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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 11-19-1990 MINUI'FS OF THE ARDEN HILIS CITY COUNCIL \'KlRKSESSION/BUI:GET HEARING IDNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1990, 4:30 P.M. - CITY HALL CAI.L TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Sather called .the meetin;J to order at 4:30 p.m. . ROLL CAI.L 'Ihe roll bein;J called the following members were present: Mayor 'Ihomas Sather, counciJ,mernbers Nancy Hansen, Paul Malone, JoAnn Growe and 'Ihomas Mahowald. Also present: Attorney Jerry Filla, Engineer Terry Maurer, Park Director John Buckley, Public Works Superintendent Dan Winkel, Clerk Administrator GaIy Berger and Deputy Clerk Catherine Iago. DISCUSSION; Engineer Maurer reviewed the report prepared by Braun I<EI'lHSON POND Engineerin;J Testin;J, dated November 2, 1990, relative to soil penneability and his letter dated 11-8-90, recommending a tenp:lrary drainage easement be constructed, from the Keithson Pond to basin A-7a, until such ti1ne as a permanent drainage easement is obtained. Engineer Maurer recommended installation of a SIllall pipe, to divert the water to a southerly ponding area, as a terrp:lrary measure to correct the drainage problems at the Keithson pond. He estimated the cost of the pipe installation at approximately $7, 500.00; advised this cost estimate does not include the construction of a weir or obtaining the terrp:lrary easement from the property owner . Attol:TIey Filla reviewed recent discussions with the adjacent property owner and explained that it appears the property owner is unwillin;J to grant a pennanent easement. Filla stated an option would be to pursue condemnation and explained the pr=ess. He estimated the costs for proceeding with condemnation at approximately $6,000.00, which does not include the fee f= an appraisal of the . easement area. Filla reviewed several options for recoverin;J the fees f= installation of the terrporary easement and the condemnation process; special assessment to benefitted property owners, developer payment = cost sharin;J between the developer and the City. 'Ihere was discussion relative to the proposed installation of the tenp:lrary easement, negotiating to obtain a permanent easement to construct an outlet for the ponding area and ti1ne-frame for accornplishin;J condemnation proceedings. Council1nember Hansen left the meeting at 4:55 p.m. Council and staff discussed the short and long term benefits of constructing the pond as originally designed within the easement, with the property owners in attendance. Mahowald moved, seconded by Growe, that staff be directed as follows: 1. '!he Attorney and Clerk Administrator proceed with negotiations to obtain a pennanent easement for an outlet for the Keithson Pond; 2. 'Ihe Attorney prepare an appropriate resolution, which outlines and defines the terms of public purpose and is necessary to begin the condemnation process, in the event staff is unable to accomplish negotiation of the easement; 3. 'Ihe Engineer prepare a firm definition and survey of the land area necessary to provide a tenp:lrary easement; and, 4. '!he Clerk Administrat= be authorized to hire an appraiser and obtain an . appraisal of the land necessary f= the terrp:lrary easement and its value on a terrporary basis. Motion carried unani.mJusly. (4-0) Minutes of the Arden Hills Council Worksession/Budget Hearin;J, 11-19-90 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARING; May= Sather opened the Public Hearin;J at 6:00 p.m., for 1991 PROPOSED the purpose of reviewing the Arden Hills 1991 proposed . BUJ:X;Er Budget, as required by the state of Minnesota, Truth in Taxation law. Deputy Clerk Iago verified publication of the Notice of Hearin;J in the st. Paul pioneer Press on Wednesday, November 14, 1990. Clerk Adrninistrat= Berger reviewed the proposed 1991 Budget Revenue and Expenditure Funds and co:nparisons of both funds fram previous years. He noted the loss of local government aid fram the state of Minnesota and reviewed the effect of the loss on the revenue funds. Council advised those in attendance the state has shifted aid fram cities to school districts and encouraged all present to also attend the public hearings scheduled by the school district and at the county. '!here was discussion relative to the division of tax dollar between the three entities and Council explained that the school district is the recipient of the largest p:>rtion of the taxpayer dollar; only 15% of the tax dollar returns to the City. Council explained the budget in=ease is approximately six percent, which basically reflects the Consumer Price Index cost of livin;J in=ease. Mayor Sather acknowledged receipt of the two letters statin;J opposition to the proposed budget; Charles Chenoweth, 1898 Noble Road, and Andrew Wolf, 1347 Arden view Drive. He stated he received a telephone call fram Bans Molenar, resident, stating opposition to the proposed J:udget. . Mayor Sather asked if there was anyone present who wished to be heard either in fav= of or opposed to the 1991 proposed OOdget. Several unidentified members of the audience expressed opposition to the proposed budget and the followin;J issues were discussed: -Questioned the expenditure items which indicate a ten percent in=ease; Administrative Office, Public Works/streets, and Park Maintenance. Council explained the in=ease in Administrative Office is largely due to prop:>sed salary :in=eases for personnel in conjunction with requirements imposed by the Comparable Worth law and the addition of a new staff position. '!he Public Works streets fund is in=eased due to proposed in1plementation of the Pavement Management Plan. staff advised a plan was initiated and streets were rated for patchin;J, overlay and reconstruction; the plan will be iIrplemented over a period of time and monies are budgeted each year for this purpose. '!he Park Maintenance :in=ease reflects proposed purchasing of equipnent. -Questioned in=ease in Police and Fire protection. Council advised the city contracts with Ramsey County Sheriff for p:>lice services and Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department f= fire protection; these contracts are non-negotiable and the costs per capita are lower than most metrop:>litan suJ::urbs . . Minutes of the Arden Hills Council W=ksession/Budget Hearing, 11-19-90 