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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-24-18-R -- IzEN HILLS Approved: October 22, 2018 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 24,2018 7:00 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor David Grant called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Steve Scott Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault; Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue Polka; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; and City Clerk Julie Hanson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Grant reported the applicant has asked to pull Item 6E from the Consent Agenda. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL None. 3. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES None. 4. STAFF COMMENTS A. Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP)and Joint Development Authority (JDA)Update ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 2 City Administrator Perrault provided an update on TCAAP stating the JDA met on Wednesday, September 19 where the group discussed several process items but noted no votes were taken at this meeting. He reported this group would meet next on Monday, October 1. He explained the Civic Site Task Force would be meeting on Tuesday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Grant commented direction was given to the County by the City's JDA representatives to review its financial processes and procedures. City Administrator Perrault stated he would update the Council regarding this matter when he received an update from Director Olson with Ramsey County. Councilmember Scott asked if Bob Lux with Alatus would be attending the Civic Site Task Force meeting on September 25. Mayor Grant reported this was the case. Councilmember Holden encouraged staff to touch base with the County to ensure that the proper financial policies and procedures were being followed. City Administrator Perrault stated he would speak with Director Olson on Tuesday, September 25 to ensure this process was not favorable to only one party. Mayor Grant encouraged City Administrator Perrault to take an active role in this matter on behalf of the City of Arden Hills to ensure the County was not dictating this process. Councilmember Holmes suggested the Council meet in a worksession meeting to discuss TCAAP and the City's options within the next two weeks. Councilmember Holden reported he would be out of town for the next two weeks and would not return until October 9. Mayor Grant suggested each Councilmember review the information provided by staff and that comments and concerns be passed along to City Administrator Perrault between now and October 22. Councilmember Holmes supported the Council meeting together in a worksession in order to create a strategy and consensus on how to negotiate with the County. Councilmember Scott asked if staff was working on a risk matrix. City Administrator Perrault reported this has not been completed by Ehlers or the legal team. Councilmember McClung supported the Council meeting in a special worksession meeting to discuss TCAAP further. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 3 Councilmember Holden expressed concern with the fact that Ehlers was negotiating on behalf of the City. She feared the City would not receive reimbursement for this expense, unless they were acting as a consultant for the City. Mayor Grant reported this has not been established. Councilmember Holmes asked who was attending the negotiation meetings with the County. City Administrator Perrault indicated he was attending these meetings with Stacie Kvilvang and Joel Jamnik. He noted he has also asked Director Polka to attend. Councilmember Holden commented she would like the Council to consider hiring a negotiator to act on behalf of the City. Councilmember McClung explained another point of view would be that the people acting on behalf of the City Council at this time did not have clear direction on how to negotiate on behalf of the City. Councilmember Holden stated for the record City Administrator Perrault does not have experience negotiating million-dollar development deals and for this reason, she supported the Council considering the hire of someone with the proper skill set who could act on the City's behalf as a lead negotiator. Councilmember Holmes suggested the Council address the hire of a negotiator at the upcoming special worksession meeting. Mayor Grant encouraged the Council to also consider who this individual may be. He suggested staff be directed to provide the Council with options at the upcoming special worksession meeting. Councilmember Holden asked when the JDA would meet next. City Administrator Perrault commented the JDA would meet next on Monday, October 1. Mayor Grant noted for the record the City provided the County with all of its invoices as part of the JDA meeting. Councilmember Holden questioned when the City could expect to be paid back for these invoices. Mayor Grant reported per JDA financial policies and procedures the group was to approve its expenses on a monthly basis. He commented further on how the County was reimbursing themselves for expenses without submitting these expenses to the JDA. Consensus of the Council was to hold a Special City Council Worksession meeting to discuss TCAAP on Tuesday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 4 B. State of the City Update City Administrator Perrault reported two State of the City events will be held this year: • Thursday, September 27, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Tavern