Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP August 16, 1990 ~; CITY of ANDOVER Special city Council Meeting August 16, 1990 7:30 P.M. Call to Order 1. Hire Public Works Employee 2. Budget Work Session 3. Adjourn /~. CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NoW, . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304· (612) 755-5100 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - AUGUST 16, 1990 MINUTES rt SpecIal Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jim Elling on August 16, 1990; 7:31 p.m., at the Andover City Hal I, 1685 Crosstown BouJevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councllmembers present: Jacobson, Knight, OrtteJ, Perry Councilmembers absent: None Also present: BuildIng OffIciaJ, Dave Almgren; Public Works Supervisor, Frank Stone; City FInance DIrector, Howard Koollck; Fire Chief Glenn Smith; City Administrator/EngIneer, James Schrantz; and City Staff, Firefighters, and Commission Chairpersons DISTRICT 15 GATHERING Mayor Elling Informed the Council of the Invitation from ISD 15 for a light dinner and an opportunity to tour the Cedar Creek Community SchooJ on Thursday, August 23. HIRE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE Mr. Stone recommended the hiring of LuAnn Darveaus for a non-permanent Public Works employee. He gave consideration to the fact that she Is also with the Fire Department and did not feel that would be a problem since It is not a permanent position. Also, she has experience working for the City and Is very dependable. There would be no increase In her hourly rate. The funds are available from the summer help and crack sea ling funds. MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Jacobson, that the CouncIl hire LuAnn Darveaus as a non-permanent Public Works employee at $8.78 per hour for the period of 8/20/90 to 12/31/90. Motion carried unanimously. FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRESS REPORT Mayor Elling noted RFPs were sent out for bIds from architectural firms. Seven firms sent back proposals. Counc i I discussed the procedure for selecting an architect to design the two new fire stations. It was a I SO noted that before the Northwest station can be designed, the I and must be purchased. But before that can happen, the firefighters asked that a determination be made on the construction of 165th Avenue between Round Lake Boulevard and Seventh Avenue because the location Is dependent on the road alignments and accesses. ,- Special City Council Meeting August 16, 1990 - Minutes Page 2 (Fire Department Progress Report, Continued) Fire Chief Smith reviewed the work of the firefighters in writing specifications for the new fIre trucks. They wi I I be before the Council on September 4 for approval of the specs and authorization to advertise for bids. It is then expected the ladder and pumper trucks will be completed by September, 1991. Chief Smith also noted the sIte selection for the Northwest station Is a problem until the road alignments are decided on. Mayor Elling reported he talked with County Commissioners Dan Erhart and Natalie Haas-Steffen and County EngIneer Paul Ruud about the possibility of the county constructing 165th between Round Lake Boulevard and Seventh Avenue in exchange for that section of CoRd 20 on 157th Avenue. The Mayor felt they were receptive to the Idea. At this time BRA Is In the process of preparing cost estimates for three different alIgnments of 165th. There was then a lengthY discussion on the best location for the Northwest fire station noting the high cost of constructing 165th because of the low area it must go through, the high cost of upgrading Tul ip, the existing poor condition of CoRd 58, and the lack of an east/ west road in that area of the City. Fireflghers gave response times to various areas from the different proposed site locations, generally feeling the greatest number of homes can be served by locating the station as far south and west as possible. Chief Smith stated there is no poInt in considering the area of 165th and Valley Drive if there is no commitment to construct 165th In the near future. Councilmember Knight was concerned with the hugh expense of constructIng 165th. He felt it Is more important that the county upgrade CoRd 58 and that the station be located further north In the vicinity of 171st or 175th and CoRd 58. He suggested meeting with county representatives to discuss these two roads plus the intersection of Bunker Lake and Round Lake Boulevards. Mayor Elling stated the upgrading of CoRd 58 Is already In the county's 2010 plan, and he felt the City would have a good argument for persuading the county to upgrade it sooner If the fire station is located In that area. He also felt the construction