03-11-08 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2008
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer. City
Manager Tom Burt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Environmental Coordinator AI
Lundstrom, Chief of Fire and Inspections Mark Kuhnly and Assistant City Manager Jeanne
Andre.
The meeting began at 6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Janalyn Circle Pond Natural Area Maintenance
AI Lundstrom explained the request of a resident who lives on Janalyn Circle next to a City
pond that has no outlet and is identified as a nature area. The resident would like the City
to remove dead trees and debris. Past practice has been to leave passive nature areas to
their natural cycles, without removal of dead trees or brush, unless these items are
hazardous. Because there are not trails or activities in the Janalyn Circle Nature Area, most
debris is left to decay naturally. Mr. Lundstrom noted that there is no written policy to this
effect. However a Natural Resources Management Plan is in the budget for 2008 and this
plan will document City policies. He asked for Council direction regarding the policy to be
included in the plan and the response to the resident's request. The Council supported the
past practice of allowing nature to take its course. Council Members suggested further
education for the public on this issue and asked staff to send a letter of explanation to the
resident.
North Suburban Emergency Management Group Operations Plan
Mark Kuhnly provided an overview of the Emergency Management Group that includes
Golden Valley. It covers about one third of Hennepin County, including 14 cities and one
township. It also addresses three emergency medical providers and works cooperatively
with the Hennepin County Sheriff, who works with all of the emergency management
groups in the county. The North Suburban Emergency Management Group has just
prepared its updated Operations Plan. The plan is to address all hazards including natural
disasters, search and rescue, traffic incidents and terrorist threats. It is tied to Hennepin
County's Emergency Management Plan and Presidential Directive Number Five on
National Incident Command.
Chief Kuhnly provided an overview of the plan and outlined the Mayor and Council
responsibilities in calling a state of emergency and taking emergency actions. He noted that
an Emergency Operations Center would be established that would be the center of all
actions and communications about the emergency. He stressed that pre-planning and
communicating with other government agencies and emergency management partners is
crucial prior to dealing with any emergency. The joint plan will be presented to all of the
governing bodies for approval in the near future. The full plan will be circulated to the
Council on a disk for review prior to consideration at a regular Council Meeting.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2008 - Page 2
Water Meter Battery Change Out Program
Jeannine Clancy explained that the City moved to radio read water meters about ten years
ago. The earliest meters installed now need new batteries. Businesses and residents will
be sent a letter asking them to call and request an appointment to have the batteries
replaced. Copies of sample letters were included in the agenda packet. Director Clancy
explained that if customers do not voluntarily schedule appointments, the City is forced to
go to estimated bills, which is not ideal. If customers do not cooperate, at a certain point the
City will turn off water to the property until a new water meter battery is installed.
Information on this project was provided to the Council as background in case Council
Members receive inquires about the process.
Recycling Contract Extension
Jeannine Clancy provided background on the City's current recycling contract and
approaches that have been considered for 2009 when the current contract ends. Golden
Valley has worked cooperatively with Plymouth and Minnetonka, each having individual
contracts that together support a full-week recycling route. Plymouth staff has expressed
interest in taking proposals for a new contract with expanded recycling services. Golden
Valley and Minnetonka staff are most interested in continuing revenue-sharing as provided
in the current contract. The current provider, Waste Management, has offered to extend the
contract, with fees (household, processing and drop-off) increased for inflation, and with
rebates (revenue-sharing) continued, but decreased over time. Staff has reviewed this
proposal and recommends that it is competitive in the current market and still provides
higher rebates than are commonly provided. The Council expressed interest in expanding
recycling services, but not with concurrent loss of rebates. Council Members asked staff to
bring the new contract to the next Council Meeting for consideration and to monitor the
ability to expand recycling services in the future.
Manhole Covers
This item was added to the agenda at the meeting. Tom Burt explained that Council
Member Pentel had previously asked staff to determine the extra cost to purchase manhole
covers cast with the City's name. Staff has determined that the increased cost is a one-time
set-up cost of $2000. The City has recently solicited quotes for a large number of manhole
covers without holes, in order to reduce rain inflow at manholes. The Council directed staff
to look into having these manholes cast with the City's name and logo.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager