HomeMy WebLinkAboutOct 3, 1977OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA
OCTOBER 3, 1977
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
Roll Call: Heintz, Norberg, Nawrocki--present
Logacz, Hentges--absent
Motion by Norberg, seconded by Heintz, to name Carol Lattery Secretary
Pro-Tem for the meeting. Roll Call: Ail Ayes.
The purpose of this special meeting is for items as indicated on the
Agenda.
HEARING AS ADVERTISED: INSTALLATION OF WATER MAIN ON 3RD STREET FROM
40th AVENUE TO A POINT 500 FEET NORTH OF 40TH AVENUE
Finance Director John Schedler announced that Bob Owens from the Engineering
Department would be giving the explanation of the details of this project.
Sr. Engineering Tech. Bob Owens reported that the water main is on 3rd Street
from 40th Avenue to approximately 500 feet north of 40th Avenue. He explained
that it does parallel a proposed sanitary sewer that was authorized to be
installed this year. It takes a jog from the east side of the sanitary
sewer to the west side. The reason for that is that the pipe that is on
the west of 3rd Street was installed in 1916 and is an old pipe and it
would be very difficult to cut into that pipe without breaking it off.
The pipe going west from 3rd Street was put in in 1958. The water main is
approximately 7½ feet deep, 6 inches in diameter. He stated the Engineering
Department contacted the contractor for the Sanitary Sewer Project and asked
him for a quote to install this water main and the contractor's quote is
approximately $11,000. Bob stated he figured there will be 908 assessable
feet which will bring the cost to $13/assessable foot. Included in with
that cost was street repair and street restoration to the portion that is
dug up. The contractor bid about $2,700 for that item, so he asked the
Street Superintendent, Mitch DeMars, if he could do it cheaper. Mitch
DeMars thought he could do it for about $1,000, giving a savings of
approximately $1,700. Bob Owens recommended about $11.00 per assessable
foot for the Water Main Project if the street restoration could be done by
city forces.
Councilman Heintz asked if the labor cost was figured into the Street
Department doing the restoration. Bob Owens replied that it was.
Councilman Heintz expressed concern from past experience as to whether or
not city forces could do it at that price.
Councilman Hentges joined the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Norberg stated he did not see why it is going to cost anything
extra being the same contractor is going to be used for the sanitary sewer
as for the water main and the contractor is going to be in and out at the
same time and the city people are charged with the job of doing the
restoration of the sewer already.
Bob Owens explained that the sanitary sewer is going to need a trench
that is just wide enough for the sewer and the water main is going to need
a bigger trench.
Councilman Norberg asked if it is a variable cost bid or if it includes the
supervision, overhead and such. Bob Owens replied that it was a burdened
number and not just a differential number.
Mayor Nawrocki explained that in order to make a fair comparison with
those numbers the amount of money the Street Department has in there for
restoration would have to be taken out of the sanitary storm sewer bid
and added to the $1,000 and then compared to Northdale's $2,700. He
also noted that Northdale is not in the restoration business themselves.
A lady in the audience asked how far apart the two were.
Bob Owens replied that the sanitary sewer is 10 feet from the water main.
A long discussion ensued on the costs in Northdale's bid for the Water
Main Project.
Mr. Moneta, resident in the audience, asked why the pipe is 6" in diameter.
Mr. Owens explained there is an 8" pipe on 42nd Avenue and there is an
area there that used to be owned by the school that is undeveloped which
can be fed with an 8" line out to 42nd or up 2nd Street and provide an
8" loop depending on what goes in there and the Engineering Department feels
a 6" main could be eventually looped into this 8" pipe and provide proper
and adequate service.
Mr. Moneta asked if the city is looking to develop that area. Bob
Owens replied that the city is looking to develop in that area.
Mr. Moneta reported that the dealer is trying to sell this corner and is
advertising it now and there is another restaurant chain, H. Bond, who is
looking for a place to put a restaurant that is interested.
A discussion ensued on the proposed development in that area.
A lady in the audience asked if anythinghad been done about the deferred
payment and if it had been discussed at all.
Councilman Hentges replied that Mr. Jensen, Asst. HRA Director, is looking
into the matter now concerning getting a grant through the Housing Authority.
A lady in the audience stated this would be something for people in the
future, too, who are probably being assessed.
October 3, 1977
Mr. Hemp, a resident in the audience, stated he talked it over with his
wife and son and he wanted the project approved or he was going to tell
his family to move out of Columbia Heights.
RESOLUTION 77-56
BEING A RESOLUTION ORDERING IMPROVEMENTS
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights,
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Columbia Heights by motion on the
12th Day of September, 1977 ordered notice of a hearing to be given to
property owners, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a notice of hearing certain residents appeared at a
Council Meeting on the 3rd day of October, 1977, and
WHEREAS, the Council determines to proceed with this local improvement, a
portion of the cost being defrayed by special assessments under Charter
provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED:
1. That the location and extent of such improvements is as follows:
3rd Street, north of 40th 500 feet
2. That the materials to be used are as follows:
ductile iron pipe and appurtenances
That a careful estimate of the cost of the improvements has been made
by the City Manager and the several lots and parcels of land fronting
upon and adjacent to such proposed improvements, which he deemed bene-
fitted thereby, were properly notified of said hearings, and
4. That the City Manager shall also list the names and owners of the several
parcels so improved as nearly as can be ascertained.
5. These improvements shall also be known as Project No. 725 - Water Main
Offered by: Heintz
Seconded by: Hentges
Councilman Norberg asked the residents in the audience who have to pay for
the water main if they want it.
