May 7, 2018 Council Minutes

CITY OF SPRING PARK
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MAY 7, 2018 – 7:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL

1. CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rockvam at 7:00 p.m.

Council Members Present: Jerome P. Rockvam, Mayor; Pamela Horton; Gary Hughes, Megan Pavot; and Catherine Kane Palen (arrived 7:02 p.m.)

Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator and Theresa Schyma, City Clerk

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Rockvam led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ADOPT MEETING AGENDA

M/Hughes, S/Horton to adopt the meeting agenda.

Motion carried 4-0.

4. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA
a. Work Session Meeting Minutes from April 16, 2018
b. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from April 16, 2018
c. Port of Call Requests

M/Pavot, S/Horton to adopt the Consent Agenda.

Motion carried 4-0.

5. PUBLIC FORUM

Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison reported on the activities of the County Board and their legislative priorities and platform for 2018.

The City Council asked Commissioner Callison to look at installing a flashing yellow arrow at two difficult intersections in the City; the intersection of County Roads 15 and 51 and County Roads 15 and 125.

The City Council thanked Commissioner Callison for attending the meeting and providing an informative update.

6. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS
a. 2017 Audit Presentation – Jim Eichten, representative of the City’s audit firm of Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co., P.A., presented a PowerPoint summary of the 2017 audit report and provided information on the City’s current financial condition. He stated that the compliance piece of the 2017 audit was exceptional and there were no findings to report. He did note during the financial piece of the presentation that the water and sewer decline was mainly due to depreciation but it was a negative financial impact.

Mayor Rockvam stated that depreciation is an expense so the City should definitely budget for it.

Mr. Eichten agreed and responded that if the City does not factor depreciation into budgeting then the City is not able to set aside money for future expenses.

Council Member Pavot agreed and stated she would like to have a future conversation about rates since the City’s water and sewer rates have not been raised since before 2009 and the City has many infrastructure needs.

The Council thanked Mr. Eichten for his presentation.

7. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.

8. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, & APPLICATIONS
a. LMCD Request for Comments – 5th St. Ventures Dock License Amendments

Council Member Hughes provided handouts regarding an application to the LMCD for transient dock slips at 5th Street Ventures. He stated that the LMCD will conduct a public hearing for this application at their May 23 meeting. He stated that the LMCD has requested City Council feedback prior to that public hearing.

City Administrator Tolsma clarified that there are currently not any transient dock slips at 5th Street Ventures and their proposal is to turn four of their current docks into transient slips. If the LMCD does not approve the license then those four docks will remain regular rental docks.

Council Member Hughes provided a brief summary of the proposed operation and management of the transient slips. He asked the Council to read the information and provide feedback.

Council Member Pavot stated that she is agreeable to the setup that is proposed. She stated that she would be open to allowing transient slips as long as the there is some review in the future to find out the impact on Seton Channel. She added that safety is the main concern.

City Administrator Tolsma responded that he believes the LMCD license would be contingent upon certain conditions being met and that a license could be revoked if they failed to meet those conditions.

Mayor Rockvam stated that he wants all applications with the LMCD to operate on a level playing field and believes that 5th Street Ventures would be getting one extra dock slip than what is marked on their application. He added that based on the configuration of docks he believes there would be a spot on the docks that would be used by boaters as a slip even if it wasn’t marked.

Council Member Hughes discussed the setback rules and why that area could not be used as a dock.

Mayor Rockvam asked for an update on the ADA accessibility issue at the docks.

City Administrator Tolsma provided a brief update and stated that the docks are still posted as ‘do not occupy.’

City Administrator Tolsma stated that the LMCD has asked for City Council comments by May 13 so he asked Council to forward any additional comments to staff.

9. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS – None.

10. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
a. Mayor & Council – Mayor Rockvam requested information on the outcome of the snow pile on Del Otero Avenue after the last major snowfall of the season.

City Administrator Tolsma responded that the snow removal contractor had to take the day off since all of their drivers had been on the road for three days straight. He added that the next day the pile should have been addressed but was missed. He continued that he is unsure why the pile was missed but has discussed the issue with the snow removal contractor.

Mayor Rockvam asked staff if they have received any comments from residents about televising City Council work sessions since the April 16 meeting where Council asked residents to contact staff if it was an important topic for them.

City Administrator Tolsma responded that he received phone calls from two residents about the issue.

b. City Staff – City Administrator Tolsma provided a brief update on the fire at the apartment building located at 4601 Shoreline Drive on May 6. He stated that he has been in contact with Fire Chief Pederson and will provide the Council with more information as it becomes available.

c. Contract Staff – None.

11. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATIONS – None.

12. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
a. May 7, 2018 Claims

M/Horton, S/Hughes to approve all claims for payment.

Motion carried 5-0.

13. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. May 9 – LMCD – 6:00 PM
b. May 9 – Planning Commission – 7:00 PM
c. May 15 – Administration Committee – 12:00 PM
d. May 21 – City Council Work Session – 6:00 PM
e. May 21 – City Council Regular Meeting – 7:00 PM

14. MISCELLANEOUS (INFORMATION ONLY)
a. March Financial Report

15. ADJOURNMENT

M/Horton, S/Rockvam to adjourn the City Council Meeting at 8:08 p.m.

Motion carried 5-0.

Date Approved: May 21, 2018


_________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator

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Theresa Schyma, City Clerk