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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 08-21 CC MINUTESCITY OF GEM LAKE, MN 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110-3227 Telephone 651-747-2790 E-mail City( gemlakeMN.org Minutes of Gem Lake City Council Meeting 21 August 2012 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gem Lake was called to order by. Mayor Uzpen on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 7:01 pm in the Gem Lake City Hall meeting room. The following members were present: Mayor Robert Uzpen, Councilmembers James Lindner, Gretchen Artig-Swomley, and. Thomas Rasmussen. Councilmember Richard Bosak was absent. Members of the public attending per the sign in sheet sent around. the room. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MEETING MINUTES City Council Agenda: Mayor Uzpen called for additions, deletions and corrections to. the agenda. Upon motion by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, and seconded by Councilmember Lindner, the August 21, 2012 agenda was approved. Ayes — 4, Nays — 0. City Council July Meeting Minutes: The July 2012 minutes were presented and corrections were needed. Upon motion by Councilmember Lindner, and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, the July City Council minutes were accepted. Ayes — 3, Nays O. Abstain 1. Voice Vote: Mayor Uzpen — yes; Councilmember Artig-Swomley — yes; Councilmember Lindner — yes; Councilmember Rasmussen — abstain. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: There was not a July Planning Commission meeting, Planning Commission Chair Report: Planning Commission Chairperson Faith Kuny presented to the City Council the changes discussed regarding the Comp Plan. It was agreed that there needs to be wordage changes to the residential zoning and Chairperson Kuny is working with City Attorney Trevor Oliver. Mayor Uzpen suggested the. Planning Commission take the Comp Plan one section at a time. There are three sections that need to be addressed. OLD BUSINESS Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page 2 of 5 September Newsletter: Councilmember Artig-Swornley stated that she had a few topics for the newsletter. • Review of National Night Out • The Budget for 2013 • Crime in. Gem. Lake this past month. • The MS4 Report that Councilmember Lindner will present at the September City Council meeting. • Who is running for the 2013 election. A • The passing of the Chicken/Fowl Ordinance. • Mayor Uzpen received a letter from Xcel Energy stating they are going to be running new power lines in Gem Lake and Mayor Uzpen had a map of the areas they are going to be working on. Mayor Uzpen suggested putting this information in the newsletter so the property owners are aware of the work being done. The project will be finished in 2014. Mayor Uzpen met with Justin Gese from SEH so he is aware of what is going on. PUBLIC HEARING None NEW BUSINESS 2013 Preliminary Budget Discussion: Mayor Uzpen artd Tom Kelly, Gem Lake. Treasurer from White Bear Township presented to the City Council the budget for 21234789013. Mr. Kelly pointed out that at this point the City of Gem Lake has a balanced budget for the general budget. There are no reserves coming out of the general budget. There are changes in the Sherriff's budget with the extra patrol from the Sherriff department and from animal control. At this point Mr. Kelly has no numbers of what the budget will be for the fire service from White Bear Lake. Road and snow removal numbers were left the same as 2012. Because of the transfers that was done in the past, the general fund does not show any transfers for road improvements and trees. In the debt funds, Gem. Lake still has a debt levy for 2013 of $52,000 for the capital improvement that paid for Heritage Hall. The County had a meeting with all the Finance Directors and handed out the tax information. The City of Gem Lake tax capacity did decrease down to $912, 000. The County Assessor did say that values on residential and commercial properties for the next year are still decreasing, but he expects 2014 will level off. Based on the levy, Mr. Kelly put together what Gem Lake's estimated tax rate would be. This preliminary levy using the County Assessor figures for a medium value home in Gem Lake would have a tax bill around $900. Mayor Uzpen would like to see the comparison of the tax capacity for last year compared to the tax capacity for 2013. The City Council will work to reduce variable expenses and reduce the budget, (if possible) to the 25% or 26% range instead of 40% Mayor Uzpen asked that the Newsletter article reflect the fact that even if the city holds Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakemn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page3 of5 expenses at current levels because of the devaluation of properties, property taxes could increase. Resolution 2012-06 Preliminary Budget: Upon motion by Councilmember Lindner and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, Resolution No. 2012-06 passes. Ayes -- 4, Nays O. A voice vote was taken: Mayor Uzpen — yes; Councilmember Bosak — absent; Councilmember Lindner — yes; Councilmember Rasmussen — yes and Councilmember Artig-Swomley — yes. Claims for August: The claims for August was discussed and authorized to pay. Upon motion by Councilmember Lindner and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, the claims for July passes. Ayes — 4, Nays -- D. Monthly Financial Reports: The City Council received and reviewed the report. Mayor Uzpen pointed out one item on the last page of the expense report; there is four more months of bills to pay. Mayor Uzpen also stated charitable contributions have no funds to give to the grade school due to gambling revenue for 2012 is down at this time. Councilmember Rasmussen asked if it was acceptable to put in the newsletter stating there is no money to give to the grade school or the White Bear food shelf and if anyone would like to give a contribution to either facility, they would appreciate it. The newsletter could give the name and addresses of the school and the food shelf. Councilmember Artig-Swomley will look into it and discuss the situation with Attorney Oliver. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Resident Dianne Carlson suggested engaging businesses of Gem Lake to donate funds to the grade school and the White Bear food shelf. Mrs. Carlson also suggested having a golf tournament next year with the money raised going to the grade school and White Bear Lake food shelf. It would bring the community together to work towards a cause. Mayor Uzpen stated that there would need to be someone to head the event. OPEN ITEMS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. Councilmember Lindner will give a presentation on the MS4 report at the September City Council meeting. Mayor Uzpen reported Tousley Ford wants to replace their back parking lot. Mayor Uzpen has talked to Stephanie from VLAWMO stating this would be a good opportunity to work on the Watershed requirements. Mayor Uzpen has called the GM at Tousley Ford to present this opportunity. Because Tousley Ford is doing more than an acre, and will be distributing the ground, the new VLAWMO requirements would work. Because of the run-off problem in the business district it would be an opportunity to fix the problem required by the State of Minnesota due to the pollution seeping in the ground, so fixing it while they are re -doing the parking lot once instead of working on it twice would be cost efficient. Mayor Uzpen has spoken to the contractors explaining Look for us on the World. Wide Web at geiniakenin.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page 4 of 5 the: situation and that the contractor has to submit a plan in order to obtain a permit. The. contractor does not feel he .needs. to submit a plan in order • to re -do the back parking lot. Mayor Uzpen received a call regarding the gun shop mall and the widow of Al will be selling the land. Mayor Uzpen explained to the realtor about the Watershed. Mayor Uzpen stated at the October workshop the City Council will be working on the fee schedule. Mayor Uzpen suggested canceling the. September Workshop. All members agreed. Mayor Uzpen will post the notice. The next Workshop will be in October. FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS Workshop Meeting: September - Cancelled City Council Meeting: September 18, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURN The August 21, 2012 regular meeting of the City Council adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Upon motion by Councilmember Lindner, and seconded by Counciimember Artig-Swomley, the City Council meeting was adjourned. Ayes — 4, Nays — 0. APPROVED: ATTEST: ATTEST: Julie Newkirk Recording S ecretary Robert Uzpen Mayor Look for us on the. World Wide Web at gemlakerinn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page 5 of 5 SIGN UP SHEET: Dianne Carlson Faith Kuny — Planning Commission Chairperson Tom Kelly--- Gem Lake Treasurer Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakemn.org.