Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.a. Minutes of the June 9, 2010 City Council Work Session ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS I V JUNE 9, 2010 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular work session of the Rosemount City Council was held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145`" Street West, Rosemount. Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members Bills, Shoe - Corrigan and Weisensel attending. Council Member DeBettignies arrived late. Staff present included City Administrator Johnson, Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brotzler, Finance Director May, City Clerk Domeier, Director of Parks and Recreation Schultz, Chief of Pohce'Kalstabakken and Community Development Director Lindquist. DISCUSSION 2.A. Water Rates , Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brotzler summarized the information provided within the e staff report. He stated that the residents of the Crosscroft Homeowners Association (the "HOA ") have expressed concerns about their irrigation meters in residential areas. He explained that the HOA has five meters for irrigation including one for the clubhouse and four others for watering yards and common areas. He stated that no individual unit is watering grass on their own property around their house. In looking at where other communities are at and how we can come up with a system to treat all properties fairly and equitable staff has discussed eliminating the'top tier residential rate of $2.75 per 1000 gallons and establishing a new rate that is $2.00 per 1,000 gallon flat rate for all irrigation uses. Council Member Bills'questioned if the same issues could arise for any commercial or industrial properties. Mr. Brotzler responded that there are some businesses that have irrigation meters and would'be subject to the irrigation meter rate of $2.00 per 1,000 gallons. Mr. May added that a majority of cities that have irrigation meters charge a flat rate that is typically at the highest rate. Mr. Brotzler pointed out that the City's water usage on public land was 438,000 per acre in comparison to the Crosscroft HOA usage of 750,000 gallons per acre. Discussion ensued regarding the water use of the HOA along with billing and second meters. Council Member Shoe - Corrigan stated the bottom line is promoting conservation. Further discussion was held regarding the issuance of citations for violating the water bans. _.Mr. May noted that it would beat least two years before the Gity will notice if residents are changing their,watering habits. Mayor Droste stated there needs to be .a clear message that the rates are used to help maintain the system and conserve water. a Mr. May asked the City Council to considering making the change in rates in this billing period to avoid making adjustments after the period ends. He stated that Utility Billing staff can make the changes and modifications to resident's` accounts now.instead`of doing it manually in the future. Mr., May stated that a modification would need to be made to the Fee Resolution. The resolution will be considered at the June 15 City Council meeting. Further discussion was held regarding the education of the changes in water rates. Mr. Brotzler and Mr. May recapped the public outreich that was done to promote water conservation and outline the changes in the water rates. , F 2.E. 2011 Budget Discussion . City Administrator Johnson summarized the information provided with the staff report. The recommended budget for2011 proposes a reduction of $42 in the City taxes assessed to a median �G. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS JUNE 9, 2010 y value home. The City tax levy-would decline by 1.54% and the overall reduction in City funding needs would be 2.17 %. With the reduction of $77 in taxes for the median home in 2010; °the two year propertytax decline for the median home will be $119 or 13.1 %. The median family home paid $1,025 in City taxes in 2009 and would pay $906 in 2011 with the proposed budget. Discussion was held regarding the Emerald Ash Borer threat. Director of Parks and Recreation Schultz provided information on staff's goals moving forward with adopting anew ordinance and planting new trees. A plan will be developed and brought back to the City Council of a later date. Mayor Droste expressed concerns on the street CIP proposed levy and the amount spent since the program was put in place. Council Member Shoe - Corrigan stated that the number of streets added were mostly new and paid for by developers. Discussion was also held regarding having a street light utility ,fee similar to other Dakota County cities. Mr: Johnson updated the City Council on the staff reductions in the Community Development Department. Council Member Shoe - Corrigan questioned when a new work flow plan will be discussed. Community Development Director Lindquist stated it would depend upon the variables for the FMLA leave for an employee and the replacement options for the GIS Technician ". Mr. Johnson provided a handout of the receptionist duties noting that approximately 60% of her time is secretarial. Because of the cuts in the Community Development Department he did not recommend 'any changes to the position. Further discussion was held regarding union contract negotiations throughout the metro area. Finance Director May stated that the goal of the discussion was to receive feedback from -the City Council on the budget as proposed. Council Member Bills stated that in reviewing the budget the staff has done a great job of peeling back the larger layers over the past two years. Mr. Johnson added that changes were made to approximately 55 line item's this year totaling about $90,000 in savings. Council Member DeBettignies expressed concerns about only projecting 5% for fuel increases. Mr. Brotzler explained the process "for locking in the fuel rates. Currently staff locks in 45% of its monthly fuel consumption in January of each year. After that, the cost is the daily spot rate. He noted that a big variable for 2010 was that snow plowing was not done in March or "April. Council Member Weisensel suggested locking in at a larger percentage. Council Member DeBettignies also questioned the contract for purchasing salt for winter. Mr. Brotzler stated that the City purchase`s the salt off the state bid. Council Member.DeBettignies stated there is an expected increase of up to 17% for the price of salt. Finance Director May stated that some variables like the TIE numbers and fiscal disparities will-not be known until the end of July or early August. Because of those variables the,City Council will not hold another budget discussion until "those numbers are received or another issue should arise for discussion. Mr. May stated that the preliminary budget will be considered at the September 7, 2010 meeting and certified to the County by September 15, 2010. Mr.-Johnson questioned if any information about the budget should be added to the newsletter going out later in the month. The City'Council preferred waiting to add it to a newsletter until the r � y 4 r 8 ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS JUNE 9, 2010 preliminary levy is set. Discussion was held regarding having a town hall meeting °during Leprechaun Days to discuss the budget and other items such as the Steeple Center. 2.13. SKB Wetland Replacement Modification" Community Development Director Lindquist summarized the information provided within the staff report. We will need to modify the WACA permit so it will come before the City Council for the formal process for the amendment. Director of Parks and Recreation Schultz provided more information on the future of the wetlands. Discussion was held on the replacement modifications. 2.C. Dakota County 2011 -2015 Draft CIP Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brotzler summarized the information provided within the draft letter to Dakota County. Discussion was held regarding the future of County Road 73 (Akron Avenue). Mayor Droste suggested the additions to the trail system from County Road 42 to Connemara Trail. The City Council supported the sending the letter as proposed with the one suggested change to continue requesting a trail on the east side of CR 33 from CR 42 to Connemara Trail. Mr. Brotzler will send the letter out this week. , 2.D. Steeple Center— Purchase of Chairs k Director of Park Recreation Schultz provided an option of chairs to be purchased. Mr. Schultz will x check out the other options for the swift set that may include padding and the sonic poly. Further discussion will be held on June 15, 2010. E UPDATES 3.A. Park and Ride funding update City Administrator Johnson summarized the update in the staff report. 3.13. Updates from City Council /Staff City Administrator Johnsons stated the early bird registration for the Annual LMC Conference ended tomorrow. Mayor Droste and Council Member Shoe - Corrigan will be attending the conference. Council Members DeBettignies and Shoe- Corrigan botfi provided updates on conversations with residents regarding the 2010 Street Improvement Project. } Council Member Bills stated that the Leprechaun Days golf event will be held on July 31,.2010 at Rich Valley Golf Course. Mayor Droste'provided updates on the liquor license ratios; the veteran's memorial walk at Central Park; DCTC baseball field; and discussions with the Rosemount Seniors. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste, second by Bills, the meeting was adjourned at 9:38 p.m. r Respectfully Submitted, Amy Domeier, City Clerk