November 5, 2012 Council Meeting
1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Reinhardt calls the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL - Stone, Williamson, Hughes, Widmer, Reinhardt.
3. INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Reinhardt introduced the council and staff to the viewing public. Administrator Tolsma, Attorney Beck.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. ADOPT AGENDA - Williamson makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adopt the agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA - Hughes makes a motion and Widmer seconds to approve the consent agenda with the noted correction. All votes ayes, motion carries.
a. City Council Meeting Minutes from October 15, 2012
b. City Council Work Session from October 22, 2012 - Williamson notes a spelling error on the first page.
7. PUBLIC FORUM - No one.
8. PRESENTATIONS AND & GUEST SPEAKERS - None.
9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS - None.
10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
a. Ordinance 12-04: Section 2-31. Council Salaries - Reinhardt notes a reference to a state statue about setting salaries and the timing of this event. She notes the council members will be increased to $3600 annually and the mayor's annual salary will be set at $4800 per annum. Williamson moves adoption of Ordinance 12-04 and Hughes seconds. On rollcall: Stone, yes; Williamson, yes; Hughes, yes; Widmer, no, Reinhardt, no. Motion passes, three to two.
11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
a. Mayor and Council - Mayor Reinhardt said John Ericson, a Spring Park Planning Commissioner, passed away on Saturday, November 3rd. She said on behalf of the City of Spring Park she wishes to express deepest condolences to John's wife and family. Reinhardt said services will be held on Thursday, November 8th, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound with visitation one hour prior. She said the passing of John is very sad; he was an active commissioner and had a vibrant personality and added a lot of value. Reinhardt also noted Ericson was on the General Election ballot for special election for council. Reinhardt asks the city attorney for input on this untimely event. Beck expresses her condolences to the family as well. Beck said regarding the election staff is focusing on what should happen regarding tomorrow's election. She said the law changed in 2012 and death of a candidate no longer requires removal from the ballot. She said staff has prepared a script of answers in case voters have questions about how to proceed. She said responses are brief and limited as election judges don't give explanations of the law and their role is to answer procedural questions on the election only. Beck further explained the law provides direction to follow regarding this vacant seat.
i. Mayor Term Length Discussion - Reinhardt said this has been discussed at study sessions and currently the mayor's term is a two year term but could potentially be increased to a four year term. Reinhardt said this is something that doesn't have to be decided tonight. She said there are advantages and disadvantages to both. She leans towards leaving it as a two year term. She said this doesn't need to be decided until four weeks before the filing period of the next election, slightly less than two years. Williamson agrees there is time to discuss this but believes it should not be dropped. He said there will be new members to the city council in the new year and they may have some input on this. Hughes wonders about the reference to the clerk not being elected and Williamson explained it's just a different form and not relevant to Spring Park. Reinhardt said the recent informational meeting regarding the use of heroin in the community was very well attended and some very good information was brought forth. She said the LMCC filmed this meeting and she encourages those who were unable to attend to view this at the website or on cable t.v.
b. City Administrator - Tolsma spoke of the special meeting being called to canvass the election results. He recommends an official motion take place for Friday, November 9th at 1 p.m. Hughes moves to hold the election results canvass board at the aforementioned date and time. Widmer seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries. Williamson said normally there is a work session at the end of each month and he wonders about November's work session falling so close to the Thanksgiving season. Tolsma said he would check his calendar but he did have the renderings of the street lights scheduled for that meeting. He said it's possible to work around this but the schedule is for this to go out to bid in January. Hughes suggests this be discussed at a council meeting. Reinhardt said she prefers to continue to discuss this at a study session and if she had a choice about cancelling a study session she would prefer perhaps the December one versus the November. Tolsma said this can be decided at the next council meeting.
c. City Engineer - nothing.
d. City Attorney - nothing.
e. Utility Superintendent - nothing. Tolsma said Goman was working with the water tower inspection.
12. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. November 6, 2012 – Election – 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM
b. Reinhardt adds November 9, 2012 - Canvass Board - 1 p.m.
c. November 14, 2012 – Administration Committee – 11:00 AM
d. November 14, 2012 – LMCD – 7:00 PM
e. November 14, 2012 – Planning Commission – 7:00 PM
f. November 19, 2012 – City Council – 7:30 PM
g. November 20, 2012 – LMCC – 5:00 PM
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None.
14. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
a. Bills & Payroll - Stone makes a motion and Hughes seconds to approve the claims. All votes ayes, motion carries.
15. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only) - Hughes said he rode his bike on the trail and the new trail access in front of city hall is really nicely done.
16. ADJOURNMENT - Williamson makes a motion and Stone seconds to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:58 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.
