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MINUTES OF THE ARDEN HILLS COUNCIL WORKSESSION MON~AY, MARCH 20, 1989, 4:30 P.M. - VILLAGE HALL CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Sather called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. . ROLL CALL The roll being called the following members were present: Mayor Thomas Sather, Councilmembers Paul Malone, JoAnn Growe and Thomas Mahowald. Absent: Councilmember Nancy Hansen. Also present: Public Works Supervisor Robert Raddatz, Clerk Administrator Gary Berger and Deputy Clerk Catherine Iago. NEW COUNCILMEMBER ORIENTATION CONSULTANTS Mayor Sather briefly outlined the background and current responsibilities of the consultants currently retained by the City. Councilmember Mahowald questioned the city rationale for utilizing consultants rather than full-time personnel for these positions. Mayor Sather commented that in the past the city had adopted the philosophy of hiring consultants as a cost saving measure. Council discussed the 1988 expenditure for legal counsel, the differences between the prosecuting attorney and civil attorney, reimbursement of fees for consultants and the possibility of reviewing costs for consultants versus in-house staff. . Clerk Administrator Berger advised he had prepared the RFP for the attorney position and had received a formal letter of resignation from Jim Lynden. Council discussed preparation of a "Request for Proposal" for engineering services. Mahowald stated the engineer firm has been advised of the Council concerns and suggested Council consider deferring action on this matter to review the performance of the engineering consultant. Mayor Sather and Councilmember Growe agreed that SEH had not sufficiently resolved the issues raised by Council at the meeting to discuss city concerns; both stated they were not displeased with Engineer Peters performance. Growe moved, seconded by Malone, that Council direct the Clerk Administrator to prepare and begin the "Request for Proposal" for an engineering consultant. Motion carried. (Growe, Malone and Sather voting in favor; Mahowald opposed) (3-1) Sather commented that SEH would be welcomed to submit an RFP. Clerk Administrator Berger advised Council he had contacted Jim Casserly to confirm his attendance at the next Council worksession to discuss the Gateway Business District and the proposed redevelopment of Red Fox/Grey Fox Roads. . PUBLIC SAFETY Council discussed the contracts with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department. Mayor Sather reviewed the background of the joint cities involvement in cost sharing for the Lake Johanna Fire Department; Shoreview, Arden Hills and North Oaks. He explained why the cities have been handling contract negotiations separately and stated it may be beneficial to reestablish the three-city structure. Mayor Sather advised the newly appointed Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer has shown enthusiasm for code enforcement; the previous inspector was not active in code enforcement. He stated Council recently adopted the Exterior Completion Ordinance which outlines the timetable for completion of construction and provides a tool for enforcement. . BUDGET PROCESS Mayor Sather reviewed the background of the budget process and the history of the Finance Committee involvement in this process. He stated the City should adopt the philosophy of customer orientation; providing services the taxpayers want and are willing to pay tax dollars for the City to provide. Sather suggested surveying residents to determine service expectations. He suggested the Finance Committee be directed to research methods for financing needed programs, equipment, staffing, and other projects discussed by Council, such as a new city hall complex.