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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2011 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order /Pledte of Allegiance /Approval of Agenda: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Beaudet. Present: Councilmembers Abrahamson, McComber, Swenson, and Runk. Staff present: City Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling, Finance Director Caruso, and City Engineer Long. Absent: City Planner Richards. Mayor Beaudet added "Potential Meeting with Representative Lohmer" as Old Business Item A. and moved Consent Agenda Item D. to Old Business as Item B. He also added "2010 — City Annual Financial Statement — Review by Auditor David Mol" as New Business Item C., "Request from Park Commission — Inquiry about State Lands Adjacent to Brekke Park" as New Business Item D., and "Set Worksession Before Next Council Meeting" as New Business Item E. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 5 -0. II. Department /Council Liaison Reports: A. Planning Commission: Councilmember Abrahamson reported that the April Planning Commission meeting was cancelled, and the next meeting was set for May 12. B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the Spring Parks Walkthrough was set for April 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. beginning at Cover Park, and the next regular meeting was set for April 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. C. Water Management Organizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the next meeting was scheduled for April 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. D. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Spring Clean -up is Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Councilmember McComber reported that there was a Spaghetti Dinner for Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Communities at Bayport Legion on May 7 from 5 — 7 p.m. Councilmember McComber also reported that the Metro Cities Annual Meeting was April 14 at 5:30 p.m. City Council Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Page 2 of 4 III. Visitors/Public Comment: A. Visitor Comment: Marty Hauble, a resident of Oak Park Heights, requested the City look into single -sort recycling through Veolia Environmental Services. B. Recycling Award Deputy Clerk Pinski reported that Oanh Van Tran of 14470 Upper 56`" Street North was chosen as the recycling award winner. IV. Consent Agenda: A. Approve Bills & Investments B. Approve City Council Minutes — March 22, 2011 C. Approve City Council Minutes — April 2, 2011 Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0. V. Public Hearings: None VI. Old Business: A. Potential Meeting with Representative Lohmer City Administrator Johnson reported that staff sent correspondence to Representative Lohmer and Senator Lillie inviting them to speak with the council regarding the St. Croix River Crossing. He stated that Lohmer's office offered to meet with City Council at City Hall on Friday, April 15 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Johnson stated that Lillie's office indicated he would be available to meet sometime the week of April 25. Councilmembers Abrahamson, Swenson, and Runk stated they would not be available on April 15 for a meeting. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to set a worksession with Representative Lohmer on the afternoon of April 15 at City Hall. Carried 5 -0. B. Approve Purchase of Additional Technology Devices (IPAD, etc.) for Mayor /Councilmembers Mayor Beaudet suggested staff may want to develop a policy for WAD use and care. Councilmember McComber stated she did not want an electronic device for packets. Mayor Beaudet suggested that whichever members of the council wanted a paper packet would be responsible for printing the packet. He also suggested the Parks City Council Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Page 3 of 4 Commission and Planning Commission discuss whether they would like electronic devices for paperless packets. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved that whichever members want a device, the City would purchase it, and directed staff to develop a policy, seek input from the commission members on whether they would like devices and present the recommendation to the City Council, and Council will make a final decision on whether they will all go digital at the last meeting in June. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to amend that the councilmembers abide by the City employee policy until a policy is established on portable devices and that the employee policy be distributed to the councilmembers. Carried 5 -0. Main motion carried 5 -0. VII. New Business: A. Consider Upgrade to Video Svstem in Citv Hall — Council Chambers: Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved that Councilmember Swenson and City Administrator Johnson work with Greg Piekarski with the Access Center on a proposal and come back to the Council. Carried 5 -0. B. St. Croix River Crossing — Consider Legislative Action for Local Costs Councilmember Runk, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved that City Administrator Johnson and City Attorney Vierling work together and seek input from the St. Croix River Crossing Coalition to draft a letter to send to Representative Bachman, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator Franken. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to amend to add additional costs to the City of lost tax base and right -of -way acquisition in the letter. Carried 5 -0. Main motion carried 5 -0. C. 2010 — City Annual Financial Statement — Review by Auditor David Mol Dave Mol of Tautges Redpath provided a presentation on the audit review. He stated the auditing firm issued a clean opinion on 2010 financial statements, found no internal control deficiencies, and noted one minor item of noncompliance which had been cured. City Council Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Page 4 of 4 Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve 2010 financial audit. Carried 5 -0. D. Request from Park Commission — Inquiry about State Lands Adjacent to Brekke Park Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved that City Administrator Johnson work with councilmembers to see if there is support by local legislators to introduce legislation to allow the City to purchase the DNR property for not more than $400,000, leaving it in Baytown Township for a period of time, maintaining as open space with the understanding that the City will maintain easements, and allowing the State of Minnesota to purchase a portion of or the whole property back if they want to with simple interest back to the City, and only park - related work will be done on the property, subject to the review of the City Attorney. Councilmember Swenson moved to contact the same people who were contacted by the City in 2005 to obtain their thoughts. Motion withdrawn. Main motion carried 5 -0. E. Set Worksession Before Next Council Meeting Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to set a worksession in the conference room for 5:45 p.m. on April 26 to discuss the annexation policy, WAD policy, and reserve funds policy. Carried 5 -0. VIII. Adiournment Councilmember Runk, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to adjourn at 7:47 p.m. Respectfully s mitte , fer Pins Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor