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CCM 09/23/2013 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF FRIDLEY SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:07 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Lund Councilmember-at-Large Barnette Councilmember Saefke Councilmember Varichak Councilmember Bolkcom OTHERS PRESENT: Wally Wysopal, City Manager Darcy Erickson, City Attorney Darin Nelson, Finance Director/Treasurer PROCLAMATIONS: Student Foreign Exchange Week: September 23-29, 2013 Laura Barajas – Columbia Lisa Konovalova – Ukraine Narapat Mongkolkitngam – Thailand Domestic Violence Awareness Month: October 2013 Fire Prevention Week: October 6-12, 2013 APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1.City Council Meeting of September 9, 2013. Councilmember Bolkcom asked on page 9, fifth paragraph, should read that December 9 is the last meeting of the year, so the 90-day extension would be okay. APPROVED AS AMENDED. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 PAGE 2 OLD BUSINESS: 2.Second Reading of an Ordinance Recodifying the Fridley City Code by Amending Appendix F to Provide for the Adjustment of Salaries for the Mayor and Councilmembers in Accordance with Section 2.07 of the Charter of the city of Fridley. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated this ordinance would provide a 1.5% salary adjustment for the Mayor and City Council effective January 1, 2014. THIS ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. NEW BUSINESS: 3.Resolution Giving Preliminary Approval to the Proposed Issuance of a Healthcare Facilities Revenue Note Under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 through 469.1655, as Amended; Authorizing the Publication of a Notice of Public Hearing’ and Establishing the date for a Public Hearing. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated this resolution sets a public hearing for October 28, and gives preliminary approval to a proposed issuance of a Healthcare Facilities Note for the expansion of the North Suburban Hospital District. This has no cost or liability to the City. It is otherwise known as “conduit financing.” ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2013-47. 4.Resolution Directing Preparation of the Assessment Roll for the 2013 Nuisance Abatement. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated this resolution directs preparation of the assessment role in the amount of $17,033.50 for the 2013 Nuisance Abatements to 32 properties for a one-year term at 6.5%. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2013-48. 5.Resolution Directing Publication for Hearing on the Proposed Assessment Roll for the 2013 Nuisance Abatement. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated this resolution sets the public hearing for October 28 at 7:00 p.m. and directs advertisement in the Sun Focus Newspapers for October 10 for the 2013 nuisance abatements. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2013-49 FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 PAGE 3 6.Resolution Approving Amendment to the Joint & Cooperative Agreement for the Formation and Administration of the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task force. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated this resolution approves technical and non-substantive amendments to the Joint Cooperative Agreement for the Anoka-Hennepin Violent Crimes Task Force. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2013-50. 7.Resolution Designating Time and Number of Council Meetings for 2014. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated generally City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month unless specified, due to holidays or Charter requirements. Typically starting at 6:00 p.m. with a workshop where issues are discussed and general direction verified but no official business is transacted. Council meetings start at 7:00 p.m. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2013-51. 8.Appointment: City Employees. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, stated that there are no appointments at this time. 9.Claims (161025 – 161220). APPROVED THE CLAIMS AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE. 10.Licenses. APPROVED THE LICENSES AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: Pam Reynolds, 1241 Norton Avenueasked to remove Item No. 2. Wally Wysopal, City Manager, noted that there are no City employee appointments at this time so Item No. 8 should be removed. MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to approve the Consent Agenda with the removal of Item Nos. 2 and 8. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 PAGE 4 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Councilmember Bolkcom to adopt the Agenda with the addition of Item No. 2. