HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP January 17, 1991
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,~ CITY of ANDOVER
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Special City Council - January 11, 1991
6:00 P.M. Call to Order
1. City Council Interviews
2. Selection of Councilmember
3.
4. Adjournment
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CITY of ANDOVER
" .l.. ¡' 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304· (612) 755-5100
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - JANUARY 17, 1991
MINUTES
A Special Meet! ng of the Andover City Council was called to order by
Mayor Ken Orttel on January 17, 1991, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City
Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andovee, Minnesota, to Interview
applicants foe the vacant Council position.
Councilmembers present: Jacobson, McKelvey, Perry
Councllmember absent: None
Also present: City Adminlstratoe/Engineer, James Schrantz
The following appJicants for the vacant Council seat were scheduled
tor 15-minute inteeviews by the Counc i I :
William LeFebvee
Mike Knight
Bonnie Dehn
James Knol I
Randal Peek
Don Beown, Jr.
Becky Pease
Todd Sm I th
Otto ptei ffer
Ralph Keiffee
Roger Paulson
Marc McMullen had also applied for the position but was unable to
attend the interview. Because the Council was familiar with Mr.
McMullen's work on the Park and Recreation Commission, they agreed to
consider the application without an Interview.
The applicants were asked questions alternately by the Councllmembers
as to what qualities they feel they have to set them above the other
candidates, the theee most important issues they would ]ike to see
addressed in the next two years, how they would handle the conflicting
interests between the ueban and rural areas at the City, their opinion
of the Metropolitan Council 1/10, 4/40 Rural Development Guideline,
whether they think serving on another City Commission should be
eequired before serving on the Council, how they would encourage more
eesident participation in city goveenment, how they would balance
the budget If theee are further cutbacks from the State, plus otheef
questions. Those not now serving on a City Commission were asked if
they wouJd be wi I ling to serve in such a capacity if not appointed to
the Counc i I . Those not seeking pubJic office in the last ejection
were a]so asked whY they did not run tor the position at that time.
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Special City Council Meeting
January 17, 1991 - Minutes
Page 2
William LeFebvre *felt the main Issue facing the City is geowth
and meeting the demands that come with 1 t. *was not that tamll iar
with the 4/40 concept but generally opposed it. *telt the experience
of seevlng on another CIty Commission Is beneficial on the Council,
noting his background on the Park Board. *wants to be part of the
City and Its growth. *has the tIme necessary to devote to this
position. *didn't feel his aftillatlon with his union would Interfere
in dealing with the City's union. *felt it is Inevitable that growth
wi] I follow those moving to the more rural aeeas. *stated it is
important to listen to the eesldents and theIr problems, noting his
part I c Ipatlon in the local neighborhood association. *sees potential
teafflc problems aeound the shopping centee and elsewhere, stating
those should be addressed, doing whatever Is necessary to allevIate
congestion. *felt the CIty should work wIth busInesses to encourage
them into the City and not make it too complicated to do so. *cuts
should be made to the budget wherever possible, looking at raising
taxes when there is no other alternative. *thlnks growth, oak wi I t
disease, and the hazardous waste problems are the theee most Important
Issues in the City. *stated he is sInceee about wanting to serve on
the Counc iI, but would like to work with the City in other capacitIes
such as the P & Z it not appointed to the Council.
Mike Knioht *proposed an across-the-board cut on all Items if
there are cutbacks In the LGA tundlng, possiblY even having to feeeze
salaries or cut back In personne I . *named economic development and
oak wilt disease as the main Issues tacing the City. *dldn't see a
problem with his living in the same area as Councilmember Perry,
noting In the eight years he's been on the Council, he didn't cecal I
an issue where the decision was made on where people lived. *thought
any impeovements to the quality of the municipal water would be based
upon what the health authoelties are advIsing, though he didn't know
where the money would come from to do anything beyond that. *feels
the CIty needs Its own police force now but didn't know wheee the
dol lacs would come team, though he felt the funding would be theee at
some point. *enjoyed the Council, thinking he did a good Job and telt
he has a lot to offer in terms of experience, knowledge and good
judgement. *given the results of the election of only a 12-vote
difference, he had a good degree of support on the pact of the public.
