CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2013 5 ...

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2013 5:30pm 1) Call to Order Mayor Fischer called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. In attendance: Mayor Cheryl Fischer, Council members Mark Vanderlinde, Anne Hunt and Bob Christiansen, Director of Public Safety Paul Falls, Assistant Administrator Mike Barone, Community Development Director David Abel, Finance Director Brian Grimm, City Administrator Mike Funk, City Engineer Mark Erichson (WSB) and City Clerk Terri Haarstad. Absent: Council member Arlene Donahue By unanimous consent, the Council approved the agenda as amended. Add Item 5) Kings Point Road Discussion 2) General Fund Budget Discussion (Verbal) Grimm presented fund budget information. Of note:  Fire service increases required by contract  Labor contract increases required by contract  Staffing change impacts  Sales tax estimated savings of $48,000/year  Initiatives left unfunded include long-term Capital Improvement Purchases (CIP), increased road maintenance, implementation of the Pavement Management Plan, branding efforts, expanding/promoting community events, commercial development recruitment, merger/consolidation analysis, building equipment, maintenance or technologies  Estimated tax impacts on average Minnetrista homes valued at $350,000, $500,000 and $750,000.  The City’s Standard and Poor AA+ bond rating Grimm recommended that the City Council approve the proposed 2.1% levy increase at their regular meeting and indicated that his colleagues generally have reported other cities are increasing their levies in a similar amount. Funk reminded the City Council that they had approved this preliminary tax levy in September and had conducted several budgeting discussions since then. He also provided an overview of upcoming cost increases to the City. 3) Compensation and Benefit (Health Insurance) Discussion (Verbal) Barone provided wage and benefit information to the City Council pointing out that historically, the City has generally covered approximately 75% of employee health insurance costs. With current rate increases, raising the City’s insurance contribution from $867/month to $950/month and offering employees up to a 2% raise in 2014 would cover 73% of each employee’s insurance costs. Funk pointed out that these proposed increases are already included in the proposed budget being considered at the regular City Council meeting. 4) Sanitary Sewer Discussion (Verbal) Erichson provided an overview of sanitary sewer issues and addressed the question of steps the City could take to reduce the required usage payment to the Metropolitan Council. He also answered questions the City Council had regarding the proposed sanitary sewer fee

increase of $3 per quarter for residential properties. Discussion included whether or not the institutional sanitary sewer rate should be increased at this time as well. By unanimous consent the Council directed staff to add a 3% increase to institutional sanitary sewer to the proposal being considered at the regular City Council meeting. 5) Kings Point Road Funk explained that he had received a request that construction work hours be discussed. Erichson explained that an extension of work hours was granted for construction of the Kings Point / CSAH 11 / TH7 Roundabout. Requests have been received by contractors working on the Kings Point Road reconstruction project as well as other contracting companies. All other requests were denied but subcontractors have, on occasion, violated construction work hours. Erichson explained all have been talked to and have generally complied although there have been periodic violations. Discussion included:  What measures the City can take to stop construction work hour violations  Whether or not speed limits can be lowered for construction traffic  Whether or not the police presence can be increased in construction zones  Whether or not the message being given to residents is representative of Council desires  Why police involvement is necessary to enforce construction work hours  Whether or not the City Council can implement an administrative fine for working hour violations Funk recommended the City Council direct staff to research this issue and bring it back to the January City Council meeting. 6) Adjourn Motion by Hunt second by Christians to adjourn the meeting at 7:01pm and delay the regular City Council meeting to begin at 7:10pm. Respectfully submitted,

Terri Haarstad City Clerk