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Home My WebLink About1997 03-24 CCM Regular Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 24, 1997 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in regular session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Debra Hilstrom, Kay Lasman, and Robert Peppe. Also present: City Manager Michael J. McCauley, Public Services Director Diane Spector, City Attorney Charlie LeFevere, and Council Secretary LeAnn Larson. INVOCATION Invocation was given by Reverend Howard Sortland, Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Hilstrom recently attended the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C. Discussion centered on efforts to stop passing unfunded mandates. Mayor Kragness noted that two open houses have been held already at Fire Station #1 (63rd Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard). Two open houses at Fire Station #2 (65th Avenue and Dupont Avenue North) are forthcoming: Thursday, April 10, from 7 -9 p.m., and Saturday, April 19, from 1 -4 .m. The public is encouraged to attend. P P $ Councilmember Carmody recently attended a League of Minnesota Cities meeting in which discussion focused on tax increment financing, land use planning, and property tax reform. Councilmember Lasman stated that April 16,1997, will be Awards Night for Crime Prevention, 7 p.m., held at Constitution Hall. Also, sponsorship has been obtained to fund the youth activity program for this coming summer. 3/24/97 _1 _ APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Hilstrom requested the minutes of the Feb 24 1997--Regular Session be February g removed from the agenda for clarifications. A motion by Councilmember Carmody and seconded by Councilmember Hilstrom to approve the agenda and consent agenda with the removal of approval of minutes passed unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 97 -56 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINAL EYEWEAR PURCHASE POLICY The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Hilstrom and passed unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 97-57 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BID AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY MOWER The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Hilstrom and passed unanimously. LICENSE TO UTILIZE EXPLOSIVES PERMITS FOR THE H WE COMPANY A motion was made by Councilmember Carmody to approve the license request from the Howe Company to utilize explosives permits. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hilstrom and passed unanimously. LICENSES Mechanical Svstems Delmar Furnace Exchange, Inc. 4080 83rd Avenue North, Brooklyn Park Rental Dwellines Initial• Chu and Kim La 4110 Lakebreeze Avenue North 3/24/97 _� _ Renewal: Shingle Creek Tower 6221 Shingle Creek Parkway Bartholmew Dabrowski 5001 Ewing Avenue North Bobby and Sandy Robson 1107 57th Avenue North Sign Hanger Graphic House, Inc. 9204 Packer Drive, Wausau, WI Tobacco Related Products TGI Friday's 2590 Freeway Boulevard OPEN FORUM There were no requests for open forum. PUBLIC HEARING AN ORDINANCE VACATING DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS IN TRACT A REGISTERED LAND SURVEY NUMBER 1572 (SUNLITE PROPERTIES) City Manager McCauley explained that this item was first read on February 24, 1997, published in the official newspaper, and was being offered for a second reading and public hearing. A motion by Councilmember Carmody and seconded by Councilmember Hilstrom to open the public hearing passed unanimously. No one appeared for the public hearing. A motion by Councilmember Carmody and seconded by Councilmember Hilstrom to close the public hearing passed unanimously. ORDINANCE NO. 97 -04 Member Lasman introduced the following ordinance and moved its adoption: AN ORDINANCE VACATING DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS IN TRACT A, REGISTERED LAND SURVEY NUMBER 172 (SUNLITE PROPERTIES) The motion for the foregoing ordinance was duly seconded by member Carmody and passed unanimously. 3/2=1/97 _; _ COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS RESOLUTION EXPRESSING— RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF ERIC MARQUARDT FOR HIS DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION Mayor Kragness expressed recognition and appreciation of Eric Marquardt for his dedicated public service on the Charter Commission from August 31, 1995, to December 1, 1996. RESOLUTION NO. 97-58 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION EXPRESSING RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF ERIC MARQUARDT FOR HIS DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Hilstrom and passed unanimously. RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING DONATIONS FROM THE BROOKLYN CENTER LIONS CLUB FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS Mayor Kragness noted that the Brooklyn Center Lions Club has presented to the City a check for three thousand dollars ( $3 000 ) and has designated that it used be sed for the annual Sunda in o Central Park activities. In addition, the Lions have donated three hundred dollars ($300) g designatin that it be used for outdoor conservation programs. Mayor Kragness expressed the City's appreciation for these generous contributions. RESOLUTION NO. 97-59 Member Lasman introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING DONATIONS FROM THE BROOKLYN CENTER LIONS CLUB FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Carmody and passed unanimously. . 3 3/24/97 -4- PROCLAMATION DECLARING APRIL 13 THROUGH 19 1997 AS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION WEEK A motion was made by Councilmember Carmody to declare April 13 -19, 1997, as Volunteer Recognition Week. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Lasman and passed unanimously. DISCUSSION OF UTILITY BI . ING COLLECTION PROCEDURE City Manager McCauley explained that over the last several years staff has been concerned that the current set of utility billing collection procedures may not serve the citizens in the best way. The cornerstone of the current process is the threat that water service will be shut off if the bill isn't paid. Angry and potentially dangerous confrontations are possible when the maintenance crew is sent out to actually shut water off, which promotes an atmosphere that is not customer service oriented. A moratorium was placed on winter water shut -offs at the direction of the Council. As part of the moratorium, the Council requested an additional study on possible approaches to delinquent water bills. The majority of neighboring cities who were surveyed assess the delinquent utility bills as part of the real estate taxes through special assessments. The options would be to reinstate the previous water shut -off policy with a winter moratorium as currently in place or to consider an assessment policy whereby unpaid water bills would be certified and paid as part of the real estate taxes. Finance Director Charlie Hansen discussed some of the pros and cons of each option. The