November 4, 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 – Mayor Reinhardt introduced the council and staff to the viewing public.  Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, students of MWHS government class.
  4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  5. ADOPT AGENDA  - Williamson makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adopt the agenda.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA – Hughes makes a motion and Williamson seconds to adopt the consent agenda.  Williamson said on the Work session minutes, he has a couple of changes.  He wants the proposed changes in the LMCC JPA to show an effective date of January 1st, 2014, when unanimity can be achieved with remaining cities and he's going to request the council vote for it.  The friendly amendment is agreeable to the second.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

    1. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from October 21, 2013
    2. City Council Work Session Minutes from October 28, 2013
  1. PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
  2. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS – No one.
  3. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS – None.
  4. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
    1. Resolution 13-20: Adopting the LMCC Joint & Cooperative Agreement As Amended –

Williamson moves adoption and Hughes seconds.  Williamson said he clarifies that this does put the city on record of approving the suggested changes to the JPA to allow future amendments by two thirds vote and to allow for cities to choose in the future to do so with 15 months notice in October.  Sippel said at any time with 15 months notice a city can withdraw as of December 31st but 15 months notice is needed.  Reinhardt said they are voting on the actual document.  Williamson said the out is it refers specifically to the amended document.  All votes ayes, motion carries.

  1. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
    1. Mayor and Council – No one has anything.
    2. City Administrator - nothing.
    3. City Engineer - nothing.
    4. City Attorney - nothing.
    5. Utility Superintendent - nothing.
  2. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
    1. November 4, 2013 – City Council – 7:30 PM
    2. November 13, 2013 – Administration Committee – 1:00 PM – Reinhardt asked Tolsma and Williamson if it's okay to reschedule that meeting.  She said she’ll send an e-mail to work out a change date. 
    3. November 13, 2013 – Planning Commission – 7:00 PM
    4. November 13, 2013 – LMCD – 7:00 PM
    5. November 18, 2013 – City Council – 7:30 PM
  3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
  4. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
    1. Bills & Payroll –

Sippel asked about the item under truck repair about adding a salting unit to the back of the city truck.  Tolsma said there wasn’t a lot of discussion with Goman on this.  He said this was for the purchase and installation for a small salt spreader.  Tolsma said he’s not sure of the full intention other than it may assist with trouble spots leftover after a plow and sanding event.  Sippel questions why we are paying a contractor for this and then the city purchases the same equipment.  Sippel said he thought this was why Concept Landscaping lost the bid because they didn’t have salting equipment.  Bren said she’s curious, she wonders about the three bills  At&T Mobility, Sprint and Nextel.  Tolsma said Nextel is DJ’s phone, AT&T is the IPad and Sprint is DJ's laptop.  Hughes said the fire alarm battery indicator is going off so it’s a reminder for Spring Park residents that courtesy Mound Fire, 9 Volt batteries are available at city hall. Williamson makes a motion and Bren seconds to pay the bills.  Williamson said he doesn’t think the bill should be held up but he thinks there should be an answer to any question a council member has on payment of the bills.  Williamson wants to make a strenuous note of this so the question produces an answer in writing.  Tolsma said there seems to be a threshold of spending without requiring council approval and that can be changed if the council would like to review expenditures.  Williamson said petty items don’t need council approval as routine and repetitive expenditures do not but, when it comes to an equipment purchase or an equipment modification, then these items need to be brought to the council.  Tolsma said Goman will take care of certain areas in the city, lift stations, fire hydrants, city hall.  He said maybe that’s the thought process on this one.  Reinhardt said she’d like an update in the dispatch this week.  Sippel said it’s not the amount, it’s just that it’s already contracted out.  All votes ayes, motion carries.  Hughes said with Goman not attending the council meetings and workshops, he doesn’t have a chance to explain things to the council.  He said there is some missed opportunity for communication. 

  1. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)
    1. LMCC Live Feed Location Request Letter –

Reinhardt said they are requesting suggestions for live feed and free cable service.  Williamson said he was also surprised to see this as it was a subject from a year ago.  He said they want to continue connections to city hall and public works facility but some cities are bigger and may have more than one public works location.  He said this is a way to catch those extra locations.  Hughes said the intended use is what.  Williamson said it’s just the connections.  They are looking for places that were overlooked.  Hughes is thinking about the Water Patrol for safety activities.  Reinhardt said her concern is the schools – mostly the high school.  Sippel agrees; live feed from city hall might not be as important as having it at the high school.  Williamson said there should be some interest expressed for schools, Water Patrol and Tolsma could communicate that to the LMCC. 

    1. 2014 Proposed Tax & Market Value Information – Reinhardt said this was for taxes payable in 2015.

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT – Sippel makes a motion and Hughes seconds to adjourn at 7:56 pm.  All votes ayes, motion carries.