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OPEN FORUM VISITORS: Don Johnson, 7304 West Circle,asked when the construction would be done where the crossover is located on Highway 65. Mayor Lund said the cones will not be removed until the construction is done next summer on Highway 65. The crossover will be removed along with the cones when it is complete. Councilmember Bolkcom thought some information should be on the website or signs posted in that area so people know what is going on. PUBLIC HEARING: 11.Consideration of Proposed Amendment to Fridley Home Rule Charter, Chapter 7. Taxation and Finances; Chapter 8. Public Improvements and Special Assessments; Chapter 11. Public Ownership and Operation of Utilities; and Chapter 12. Miscellaneous Provisions. Darcy Erickson, City Attorney, said this public hearing is continued from June 2010. The public hearing was continued but not to a specific date. This causes problems in notifying the public of this hearing. The best practice would be to continue public hearings to a certain date. They can always be continued to a different date if needed. The public was not aware of this meeting tonight. She recommends setting a date to continue this hearing, publishing notice it in the newspaper, and continuing the public hearing. Deb Skogen , City Clerk, said that in order to allow enough time for publication, this hearing would be continued to October 28. MOTION by Councilmember Bolkcom to continue this public hearing to October 28 to provide notice so the public can be duly notified of this public hearing. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Mayor Lund agreed that this will give the public a better opportunity to participate in the public hearing. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 PAGE 5 2. Second Reading of an Ordinance Recodifying the Fridley City Code by Amending Appendix F to Provide for the Adjustment of Salaries for the Mayor and Councilmembers in Accordance with Section 2.07 of the Charter of the City of Fridley. Pam Reynolds , 1241 Norton Avenue, said in the past, Councilmember Saefke moved to indefinitely table this issue and it was never taken off the table. It was just placed on the agenda by consent. Robert’s Rules of Order says that when something is tabled and left un-discussed for one quarter or three months, it kills the table and would need to be rescheduled. She was not in favor of a salary adjustment because Fridley officials receive a benefits package in addition to their salary. The benefits can add an additional $42,412 to their salaries. She thought with the benefit package, salaries should not be an issue. Also according to the City Charter, Section 3.04, under Ordinances, Resolutions and Motions, it states that ordinances shall be presented in writing and read in full at a Council meeting. This item was in the agenda packet but it was not read. Robert’s Rules give rights in certain cases to waive the reading but it should be read in full. She disagrees with the salary increase when additional benefits are offered that some of the part-time employees do not get. MayorLund said that he would have staff look at Robert’s Rules of Order and the Charter to see if it is required to disclose and read the entire resolution. With that being said, Council members have not taken a salary increase since 2009. The increase is not a big deal for anyone, and equates to about $158, for the mayor only, for an entire year. This Council does enjoy the ability to have benefits and it would be a hardship for some if insurance was not offered. Ms. Reynolds said that Deb Dahl said the Charter gives the right to Council to receive reasonable compensation as may be fixed to the Council, but she wasn’t sure what that meant as far as benefits. MayorLund said that health insurance is a large benefit and the only one Council gets. Based on a 40-hour week, Council salaries are around $4.04 per hour. Ms. Reynolds said that Council is not in it because it is a money-making deal. Mayor Lund replied absolutely not. Ms. Reynolds said that she would like to see a better disclosure and a better comparison. Councilmember Bolkcom noted that other cities send Councilmembers to conferences and pay for registration etc. Everything Fridley officials go to, they pay themselves. This includes conferences and leadership workshops. Deb Skogen, City Clerk, said the Fridley City Charter, Section 3.03, states rules of forum and procedure may be determined by Council. Council raises are outlined in Section 2.07 and it has to be done by ordinance and by November 1 of each year. It does not say anything about holding a public hearing. She also did the research for Deb Dahl regarding benefits, and benefits were adopted by ordinance in 1989. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 PAGE 6 MOTION by Councilmember Saefke to waive the reading of the ordinance and adopt Ordinance No. 1307 on second reading and order publication. Seconded by Councilmember Bolkcom. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS: 12. Informal Status Report. Councilmember Varichak said she attended the Fridley Flames waffle breakfast. There was a nice turn out and the waffles were great. Also Recycle Day is on October 12 from 9-1. Residents should receive notification in the mail. ADJOURN: MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to adjourn. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:54 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Krista Monsrud Scott J. Lund Recording Secretary Mayor