March 9, 2010

The regular meeting of the Staples City Council was called to order by Mayor Etzler at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at City Hall. Present were Mayor Etzler, City Council Members Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg. Council Member Carlson was absent. Also present were City Administrator Mathews, City Clerk Lindaman, Police Chief Huber, Parks and Recreation Director Grondahl and other interested persons.

It was moved by Quance and seconded by Flaten to approve the agenda as presented. Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

It was moved by Schmieg and seconded by Miles to approve the consent calendar items consisting of the minutes from the previous meeting and payment of the bills presented. Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Council Member Carlson arrived at 7:05 p.m

Police Chief Huber reviewed the Annual Police Department Report summarizing activities during 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Police Chief Huber reviewed State law changes related to the use of administrative citations. It was moved by Schmieg and seconded by Flaten to introduce Resolution No. 1499 authorizing administrative citations for certain traffic offenses pursuant to State law. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

City Administrator Mathews summarized a proposed Labor Agreement for 2009 and 2010 with AFSCME Local Union No. 3628. The agreement refl ects a wage freeze for 2009 and a 2% increase in wages for 2010. It was moved by Quance and seconded by Schmieg to approve the Labor Agreement as proposed. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Parks and Recreation Director Grondahl reviewed proposed Resolution No. 1496 (Local Trail Connections Grant Program), proposed Resolution No. 1497 (Regional Trail Grant Program), and proposed Resolution No. 1498 (Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program) agreeing to accept grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, if awarded, to assist with construction of 1.5 miles of paved trail for the City of Staples Area Trail System (Phase 1- Legacy Trail) and authorizing agreements with the State of Minnesota for the proposed project. Mr. Grondahl also noted that he is applying for a Community Foundation grant. It was moved by Quance and seconded by Reeck to adopt Resolution No. 1496, Resolution No. 1497 and Resolution No. 1498 as proposed. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

City Administrator Mathews reviewed the minutes of the February 22, 2010 Airport Board meeting.

Candi Nichols informed the Council of her involvement with the Central MN Re-Entry Project in Todd County. The goals of the program are to protect the public, contribute to safer communities, and reduce re-offending by successfully integrating ex-offenders into the community.

City Administrator Mathews updated the Council on various projects and activities and presented copies of a revised draft Personnel Policy for Council Members to provide comments to members of the Personnel Committee or himself.

Council Member Quance expressed concerns about the placement of group homes and suggested that the Planning and Zoning Commission consider a notification process to neighbors.

It was moved by Miles and seconded by Quance to recess the meeting at 8:27 p.m. until 12:00 p.m. on March 15, 2010 at the Staples Police Station Conference Room for a City Council retreat. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance, Reeck and Schmieg voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Approved: Chris Etzler, Mayor

Attest: Phil Lindaman, City Clerk

March 15, 2010

The recessed March 9, 2010 meeting of the Staples City Council was reconvened by Mayor Etzler at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Police Station Conference Room. Present were Mayor Etzler, City Council Members Carlson, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Reeck. Council Member Schmieg was absent. Also present were City Administrator Mathews, City Clerk Lindaman, Community Development Director Nelsen, Police Chief Huber and Parks and Recreation Director Grondahl.

City Administrator Mathews reviewed a summary of local government aid unallotments in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and reported that an additional unallotment of $147,958 is being proposed for 2010.

City Administrator Mathews reviewed the following department head recommendations in response to the proposed additional local government aid unallotment:

Eliminate housing maintenance inspections for 2010 and handle nuisance inspections with City staff $15,000 Transfer four months of the vacant Public Works Director position salary and benefits savings to the General Fund 30,300 Delay street overlays 50,000 Delay Firefighter I training until 2011 3,000 Cancel the annual General Fund transfer of airport hanger rents to the Permanent Improvement Fund for 2010 18,000 Use unbudgeted vehicle forfeiture funds to pay budgeted LETG software expenses and budgeted new police car setup expenses 5,000 Change the police car leases from two years to three years and increase the Central Lakes College School Resource Officer Agreement 5,000 Reduce Dower Lake lifeguard hours 2,100 Eliminate the skating rink attendant 2,000

$130,400

Considerable discussion was held on the recommendations.

Council Members suggested increasing the airport fuel price, reducing street lights city-wide, reevaluating garbage removal costs, and to be conscience about the Hwy 10 turnback costs as other potential cost savings measures.

Considerable discussion was held about the Public Works Director position. General support was expressed for Community Development Director Nelsen to be appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Nelsen indicated that he was willing to do what is best for the City, but that the City needs to decide what is wanted in the position. Concerns were expressed about the ongoing community development workload if Mr. Nelsen were to be appointed Public Works Director. It was the consensus of the Council to continue with the Public Works Director application process to evaluate the applications and appoint Mayor Etzler, Public Works Commission Member Carlson, and Personnel Committee Member Miles to a hiring review committee.

City Administrator Mathews briefly reviewed the cost savings of employee furloughs of 104 hours, 208 hours and 416 hours beginning July 1, 2010 if additional budget reductions are needed.

Brief discussion was held on dilapidated houses, nuisance properties, nonconforming mobile homes, a rental ordinance, and a policy on the use of City owned meeting rooms.

It was moved by Quance and seconded by Reeck to adjourn the meeting at 3:38 p.m. Carlson, Etzler, Flaten, Miles, Quance and Reeck voted yes. None voted no. Carried.

Approved: Chris Etzler, Mayor

Attest: Phil Lindaman, City Clerk

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