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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-21-R 'It - DEN HILLS Approved: October 11, 2021 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 13,2021 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 (attending via Zoom) and Steve Scott Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; Interim Public Works Director David Swearingen; Senior Planner Jessica Jagoe; and City Clerk Julie Hanson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). 2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL None. 3. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES None. 4. STAFF COMMENTS A. Transportation Update ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL— SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 2 Interim Public Works Director Swearingen reported the 2021 PMP project was nearing completion. He explained the entire project area has been paved with the first layer of asphalt and the second layer will be placed later this month. He indicated crews were now working on topsoil and sod in disturbed areas. Councilmember Scott asked if the I-35W project was nearing completion. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen stated the I-35W MNPASS project was completed and only minor signage and striping work remains. Councilmember Holden requested the Council discuss a permanent traffic signal at County Road E2 at a future worksession meeting. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen explained the County would be conducting a traffic study next year once traffic has fallen into a new pattern. If there is a strong warrant for a signal, this will be added into the County's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. August 9, 2021, Regular City Council MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the August 9, 2021, Regular City Council meeting minutes as presented. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). 6. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Item - Claims and Payroll B. Motion to Acknowledge the Application of Catholic United Financial for an Exempt Permit to Conduct a Raffle with the Drawing Being March 10, 2022 with No Waiting Period C. Motion to Acknowledge the Application of Fishing for Life for an Exempt Permit to Conduct a Raffle with the Drawing Being October 9, 2021 with No Waiting Period D. Motion to Approve Mediated Settlement Agreement and Release — Sunram Construction, Inc. Litigation E. Motion to Approve North Suburban Access Corporation Professional and Technical Services Agreement F. Motion to Approve Payment No. 7 to Air Express, Inc. — City Hall HVAC Replacement Project G. Motion to Accept Resignation of Accounting Clerk H. Motion to Authorize Recruitment of Accounting Clerk I. Motion to Approve Ordering Replacement Control Panel—Lift Station 3 J. Motion to Approve Payment No. 3 and Change Order No. 2 — C&L Excavating, Inc. —2021 PMP Street and Utility Improvement Project K. Motion to Approve Professional Services Agreement for Design and Construction Services with TKDA—Arden Oaks Street Improvement Project ARDEN HELLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 3 MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). 7. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS None. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Set Preliminary Levy and Establish Truth-In-Taxation Public Hearing Date for Proposed Taxes Payable in 2022 • Resolution 2021-049—Preliminary Levy • Resolution 2021-050 — Preliminary Levy — Karth Lake Special Taxing District • Resolution 2021-051 —Truth-In-Taxation Public Hearing Date Finance Director Bauman explained State law requires that cities certify their proposed property tax levies to the County Auditor by September 30th. The proposed tax levy that is given preliminary approval may be lowered but cannot be increased. Therefore, it is important that the proposed tax levy provides adequate revenues to finance the 2022 Budget. The City Council needs to decide the maximum levy that it is willing to approve and then adopt the proposed resolution. It was noted the final levy will be set in December 2021. A budget workshop was held with the Council on August 16, 2021. Staff was directed to provide proposed maximum levy increase options from 3% to 5%. There will be another budget workshop in either October or November, prior to the final levy and budget adoption meeting in December. Staff commented further on the 2022 preliminary levy, noting the projected revenues and expenditures, and recommended approval. Mayor Grant questioned when the Truth-In-Taxation Hearing would be held. Finance Director Bauman stated this meeting would be held on December 13, 2021. Councilmember Holden asked why street maintenance, sealcoating and resurfacing was decreased within the budget. Finance Director Bauman explained in 2021 the City spent under $200,000 for street maintenance and the Public Works Director expects to do the similar amount of work in 2022. Councilmember Holden indicated street maintenance was important to her and came at a great value for the City when compared to full street reconstruction projects. ARDEN HELLS CITY