Grill restaurant • Tuesday, October 2, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at City Hall City Administrator Perrault explained Councilmembers will give presentations covering Rice Creek Commons/TCAAP, development projects, transportation improvements, and more. Arden Hills businesses and residents are encouraged to attend one of the events (the presentations will be the same at both events). It was noted the Army National Guard and MnDOT will also present information. Mayor Grant commented he had to be out of town and would not be able to attend the Thursday, September 27 State of the City event. He explained Mayor Pro-Tem Holden would be presenting his slides. Councilmember Holden suggested a slide be created to address the occupancy of the Smith Medical space and the black North Pack u-shaped building. Mayor Grant and Councilmember Holmes supported this recommendation. C. Transportation Update Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka reported Wall 3 along the Old Snelling trail was approximately halfway done. She anticipated the wall would be completed this week. Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka stated Floral Street would be paved this week. Mayor Grant asked if the bags on the "No Parking" signs on Chatham would be removed when the work on E2 was complete. Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka explained this was the case. Councilmember Holden asked if Xcel Energy would be ripping up more streets next year. Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka reported she was not aware of any work Xcel Energy would need to complete in Arden Hills in 2019. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. August 20, 2018, City Council Work Session B. August 27, 2018 Special City Council Work Session C. August 27, 2018 Regular City Council D. September 10, 2018 Special Executive Closed Session E. September 10, 2018 Regular City Council ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 5 MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the August 20, 2018, City Council Work Session meeting minutes, August 27, 2018, Special City Council Work Session meeting minutes, August 27, 2018, Regular City Council meeting minutes; September 10, 2018 Special Executive Closed Session meeting minutes; and September 10, 2018, Regular City Council meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 6. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Item - Claims and Payroll B. Motion to Consider Request for Proposals for Auditing Services C. Motion to Authorize Posting for Public Works Maintenance Worker D. Motion to Approve Employee Resignation in Lieu of Termination Fine Afts Building Expansion F. Motion to Approve Payment Nos. 5 and 6 — Osseo Construction Co., LLC — 0.5 MG Water Tower Rehabilitation Project G. Motion to Authorize Purchase of Ford F-350 Truck H. Motion to Approve Payment No. 3 — Sunram Construction, Inc. — Johanna Marsh Park Improvement Project I. Motion to Authorize Additional Construction Services Fees—WSB &Associates— 0.5 MG Water Tower Rehabilitation Project J. Motion to Adopt Resolution 2018-046 Approving Charitable Gambling License — Chops, Inc. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as amended removing Item 6E and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 7. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS None. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 9. NEW BUSINESS None. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL— SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 6 11. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Scott stated on Wednesday evening he would be attending a ride-along with the Ramsey County Sheriff. Councilmember Holmes commented the City Council received an email from Joe Federer regarding Horita Acres. She explained she had emailed Joe several times and also visited the property. She asked if staff had an update on this project. City Administrator Perrault reported staff met today and was working on a draft response for the concerns raised by Mr. Federer that would be forwarded to the City Council. He anticipated the Council would receive this response on Tuesday, September 25. Mayor Grant indicated he had exchanged several emails with Joe Federer as well. He believed it was appropriate for the City to address his questions by providing him with a formal response. Councilmember Holden noted she attended the staff meeting regarding Joe Federer today and she discussed how the items were worked through. She explained the Rice Creek Watershed District has also been addressing the concerns at this project. Councilmember Holden commented the Ramsey County League of Local Government has only met once this year. She suggested the invoice for next year be held off in order for the Council to consider if this was a viable organization to participate in. Councilmember Holden requested the Council discuss the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce and the strong opinions they have voiced against the City Council. She questioned if the amount of money being paid to the Chamber was beneficial given the harm they were causing the City. Mayor Grant suggested this matter be addressed at a future worksession meeting. Councilmember Holden invited the public to participate in Taste of Northeast which would be held on Thursday, October 11. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to adiourn. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). Mayor Grant adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:5 m. J i Hanson David Grant VC Clerk Mayor