SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MARCH 4, 2008

7:00 P.M. - ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Attendants:

       Mayor:  Molly Park

      Councilmembers: Cathy DeCourcy, Joel Bennett and Richard Williams.

      City Attorney:  Tim Kuntz

      City Building Official: Russ Wahl

      City Engineer:  Tim Hanson

      City Treasurer:  Mike Blair

City Clerk:  Cathy Iago
     and Members of the General Public.
Councilmember Judy MacManus, City Forester: Jim Nayes and Planner Annie Rexine were absent.

     

1.   CALL TO ORDER:                        Mayor Molly Park opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

 

2.   APPROVE AGENDA:       Mayor Park asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda and there was no response.

Councilmember Williams moved approval of the Agenda, seconded by Councilmember DeCourcy and carried.

  

3.   CONSENT AGENDA:       The Mayor asked if there were any questions or comments relating to any items on the Consent Agenda.  She asked Treasurer Blair to comment on the Financial Report. Treasurer Blair explained that the permit income was reduced due to slow activity in this area which is a reflection of the economy.

Councilmember Williams commented that the expenses appear better than expected.

Councilmember DeCourcy moved approval of the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Williams   and carried.

 

a.      Regular Council meeting minutes of February 12, 2008.

b.      List of Bills

c.       Monthly Financial Statements

 

4.   COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:   None.

5.   INSPECTOR’S REPORTS: 

 

a.   Building Inspector: Inspector Wahl explained that he conducted nine (9) inspections that were all related to the Flynn residence construction and issued one (1) building permit in February.

Councilmember Bennett asked if the Flynn residence is nearing completion. Inspector Wahl explained that the exterior construction is almost completed and that the crew has begun work on sheet-rocking the interior of the residence. He also noted that work has begun on the cottage structure.

Mayor Park asked the Building Inspector if there was a projected completion date for the residence. Inspector Wahl stated he was unsure when the construction would be completed.
 
Council thanked the Building Inspector for his report.

     

2. CITY PLANNER:   Mayor Park explained that there was no report from the Planner.
   
    
3. City Engineer:  Angell Acres Preliminary Plat Review:  Engineer Hanson stated there has been no activity on this project.
   
   Charlton Road Feasibility Study: The Engineer stated there was no activity on this project and that the next Task Force meeting is still tentatively scheduled for April.
   
   Resident Concern:  Engineer Hanson explained that he was contacted by a resident expressing concern regarding a truck load of mulch that was duped adjacent to the private street of Sunfish Lane. He explained that he reviewed the site and found the mulch pile was located well off the road on private property. He further explained that he contacted the resident that raised the concern to report that the mulch pile was not a public issue and he was informed that the resident would pursue the matter through the homeowners association.
   
   Mayor Park pointed out that the property was on Salem Lane not Sunfish Lane; Engineer Hanson agreed.  The Engineer stated that it appears to be a temporary mulch pile and that the property owner received the mulch fromh the tree trimming service that is working in the City. 
   
     
   Street Mainenance Policy:  Engineer Hanson explained that he has collected a few street maintenance policies from other communities. He stated that he wishes to review a few more policies to use as guides and examples prior to drafting a policy for Sunfish Lake.
   
   Street Clearing Activities:  Engineer Hanson stated the streets had sand and salt applied six (3) times during the month of February as outlined in his report.
   
   Anticipated Engineer Activities for February:  Engineer Hanson stated that he anticipates an improvement in the weather and he plans to post the spring load limits on the City streets in mid or late March.  He advised he would continue working to develop the street maintenance policy and he would also be compiling the NPDES Permit Review Annual Report. 
   
   The Engineer explained that the City is required to conduct a public hearing on the City of Sunfish Lake’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) each year and that he would have a report ready to present at the May meeting. He advised that the City Clerk prepared a notice of the informational meeting that must be published 30 days prior to the meeting; the Clerk suggested publication of the notice on March 30 to insure the 30 day requirement is met. Ms. Iago further suggested that Council pass a motion setting the date for the public meeting on May 6 at 7:00 p.m.
   
