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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 12-13-2004 ~ I rA~LLS Approved: January 10, 2005 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 13, 2004, 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Beverly Aplikowski called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:08 p.m. Present: Mayor Beverly Aplikowski, Councilmembers David Grant, Gregg Larson, and Brenda Holden, Absent: Councilmember Lois Rem (excused). Also present were City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Director of Operations & I Maintenance, Thomas Moore; Finance Director/Treasurer, Murtuza Siddiqui; Community Development Director, Scott Clark; City Engineer, Greg Brown; City Planner, Peter Hellegers; and Recording Secretary, Kathleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Mayor Aplikowski requested item 3D be pulled from the Consent Calendar and brought back at the first meeting in January, 2005. She also requested item 6B and 6C be reversed. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0), 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. November 15, 2004, City Council Work Session B. November 29, 2004 City Council Meeting Councilmember Holden requested the following changes: November 15, 2004 City Council Work Session, Pages 1 and 2, change NET to NETS. Page 6, 4th paragraph from the bottom, change weeks to times. I Councilmember Grant requested the following changes: November 15, 2004 City Council Work Session, Page 12, 8th paragraph, change along to under. \ \Earth IAdmin\CouncillMinutcs lRegular\2004\ 12-13 -04.doc ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 2 e Councilmember Larson requested the following changes: November 15, 2004 City Council Work Session, Page 8, second paragraph, second sentence should read: "A percentage breakdown based upon the number of fire calls each community has, the assessed valuation, the population in each of the three cities, the number of housing units in each of the three cities, and the property tax valuation in each of the three cities may be used to equalize capitaL.." November 29, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes, Page 5, 2nd paragraph, second sentence should read: He stated he understood the logic of putting the sidewalk on the north side of the street, if all things were equal, but all things were not equaL Third sentence should read: He indicated the south side had fewer homeowners than the north side; the south side had no utility conflicts; if the sidewalk was on the south side, it would connect two City trails; it would connect the crossing of the bridge to the only trail which runs the length of County Road E; there would be minimal grading and no retaining walls if the sidewalk was located on the south side; it would not have...", 7'h sentence from the bottom of the same paragraph should read: "He stated they had no evidence that it might be safer to put the sidewalk..." 2nd sentence from the bottom of the same paragraph, should read: He sated as long as he has been on this Council, he believes the Council has been fiscally conservative and this is what the residents wanted. Mayor Aplikowski requested the following changes: None. Ms. Wolfe requested the following changes: None. I MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the Novcmber 15, 2004 City Council Work Session as amended and the November 29, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll b. Resolution No, 04-64: Approve Changes to the City's Employee Flexible Spending Account Plan c. Resolution No. 04-66: MnDOT Right-of-Way Maintenance d. ReselutioB No. 01 65: "\dopting the 2005 City Coullcil Meeting Sehmlule e, 2004 PMP - Edgewater Neighborhood - Partial Payment to Amt Construction f. Street Sign Replacement Project - Partial Payment to Northern Traffic g. 2004 Perry Park ADA Improvements - Final Payment to Thomas and Sons h. Resolution No. 04-67: Approving the 2005 City of Arden Hills Recycling Fee 1. Electrical Inspector Agreement J. Resolution No. 04-68: Certifying Delinquent Utilities MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a I motion to approve the Consent Calendar and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 3 - 4. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Bill Henry, 3521 Ridgewood Court, stated for the last 27 years he has worked as a consultant for governing boards and non-profit organizations. He stated he would like to live in a City that was well governed. He offered three suggestions: First, it was his observation that the Council was reasonably clear as to what the City was attempting to achieve, without knowing why. Second, he stated the Council did an inordinate amount of time doing other people's work. He proposed they trust the staff to do their jobs. He stated the Council was not here to manage the City; they were here to govern it. Third, governance is impossible without conflict management. He stated the Council could not manage the City without managing conflict. He stated it was the Council's job to resolve conflicts. Mayor Aplikowski thanked him for his comments and asked him what he was basing his experience on. Mr. Henry stated he was a member of the PTRC, but his comments were not based solely on the PTRC, but as an observer. Councilmember Larson stated Council was going into a planning retreat in January where some of these concerns would be looked at and thanked Mr. Henry for his comments. e 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. 