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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4A 12 02 2019 City Council Minutes 1 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2019 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Briggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Councilors Thompson, Braid, and Erickson. Burkart was absent. Also, in attendance were City Manager Wedel, City Attorney Schwarzhoff, Fire Chief Steinhaus, Finance Director Erickson, Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler, Community Development Director McCabe, and City Clerk Orlofsky. PUBLIC FORUM Briggs: Reviewed the process for the public forum and explained that items scheduled for public hearing or items for which a public hearing has been held, but no final action is taken are not eligi- ble for discussion on the public forum. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION BY BRAID, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 18, 2019 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY ERICKSON, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 2 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes CONSENT AGENDA Wedel: Reviewed the items on the consent agenda. A. Approval of Claims Listing B. Approval of Tobacco Licenses Annual Renewal C. Approval of Amendment to the City Investment Policy MOTION BY BRAID, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. PRESENTATIONS 6A. Summit Preserve Development Expansion Concept Plan Director McCabe introduced Josh Metzer with Lennar Homes, Minnesota. Metzer: Addressed the City Council and presented a concept plan for an expansion at the Sum- mit Preserve Development. Lennar is requesting a rezone from Agricultural to R-2 District. Braid: Asked Director McCabe if this has gone to the Planning Commission. McCabe: Replied, no, it had not been to the Planning Commission yet. Braid: Asked the applicant what the public benefit was with this development. Metzer: Explained that there would be the land for future parks, and street connections. Briggs: Added that he understands that coming before the Council with a concept plan is an op- portunity that the applicant is afforded, however, he believes that it is important the Planning Com- mission has first shot at providing feedback at these concepts. The Planning Commission is the experts that the City Council asked to take on. Absent the Planning Commission’s guidance,he is challenged to provide feedback. A lot has changed with the landscape in the past year relative to clarity from the legislature on fees that communities could collect in times past. He’d like to allow the legislature to comment on the policy they are currently working on. John Chadwick, Property Owner, thanked the City and staff for all the work they have provided. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7A Public Budget Hearing Adopt 2020 Budget and Tax Levy Director Erickson provided the background information to the City Council. Briggs: Thanked Director Erickson for the excellent presentation. MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECONDED BY BRAID, TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:47 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson 3 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Mike McGuire, Prior Lake Resident, received his tax statement in the mail and noticed that the value went up to $27,000, which wasn’t surprising to him. What surprised him was that his tax increase of 1% was only $80. He congratulated the Council and staff for a job well done. He supports the 6.99%, and he supports the increase for the Economic Development Authority. McGuire added that this year is unique in that the City has the opportunity to give the taxpayer a real break plus get some necessary improvements done. He feels the increases are realistic and understands that there are projects that need to get done. BRAID MOVED, THOMPSON SECONDED, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:50 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Braid: Congratulated Director Erickson on a job well done and for creating clarity and transpar- ency to the budgeting process. The Council and the public appreciate it. He said this Council has been working diligently to add the transparency and sustainability aspects to the City budget. Braid would like as much money as possible to go back into the resident’s pockets while still supporting the maintenance needs of the City, debt reduction, and long-term sustainability for now and into the future. As Mr. McGuire stated, past Councils have not properly funded the equipment, trail, and facilities funds, which has artificially lowered the tax levy and increased our City’s debt and debt service, which would cost the City much more money over time. An example of this is the trail replacement fund that seems to get cut to zero every single year. Although the City has over 100 miles of trails in the City. This is concerning for Braid. The only way to correct this course is to build these funds up over time. Braid supports that component of the budget. Erickson: Noticed that in the budget, there was an area to redirect equipment funding or to re- duce the 2020 tax levy from legal fees and Street Overlay Funds, and that amounted to about $70,000. If the Council took the $70,000 and moved it to the Equipment Replacement fund, how would that benefit the City concerning future debt situations? Director Erickson: Explained that the City Council has provided direction that they would prefer to do pay as you go versus debt issuance. So, anything that the City can save now and set aside would help reduce future debt issuance when purchasing equipment. Briggs: Added that the City has mandatory costs that are going up 5% with inflationary pres- sures. How many homeowners will experience a 5% or greater increase in their tax bill? 4 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes Director Erickson: Explained