Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 27, 1992OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 The Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Murzyn at 7:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL Nawrocki, Clerkin, Ruettimann, Murzyn - present Councilmember Peterson arrived at the meeting at 7:30 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2a. CONTINUATION OF BOARD OF REVIEW HEARING The purpose of the continuation is to hear additional information regarding only those property values appealed and discussed on the April 9, 1992 and to consider adoption of the 1992 Assessment Rolls. Carrol McCain, Anoka County Appraiser, distributed copies of responses she has written or discussed with those property owners who had appealed their valuations. She noted that no action was taken on any of the properties in question except that one located at 1213 42nd Avenue. The property at 1213 42nd Avenue was viewed by Ms. McCain where she noted more physical depreciation than what had been previously noticed. The effective age of the home was reduced ten years thus reducing the value to $58,500. A total reduction of $4,800 was made for tax payable 1993. The owner seemed satisfied. Motion by Nawrocki, second by Clerkin to adopt the 1992 Assessment Rolls as presented and amended. Roll call: All ayes CONSENT AGENDA The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: Approval of Minutes of Council Meeting The Council approved the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 13, 1992 as presented and there were no corrections. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 2 o Request from Golden Aqers Club of St. Matthew Church to Close One-half Block of 41st Avenue for Summerfest The Council approved of the closing of 41st Avenue from Washington Street east to the alley on June llth, from the hours of 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., in con3unction with a Summerfest to be held by the Golden Agers Club of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Authorization to Attend Conference The Council authorized the attendance of Officer Randell Bartlett and Community Service Officer Joe Sturdevant as advisors at the 1992 Law Enforcement Explorer Conference on July 19 - 25, 1992, at Columbia, South Carolina, and authorized up to $1,000 for expenses. Payment of Bills The Council authorized the payment of the bills as listed out of proper funds. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Nawrocki, second by Clerkin to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Roll call: All ayes OPEN MIKE/PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS There was no one present for Open Mike. There were no proclamations nor presentations. PUBLIC HEARINGS/ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS There were no public hearings, ordinances nor resolutions. COMMUNICATIONS There were no communications. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 3 OLD BUSINESS Tax Increment Administration Expense Motion by Clerkin, second by Ruettimann to authorize payment of $9,835.40 for administering the 1991 tax increment financing laws. Nawrocki stated he has not seen justification nor received adequate explanation for the charges being made by Anoka County. The City Manager referred to the documents which accompanied the charges, those being the Tax Increment Billing Formula and the TIF Administrative cost sheet. Mayor Murzyn stated he is satisfied with the documentation of the charges. Ruettimann noted he had attempted to discuss this matter with the Anoka County Manager of Property Tax Accounting and his aid, but was not successful in reaching them. He will contact the County Commissioner for Columbia Heights. He indicated he understands most of the costs. Roll call: Clerkin, Ruettimann, Murzyn - aye Nawrocki - abstain Hilltop Police and Rescue Contract The City Manager advised that this contract is similar to those of the last many years when Columbia Heights has been providing police and rescue services. He noted that the due dates and the interest rates are clearly defined in the contract. Ruettimann questioned the insurance coverage of Hilltop in a lawsuit situation. The City Attorney stated that the certificate of insurance has not yet been received from Hilltop. Clerkin inquired how much is still owed to Columbia Heights by Hilltop. The City Manager responded that there is an outstanding balance of $9,600 and the twenty-six days which have not as yet been billed. Councilmember Peterson arrived at 7:30 p.m. Noting the termination dates stated in the contract, Nawrocki felt July 31st and December 31st would be more appropriate dates of termination. He also felt the $300 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 4 investigative fee charged for liquor and beer license investigations is not high enough to cover new applications. Nawrocki questioned why the contract does not include requiring Hilltop to supply a certificate of insurance. He felt it should have this requirement. It was felt that Hilltop should have coverage up to the limits of municipal immunity. Nawrocki inquired if Columbia Heights would incur additional risk because it provides these services for hire. The City Attorney stated that courts do not address this. Nawrocki stated he does not support the arbitration clause in the contract. He also noted he had previously requested the Finance Director review Hil. itop's books to ascertain if Hilltop would be capable