A lady in the audience stated the residents were for it right from the
beginning and felt if it is going to be done that the water and sewer
should be put in at the same time because it would be cheaper to do it all
at once.
Councilman Hentges stated he felt the water main should have been put in
years ago, but the citizens couldn't afford it at the time, but he felt
now is the time to do it because the property is being sold and is going to
be developed there. He concurred that the sewer and water should go in
at the same time.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Heintz stated it is hard to conceive that there isn't water
and sewer to all the homes in Columbia Heights and he felt it is about time
to service them all. He didn't feel if a resident sold for potential
development, he would lose any money. He stated it is a fact that Columbia
Heights is an older, well-established community and there are senior
citizens in just about every block in Columbia Heights and he didn't feel
the city should stop improvements because of that fact.
Mr. Moneta asked if anything had been declared as to the length of time
of the assessment.
Mayor Nawrocki replied that this would be declared at the Assessment Hearing.
The policy as indicated in the past has been for eight years.
Roll Call: Ail Ayes
Resolution adopted.
GARBAGE PICK UP SERVICE BIDS
Administrative Assistant Tim Yantos reported that as of 4:45 p.m. today he
had not received any materials from Hollie's Rubbish Service Inc., but
had received some materials at the meeting tonight but not the Performance
Bond. Mr. Yantos introduced Mr. Hollie, his attorney and his banker,
· an officerof Plymouth National Bank, Mr. Tony Williams. Mr. Williams
stated he reviewed the specifications with Mr. Hollie at the time of
bidding and it was agreeable to write the bond with the stipulation of
writing it for one year at a time. He felt the contract was not flexible
enough.
Mayor Nawrocki reported there were requests prior to bid opening asking
to have some changes in that requirement, but by virtue of experience and
after some discussion, the decision was made to leave the requirement as
is. He stated the preliminary facts received on Hollies is that his
present customers are satisfied, but it is the city's concern whether
the amount of equipment (3 vehicles) he has is enough to provide good
service.
Mr. Hollie explained that he was in the process of leasing some vheicles and
needed two days or 48 hours to get everything together. He stated he would
be taking care of getting the equipment and his banker would be taking
care of getting the Performance Bond.
Councilman Norberg asked Mr. Hollie if he had any negotiations going with
someone on the three-year bond. Mr. Williams, Mr. Hollie's banker
replied that there were no negotiations at the time.
Councilman Heintz asked Mr. Yantos if presently the two obstacles were
1) the Performance Bond and 2) equipment to fill it.
Mr. Yantos replied that the Performance Bond was an obstacle, but Mr.
Hollie felt he had enough equipment.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Heintz asked if Mr. Hollie could use his present vehicles in
Columbia Heights being two of those vehicles are being used in his other
business.
Mr. Hollie explained he is negotiating on two vehicles.
Councilman Heintz asked the City Attorney if it is possible to have
Hollies Rubbish Service Inc. come up with the Performance Bond and other
requirements within 48 hours, otherwise go to the next lowest bidder.
The City Attorney replied yes.
Councilman Heintz then suggested that Administrative Assistant Tim Yantos
and the City Attorney discuss and come up with a proper motion on the
Performance Bond and the number of vehicles required.
Mayor Nawrocki then suggest Administrative Assistant Tim Yantos, the
City Attorney, Mr. Hollie and his two representatives go into the other
room and go over everything and come back later with more information.
1978 BUDGET
Finance Director, John Schedler, reported that HRA Director, Dean Otterson
would not be at the meeting tonight as he is in the hospital. He brought
up one item that might tie into the budget and this is the resolution on
preparation and submission of an application for a local assistance grant
that has to do with the Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act. He questioned
what Planning has in mind as they originally needed $6,000 to hire a half-
time planner and that half would be paid for by the grant and now they
say the grant is going to cover enough and the city doesn't need to put
the extra amount in. The budget does not provide any dollars of city funds
to work on that Metropolitan Land Use Project other than what would be
used by the staff.
Mayor Nawrocki noted that at the last several meetings, the Council has
gone through documents and have made several changes. From what is here,
whether the city went full tilt with the Land Use Planning Program as
outlined in the application document previously given or if the city
scratched it all together, it would not affect the budget numbers that
were talked about.
Roger Jensen, Assistant HRA Director, stated the HRA is not asking for
any additional monies.
Finance Director, John Schedler, laid that issue aside and went back to
the budget. He stated he prepared another four-page chart for the Council
on the budget. He reported he found out today from the Auditor's office
that he is going to have to change the special levy because of the incorrect
figure the County gave him on abatement for 1976, and it dropped the levy
by $9,376.00, which dropped the mill rate.
He restated the levy and mill rate and gave the corrected
figures as they stand now for the Revenue, Expenditures and listed the
full amount for each department in the General Fund. The balancing item
in the General Fund Revenue would be $34,483 and he noted one thing the
Council has not really determined yet is what source that should be:
liquor transfer, surplus funds or what.
October 3, 1977
Mayor Nawrocki noted there are some other smaller equipment items, generators
for example, to be gone over. He stated it has been agreed to have an
inventory process made of all the selected pieces of equipment. On the
smaller items which have had concerns expressed about them as to whether
or not there is an actual need, nobody will buy said pieces of equipment
without further discussion of the City Council. The Council also has had
some concerns about the cameras, but he stated he thought that issue
was pretty well covered and there will be further review of the actual need
and coordination of the needs of the various departments before any such
equipment is bought. School tuition was to receive further review by
the Council. The policy manual which is now in draft form will be reviewed
by the Council this coming week and no commitments will be made out of
next year's money until such time as the Council has reviewed this policy
manual, especially that policy on city participation in schooling, tuition,
and the like. He stated that items of equipment that are above $500.00
automatically have to come before the Council. The review items that were
underneath, generators in particular which are $450 a piece, will be given
further discussion with the Council by the staff before those pieces of
equipment are purchased.
