HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-17-2019 City Council MinutesMedina City Council Meeting Minutes 1
December 17, 2019
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17, 2019
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on December 17, 2019 at
7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Chambers. Mayor Martin presided.
I. ROLL CALL
Members present: Albers, Anderson, DesLauriers, Martin, and Pederson.
Members absent: None.
Also present: City Administrator Scott Johnson, Assistant City Administrator Jodi
Gallup, Finance Director Erin Barnhart, City Attorney Ron Batty, City Engineer Jim
Stremel, City Planning Director Dusty Finke, Public Works Director Steve Scherer, and
Chief of Police Ed Belland.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (7:00 p.m.)
III. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA (7:00 p.m.)
The agenda was approved as presented.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (7:00 p.m.)
A. Approval of the December 3, 2019 Special City Council Meeting Minutes
Moved by Anderson, seconded by Pederson, to approve the December 3, 2019 special
City Council meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Approval of the December 3, 2019 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Martin noted that she and Anderson have provided proposed revisions to be
incorporated into the minutes.
Moved by Anderson, seconded by Pederson, to approve the December 3, 2019 regular
City Council meeting minutes as amended. Motion passed unanimously.
V. CONSENT AGENDA (7:01 p.m.)
A. Approve 2020 Tobacco License Renewals
B. Approve Tobacco License Violation Fine and Terms
C. Approve Lawn and Grounds Services with Jered’s Lawn Care Inc.
D. Resolution No. 2019-83 Approving a Variance to David and Angela Raskob
for Property Located at 4585 Balsam Street
E. Resolution No. 2019-84 Authorizing Internal Loan in Connection with the
Redemption of the City’s Taxable General Obligation Improvement Bonds,
Series 2011B
F. Resolution No. 2019-85 Authorizing Internal Loan in Connection with the
Redemption of the City’s General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series
2012B
G. Resolution No. 2019-86 Approving Premises Permit to Northwest Area
Jaycees to Conduct Lawful Gambling
H. Resolution No. 2019-87 of Local Government Support to Participate and
Cooperate in Fire Service Planning Grant Program for the City of Medina
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December 17, 2019
Anderson referenced the tobacco license violation (Item B of the Consent Agenda) and
asked if that was for selling tobacco products to underage individuals. He also asked
whether the age to purchase tobacco was 18 or 21.
Belland confirmed that the department ran compliance checks and those are the related
violations. He confirmed the age to purchase tobacco in Minnesota is 18.
Albers referenced Item C and asked if the cost of $619,000 shown in one of the bids was
an error.
Scherer replied that was an accurate bid. He noted that he also thought it was an error
and called to confirm with that vendor.
Anderson noted that sometimes vendors do not really want the contract and simply
provide a high number.
Moved by Pederson, seconded by Albers, to approve the consent agenda. Motion
passed unanimously.
VI. COMMENTS (7:04 p.m.)
A. Comments from Citizens on Items not on the Agenda
There were none.
B. Park Commission
Scherer reported that the Park Commission will meet the following night to discuss the
park dedication related to the OSI addition and will also review goals from 2019. He
reported that the skating rinks should be ready, and the sliding hill is being well used.
Albers asked if the City has considered having outdoor hockey rinks.
Scherer stated that there has been discussion in the past, but the recreational skating
seems to be popular and the maintenance needs for a hockey rink would be greater as
well. He stated that they do put up some nets for recreational hockey playing. He noted
that he has not received any recent requests for hockey boards on outdoor rinks.
C. Planning Commission
Planning Commissioner Amic reported that the Planning Commission met the previous
week to consider the OSI addition and recommended approval of the related requests.
He stated that the Commission also discussed proposed amendments to the sign
ordinance and recommended adoption of the proposed changes.
Aaron Amic asked to speak as a resident on an item not on the agenda. He provided
comments related to vaping. He noted that although Minnesota still has the age to
purchase tobacco at 18, Plymouth has already increased the age to 21. He stated that
the teenagers are becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping, which has become a
dangerous issue. He asked the City to determine what it could do to increase the age to
purchase to 21.
Anderson stated that many states are increasing the age to purchase tobacco products
to 21.
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December 17, 2019
Johnson noted that there is also legislation at the federal level to change the age to 21.
Batty noted that many municipalities are increasing the age to 21, or at least considering
the option. He noted that a city could do that through ordinance.
Anderson commented that he would prefer to put public safety and public health above
economic issues.
Martin confirmed that staff would look into that increasing the age to 21 for purchasing
such products.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Randy’s Environmental Services – Request for Rate Increase (7:11 p.m.)
Johnson noted that Randy’s was recently alerted by Hennepin County that the tipping
fees are increasing and therefore asked to provide an update to the City Council.
