HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-06-2021_minutesMedina City Council Meeting Minutes 1
July 6, 2021
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 6, 2021
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on July 6, 2021 at 7:00
p.m. in the City Hall Chambers. Mayor Martin presided.
I. ROLL CALL
Members present: Albers, Cavanaugh, DesLauriers, Martin, and Reid.
Members absent: None.
Also present: City Administrator Scott Johnson, City Attorney Ron Batty, Finance
Director Erin Barnhart, City Engineer Jim Stremel, City Planning Director Dusty Finke,
Public Works Director Steve Scherer, and Public Safety Director Jason Nelson.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (7:01 p.m.)
III. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA (7:02 p.m.)
The agenda was approved as presented.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (7:02 p.m.)
A. Approval of the June 15, 2021 Work Session City Council Meeting Minutes
Moved by Cavanaugh, seconded by Albers, to approve the June 15, 2021 work session
City Council meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Approval of the June 15, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Martin noted that prior to the meeting Johnson distributed changes from herself to be
incorporated into the minutes.
Moved by Cavanaugh, seconded by Reid, to approve the June 15, 2021 regular City
Council meeting minutes as amended. Motion passed unanimously.
V. CONSENT AGENDA (7:03 p.m.)
A. Approve Mill and Paving Services Agreement with Omann Brothers Inc.
B. Approve Curb and Concrete Installation Services Agreement with Schmidt
Curb Co. Inc.
C. Approve Seal Coating Services Agreement with Pearson Brothers, Inc.
D. Approve Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for September 18, 2021 to the
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus at 155 County Road 24
E. Resolution No. 2021-41 Accepting Resignation of Public Works
Maintenance Technician Nick Zumbusch
F. Authorize Recruitment to Fill Vacant Public Works Maintenance Technician
Position
G. Resolution No. 2021-42 Approving Off-Site Gambling Permit for the
Wayzata Youth Hockey District #284 to Conduct Lawful Charitable
Gambling at 3200 Mill Street
H. Resolution No. 2021-43 Approving Proposed Transfers and Assignment of
Fund Reserves
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Moved by Reid, seconded by Cavanaugh, 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
Park Commissioner Hutchinson stated that over the last several months the Commission
has spent a lot of time discussing the Diamond Lake Regional Trail concept and thanked
the Council and staff for the thoughtful input that was put into that process. He believed
that the future residents would benefit from that amenity. He stated that the Commission
met in person for the annual tour of the parks and provided an update.
Commissioner DesLauriers noted the fence that had been removed at Hunter Lions Park
and asked if the intent is to get pickleball courts in this year.
Commissioner Hutchinson commented that the intent is to change the orientation of the
ballfield.
Scherer commented that they are working to finish the grading plan at this time. He
provided an update on the drainage work and field raising that will occur as part of the
project.
C. Planning Commission
Finke reported that the Planning Commission will meet the next week to consider a
request for an amendment to the Planned Unit Development for Rolling Green Business
Association at CR 116 and Meander to introduce retail and service uses into the
buildings. He stated that the Commission will also consider a request for a Preliminary
Plat for 500 Hamel Road. He noted that those items will likely move forward to the
Council in August.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Police Body/Squad Camera Purchase (7:09 p.m.)
Johnson stated that the Council previously reviewed the portable recording policy and
accepted public comment on this topic. He noted that the next step tonight would be to
consider the request for squad and body worn cameras by the police department.
Nelson stated that he would like to move forward with purchasing squad and body worn
cameras. He noted that the Council previously discussed and created a policy for such
recording devices in 2019. He stated that Batty recommended that the policy be
reviewed with the ability to receive public comment. He noted that at that time the City
received no comments, and he has only received positive support related to the
additional protection that would be provided to the Officers. He stated that the previous
concern about additional staff time that would be required for public data requests has
been cleared up since that initial discussion with the advancement of technology and the
change in what is considered public and private data.
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Cavanaugh stated that the request is for six squad cameras and 12 body worn cameras
and asked for clarification on how that equipment would be allocated.
Nelson stated that there are six squad vehicles within the fleet along with 11 sworn
personnel, along with himself, and two additional CSOs. He noted that there would be
body worn cameras for each sworn Officer.
Albers asked if there would be additional equipment requests in the future, using the
example of an additional Officer or squad being added. He asked the cost per squad
camera and body camera.
Nelson provided details on the cost for body cameras and squad cameras. He stated
that at this time he does not anticipate adding additional squads but noted that if
additional staff is added, perhaps additional squads would be needed. He stated that his
focus would be to ensure each Officer can have a body worn camera.
Albers asked if the squad cameras could be transferred to new vehicles when vehicles
are replaced.
Nelson confirmed that equipment could be transferred. He estimated the life of a squad
camera to be five to seven years and during that time the equipment could be in two or
three different vehicles. He also provided information on the price for data storage. He
noted that this cost would include an updating of the body camera equipment in three
years.
DesLauriers stated that in 2019 the weapons cameras were purchased and asked if
those still would have been purchased knowing that body cameras would be purchased
two years later.
Nelson confirmed it is a natural progression. He explained that the equipment has
different functions, noting that body cameras catch what is in front of someone while
weapon cameras provide a different viewpoint.
DesLauriers asked the number of communities in the metro that have a combination of
squad, weapons, and body cameras.
Nelson commented that there are not a lot of agencies that use weapon cameras,
estimating perhaps ten percent. He noted that the equipment depends on the
philosophy of the agency. He explained that traffic oriented agencies use squad
cameras.
Martin asked if the weapon cameras would be rotated out eventually.