There may have to be adjustments in water, sewer and garbage pickup rates,
but the Council will have to see how the outcome of the bid award is going
to be on rubbish hauling before they can make that determination. The Council
has to look at the transfer out of the Sewer Fund. $34,483 is a number
the Council has to talk about as to whether it can be transferred out of
Unallocated Surpluses or be transferred out of Liquor Store Profits or
what. He asked for any more comments to be made on the Revenue Side of
the Budget.
Finance Director John Schedler stated the General Fund is about the only
item that is in question. He stated it is a matter of what the Council
wants to do on that balancing item, either transfer it from Surplus or
from the Liquor Fund as has been the past practice and that would give us
the balanced budget for the General Fund at $2,917,260.
Mayor Nawrocki stated that at the present time, the budget for next year
anticipates no transfers from the Liquor Fund to the General Fund.
Councilman Norberg questioned the Sewer Revenue Item on page 107 of
the Budget asking if the $547,000 budgeted amount included a rate increase.
Finance Director, John Schedler, replied that it did include an increase in rate.
Councilman Norberg stated the point he was trying to make is that on
page 113 of the Budget there is a $50,000 item under Transfers Out of
Storm Sewer Construction which doesn't have any supporting information.
He suggested changingboth those numbers and proposed a lower sewer increase
and not just show enough support of a $50,000 transfer which is rather out
of line.
October 3, 1977
Mayor Nawrocki statedthe budget is going to anticipate some utility rate
increases, but it is not setting any new utility rates. That is going
to have to be done by appropriate action of the Council. He stated he
did not think the Council could intelligently do that at this time for
various reasons: 1) The garbage pickup rate is going to hinge on how
the bid award ends up. 2) The sewer rate has some new inputs because of
the federal monies that the city received to plug into the 5th Street
Storm Sewer Project and 3) The City received cost reductions on the Central
Avenue Urbanization. When everything gets squared away and the dollar
amountsand impacts are known, the Council is then going to have to sit
down and look at that rate and see exactly what kind of increase is
going to be needed and it may well be a little bit less than what was
originally anticipated by the staff.
Councilman Norberg noted there is a $97,000 proposed increase in revenue
and he presumed it came from the sewer service charge from increased rates
and there is a non-supported expense item under 1790 on page 113 of
$50,000, which he did not feel was needed~light of the fact that those
rates could be set after finding out what the situation is. He stated
the very fact that non-supported item is there tends to support the
increased sewer service charges and it surely supports the need for $50,000
of them. He stated he did not like to see the large number in the
Revenue Item as he felt it would tend to cause the sewer rate to be higher
than it has to be because it is there and because it is supported by this
number down in the expense account.
Mayor Nawrocki stated the Council is not going to be considering any
increase in utility rates tonight.
Councilman Norberg complained that every other number in the budget is
supported but that one. He noted nobody in the making of this budget
came up with any backup at all. He reported he called Finance Director
John Schedler and asked him where that number came from and Mr. Schedler
said it was a number.
Finance Director, John Schedler, explained there is nothing written down
in there, but the City Manager did want it in there because every once in
a while there might be a problem some place.
Councilman Norberg argued it looked to him like the only thing it serves
to do is to potentially show a surplus in the Sewer Utility Fund which has
already been supplanted by some federal grants the city received on the
5th Street Storm Sewer Project. He contended that $50,000 doesn't need to
be there.
Mayor Nawrocki noted the action that is supposed to be taken now will have
absolutely no bearing on the sewer budget and he proposed scratching it
now and coming back to the Sewer Utility Budget when the Council can
recorrect that figure.
Councilman Norberg stated it was his finding that if a budget number is
bigger than it needs tO be, generally so are the expenses.
RECESS: 9:20 p.m. RECONVENE: 9:40 p.m.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Logacz joined the meeting at 9:40 p.m.
GARBAGE PICKUP SERVICE BID CONTINUED
Mayor Nawrocki suggested putting aside the budget and going back to the
matter of the Garbage Pickup Service Bid. He asked the City Attorney
for any information he had based on discussions he and Administrative
Assistant Yantos had with the garbage contractor and his representatives.
City Attorney Kalina reported that the information regarding the review
of the contract document attachments indicated that Hollies Rubbish
Service Inc. had in fact complied with all of the insurance requirements
of the contract. However the vehicles listed seemed to indicate that in
contrast to the current needs of the city, which seem to require 3.2
vehicles, Hollies currently had about 1.3 vehicles available: a 1973
Chev 25-yard which is currently available and a 1972 Chev 18-yard which is
apparently available 3½ days per week. He stated Mr. Hollie indicated
that he owned an old chassis from another vehicle and he and his banker,
Mr. Tony Williams, indicated that he has the resources to purchase a
box and make that vehicle usable. They have also pledged to buy or lease
an additional new vehicle if they are awarded the contract, which would
give them in excess of three vehicles assuming that they were all in good
condition. City Attorney Kalina indicated again that Hollies is
looking for an extension of time to furnish the thr~year, $50,000
Performance Bond and ask that it be extended until Thursday morning,
October 6, at 9:00 a.m. City Attorney Kalina noted another item
with respect to the vats. He stated Mr. Hollie furnished him with
a list of vats, but that Mr. Hollie indicated that he did not own all
those vats but was ordering these. He stated there was no way to confirm
the order ~orwas there any way to assure ourselves that these vats would
be available right at this time. He asked Mr. Hollie if these were already
on order and Mr. Hollie indicated they were, but did not indicated with
what company.