Andy Bright, Randy’s, thanked the Council for providing the opportunity for him to speak
tonight. He stated that Medina has a great organics program with a nine percent
increase this past year equating to a total of 27 percent participation in Medina. He
stated that about one year ago they provided an update on the state of recycling, noting
that it has not improved and, if anything, has taken a further downswing. He noted that
even the values of aluminum and tin have decreased. He explained the process
Randy’s follows for recycling and noted that the decreased cost to residents for recycling
is typically covered by the recovered cost from recycled materials. He noted that some
providers have implemented a processing fee in an attempt to offset the loss but stated
that Randy’s has not done that. He provided an update on the notification that Randy’s
received from Hennepin County that the tipping fee will be increased. He stated that the
rates were included in the Council packet that factor in the increased tipping fee. He
noted that the rates do not include any increases in service fees or recycling and only
accommodate the increased tipping fee.
DesLauriers asked the top three recycling commodities.
Bright replied that it used to be tin, aluminum, and cardboard. He explained that there is
more value in cardboard because it is clean and because of the extended life of the
material.
DesLauriers stated that, if the main commodities are down in resale value and the rates
need to increase to accommodate, he would think that rates would decrease when the
commodity values increase.
Bright confirmed that to be true. He stated that Randy’s has not implemented any
change in the recycling rates and hopes to not have to do that. He explained that the
tipping fee is a governmental fee from Hennepin County and Randy’s is simply the
middleman delivering the trash from Medina to Hennepin County, therefore that increase
needs to be passed on. He stated that while it has been great to see an increase in
participation of recycling, there has been more of an educational component in terms of
what can be recycled in attempt to gain cleaner materials.
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Anderson commented that it does not seem that the timing of the County was favorable
as the contract required notice a month earlier. He asked if the County typically releases
the information at this time. He suggested that perhaps the notice deadline in the
Randy’s contract be changed to allow for time to process the potential increases from
the County.
Martin agreed that the date could be changed to January to allow additional time for
Randy’s to react to changes from the County occurring in the prior calendar year. She
noted that staff did analysis to determine how the rate increase relates to the tipping fee
increase.
Gallup confirmed that and provided a summary.
Pederson commented that Randy’s does an excellent job and would hope that after this
increase the City would not see Randy’s for an additional increase in the next two to
three years.
Bright provided additional information on the CPI increase built into the current contract.
He stated that Randy’s did not ask for a service increase and would like to continue the
partnership with the City. He stated that Randy’s is attempting to ride out the changes in
the recycling market without passing an increase to the City. He noted that if Hennepin
County increases the tipping fee by one or two dollars, Randy’s typically covers that
increase, but the larger increases such as this need to be passed on.
Gallup stated that the last increase by Randy’s was in January of 2016 and was also
related to increases by Hennepin County. She noted that perhaps something be written
into future contracts related to the tipping fee.
Anderson commented that Randy’s has been a good partner for the City. He stated that
he agrees that the City would like to keep the cost down as much as possible but
recognized that this increase seemed to catch all parties off guard because of actions
from the County. He suggested that the date on the contract be amended as discussed
and the paragraph related to the tipping fee language be changed as described by
Gallup.
The Council confirmed support through consensus.
Moved by Martin, seconded by Anderson, to direct staff to amend the contract to allow a
rate increase for 2020, to amend the notice date to January 31st, and to amend the
paragraph related to the tipping fee. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT (7:37 p.m.)
Johnson had nothing further to report.
IX. MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (7:37 p.m.)
DesLauriers commented that he attended the Loretto holiday train event.
Anderson stated that he and Martin attended the City recognition party.
Martin stated that it would be helpful to have the date for the recognition event entered
into everyone’s schedule for the next year to ensure that the Council members are able
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December 17, 2019
to attend. She commented that it really was an issue with scheduling and not an issue
of disinterest from the Council. She reported that she attended the Hamel Relief
Association meeting, noting that the group is working to update its bylaws. She provided
an update of the last West Hennepin County Mayors meeting where infrastructure needs
were discussed along with fire service. She stated that there has been discussion
related to regional fire service and provided an update on that discussion. Council
supported discussing possible regional approaches to fire services.
X. APPROVAL TO PAY THE BILLS (7:46 p.m.)
Moved by Anderson, seconded by Albers, to approve the bills, EFT 005330E-005349E
for $64,216.69, order check numbers 049617-049694 for $384,279.02, and payroll EFT
0509890-0509921 for $58,571.68 and payroll check 020443 for $773.14. Motion
passed unanimously.
XII. ADJOURN
Moved by DesLauriers, seconded by Pederson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
__________________________________
Kathy Martin, Mayor
Attest:
____________________________________
Scott Johnson, City Administrator