advantage to the water shut -off policy is that repayment tends to occur more frequently. The disadvantage is that it consumes a great deal of staff time as well as confrontational issues for the water utility crew and the process of physically shutting off water and checking that it remains turned off. The advantage to an assessment procedure is that we do not have to deal with issues of persons being without water service because of unpaid bills, and while there is a negative of involvement of Finance Department time to certify bills, send notices, and act.ally have the matter certified to the County Auditor, the confrontational aspects and the use of utility crew time is eliminated. The disadvantage is that relying upon assessing to property taxes will lengthen the collection cycle. However, the water fund has a large enough cash balance so that this won't cause cash flow problems, and fees and interest can be charged on the assessment to largely replace any lost investment income. Mayor Kragness inquired about the number of past due bills at present. Mr. Hansen responded that 700 -800 were "delinquent" at present. 3/24/97 -�- Councilmember Hilstrom inquired if the assessment collection cycle could be revised from the present annual certification. Mr. Hansen responded that the unpaid bills could be assessed twice a year and suggested trying this option for a year Councilmember Hilstrom and Mayor Kragness spoke in favor of the current shut -off policy with the winter moratorium on shut -offs as being the best incentive to pay the unpaid utility bills. Councihmember Lasman stated that the water fund had enough cash balance to avoid cash flow problems. Changing to an assessment policy seemed to be less dangerous for City personnel. She stated the Council should consider that the majority of neighboring cities use assessing to taxes over the shut -off policy. Councilmember Hilstrom requested that staff do a cash analysis to determine the net cost savings of assess to taxes versus the current shut -off policy. RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDED INVESTMENT POLICY City Manager McCauley explained that the City's present written investment policy has been in force since 1990. Events of recent years have made the existing policy somewhat out -of- date, and several changes need to be made to bring the olic up-to-date. This amended P Y P investment policy is based on recommendations of the Government Finance Officers Association, Minnesota State Statutes, the City Charter, and the Financial Commission. City Attorney LeFevere noted that Section III should be amended to denote the proper delegation of authority in order to be consistent with the City Charter. RESOLUTION NO. 97 -60 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution, with the addition of the suggested wording of City Attorney LeFevere regarding Delegation of Authority, and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDED INVESTMENT POLICY The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Lasman and passed unanimously. RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR CITY INSURANCE POLICIES AND CONTRACTS FOR THE INSURANCE AGENT AND INSURANCE CONSULTANT FOR 1997 City Manager McCauley- explained that this resolution authorizes renewal of the following insurance contracts for the period of January 1, 1997, to January 1, 1998: Comprehensive 3/24/97 -6- Property and Casualty Insurance, Worker's Compensation Insurance, Boiler and Machinery Insurance, Accident Plan for Volunteers, Open Meeting Law Defense, and Liquor Liability Insurance. Also, several contracts for the insurance agent and insurance consultant need to be extended. RESOLUTION NO. 97-61 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR CITY INSURANCE POLICIES AND CONTRACTS FOR THE INSURANCE AGENT AND INSURANCE CONSULTANT FOR 1997 The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Lasman and passed unanimously. RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO 1997 -14 RETROFIT OF SEVERAL WELLS WITH ASDs FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION City Manager McCauley explained that this was the third phase of a three -part recommendation for reducing energy costs. This process would involve the installation of adjustable speed drives (ASDs) on the motors of five of the wells and a time of day clock/timer on a sixth well. This improvement would offer substantial savings for the City. This resolution establishes the project and authorizes the City consultant, TKDA, to apply on the City's behalf for participation in the NSP loan program. Through the NSP Local Government Energy Conservation Program, the City could obtain no- cost financing for this improvement, which is estimated to cost about $210,000. NSP provides the capital up front for the improvement costs, and then the improvement is paid back over ten years through future energy savings. The City's engineering consulting costs are reimbursed, except for some types of construction supervision costs. Thus, the only up -front expense to the City would be an estimated $5,000 for engineering costs not reimbursed under the Program. Councilmember Hilstrom inquired if the number of wells in Brooklyn Center was sufficient. Public Services Director Diane Spector noted that based on the last water study, there appears to be no need to dig any additional wells. There may be a need for additional storage of water within the next ten years, however, due to possible change in water treatment and/or conservation measures. Ms. Spector also stated that the water study will be updated within four years. Councilmember Hilstrom requested a copy of the previous study and the time line for the future study. 3/24/97 -7- I 1 RESOLUTION NO.97 -62 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 1997 -14, RETROFIT OF SEVERAL WELLS WITH ASDs FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Peppe and passed unanimously. RE SOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT -METRO MOTORS ADDITION City Manager McCauley explained that this resolution was for the platting of property to be developed by Brookdale Mitsubishi. The Council approved the preliminary plat at the January 27, 1997, City Council meeting. Approval of the fmal plat was recommended subject to the review and approval of Hennepin County and any outstanding conditions required by the City. RESOLUTION NO. 97-63 Member Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved -its adoption: RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT - METRO MOTORS ADDITION The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Lasman and passed on a vote of Councilmembers Carmody, Lasman, Peppe and Mayor Kragness voting aye; Councilmember Hilstrom voted nay. Mayor Kragness conveyed get well wishes to Tony Kuefler, former City Council member. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Carmody and seconded by Councilmember Lasman to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. passed unanimously. City Clerk . Mayo Recorded and transcribed by: LeAnn Larson 3/24/97 _g_