Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 25, 1993OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 The Council Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Murzyn. ROLL CALL Nawrocki, Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Murzyn - present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONSENT AGENDA The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: Minutes for Approval The Council adopted the minutes of the ReGular Council Meeting of January 11, 1993 as presented and there were no corrections. Ratification of Action Taken by the Mayor and City ManaGer Related to Carpet Purchases for the New Liquor Store The Council ratified the action of the Mayor and City Manager in awarding a carpet bid for the new liquor store to Home Craft Interiors in the amount of $8,471.50 based on low, informal bids received on January 15, 1993. Establish Date for Community Development Block Grant Public Hearinq The Council approved the date and time of February 8, 1993 at 7:00 p.m. to hold a public hearing to consider the selection of activities to be funded under the 1993 Community Development Block Grant Program. Purchase of Athletic Equipment The Council authorized the purchase of 2,780 t-shirts .for $12,441.70 and 1,260 caps for $2,917.20 from Campbell Sports, baaed on low informal price quotations and to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to sign a contract for the same. Approval of 1993 License Applications The Council approved the 1993 license applications as listed upon payment of proper fees. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 2 Approval of Bill Payment The Council approved the bills as listed out of proper funds. Motion by Nawrocki, second by Ruettimann to authorize interfund loans of $42,884.82 to Capital Improvement Fund 401; $248.83 to State Aid Construction Fund 402; $2,370.00 to Flex Benefit Trust Fund 887; and $200,000 to Library Fund 240 for six months' operating expenses, from the General Fund. Roll call: All ayes APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Nawrocki, second by Ruettimann to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll call: All ayes OPEN MIKE/PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS Plaque Presentation Mayor Murzyn presented a plaque to Ron Chan in recognition of his retirement after twenty years of dedicated service as a Volunteer Firefighter. Open Mike Dennis DeMars, who owns a sign company at 4040 Marshall Street, indicated his interest in purchasing a building owned by the City. The building is located at 500 38th Avenue. Mr. DeMars stated his present building is being purchased by the Anoka County Parks Department and he would like to keep the business in the area. He must vacate his present building by October of this year, but desires to complete the purchase of a new building before that date so his business activity is not interrupted. This building must be sold by ordinance.-The City Manager will get an appraisal of the building and property· He advised that the area where the building is located is not currently on the drawing board for redevelopment and that the City has been using the building for equipment storage· The Mayor requested this matter be on the agenda for the February 1st Council work session. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS/RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 26, 1993 PAGE 3 Resolution No. 93-01; Being a Resolution Authorizing Signatories to the Flex Benefit Checking Account The Finance Director explained the accounting procedures and the built-in safeguards for this checking account. He listed the kinds of controls which are in place. Motion by Clerkin, second by Peterson to waive the reading of the resolution there being ample copies available for the public. Roll call: All ayes RESOLUTION NO. 93-01 ESTABLISHING A CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR THE FLEXIBLE BENEFIT PLAN AND DESIGNATING AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES WHEREAS: The City Council has authorized the implementation of a flexible benefit plan for eligible City employees; and WHEREAS: Flexible Compensation, Inc. will be administering the flexible benefit plan; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Columbia Heights as follows: That a checking account be established at Northeast State Bank with a minumum balance of $25.00 for administration of the flexible benefit plan. That a minimum of two signatures be required for withdrawals from the checking account. That the following staff positions of Flex Compensation, Inc. are authorized to sign for withdrawals: Benefits Specialist, Staff Accountant and Benefits Administrator. Be subject to the City Manager verifying that there are appropriate safeguards being taken relative to the bonding of Flex Compensation, Inc. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor, City Manager and Treasurer also be authorized to sign for withdrawals. