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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-21 MINUTES COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota Regular Meeting May 21, 2014 OPEN FORUM At 7:15 p.m., Mayor Myron Bailey opened Open Forum and stated that during Open Forum a person may address the City Council on any subject not a part of the regular meeting agenda, but must limit their remarks to three (3) minutes per person. The purpose of Open Forum is to give the public an opportunity to present information or to request action by the City Council. It may not be used to make personal attacks, to air personality grievances, to make political endorsements, or for political campaign purposes. Open Forum will adjourn to the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. The following were present: Council Member Derrick Lehrke, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede, and Mayor Myron Bailey. The following were absent: None. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Korine Land, City Attorney-LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; and Les Burshten, Public Works Director. Mayor Bailey opened Open Forum at 7:15 p.m., and asked if anyone in the audience wished to address the City Council on any topic not on the agenda. There being none, Mayor Bailey closed Open Forum to the Regular Meeting. – CALL TO ORDER Regular Meeting The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a regular meeting on May 21, 2014 at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience, staff and the Mayor and Council Members pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. ROLL CALL Cottage Grove City Council 2 May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting The following were present: Council Member Derrick Lehrke, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede, and Mayor Myron Bailey. The following were absent: None. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Korine Land, City Attorney-LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; and Les Burshten, Public Works Director. Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER OLSEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THIEDE, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED. 5-0. 2. PRESENTATIONS — A. Eagle Scout AwardEric Konitzer, Troop 286. The Mayor and Council presented a plaque to Eric Konitzer for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout through Boy Scout Troop 286 of Cottage Grove. B. Present the 2014 Preservationist of the Year Award to Ann Simpson. The Mayor and Council presented a plaque to Ann Simpson for the 2014 Preservationist of the Year Award, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation. ’— C. Citizens Access Online Utility Billing PresentationRobin Roland. ’ Finance Director Roland gave a presentation on the new citizens access to online utility billing. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 7, 2014 Regular Meeting A. Mayor Bailey accepted the minutes of the May 7, 2014 Regular Meeting as prepared. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Cottage Grove City Council 3 May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER OLSEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO: A. ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE THE FOLLOWING MINUTES; i. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING FROM MARCH 12, 2014. B. APPROVE THE SOUTH WASHINGTON WATERSHED DISTRICT COORDINATED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM GRANT CONTRACT FOR THE TANDEM AXLE TRAILER JETTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,301.55. C. APPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN KCR CORPORATION AND THE CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. D. PASS ORDINANCE NO: 932, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FEES FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES AND BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2014-038, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 932 BY TITLE AND SUMMARY. MOTIONCARRIED.5-0. – 5. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED OPEN FORUM ISSUES None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS. A. Hold the Public Hearing and Consider Authorizing Issuance of a Massage Business License to Whole Health Massage LLC, 8800 East Point Douglas Road, and a Massage Therapist License to Tamara McGinn Tamara McGinn of Whole Health Massage LLC applied for a massage business license to operate at 8800 East Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove, and for a personal massage therapist license. Staff noted that the Public Safety Department completed the required background investigation and no facts were found that would constitute a basis for denial of the application. Staff recommends that the City Council hold the public hearing and authorize issuance of the licenses. The applicant was in attendance. Cottage Grove City Council 4 May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Mayor Bailey opened the opened the public hearing to receive comments and/or objections from anyone in the audience. There being none, Mayor Bailey closed the public hearing. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THIEDE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEHRKE, TO AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF A MASSAGE BUSINESS LICENSE TO WHOLE HEALTH MASSAGE LLC AND A PERSONAL MASSAGE THERAPIST LICENSE TO TAMARA MCGINN FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014. MOTION CARRIED. 5-0. – 7. BID AWARDS None. – 8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS None. 9. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COUNCIL COMMENTS AND – REQUESTS None. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Council Member Olsen stated that the South Washington County Senior Center has requested that the $100 fee for their annual raffle be waived and asked if the Council has the ability to do so. He also recognized Public Works and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week in the City of Cottage Grove. Council Member Lehrke congratulated his wife, Autumn for being awarded the sole outstanding alumni of the year from Inver Hill Community College. He noted that the City received some funding from the State this year through the Bonding Bill for the HERO Center to be located in Cottage Grove. Council Member Peterson thanked South Washington County for their support at the Stone Souper Bowl; the Memorial Day ceremony on May 26 at the Cottage Grove City Hall; the next Fare for All on June 12; and the Night to Unite on August 5. Council member Thiede stated that Strawberry Fest is only a month away and he announced some of the many events, including bands, activities, food vendors, helicopter rides, carnival, etc. Applications for the parade and business expo are “” due at the end of the month. The theme is May the Berry be with you. Mayor Bailey reiterated that the City received funding on the Bonding Bill for the HERO Center and publicly thanked Representative Schoen, Representative McNamara, and Senator Sieben for making sure funding was in the Bill. He stated that the annual Relay for Life will be on June 6-7 at East Ridge High School, Woodbury. Cottage Grove City Council 5 May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting 11. PAY BILLS MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THIEDE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OLSEN, TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF CHECK NUMBERS 186039 THROUGH 186131 TOTALING $373,171.74 AND EFT PAYMENT OF $18,544.78. MOTION CARRIED. 5-0. – 12. WORKSHOP SESSION OPEN TO PUBLIC A. 2015/2016 Budget The purpose of the workshop session was to give the Council and Staff an opportunity to discuss the 2015 and 2016 Budgets. The Council commented on the following: Council Member Olsen -  Requested a history of Fire Relief City minimum guarantees;  Requested investment income over past five to 10 years;  Requested that the process include the opportunity for the City Council to see all requests from Department Heads including those items eliminated from further consideration at the City Administrator level;  Suggested that we evaluate technology opportunities;  Requested clarity/more detail on the Staff interpretation that S&P is suggesting no further spend downs of fund reserves in special revenue and enterprise, et. Al funds.  Suggested that for desired projects he would not be opposed to paying cash as opposed to borrowing  Suggested that he was not opposed to a 2015 budget as it is shown within the distributed documents. Mayor Bailey -  Suggested that funding should be identified for Fire Department Station 2 and the HERO Center;  Requested thoughts on how the EDA could acquire blighted property; wondered what other cities were doing in similar circumstances, where they are getting their funding, what the levy impact of acquisition and demolition would be; specifically mentioned the Rush/Rodeo, Majestic, and A&F Auto Salvage; and  Requested a LED conversion lighting plan. Cottage Grove City Council 6 May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Council Member Peterson -  Agreed with funding for Fire Department Station 2 and HERO Center;  Fine with a levy rate at or slightly below the market mean. Has no desire to reduce our levy further relative to the mean; and  Okay with considering utility fund increases. Council Member Thiede -  Okay with funding whatever is proposed so long as there is corresponding justification. Council Member Lehrke -  Interested in more information about why utilities need increases and open to rate adjustments; and  Supported fund balance stability across funds. Staff noted the need for Ice Arena and River Oaks operating adjustments to improve net income, particularly with the need in the Ice Arena for Freon system changes. Staff alerted Council to the HERO Center’s pre-requisites for funding for the $1.46 million set aside for the construction project and a MMB approval of an operating agreement with MNSCU. Also, Staff distributed an expected rent roll at various debt levels from $0 to $10 million and further, for $5 million debt, the rent requirements could perhaps be met but that as the non-state funded portion grew beyond that level it became increasingly difficult to suggest that the project could be sustainably managed. –– 13. WORKSHOP SESSION CLOSED TO PUBLIC None. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER OLSEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEHRKE, TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING AT 9:30 P.M. MOTION CARRIED. 5-0. Prepared by, Caron M. Stransky City Clerk