2012-01-03 City Council minutesMendota Heights City Council
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
Held Tuesday, January 3, 2012
January 3, 2012
Page 1
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. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Duggan, Povolny, Petschel and Vitelli.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council, the audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADOPTION
Mayor Krebsbach presented the agenda for adoption. Councilmember Petschel moved adoption of the
agenda.
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilmember Duggan moved approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held on December 20,
2011 with one minor correction.
Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Krebsbach presented the consent calendar and explained the procedure for discussion and
approval. Councilmember Duggan moved approval of the consent calendar as presented and
authorization for execution of any necessary documents contained therein; pulling items B)
Acknowledgement of the Outdoor Warning Siren Replacement and Upgrade Update; D) Adoption of,
"RESOLUTION FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF GIFT OF $250 FROM
HUGO AND SUSAN BLACKFELNER "; F) Adoption of, "RESOLUTION ADOPTING DATA
PRACTICES POLICY AND APPOINTING DATA PRACTICE COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS ";
and K) Approval of the 2012 Teamsters Local #320 Contract
Mendota Heights City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 2
a. Acknowledgement of the December 2011 Building Activity Report
b. Acknowledgement of the Outdoor Warning Siren Replacement and Upgrade Update
c. Approval of the Official newspaper for 2012
d. Adoption of "RESOLUTION FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF GIFT
OF $250 FROM HUGO AND SUSAN BLACKFELNER"
e. Adoption of, "RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH
STATE OF MINNESOTA MATERIALS MANAGEMENT DIVISION AND THE CITY OF
MENDOTA HEIGHTS TO ACCESS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING VENTURE"
f. Adoption of, `RESOLUTION ADOPTING DATA PRACTICES POLICY AND APPOINTING
DATA PRACTICE COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS"
g. Adoption of, "RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING 2012 CITY DEPOSITORIES OF FUNDS"
h. Adoption of, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING PLEDGED SECURITIES FOR 2012"
i. Annual appointment of Disaster Preparedness Committee Representative
j. Authorization Change Bank Signature Cards
k. Approval of the 2012 Teamsters Local #320 Contract
1. Approve the Claims List
Councihnember Vitelli seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
B) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN
REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADE UPDAFE
Councilmember Duggan pulled this item to find out the total cost involved and to find out whether it has
being budgeted for in 2012 or taken from 2011 budgeted dollars.
Mayor Krebsbach commented that the memo states that fifty percent of the cost of narrow banding the
siren radio is covered by Urban Area Security grant money from the Federal Department of Homeland
Security Grant.
Chief of Police Michael Aschenbrener replied that ninety -five percent of the work has been completed
and was taken from the 2011 budget; approximately $3,200 worth of work is still left to be done on the
two old sirens and those funds will be taken from the 2012 budget. The three new sirens have been
installed. The siren was removed from the roof of the fire station and placed on a new pole.
The total cost of the project is $77,085.64 plus taxes.
Councilmember Duggan moved to approve the recommendation to finish the purchasing of the sirens.
Councilmember Petschel seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
D) ADOPTION OF, "RESOLUTION FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE
RECEIPT OF GIFT OF $250 FROM HUGO AND SUSAN BLACKFELNER"
Mendota Heights City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 3
Mayor Krebsbach explained that Mr. Hugo Blackfelner was a Mendota Heights Police Officer for
twenty -five years. The letter received from Mr. and Mrs. Blackfelner stated that they `appreciate the
dedication and commitment of everyone in the department'.
Councilmember Duggan moved to accept the gift of $250 from Hugo and Susan Blackfelner.
Councilmember Povolny seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
F) ADOPTION OF, "RESOLUTION ADOPTING DATA PRACTICES POLICY
AND APPOINTING DATA PRACTICE COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS"
City Clerk Sandie Thone explained that, by state statute, the Data Practices Policy must be reviewed
annually by staff to ensure that it complies with any of the changes that have been made during the year.
The policy has been reviewed, there were no changes necessary this year, and the city's data practices
policy complies with state statutes. This is the same policy the city has had for the past few years.
