1991-08-07 Council minutesPage No. 3084
August 7, 1991
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Adjourned Meeting
Held Wednesday, August 7, 1991
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the adjourned meeting of the
City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M.
at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Mayor Mertensotto called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M.
The following members were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers
Blesener, Cummins, Koch and Smith.
1992 BUDGET Council acknowledged the preliminary 1992
budget as submitted by the City Administrator.
Council discussed the proposed refurbishing of
the 1978 fire pumper and 1970 squrt. Chief
Maczko informed Council that he is in the
process of establishing a capital replacement
committee in the Fire Department to be charged
with the responsibility of looking at capital
replacement (equipment) needs over a 40 year
period.
Responding to a question from Councilmember
Cummins, Chief Maczko stated that the 40-year
plan will be ready by the next budget process.
After due consideration, it was the consensus
that consideration of budgeting for the
refurbishing be delayed until the 40 year plan
is available for Council review.
Council acknowledged a memo from the Fire
Chief regarding a request that volunteer
firefighter pay increases be in the form of
additional retirement contribution. Jim
Kilburg was present representing the Relief
Association. It was proposed that the City
contribute 4% of the total 1991 salary amount
for the Fire Department to the pension program
rather than increasing hourly rates by 4%.
Council expressed concern that the Fire
Department appears to assume that firefighters
will receive automatic annual rate increases
similar to non-union City employees. Concern
was also expressed that if a pension increase
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August 7, 1991
is approved the department might come in at a
future time and point out that it has fallen
behind other departments in hourly rates and
ask for increases to catch up.
Mayor Mertensotto stated that he does not want
the fire department to "bank" on getting
automatic annual increases.
Chief Maczko stated that the intent is not to
ask for anything more than anyone else will
receive. The department wants to get the same
increase as City employees but the contention
in the past is what form the increase would
take - hourly rate or pension increase.
Councilmember Cummins stated that Council has
never given an increase in the pension and has
resisted it because of the way the funding
formula is set up.
Treasurer Shaughnessy stated that relief
association contributions have not increased
much through the funding formula for the past
two years but have been increased as much as
$1,500 to $2,000 in past years. The State
Revenue Department has discovered that it had
been using the wrong numbers in the formula
the last two years, and it should be up by
$2,000 next year.
Chief Maczko stated that it is proposed that
the 4% of the 1991 salary amount be equally
divided amongst the membership regardless of
how many hours the individual members spend on
department activities during the year. He
stated that the members want to police those
who are not pulling their weight and that each
member is required to put in a minimum number
of hours each month.
Administrator Lawell stated that another issue
is which dollar amounts to use as the basis
for the 4% - the hours on fire runs only or
fire runs and the discretionary amounts
budgeted for training, etc.
It was the general consensus to increase the
fire pensions by $50 per man, from $350 per
man per year to $400, for 1992 in lieu of
increases in the personal services portion of
the fire department budget.
Page No. 3086
August 7, 1991
Staff was directed to prepare a survey of fire
department pension contributions and hourly
rates.
Treasurer Shaughnessy reviewed the status of
current and projected equipment certificate
bonding and the philosophy for use of
equipment certificates for long-term capital
equipment.
Council reviewed and discussed with Police
Chief Delmont a request from the City Attorney
for an increase in fees for prosecutions.
Council acknowledged a survey of legal fees
recently conducted by the City of Moundsview.
Councilmember Cummins suggested that Chief
Delmont meet with the City Attorney to
negotiate a new rate.
Mayor Mertensotto stated that he will contact
Attorney Hart.
Council briefly discussed the public works
budgets, acknowledging the need for a new
backhoe for the street department and a new
position and equipment for the park
department.
Council directed that staff investigate
internship programs with the intent that an
intern be hired to take a comprehensive
approach to the issue of recreation
programming, including surveying neighboring
communities. Staff was also directed to
notify the Park Commission that this approach
is preferred over a community survey.
Council directed the Administrator to contact
the City Planner's office, informing the
principals that Council is reviewing its
consultant relationships and desires that John
Uban serve as the city's planner. It was
noted that Howard Dahlgren was a principal of
the firm and when he retired one of the other
principals should have replaced him.
Treasurer Shaughnessy reviewed revenues,
informing Council of a proposal that a
building permit fee surcharge be implemented
to compensate for lost license fee revenues.
He also informed Council that the MWCC will
increase its fees by 20% in 1992 and that the
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August 7, 1991
proposed Utility Fund budget anticipates a 10%
increase in sewer rates.
FIRE STATION Staff was directed to proceed with getting
quotes for demolition of the old fire station.
Mayor Mertensotto stated that he will contact
Harry Kirchner with respect to purchase of the
Fischer's 66 property.
DOWNTOWN MENDOTA Council briefly discussed the issue of
HEIGHTS the release of the T.H. 149 right-of-way.
Council was informed that the City has a
potential funding option, in the form of MSA
funding, for construction of an extension of
South Plaza Drive along the right-of-way with
a bridge across T.H. 110. Council was
informed that MSA designation is possible as
long as a street begins and ends at a state
highway, a county road or another MSA road.
Staff was directed to begin the process for
MSA designation.
ADJOURN There being no further business to come before
the Council, Councilmember Koch moved that the
meeting be adjourned.
Councilmember Smith seconded the motion.
Ayes: 5
Nays: 0
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:30 o'clock P.M.
A &,,
R'a-thieen M.-Swanson
City Clerk
ATTEST:
Charles E. Mertensotto
Mayor