2016.06.06 Work Session Meeting Minutes.pdf
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES June 6, 2016 5:30 p.m.
1) Call to Order Mayor Whalen called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Present – Council: Mayor Lisa Whalen, Patricia Thoele, Mark Vanderlinde (arrived at 6:52 p.m.), Pam Mortenson and Bob Christians; Staff: City Administrator Michael Barone, Finance Director Brian Grimm, Community Development Director David Abel, Public Safety Director Paul Falls, City Clerk Kris Linquist, and HR/Communications Coordinator Cassandra Tabor; Consultant: City Engineer Paul Hornby, WSB Engineering and City Attorney Ron Batty (arrived at 5:55 p.m.). Absent: None 2) George Gmach – Discussion related to City Compensation Structure City Administrator introduced George Gmach. Mr. Gmach overviewed a power point presentation that did a comparison of salaries for certain positions within the city with neighboring communities. He also handed out an updated summary. He spoke on the City’s salary structure. Thoele asked if the city ever had no increases for a particular year. Barone stated that there were a couple of years where employees did not receive raises or cost of living increases. Mayor Whalen had questions about the baby boomers retiring. Gmach stated that there will be more positions opening up and fewer people applying for government positions. There was some discussion of the quality of employees the City currently has. Mortenson questioned the benefit package. Gmach stated that PERA is higher than the private sector contribution and that Health care is consistent with the private sector. Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
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Christians stated that seeing the comparisons of the different cities is very informational. 3) Halstead Drive Presentation City Administrator Barone overviewed the power point presentation. Highlights included: Overviewed Proposed Improvements Total Estimated Project Cost is $4,803,140 Special Assessment overview Results of Neighborhood Open House that was held May 10, 2016 Overviewed Project Alternatives Alternate 1: Extend improvements to include the reconstruction and extension of water main along Williams Lane Alternate 2: Extend improvements to include the reconstruction of Farmhill Drive and Farmhill Circle Alternate 3: Pave the gravel portion of Halstead Drive only Alternate 4: Reduce road section to meet State Aid Standards only (non-standard City collector) Overview of Preliminary Project Schedule Mayor Whalen stated one concern that she had with residents in the cul-desacs would be paying an assessment. There was discussion about the amount of usage the road has and what portion of Halstead Drive gets travelled the most. There was discussion about the benefits of doing only a portion of the road instead of the whole project. Christians liked the idea of doing the project in phases. There was discussion of the extension of the water main. Hornby made a suggestion of a few different options for cost break downs. Consensus of the council was to direct staff to do a cost analysis of just doing the gravel portion with Farmhill Drive and Farmhill Circle and to do the rest of the project at a later date.
4) Stormwater Projects City Administrator Barone overviewed the power point presentation that outlined the CIP projects for 2016 and proposed for 2017. Mayor Whalen overviewed the Hosmer stormwater issue at 1040 W Cove Lane. Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
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Barone asked for direction from Council on how they would like to proceed. Mayor Whalen stated that she would like to consider a policy that would handle such issues in the future. Christians commented about current building standards and that the council needed to be careful not to set precedence and policy should be put into place. Attorney Batty questioned if there has been any established liability on the City’s part. There was discussion of the differences between the Hosmer and the Hoffman issues. Thoele questioned if other cities have experienced this. Batty stated not to his knowledge. Mortenson stated she would like to have a cost share in the policy. Mayor Whalen directed staff to design a policy to address the Hosmer project and to add cost estimates for the Westwood project.
5) Adjourn Motion by Christians, seconded by Mortenson to adjourn the Work Session Meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Absent: None Mayor Whalen adjourned the meeting at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Kris Linquist Kris Linquist, CMC City Clerk
Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
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1) Call to Order Mayor Whalen called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Present – Council: Mayor Lisa Whalen, Patricia Thoele, Mark Vanderlinde (arrived at 6:52 p.m.), Pam Mortenson and Bob Christians; Staff: City Administrator Michael Barone, Finance Director Brian Grimm, Community Development Director David Abel, Public Safety Director Paul Falls, City Clerk Kris Linquist, and HR/Communications Coordinator Cassandra Tabor; Consultant: City Engineer Paul Hornby, WSB Engineering and City Attorney Ron Batty (arrived at 5:55 p.m.). Absent: None 2) George Gmach – Discussion related to City Compensation Structure City Administrator introduced George Gmach. Mr. Gmach overviewed a power point presentation that did a comparison of salaries for certain positions within the city with neighboring communities. He also handed out an updated summary. He spoke on the City’s salary structure. Thoele asked if the city ever had no increases for a particular year. Barone stated that there were a couple of years where employees did not receive raises or cost of living increases. Mayor Whalen had questions about the baby boomers retiring. Gmach stated that there will be more positions opening up and fewer people applying for government positions. There was some discussion of the quality of employees the City currently has. Mortenson questioned the benefit package. Gmach stated that PERA is higher than the private sector contribution and that Health care is consistent with the private sector. Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
Page 1
Christians stated that seeing the comparisons of the different cities is very informational. 3) Halstead Drive Presentation City Administrator Barone overviewed the power point presentation. Highlights included: Overviewed Proposed Improvements Total Estimated Project Cost is $4,803,140 Special Assessment overview Results of Neighborhood Open House that was held May 10, 2016 Overviewed Project Alternatives Alternate 1: Extend improvements to include the reconstruction and extension of water main along Williams Lane Alternate 2: Extend improvements to include the reconstruction of Farmhill Drive and Farmhill Circle Alternate 3: Pave the gravel portion of Halstead Drive only Alternate 4: Reduce road section to meet State Aid Standards only (non-standard City collector) Overview of Preliminary Project Schedule Mayor Whalen stated one concern that she had with residents in the cul-desacs would be paying an assessment. There was discussion about the amount of usage the road has and what portion of Halstead Drive gets travelled the most. There was discussion about the benefits of doing only a portion of the road instead of the whole project. Christians liked the idea of doing the project in phases. There was discussion of the extension of the water main. Hornby made a suggestion of a few different options for cost break downs. Consensus of the council was to direct staff to do a cost analysis of just doing the gravel portion with Farmhill Drive and Farmhill Circle and to do the rest of the project at a later date.
4) Stormwater Projects City Administrator Barone overviewed the power point presentation that outlined the CIP projects for 2016 and proposed for 2017. Mayor Whalen overviewed the Hosmer stormwater issue at 1040 W Cove Lane. Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
Page 2
Barone asked for direction from Council on how they would like to proceed. Mayor Whalen stated that she would like to consider a policy that would handle such issues in the future. Christians commented about current building standards and that the council needed to be careful not to set precedence and policy should be put into place. Attorney Batty questioned if there has been any established liability on the City’s part. There was discussion of the differences between the Hosmer and the Hoffman issues. Thoele questioned if other cities have experienced this. Batty stated not to his knowledge. Mortenson stated she would like to have a cost share in the policy. Mayor Whalen directed staff to design a policy to address the Hosmer project and to add cost estimates for the Westwood project.
5) Adjourn Motion by Christians, seconded by Mortenson to adjourn the Work Session Meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Absent: None Mayor Whalen adjourned the meeting at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Kris Linquist Kris Linquist, CMC City Clerk
Minnetrista Work Session Minutes – June 6, 2016
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