There are no changes in the compliance officials from 2011.
Mayor Krebsbach explained that City Clerk Sandie Thone is the Data Practices Policy Responsible
Authority and Compliance Officer, and Police Chief Michael Aschenbrener is the Data Practices
Designee. The policy is to protect the privacy, use and dissemination of data.
Councilmember Duggan highlighted changes that he suggested be made to the wording in the policy
document. A brief discussion was had concerning minor changes to the document.
Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of, "RESOLUTION ADOPTING DATA PRACTICES
POLICY AND APPOINTING DATA PRACTICE COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS" with the
proposed amendments.
Councilmember Petschel seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
K) APPROVAL OF THE 2012 '1'EAMS'I ERS LOCAL #320 CONTRACT
Councilmember Duggan expressed his desire to make suggested changes to any future contracts to bring
them up to modern terminology. Mayor Krebsbach explained that there is a labor agreement before the
council that Councihnembers had an opportunity to comment on and respond to in closed sessions, and
now have an agreement that has been approved by the employees through their bargaining unit, the
Teamsters, and anything that is desired for the future should be part of goal setting sessions and this
contract will not be discussed at this time.
Councilmember Vitelli moved approval of the 2012 Teamsters Local #320 Contract.
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
Mendota Heights City Council
PRESENTATIONS
A) ANNUAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARDS
January 3, 2012
Page 4
Mayor Krebsbach stated that the council takes great pride in the longevity of their employees and
presented service awards to the following employees:
Pam Deeb, City Receptionist Five Years
Sharon Hinze, Utility Billing Clerk Five Years
Sandra Ristine, Police Secretary Five Years
Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrator Five Years
Mike Shepard, Police Officer Five Years
Denise Urmann, Police Officer Five Years
Justin Fitzgerald, Fire Department Five Years
Teresa Gangelhoff, Parks & Recreation
Jennifer Larrive, Police Officer
Jeffory Von Feldt, Police Officer
Chad Willson, Police Officer
Mary Bang, Fire Department
Richard Gapinski, Fire Department
Scott Henning, Fire Department
Robert Lambert, Police Officer
John Larrive, Police Officer
Ten Years
Ten Years
Ten Years
Ten Years
Ten Years
Ten Years
Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
John Boland, Public Works Twenty Years
Mario Reyes, Police Investigator Thirty Years
Terry Blum, Public Works Thirty-Five Years
George Noack, Public works Thirty-Five Years
B) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RETIRING
AND NEW PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
Fire Chief John Maczko recognized the following retiring firefighters:
Paul Kaiser retired in August of 2011 after twenty -six years as the Fire Marshal for the city
Roy Kinglsey retired December 12, 2011 after twenty -one years of service. Mr. Kinglsey served the
department as a Captain for eleven years, then became the Assistant Training Officer, and in January
2010 was appointed Training Officer. He also served as fire investigator and fire prevention officer.
Fire Chief Maczko introduced three new probationary firefighters: Kevin Gilbert, Barry Sommervold,
and Dan Willems.
Mendota Heights City Council
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS
A) PLANNING CASE 2011 -33: CRITICAL AREA PERMIT
1665 LEXINGTON AVENUE, AND ADOPTION OF,
"RESOLUTION APPROVING A CRITICAL AREA PERMIT
FOR LANDSCAPING AT 1665 LEXINGTON AVENUE"
January 3, 2012
Page 5
Assistant to the City Administrator Jake Sedlacek explained that there is a clause in the city code that
allows planning cases to be brought directly to the council if it is a case that is minor in nature. Staff has
discussed this planning case with the applicant and found both their work to be minor and to be of an
urgent nature because the work described in the application needs to occur when the soil conditions are
cold.
Mr. Sedlacek then described the details of the requested critical area permit and the application process
steps that have taken place. Staff reviewed the application and found it to be an improvement to storm
water management in the critical area, a minor impact to the critical area, and recommended approval.
