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Home My WebLink About12-05-16CITY OF LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 5, 2016 Mayor Little called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Members Present: Mayor Little, Council Members Davis, Swecker, Anderson and LaBeau Staff Present: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Andrea McDowell Poehler, City Attorney; Jeff Long, Police Chief; Chris Petree, Public Works Director; Dave Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Jerilyn Erickson, Finance Director; John Hennen, Parks & Recreation Director; Daryl Morey, Planning Director; Allyn Kuennen, Assistant City Administrator; Charlene Friedges, City Clerk 3. Citizen Comments: Richard Tucker of Farmington thanked the City Council for allowing him to keep his garden material on an encroachment that is located adjacent to City of Lakeville property. 4. Additional Agenda Information: None 5. Presentations/Introductions: Mr. Hennen introduced Linda Fisher, Director of Corporate Communications for Post Consumer Brands, and presented a resolution of appreciation for the company's donation of $50,000 to Land of Amazement 2.0. Council Member Davis read Resolution No. 16-165. Ms. Fisher accepted the resolution on behalf of Post Consumer Brands. On behalf of Lakeville Liquors, Manager Brenda Visnovec presented food drive donations in the amount of $13,334 each to 360 Communities and The Open Door Pantry. Jeff Mortenson and Laurie Bolin accepted the donation on behalf of 360 Communities. Representatives of The Open Door Pantry were not in attendance. Chief Long introduced newly hired police officers Noah Landers, Robert Rue and Carrie Witschorik. 6. Consent Agenda Motion was made by Swecker, seconded by Davis, to approve the consent agenda items as follows: City Council Meeting Minutes — December 5, 2016 a. Claims for payment b. Minutes of the November 21, 2016 City Council meeting c. Minutes of the November 14 and November 18 special City Council meetings d. Acceptance of improvements and final payment for 2013 street reconstruction, Improvement Project 13-02 e. Award contract to EH Renner for the rehabilitation of Well No. 18 Page 2 f. Receive bids and award contracts to DPC Industries, Inc. and Hawkins, Inc. for water treatment chemicals g. Resolution No. 16-166 approving the disposal of old city hall furniture h. Acceptance of improvements for FedEx Lakeville i. Contract with Rainbow Treecare for tree trimming and removal within the 2017 street reconstruction project area j. Resolution No. 16-167 electing the non -waiver of statutory municipal tort liability limits and declining excess liability insurance coverage k. Resolution No. 16-168 amending the 2016 General Fund Budget and the 2016 Communications Fund Budget 1. Resolution No. 16-169 granting Charter Cable Partners, LLC a franchise extension to December 31, 2017 m. Resolution No. 16-170 setting dates of regular City Council meetings and work sessions in 2017 n. Resolution No. 16-171 approving position classification and pay plan for non-union employees o. Resolution No. 16-172 approving recognition pay for part-time liquor employees City Council Meeting Minutes - December 5, 2016 Page 3 p. Resolution No. 16-173 accepting donation to the Police Department from Rosemount American Legion Post 65 for the Blue Santa Program q. Resolution No. 16-174 accepting donations to the Police Department from Mall of America and Target for National Night Out r. Authorize purchase of replacement radios for the Fire Department Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes - unanimous 7. Public Hearing - Fee Schedule by Ordinance Mayor Little opened the public hearing on the adoption of a fee schedule by ordinance. Finance Director Erickson highlighted some of the proposed changes to the fee schedule. She explained that the purpose of the water rate increase is to cover infrastructure improvements and future debt payments associated with those improvements as proposed in the Capital Improvement Plan. She explained that water rates are consistent between residential and commercial property and only pay for water related operations; they do not supplement the property tax levy. The City will conduct a utility rate study in 2017 to review the overall structure and philosophies and to compare Lakeville's rates with those of other communities. There were no public comments. Motion was made by LaBeau, seconded by Davis, to close the public hearing. Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes - unanimous Motion was made by Swecker, seconded by Little, to approve the following: • Ordinance No. 973 adopting fees and Summary Ordinance for publication • Resolution No. 16-175 adopting the fee schedule Anderson questioned the appropriateness of adjusting the water rates prior to completion of the utility rate study. He asked what financial risk the City faces in delaying any increase in the water rates until after the utility rate study is completed next year. He also questioned the need to increase park dedication fees, as the park dedication fund currently has a healthy fund balance. Little expressed his concern and disappointment that the City Council chose to cancel its December 12 work session when these two issues appear to remain unresolved. He pointed City Council Meeting Minutes - December 5, 2016 Page 4 out that the City Council decided in 2012 to tie park dedication rates to the market rather than arbitrarily changing the rates. This provided predictability to the developers. He further stated he feels the proposed fee schedules are important for the overall long term financial condition of the city. LaBeau also expressed concern with the current balance in the park dedication fund and stated she does not support raising the park dedication rates or the utility rates at this time. She stated it was her understanding at the last work session that delaying action on these two portions of the fee schedule until next year would not affect the overall 2017 budget or levy and, therefore, there would be no need to hold an additional work session in December. Davis stated he supports the water rates as presented. He stated he does not support raising the park dedication fees at this time based on questions and comments from citizens. He suggested the City Council evaluate how park dedication funds are allocated. Swecker stated she would support additional conversations regarding park dedication fees and the future of the city's parks. LaBeau, Davis and Swecker expressed interest in pursuing a park bond referendum. In response to Council Member Anderson's question regarding a delay in setting the water rates until next year, Ms. Erickson explained that the 2017 rates were adjusted from what was initially proposed, taking into consideration the amount of risk the City Council was willing to accept between 2017 and 2021 knowing that, with additional rate increases, sufficient funds would be in place by 2021. She pointed out that even with the proposed rate increases, the utility fund balance will be below the minimum target for cash flow. Motion was made by Anderson, seconded by Swecker, to amend the motion on the floor to adopt the 2017 fee schedules with no increase in the park dedication fees. Roll call was taken on the amendment to the motion. Ayes - Davis, Swecker, Anderson, LaBeau; Little voted nay. Roll call was taken on the main motion. Ayes - Little, Swecker, Anderson, LaBeau, Davis Mayor Little stated he would call a special work session to be held on December 12, 2016 for the purpose of discussing park dedication fees. 8. Public Hearing - 2017 Budget and Tax Levy Mayor Little opened the public hearing on the 2017 budget and tax levy. City Council Meeting Minutes - December 5, 2016 Page 5 Ms. Erickson presented the proposed 2017 tax levy in the amount of $26,679,614. This amount is $271,333 less than the preliminary tax levy and results in a 3.89% increase from the 2016 levy. She explained that the city portion of the property taxes on a median valued home is estimated to increase by $13 when taking into account the increase in market value and a 3.89% increase in the property tax levy. The proposed tax levy will result in an estimated $277 decrease on a commercial property valued at $1 million. Ms. Erickson highlighted the appropriate use of general fund reserves. The reserves are used to support the Comprehensive Plan updates, facility improvements and equipment replacement, which eliminates the need to issue short term equipment certificates in 2017. New positions proposed in the 2017 budget include two police officers, a planning assistant/code enforcement position, a park maintenance position and an environmental technician. There were no public comments. Motion was made by LaBeau, seconded by Anderson, to close the public hearing. Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes - unanimous Motion was made by Davis, seconded by Anderson, to approve the following: • Resolution No. 16-176 adopting the 2017 property tax levy • Resolution No. 16-177 adopting the 2017 budget Roll call was taken on the motion. Ayes - Little, Swecker, Anderson, LaBeau, Davis 9. Unfinished business: None 10. New business: None 11. Announcements: Next regular Council meeting, December 19, 2016 Mayor Little adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Charlene Friedges, City.,91 Irk Matt Little, Mayor