Mayor Nawrocki reminded the staff that November 1st the present contract
expires and there has to be assurances that whoever the contractor is is
fully equipped, will be on the street with men and equipment and will
continue to provide the service the people in the co~unity are supposed to
get on that date. The Council would expect that the staff, when checking
out the contractor, do everything they can to assure that this situation
occurs. He then asked the City Attorney for his suggestion as to the
additional time requested by Mr. Hollie.
City Attorney Kalina recommended that Mr. Hollie be given until Thursday
morning, October 6, at 9:00 a.m. He explained that his advice in recommending
an extension of time is that today was chosen as a reasonable time to
have these documents, however on a unilateral basis without Mr. Hollie's
prior agreement. He stated there was probably some time prior to the
Council's action a week ago, but until a man is reasonably assured that
he is going to be awarded the contract, he could understand his reticence
to get into these details.
October 3, 1977
Mayor Nawrocki asked what will happen if Mr. Hollie comes in with the bond
on Thursday morning.
City Attorney Kalina recommended at this point, if Mr. Hollie comes in
with the bond and the confirmation with respect to the vats, that the City
Manager and Mayor be authorized to enter into contract with Hollies, but if
this material is not supplied by that time, that the bid be awarded to the
next lowest responsible bidder, Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc.
Councilman Hentges noted that Hollies have to furnish a certain number
of vehicles which have to pass inspection and the insurance on the vehicles,
plus OSHA and manpower requirements. He ~sked whether extending more time
would throw us back another week or two.
Mayor Nawrocki replied that would depend on what action the Council takes.
He asked if by 9:00 am on Thursday Mr. Hollie or his representative would
sit down with the staff people, hopefully get started on this tomorrow,
and go over the city routes, review the equipment (trucks and vats) that
is going to be used to cover those routes and manpower so that our staff
can be satisfied that there will be no problem with performance. He
then suggested considering a motion to award the bid to Hollies contingent
on their meeting the Performance Bond requirement on Thursday morning at
9:00 a.m. and that the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into
agreement with same for this service. In the event the requirements cannot
be met, he recommended that the bid be awarded to the next lowest responsible
bidder, Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc., and the Mayor and City Manager be
authorized to enter into agreement with same. He suggested that the staff
go over the same ground that they have covered with Mr. Hollie for the
next lowest responsible bidder before the time of actually sitting down and
signing the contract. He stated he felt there is no reason that by the
time of the next Council Meeting the city cannot be reasonably assured that
there is going to be someone performing the contract. Then the Council can
take whatever action is necessary to assure that there will be ongoing
service provided the citizens of Columbia Heights.
Motion by Logacz, seconded by Norberg, to extend the time that Hollies
Rubbish Serivce Inc. has to comply with the Performance Bond requirement of
the garbage contract to Thursday, October 6, 1977, at 9:00 a.m. provided
that the staff confirms that Hollies Rubbish Service Inc. has the vats
listed in the attachment to the contract document before that time and if
such bonds and assurances are not furnished to Administrative Assistant,
Tim Yantos, at City Hall by that time, the Mayor and City Manager are then
authorized to contract with the then lowest responsible bidder, Dick's
Sanitary Service, Inc., in accordance with the city garbage contract
specifications and the bid of Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc. provided that
Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc. meets the same criteria with respect to the
equipment and Performance Bond as required by the contract documents.
Further, the staff is requested to investigate each contractor's equipment
and manpower needs to assure that the contractor has the ability to commence
performance of this contract by October 31st, 1977.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Heintz asked about the equipment needs such as trucks as they
were not mentioned in the motion.
City Attorney Kalina replied that what is mentioned in the motion is the
"staff is requested to investigate each contractor's equipment and manpower
needs to assure that the contractor has the ability to commence performance
of this contract by October 31, 1977". He explained that putting this
last sentence in was to request the ongoing investigation so that if there
is no compliance by the end of the month, the city can get somebody else
out there to pick up the garbage and proceed against the Performance Bond
for the damages so that there is ongoing service to our citizens. The
contract does not call for any specific number of vehicles so that there
is no way that Hollies can be required to have these vehicles by that time.
Mayor Nawrocki stated that Mr. Hollie has agreed to sit down with
Administrative Assistant Tim Yantos to review the routes, vehicles, etc.
and, hopefully, the staff will be satisfied that Hollies can start
carrying out the contract on November 1st.
Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Nawrocki--Aye.
Hentges--abstained.
Motion carried.
Mr. Dick Hetland from Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc. stated that in the
event on Thursday morning it works out that Dick's Sanitary Service, Inc.
is awarded the bid, he came to hand out their brochure on their Recycling
Service Program. He stated he would like to work with the staff and
the City Council in setting up a public education program on recycling.
Mayor Nawrocki expressed his appreciation to Dick Hetland for bringing
the information to the Council and stated the Council would like to see
some recycling activity. He explained that prior to taking bids there was
some discussion on the subject and the information given to the Council at
that time was that the time was not the best, so the Council decided rather
than try to require a Resource Recovery Program, they would ask the contrac-
tors to consider it and state that the city would work with them.
1978 BUDGET CONTINUED
Mayor Nawrocki noted it has been announced that the budget does not account
for any transfer of funds from the Liquor Account to the General Fund.
