City Hall — Mark McNeill explained that the company that the City contracts with to do the cleaning for
the Police Department not be continued in 2018. The City's Facilities Manager will be performing those
duties.
Mr. McNeill updated the Council on the remodeling in the lower level, and the continuing infiltration of
water into the lower level. The architect which has been hired by the City has provided a contruction
estimate for the building remodeling at approximately $250,000. In addition, he estimates that the City
will need to spend an additional $110,000 to fix the joints along the outside of the entire building to
prevent the water infiltration problem. It was noted that these expenses will be paid for out of the Water
Tower fund.
Fireworks — The Councilmembers decided that the City will not be funding the fireworks display in
2018, and discussed local fundraising efforts to provide fireworks.
Administration — McNeill reviewed the Administration budget. He discussed the proposal to add a part-
time Volunteer Coordinator position to the budget. It was noted that staff should complete an inventory
of the volunteer opportunities in our city.
McNeill presented a proposal to add a Communications Coordinator position to City staf£ The position
would assist with social media, the two electronic newsletters, maps and brochures, and media
connections.
McNeill presented a proposal to replace the phone systems at City Hall, Public Works, and the Fire
Station at a cost of $65,000 to $70,000
Information Technology — Cheryl Jacobson updated the Council on the contract the City has with
LOGIS, which handles the City's IT issues. It was noted that fiber line fees were added to the budget.
Pa� 3/Recreation — The Council discussed fees associated with recreation programs, and how those
should be set at a rate high enough to cover the cost of the program.
The option of partnering with the City of West St. Paul to share a positions was discussed. While the
Council indicated interest moving forward, the 2018 Budget would include the current staffing levels.
The Recreation Coordinator job description will need to be reviewed by Council before the current
vacancy is advertised.
The Council discussed the need to remove the damaged equipment at the skate board park, and revitalize
the landscaping along Wagon Wheel Trail, in order to open up the site. Staff will search for possible
grants to help with updating the park.
Public WoNks — Terry Blum, Public Works Superintendent, reviewed with the Council his list of
Improvement Packages. He updated the Council on the age and condition of the equipment proposed to
be replaced.
FiNe — City Administrator McNeill presented an Improvement Package from the Fire Department to
replace the Assistant Chief's vehicle at a cost of $38,000, which had not been included in the previous
budget discussion of the fire department.
August 16, 2017 City Council T�T�ork Session- Budget Page 2
The Council reviewed the overall budget, along with the Improvement Packages that were presented.
They discussed funding options for the larger equipment purchases.
The Councilmembers agreed to include the following in the 2018 base budget:
-2 additional police officers for patrol, adding one position in January; one in July, 2018
-Leadership training for the Police Department
-Increase City's contribution by $500 to the Firefighters' pensions
-Fire hoses/nozzles for the Fire Department
-Increase the Fire Department personnel budget for new firefighter training, officers pay to meetings,
and additional training for all firefighters
-Mobile computers for fire engines
-GIS Technician for Engineering/Community Development departments
-Tractor/loader for streets division
-Auto greaser for loader for streets division
-Quick connect for streets division
-3/4 ton pickup truck for parks division
-VOIP telephone system for city offices
-3/4 ton pickup truck for sewer division
City Administrator McNeill was asked to present a summary of the proposed budget to the Council for
their review at a future meeting. It was noted that the preliminary budget and tax levy will be presented
to the City Council in September.
Mayor Garlock adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
TTEST•
. �
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
�('`�
Neil Garlock
Mayor
August 16, 2017 City Council YT�ork Session- Budget Page 3