Bonnie Dehn *whether or not experience Is needed on a CIty
Commission would depend on the Individual's background and their
participation In dltterent oeganlzatlons. *three goals are
environmental conceens of watee control, pollution and recycling;
safety to maintain the quality at lIte she appeeclates In Andover; and
an organized method of achieving those goals. *was not familiar with
the 4/40 concept, but Andover Is no longer an agricultural-based
community. She would want to know the thoughts behind the concept and
considee why It would be necessary in Andover, stating Andover's
development has been done very well. *dld not run in the electIon
because she was actIve In several dlffeeent organizations which she
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Special Ci ty Counc II Meeting
January 17, 1991 - Minutes
Page 3
(Bonnie Dehn Interview, Continued)
has since backed down tram. They no I on gee consIder their operation a
farm but a small business and now wants to try something new, as she
is a veey actively Involved person. *characterized herselt as veey
agressive, especially In research; Joves woeking with people and would
hope to present a fair and unbIased opinIon. *has applied foe the
P & Z If not chosen tor the Council vacancy; may also be Inteeested In
the Park Board. *peesonally is hesItant about approving a traIler park
in the CIty but realizes the CIty must comply wIth the legaJ system.
*sympathIzes with geowers who are theeated by urban development, but
feels it is Important to work to make the community the best it can
be. *has no conflicts of interest to being on the Council and would
make the time for it. *had previous experience In balancing a budget
wIth reduced funding, notIng the first step Is to look for unnecessary
spend I ng, the dead weight, and those Items that can be put on the back
burner. *may be wise to hold back economic development In 1991
because of the economy, but ideally It would benefit the Ci ty In terms
of income to aggeessIvely seek mace and good businesses. *peefers
the Jegislatlve and Jobbylng activItIes over adminlsteative tasks.
James Knoll *named a continuing athletic program for the youth,
controlled development wIth a balance at high densIty and rural areas,
and continued low tax structure as his maIn goals. *felt water
quality and cleanup of the polJution are the maIn problems. *Is not In
tavor of the 4/40 concept in the rural aeeas, that 2 1/2 acre lots
have been suftlcient. *felt a qualifIed candidate with experIence on
other CIty Commissions should be given prefeeence. *wants the position
to be a more responsible citizen and to help the CIty. *has app lied
to the P & Z 1£ not chosen for this position and Is most Inteeested In
the Tree CommissIon. *didn't favor trailer parks, noting the lack of a
tax base but the need tor addItionaJ services and schooJs. *has been
involved with other organIzatIons which have now met the goals he had
wanted to accomplish and is now ready to move on to somethIng else.
He hadn't thought of himself as a CounclJmember at the time of the
election. *would prefer administratIve activities to legislative
ones. *saw no conflIct of interest and had no personal agenda in mind.
*would lIke the experIence at being on the Council and felt he had the
qualifications necessary to contribute to the development of the City.
Randal Peek *is interested In seeIng the City address the
establIshment of a development polIcy relating to the Compeehenslve
Plan beIng peepared, an Increased emphasIs on the development of the
commercial park, the problem with snowmobiles, and the on-going
environmental Issues including the landfill. HeJ t the 4/40 plan makes
sense, but Andover has already evolved into a rural area In the north
and urban development In the south. He dId not want to be dictated to
by the Metropolitan CounciJ, suggesting a buftee area between the two
zones be established. *dIdn't see the representatIon on the CouncIl
at this time as a problem between rural and urban areas; however, with
50 percent at the population In the southern area, he represents that
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Special Ci ty Counci I Meeting
Januaey 17, 1991 - Minutes
Page 4
(Randa I Peek Interview, Continued)
growIng geographic group to the City. *stated the timing was not right
to run In the election as his last child was born in October, but has
always thought about it and did not want to pass up this opportunity
to do so. *has the time necessary to devote to the City Council
position, that time now being spent on the P & Z and Camp Plan Task
Force. *is peesonally not in favor of the mobile home park, but dIdn't
know if legally the City could preclude It. *takes his service to
the community seriously and tries to be consistent and impartial when
looking at issues. *teels hIs background on the P & Z and the Task
Force helps with his tamillarlty at the issues facing the City.
*avolds any contlict with the City In his work. *balanclng the budget
may require the cutting of seevlces and aceoss-the-board cuts. *tries
to be active in hIs neighborhood, noting the petition he started
concering the Tree Ordinance. *has not had governmental experience
prior to coming to Andover because he placed his eneegles into
peesonal endeavors. *is more Interested In legislative activities
than that of administratIon. *telt the etfectlveness of a Council-
member is directly related to how well he/she understands the process,
that it should not be mandatory that Councilmember have served on a
City Commission, though it Is an Important consideration.
