5.a3 minutes of the November 2 City Council Work SessionNovember 2, 2016
The City Council held a Work Session on the above date. The following were present: Mayor
Randall Simonson, Council members Bob Hegland, Dan Lee, and Jim Schneider. Absent:
Council member Chris Ness. Staff present: City Administrator Neil Soltis, Fire Chief Mike Hinz
and Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund.
Mayor Simonson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Schnieder, seconded by Lee, moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion
carried 4-0.
DISCUSSION ON THE 2017 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS
The Council continued to discuss the operating and capital budgets for 2017.
Fire
Fire Chief Mike Hinz presented the budget numbers he is recommending for 2017. The total
budget for the department is close to prior years: $234,400 compared to $232,959 in 2016.
Hinz explained that medical supplies will be increased due to the absence of the ambulance
service which supplied these needs in the past. Hinz proposed a $0.50 wage increase across all
levels and estimated the addition of 5 new recruits next year. Turnout gear will remain budgeted
at $7,000 to replace 3 sets of gear each year. Hinz explained that the budget includes a monthly
cleaning service at roughly $1,000 for the year. Fire Department capital expenses from the
Equipment Replacement Fund include $85,000 for a replacement Grass Rig and the replacement
of SCBA equipment that will be carried over from 2016 pending a grant application.
Council member Dan Lee suggested that the dive team be eliminated from the department and
the funds to support this go to other purposes since the County dive team provides body recovery
at no cost. Hinz explained that the dive team compliments the fire and rescue department, and
annual costs do not exceed $2,500 for training and equipment maintenance. Mayor Simonson
noted that there are many water activities in Scandia and the role of the dive team, the only one
in northern Washington County, gives hope to families in rescue situations. Lee felt that it is the
role of the Council to sharpen its pencils to cut unnecessary spending. Staff was directed to
present cost information related to the dive team at the December work session.
Public Works
Administrator Soltis explained the budgeting for next year. Long-term disability benefits were
not budgeted but may be added based on the interpretation of the labor agreement. Staff was
directed to consult with the attorney on this. Soltis noted that the preliminary budget allocated
proportionate shares of the health insurance benefits to sewer and parks budgets; however, the
Wastewater Committee recommended that all of the costs remain in the PW budget. The budget
for road maintenance materials was increased to provide for more patching and shouldering next
year. The budget for engineering was reduced based on charging costs related to the road
improvement projects to the Local Road Improvement Fund. The budget for contractual services
of $330,000 will have $200,000 set aside for sealcoating and $40,000 for ditch and culvert repair
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Scandia City Council
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among the expenses. The major increase in the PW budget is the transfer to the Local Road
Improvement Fund in accordance with the City's fund balance policy.
Mayor Simonson asked if dust control can be applied only to road frontages of residences and
not open areas to lower the cost, then perform a second application later in the summer. Staff
will bring back an estimate of the cost to apply dust control in this manner.
Parks
Wages for the grounds care of the Wayne Erickson ballfield will be allocated to the Parks Capital
account next year, as revenue from advertising signs is earmarked for capital improvements and
maintenance of the ballfield. Funds for materials have been be increased to provide for
continued replacement of the boards at the ice skating rink.
Equipment Replacement Fund
Purchases for next year include a used pavement roller for patching ($8,000), replacement of the
John Deere mower and attachments ($30,000), and replacement of the Sterling dump truck and
plow that was delayed from 2016 ($200,000).
Local Road Improvement Fund
No road projects are budgeted for in 2017. The combination of the carryover fund balance and
the levy of $563,665 will provide funding for the 2018 road improvement projects.
201 Sewer
The Wastewater Committee recommended a 5% rate increase for 2017. Soltis noted that nearly
$1,000,000 of capital improvements will be needed by 2025 for which planning for these costs
needs to be addressed since the cash flow isn't sufficient to pay for the improvements when they
are needed. Soltis advised the Council that a revenue strategy is needed to address the long-term
needs of the system. Council directed staff to contact an engineer from the MPCA to discuss
alternate technologies that could be utilized for nitrate treatment to assist in estimating costs.
Uptown Sewer
A $500 drainfield blower is provided for in this enterprise budget. The Wastewater Committee
did not recommend a rate increase at this time.
Council did not make any changes to the proposed budget. The public hearing will be held on
December 7th at 6:30 p.m. with final adoption on December 20th
DISCUSSION ON ESTABLISHING A ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY POLICY
At the October Work Session there was a discussion of mowing the right-of-ways with a request
from a resident to adopt more wildlife friendly mowing practices. Reducing the width of the first
seasonal mowing to 5 -feet and timing the mowing to begin close to May 15th and after
September 1St was agreed to. A policy incorporating this language was reviewed that also
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merged the language of the tree trimming policy into a Road Right -of -Way Policy.
Administrator Soltis noted that mowing can be subject to weather conditions and performed at
any time for safety reasons. No changes were made and staff was directed to place the policy on
the next Council meeting for adoption.
DISCUSSION ON AMENDMENT TO THE PARKING ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE
NO. 151)
No parking on Meadowbrook Avenue north of Highway 97 was a condition of the recent
approval of a Rural Event Facility at 12680 Scandia Trail. Previously the City/Township
designated no parking segments by resolution or by motion. Administrator Soltis presented a
draft of an amendment to the existing parking ordinance that codifies all the City's no parking
roadways into Section 3 of the amended ordinance. Mayor Simonson stated this is a cleaner
approach and directed staff to prepare the ordinance for adoption at the next Council meeting.
DISCUSSION ON AMENDMENT TO THE DOG ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE NO. 166)
Administrator Soltis explained that the current dog ordinance defines the penalty for having a
dog at -large as a misdemeanor, a crime that requires a pre-trial conference with the City Attorney
and a possible court appearance, along with a fine up to $1,000. Council member Hegland stated
that having a dog leave the owner's yard shouldn't have such an onerous penalty. Council
agreed that alternate language could be considered and directed staff to bring back a draft
amendment to a future meeting.
DISCUSSION ON WASTEWATER COMMITTEE VACANCIES
Holly Kaufhold, Uptown representative, and Doug Salmela, 201 representative, have recently
resigned from their positions on the Wastewater Advisory Committee. Administrator Soltis
recommended that the positions be advertised through the City's website and Facebook page. If
no appointments are made, the Council could consider reducing the number of members from 7
to 5. The Council favored this approach.
DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR POSITION
Administrator Soltis recommended a conditional offer of employment be made to Adam
Hawkinson for the Public Works Director position. Council was in agreement to the terms of the
offer: Step 3 compensation of $60,797 and then advancing to Step 4 after the probationary
period with satisfactory performance. Based on the experience level, Soltis recommended that
the offer include paid time off equivalent to that of a 5 -year employee.
ADJOURNMENT
Lee, seconded by Hegland, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 4-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk