Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 09-17 CC MinutesCity of Gem Lake City Council meeting minutes September 17, 2019 Page 1 City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting – September 17, 2019 Meeting Minutes Mayor Uzpen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Artig-Swomley, Cacioppo, Kuny and Lindner were present. Others in attendance: City Attorney Patrick Kelly, City Finance Director Tom Kelly, White Bear Township Clerk Patrick Christopherson. Others in attendance: Greg Brown and Andy Gitzlaff, Ramsey County, Linda McGinty, Luther Company, LLLP, residents: Paul Emeott, Dan Marier and Mary Jane Marier. August 20, 2019, Agenda A motion was made by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, seconded by Councilmember Linder to adjust the agenda to move Patrick Christopherson discussion to the first item on the agenda. Agenda change approved. Motion passed. Agenda approved. Minutes A motion was made by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley to approve the August 20, 2019, City Council minutes. Motion passes, minutes approved. Committee Reports – Planning Commission August, 2019, meeting was cancelled. Newsletter City Audit, Water Gremlin Update, MS4 written by Jim Lindner, Donation to Willow Lane School. Next issue – Preliminary Budget, Rush Line, Luther, Comp plan, HyVee update, snowplowing policy, winter parking rules. Public Hearing – Draft 2020 Budget – Tom Kelly Councilmember Artig-Swomley made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to waive the reading of the public hearing notice. Finance Director Tom Kelly gave an overview on the draft 2020 budget. Councilmember Lindner made a motion to open the public hearing at 7:25 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley. Comment on snow plowing contract, should it go out for bid? Councilmember Artig-Swomley said we have done this in the past and response has not been appropriate for our needs. A motion was made by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley to close the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. Resolution 2019-08 – Adopting the Preliminary Amount to Be Raised by Property Taxation for the Year 2020 Councilmember Lindner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley to approve Resolution 2019-08, Adopting the Preliminary Amount to Be Raised by Property Taxation for the Year 2020, changing the typo graphical error. A voice vote was taken, all councilmembers and Mayor voted yes. Motion passes. Resolution approved. New Business City Clerk, White Bear Township, Patrick Christopherson Discussion City of Gem Lake City Council meeting minutes September 17, 2019 Page 2 Mr. Christopherson gave an overview of his first 10 months with White Bear Township, discussed ongoing collaboration with Township staff and Gem Lake. The Mayor and Mr. Christopherson had a discussion concerning Mr. Christopherson’s memo to Gem Lake on getting things preapproved by Mr. Christopherson. The Mayor stated he disagrees with getting items preapproved, it doesn’t say so in the service agreement, and the Mayor is not going to hold up Gem Lake work for Mr. Christopherson’s approval. White Bear Township and Gem Lake will continue with their service agreement in the future. Approve Amendment to the Municipal Service Agreement with White Bear Township Discussed municipal service agreement with White Bear Township, incorporating into the agreement the auditors’ recommendation that if White Bear Township is short staffed, prior practice was to bill at the higher staff rate, current practice is that the Township shall only charge the rate assigned to the specific task/category. Noted that that White Bear Township has not seen the current draft of the Municipal Service Agreement. Councilmember Artig-Swomley made a motion to accept the draft municipal service agreement with White Bear Township, Councilmember Cacioppo seconded. A vote was taken, all Councilmembers and Mayor voted yes. Draft municipal service agreement accepted. Approve Luther Company, LLLP, Agreement- 3516 Highway 61 North Noted that Vadnais Heights is the main municipality in the facility at 3516 Highway 61 North. Gem Lake has a very small strip of land that will be used to park new cars. Luther Company, LLP, have included in their plans to put a fire hydrant in this area for Gem Lake, no charge to use. A motion was made by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, seconded by Councilmember Kuny to approve the Developers Agreement with Luther Company, LLLP, voice vote taken, all Councilmembers and Mayor voted yes. Developers Agreement approved. Rush Line Update – Andy Gitzlaff, Ramsey County Andy Gitzlaff and Greg Brown presented an overview of the current Rush Line project. Discussed parking concerns at the County Road E location. Councilmember Cacioppo asked if there is an option to revisit this in the future if parking is a problem. Mr. Gitzlaff agreed this could be revisted. Mr. Gitzlaff agreed to write an article for the city newsletter about the Rush Line project. Claims A motion was made by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley to approve the claims for September, 2019. Motion passes, claims approved. Presentations from the Public Mr. and Mrs. Marier, 40XX Scheuneman Road, made comments on the golf cart ordinance. They felt they were being singled out and unfairly treated. Both the Mayor and Councilwomen Artig-Swomley suggested that the research on what other cities are doing regarding golf carts would have shown approved use was extremely limited. Had this research come first, it may have caused the city to decide not to pursue writing an ordinance. Changes should be made for the future processes. Paul Emeott, 39XX Scheuneman Road, asked about the tree trimming ordinance, some trees still need to be trimmed on Scheuneman Road. City of Gem Lake City Council meeting minutes September 17, 2019 Page 3 Open Items from the Council Members to Bring Up Police reports of bear(s) in Gem Lake, on or near Goose Lake Road. Councilmember Kuny asked about conversations regarding her mother’s property in White Bear Lake which is slated to be part of the bond issue, property is proposed to be a parking lot, how can she make comment? Attorney Kelly stated Ms. Kuny should state she is speaking as a private citizen, not a representative of Gem Lake City Council. Next Meetings/Workshop October 7, workshop cancelled. Adjournment Being there no further business, following a motion from Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, the meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Gloria Tessier.