July 15, 2013 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 introduces the council and staff to the public.  Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, Engineer Pearson, Attorney Beck, Reporter Lorrie Ham.
  4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  5. ADOPT AGENDA – Williamson makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adopt the agenda. 
  6. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA – Williamson corrects July 1st minutes, page 2, item c, typo, state saw should be law.  Reinhardt wants to remove item 6d, July 11th minutes so the city attorney can review. Hughes makes a motion to adopt with the changes and Bren seconded.  All votes ayes, motion carries.
    1. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from July 1, 2013
    2. Administration Committee Minutes from July 10, 2013
    3. Draft Planning Commission Minutes from July 10, 2013
    4. Special Meeting Minutes from July 11, 2013
  7. PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
  8. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS – None.
  9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS – None.
  10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS – None.
  11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
    1. Mayor and Council –

·         Reinhardt said a letter was received from the Hennepin County Assessor's office for assessing fees and she said there has been a slight increase of about $600. 

·         Reinhardt said she received a letter from City of Orono regarding the LMCC franchise agreement.  Williamson said there is more to come on this.  He said Orono had criticisms but they did negotiate a new contract.  He said Orono is in violation of state law by not publishing twice and not holding a public hearing and instead just moved forward.  Williamson said cable companies will not cross lines.  He said whatever communication presented is not the end of the story and there is a demand for special meetings and Orono wants it both ways. 

·         Hughes said LMCD lake level is 930.18 which declares high water.  Hughes said the Watershed has a website for the local reading.  Hughes said when the water gets this high, lakeshore erosion becomes a problem so he encourages boaters to watch their wakes. 

    1. City Administrator

                                          i.    GIS Management Plan & Project Authorization –

Tolsma said the council has seen this before and he was directed to look towards safeguards and to keep it short and non bureaucratic.  Reinhardt said the plan is set out, she said this will be helpful for staff to pull up information on utility, street maps, etc. Williamson makes a motion to approve the GIS user agreement with the attached management plan staff has prepared.  Hughes seconds.  Sippel said in the demo it was possible to make changes in the field but it’s necessary that they don’t get overridden.  Sippel said maybe there is an update process but he wonders if that shouldn’t be spelled out more specifically.  Hughes said he would like in six months from now at a work session to have Goman give an update as to how things are working.  Williamson said this process was discussed during the demo but in the contract it’s handled under an asterisk and thinks this means there will be an extra bill when that happens and the reliance will be to not overdo it.  Reinhardt said the intent is the update would happen quarterly.  Williamson said the point is the update doesn’t get left off before the comprehensive update takes place.  Tolsma said the process of updating has been discussed at length and it may be a trial and error process but it’s developing the process and either creating a spreadsheet log or something of that nature.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

                                        ii.    Streetlight Insurance Coverage –

Tolsma said this came about after discussion at the May admin meeting and the insurance agent was contacted.  He said it’s an additional rider to be purchased.  An approximate $3,000 bid was received which adds about 14% to the premium.  He said the deductible is low so they could look to increase the city’s deductible based on the claims history.  Williamson asked what is meaningful to represent a savings.  Tolsma said it’s the usual $250-500-1000-2500.  Williamson said what is being insured against is multiple pole damage from storms.  Hughes said the property in the open PIO and he wonders if these items need to be identified.  Tolsma said yes, a lot of it is park equipment, sewer lift stations and the streetlights could be added to that.  Hughes wonders about trees on private property and if they are damaged, he wonders if property home owner’s insurance would cover this.  Bren said she had an experience where a tree of hers was damaged in a storm and she had to take it down at the behest of her insurance company.  Reinhardt wonders about the timing of changing the deductible and wants Tolsma to check this.  Tolsma said research can be done on the deductible savings.  Williamson wants to see what the numbers are.  Sippel doesn’t think there is an urgency on this as it’s mostly storm damage.  Hughes wonders if the snow plow contractor has insurance for damaging street poles. 

                                       iii.    Eagle Scout List of Potential Projects –

Reinhardt said Tolsma spoke with the Eagle Scout candidate’s family and there was a potential of three projects outlined for the packet. Williamson wondered about an Eagle Scout candidate have the capability of building a picnic pavilion.  Williamson wonders if this is more coordination of the project.  Reinhardt said there is an adult leader that is a mentor and there is perhaps fund raising efforts.  Hughes wonders about a trail kiosk of city historical data.  Hughes notices the use of the city hall parking lot for the trail and thinks it might be a nice area.  Bren said by St John’s Church in Mound there is an Eagle Scout project with a burning pit and benches.

    1. City Engineer – nothing.
    2. City Attorney – nothing.
    3. Utility Superintendent – nothing.
  1. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
    1. July 16, 2013 – LMCC – 5:00 PM
    2. July 22, 2013 – Work Session – 7:00 PM
    3. July 24, 2013 – LMCD – 7:00 PM – Hughes said that is the tour of the lake night.
    4. August 5, 2013 – City Council – 7:30 PM
    5. August 8, 2013 – Spring Park Police Commission – 10:00 AM – Hughes said the smart trailer speed sign on CR 15 hasn’t worked in several weeks.  He thinks this should be brought up.
  2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
  3. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
    1. Bills & Payroll – Sippel asked about check #27392 to KLM Engineering.  He wondered if this will be billed back.  Tolsma said there is a cost associated with inspecting the antennas but it will be billed back to the contractor.  Hughes makes a motion and Bren seconds to pay the bills.  All votes ayes, motion carries.
  4. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)
    1. June Fire Department Report -
  5. ADJOURNMENT – Hughes makes a motion and Bren seconds to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 p.m.  All votes ayes, motion carries.