2003 PMP Inl!erson/Karth Lake East Neil!hborhood - Chanl!e Order #1 for additional watermain and curb renlacement work Mr. Brown stated the Council awarded the 2003 PMP Ingerson Neighborhood Reconstruction project to Amt Construction on July 9, 2003 for $] ,903,536.10, The estimated construction cost in the adopted feasibility report was approximately $2,]25,000. He indicated project work was substantially completed in late fall 2003 with final punch list items completed this past summer with the exception of landscape warranty work due to expire next spring. He indicated six partial payments totaling $1,856,662.9] have been approved by the Council to date. Mr. Brown reviewed Change Order #1 and noted the total requested change order amount was $126,487.93, He noted the requested change order represents approximately 6.6% of the original contract amount. He recommended the City Council approve Change Order #1 for the 2003 PMP Project totaling $126,487.93. He stated the contract amount of $1,903,536,10 will be e increased by $126,487.93 to a new total contract amount of$2,030,024.03. Councilmember Grant stated it was his understanding they were going to replace the infrastructure under the road, and the valves had been there since the original installation in the ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 4 ~ mid-50's or 60's. He asked why the valves were not scheduled to be replaced originally. Mr. Brown stated in this contract, they assumed there would be a few valves inoperable, but nearly all of the valves were problems, He stated based on this experience, for the 2004 PMP project it was anticipated that all valves would be replaced. He noted they were not planning on taking all of these values out for the 2003 project and they did not think the scope was going to be as significant as it was. Conncilmember Holden asked how long the valves lasted and expressed concern the valves were not made a part of the original bid. Mr. Brown noted it was difficult to determine if valves needed to be replaced until they could be visually inspected. He stated this type of a change order would not happen again and valves would be replaced. MOTION: Councilmembcr Grant moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve Change Order #1 for the 2003 PMP project totaling $126,487.93 to Amt Construction. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). B, 2004 PMP Edl!:ewater Neil!:hborhood - Chanl!:e Order #1 for additional watermain work Mr. Brown stated the Council awarded the 2004 PMP Edgewater Neighborhood Reconstruction e project to Amt Construction on June 28, 2004 for $1,059,189.76. The proj ect was essentially completed with the exception of minor punch list items and landscape warranty work. Three partial payments totaling $915,414.64 have been approved by the Council to date, He reviewed Change Order #1 for the Council. He recommended the City Council approve Change Order #1 for the 2004 PMP Project totaling $34,170.00 (3.2% of the original contract amount). The contract amount of $1,059,189.76 will therefore be increased by $34,170.00 to a new contract amount of$I,093,359.76. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve Change Order #1 for the 2004 PMP project in the amount of $34,170 to a new total contract amount of $1 ,093,359.76. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). C. 2004 Bndl!:et Amendments Mr. Siddiqui stated typically in December, the Council approves a final amended budget for the current year, At various times throughout the year, staff requests the Council approve spending for items that were either not budgeted or were budgeted, but not adequate to complete a particular transaction. During the calendar year 2004, staff had requested budget amendments in the total amount of $372,334. These amendments were previously approved by the Council and had impacted various funds. The original 2004 Adopted Budget is $9,338,351. Totaling all of e the amendments, in the amount of $372,334, will modify the 2004 Budget to $9,710,685. Staff requests the Council approve the amended 2004 Budget by increasing the originally adopted budget by $372,334. The modified 2004 Budget is $9,710,685. -~- ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 5 - MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve the amended 2004 Budget by increasing the originally adopted budget by $372,334 to $9,710,685. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Approve 2005 City Budl!:et Resolution No. 04-69: Adoptiug the 2005 Budget 1. Resolutiou No. 04-70: Setting the Final Levy for Taxes Payable in 2005 2. Resolntion No. 04-63: Approving the 2005 Employee Compensation Plan 3. Resolution No. 04-62: Approving the 2005 City Contribution to the Non- Bargaining Unit Employee Monthly Benefit Mr. Siddiqui stated the overall proposed 2005 Budget is $8,739,274 with a staff complement of 23.75 FTEs, The proposed General Fund budget is $3,239,930. A preliminary levy was certified to the County on September 15, 2004. A final levy must be certified by December 28,2004, He recommended staff approve the 2005 Budget. - Mayor Aplikowski expressed concern that Northwest Youth and Family services were not in the budget for 2005, but acknowledged that it was agreed to discuss this as part of the 2006 budget preparation. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to adopt the proposed 2005 Budget at $8,739,274. Councilmember Larson stated he would be voting against this motion, not because staff did not do their job, but because of the action Conncil took on November 29 regarding the location ofthe sidewalk on County Road E. He noted with that action Council authorized the spending of $325,000 for a two block sidewalk. He stated something had gone awry in this Council with this decision and he believed this was a terrible mistake. He noted the levy increase this year was $93,000 and the difference between the north and south side of the street was $290,000, over twice the levy they were proposing. He stated he believed Council took the easy way out and there was nothing in the budget that indicated they spent that extra money. He stated Council made the decision to spend the money without discussing where the money was going to come from and what capital project was going to be delayed. He indicated this budget did not reflect what they were going to do next year. He stated up until November 29, he was in support of the entire budget and this was not any fault of City staff and he appreciated the work the staff had done on this budget. e Mayor Aplikowski asked what purpose this no vote would play other than on principal. Councilmember Larson replied the budget needed to reflect what was going to be spent in 2005 and this sidewalk was not a part ofthat budget. He noted in one sense his position was based on principal, but on the other hand, this budget did not reflect what they were spending in 2005. ------ --.