HomeMy Public PortalAbout12.20.2022 Work Session Meeting MinutesMedina City Council Work Session Minutes
December 20, 2022
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF
DECEMBER 20, 2022
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in work session on December 20, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.
at the Medina City Hall, 2052 County Road 24, Medina, MN.
I. Call to Order
Members present: Cavanaugh, DesLauriers, Martin, Albers, Reid
Members absent: None
Also present: City Administrator Scott Johnson, City Clerk Caitlyn Walker, Finance
Director Erin Barnhart, Public Works Director Steve Scherer, Planning Director Dusty Finke,
and Police Officer Dave Hall
II. Republic Services/Randy’s Sanitation Agreement Discussion
Matt Herman and Deb Gatz of Republic Services presented a five-year renewal to the existing
agreement for collection and disposal of residential solid waste, recyclables, and compostables.
Gatz presented on the overall relationship between the City and Randy’s Sanitation. Randy's
Sanitation has been acquired by Republic Services. Randy’s Sanitation has been the sole hauler
for Medina since 2008. Gatz explained that with the exclusive contract, Randy’s has provided
extra consideration of the roads, provides free service to city buildings and parks, and provides
extra services at the Clean-Up Day. Herman presented on the proposed offer of the five-year
extension with a 4% increase each year. He explained that the contract language provided to
Council is a rough copy. Herman shared he believes these increases are modest during a time of
historic inflation and increasing fuel and labor costs. Herman compared the proposed costs to
other cities, which demonstrated the proposed prices provides a modest increase to Medina
residents. He also explained the Blue Bag Organics program is an important part of their services
that is not provided by other haulers in Hennepin County at the scale that exists in Medina.
The Council expressed general support for the proposed pricing structure, however, Mayor
Martin presented several issues with the proposed contract language. She stated that almost all of
the new language added by Republic Services to the existing contract needs to be changed or
removed as it makes the contract essentially useless in providing quality prices and services to
residents. She stated the contract needs to be presented to the City with significant changes
before the City Attorney should review the contract. She also stated the contract issues need to
be resolved quickly; if not, soon resolved, the city should elicit bids from other haulers.
Herman thanked the Council for their feedback and said he understood their concerns with the
contract language. He said he will work with Republic’s attorneys to present new contract
language the following day. He expressed he is confident they can find language that will
address all of Mayor Martin’s concerns. Mayor Martin thanked Gatz and Herman for their time.
III. Affordable Housing Policy Discussion
Planning Director Dusty Finke presented on the work staff have been doing for the City’s
affordable housing policy. Finke explained that the City needs to create a housing action plan
Medina City Council Work Session Minutes
December 20, 2022
and establish affordable housing goals to meet the requirements of participating in the Livable
Communities Act (LCA). The City has already agreed to the goal of creating 134-244 affordable
housing units for the 2021-2030 period. The housing action plan can establish additional housing
goals. Therefore, staff is requesting council input on additional goals that should be included in
the plan. Additionally, the City has been levying funds to meet the minimum affordable and
lifecycle housing opportunity amount (ALHOA) that communities that enroll in LCA are
supposed to spend on an annual basis. The City has not spent these funds and staff is requesting
input on how these funds should be spent in alignment with the City’s housing goals.
The City Council agreed they would like the City to focus on creating units for the 30-50% area
medium income affordability. They also want to preserve and improve the low and middle
housing stock that already exists in the city. Council expressed interest in creating affordable
housing that would allow more people that work in Medina to live here. For the ALHOA funds,
Council discussed creating a policy that provides a fee waiver per affordable unit that helps meet
the City’s housing goals. Council also discussed the different situations in which the City would
consider supporting Tax Increment Financing, such as for supporting mixed-income housing,
and more rental and multifamily housing. Staff will take this feedback provided by Council to
begin drafting the housing plan for Council review at a future date.
IV. Adjourn
Albers made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 p.m. on December 20, 2022. Cavanaugh
seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
_________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
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Caitlyn Walker, City Clerk