11/18/2018 - City Council - Work Session - Minutes
CITY OF SPRING PARK
WORK SESSION MINUTES
NOVEMBER 13, 2018 – 6:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER - The work session was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Hughes at 6:04
p.m.
Council Members Gary Hughes, Mayor Pro Tempore; Pamela Horton; Catherine Kane Palen;
Present: and Megan Pavot
Council Members Jerome P. Rockvam, Mayor
Absent:
Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; David Anderson, Assistant City Attorney;
and Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
1. FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE REVIEW
City Administrator Tolsma presented a summary of the food truck ordinance and Council’s request
that the issue be revisited at the end of this year to discuss last year’s amendment that allowed food
trucks to operate for an unlimited number of days in the city.
City Clerk Schyma discussed the current number of trucks that have been licensed in 2018, the
associated licensing fees, and provided a summary of the food truck application process.
City Council consensus was that no changes were necessary to the food truck ordinance regarding
number of operating days.
2. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING START TIME DISCUSSION
City Administrator Tolsma presented the Planning Commission’s request to move the Planning
Commission Meeting start time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning January 1, 2019.
The City Council consensus was to allow the change in start time.
Council Member Kane Palen wanted to revisit the issue about televising City Council work sessions.
Council Member Hughes has asked City Administrator Tolsma to give a brief recap of the items
approved as part of the consent agenda during the “City Staff Reports” section of the regular
meeting.
City Administrator Tolsma stated that he is agreeable to reviewing items that were approved on the
consent agenda during the “City Staff Reports.” He added that items of a routine nature are placed
on the consent agenda to run a more efficient meeting. The two to three residents that have
brought up the item for discussion have stated they want televised work sessions for reasons of
transparency but the information is already public. The work sessions are open to the public and
both the agendas and the minutes are public information so there is definitely transparency.
City Administrator Tolsma stated that last year there was discussion at a televised City Council
meeting about whether or not to televise work sessions. At that time the City Council asked the
viewing public to voice their opinions if they would like to have work sessions televised. City staff
and the Council only received feedback from two people, including the original person who
brought it to the Council for discussion.
Council Member Kane Palen asked the city attorney for his opinion.
Assistant City Attorney Anderson stated that many cities typically do not televise their work
sessions because they are informal discussions where there is a lot of back and forth between
Council and staff. He agreed that all work sessions are open to the public and all agendas and
minutes are public as well so there is already complete transparency. He continued that it is a policy
decision and asked the Council if they want to spend City funds on something that only a handful
of residents are requesting considering that the City is already being completely transparent.
Council Member Kane Palen stated that since there is not a great demand from residents to televise
work sessions then the Council should just move on.
3. 2019 STAFF WAGES & PERFORMANCE REVIEW
City Administrator Tolsma presented a summary of proposed personnel costs for 2019 including
salary, benefits, cost of living estimates from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics , and the different
options for merit increases. He added that there was a comprehensive wage study completed last
year for communities around the Lake Minnetonka area and doesn’t believe that much would’ve
changed from that report.
Council Member Hughes asked when a decision needed to be made.
City Administrator Tolsma responded that a 3% percent increase was already factored into the
proposed budget so there is time but it is typically approved at the same meeting as the budget.
4. MISCELLANEOUS
Council Member Hughes wanted to discuss a last minute change in the contract for snow removal
that is being considered at tonight’s regular meeting. The change is due to a clerical error; the
contract needs to have a section removed for “trucks” since the City no longer owns any vehicles.
The City Council consensus was to move forward with the corrected contract at tonight’s meeting.
Council Member Hughes questioned potential damage to light poles.
City Administrator Tolsma stated he has already toured the city with new contractor and discussed
trouble areas, sidewalks, light poles, etc. The new contractor also has different equipment
specifically for sidewalks so hopefully there will be fewer incidents of light pole damage.
Council Member Kane Palen wants City Hall security, especially during City Council meetings, to be
an item for a future work session including techniques and de-escalation education for dealing with
people that have mental health issues.
City Administrator Tolsma stated he could speak with Orono Police to see if they could provide
some sort of training or information.
Assistant City Attorney Anderson added that he can speak with his staff and the League of
Minnesota Cities to find some information on the topic since it is a good discussion to have when
you do not have police present at City Council meetings.
Council Member Pavot stated that she believes police should be present at meetings and would like
it discussed at the next Police Commission meeting.
City Administrator Tolsma stated it is within the scope of the City’s contract for police services to
have a police presence at meetings.
5. ADJOURN - The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:59 p.m.
Date Approved: December 3, 2018
_________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator Theresa Schyma, City Clerk