of paying for the services. The Council has received a report which addressed the books for 1990, but has not received any information regarding 1991 to the present. The City Manager stated he will copy the information received from the Hilltop City Attorney regarding the Columbia Heights Finance Director viewing the books for the Council. The City Manager, noting that the present contract expires on April 30th, requested members of the Council to state what their intentions were regarding the contract. Nawrocki felt the contract does not protect the interests of Columbia Heights. Clerkin inquired if the contract could be extended on a monthly basis. The City Manager felt neither city would be interested in this type of arrangement. Nawrocki again stated his concern with not having had the 1991 books viewed as well as the current books. The Finance Director advised he had viewed Hilltop's 1992 budget and the 1990 audit report. He felt the audit was acceptable and noted that the tax levy was significantly increased for 1992. Nawrocki inquired if there were any liabilities noted in the 1991 audit. The Finance Director stated that the audit is not complete at this point in time, but is expected to be complete by June 30th. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 5 The 1990 tax levy for Hilltop was $125,000, 1991 tax levy was $154,000 and in 1992 the tax levy is $229,000. The Finance Director felt the increase in the 1992 tax levy reflected the City's ability to generate funds. Discussion continued regarding the ability of Columbia Heights to collect any outstanding funds if that became necessary. Motion by Peterson, second by Murzyn to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to sign a contract with the City of Hilltop for Police and Rescue Service through March 31, 1997. The City Attorney was requested to review the contract taking into consideration all of the concerns expressed by members of the Council. The City Manager was requested to copy the letter received from the Hilltop City Attorney. The City Manager stated that the Hilltop City Attorney had expressed no reservations about supplying financial information to Columbia Heights. RECESS: RECONVENED: 8:00 p.m 8:20 p.m. The City Attorney reviewed some corrections to the contract he had noticed and recommended minor changes for clarification purposes. He requested that some of the clerical items and some language in the contract be allowed to be clarified at his discretion . Ruettimann observed that if anything of substance in the contract be changed it would necessitate another approval by the Hilltop City Council and services of the contract could be stopped. The City Manager felt a restraining order would be put into place which would not allow stoppage of services. Roll call: Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Murzyn - aye Nawrocki - nay Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to direct staff to require Hilltop to furnish and to maintain policies of insurance in the continuing statutory amount showing the City of Columbia Heights loss payee and this would be REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 6 done by the City of Hilltop contemporaneous with the execution of the contract. Roll call: All ayes Other Old Business 1. Follow-up on Concerns Expressed at Board of Review Nawrocki passed around photos he had taken of the area of 45th and 46th Avenues and Tyler Street. He noted there was considerable debris, spare tires, garbage cans without covers and cars without license plates. The City Manager advised that the photos previously taken by Nawrocki were sent to the Police Department with a memo. 2. Library Carpeting Bids The deadline for bids for the carpeting project in the Library is May 1st. Ruettimann inquired if there were master lists kept of firms who were to receive bid specs. The City Manager responded that these lists are kept by each department. Nawrocki felt it would be beneficial for a central staff person to handle the mailing list for bid specs. 3. Videotape Nawrocki gave staff a videotape whose subject was a one man paving machine and how it operates. NEW BUSINESS Amendment to 1990 Community Development Block Grant Program Motion by Clerkin, second by Peterson to approve the transfer of $2,800 of residual funds from the Public Service Pool (Metro Center for Independent Living and Anoka Job Training Center) to the Neighborhood Revitalization Project in the 1990 Anoka County Development Block Grant Program. Roll call: All ayes REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 7 Authorization to Purchase a Van The City Manager advised that staff had searched for a used van but the cost was excessive as these types of vehicles hold their value. This purchase is being made off of a State contract and the deducts were noted in the documentation. The vehicle which will be replaced with this purchase, an old ambulance, will be taken out of service. Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to authorize staff to purchase a 3/4 ton full size Chevy van from Polar Chevrolet under the State of Minnesota Contract #M- 5226 in the amount of $11,234; and furthermore, to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agreement for the same. Nawrocki stated he will not support the motion for the purchase. Me has viewed the vehicle presently being used and feels there is still some use left in it. He noted that the maintenance is very low, there is low mileage and it is used very little. He also felt there is no shortage of vehicles in the City's fleet to move crews and staff. The City Manager noted that the mechanic classified the old ambulance as unsafe. The Acting City Engineer stated that the dependibility of the vehicle is in question and it is rusting. She noted that this vehicle carries all of the surveying equipment and all of the supplies. Roll call: Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Murzyn - aye Nawrocki - nay Authorization to Seek Bids for M.S.A.S. Overlay Projects The City Manager advised that this work is expected to be done in September or October. Motion by Ruettmann, second by Peterson to authorize staff to seek bids for the M.S.A.S. overlay work as listed in the Council Agenda Letter dated April 20, 1992. Nawrocki inquired when these streets has last been sealcoated. He was advised it was in 1987 and 1988. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 8 Nawrocki stated he had driven all of the streets being considered for an overlay. He feels that an overlay is not justified on the streets and that a sealcoat with normal patching would be sufficient. The Acting City EnGineer observed that structurally the streets are acceptable but that sealcoatinG would not improve crowning problems nor rideability. Ruettimann stated he had also driven the streets and felt they were in terrible condition. He noted that the funds are in place to pay for an overlay and if these funds are not used this year, the City's allocation of State Aid funds would be reduced in coming years. Peterson recalled how many streets have not been approved for repair early enough and ultimately needed considerable costly major reconstruction. Roll call: Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Murzyn - aye Nawrocki - nay Insurance Coveraqe From May 9, 1992 - May 9, 1993 The Finance Director compared the costs and coverage of this proposal to that of the self-insured costs and coverage. Motion by Peterson, second by Ruettimann to authorize the Mayor and City ManaGer to enter into a contract with American Agency for insurance coverage as quoted in their proposal with USF&G and other companies. The coverage will be the same as the City had in 1991/1992 at a cost of $133,864.40. Roll call: All ayes Final Payment for MSC Floor Motion by Clerkin, second by Peterson to accept the work for Municipal Project #9110 and to approve final payment of $22,887.27 to Pro Maintenance, Inc. of Mutchinson, Mn. Ruettimann inquired if the contractor had recommended any precautions which could be taken to avoid problems with the deterioration of the floor. The Acting City Engineer responded that keeping the floor clean would protect it. Roll call: All ayes REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 9 10. REPORTS a. Report of the City Manager The City Manager's report was submitted in written form and the following items were discussed: Water Problems Bill Burns, the Fridley City ManaGer, contacted Stu Anderson regarding finding solutions to the water problems being experienced on the border of the two cities. Both City Councils had met previously to discuss this situation. Burns recommended a location for a holding pond all of which was in Columbia Heights. Anderson, noting that there is relatively little land left to develop in Columbia Heights, suggested that two specific parcels in Fridley and one parcel in Columbia Heights would be sufficient land on which to place a holding pond. Ruettimann had concerns with using undeveloped parcels for the holding pond. He felt buying the properties/homes which are experiencing water problems should be considered. The Mayor felt buying these homes may not be so simple. Nawrocki observed that Fridley representatives had mentioned five or six homes were having problems and he thought there was only one or two. He suggested floodproofinG by building up the homes, eliminating walk- outs and basement installations may solve the problems. AMM Bulletin Members of the Council received copies of the most recent AMM Bulletin. Joint Work Session A joint work session with the HRA was scheduled for April 30, 1992 at 8:00 p.m. The agenda will be to review Tax Increment Finance District issues. Ruettimann requested members of the Council receive any HRA or staff recommendations before the work session. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 1992 PAGE 10 April 28th Work Session Agenda Nawrocki inquired if there is ample time allotted to meet with the cable legal counsel at the April 28th work session. He noted that an hour has been allotted to meet with representatives of Honeywell and was concerned that sufficient time be left to discuss cable television matters. Nawrocki also stated that the material received from Ruettimann, which addressed procedures employed by Minneapolis reGardinG safe rental license procedures, be discussed as soon as possible. Report of the City Attorney The City Attorney had nothing to report at this time. 11. APPROVAL OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS Motion by Nawrocki, second by Peterson to approve the license applications as listed upon payment of proper fees with the exception of the application for a taxicab driver's license for Michael James Partyka that being denied based on the recommendation of the Police Department. Roll all: All ayes ADJOURNMENT Motion by Nawrocki, second by Peterson to adjourn the Council Meeting at 9:55 p.m. Roll call: All ayes ~,~o-Anne Student, 'L~uncil Secretary Mayo~ D6nald J//M{lrz~u~, Jr.