2024-02-06 - MIN - City Council Regular Meeting
March 6, 2024 — 6:30 PM Council Chambers
Hybrid Meeting CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Council meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format with in-person and remote options
for attending, participating, and commenting. The public can make statements in this meeting
during public comment sections, including the public forum beginning at 6:20 pm.
1. Call to Order Mayor Harmon called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
1A. Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Harmon led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and read the City’s Land
Acknowledgement statement.
1B. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Roslyn Harmon, Council Members Sophia Ginis, Maurice Harris, Denise La
Mere-Anderson, and Gillian Rosenquist
Staff present: Acting City Manager Santelices, City Attorney Cisneros, Community Development
Director Flores, Housing and Economic Development Manager Costello, Equity and
Inclusion Manager Kaempfer, Interim Finance Director Sawyer, Assistant City
Engineer Kakach, and City Clerk Schyma
1C. Proclamation Honoring Women's History Month
Equity and Inclusion Manager Kaempfer discussed the proclamation and importance of Women’s
History Month.
Motion by Harris, Second by La Mere-Anderson to support a proclamation honoring the month of
March as Women’s History Month.
Motion carried 5-0.
1D. New Employee Introductions
Community Development Director Flores introduced new Housing & Economic Development
Manager Christine Costello.
2. Additions and Corrections to Agenda
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Ginis to approve the agenda as submitted.
Motion carried 5-0.
3. Consent Agenda Approval of Consent Agenda - All items listed under this heading are considered to be routine
by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no discussion of these
items unless a Council Member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the
general order of business and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Harris to approve the Consent Agenda as revised:
removal of Item #3C.1. Approve Interim City Manager Agreement and Item #3E. Adopt Resolution
No. 24-021 Approving Amendment to Compensation and Classification Tables.
Motion carried 5-0.
3A. Approval of City Check Registers 3B. Licenses: 3B.1. Approve New/Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses for Audi Minneapolis,
Porsche Minneapolis, and Twin Cities Performance (Lithia Motors, Inc.) 3C. Bids, Quotes, and Contracts: 3C.1. Approve Interim City Manager Agreement 3D. Adopt Resolution No. 24-020 Approving Public Purpose Spending Authorization 3E. Adopt Resolution No. 24-021 Approving Amendment to Compensation and
Classification Tables
3. Items Removed From the Consent Agenda:
3C.1. Approve Interim City Manager Agreement
Council Member Rosenquist stated she is excited to announce and welcome Noah Schuchman as
Interim City Manager.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by La Mere-Anderson to approve an Interim City Manager
Agreement.
Motion carried 5-0.
3.E. Adopt Resolution No. 24-021 Approving Amendment to Compensation and Classification
Tables
Mayor Harmon stated that she needs more understanding of some of the tables and roles that are
represented in each of the job titles so she would like more time to make a decision by tabling the
item.
Acting City Manager Santelices discussed the wages and classifications of employees that were
approved in December 2023 and the reclassification process which includes working with DDA, a
third party consultant, who conducts the research and makes recommendations.
Mayor Harmon responded that she does not feel comfortable voting on this and would like to
table the item.
Motion by Harmon to table Item #3.E. Approving Amendment to Compensation and Classification
Tables so that it can be discussed further at a future work session.
Motion died for lack of a second.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Ginis to adopt Resolution No. 24-021 approving amendment to
compensation and classification tables.
Motion carried 4-1. (In Favor: Ginis, Harris, La Mere-Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: Harmon.)
4. Public Hearing 4A. Public Hearing on Proposed Improvements for the Zane Avenue and Lindsay
Street Reconstruction Project, Project #24-02, Resolution No. 24-022
Council Member La Mere-Anderson announced that she was going to recuse herself form the
discussion and vote since she is a property owner on Lindsay Street and her husband will be
speaking during the public hearing. She wants to ensure there is no perception of a conflict of
interest.
Council Member La Mere-Anderson exited the Council Chambers.
Assistant City Engineer Kakach discussed the staff report.
Mayor Harmon opened the public hearing.
Randy Anderson, 5645 Lindsay Street, stated he owns three out of the twelve properties in this
portion of the Pavement Management Program (PMP). He discussed the history of street width for
the PMP between 26 and 28 feet. He stated that he was originally told that Lindsay Street is a
State Aid Street and could remain basically the same after reconstruction but that designation has
since been removed so now it is impacted more by the PMP. He also discussed commercial semi-
truck traffic on the street.