that 35% of households will see an increase of 5% or greater. Briggs: Added that two-thirds of the residents will not even experience the pain of the increase. Many homes will see a drop in their tax bill. Briggs is comfortable with the 6.99% increase be- cause this will not hit the majority of the taxpayers. Braid: Stated that the increase for the Economic Development Authority portion is important for the City’s financial stability. Braid would be open to reducing the levy and taking the legal fees and Permanent Revolving Funds and returning it to the taxpayer. That would bring the levy down to 6.44%. Thompson: Added that the City bases the budget on growth, plus inflation, plus debt service. She would like to see the debt service piece go down or go away for future tax levies. One of the City’s major goals is to grow the commercial tax base. It does make sense to her that the Economic Development Authority would need more money to help grow the commercial tax base. She can support the increase in the Economic Development Authority. Unfortunately, the costs of roads are continuing to increase. She would support the improve- ments as well. She would like to see the $70,000 reduction, as it brings the levy closer to the 5.9% that she said she would support. She added that she appreciates the staff's hard work, and she can support the 6.44% that Braid has proposed. Briggs: Added that he would like to see the Council build the funds to replenish the Equipment Replacement Fund. He asked the staff where the City should be so that the fund does not fall short. Director Erickson: Explained that the City looks at the Equipment Replacement Fund, the City should levy about a million dollars a year in the tax levy. Currently, the City is at $625,000 a year. The Council has worked at increasing that incrementally because it’s hard to make that jump in one year. Briggs: Asked the Council to consider these funds as they decide where the Council would like to set the levy this year. ERICKSON MOVED, BRIGGS SECONDED, TO SET THE LEVY AT 6.99% AND TO TRANS- FER $70,000 FROM THE LEGAL FEES AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT REVOLVING FUNDS TO THE REVOLVING EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND. BRIGGS ASKED FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, TO MOVE $40,000 INTO THE REVOLVING EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND AND $30,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY’S LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS IN 2020. ERICKSON AGREED TO THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. BRIGGS SECONDED WITH THE AMENDMENT. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Nay ☐ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion failed. Braid: Asked what the Councilors could live with to come to a compromise with the levy. Briggs: Agreed that the Council was not that far off. They are talking about $70,000. Briggs could support 6.66%. 5 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes Erickson: Asked Director Erickson what the $70,000 would mean on the average tax bill. Director Erickson: Explained she did not have the exact number, but it would be less than $1.00. Erickson: Replied, point made. Braid: Asked what the percentage would be if the Council were to split the $70,000 to $35,000. Director Erickson: Stated it would be 6.72%. Thompson: Stated that she is at 6.44%, and that is a stretch for her. She would love to see it at 5.99%. She can’t support any higher. BRIGGS MOVED, BRAID SECONDED, TO APPROVE THE 2020 BUDGET AND SET THE LEVY AT 6.44%. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☐ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 7B Public Hearing to Consider Approval of the Proposed 2020 Fee Schedule and Code Amendment Director Erickson presented the background information. BRAID MOVED, THOMPSON SECONDED, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:18 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. BRAID MOVED, THOMPSON SECONDED, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:19 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. BRAID MOVED, THOMPSON SECONDED, TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE CHAPTER 2 ADOPTING THE 2020 FEE SCHEDULE AS PROPOSED. 6 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. OLD BUSINESS 8A Consider Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Execute the City’s Standardized Contract for City Facility Refuse and Recycling Pickup and Disposal BRAID MOVED, THOMPSON SECONDED, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CITY’S STANDARDIZED CONTRACT WITH BUCKINGHAM COM- PANIES FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM, JANUARY 1, 2020 TO DECEMBER 31, 2020 AT A COST OF $24,332.34. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS 9A. No Scheduled New Business REMOVED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS OTHER BUSINESS / COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Erickson: None. Braid: 11/20 Rotary Meeting, 11/25 PC meeting canceled, 11/22 BED Future and their concerns, 11/17 Agenda Review, 11/20 Shopped Downtown for Small Business Saturday Thompson: 11/17 Agenda review Briggs: 11/19 Live, Learn, Earn Post-Secondary Meeting,11/19 Intergovernmental Working Group, 11/20 Quarterly Meeting with Nuvera, 11/20 Rotary Meeting, 11/25 meeting with Manager Wedel on Street Improvement Fees, 11/27 State of the City presentation at the Rotary Meeting with Manager Wedel Wedel: Director Brotzler, Director McCabe, and Manager Wedel went door to door to the down- town businesses explaining what will move forward this spring with the project. 12A. OTHER BUSINESS 7 DRAFT 12 02 2019 City Council Meeting Minutes 13. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY BRAID, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:27 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Respectfully Submitted _____________________________ Jason Wedel, City Manager