Councilmember Petschel moved approval of, "RESOLUTION APPROVING A CRITICAL AREA
PERMIT FOR LANDSCAPING AT 1665 LEXINGTON AVENUE"
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
B) APPOINTMENT OF ACTING MAYOR FOR 2012
Mayor Krebsbach has asked Councilmember Vitelli if he would continue as the Acting Mayor for 2012.
Councilmember Duggan moved approval of Appointment of Councilmember Jack Vitelli as Acting
Mayor for 2012.
Councilmember Povolny seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
C) APPROVAL OF THE 2012 -2016 SANITARY SEWER
IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PLAN
Public Works Director John Mazzitello explained that this is the next step in the evolution of the city's
planning for infrastructure improvements. This is a five -year outlook for maintenance projects for the
sanitary sewer system. He then introduced Assistant City Engineer Ryan Ruzek to give some technical
overview about the plan and how staff carne up with it.
Mendota Heights City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 6
Mr. Ruzek explained:
• That the Sanitary Sewer Improvement and Maintenance Plan (SSIMP) forecasts the needs of
the city over a five -year period
• The SSIIVIP is based on city adopted long range plans, goals, and policies
• The plan will be updated annually to ensure consistency and reflect the changing demands
and financial resources
• The goals of the SSIMP
— Provide a balanced program for sanitary sewer improvements
— Enable the City of Mendota Heights City Council to evaluate the needs of the entire city
objectively
— Anticipate needed sanitary sewer improvements before they become critical
— Provide a plan for sanitary sewer improvements that can be used in preparing the budget
in the coming fiscal year
The City of Mendota Heights Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems consists of:
• 73.1 miles of gravity sewers
• 1.3 miles of pressure sewers or forcemains
• 1,906 sanitary manholes
• 6 lift stations
Mr. Ruzek then gave project details for extending the life of the sewer, which included:
• Cleaning and televising, which is the first step
• Rehabilitation
— Install synthetic liner; said to increase the life of the pipe by 100 years
Mr. Ruzek stated that the projects are funded through the sanitary sewer utility fund and shared
anticipated project costs for:
• Annual sewer cleaning and televising
• Sewer lining projects
• Lift station rehabilitations
• Replacing a portion of the city trunk line
• Monitor the forcemain on Mendota Heights Road for breaks
Mr. Ruzek gave a brief overview of the Sanitary Sewer Utility Fund report.
Councilmembers asked questions regarding challenges from restaurant grease in the sanitary sewer
system, timeline for replacing the water main in Friendly Hills and the possibility of moving that project
up, assumptions made in the plan as far as increase in costs from Met Council, and sewer lining.
Councilmember Vitelli specifically questioned whether the cost increases projected for Met Council
were reasonably accurate.
Mayor Krebsbach asked Mr. Mazzitello to explain the rate increases that are included in the SSIMP and
where they are coming from. Mr. Mazzitello replied that the rate increase that was approved at the last
council meeting was a ten percent increase to cover the past two years of increases in Met Council costs.
Those increases were approximately two percent for 2011 and approximately eight percent for 2012.
The rate increase was for both years because the city did not have a rate increase at the end of 2010 for
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January 3, 2012
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the 2011 calendar year. Based on projected cost increases, assuming three percent for MCES and two
percent for city costs, the projected five percent annual increase is intended to cover those two increases.
These figures are for budgeting and forecasting purposes only and do not obligate the council to do
anything with regard to rates or any other revenue gathering from the residents. Staff would need to
come to council at the end of each year to adopt a resolution to increase the sanitary sewer rates for the
coming year.
Additional discussions followed as to why this is a five -year plan as opposed to a two -year plan; that the
plan is solid for 2012 and 2013; and that the 2014, 2015, and 2016 plans are flexible and dependent on
results from the annual sewer cleaning and televising projects, Met Council plans, available funding, and
other unknown factors.
Mayor Krebsbach suggested that the council acknowledge and accept the Sanitary Sewer Improvement
and Maintenance Plan report versus approving the plan itself and then get back into it on an annual
basis.
