HomeMy WebLinkAboutJul 18, 1977OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
JULY 18, 1977
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 P.M. by Mayor Nawrocki.
Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Hentges, Nawrocki--present.
Motion by Heintz, seconded by Hentges, to name Carol Lattery Secretary
Pro-Tem for the meeting. Roll Call: All Ayes
This special meeting of the Council was called for the purpose of
handling and discussing the proposed lease for court facilities in the
proposed new addition to City Hall.
EDA GRANT CUT
Mayor Nawrocki stated he received a call today from Congressman Fraser's
office indicating that the EDA grant of $413,000 was reduced to $223,000.
He indicated that the matter is being checked out and he would receive a
phone call tomorrow on it. He stated that on the assumption that funding
would be as previously indicated, discussion would proceed about the
possibility of including court chambers in the proposed addition.
COUNTY COURT SYSTEM NEGOTIATIONS
A report was given by Administrative Assistant Tim Yantos concerning
discussions and negotiations with the judges, Judge Sokolowski in particular,
on whether or not the County Court System was interested in having a
satellite court facility in Columbia Heights in anticipation of the City's
receiving the Public Works Grant money. He stated also discussing what
types of facilities the County was interested in and the cost they were
looking at. Mr. Yantos noted Judge Sokolowski brought the matter to the
other judges and they unanimously indicated that they were interested and
liked the plan that the staff laid out for them. They then instructed the
County Administrator to begin negotiating with the City of Columbia
Heights on price.
Mr. Yantos indicated that Dean Otterson and he came up with a price for
the cost of sharing of the court chambers and other court facilities with
an effective usage area of 2,551 sq. ft. A proposal was made to the
County indicating $6.00/sq. ft. for the first year with a 12% escalation
for the next 5 years. The County Administrator indicated to Mr. Yantos
the County could not go for 5 years, only for 3, stating some case law
indicating the County could only go as long as the current board term,
which, if the City went into contract with them beginning July of 1978,
could only be held for 3 years.
Mr. Yantos reported negotiating on the lounge area, first looking at the
possibility of a 60% usage. But, after finding out the Court System
would only be using the area there on Monday all day, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday just in the morning, and not Friday whatsoever, the decision
was made to go to the 40% utilization just on the lounge area. Mr. Yantos
noted the County Administrator did have some problem with the 12%
escalator for political reasons. The County Administrator proposed looking
July 18, 1977
at the same derived figure of $51,660 after 3 years using a higher front-
end now with a lower percentage escalator over the next 2 years. Finance
Director, John Schedler, worked out an example: $6.50-1st year, $6.75-2nd
year, $7.O5-3rd year, totalling $51,785.00, $100.00 over original figure.
Mr. Yantos reported discussing the County Court System paying 50% of the
maintenance costs (snow removal, street sweeping, striping, and seal
coating) on a proposed 23-car parking lot, which would run about $235/yr.
and be added to the current Maintenance Agreement with the County.
Mr. Yantos stated the figure he arrived at looks good as far as both our
Administrative staff and the County Administrative staff are concerned.
A discussion followed on the County Administrator's proposed $6.50
front-end figure and the 4% escalator over the next two years.
Mr. Yantos presented the drawings on the proposed court facility to show
how he came up with square footage.
A discussion was held on utilization of the facilities by the County.
Mr. Yantos noted that the judges chambers, Court Services, Clerks and
Recording rooms would have 100% utilization (40 hours/week) whereas the
lounge (rest and lunch room) would have 40% utilization with city employees
using it during the day. Attorney Kalina stated the courtroom will be used
for arraignments, court trials by the judge and conciliation court for
minor things under $1,000. He said there will be no jury trials so no
jury room is needed.
Mayor Nawrocki proposed the City come back with: $6.50-1st year, $6.90-
2nd year, $7.30-3rd year which ~s close to 6% escalation, totalling $53,000.
A short discussion was then held on the feasibility of going into contract
for only 3 years. Attorney Kalina stated that a short-term lease may
work with the possibilities of Blaine & Fridley phasing out, their not
being able to take an alternative court facility, the judges being un-
satisfied with those two facilities now and the fact they would have some
hand in designing this facility~ Norberg noted we need to know what kind of
investment is being made and Nawrocki instructed Mr. Yantos to get some
ballpark figures on what the Court Services facility will actually amount
to. Mr. Yantos stated the question will arise concerning what happens if
the City doesn't get the EDA grant.
Motion by Hentges, seconded by Heintz, to authorize staff to propose to
the County a lease for court facilities based on Mr. Yantos' memo of
7/18/77 with rental rates of $6.50 for the 1st year, $6.90 for the 2nd
year and $7.30 for the 3rd year, subject to final determination by the
Council that said facility will be built. Roll Call: All Ayes.
Mayor Nawrocki asked the Council to authorize expenses for him to go to
Washington, D. C. to pursue the matter in the event the EDA grant is cut
by $190,000.
July 18, 1977
Motion by Logacz, seconded by Heintz, to authorize expenses for the Mayor
to go to Washington, D. C. to pursue the matter of the Federal EDA Public
Works Grant in the event the grant is cut. Roll Call: All Ayes.
Motion by Norberg, seconded by Nawrocki, to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 P.M.
Roll Call: All Ayes.
Carol Lattery, Secretary PJem