Page 3 BUlXiEl' (Cont'd) -<lUestioned rationale f= a new staff position. . Council explained the new position is that of an Accountant am. in reviewing the position it was determined that the City is missing significant investment opportunities by utilizing a part-time Treasurer versus a full-time acco1.ll1tant. It was also determined that the aa::ountant will review operations am. possibly suggest methods of ac:corrplishing tasks in-house, which will be more efficient am. cost effective than utilizing outside cXlflsultants. Council informed the residents that the process of examining b..1dget requests am. determining b..1dget reductions is conducted over a two months period; it was also noted that citizen connnittees are utilized to study not only rodget requests, rot other matters affecting the operation of the city, am. make reccamnendations to Council concerning these matters. Members of the audience requested more infonnation regarding the city operations, staffing, proposed pro;raros for streets am. other matters be published in the Town Crier. Council encouraged all present to participate in the citizen connnittees, which will provide them an OPp:lrtunity to offer suggestions am. input regarding the J:udget am. other prograros. Counci11nernber Hansen axrived at 8:10 p.m. Mayor Sather asked f= further corrrrnents from the floor. ihere was no response am. the public hearing was closed at 8:25 p.m. . Mayor Sather explained the Council has significantly reduced the original J:udget proposed f= 1991 am. it is the consensus that the information presented this evening reflects the hard work of the members to maintain a reasonable level of services for citizens am. keep operatirq costs at a m:in:i.mum. Malone moved, secorxied by Mahowald, to adopt the 1991 Budget Doclnnent as suJ:mitted. Motion carried unanimously. (5-0) PROPOSED PERSONNEL Council was referred to the proposed ordinance amending ORDINANCE AMENI:MENT Chapter 19 of the city Code relating to personnel p:llicies . '!he Clerk Administrator advised staff has made revisions originally proposed by Council and deleted repetitive information. Council1nembers Mahowald and Malone agreed they would prefer to review future documents of this nature with the old language deleted by crossing out and the new language inserted by underlining, rather than trying to compare the old and new documents in separate format. '!he following revisions were recommended by Council: Sec. 19-4 (C): Reaular Part-Time EnlPlovee: Define schedule as follows: "... is employed on a schedule of 20 hours or less per week." . Sec. 19-4 (I): Probationarv Period: Delete the word "means" in the secorxi sentence and add the word "is". Minutes of the Arden Hills Council Worksession/Budget Hearing, 11-19-90 Page 4 ORDINANCE (Cont'd) Sec. 19-5 (D) status Of EhlPlovrnent: Delete the words " . . an:i the City Administrator", last sentence. . Sec. 19-6 (B) APPlication: Delete the words "..with the exception of professional ani department head positions.." from the first sentence. Sec. 19-B (C) Overtime Pav: staff to check labor contract langUage to determine if this language coincides with the contract. Add language in the first sentence to read: ".. .approval of the Council at the reconnnendation of the Clerk Administrator or enployee' s supervisor . Council discussed defining exenpt an:i non-exempt enployees and inserting a formal statement, such as; "exe:rrqJt enployees working in excess of 40 hours per week are from time-to-time to use compensatory time as authorized by Council or the Clerk Administrator. It was suggested that the Administrator review the method other cities use in dealing with time-off for salaried enployees and draft a proposal for Council review. Sec. 19-B(D) Work Dav/Week: Deleted the word "Administrator" from the last sentence and add the word "Council". Sec. 19-11 ani 19-13 (D) and other sections: Council directed staff to delete any references to Irale or female gender an:i substitute with the word "employee". It was also recormnended that in Sections referring to authorization or approval, the wording be stated, as follows; "...as recommended by the Clerk Administrator . and approved by City CounciL". Sec. 19-11 Service Credit: Define regular part-time employee as workin;r 20 hours shall a=ue benefits as stated and regular part-time employees workin;r less than 20 hours per week shall not be entitled to benefits. Sec. 19-12 (C) Vacations/Probationary Period: .l\merd this to provide use of vacation time a=ued after successful completion of six month probationary period. Sec. 19-19 Holidavs: In the last two sentences charY;e "ten (10) hours a week" to "twenty (20) hours a week". It was recommended that a paragraph be added to "Definitions" which outlines the formula used for prorating employee time. Sec. 19-22 Retirement: Councilrnember Malone recalled that deletion of both paragraphs was diSC'lSs'2d. '!he Clerk Administrator explained that L3b0r Relations Consultant Karen Olsen had reviewed the proposed ordinance and provided the wording for this section. Council directed the Clerk Administrator to contact Olsen and detennine if the entire section is necessary or if it should only state "...in a=rdance with federal and state statutes." If the entire section must remain, Council suggested . deletion of the Clerk Administrator an:i adding the City Council as the determining Ixdy. ------- . Minutes of the Arden Hills Council Worksession/Budget Hearing, 11-19-90 Page 5 ORDrnANCE (Cont'd) Sec. 19-24 Lav-off and DeIrotion: AInerrl the language in the first sentences in each of the two paragraphs to read . as foll~: "... upon rec:cmnerrlation of the Clerk . Administrator and approval by the City Council." Sec. 19-26 Suoervisorv Authoritv: Amerx:l the secord paragraph to read: "Upon recommendation of the Clerk Admi.ni.strator and approval of the City Council, the Clerk Administrator may....." '!he Clerk Administrator requested staff members be given time to review the dOClIDlent and offer input prior to Council adoption. Council concu=ed to allaN' the staff time to review the dOClIDlent, offer suggestions, revise as noted by Council and resuhni.t for action at the December 10 regular Council meeting. ADJOURN Mahowald moved, seconded by Growe, that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Gary R. Berger 'Ihamas R. Sather Clerk Administrator Mayor . .