   Councilmember Williams moved to schedule an informational meeting regarding the City of Sunfish Lake’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) on May 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., seconded by Councilmember DeCourcy and carried.   
   
   Attorney Kuntz suggested that Inspector Wahl inform Mr. Flynn’s contractor and other applicants that the spring load limits will be posted in March since it may affect the construction traffic.   
   
   Council thanked the Engineer for his report.
   
    
4. CITY FORESTER:  Mayor Park explained that the City Forester was unable to attend this evening and that he informed her there was very little activity this month; she advised he issued two (2) burning permits and responded to a question from one resident.
   
    
5. PUBLIC SAFETY:   Mayor Park distributed the Public Safety monthly report for February, 2008 and noted that there were no billable False Alarms for the month. She advised she had not received the Fire report.  There was some discussion relating to police calls that were listed on the report.
                          

6.   OTHER BUSINESS:   

a.   Consider Resolution Approving an Agreement with the State of Minnesota Allowing Access to Minnesota Court
      Information Systems (MNCIS):   Mayor Park asked Attorney Kuntz to provide a brief explanation of the request.
Attorney Kuntz explained that the MNCIS system is a government records database that contains public and nonpublic court records; he noted the database contains the court calendar, scheduling and criminal record checks on individuals.  He stated that the program has been implemented by Dakota County and surrounding police departments and that the prosecuting attorneys in his office also wish to access this information. He noted the database also provides a tracking system for the City’s open files that allows the prosecutor to follow their own files. He advised that the State requires the local government agency to enter into an agreement at no cost to the City. He noted that his office has received approval and access for other communities they represent; however, each City must individually grant approval.

The Attorney recommended adoption of the resolution as presented.

Councilmember Williams questioned if the prosecutors would be access confidential records and if it is proprietary software. Mr. Kuntz responded that it would be the data that the public could access and that he believes the software   is proprietary. 

Councilmember Bennett asked the Attorney to comment on the email he received and forwarded to Mr. Kuntz regarding a website the City could access.

Mr. Kuntz explained that the email appears to be a solicitation from a firm that offers the site to government entities for purchasing city services. He suggested that it such emails apply to larger cities that search for vendors to provide services and that such emails could be disregarded by Council.

Councilmember Williams moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-04 titled, A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA ALLOWING ACCESS TO MINNESOTA COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MNCIS), seconded by Councilmember DeCourcy and carried.

 b.  Consider Request for Reimbursement of Lodging Lodging Costs for Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers (MCFOA) Conference, March 11-14, 2008:   City Clerk Iago explained that she was requesting funds for lodging at the Minnesota Clerk’s Conference to be held at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Minnesota next week. She advised that her memorandum listed the wrong amount for the lodging fees and that the approximate cost for the three nights would be $150, plus tax, since she would be sharing a room. She advised that she had won monies that could be used towards the registration fee for this year’s conference at last year’s conference. She also pointed out that she would not have any travel expenses because she would be driving with another City Clerk and that all meals are included in the registration fee. The Clerk explained there would be an election training component provided at the conference that City Clerk’s require for the upcoming election.

Councilmember Bennett moved to authorize the reimbursement of lodging expenses for the City Clerk between $150 and $250 for the Minnesota Clerk’s and Finance Officers Conference as requested, seconded by Councilmember DeCourcy and carried.

Miscellaneous:  City Clerk Iago advised that Planner Annie Rexine had been very helpful in compiling the addresses for sending letters to the residents surrounding Sunfish Lake and that the Planning Commission meeting for March was cancelled since there were no new applications.

Mayor Park reported that she was contacted by Pastor of Calgary Baptist Church who asked to meet with her regarding the Comprehensive Plan update. She stated he did not indicate what he wished to discuss and that she contacted Planning Chair Bulach to also attend the meeting and respond to questions. 

 

The Mayor asked if there was any further business and there was no response.

 

7.   ADJOURN:           Councilmember Williams moved for adjournment at 7:30 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Bennett and carried.
           

Molly Park, Mayor                                                 Catherine Iago, City Clerk      

 

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