October 20, 2014 Council Meeting

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Reinhardt called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
  2. ROLL CALL – Sippel, Williamson, Bren, Hughes, Reinhardt.
  3. INTRODUCTIONS – Reinhardt introduced the council and staff to the public. Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, 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 – Bren makes a motion and Sippel seconds to adopt the consent agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
    1. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes From October 6, 2014
    2. Administration Committee Minutes From October 8, 2014
    3. Unapproved Planning Commission Minutes From October 8, 2014
  7. PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
  8. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS – None.
  9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS – None.
  10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
    1. Resolution 14-21: Reimbursement Resolution for Lift Station #5 –

Reinhardt said both resolutions are required if the council chooses to bond for these projects.  Tolsma said the city passed similar resolutions for the street light project.  It allows the city to reimburse themselves for monies paid out.  He said there is a three year window in which to decide to bond or not.  Williamson moves to adopt 14-21.  Hughes seconds.  Sippel asked whether it’s premature to look at scenarios until there is a decision on the West Arm Central project.  Williamson agrees that no final decision should be made but it gives an opportunity to educate the sitting council on what is involved.  He said they’re looking at 1.25-1.4 million and it should start somewhere.  Reinhardt said it will be a good opportunity to get familiar with this again.  Sippel is concerned with spending consultant dollars and then have to spend it again with the new council.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

    1. Resolution 14-22: Reimbursement Resolution for West Arm Road Drainage Project –

Reinhardt said this is the same.  Williamson makes a motion and Sippel seconds.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

  1. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
    1. Mayor and Council –
  • Reinhardt said she asks the council to think about bringing back the social host ordinance.       She said  there is draft language out there from before and she would like to bring this back up. She is interested in the activity that happens in our community and neighboring communities and she would like Spring Park to be a leader in stating it is not acceptable. She said she is looking to prevent the behavior. She has asked Tolsma to put it on the study session agenda.       Williamson asked if Orono has the social host ordinance and Reinhardt said they don’t, yet.       Williamson thinks since Orono Police services this area, he wonders if this shouldn’t be looked at in tandem with the communities Orono Police serves. Williamson thinks some history of the communities who have adopted this ordinance and track how it’s gone and what have been some outcomes.
  • Hughes said he would like to have on the work session decibel levels and sound volume.
  • Sippel said with the Admin Committee minutes, he wonders about the water quality.       Reinhardt said Dan’s Dispatch had a synopsis of the meeting with solution options removing the TCE’s from the drinking water. Sippel said he doesn’t want to hold up the treatment of TCE’s, but if they’re looking at an upgrade to the water plant, he wonders about doing other things with water treatment while they’re at it. Williamson said it might be good to have Goman at the study session. Tolsma said there will be down time while the treatment plant is being converted so there are improvements that can be made to the existing functionality of the water plant.
    1. City Administrator

      1. LMCC Joint Powers Agreement –

        Reinhardt said this was included in the packet. She wonders if there was a redline copy showing changes. Tolsma said he hasn’t received one and Sippel said that's because it was a complete rewrite. Sippel said what other cities were looking for is not requiring 100% approval so now it’s two thirds. The other was representation on the board and now it can be a council member or an appointee, one being a resident. He said another is voting, and if both directors aren’t present, one director can vote. Williamson said the additional points are there was a suggestion to appoint city administrators but many don’t live in the city they work for. They have combined some positions on the board and the executive committee could be eliminated or reduced from seven to three members. He suggests the council should adopt this. Williamson makes the motion and Hughes seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.

      2. Letter of Support for MCWD Cost Share Application –

        Reinhardt said this is for the West Arm Road drainage project. Tolsma said an application has been submitted for cost share. He said it should go to advisory tomorrow and the board on Wednesday. He said the contract has been on hold. The Watershed won’t grant support for projects already started. He said the letter of support might be a moot point as there is now the question of this going to a public hearing and that wouldn’t happen until November 13th, therefore, there is a concern now about weather. He said a determination on the wetland wasn’t made until two weeks ago and they wouldn’t even allow an application until the determination was made. Reinhardt said this is frustrating because this has been on the radar since June. Tolsma is looking for a motion. Sippel moves to approve the letter of support for MCWD cost share application and Bren seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.

    1. City Engineer – nothing.
    2. City Attorney – nothing.
    3. Utility Superintendent – nothing.
  1. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
    1. October 21 – LMCC – 5:00 PM
    2. October 22 – LMCD – 7:00 PM
    3. October 27 – City Council Work Session – 7:00 PM
    4. November 4 – General Election – 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
    5. November 10 – City Council Regular Meeting – 7:30 PM
  2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Hughes wondered about an update on the leasing of the public works space from Norling. Tolsma said this has been discussed with Norling and Norling is fine with going through next year but he will be looking for a longer-term lease and discussion about changes to the facility.
  3. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
    1. Bills & Payroll – Sippel makes a motion to pay the bills and Hughes seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.
  4. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)
    1. September Fire Department Report –
    2. Williamson said the LMCC met October 9th in a special meeting and voted to terminate the two top positions of the LMCC staff effective October 31st. He said those duties will be parceled out to remaining staff. Williamson said the building needs repair and there is a budget to replace the stucco. Lewin said this permit has been reviewed and there was some tweaking done on the siding materials. She said the permit is very close to being issued at this point.       Williamson said regarding planning commission minutes there has been the subject of business licensing discussed. He said about ten years ago there was an attempt to establish a business directory and it didn’t happen. Williamson said he agrees with the PC that there is a concern to get serious about knowing what takes place in our city
  5. ADJOURNMENT – Hughes makes a motion and Reinhardt seconds to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.

 

 

                                                                                    _______________________________

                                                                                    Wendy Lewin, City Clerk

 

___________________________________

Dan Tolsma, Administrator