of 165th would greatly help the east/west traffic flows through the City and that It is greatly needed. He stated that wherever the fire station Is located, the road system will be impacted. The options should be looked at not only for cost but In an over-all safety and protection plan for the City. Mr. Almgren suggested the City talk with Ray Klink, the owner of the property being considered off Valley Drive, as he may be willing to donate the land. Councllmember Jacobson felt the most logical location for the fire station Is at Valley Drive and 171st, and that 165th is a secondary Issue. Once the location Is fixed, then an effort should be Special City Council Meeting August 16, 1990 - Minutes Page 3 (Fire Department Progress Report, Continued) made to upgrade Valley Drive. Councilmember Perry agreed, also feel in9 the City should meet with the county. She also asked for cost estimates of putting in 165th and for a map of possible site locations and market values of each site. Councllmember Orttel concurred, expressing concern over the funding of 165th and over Just what benefit that would have In safety protection for the City. He felt the station should be located where it can be used and then work with the county for road upgrading and placement. Chief Smith thought a plan could be implemented around a location at 171st and Valley Drive and agreed with the Council about working with the county on Valley Drive and 165th. After further discussion, Council agreed a committee of the following people should review the architectural proposals and make a recommendation to the Council on September 4: Chief Glenn Smith, Assistant Chief Dale Mashuga, Bob Peach, Dave Almgren, Jim Schrantz, and Mayor Elling. The Counc i I also tentatively scheduled a special meeting on September 6, 7 p.m., to interview the top four architectural firms selected by the Committee, scheduled 15 minutes for each firm, and also to meet with County Engineer Paul Ruud and Commissioner Natalie Haas-Steffen regarding the two matters previously mentioned. Chief Smith noted the Fire Department committee has been changed to a "Steering Committee" to oversee the site selection, the building of the stations, and the ordering of the equipment. The Counc i I asked for periodic written updates of the progress being made. They also asked the Staff to prepare a questionnaire to be used for interviewing the architectural firms. PROPOSED 1991 BUDGET SESSION REVENUES Councilmember Jacobson questioned whether the estimated housing starts are realistic. Mr. Almgren explained the figures are calculated using 300 units per year, which Is less than what has been the last several years. There were no suggested changes in Revenues. EXPENDITURES Councilmember Jacobson questioned whether the amounts budgeted for gas and oi I are enough considering the escalating prices and events of the last three weeks. Mr. Koollck stated the budget was done prior to Special City Council Meeting August 16, 1990 - Minutes Page 4 (Proposed 1991 Budget Session, Continued) recent world events. The natural gas budget for 1990 was high, but there was no history of costs sInce the heat was converted from oil to natural gas. There Is not much Increase budgeted for gas and diesel in the budget. An increase may be warranted given the crisis in the Mid-East in recent weeks. Councilmember Jacobson suggested adding about 3 percent to the fuel costs in the budget. Page 46, 10143100.531 - Sealcoatlng: Councllmember Perry and others were concerned about the cut in sealcoating. With this reductIon and that made In 1990, the sealcoating program Is getting farther and farther behind. One option discussed was assessing such projects, though there did not seem to be a consensus for doing that sInce it only amounts to another tax for the residents. Mr. Stone also noted there are some roads that need overlays which should also be budgeted for or assessed. A suggestion was to add approximately $30,000 back into the sealcoating budget. Councilmember Perry wondered If 13 new firefighters could be replaced with an additional Public Works employee. Mr. Koollck stated a new employee costs about $24,000 with benefits. Each firefighter costs less than $1,000. Firefighters noted all the expenses of equipping the additional firefighters will come from the bond. No action was taken. Council then revIewed the Items noted In the Agenda material that were deleted from the budget requests: AuditIng - Mr. Koolick felt that changing firms will reduce the City's expenses by $1,500. Council questioned whether a change In the engIneerIng firms would also amount to a reductIon. It was noted that engineering costs are generally recovered in proJects. Assessing - Mr. Koollck felt the assessing