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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-15-19-WSrys Approved: Ili4ay 22,2019 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APRIL 15,2019 5:OO 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 City Council Work Session at 5:02 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Dave McClung and Steve Scott Absent: Councilmember Fran Holmes (excused) Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault, Deputy Clerk Jolene Trauba, Ramsey County Sheriff Commander Tony Waldo, Undersheriff Jeff Ramacher, CTV Executive Director Dana Healy and CTV Public and Government Coordinator Jared Wiedmeyer 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Ramsey County Sheriffs Office Update Commander Waldo gave a brief history of his background with the Sheriffls Department. Undersheriff Ramacher discussed the dedicated traffic deputies and the possibility of bringing retired Deputy Kevin Otto back for six months. August lst will start the new hands-free driving law, road construction will push more traffic to the city and State Fair parking were reasons given to consider another traffic deputy. Councilmember Scott noted that State Fair parking was much better last year due to having more no parking signs. Undersheriff Ramacher said the State Fair keeps expanding into their own parking lots, forcing people to find other places to park. Councilmember Holden said she thought it was not necessary to put State Fair no parking signs every ten feet but felt that the Sheriff s department wouldn't enforce it unless they did. ARDEN HILLS CITY COLINCIL WORK SESSION - April 15,2019 Commander Waldo replied that enforcing no parking and giving tickets is a challenge when there isn't a clearly visible no parking sign. It has to be made especially clear because it is temporary no parking. Councilmember Holden asked about left turns to go north onto Lexington from the Red Fox Road or Dunlap, and if having another deputy would help. She felt they had no cooperation from the Sheriff s department because they didn't want to stop traffic on Lexington. Undersheriff Ramacher said by adding another traffic enforcement Deputy would be able to address complaints like that in a timelier manner. He noted that he had talked to MnDOT about the situation during times there was construction happening. Undersheriff Ramacher said the goal of traffic enforcement is to change behavior, not to give tickets. He felt adding another traffic deputy during peak times would help that goal. Mayor Grant mentioned distracted driving and the new law. Undersheriff Ramacher said that distracted driving has been a factor for many years and continues to get worse. The new law will help enforcement by giving latitude in writing citations, but the new law isn't the reason why they would like to add another traffic offrcer during the summer. Commander Waldo added that traffic complaints in general increase in the summer. Councilmember McClung mentioned that the last couple of years there hasn't been a problem with visibility in the City and he hopes they continue to stop to talk to residents in the neighborhoods. Mayor Grant noted that squad cars tend to take major roads but aren't necessarily turning into individual neighborhoods. He said it's been a long time since he's seen a squad in his neighborhood. Commander Waldo said they can sit in a neighborhood for long periods of time and not see anyone speeding or other types of crime, so that's why they may tend to patrol the larger roads. They will pass the request along at roll calls. Councilmember Holden stated they are having car break-ins again in the Venus/Crystal area. Councilmember McClung said there was a string of car break-ins last year but hasn't heard anything so far this year. He asked if the Sheriff s department would let the Council know if they notice trends. Councilmember Holden mentioned another issue is the Cummings Park Pavilion getting broken into and vandalized. Undersheriff Ramacher said they will come up with an action plan for the pavilion. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - April 15,20t9 Mayor Grant told the group that as they add more deputies to the contract cities at some point they will no longer be cost effective. And the more the Sheriff s department keeps adding the more the Council will want to see visibility. Councilmember Scott thanked Undersheriff Ramacher for arranging ride-alongs. Undersheriff Ramacher said they can be a challenge because they get so many requests, but that they will always encourage elected officials to ride along. City Administrator Perrault said the contract cities will vote on adding Deputy Otto to the summer roster on the following Thursday. Councilmember Scott said he would approve the hiring, Councilmember McClung would like it addressed in the budget and Mayor Grant agreed. Councilmember Holden wanted to think about it. Undersheriff Ramacher noted the funds would be coming out of reconciliation money already allocated for public safety. B. CTV Update CTV Executive Director Healy and Public and Government Coordinator Wiedmeyer presented an overview of new opportunities and services available from CTV including installation of new equipment, production services, webcasting, neighborhood network videos, quarterly updates, new analytics capabilities and features of CTV's new website. An audit will be done to see Arden Hills' equipment needs and CTV will present those findings at a future work session. C. Part-time Customer Service Specialist City Administrator Perrault explained the request to change the current full time Customer Service Specialist position to a job share position. The position would be 1 FTE total, with each person working an average of 20 hours per week. Insurance benefits would not be offered, but PTO would be accrued. He mentioned the flexibility of having two staff trained for the position that can cover for each other. Councilmember Holden asked about management of the position. City Administrator Perrault responded that it would be handled like any supervisory relationship. He also mentioned that moving the position to a job share wouldn't cost the City any more money in total, but potentially less by not paying insurance benefits. Councilmember McClung said it did not matter to him if the position was filled by one or two people. After further discussion, Council directed staff to bring the item forward to the next Council meeting. D. Council Request Tracker AMEN HILLS CNV COW City Administrator Perrault and staff reviewed the Council Request Tracker with the City Council. It was requested to add a Timeline column, and Cummings Park Shelter Sheriff Patrol was added. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES Councilmember McClung stated that he had no issue with the old City Hall site being used for construction staging, but didn't want to see equipment there over the winter. City Administrator Perrault noted that the second regular Council meeting in May might be cancelled. Public Works Director/City Engineer interviews will be scheduled for May 29. A list of questions will be sent to Council. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjoumed the City Council Work Session at 7:01 p.m. Deputy Clerk