Don Brown. Jr. *agreed with the 4/40 development concept in the
noethern area of Andovee, as he has talked with the Metropolitan
Counc il regarding thele eeasons for the concept. *Iisted development
and control avec the quality at development, the environmental area of
Bunker Lake Boulevard and the auto parts dealers, and the traffic flow
as the three main Issues facing the City. *personally preferred the
legislative action of the positIon, noting admInIstratIon is also a
top priority. *would first look at the overa J J budget to see where
spending could be cut. As the population geows, there Is a cry toe
more services, namely a police department. He would not be In favor
of one right away, but the City has to balance the cost of its own
department and what Is being provided now. *thought a person's
service on a City Commission should be considered when being appointed
to the Counc iI, though he got an Idea tram the residents during the
campaign as to what the City should be doing. He's had a lot of
experience In building and zoning oedinances. *would have no time
conflicts to seeve on the Council. *decided 1 1/2 years ago to get
mace involved In City government and would be open to serving on any
other committee If not chosen for the Council. He has aleeady asked
to serve on the Boundary Committee. *felt the candlates who ran In
the last election should be considered first because of the desire and
hard wack that went Into It. Of the candlates, only Mike Knight has
mace expeeience, stating he teels that he Is qualified.
Becky Pease *was In the process of starting a new job at the time
of the election and didn't want to handle that and the campaign at the
same time. *Iisted her three top priorities as growth, setting
priorities as the property owners can't atford everything, and the
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Spec! a 1 Ci ty Counci I Meet i ng
January 17, 1991 - MInutes
Page 5
(Becky Pease Interview, Continued)
clean up of the junkyard area. *would fIrst look at where money is
being spent and eliminate waste to balance the budget, and setting
priorIties on some Items. *was not agaInst the 4/40 plan but
objected to the Met Council trying to Impose their will on the Ci ty
Instead of allowing the City to make Its own decision. *felt the
oedlnances need to be entorced and IncentIves given to the property
ownees In the junkyard aeea, or use the TIF funds to buy them out.
*would like to get Involved in the legIslative activities but Is
knowledgable on the admlnlsteatlve Items. *dldn't feel a peerequlslte
Is necessaey that a person serve on a City Commission before servIng
on the Council, but he/she should be Involved and have an Interest In
the CIty. *would tirst compare the costs at a City Police Department
wi th what Is being purchased from the county, but predicted some day
the CI ty wi II have Its own department. *IIkes thIs CIty and wants to
see and help It grow and prosper. She brings a dIfferent perspective
to the City and Is really Interested In It. *is dedicated and
Interested and has the analysIs skills needed tor the position.
Todd Sml th *llsted three goals of the City of establishing an
ovee-a II long-range plan to Insure proper development, to help the
public become more aware at the property tax system, and to develop
the commercial area. *dldn't feel his job of assessor for Burns and
Llno Lakes ceeates a conflict at Interest. *would lIke to see
seveeal areas develop as commercial or Industrial parks to create
more jabs In the area. *felt the CIty could contInue growing at the
same rate 1 f the Met Counc 11 can be shown the type at control the City
has. *didn't feel he was known enough to eun In the election, but
wants to get involved and use hIs experIence to help the City.
*eelated his background In government In Grand Marais. *Is attracted
to and would be most effective In admInIstrative work because of his
expeeiences and his skIlls In workIng with people. *Is Inteeested in
serving on the P & Z or Park Board If not appoInted to the Council.
*personally does not appeove of the trailer park. suggesting the CIty
do whatever It can to keep the density down. *Involvement is important
and he has freed up hIs time to get more involved In the City.