costs would not be increasing as much as in the past. There is still a $3,000 Increase for thIs Item. PublIc Works Building - Mr. Stone stated that he will be coming to the Council next week regarding the heating unit for the Public Works building. That item was deleted from the 1991 budget. Animal Control - Mr. Koolick stated they have never Increased the contract in the past, feeling there is no reason they will do so for next year. Fire Protection - Chief Smith noted the repair of 4881 has been deleted, but something will have to be done. It Isn't covered under the bond. He stated most of the other Items were for safety equipment, protective gear, and replacement gear for the firefighters. If a firefighter gets hurt because an OSHA requirement was not met, it will be a large liability to the City. He asked that these Items be put back In the Special CI ty Council Meet I ng August 16, 1990 - Minutes Page 5 (Proposed 1991 Budget Session, Continued) budget o~ he will have to take funds f~om all line items because safety is something they take very seriously. Counc II agreed the policy has always been that the line Items within a Depa~tment's budget can be changed as long as the Department's total Is not Increased. Park and Recreation - In response to the question of developing Kelsey Pa~k, Chairperson Jeff Kieffer stated they can loan from the PIR fund with the stipulation that it be paid back either f~om future grants or out of the capl tal budget. Their goal Is to establish bluebird and cross country trails, but a professional plan for the layout of the park is needed. The hope is to get two matching g~ants which can be paid back oVe~ three years beginning in 1992. The Pa~k Board feels that is somethIng they can do. Mr. Koollck explaIned the Council optIons In lending the PIR funds to the Park Board for this development. Police Protection - M~. Koollck noted it is about 20 percent of the budget. Counc i I noted crime has gone down dramatically since the police protection has been Increased. No changes we~e made. Attorney - Council discussed the Idea of having the attorney attend only one Counc II meeting per month to save costs, or to attempt to cover all items which require the presence of the attorney prior to 10 o'clock. Staff Salaries - Mr. Almgren noted a handout to the Counc i I comparing salaries In the building departments of various cIties versus Andover's salaries. He stated Andove~ Is not keeping pace with the surrounding cities, and he did not want to lose personnel to them because of wages. Mr. Koolick explained the salary Inc~eases were scaled back from four to three percent to balance the budget with no increases In benefits. There Is about $7,000 in salaries In the 1990 budget that wi II be left . d'Arcy Bosell, Zoning AdminIstrator, expressed frustration over the Staff's inc~ease of only 3 percent last year when the metro a~ea average was 4.1 percent and the consultants received 5 percent. Counc i I was concerned about the cutback in salaries, especially in light of the labor negotiator's forecast that some salaries will have to be b~ought up considerably in 1991 to meet comparable worth laws. They asked Mr. Koollck to run the budget with the 4 percent Increase In salaries with the difference made up out of legal expenses. Contingency - Mr. Koolick stated the~e Is about $9,000 for unforeseen emergencIes. Counc i I generally felt that Is quite low for the size of the budget. Counc I I discussed possible methods of increasing revenues, one being an Increase In admInistrative cha~ges for assessments and cha~ges fo~ developers. Mr. Schrantz argued they should be raised, as Andover's rate Is lowe~ than other cities. Counc II thought the charges should reflect the City's costs. Not fIllIng the vacant Staff positions was also brought up as a way of cutting expenses, though there was no consensus to do that. Special Ci ty Councl I Meet! ng August 16, 1990 - Minutes Page 6 (Proposed 1991 Budget Session, Continued) Mr-. Stone suggested the possibility of gettIng partial funding for an additional Public Works employee by eliminating the warmIng house where there is no ice rink. It was questioned whether there are some services that can be shared wIth other cIties to cut expenses. NothIng specific was determIned. The Counc II summarIzed the adJustments made to the proposed bUdget and asked Mr. Koolick to have a revised budget for the August 21 meeting: add $30,000 to sealcoatlng; Increase fuel costs by 3 percent, adJust salary incr-eases to 4 percent wIth the adJustment to come from the attorney's budget. MOTION by Jacobson, Seconded by Knight, to adJ ourn. MotIon carrIed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted. ~ ~H()QJ' ~ Marcella A. Peach RecordIng Secretar-y