- ---- ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 6 - Councilmember Holden asked what would happen if there were two no votes. Mayor Aplikowski replied staff would have to rework the budget. Mr. Siddiqui stated the south sidewalk construction was figured into the budget, but because Council made their decision at the time they did, staff did not have the actual dollar figure for the north side of the sidewalk He stated the 2005 budget would need to be amended at some point. Councilmember Larson stated the reason he felt this issue was inconsistent with what had been done in the past in regards to budget amendments, was because in the past Council did not anticipate spending the money when the budget was approved. He noted this was an anticipated large cost and should be accurately reflected in the budget. He stated as a Council, they had to be accountable for their actions, and if they increased their budget by over $200,000 they needed to say what it was that was going to be postponed. Mayor Aplikowski asked if he wanted this vote delayed until staff came back with further information. Councilmember Larson replied that was not his intent. Councilmember Grant stated he believed it was bad precedent that the Council did not vote unanimous for the budget and he preferred they have a unanimous vote on the budget and if this . meant it went back to staff to rework the budget, he believed that it was the appropriate way to proceed, He stated he wanted to table the budget approval, Mr. Siddiqui stated the budget had to be approved prior to the start of the year and if it was not approved at this meeting, another Council meeting would need to be scheduled within the next week to approve it. Mayor Aplikowski stated she would rather see the budget go through without a unanimous vote, than have this delayed. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seeonded a motion to table the approval of the budget. The motion carried (3-1) (Mayor Aplikowski). Councilmember Larson stated he would approve the budget ifit was accurately reflected where this additional money would come from. Mr. Siddiqui asked if Council would consider amending the budget at this meeting by increasing it by the additional $211,000. He stated this would not have an impact on the levy. Ms. Wolfe statcd staff could provide an explanation of the impact of the $211,000 on the budget at the W orksession scheduled for next week. e Councilmember Larson stated he appreciated the suggestion, but this did not address his concerns. He indicated he had no objection to any of the other items in the budget, but he would not support a budget that did not truly reflect what they intended on spending. ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 7 (. Mayor Aplikowski asked Councilmember Larson where he proposed this money come from. She noted as they moved through the year, there would always be adjustments that would need to be made, She stated she understood where Councilmember Larson was coming from, but unless he could direct staff what they should be looking at, staff needed some time to review this. She stated she was having a difficult time understanding penalizing the entire budget process over this issue. Councilmember Larson stated if the budget needed to get approved, the Council should adopt the budget by a majority vote, but if they were going to have a discussion about where they would come up with $211,000 then they should have this discussion. He stated he did not come to this meeting with any specific suggestions. Councilmember Holden stated she would not change her mind about where to put the sidewalk because her decision was based a safety issue and $211,000 was not much too spcnd for safety. MOTION: Councilmember Holden and Mayor Aplikowski seconded a motion to amend the 2005 budget by $211,000 making a grand total of $8,950,274. Motion carried 3-1 (Councilmember Larson), MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a . motion to withdraw the motion to table the adoption of the 2005 budget. (3-1) (Councilmember Larson). MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Mayor Aplikowski seconded a motion to adopt the revised 2005 Budget. Motion carried (3-1) (Councilmember Larson) . Councilmember Larson requested Council discuss where the money would come from and what projects would be delayed as soon as possible, MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to certify a final 4% levy increase to the County in the amount of $2,426,670, The motion carried unanimously (4-0), MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to adopt a revised 2005 Employee Compensation Plan. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to revise the City's contribution amount toward the insurance premiums to $533 per month and per employee. The motion carried e ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2004 8 . CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Ms. Wolfe - None. Councilmember Holden - Stated the PTRC was meeting tomorrow night. Councilmember Grant - Stated the Assessmeut Policy Task Force met for an initial meeting regarding refuse collection on Tuesday night and they were still working through options. He noted he would be giving a full report at the Council Workshop. He stated last week he had a tour of the new Maintenance Facility. He encouraged the remaining Councilmembers to go and look at the facility. Councilmember Larson - Stated he would like to take a tour of the new Maintenance Facility also and asked Mr. Moore if this could be arranged. Mr. Moore replied they were waiting for the Ramsey County's open house, but he would be glad to do a tour at anytime that was available for Council's scbedule, Mayor Aplikowski - Read a letter from thc Friends of the Suburban Ramsey County Libraries expressing appreciation to Council and City staff for the installation of the new Rotary bench at the Arden Hills Library. She wished everyone a Happy Holiday. She noted they would be . having one more workshop session before the end of the year, but this would be last Council meeting for the year. Mayor Aplikowski adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:30 p.m. ~~~ i\1.tJJulli ~ ~ /Beverly iko ski Michelle Wolfe Mayor City Administrator NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next Council Meeting will be held January 10, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arden Hills Council Chambers. e