Mr. Mazzitello replied that the 2012 program is budgeted in the 2012 budget. So by acknowledging the
report now, staff moves forward with the 2012 program. The ideal timeframe is to bring this back at the
end of 2012 with the street plan — two chapters to the same document. The next step in this process will
be to develop a third plan, whether that be storm sewer, trails, water main — there will be another chapter
until staff has built the entire Infrastructure Five -Year Outlook Plan for the city.
Councilmember Vitelli moved Acknowledgement of the 2012 -2016 Sanitary Sewer Improvement and
Maintenance Plan Report
Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
D) MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND REQUEST
(DISCUS SION ITEM)
City Administrator Justin Miller explained that the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) awards grants
through local cities that provide loans to assist expanding businesses. All projects must meet minimum
criteria for private investment, number of jobs created or retained, and wages paid. There is a maximum
of $500,000 per grant and then the city would be able to keep part of those funds as an administrative
fee.
Greater MSP, the new metro -wide economic development entity, has been in touch with an area
company that is looking to expand and who has identified an empty building in Mendota Heights.
Greater MSP approached staff in regards to participating in a Minnesota Investment Fund request.
Obviously there would be staff time and constraints to take into consideration, as well as on going
monitoring of that loan; however, the loan is negotiated between the city and the company but the
contract is between the state and the company.
As this is something new to the city, staff is looking for council input and comments.
Mendota Heights City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 8
Mayor Krebsbach had made the suggestion to City Administrator Miller that this be introduced to the
council and that further discussion could be had at the goal - setting session if council wished to pursue
this because it would affect staffing, what company or building might be the greatest benefit to the city,
what is the benefit to the city in doing this, etc.
Councilmember Duggan asked that staff do some research and come back to the council with examples
of where this has been done in other communities to ascertain what the success rate may be. He also
requested a history of the building in question — current tax, size, previous uses, etc. He would also like
information about the company that would like to move in and what their proposed use would be for the
building.
Councilmember Povolny asked if the city is on the hook if the loan goes bad. City Administrator Miller
replied that the information he received said that the state would ask the city to make due diligence to try
to collect on that loan but that it would not be a liability of the city; it would be a liability of the state.
Conncilmmeinber Petschel expressed her desire that when staff researches examples of where this has
been done in other communities, they find out how much staff time is involved and if the money they
were able to claim as an administrative fee truly does cover the cost of that staff time.
Councilmember Vitelli expressed his concerns and stated he would not support this program because of
the level of bureaucracy involved; Housing and Urban Development, the federal government, small city
development, federal funds, and State of Minnesota employees. Also, the city is the one who needs to
negotiate between the city and the business so that it is acceptable for some bureaucrat at the state; and
then if it goes bad the city is expected to make collection efforts. Councilmember Vitelli voiced his
concern about the staff time involved and questioned who on staff had the time to take this on.
Councilmembers Duggan and Vitelli expressed their desire to know what company has a desire to
expand into Mendota Heights and maybe there is some other way the city could assist with that.
City Administrator Miller explained that there is no action necessary by the council at this time. Staff
now has a clear sense of the concerns council has raised and there is more due diligence that needs to be
done. Should this start to look like something that council might want to consider, it will be brought
back for future consideration.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Povolny stated that he is happy to be on the council for a second year.
Councilmember Petschel commented that she was happy to read that the fashion expert at the St. Paul
Pioneer Press identified five businesses that have appeared on the metro area scene within the last year,
that have been unique and very successful, included Roe Wolfe. Roe Wolfe is located in Mendota
Heights Village along with several nice boutique type stores.
Councilmember Duggan wished a healthy and Happy New Year to everyone.
Mendota Heights City Council
January 3, 2012
Page 9
Mayor Krebsbach commented that there is a great article in the Minneapolis paper about a resident of
Mendota Heights who was a corporate executive and is now a yoga instructor at Core Power in St. Paul.
She also commented that Green Lotus Yoga has opened and is located in the Mendota Heights Village.
ADJOURN
Mayor Krebsbach adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m.
Sandie Thone
City Clerk