The budget is therefore short by $34,483. He stated the alternatives are:
1) take it out of the budget on the expenditure side, 2) transfer from
the Liquor Fund to offset this project shortfall and 3) transfer from
Unallocated Surplus in the General Fund to Earned Surplus. This is in
lieu of transferring from the Liquor Fund to the General Fund as has
been done in the past years because the Liquor Fund is low.
Finance Director John Schedler stated the General Unallocated Fund is just
an item of Revenue along with taxes and everything else. It is a source
of funding. It is just a designation that you are going to be using part
of the surplus on next year's budget. When you do that, you then have a
balanced budget and you have legally complied with all you need to do.
October 3, 1977
Mayor Nawrocki went over again the increases in utility charges. He
indicated that at the present time, the Council does not know exactly
what these increases need to be and that they can hopefully be less than
what the staff indicated those increases should be because the bidding
on the refuse service was considerably more favorable than what was anticipated
and in the area of the sewer fund, the extra monies received from the
federal government to help us with the 5th Street Storm Sewer Project
have reduced the local share of monies to be used for that project, and
the Central Avenue Urbanization reduction in local costs of the job will
again reduce the need for monies from local city funds for that project.
So the Council will again have to sit down and review those items with
that additional information in mind and hopefully be able to consider
rate increases to less than what the staff had in mind.
Councilman Hentges mentioned the CETA Program and noted not one penny was
allocated to keep on any of the CETA people after September 1978.
Mayor Nawrocki explained that at that point in time, the Council is going
to have to sit down and review the CETA Program and the functions being
carried out by the CETA personnel and then the Council is going to have to
make a decision as to which of those functions will need to be carried on.
The Council will have the option because there will be monies for that in
the Unallocated Contingency Fund or the surplus portion that would enable
the Council to make rational decisions based on needs at that time. It
takes specific action of the Council to transfer those monies.
Councilman Hentges asked if the Council can act upon the levy itself or
does there have to be a proposed budget to warrant the levy.
Mayor Nawrocki replied that there has to be some backup. He noted there
is a resolution and that would be what the Council would act on and
it is subject to the Council's perogative to make changes in accordance
with the City Charter.
Councilman Hentges noted there is a budget for each one of the departments
to be expended, but there are no asssurances that each one of these
departments is going to get that much money.
Mayor Nawrocki stated budgeting is not spending.
Councilman Hentges indicated some people in some departments feel that if
the money is there they have to spend it, but they have to come to the
Council first before they spend it. He stated he just wanted to make that
clear just because the money is there does not mean it is going to be spent.
Motion by Hentges, seconded by Heintz, that $34,483 be transferred in the
proposed city budget from Earned Surplus Fund of 1977 to the General Fund
for purposes of balancing out the budget as proposed for 1978.
Councilman Norberg stated he thought it ought to come out of the Liquor Fund.
Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Hentges, Nawrocki--Aye Norberg--Nay
Motion carries.
October 3, 1977
RESOLUTION 77-57
ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 1978 AND LEVYING TAXES
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
as follows:
Section A. The General Fund budget for the City of Columbia Heights for
the year 1978 is hereby approved and adopted with appropriations for each
of the departments as follows:
GENERAL FUND
Mayor-Council $ 71,810
Executive 70,815
Finance-Assessing-Elections 131,570
General Buildings 51,865
Legal 61,565
Planning 35,555
Public Safety 1,015,360
Public Works 589,620
Sanitation 288,255
Library 122,325
Parks 295,670
Unallocated and Transfers 182,850
$ 2,917,260
Section B. The estimated gross revenue of the City of Columbia Heights
from all sources, including general ad valorem tax levies as hereinafter
set forth for the year 1978, the same being more fully detailed in the
City Manager's official copy of the 1978 budget, are hereby found and
determined to be as follows:
GENERAL FUND
$ 2,917,260
REVENUE SHARING
$ 184,000
Section C. There is hereby levied upon all taxable property in the
City of Columbia Heights a direct ad valorem tax in the year 1977
payable in 1978 for the following purposes and in the following
amounts:
PURPOSE AMOUNT
General Fund (Including
Recreation)
Police Pension
Fire Pension
Bond and Interest
Civil Defense
$ 1,188,556
78,500
47,000
260,500
8,600
$ 1,583,156
October 3, 1977
Provision has been made in the General Fund for payment of the City's
contributory share to Public Employees' Retirement Association in the
amount of $82,925. Provision has also been made in the General Fund
revenues for receipt of the State Sales and Excise Tax local govern-
ment aid distribution.
Section D. A certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted
to the CouNty Auditor.
Offered by: Logacz
Seconded by: Heintz
Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Hentges, Nawrocki--Aye
Norberg--Nay
Councilman Hentges asked the City Attorney if there can be any transfer
from line item to line item in the charter without a 4/5 vote as the
charter reads you cannot transfer without 4/5 vote.
City Attorney Kalina answered it depends on how those items are defined.
He stated he thought that language pertains to the items specified in the
charter and the only thing that takes a 4/5 vote is transferring one
of those items to another item. Those are the items listed specifically
in the charter, such as salaries, wages, printing, supplies, etc. He
gave an example of a surplus of $50,000 in Park Board salaries and a
person wanted to use it for Public Safety salaries to pay another Community
Service Officer, at that point it can be done by a 3/5 vote because that
is a transfer from salary to salary. However, if the $50,000 in wages
is used to buy a new fire truck, then that is a capital investment.