COUNCIL— SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 4 Councilmember McClung stated he was comfortable with setting the levy at 3%. Councilmember Holden requested further information regarding the public safety increases projected for 2022. Finance Director Bauman reported the expenses were estimated to increase by$75,520 in 2022. Councilmember Holmes expressed concern with setting the levy increase at 3%. She believed this was too low. She commented on the personnel changes that were occurring at City Hall and noted other changes may occur in 2022. She recommended the levy increase be set at 5% noting this amount can always be reduced by December. Councilmember Scott concurred with Councilmember Holmes. He feared that the City was underfunding its operations. While this may be okay for a couple of years, he believed it would benefit the City to set the max levy at 5%versus 3%. Councilmember Holden commented she could support setting the tax levy at 5%at this time,but would want this percentage reduced in December. Mayor Grant questioned what the underfunded amount was within the budget at 3%. Finance Director Bauman explained this was currently$242,690. Mayor Grant commented on the transfers out of the budget that occur on a yearly basis. He reported these transfers were put into the PIR fund. He was of the opinion that the City could keep the levy a little lower given the history of the transfers that have occurred over the past eight years. He supported setting the preliminary levy at 4.5%. He stated he would like to see this number move lower by December, because it can. Councilmember Holmes discussed the transfers out, noting that residents of Arden Hills were asking for more capital improvements,which were covered by the PIR fund. Mayor Grant reviewed the 2021 tax rates for cities in Ramsey County. He noted Arden Hills was one of the lowest in the County. He recommended the levy be set at 4%to 4.5%. Councilmember McClung indicated he could support the tax levy increasing to 4%. Councilmember Holden agreed the preliminary levy should be set at 4% to 4.5%. She commented further on the levy percentages and PIR transfers that had been approved over the past eight years. She stated she could not support a preliminary tax levy of 5%. Mayor Grant asked if the Councilmembers supporting a 5% levy increase could support this being reduced to 4.5%at this time. Councilmember Holmes stated she could support this. Councilmember Scott commented stated he could support 4.5%as well. ARDEN HELLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 5 Finance Director Bauman discussed the adjusted amount of the levy with the Council if the percentage were set at 4.5%. MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to adopt Resolution #2021-049 — Setting the Preliminary Lew for Taxes Payable in 2022 setting the Preliminary Levy at 4.5% with a total certified about payable at $4,472,680. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried 4-1 (Councilmember McClung opposed). MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to adopt Resolution #2021-050 — Settin the Preliminary Levy for Taxes Payable in 2022 for the Karth Lake Special Taxing District. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to adopt Resolution #2021-051 — Approving the Truth-In-Taxation Public Hearing Date for Proposed Taxes Payable in 2022. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 11. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember McClung stated he had an opportunity to attend the Lake Johanna Fire Department Annual Meeting and joined with firefighters to celebrate retirements and new hires. He explained this was a nice opportunity for the cities to show their support of the fire department. Councilmember Holmes reported school was back in session. She encouraged drivers to watch for congestion around the Mounds View High School and to drive carefully as children were waiting for buses. Councilmember Holmes explained the Arden Hills cleanup day would be held on October 2 at Green Recycling in Blaine from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Councilmember Holmes stated an Open House would be held at Tony Schmidt Park for the Lake Johanna Boulevard Trail on October 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Holmes reported the State of the City event was coming up and to watch for more information about the format of the event. Councilmember Holden thanked staff for their tremendous efforts on the 2021 street improvement project. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 6 Councilmember Holden stated on September 18 the Rotary Club would be painting the Perry Park ice skating rink from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mayor Grant reported he met with neighboring Mayor and City Administrators this afternoon and exchanged information regarding ongoing projects and preliminary levies. Mayor Grant also urged residents to participate in the October 2 cleanup day. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to adiourn. A roll call vote was taken. The motion carried (5-0). Mayor Grant adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:55 p.m. ham_ VVVEU Ju Hanson David Grant Ci Clerk Mayor