Nelson commented that he would prefer to keep them because there is little ongoing
cost related to equipment or data storage. He noted that the equipment also provides
very clear audio and video.
Martin referenced comments that she submitted to staff prior to the meeting including
different language changes and grammatical suggestions. She stated that within the
policy she was confused with language related to transfer tag, marking recordings, and
reference of recorded contacts. She stated that perhaps it could be clarified that those
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are intended to protect privacy and sources and would be a protection of evidence rather
than perceived as a destruction of evidence. She stated that perhaps the statutory
references should also be checked since the policy was created two years ago.
Nelson confirmed that they are doing a review of the policy to provide any necessary
changes.
Martin noted that the agenda does call for public comments and welcomed any public
comments.
No public comments were received.
Hutchinson commented that he believes the body cameras are extremely important for
everyone and encouraged the Council to accept the recommendation from the police
department. He commented that he is a litigator and therefore good documentation, and
record of encounters serves the community well at a fraction of the cost that could come
from litigation that does not have the supporting data.
Moved by DesLauriers, seconded by Albers, to authorize purchase of six in-squad
cameras and twelve body-worn cameras at the cost of approximately $105,842. Motion
passed unanimously.
B. Shire Road Improvement Project – Public Hearing and Assessment Hearing
(7:25 p.m.)
Johnson stated that at the June 1st Council meeting the Council received the feasibility
report and called for a public hearing tonight.
Scherer stated that the intent tonight is to hold the required hearings for the Shire Road
improvement project. He stated that he has spoken to all three businesses at length
about the project, which is probably why they chose not to attend tonight. He provided
background information on the maintenance that has been completed on the road over
the years and the required improvements. He provided information on the estimated
cost, noting that the assessment is proposed to be split equally between the three
businesses. He stated that all three businesses agree with that split of the assessment.
He reviewed the actions before the Council tonight.
Batty stated that there are two public hearings scheduled which could be held separately
or together.
Martin opened the public hearing for both issues.
No comments.
Martin closed the public hearing.
1. Resolution Approving Plans According to Feasibility Report and
Ordering Shire Road Improvement Project
Moved by Cavanaugh, seconded by DesLauriers, to adopt resolution approving plans
according to feasibility report and ordering Shire Road Improvement Project. Motion
passed unanimously.
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2. Resolution Adopting Assessment Roll for Shire Road Improvement
Project
Moved by Cavanaugh, seconded by DesLauriers, to adopt resolution adopting
assessment roll for Shire Road Improvement Project. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT (7:31 p.m.)
Johnson stated that the IT Consultant is working with staff to develop a method to
livestream the Council meetings and review interactive meeting options for the Council
meetings. He noted that once those options are reviewed, a policy could be developed.
Martin noted that the City did so well during the pandemic and therefore it would be nice
to continue to offer an interactive method for participation during the times when a
member of the Council is traveling or to allow members of the public to participate in that
method. She stated that if a member of the Council wished to participate remotely, they
would need to be located in a public space available to members of the public and that
location would need to be noticed.
Albers asked if the remote member would need to be in a public space. He noted that if
he were out of town at a conference, a hotel would have a public space and asked if that
would qualify.
Batty stated that the statute states that the space needs to be available to the public. He
noted that someone could be in a hotel lobby with a sign. He stated that the reason this
has not worked well in the past is because people often want to attend from a hotel room
which is not necessarily open to the public. He stated that remote location would need
to be noticed in advance and there would need to be some type of announcement at that
location that anyone can attend, such as a sign.
Martin commented that the best thing is when all members are present, but the second-
best thing would be to provide an option for a member that is unable to attend in person
to participate remotely.
Batty noted that the concern would be related to safety. He noted that if someone
threatening attends in person at City Hall, there are multiple people in attendance to help
whereas if someone threatening chooses to join someone attending remotely, that
person would be alone. He stated that if someone attending remotely did not feel safe,
they could choose to end their participation in the meeting and move to a location they
felt safe.
IX. MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (7:42 p.m.)
DesLauriers stated that he and Cavanaugh attended the Uptown Hamel meeting noting
that there was good discussion between the 12 business and landowners in attendance.
He recognized Finke for the information he provided and discussion that he helped to
facilitate.
Cavanaugh stated that it would be helpful to have a clear definition for that group as to
what should ultimately be accomplished, whether it is specific to properties or a broader
goal for the area.
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DesLauriers reviewed the area that was focused on during the discussion at that
meeting. He noted that the next step may be to bring in a firm that has worked on a
similar project in another state. He stated that the next meeting would be held in July.
Reid stated that she and Johnson attended the Uptown Business Association meeting.
She stated that it is a small group but hoped that attendance would increase with the
return to in person meetings. She reviewed the current duties of the group and the
additional work that would be needed in terms of branding.
Finke stated that Hennepin County received a lot of grant applications but noted that he
did provide follow up information related to the City’s application.
Reid noted that simple branding could be done without grant funds, but there would be
some buy-in required from the property owners.
Martin stated that she will be attending a fire services meeting the following week and
she, DesLauriers, Johnson, and Barnhart continue to work towards the Maple Plain fire
contract.
X. APPROVAL TO PAY THE BILLS (7:48 p.m.)
Moved by Reid, seconded by Martin, to approve the bills, EFT 005978E-006000E for
$64,464.81, order check numbers 051655-051744 for $454,471.86, and payroll EFT
0511109-0511137 for $55,546.74. Motion passed unanimously.
XI. ADJOURN
Moved by Cavanaugh, seconded by DesLauriers, to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m.
Motion passed unanimously.
__________________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
____________________________________
Jodi M. Gallup, City Clerk