There has been a transfer from wages to capital investments which are a
different charter item and then would require a 4/5 vote. He stated
that this is the way he has been interpreting the way transfers will be
made.
Councilman Hentges stated he wanted it determined and set clear now so
the Council doesn't run across it during the year as they did once before.
Mayor Nawrocki suggested the City Attorney set down in writing an answer
to this question that has come up before and will come up again. He
also suggested putting together a reasonable policy on the handling of
expenditures, inter-fund transfers, and if it takes changes in the charter,
the Council will have to ask the Charter Commission to consider them.
He stated the charter was written back in 1921 and there are changes there,
but they are not necessarily all good and certainly not of the present
Council's doing, but there are parts he felt are still in error regarding
the establishment of salaries. In the old days, that is all it took to
establish a salary. Now days, the State Law spells out the procedures
for hiring, etc. and this is just another example of an area that needs
clarifying and may well need some new language to be considered so that if
there is a question of conflict, it can be minimized or resolved on
a reasonable basis. He asked the staff to work on it.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Hentges asked if for example at the end of the year a department
has a surplus, does all of that revert back to the General Fund.
Mayor Nawrocki replied that it would be released to the General Fund.
City Attorney Kalina stated it doesn't automatically become budgeted for
the following year.
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING TAX LEVY BY THE HRA FOR 1978
Councilman Norberg stated the Auditor reported that in the past all the
levies have been coded directly to Surplus rather than having been shown
as an item in the Revenue Fund and so there are two years at least, maybe
three years, of levy out of balance. He stated it is on the balance sheet
in Surplus and not in the Revenue Fund. He asked if HRA is going to make
the approrpiate changes to correct this error that has been going on.
Roger Jensen, Assistant HRA Director, stated they were in the process of
that now and that they have changed Accountants.
Councilman Norberg reiterated that he just wanted to know if the HRA is
going to transfer out of Surplus into the Revenue Fund to compensate
for the three years or whatever it is of levies that have been mistakenly
put in Surplus by your accountant.
Roger Jensen stated we have been trying to correct our account for a long
time and if it is just a case of transferring numbers, that can be done.
Councilman Norberg stated the HRA doesn't have to have an accountant to
make a change like that. He stated it is clear that the Board has not
contemplated it and he stated he was amazed that they haven't in view of
what the Auditor said and they could have done that in the budget they
adopted. It is a balance sheet operation. All the levies have been coming
in and rather than having to pass into the Levy Fund, they have been
going directly into the Surplus Fund. He stated he was rather amazed
that the HRA is spending about $74,000 for a Central Office Fund and
that it can get that big in that short of time.
Roger Jensen stated a lot of that is the CETA Fund.
Councilman Norberg asked if the Council was aware of the transfer of
$5,000 of the Special Projects Funds into financing the Downtown Develop-
ment.
Mayor Nawrocki stated he did not think the Council would be approving that
transfer by virtue of this resolution. He stated he thought by virtue
of the fact the HRA is proposing it, the Council would expect that they
would come to the Council and ask for a specific concurrence with the actual
transfer of $5,000 in accordance with previous agreements and that
Councilman Hentges who represents the Council on the Housing Authority
Board serves as a very good liaison between this ~Council and the 'Housing
Authority and he felt Councilman Hentges will be watching that issue and
he will call it to the Housing Authority's attention.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Hentges explained that the Housing Authority is aware of that
policy and that they agree if there is to be any money expended from the
Special Fund they will get concurrence of the City Council. This is
what they are proposing if they need the $5,000 in the Downtown Development
budget.
Councilman Norberg stated the record should show tbat the Council action,
if they approve this budget, is not passing approval of that item.
RESOLUTION 77-58
CONFIRMING TAX LEVY BY THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR 1978
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS,
that
WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Columbia Heights,
Minnesota has adopted a budget as shown on their attached resolution 77-24,
and
WHEREAS, said Authority has also resolved that a special tax be levied
of $21,500 upon all taxable property, both real and personal, in the
City of Columbia Heights, and
WHEREAS, Section 462.545, Subdivision 6 of the Minnesota Statutes
requires approval by the governing body of the municipality in and for
which said Authority was created.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Columbia Heights approves and consents to the levy of $21,500 upon
all taxable property, both real and personal, in the City of Columbia
Heights, by said authority, as special taxing district, for use for
the purpose of the redevelopment provisions of Section 462.711 of the
Minnesota Statutes.
Offered by: Logacz
Seconded by: Hentges
Councilman Norberg asked if John Schedler read the number for the full
levy as he understood this budget was only going to call for half of it.
Finance Director John Schedler stated there are two parts to it:
the Downtown Council and the HRA general offices.
Mayor Nawrocki commented that there aremany things he could be critical of
the Housing Authority on some procedures and different things, but looking
at the overall pictures, the Housing Authority has been extremely active
in offering opportunities for housing rehabilitation within the community,
offering rental assistance programs within the community, senior citizen
housing projects, very active in trying to bring ideas and proposals that
will get something moving on Central Avenue Redevelopment. He stated he
supports the overall accomplishments that the Housing Authority has made
as they are all very good programs for the community.
Roll Call: All Ayes. Resolution is adopted unanimously.
October 3, 1977
Discussion ensued on the legality of considering the next two items on
the agenda as they were not given the 12-hour advance notice. However,
Mayor Nawrocki noted the matter of Land Use Planning was a specific item
that was referred to the meeting from the last Council Meeting.
The City Attorney stated that stating it at an earlier meeting would constitute
a 12-hours notice and it is still legitimate even if it is not on the Agenda.