Steve Conlin, resident of a duplex Lindsay Street, had questions about cost per unit and how it
relates to a duplex. Has same concern about semi-truck traffic and how they tend to tear up the
street.
Dr. David Gatz, 2200 Orkla Drive, stated the smoothness of the roads is not a priority for him and
believes that since he didn’t vote for it, the assessment is being forced on him against his will. He
also discussed the amount of the assessment for someone his age. He also discussed the history of
the street, degradation of City services, and mismanagement in the City’s ability to plan ahead.
Mayor Harmon closed the public hearing.
Assistant City Engineer Kakach responded to questions asked during the public hearing including
State Aid Street designation and stated he would discuss the determination of cost per unit for
duplexes during the next public hearing which includes assessments.
Council Member Rosenquist clarified that the PMP policy changed in 2008 when the 26-foot street
width became standard for several reasons including safety, environmental impacts, and cost.
Council Member Rosenquist asked Assistant City Engineer Kakach to discuss the 20+ year history
of the Pavement Management Program.
Mayor Harmon discussed street width and how it is impacted by commercial semi-truck traffic and
snow plowing in the winter. She asked about the evaluation process and if there are any other
options to help improve the flow of traffic.
Council Member Ginis stated that the street is being reconstructed to not support the weight of
commercial truck traffic so the City will have impetus to ensure trucks are not driving down the
street causing degradation over time. She asked about efforts to work with the area businesses to
help redirect commercial traffic.
Assistant City Engineer Kakach stated those conversations with area business owners have already
begun and will continue.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Ginis to adopt Resolution No. 24-022 accepting Feasibility
Report, approving plans and specifications, ordering construction, and authorizing bidding of
Certain Proposed Public Improvements for the Zane Avenue and Lindsay Street Reconstruction
Project.
This resolution requires a four-fifths vote of all members of the Council for approval.
Motion failed 3-1. (In Favor: Ginis, Harris, Rosenquist. Opposed: Harmon. Recused: La Mere-
Anderson.)
Council Member La Mere-Anderson returned to the Council Chambers.
4B. Adopt Resolution No. 24-023 Confirming Assessment for Levy 25043 to Approve the
Special Assessments for the 2024 Pavement Management Project
Interim Finance Director Sawyer discussed the staff report.
Mayor Harmon opened the public hearing.
Andrew Kueng, 8161 Duluth Street, stated he understands the importance of maintaining
infrastructure, but for a first-generation homeowner during a time of economic instability, this
assessment is difficult.
Mayor Harmon closed the public hearing.
Council Member Ginis asked staff to discuss the road condition and methodology being applied to
determine which roads need to be repaired or replaced.
Assistant City Engineer Kakach discussed the planning process including the Pavement Quality
Index.
Council Member Ginis asked about the minimums in terms of statutes, funding, and assessments.
Interim Finance Director Sawyer responded about the gaps in cost and possible options of funding
sources.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Ginis to adopt Resolution No. 24-023 confirming assessment for
levy 25043 to approve special assessments for the 2024 Pavement Management Project.
Motion carried 5-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: Harmon, Ginis, Harris, La Mere-
Anderson, Rosenquist. Opposed: N/A)
5. Old Business – None.
6. New Business 6A. 2024 Pavement Management Program Project Awards - 1) Award Construction Contract
to Northwest Asphalt, Incorporated and 2) Award Contract for Construction Engineering
Services to Short Elliott Hendrickson, Incorporated
Assistant City Engineer Kakach discussed the staff report.
Motion by Harris, Second by Rosenquist to approve construction agreement with Northwest
Asphalt, Incorporated for the 2024 Pavement Management Project #24-01 in the amount of
$5,310,601.48.
Motion carried 5-0.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Harris to approve professional services agreement with Short
Elliott Hendrickson, Incorporated for the observation, construction staking, and engineering
services on the 2024 PMP, for an amount not to exceed $288,100.
Motion carried 5-0.
6B. Review of Council Calendar
Mayor Harmon reviewed upcoming city meetings, events, and holiday closures.
6C. Mayor and Council Communications 1. Other Committee/Meeting updates
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:51 p.m.
Roslyn Harmon, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk