HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08-12-1980 SpecialPage 263
MINUTES
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
August 12, 1980
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by
1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Center at 3400 Plymouth
August 12, 1980.
Mayor Hunt at
Boulevard on
PRESVIT: Mayor Hunt, Councilmembers Davenport, Hoyt, Neils, and Schneider, Manager
Wi}lis, Administrative Assistant Boyles, Engineer Moore, Public Works
Superintendent Kol stad and Finance Director Ricker.
ABSENT: Pone.
City Manager Willis indicated the purpose of this special Council meeting was to
initiate the Council's study o! the Manager's proposed 1981 %City budget;. The
Manager reviewed his budget memo, dated August 8, 1980s and discussed with Council
the effects reduced state aids and the increase in the residential homestead exemp-
tion would have on the budget. There was discussion of the shortfall in the 1980
budget due to the unexpected decrease in building permits a:xi development `ees,
and how this will be counteracted. Council requested the Imager to be infnmed of
the actual amount of the shortage as soon as the figure is available. The Manager
recommended that Council take into consideration the fact that he is reconxnending
no contribution from surplus in the 1981 budget. Council discussed the effect the
park bond issue would Lave on the City's portion of 1981 taxes. The Manager com-
menced his presentatit;n of the 1981 City budgets.
General fund - Revenues
The proposed General Fund budget contemplates revenues of $4,433.852. The Manager
stated that the increase in population verified by the 1980 census will not affect
the amount of local government aid until the 1982 budget is compiled. There was
discussion of the Storm Sewer Reserve Fund and projects that will be completed in
each of the Storm Seger Districts in 1981. Council questioned whether costs from
past storm sewer projects can be recovered from this fund. The Manager responded
only costs of projects ordered after adoption of the Storm Sewer Reserve 8111 may
be recovered from this fund. Councilmember Neils questioned the potential of
taking a portion of MsS6Ao maintenance funds and using the funds to pay interest
on M.S.A. construction debt obligations. Council questioned if planning and license
fees were on a level with those of surrounding communities.
MAT:,jN was made by Councilmember Hoyt, seconded by Councilmember Davenport, to
direct staff to prepare a schedule of fees for all services and licenses indi-
cating the current fees ann recommendation for adjustments on an annual basis.
Motion carried, five ayes.
General - Expenditures
The Manager 'ntroduced the various activity budgets of the General Fund.
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Special Council Meeting
August 12. 1980
Page 264
E ngi neeri ng
Council questioned the duties that would be assigned to the proposed additional
employee in the Engineering Department. Mayor Hunt asked staff to prepare a
schedule indicating the total construction expenditures fc.r the years 1975-1980
to show the volume of engineering work in the past f iv4 yn-%rs. Count i 1 li sc,ssed
the services provided by the City's consulting engineers, particularly with respect
to inspections, and questioned the Engineer about the fees for these services.
Mayor Hunt suggested we return to the practice of requiring the consulting engineer
to pre!ent engineering reports to Councils Engineer Moore conknented if we gent out
for competitive bidding for engineering services, we would get lower rates. Council -
member Davenport requested that this subject be on the agenda :r the next Council
study session. Mayor Hunt said he would ask the consulting engineer for capies of
all engineering reports that have been prepared by the consulting engineer in the
past that have not been ordered.
Councilmember Schneider questioned the effectiveness of the IL.ty's erosion control
policy and methods of enforcement.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Hoyt, seconded by Councilmember Davenport, to
tentatively approve the Engineering budget with the exclusion of the salary and
related benefits For one proposed additional emp'oyee and the allocation for the
aiierican Public Works Association Conference, transferring these amaunts to the
Contingency Funds
Motion carried, five ayes.
Streets
Council asked Public Works Superintendent Kolstad to indicate the responsiblities
that would be assigned to the additional employee requested in the budget. Mr.
Kolstad stated this person is required to start a preventive maintenance program
for automotive and miscellaneous street maintenance. Duti:s would include road-
side clean-up, removing brush, repairing sod, ditch, catch basin repair and main-
tenance of the cemetery, as well as a regular program of automotive preventive
maintenance. Councilmember Huyt asked the Engineer to research the professional
standards for street maintenance personnel per mile of streets. Mayor Hunt inquired
if part-time summer employees could do some of these maintenance jobs. Mr. Kolstad
said yes. '-,o a limited degree 1f properly supervised, but !n the past some of
these empli)yees have not been reliable and have damaged expensive equipment.
Councilmember Davenport inquirt d about the snowplowing capacity of the Street
Department and asked staff for a recommcndation to add new snowplowing equipment
to the budget since he felt the City is lagging behind in snowplowing services
and we should provide for increased services in the future commensurate with
population -1rowth. Councilmember Schneider stated it would be more cost-effective
to contract out additional snowplowing services instead of buying more equipment.
Mr. Kolstad reported staff was in the process of preparing to go out for bids
for snowplowing services for 1981 at the end of U ie we,ik.
Councilmember Hoyt asked if our program of sealcoatinj 23 miles of streets
per year is adequate or if we are falling behind with the addition of new
streets yearly. Engineer Moore replied this program is adequate because of
gravel roads in the City and the new streets which do not require sealcoating
initially for 6-7 years.
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Special Council Meeting
August 12, 1980
Page 265
Mayor Hunt suggested initiating a repair program fir catch basins similar to the
sealcoating program, possibly contract ng the work out during the slow season for
street construction. Councilmember Neils requested the Engineer to prepare a pro-
gram for a systematic inspection of catch basins en City streets and oetermine how
many manhours would be required to implement such a program.
MOTION was made by Councilmeinber Hoyt, seconded by Councilmember Davenport, to
tentatively approve the Streets budget as proposed with the direction to staff
to provide Council with further information with respect to snowplowirq and the
equipment necessary to provide various levels of service, and to explol a the
possibility of additional contract snowplowing a cul-de-sac plowing,
Motion carried, five Aye:,
MOTION was made by Councilmember Hoyt, secondee! by Councilmember Schneider, to
tentatively approve the Streets and Traffic lights budget as proposed.
Motion carried, five ayes.
Water and Sanitary Sewer
Manager Willis stated he was projecting two new employees in the Water Department
to provide 7 -day coverage and a systematic maintehance program i; the water treat-
ment plant. Mr. Kolstad indicated :+iese employees would also beqln a program of
meter repair and replacement in 0e reinter months, as well as maintenance of lift
stations and flushing throughout the year.
MOTION was made by Mayor Hunt, seconded by Councilmember Neils, to tentatively
approve the Water budget as proposed.
Motion carried, five ayes.
MOTION was made by Mayor Hunt, seconded by Councilmember Neils, to tentatively
approve the Sanitary Sewer budget as proposed,
Motion carried, five ayes,
Central Equipment Fund
Council reviewed the requests for new equipment for various City deparUnents.
Mr. Kolstad responded to Council's questions regarding fuel co:isumption and
the proposed new automated fuelling system, Park Director Blank reviewed the
uses for the equipment proposed for maintenance of the new community pl ayf i el ds
and other City parks.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Hoyt. seconded by Coin c i 1 member Davenport,
to tentatively approve the Central Equipment budget as )roposed.
Motion carried, four ayes. Councilmember Schneider voted nay.
Mayor Hunt requested Council to prepare a list of priorities for 1981 to be
reviewed at th August 18 Council meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 11;07 p.m.
City Clerk "-
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