But any item not given 12-hours notice is illegal.
Mayor Nawrocki reported he was not going to be at the meeting on Monday,
October 10. He commented on the item "Request for Authorization for
Mayor to expend up to $1,500 for Civil Defense Recognition Dinner". It
should have said "Request for Authorization for Expenses for the Civil
Defense Recognition Dinner not to Exceed $1,500". He stated he suspected
the actual cost will be closer to $1,000 than $1,500, but that depends on
how many Civil Defense Personnel turn out.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1977, AS YMCA SWIM P~RATHON
DAY
WHEREAS, the Eastside YMCA in conjunction with the Metropolitan Minneapolis
YMCA is conducting a Swim Marathon Fund Raising Project on Saturday, November
19, 1977, and
WHEREAS, Funds raised by this event will go to underwrite the cost or the
Eastside "Y" Fatherless Boy's Program, and the Fatherless Boy's Program
presently serves over sixty boys from the Eastside area including Columbia
Heights.
NOW , THEREFORE, I, Bruce G. Nawrocki, Mayor of the City of Columbia
Heights, do hereby proclaim Saturday, November 19, 1977, as YMCA Swim
Marathon Day and urge all of our citizens to support this worthwhile
fund-raising event on behalf of the fatherless boys in our area. Interested
citizens are further advised that additional data is available through
Mr. Richard Nelson or Mr. Ed Eide at the Eastside YMCA, 789-8803.
Mayor Nawrocki reported he received a request from Southern Anoka County
Assistance, Inc., a volunteer group that provides emergency aid to people
who are down and out, primarily in terms of food, until other resources
are able to take over. He reported that currently they have some space
in St. Matthews Lutheran Church, but are running into trouble in that
there is not much space for all the clothing and food articles that they
try to maintain stock of and they are looking for more space in the area.
He stated he contacted this group and asked them whether or not they
thought the Tema House, which the city now owns and is not being used
and may well be going down, might help them. He reported they did look
at the property on Saturday, October 1, and thought that it might well
meet their needs. He asked the Council to consider on Monday night
authorizing the staff to meet with the Southern Anoka County Assistance,
Inc. people and see if an agreeable arrangement can be worked out as to
the use of the Tema House on an interim basis until such time as the city
makes a determination that this property is needed for other purposes.
October 3, 1977
LAND USE PLANNING
Asst. HRA Director Jensen reported that for this item he began at the back
page of the grant application itself and went to the city staff and asked
them how much time it would take them to prepare their portion of the grant.
He then multiplied that times their salary. He stated these are strictly
manhours and the vast majority of this will be done in our normal workload.
Councilman Hentges stated the city had a comprehensive land use plan and
spent $35,0~on it. He stated it was adopted in 1969 and not completed
until 1972 and he felt there has to be something good in it.
Roger Jensen stated the Planning Commission might disagree with him.
Councilman Hentges stated that planning is only one part of it.
Roger Jensen stated that they based almost all of their decisio~ on planning.
Councilman Hentges asked the City Attorney to explain where it says if
a city already has one that it has to have another one. He noted all
it states is that it has to be updated according to their recommendations.
City Attorney Kalina replied that this was right. It just has to be
updated according to their recommendations.
Councilman Hentges suggested taking the present plan off the shelf,
sending it into them asking for their recommendation on what is wrong
with it.
Roger Jensen stated he was using the census data from 1950 to 1960. But
now the Metro Council is projecting Columbia Heights population will be
26,000 by 1985. He stated he felt the city would fall very short of that
figure because of the age bracket. He explained that they are working
with new regulations. Forexample in the sewer elements they are working
with legislation passed in 1974.
Councilman Hentges stated he didn't see any reason why the city would
have to have a new one since it is a first-rate suburb which has been
incorporated for 40 to 50 years and is built 97% to capacity.
Mayor Nawrocki commented that he did not agree that the present plan was all
bad. He stated he didn't care what kind of plan the city comes up with
today, five years from now some of those same comments are going to be
made. We might try to predict changes, but we cannot predict them accurately.
He didn't agree that the plan was all cookie cutter and stated he was sure
parts of it were, but somewhere in between those two extremes is a lot of
work and effort that went into that plan as we had good participation from
the people. He stated he felt no matter what was sent over to the Metro
Council will probably come back with some comments and changes, but that
doesn't mean that the present plan can be sent over to them for them to
tell us what has to be changed as this would not be realistic either.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Hentges asked if the city filed for the grant of $3300
and sent in the plan to them and all that was needed was minor updating,
would the city still be eligible for the $3300 grant.
Roger Jensen, HRA, stated the city would be eligible for the grant as
long as that figure did not exceed 75% of the total cost. So if
$5,000 approximately is spent, the city is entitled to it.
Councilman Norberg suggested coming back with another budget that turns
out to be $5,000 to $6,000 and then changing on the front of it by taking
the word "not" out of the sentence under Section 6 which says "the plan
was completed in 1969 and because of the quality of that plan, it will
not be used." He suggested taking the word "not" out and then it
will read "because of the quality of that plan, it will be used as a
resource".
Sam Van Tassel, Assistant HRA Planner, stated there are several items in
the Comprehensive Plan that they have to change. He stated the HRA did
not feel that the present plan. is a very good Comprehensive Plan for
the community. For example, the HRA has certain goals in Housing that
are very important to their long range plans, but a section on Housing
doesn't exist.
Councilman Hentges stated there should have been a data indexing. He
stated that "Housing" is what the comprehensive overall plan of our
Zoning Map referred to. He felt there should have been a notation under
Housing to refer to the Zoning Map.
