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City Council Minutes 07-23-2012MINUTES REGULAR MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, July 23, 2012 — 7 p.m. Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center Present: Clint Herbst, Lloyd Hilgart, Tom Perrault, Glen Posusta, Brian Stumpf Absent: None 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Herbst called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and declared a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2A. Approval of Minutes — July 2, 2012 Special Meeting BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO ACCEPT THE JULY 2, 2012 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. LLOYD HILGART SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0. (Tom Perrault did not vote.) 2B. Approval of Minutes — July 9, 2012 Regular Meeting LLOYD HILGART MOVED TO ACCEPT THE JULY 9, 2012 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda • Krutzig property proceeds —Mayor Clint Herbst noted for the record that the proceeds from a property sale would be returned to the Water Tower fund when the Krutzig land is resold. This was confirmed by the Council. • Flag Etiquette (Glen Posusta) 4. Citizen comments, public service announcements a. Citizen Comments: None. b. Public Service Announcements: 1) Movies in the Park (7/28) — Angela Schumann notified the public of the movie coming up on Saturday, July 28th. "Tangled" will be shown in Pioneer Park at dusk and is free to the public. Bring our own chairs or blankets. Concessions available for purchase or bring your own. 2) Canoe /Kayak events (7/26 & 7/29) — Angela Schumann reminded the public of the canoe and kayak events on July 26 and 29. July 26«h from 6 to 7:30 p.m. will feature canoe and kayak rides at Long Lake at Bertram Chain of Lakes Park. July 201 will have canoe rides on the Mississipi River from City Council Minutes —July 23, 2012 Page 1 Ellison Park to Otsego starting at either 2 or 2:30 p.m. There is still room so contact the Community Center for costs and to register. 3) Mayor Herbst reported that the Lions Club has their new Brewfest event coming up on August 18th at West Bridge Park from 3 to 7 p.m. The event will feature craft beer tasting, food and music. 5. Consent Agenda: A. Consideration of approving payment of bills for July 23rd. Recommendation: Approve payment of bill and purchase card registers for a total of $2,232,471.74. B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments. Recommendation: Approve new hires and departures for Finance and Economic Development. C. Consideration of adopting Resolution #2012 -063 accepting contribution from Tom Perrault for the General Fund. Recommendation: Adopt Resolution #2012 -063 accepting $250 donation from Tom Perrault for the General fund. D. Consideration of approving a Special Event Permit allowing exclusive use of West Bridge Park and related assistance from City staff in conjunction with the Brewfest fundraising event on August 18, 2012. Applicant: Monticello Lions Club. Recommendation: Approve the Special Event Pen-nit allowing exclusive use of West Bridge Park and related assistance from City staff in conjunction with the Brewfest event on August 18, 2012, contingent on the following: • Continued site plan coordination with the Street Superintendent and Park Superintendent. • Appropriate signage and fencing in coordination with the Street and Park Superintendents. • Notification of affected local businesses and residents within a 2- block radius of the Park by permit holder starting July 25"''. (City providing names and addresses) • Provide a Certificate of Insurance for the event, including liquor and general liability, with the City named as a second insured. E. Consideration of ratifying increase in FiberNet internet service levels for current residential customers as recommended by the FiberNet Advisory Board. Recommendation: Ratify increase of internet service levels to the next level for current FiberNet residential customers. F. Consideration of appointing Wayne Oberg as Monticello Deputy Registrar #002 subject to approval by the State of Minnesota and Wright County. Recommendation: Appoint Wayne Oberg as Monticello Deputy Registrar #002 and direct staff to file paperwork for approval by the State of Minnesota and Wright County. City Council Minutes —July 23, 2012 Page 2 BRIAN STUMPF MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH NO CHANGES. GLEN POSUSTA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5- 0. 6. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion No items were removed from the consent agenda. 