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 4 Passed this 25th day of January, 1993. Offered by: Seconded by: Roll call: Nawrocki Ruettimann All ayes Mayor Donald J. Murzyn, Jr. Jo-Anne Student, Council Secretary COMMUNICATIONS Request to Vacate Alley by Jack & Janet Keller, 3932 Quincy Street The purpose of the request is to accommodate the building of a large house at 3932 Quincy Street. The Building Inspector provided a drawing which shows that a house as large as 1,275 square feet can be built and there would be room left to build a large GaraGe without the alley vacation. Mr. & Mrs. Keller have submitted no plans nor drawings for the house they intend to build. A petition signed by many of the surrounding property owners was submitted to the Council requesting the alley vacation. The alley is fourteen feet in width and owned by the City. In 1976 the H.B. Fuller Company requested the vaca. tion of a portion of the alley near their property. This was done by ordinance but what option was employed to accomplish this was not stated in the body of the ordinance nor referred to in the Council minutes. Staff is recommending that the alley be vacated and added to the park property. If the Kellers desire a five foot portion of the alley it should be made available for purchase by them. Motion by Nawrocki, second by Clerkin to receive and place on file the petition and to establish a hearing to vacate all or part of the alley west of Quincy Street in the 3900 block at the next City Council meeting which is February 8, 1993. Roll call: All ayes Councilmember Ruettimann observed that if a variance is needed by the Kellers they could make this request at the March Planning and Zoning Commission meetinG. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 5 b. Request for Benefits Change by Police Relief Association The Police Relief Association is requesting two Council actions; support legislation which would change the definition of patrol wage to include any money paid to police officers which is now called longevity and jointly participate with the Relief Association to investigate consolidation of the Relief Association into P.E.R.A. - Police and Fire Fund. Byran Rice, who represents the Police Relief Association, advised that the Executive Director of P.E.R.A. objects to some of the language in the proposed legislation. He noted that this non-consolidation language was what had stopped the bill from receiving approval during the last legislative session. Councilmember Nawrocki stated he had received different information regarding the Executive Director's objections. He also noted that the City must received "hard actuarial figures" before the Council can take a position on the proposed legislation. Mayor Murzyn personally supports the legislation but felt the proposal would not be financially viable without the employees' contributions. Councilmember Ruettimann was supportive of paying the City's share but would not support paying the employee's share. He also felt more figures must be available before the Council can take a position. Councilmember Nawrocki felt it was necessary to require the employee contributions in the language of the legislation or there would be no authority for requiring this. The Mayor suggested that the Council could simply deny participation if employee contributions were not agreed to. The City Manager inquired if the delay in getting the figures could seriously damage the chances of having the legislation passed. Rice felt this would probably not be the case. Motion by Murzyn, second by Ruettimann to direct the City Manager and Councilmember Nawrocki to work with the Police Relief Association and our legislators to pass a law which would authorize the City to change the definition of base wage to include longevity and to participate in a consolidation to P.E.R.A. subject to acceptance or rejection by the City Council at a later date as the legislation progresses. Roll call: All ayes REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 6 9. NEW BUSINESS a. 1993 Shared Ride Contract The owner of Yellow Taxi Service, who has the 1993 Shared Ride Contract, advised the Council the contract requires more than it did when his firm previously had the contract. He acknowledged he does not have the system to handle the program which has been expanded. He requested a refund of half of his performance bond and half of his bid bond. This would be a total of $3,250. The staff person who works with the Shared Ride ProGram advised that the second low bidder, Suburban Taxi, could commence providing service within one week. It is staff's recommendation to terminate the Yellow Taxi Service contract on January 31, 1993. The bid from Suburban Taxi is about $10,000 higher than that of Yellow Taxi. They will honor that bid. Staff will request retainaGe of $5,700 from the 1992 allowance from Anoka County for the ProGram. Councilmember Nawrocki requested that the ReGional Transit Board, Anoka County and the cities of Fridley and Hilltop be advised of this change in providers. Motion by Nawrocki, second by Clerkin that staff be authorized to terminate the contract with Yellow Taxi Service Corporation and to enter into an agreement with Suburban Taxi Corporation to provide service subject to a mutually agreeable transfer date between the parties involved, the Suburban Cab and the Yellow Cab, concurrence by Anoka County and the ReGional Transit Board, authorize negotiations up to a return of one half of the bid bond and the performance bond, and to authorize the Mayor and City ManaGer to sign the new agreement. Roll call: All ayes b. Article in Focus Newspaper In a recent edition of the Focus Newspaper, Councilmember Nawrocki was viewed as having a hidden agenda reGardinG the non-payment of sewer contract fees by the City of Hilltop. Counci]member Nawrocki refuted this observation and noted this subject was not new as it had happened before in the 1950's. He noted he has received numerous calls from residents of Columbia HeiGhts reGardinG this issue. He also noted that payment of associated legal fees will ultimately be paid by the taxpayers. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 7 c. Budget and Handling of Compensated Absences Motion by Nawrocki, second by Peterson to establish a Compensated Absences Fund, Fund #890, to establish a reserve fund for future compensated absences and to transfer $100,000 from the 1992 General Fund balance into the Compensated Absences Fund and further that the $100,000 budgeted in the 1993 budget for this purpose also be placed into this fund. Roll call: All ayes d. Infrastructure Replacement Fund Mayor Murzyn suGGested that the name of the fund be changed to the Assessed Project Fund. Councilmember Ruettimann felt it would be more appropriate to discuss this name change as well as establishing the criteria for the fund at a Council work session. He stated that the intent of the fund is to assist property owners in high cost assessed projects. It was noted that it would be used only in assessed projects. Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to move to affirm the transfer of $300,000 from the General Fund undesignated fund balance to the Infrastructure Replacement Fund for 1992, and furthermore, that this transfer go into a fund balance reserved for future infrastructure replacement and to set up the qualifications and criteria for this fund at a City Council work session with the purpose of structuring assistance to major cost projects. Roll call: All ayes e. Transfer of Funds from the Sewer Construction Fund to the Sewer Operating Fund The Finance Director reviewed the reasons for the deficit in the Sewer Construction Fund. Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to authorize a 1992 transfer of $350,000 from the Sewer Construction Fund to the Sewer Operating Fund to offset deficits in the Operating Fund. Roll call: All ayes f. Purchase of Athletic Equipment Earlier in the meeting the Council approved the purchase of approximately $15,000 of athletic equipment. Mayor Murzyn advised that this equipment was paid for by a contribution from the Columbia HeiGhts Athletic Boosters. He thanked the organization for its generous donation. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 8 10. REPORTS a. Report of the City Manager The City Manager's report was submitted in written form and the following items were discussed: City Manager Search Consultant: The Brimeyer Group, who is conducting the City Manager search, has received between 75 and 80 applications for the position. The consultant has reduced the list of applicants to 22. He will meet with the City Council on February 8th at 6:00 p.m. to review the status of the search. February 19th and 20th are the dates selected for the final applicants to meet with the City Council. 38th Avenue Land Sale: Metro Exteriors had made a down payment on the purchase of two lots on 38th Avenue with the intent of constructing a home. There has been a delay in approving the loan and Metro Exteriors is requesting the return of its down payment of $3,400. The ordinance which facilitated this sale must also be withdrawn as advised by the City Manager. Motion by Murzyn, second by Peterson to refund the down payment of $3,400 to Metro Exteriors. Roll call: Clerkin, Ruettimann, Peterson, Murzyn - aye Nawrocki - nay Hazardous Sidewalk Survey: A copy of the hazardous sidewalk criteria survey was distributed to members of the Council. It was prepared by the Public Works Director. Status of Damaged Squad Car: The City Manager advised that the damage to a squad car is estimated at about $6,500. He Gave the details as to how the car was damaged. b. Report of the City Attorney The City Attorney had no report at this time but did request an Executive Session. Motion by Ruettimann, second by Peterson to recess to an Executive Session to discuss the active litigation of Zaidan vs. City of Columbia Heights, City of Columbia Heights vs. City of Hilltop and Christopher Fields and REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 25, 1993 PAGE 9 John Starks vs. City of Columbia HeiGhts and to appoint Jo-Anne Student to keep a written record of the discussions therein. Recessed at 9:40 p.m. The City Council meeting was reconvened at 10:15 p.m. having been in Executive Session since 9:40 p.m. and having discussed therein only Zaidan vs. City of Columbia HeiGhts, City of Columbia HeiGhts vs. City of Hilltop, and Fields/Starks vs. City of Columbia Heights, a written record was kept by Jo-Anne Student. ADJOURNMENT The Council Meetinc3 was adjourned/~ ~..'~/~ ~ May~-r ]~n~ld J. M~z~, ~. /6-Anne Student, Council Secretary