Nowthen City Council Workshop meeting, October 5, 2017
City CouncilThursday, October 5, 2017
Agenda
Not on file
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not on file
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
One-line summary
Council held a workshop covering the Anoka County assessor contract renewal, proposed subdivision ordinance administrative approvals, code enforcement process direction (including a Guyer property discussion), and several consent and council RCA items including skating rink lighting and CAT loader replacement planning.
What was on the agenda
17 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
- Discussion only
1Anoka County Assessor - Contract Renewal
Presentation and Q&A on Anoka County Assessor Contract Renewal, cost structure, tax court defense responsibilities, and upcoming assessment expectation reviews for 2019.
The council heard a presentation and asked questions about renewing the city’s contract with the Anoka County Assessor, including how the county bills for assessment costs, how tax court petitions and professional appraisal services are handled, county oversight responsibilities, and a timeline of changes and reviews connected to assessment expectations for 2019.
- Anoka County assessor contract renewal
p. 1City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1). Alex Guggenberger, Anoka County Assessor - Contract Renewal questions/answers - Mr. Guggenberger came to give a presentation about the Anoka County Assessor Contract Renewal.p. 1City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Changes coming for assessment 2019. Spring - Anoka County Assessment Expectations to be provided in writing to Local Assessment Offices. December - Detailed review to be performed per expectations. January \- Notification of deficiencies provided to municipalities in writing. - Discussion only
2aProposed Subdivision Ordinance Amendment (Section 10 of the City Code)
Proposed amendment to allow lot reconfigurations and some minor subdivisions to be approved administratively; discussion included escrow, review timeline, reporting, and hourly rate.
The council and planner discussed a proposed amendment to Section 10 of the city code that would allow certain lot reconfigurations and minor subdivisions to be approved administratively instead of requiring city council approval, including discussion of escrow flexibility, changing the review/decision period to 14 days, and using an hourly rate for work in place of a required report of findings.
- subdivision ordinance amendment - administrative approvals
p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)a). PROPOSED SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - (Section 10 of the City Code) to allow Lot Reconfigurations and some minor subdivisions to be approved administratively rather than requiring City Council approval.p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Stockman said she has the capability to reduce the amount of escrow required on any given application. She also changed it to 14 days for the review and decision time instead of (ten) 10 days.p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Stockman said there would be no more required report of findings and it would be done at the $60 per hour rate. - Discussion only
2bCode Enforcement Update & Requested Direction
Update on Guyer property/animals and council discussion about site inspection expectations and whether to start enforcement with letters versus more personal contact; planner to draft example letter and Rainville to prepare an RCA/draft process for November.
The planner updated the council after speaking with Guyer, reporting that most animals were removed and that, based on what she was told, he was in compliance; the council debated whether a site inspection should be conducted and whether the city’s first step should be a more personal contact versus the standard written notice letter, with direction for a draft example letter and for Rainville to bring an RCA and draft process at the November meeting; several members stated that a site inspection should be performed if that is the general process.
- code enforcement process
- Guyer property compliance
p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)b). CODE ENFORMCEMENT UPDATE & REQUESTED DIRECTION - Stockman did speak with Guyer and he has gotten rid of a majority of his animals (all exotic and all regulated).p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Her question to the Council is if they want her to do a site inspection or if they are happy taking his word for it.p. 3City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Rainville said that at the September meeting they had a conversation on it and the motion was to have Stockman speak to Mr. Guyer.p. 3City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)In Lieu of that Guyer got a letter dated September 13th outlining violation and potential fines and requesting a meeting be set up with Stockman.p. 5City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Stockman said she can draft an example letter for review for the Council.p. 5City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)For the November meeting Rainville will do an RCA and a draft of what she would think it would look like.p. 5City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Reighard, Bettinger and Breyen think that a site inspection at Tommy Guyers property should be performed if that is the general process. - Outcome unrecorded
3.1.1Approve meeting minutes (Aug 29 Special; Sept 7 Workshop; Sept 12 Council; Sept 18 & Sept 25 Budget)
Consent agenda item; no comments recorded.
No vote or formal approval action is recorded in these workshop minutes for the consent agenda items.
- consent agenda - minutes
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.1 Approve the August 29th Special City Council Meeting, September 7th City Council Workshop, September 12th, City Council Meeting and the September 18th and September 25, 2017 Budget Meeting Minutes - No Comments - Outcome unrecorded
3.1.2Financial Report
Consent agenda item; no comments recorded.
No vote or formal approval action is recorded in these workshop minutes for the consent agenda items.
- consent agenda - financial report
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.2 Financial Report - No Comments - Outcome unrecorded
3.1.3Approve All Audited Bills (Claim #398 through #434) and Net Distribution reports (Sept 5, 11, and 18, 2017)
Council members requested earlier delivery of contracted-service bills/invoices for more review time.
No vote or formal approval action is recorded in these workshop minutes for the consent agenda items.
- claims and bills timing
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.3 Approve All Audited Bills Claim # 398 through Claim # 434, plus Net Distribution reports dated September 5, 11, and 18, 2017 - Pilon and Rainville would like to have the bills from the contracted services sooner than with the Council packets. - Outcome unrecorded
3.1.4Accept John Setala's Resignation from the Planning Commission
Discussed advertising the planning commission opening.
No vote or formal acceptance action is recorded in these workshop minutes for the consent agenda items.
- planning commission vacancy
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.4 Accept John Setala's Resignation from the Planning Commission - Advertise about the opening on the Planning Commission. - Approved
3.1.5RCA - Collaborative Purchase of Adobe Acrobat Pro
Council consensus to move forward.
Recorded as council consensus during workshop; no formal motion text recorded.
- software purchase - Adobe Acrobat Pro
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.5 RCA - Collaborative Purchase of Adobe Acrobat Pro - Council Consensus is to move forward with this - Discussion only
3.1.6RCA - Current Practice of Accepting Anonymous Complaints
Direction to revise RCA to mention public safety and to provide council information on Data Practices Act as it pertains to complaints.
- anonymous complaints policy
- data practices act
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.6 RCA - Current Practice of Accepting Anonymous Complaints - Rainville wants to move forward with this. Bettinger thinks we need to continue to accept anonymous complaint if there is a public safety issue.p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)She would like staff to provide the Council what the current Data Practices Act is pertaining to complaints. - Tabled
3.1.7RCA - Purchase Land Use changing Signs
Consensus to remove from agenda until more sign specifications are obtained.
Minutes state the item would be removed from the agenda pending more information; no formal motion recorded.
- land use change signs
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.7 RCA - Purchase Land Use changing Signs - The consensus is to remove this from the agenda until information about type of lettering, size, coloring, etc. information is obtained. - Discussion only
3.1.8RCA - Hiring Steve Bucholz as a Permanent Part-Time (32 hours or less) employee
Discussion of adding office/city hall cleaning responsibilities and checking with attorney about hours and classification.
- staffing - part-time employee
- city hall cleaning
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.8 RCA - Hiring Steve Bucholz as a Permanent Part-Time (32 hours or less) employee - Rainville would like Bucholz to assume the responsibilities of cleaning the City offices and the City Hall.p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)LaDoucer will check with the attorney about the 32 hours and if there are any issues working more than that. Also check with him about the classification of Permanent vs. Regular. - Discussion only
3.1.9RCA - Contracted Cleaning Services for City Hall and City Offices
Discussion to have the part-time employee assume these responsibilities.
- city hall cleaning - contracted vs staff
p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.9 RCA - Contracted Cleaning Services for City Hall and City Offices - Discussion was to have the part-time employee assume these responsibilities. - Discussion only
3.1.10RCA - Removal of remaining dirt across recycling center/fire station
Discussion of using dirt on-site, considering a grading plan, and possibly having the city engineer advise; suggested moving item for further discussion under council items.
The council discussed options for removing or repurposing remaining dirt, including spreading fill in low areas, concerns about needing a grading plan and topsoil work, and the idea of having the city engineer review the site and recommend a plan; the minutes note there was $14,000 left in the city engineer budget and suggest the item be moved for further discussion under council items.
Minutes reflect discussion and suggestions to move the item for further discussion; no final action recorded.
- dirt removal/grading plan
- city lot fill
p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.10 RCA - Removal of remaining dirt across recycling center/fire station - There was discussion about using the dirt to spread throughout the low areas on the lot.p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)We have $14,000 left in our budget for the City Engineer.p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)It was suggested to remove this item and put it under Council Items for further discussion. - Discussion only
3.1.11RCA - Staff to Research Neighboring Cities Policy for use and rental of Hockey Rink and Warming House
Discussion about staffing implications similar to park pavilion staffing.
- rink policy research
p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)1.11 RCA - Staff to Research Neighboring Cities Policy for use and rental of Hockey Rink and Warming House - Reighard said the park pavilions are not staffed. - Discussion only
4aRCA - Lights for the ice skating surfaces
Council directed staff to get bids; discussion covered donated poles from A&B Welding, Dependable bid involvement, Connexus Energy verbal bid for electricity to the warming house, and debate about layout and whether to consult the engineer first.
The council discussed adding lights to the ice skating surfaces, including that staff had been directed to obtain bids, the possibility of donated power poles from A&B Welding with electrical work by Dependable, and a Connexus Energy verbal estimate to run electricity to the warming house; members debated whether to proceed before further engineering/layout input and whether the warming house should be moved closer to parking/power to reduce electrical costs, with no final spending approval recorded in the workshop minutes.
Minutes describe direction to obtain bids and ongoing discussion; no final approval to spend recorded.
- skating rink lighting
- warming house electrical
p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)a). RCA - Lights for the ice skating surfaces - Reighard said if we put lights out there it will be used a lot more.p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)The Council directed staff to go out and get some bids for lighting.p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)We also received a verbal bid from Connexus Energy to run electricity from the power pole to the warming house and that bid came in about $1,500 - $1,800.p. 9City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)Rainville said in the last discussion they talked about a permanent location and they changed the language from permanent to designated. Is it smart to expend up to $7,000 at a location that may not turn out to be the permanent location for the rink and pleasure rink? - Approved
4bRCA - Replacement of CAT 930 Loader
Council consensus for Glaze to consult with Bettinger and Breyen on inspections and purchases.
The council reached consensus that Glaze would consult with Bettinger and Breyen regarding inspections and purchases related to replacing the CAT 930 loader.
Recorded as council consensus during workshop; no formal motion text recorded.
- CAT 930 loader replacement
p. 10City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)b). RCA - Replacement of CAT 930 Loader - Council consensus is to have Glaze consult with Bettinger and Breyen on any inspection and purchases. - No action
5Introduction of New Items
No new items introduced; workshop adjourned at 10:10 PM.
p. 10City Council Workshop — 2017-10-05 Workshop Minutes (2017-10-05)### 5). Introduction of New Items: - No new items introduced Workshop adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Sources
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
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