9/26/2016 - City Council - Work Session - Minutes CITY OF SPRING PARK
WORK SESSION MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 — 7:00 PM
SPRING PARK SPRING PARK CITY HALL
On Lake�Winnetonka
NOTE: ACTION MAY BE TAKEN
CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Mayor Williamson at 7:41 p.m.
Council Members Bruce Williamson, Mayor (arrived 7:38 p.m.); Shirley Bren; Gary Hughes; Megan
Present: Pavot; and Pamela Horton.
Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator and Theresa Schyma, City Clerk.
Others Present: Michael E. Mason, resident; Catherine Kane Palen, resident
1. 2017 PRELIMINARY LEVY: RESOLUTION 16-15
a. Resolution 16-15 is attached for council approval. The resolution will establish a preliminary levy
of $1,027,143, which is a 1.9% percent increase from the 2016 levy.
M/Bren, S/Hughes that the following resolution be adopted and that it be made part of these minutes:
RESOLUTION NO. 16-15
RESOLUTION ADOPTING 2017 PROPOSED TAX LEVY
Motion carried 5-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 16-15.
2. SET TRUTH IN TAXATION DATE & TIME
a. The council is required to set a truth in taxation meeting date between Nov. 25th and Dec. 28th
where the final levy and budget will be discussed. Staff proposes setting the Dec. 5th council
meeting as the truth in taxation meeting.
M/Pavot, S/Horton to schedule the Truth in Taxation meeting on December 5, 2016.
Motion carried 5-0.
3. CITY TRUCK
a. PeopleService has approached the City about purchasing the public works truck. They have
made an offer of $12,900 for the truck and all accessories, including a plow and salt spreader.
The truck is a 2008 model with 59,000 miles. Staff consulted with numerous value calculators to
determine the estimated value considering mileage, condition, and accessories. Based on
staff's findings, $12,900 is a fair offer within the appropriate range.
Mayor Williamson supports the sale of the public works truck so that the City can put money in the bank
and no longer pay maintenance and upkeep expenses for a truck that is rarely used. He stated that the City
logo is on the truck so it is good that PeopleService can use the truck in the community.
Council Member Hughes stated he has concerns and questioned whether that truck would be used
exclusively in Spring Park after it is sold or if it would be used in other communities. He also believes that
4349 WARREN AVENUE, SPRING PARK, MINNESOTA 55384-9711 (952)471-9051 FAX(952) 471-9160
the PeopleService truck that is assigned to Spring Park should have a Spring Park logo on it for the
residents to identify them as legitimate contractors with the City.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that once the truck is sold it will be up to PeopleService where the
truck will be used. It will likely be brought to other cities but used primarily in Spring Park. PeopleService
has contracts in other cities and the City was well aware of this prior to signing the contract for public works
services. He stated that he hasn't had a thorough discussion with PeopleService about their plans for the
truck after they purchase it but it makes sense that they would remove the Spring Park logo and replace it
with a PeopleService logo; however, he believes they would be open to putting a small Spring Park logo on
the truck after the sale.
Council Member Pavot stated that once the truck is sold to PeopleService that it will be their truck to use as
they see fit and they will probably want to put their own logo on the truck for advertising. However, it would
be nice to put a small Spring Park logo magnet on the truck so that residents know that PeopleService
represents the City for public works services.
The City Council consensus is to sell the City's public works truck to PeopleService for $12,900 at a future
meeting so that the City Administrator has time to discuss the details with the City Attorney prior to the
sale.
4. PLANNING COMMISSION SIGN PROCESS RECOMMENDATION
a. At the July 13th Planning Commission meeting they voted to make a recommendation to the City
Council to have sign applications handled through an administrative process instead of coming
to the Planning Commission for review. A copy of the minutes from that meeting is attached.
Mayor Williamson discussed the history of sign permit applications being reviewed by the Planning
Commission. The current Planning Commission recommendation is to change the process because they
believe it slows down the process for new businesses and is not business-friendly. He stated that if the sign
permit application process changes then he would still want the City Council to receive a report of what has
been approved.
Council Member Hughes agrees with concept but wants there to be something written in the policy that if
staff senses something wrong with a particular permit application that staff should have the ability to bring it
to the Planning Commission or City Council.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that if a sign permit application is submitted and there is a question of
interpretation then staff would not approve the application and it would be forwarded to the Planning
Commission for review. The administrative process is for sign permit applications that meet all
requirements without question.
The City Council consensus is to move forward with changing the sign permit application process to an
administrative process with City staff.
City Administrator Tolsma stated he will create a policy regarding this new process.
5. CITY HALL SECURITY PROPOSALS
a. Attached is a blueprint of City Hall showing the proposed upgrades.
Mayor Williamson stated that two concerns prompted the City Council to consider this upgrade: 1) day to
day safety for City staff and 2) the shooting that occurred at a New Hope City Council meeting in 2015.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that when looking at the proposals he was considering three
scenarios: 1) weekdays during office hours with City staff, 2) after hours when no staff is here, and 3) City
Council and Planning Commission meetings at night. He noted that when looking at the components of this
upgrade the City wants to have a cost effective approach to make those three scenarios safer. He further
4349 WARREN AVENUE, SPRING PARK, MINNESOTA 55384-9711 (952)471-9051 FAX (952)471-9160
stated that the City Council and Planning Commission meetings are the hardest scenarios to cover
because meetings need to be open and accessible to the public.
Council Member Pavot stated that she attended an emergency management seminar earlier this year with
City Administrator Tolsma. Her suggestion is to have a police officer at every City Council meeting to help
make that scenario safer. She remarked that the New Hope shooting could have been much worse; police
officers were being sworn in when the shooter arrived so there was a large police presence at City Hall.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that there are three extra steps that the Council could consider that
are not in this proposal: 1) putting up a stronger dais, 2) having an exit plan behind the dais, and 3) having
a police officer at each meeting. Many cities have a police officer attend night meetings but it would be
slightly different for Spring Park since we do not have our own police department; however, he believes
Orono Police would be open to the idea.
City Administrator Tolsma stated that the biggest physical change to the building would be having two
cameras in the hallway and a solid door with a transaction window. The system is expandable up to 10
cameras.
The City Council consensus is to move forward with the proposed security upgrades and to further discuss
having a police officer attend all night meetings.
6. MISCELLANEOUS — City Administrator Tolsma distributed invitations to the City Council for an event
introducing a proposed brewery that would like to operate in Spring Park.
7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
a. MFD Press Release
ADJOURNMENT—The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:45 p.m.
Date Approved: October 3, 2016
Ther sa Schyma, City Clerk
Dan Tol!ma, City Administrator
4349 WARREN AVENUE, SPRING PARK, MINNESOTA 55384-9711 (952)471-9051 FAX (952)471-9160