Sam Van Tassel, Asst. Planner, stated they felt that the present plan is
not a very accurate Comprehensive Plan. He stated they are not saying
that maybe we shouldn't use it to update it, but they thought it would
take substantial changing. He stated their objective is to get a workable
Comprehsnsive Plan.
Councilman Norberg stated they apparently want to redo the Zoning Map as a
result of this.
Sam Van Tassel, HRA, stated if there are going to be any changes to the
Zoning Ordinances, it is usually based on the Comprehensive Plan. He
stated the Metro Council suggested they do a more heavier density compre-
hensive planning stating they would like to see smaller lot sizes,
not require a garage, etc.
Mayor Nawrocki stated that going to smaller l~t sizes is an exercise in
futility to talk about because with everything pretty much developed,
what is there to carve up.
Councilman Norberg stated the alternative in this case would very
obviously be multiple dwelling. When a house is torn down, put up a
multiple dwelling. There is nothing else to do.
October 3, 1977
Mayor Nawrocki explained that the Land Use Planning Act is an act of the
Legislature and not the Metro Council. He stated if anybody thinks that
what is in the law now as it is on the books is bad, two things: 1)
They should have seen what was originally proposed by the Legislature and
2) They should have been over there making their feelings known at that
time. The League of Municipalities did try to make their feelings
and comments known and tried to have an impact on this Legislation and
the result was what you see here, which from the local government's
standpoint is considerably modified from what was originally proposed.
Also if it isn't done, they will come along and do it and the taxes will
be levied on the property in our community to pay for it.
Councilman Norberg renewed his suggestion to take the word "not" out
of Item #6 on the first page and redo the budget in the back to around
$5,000 or $5,500 and submit it that way.
Councilman Logacz asked if the Metro Council had some guide lines and
if the Comprehensive Plan is supposed to be changed to meet the needs
of our community or satisfy the Metro Council.
Roger Jensen, HRA, stated the Metro Council has our current Comprehensive
Plan on file so they can compare what is turned in now to what was turned
in in the past.
Councilman Logacz asked how can the Metro Council come in and say these
things are to be changed instead of considering whether it meets the
community's needs or not and why do the surrounding communities have to
look at our plan and approve of what we are doing with our community.
Mayor Nawrocki explained that there are things that overlap one community
with the other in termsof one community doing something that would be a
detriment to the people that are on the other side of the line. For
example, Spring Lake Park and Blaine got into a hassle of that nature over
traffic generated by the Northtown Shopping Center. Also, the school
could coordinate when they are trying to compensate for lower population
growth.
Motion by Norberg, seconded by Heintz, to refer it back to the Planning
Department to revise the front page to indicate the heavier reliance on
the present plan and redo the proposed budget in the range of $5,000 or $6,000.
Councilman Hentges noted that both units of government, the local govern-
ment and the school district, have to work together, but yet have to
share the expense.
City Attorney Kalina stated the city doesn't have to pay for whatever
input the school district puts into it.
Mayor Nawrocki asked what the motion does to the dollar amounts.
Councilman Norberg stated allocation of the grant couldn't be more than
75% of the total cost, so he proposed a rational number.
October 3, 1977
Councilman Heintz asked how long it will take to complete the plan.
Roger Jensen, HRA, answered at least a year and one half.
Mayor Nawrocki suggested to the Council that they go ahead as he had
a certified letter relative to this matter indicating that some time in
October that application has to be in or the money will be reallocated
to other communities. He also suggested that the language in Item #6
be changed from "completed in 1969'to read "completed in 1972 and adopted
in 1969"
Roll Call on Councilman Norberg's motion: Heintz, Norberg--Aye
Logacz, Hentges, Nawrocki--Nay
Motion fails.
Motion by Logacz, seconded by Hentges, to change item #6 on the Community
Grant Application to read: Columbia Heights has a 701 Plan that was
completed in 1972. This plan will be updated" and on page 2 of said
Community Grant Application the dollar amounts of the schedule to be
revised to total $10,902 including outside assistance money.
Motion by Norberg to amend the motion to change $10,902 to $6,000.
Motion dies for lack of a second.
Roll Call: Logacz, Hentges, Nawrocki--Aye
Norberg, Heintz--Nay
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION 77-59
AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A LOCAL
ASSISTANCE GRANT
WHEREAS, the 1976 Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act requires all
Metropolitan Communities to prepare or update a local comprehensive
land use plan, and
WHEREAS, the 1976 Metropolitan Land Use Planning Act provides a limited
amount of State funds to local units of government to help offset the
costs of preparing the comprehensive plan, and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbia Heights under the Application, Award, and
Disbursement Guidelines, is required to submit a grant application to
acquire its entitlement funds, and,
WHEREAS, said application has been reviewed by the Council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA
HEIGHTS, THAT:
October 3, 1977
1. The City Planner and City Manager be authorized to sign and transmit
copies of the application for Local Planning Assistance grants to the
Metropolitan Council for their review and consideration for the activities
for which assistance is requested.
2. The City Planner be authorized to administer those activities funded
by the grant and periodically report to th~City Council on the status of
said grant.
Offered by: Logacz
Seconded by: Hentges
Roll Call: Logacz, Hentges, Nawrocki--Aye
Heintz, Norberg--Nay
Resolution is adopted.
Motion by Logacz, seconded by Norberg, to adjourn the special meeting at
11:55 p.m. Roll Call: Ail Ayes
57
Bruce G. Nawrocki, Mayor
Secretary