Otto Pfeiffer *llsted the top priorities as Improving the busIness
cl imate, improving the road system, and making sure there Is
efficiency In all operatIons. *balanclng the budget will require
doIng without things that are not really needed, usIng eveeythlng as
efficiently as possible and makIng sure tax ealses are equItable to
eveeyone. *get more Industry and businesses In the CIty to help
with the tax base. *doesn't tavor the 4/40 development concept; Is
not peactlcal In an area growing as fast as Andover because 1 twill
halt growth. *Is his eIghth application for a City positIon, his
second tor the Council. *wouJd taster communication with residents
by enlaeglng the monthly news eeport, mace detaIled agendas, and
clearer public notices. *avoId conflIcts between the rural and urban
areas by designating the zones. then retaining them and not giving In
Special Ci ty Counci I Meeting
January 17, 1991 - Minutes
Page 6
(Otto Ptei ffee Interview, Continued)
to the pressure at developers. *must balance the cost factor befoee
staetlng a City Police Department and related his expeelences while In
charge of a police department for four yeaes in New Ulm. *consldeeed
himself a good speaker, very logical, honest, doesn't given In to a
lot of pressure when It will benetlt only a few, and has been very
successful in his business using those principles. *believes he is
better at administrative tasks and has a good rapport with people.
*sees no conflict at interest to serving on the Council.
Ralph Kieffer *has a wIde background tram construction to
purchasing and sales to offer the City, plus his expeeience in
polItics in his home town. *Is not famIliar with the 4/40 policy but
felt It would be costly and disorganized for development. *dldn't
necessarily feel it is necessary to begin political service on a City
Commission tirst. *has a lot at experience working with the public,
looks at things very logIcally, and eesolves issues tactfully. His
biggest asset is his problem-solving abilities. *would be willing to
serve on the P & Z. *would have to look at the economics of a City
POlice Department befoee deciding, though the size at the CI ty may
determine when It should be staeted. He Is well satisfIed with the
peotectlon right now. *would only be concerned about the balance of
representation on the Council it he wasn't being represented. He
didn't think any favoritism has been shown and Is happy with the way
the Counc i I is now. *has the time to devote to the position. *would
look at services that have a user-cost factor to balance the budget,
and cut spending cather than raise taxes.
Robert Paulson *favors the 4/40 development concent as it provides
open spaces and density. *has been In Andover since June 1 , 1990.
*1 isted land development zoning, poll utlon, and State Aid cuts as the
top three priorities facing the City. *wants to be on the Council to
work wIth the planning and development of the community, which he
never had the time to do before now. *would be Interested In serving
on the Park Board, Tree Inspections, and the Planning Commission.
*should have a polIce department very shortly as the City grows to
meet the rising responses and care of the people. *felt some
background wIth the City and knowledge at how It tunctlons should be
considered highly, though It should not be necessary to have served on
a City CommissIon. *suggested more information be put in the
newsletters to keep residents Informed. *thought the issue of urban
versus rural Is a natural phenomena and would like to see It happen
systematically and weJl planned. *main expertise Is in maintaining
oe developing the physIcal plant, water and sewee, equipment, working
with contractors and overseeing engineering, plus some zoning. *sees
no conflict of Interest. *stated oedinances, rules, and regu I a tI ons
have to be looked at caeefully and to be tlexible it there are special
clecumstances.
Counc I ] recessed at 8:38: eeconvened at 8:46 p.m.
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Special City Council Meeting
January 17, 1991 - Minutes
Page 7
Counc I I then discussed the selection of a Councilmember from the 11
candidates interviewed and Marc McMullen. Each Councilmember
indicated their top three choices, then through the process of
elimination, ranked their top two choices. The qualltlcations of the
candidates were outlined.
MOTION by Peery, Seconded by Jacobson, that the Andover City Council
appoint Mike Knight to the position vacated by the resignation of Ken
Orttel when he assumed the position at Mayoe of Andover.
VOTE ON MOTION: YES-Jacobson, Per.y; NO-McKelvey, Orttel
Motion falls.
MOTION by McKelvey, Seconded by Oct tel, the Counc i I appoint Me.
Sml th to the vacancy of Mr. OetteJ for the two-yeae teem.
VOTE ON MOTION: YES-McKelvey, Orttel; NO-Jacobson, Perry
Motion fai Is.
Discussion noted that the Statutes allow the Mayor to appoint a
Counc II member. Councllmembers Perry, McKelvey and Jacobson all stated
they would support the Mayor's choice even though they had their own
personal preference.
Mayor Oettel stated he preterred not to make the appointment; but
agreed to do so because of the tied votes and to prevent turthee delay
of the matter. The Mayor appointed Todd Smith to fi]] the vacant
Counc i I seat which expires December 31, 1992.
MOTION by Pe.ry, Seconded by Jacobson, to adjou.n. Motion carried
unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mac e]]a A. Peach
Recoedlng Secretaey
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