2021-06-09 Council Work SessionCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the June 9, 2021 City Council Work Session
Pursuant
to due call and notice
thereof, a
work session of the
City Council, City of
Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was
held at 1:30
p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. Councilors Duggan, Mazzitello,
and Paper were also present. Councilor Miller was absent.
Staff Present: City Administrator Mark McNeill. Assistant City Administrator Cheryl
Jacobson joined the meeting at 2:15 PM; City Clerk joined the meeting at 2:25 PM,
CITY ADMINISTRATOR SUCCESSION
City Administrator Mark McNeill said that the Council should make a decision on the
selection process for a successor to him, upon his retirement in September of this year. He
said that the Council could hire a search firm to do a full search, handle the advertisement
and selection internally, or consider internal candidates.
The Councihnembers present each felt comfortable with interviewing the current Assistant
City Administrator as the only candidate to be considered at this time. An interview was
tentatively set to take place, beginning at 4:45 PM on Tuesday, June 15`h.
DOOR TO DOOR LICENSING CODE CHANGE
City Administrator Mark McNeill and City Clerk Lorri Smith discussed with the Council
members proposed changes to the City Code to allow for peddlers, solicitors, and transient
merchants in Mendota Heights. Changes include allowing peddlers to get a license
through the city to go door to door, allowing solicitors to register with the city to go door
to door, and to allow transient merchants to get a license to sell in our city on private
property. Hours proposed would be 9am to one half hour before sunset. Non-commercial
door to door soliciting would not need to register with the city.
All peddlers and solicitors who are required to obtain a license or to register with the city
would be issued a license or registration card from city hall, after approval.
This ordinance change will be scheduled to be heard at an upcoming City Council agenda.
POST COVID CITY MEETINGS and USE OF FACILITIES
Administrator McNeill and Assistant Administrator Jacobson reported that COVID-
restrictions relating to indoor public meetings have now mostly ended. For that reason,
the Council Chambers and large City Hall conference room could return to full capacity.
The Council agreed to allow for that effective immediately, and that the Mayor,
Councilors, and City Administrator would be seated at the front Council dais.
Administrator McNeill reviewed the City facility reservation policy for use by outside
groups. The Council felt that the Council Chambers should remain unavailable to groups
other than those which are listed in the room reservation policy. They also discussed the
Fire Training Room, and felt that the $100 fee which includes the cost of a fire fighter
standing by during the meeting should be revised, and have that fee added to the $100.
FY 2022 BUDGET
Administrator McNeill reviewed some of the major components of the upcoming FY 22
Budget process, including the fund balance, 5 year CIP, the Equipment Replacement fund,
Special Parks fund, and American Rescue Plan funding.
CITY FACILITY NAMING POLICY
Administrator McNeill reviewed the results of surveys which he had done regarding the
naming of City facilities to honor or memorialize people who had made major
contributions to the City. The consensus of the Council was to prepare a policy which
could be brought back to them for consideration and adoption.
LIQUOR LICENSING FEES
The Council discussed lowering liquor licensing fees and/or allowing payments to be
made for this next licensing period of July 1, 2021 — June 30, 2022. The Council
discussed the options available for restaurant owners to apply for relief available from
Federal COVID relief fund. The Council members did not wish to move forward with the
lowering of liquor licensing fees for this next licensing period.
ADJOURN
Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 3:05 pm.
�' Ste��ihanie Levine, Mayor
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
J¢¢ne 9, 2021 Council Work Session page 2 of2