2. ROLL CALL - Stone, Williamson, Hughes, Widmer, Reinhardt.
3. INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Reinhardt introduced the council and staff to the viewing public. Administrator Tolsma, Attorney Beck.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. ADOPT AGENDA - Williamson makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adopt the agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA - Hughes makes a motion and Widmer seconds to approve the consent agenda with the noted correction. All votes ayes, motion carries.
a. City Council Meeting Minutes from October 15, 2012
b. City Council Work Session from October 22, 2012 - Williamson notes a spelling error on the first page.
7. PUBLIC FORUM - No one.
8. PRESENTATIONS AND & GUEST SPEAKERS - None.
9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS - None.
10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
a. Ordinance 12-04: Section 2-31. Council Salaries - Reinhardt notes a reference to a state statue about setting salaries and the timing of this event. She notes the council members will be increased to $3600 annually and the mayor's annual salary will be set at $4800 per annum. Williamson moves adoption of Ordinance 12-04 and Hughes seconds. On rollcall: Stone, yes; Williamson, yes; Hughes, yes; Widmer, no, Reinhardt, no. Motion passes, three to two.
11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
a. Mayor and Council - Mayor Reinhardt said John Ericson, a Spring Park Planning Commissioner, passed away on Saturday, November 3rd. She said on behalf of the City of Spring Park she wishes to express deepest condolences to John's wife and family. Reinhardt said services will be held on Thursday, November 8th, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound with visitation one hour prior. She said the passing of John is very sad; he was an active commissioner and had a vibrant personality and added a lot of value. Reinhardt also noted Ericson was on the General Election ballot for special election for council. Reinhardt asks the city attorney for input on this untimely event. Beck expresses her condolences to the family as well. Beck said regarding the election staff is focusing on what should happen regarding tomorrow's election. She said the law changed in 2012 and death of a candidate no longer requires removal from the ballot. She said staff has prepared a script of answers in case voters have questions about how to proceed. She said responses are brief and limited as election judges don't give explanations of the law and their role is to answer procedural questions on the election only. Beck further explained the law provides direction to follow regarding this vacant seat.
i. Mayor Term Length Discussion - Reinhardt said this has been discussed at study sessions and currently the mayor's term is a two year term but could potentially be increased to a four year term. Reinhardt said this is something that doesn't have to be decided tonight. She said there are advantages and disadvantages to both. She leans towards leaving it as a two year term. She said this doesn't need to be decided until four weeks before the filing period of the next election, slightly less than two years. Williamson agrees there is time to discuss this but believes it should not be dropped. He said there will be new members to the city council in the new year and they may have some input on this. Hughes wonders about the reference to the clerk not being elected and Williamson explained it's just a different form and not relevant to Spring Park. Reinhardt said the recent informational meeting regarding the use of heroin in the community was very well attended and some very good information was brought forth. She said the LMCC filmed this meeting and she encourages those who were unable to attend to view this at the website or on cable t.v.
b. City Administrator - Tolsma spoke of the special meeting being called to canvass the election results. He recommends an official motion take place for Friday, November 9th at 1 p.m. Hughes moves to hold the election results canvass board at the aforementioned date and time. Widmer seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries. Williamson said normally there is a work session at the end of each month and he wonders about November's work session falling so close to the Thanksgiving season. Tolsma said he would check his calendar but he did have the renderings of the street lights scheduled for that meeting. He said it's possible to work around this but the schedule is for this to go out to bid in January. Hughes suggests this be discussed at a council meeting. Reinhardt said she prefers to continue to discuss this at a study session and if she had a choice about cancelling a study session she would prefer perhaps the December one versus the November. Tolsma said this can be decided at the next council meeting.
c. City Engineer - nothing.
d. City Attorney - nothing.
e. Utility Superintendent - nothing. Tolsma said Goman was working with the water tower inspection.
12. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. November 6, 2012 – Election – 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM
b. Reinhardt adds November 9, 2012 - Canvass Board - 1 p.m.
c. November 14, 2012 – Administration Committee – 11:00 AM
d. November 14, 2012 – LMCD – 7:00 PM
e. November 14, 2012 – Planning Commission – 7:00 PM
f. November 19, 2012 – City Council – 7:30 PM
g. November 20, 2012 – LMCC – 5:00 PM
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None.
14. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
a. Bills & Payroll - Stone makes a motion and Hughes seconds to approve the claims. All votes ayes, motion carries.
15. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only) - Hughes said he rode his bike on the trail and the new trail access in front of city hall is really nicely done.
16. ADJOURNMENT - Williamson makes a motion and Stone seconds to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:58 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.