7. Consideration of adopting Resolution #2012 -064 entering into a Continuing Affordable Senior Housing Agreement between the City of Monticello and PHS /Monticello (Presbyterian Homes) - Mississippi Shores at 1213 Hart Boulevard (155 -106- 002020) Megan Barnett Livgard led off this item with a summary of the request from Presbyterian Homes to enter into an agreement to help provide affordable housing for some of the units at Mississippi Shores senior housing. Megan Barnett Livgard explained Presbyterian Homes is planning to ask the MN Housing Finance Association to reclassify 10 units at a different tax classification allowing them to rent those units at a more affordable rate. The Council is asked to adopt the resolution which would ratify the approval given by the Economic Development Authority at their July meeting. Megan noted the agreement would be in place for 10 years. Presbyterian Homes is attempting to maintain its goal of providing affordable senior housing in Monticello. They see this as a means to avoid raising the rent to a level that would no longer be affordable for a number of the current tenants. Torn Perrault stated that he had talked to Megan about the reclassification of the property to 4D. He expressed concern because this classification would lower the taxes for the city along with the other taxing districts. Tom Perrault questioned whether Presbyterian Homes would also have to approach the other taxing districts for approval of the classification. Megan Barnett Livgard explained that the City does not approve the tax classification; that has to be done by the State. The resolution approves an agreement between the City and Presbyterian Homes that requires Presbyterian Homes to maintain affordable rents for 20% of the units. Julie Spiers of Presbyterian Homes responded to a question from Lloyd Hilgart regarding the rent levels of current tenants and whether rental rates would be increased to bring them to the 20% required by the agreement. Julie commented that Presbyterian Homes would maintain their share of the subsidy of 40% of the traits and not raise the rents. She explained that the agreement would provide a subsidy of 20% of the units (10) based on a change in tax classification, if approved by the State. They feel they can maintain affordable rates with this agreement and subsequent change in classification for the 10 units. Clint Herbst asked if new tenants would face higher rates to help maintain the 20% subsidy. Julie Spiers stated that is not the intent at this time; each year there is a slight City Council Minutes —July 23, 2012 Page 3 increase in rental rates and that would probably continue in the future. They also work with the Presbyterian Homes Foundation to help provide assistance to tenants that cannot pay their rent. Glen Posusta asked about current rental rates. Julie Spiers explained that current rates range from $814 to $866 on 1- bedroom units and $1190 to $1250 for 2- bedroom units. GLEN POSUSTA MOVED FOR ALTERNATIVE 91 ADOPTING RESOLUTION #2012 -064 ENTERING INTO A CONTINUING AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MONTICELLO AND PHS /MONTICELLO (PRESBYTERIAN HOMES). TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0. Clint Herbst congratulated Megan Barnett Livgard on her new position and stated appreciation for her service to the City. 8. Consideration of adlusting City Salary Schedules for the remainder of 2012 with a COLA increase Jeff O'Neill explained that this item was brought forward by Lloyd Hilgart asking that the Personnel Committee review a possibility of a COLA increase for city staff. The Personnel Committee discussed this item and found a case could be made for a COLA increase. Although Glen Posusta was not opposed to discussing an increase, he did not think the timing was appropriate. Clint Herbst did note that the intent of this item would be to grant an increase effective as of August lst but no further COLA increase at the beginning of next year. Glen Posusta spoke of some research that he had requested from the Human Resources Director. Tracy Ergen compiled some findings of salary ranges in the surrounding area and this was shared with the Council members. Glen Posusta said he felt that the staff is fairly compensated compared to other cities and thought the current ranges were adequate and, therefore, does not support a raise at this time. Tom Perrault stated that he is not in favor of any COLA increase. He would consider STEP increases as those are based on performance as employees develop skills over time. Brian Stumpf indicated that he feels that it is time to provide an increase for staff as the last COLA increase was in 2008. He feels that staff has stepped forward and met requests and expectations of the Council. Clint Herbst also stated his preference for granting an increase at this time. BRIAN STUMPF MOVED FOR ALTERNATIVE #1 APPROVING A 2% COLA INCREASE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2012. LLOYD HILGART SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 3 -2 WITH TOM PERRAULT AND GLEN POSUSTA VOTING IN OPPOSITION. City Council Minutes —July 23, 2012 Page 4 9. Added items: Flag Etiquette — Glen Posusta pointed out that he talked to Public Works Director Bob Paschke about the flag placement around town. Glen noted that the American flag should be placed higher than other flags or banners. He asked whether there was something that could be done to increase the height of the American flags. Bob Paschke indicated that the banners could possibly be taken down when the flags are put up to ensure that they are the highest. Otherwise the flag standards should be adjusted. Clint Herbst asked staff to check into options and costs for adjusting the flags to ensure they are following proper etiquette for mounting the flags. • Tom Perrault also thanked Megan Barnett Livgard for all of her contributions and work that she has done for the City. 10. Adjournment GLEN POSUSTA MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:27 P.M. TOM PERRAULT SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0. Recorder: Catherine M. Shuman pjnv Approved: August 13, 2012 CityAdoWtrator City Council Minutes —July 23, 2012 Page 5