DEEPHAVEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007

MINUTES

 

 

1.                  CALL MEETING TO ORDER:  Mayor Paul Skrede called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

PRESENT:      Mayor Paul Skrede, Councilmembers Keith Kask, Kim Crockett, Steve Adams and John Wheaton

 

STAFF:           Police Chief Virgil Gustafson and City Administrator Dana Young

 

2.                  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The Council recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

3.                  APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

 

Councilmember Crockett requested that Item No. 3E, Approve Park Committee Recommendations, be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion.

 

Motion by Councilmember Kask to approve the Consent Agenda, consisting of the following items:

 

A.    Minutes of June 4 2007

B.     Adopt Resolution No. 18-07, Authorizing Worker’s Compensation Coverage for Elected Officials

C.     Authorize Attendance for City Administrator Young at LMC Conference

D.    Approve Seal Coating Bid from Pearson Bros., Inc. in the amount of $10,652.20 for Manor Road

 

Seconded by Councilmember Adams.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

4.                  MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR

 

There were no Matters from the Floor.

 

5.                  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

A.                Approve Park Committee Recommendations

 

Discussion was held on the Park Committee’s recommendations to purchase a backboard at Thorpe Park in an amount not to exceed $2,500.00.  Administrator Young stated that this item was not included within the 2007 Park Improvement Fund Budget and would need specific approval from the City Council in order to purchase the item.  He stated that the Park Committee had intended to purchase this item last year but it took longer than expected to find a backboard that would fit the existing posts.

 

Motion by Councilmember Crockett to approve the purchase of two backboards in an amount not to exceed $2,500 from the 2007 Park Improvement Fund Budget.  Seconded by Councilmember Wheaton.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Motion by Councilmember Adams to approve the recommendation of the Park Committee to establish  a subcommittee to recommend design plans and costs for improvements to Paddle Tennis Park.  Seconded by Mayor Skrede.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

B.                 Adopt Resolution No. 19-07, A Resolution of Appreciation to Virgil Gustafson

 

Motion by Councilmember Kask to adopt Resolution No. 19-07, A Resolution of Appreciation to Police Chief Virgil Gustafson in appreciation of 29 years of service to the City of Deephaven.  Seconded by Councilmember Adams.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

The Council presented Police Chief Gustafson with a plaque in appreciation of 29 years of outstanding  service to the City of Deephaven.

 

C.                Review EFD Technology Plan

 

Mayor Skrede stated that the City Council discussed this item two weeks ago and although the Council didn’t see a compelling reason to approve the technology funding in the District’s Capital Equipment Plan, the item was tabled to hear if Councilmember Crockett had any additional comments regarding the EFD Technology Plan and the proposed 2008 CEP.

 

Councilmember Crockett stated that all City Councils would be invited to a Board worksession on June 27th to have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed 2008 Operating Budget and Capital Equipment Plan.  She stated that the there is common agreement on the Fire Board that the budget process needs to have improved timelines and the ability to have feedback from member cities in a timely manner.  She stated that this worksession is an excellent opportunity for Council’s to obtain an early preview of the budget. 

 

Councilmember Crockett stated that the good news is that the Fire Board and Fire Chief are responding to the concerns expressed by both the cities of Deephaven and Shorewood.  She stated that our City governs our own budget but not necessarily the budget of the Fire District and does not know how much input we should have over individual purchases proposed by the District.

 

Mayor Skrede stated that the Fire Board approves their budget for presentation to the City Council’s.  He stated that this doesn’t mean the cities can’t have input.  He stated that four years ago the Deephaven City Council recommended an actual increase in the District budget for air paks and training but the budget was never increased.  He stated that we are simply looking for a process that would allow cities to interact during the budget process.

 

Councilmember Crockett stated that the Fire Board is attempting to be more responsive to the cities on issues concerning the Capital Equipment Plan and budget.  She added that the details listed in the Technology Plan do raise several questions.

 

Mayor Skrede stated that he is still looking for a more precise definition of need for technology funding.

 

Councilmember Adams agreed that he is not sure that the Board has addressed the question of need with the Technology Plan.

 

Mayor Skrede asked why Shorewood Councilmember Dick Woodruff and Councilmember Crockett’s spouse, Brian Crockett were not asked to assist with the development of a Technology Plan as was offered initially to the District.  Councilmember Crockett stated that Dick and Brian were not seen as independent but as representatives from the cities of Shorewood and Deephaven.  She stated that Board thought it would be more appropriate to select someone from outside of the member cities.

 

Councilmember Kask stated that his main concern with the proposed technology funding is that it would propose to spend down reserves for expenses that do not appear justified.

 

Mayor Skrede stated that several members of the three cities that have already approved the technology funding have also voiced many of the concerns that have been expressed by the cities of Deephaven and Shorewood.

 

Councilmember Wheaton stated that he is hard pressed to question the needs of the District because he is not that familiar with their overall needs.  He stated that he would feel that he would be micromanaging if he attended the budget meeting on June 27th.  He stated that he would feel comfortable approving the request and have the Fire Chief justify over time whether the need was met.  He stated that we have to give a little latitude to these decisions and can’t micromanage every dollar spent by the District.

 

Mayor Skrede stated that staff would send the Council a reminder of the time and date for the District budget meeting on June 27th and a copy of the proposed budget. 

 

D.                Review 2008 LOGIS Group Health Quotes

 

Administrator Young provided a brief overview of the LOGIS group health quotes from HealthPartners that would go into effect in 2008 and LOGIS’s introduction of a new high deductible HSA Plan.

 

Councilmember Kask stated that he has reviewed the quote from LOGIS and is satisfied that the 2008 rates address the Council’s concern to try to rein in ever increasing health care costs.  He stated that LOGIS’s plan is as competitive as the bid the City reviewed earlier this year from HealthPartners.  He stated that he is pleased to see LOGIS include a high deductible HSA Plan and noted that it would be a real benefit for the City to have LOGIS perform the plan administration.

 

Mayor Skrede stated that the Council has to make a decision prior to July 1st whether to accept the 2008 health care rates offered by LOGIS or opt out of LOGIS and obtain our own coverage.

 

Councilmember Adams stated that he believes the five health plan options offered by LOGIS is a real benefit and that at least one of the plans would satisfy the plan requirements for our collective bargaining units.

 

Motion by Councilmember Kask to inform LOGIS of our intention to continue with them for the upcoming plan year.  Seconded by Councilmember Adams.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

6.                  NEW BUSINESS

 

A.                Other

 

There was no New Business to discuss.

 

 

7.                  REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

 

A.                Public Works Committee

 

Administrator Young provided a brief summary of the following items discussed at the June 6th Public Works Committee meeting:

 

·         An update on the April 10th Fire Code & Safety Inspection

·         Manor Road Seal Coating Bid

·         Request to Vacate a Portion of St. Louis Avenue

·         Honeysuckle / Fairhomes Lane Storm Sewer Extension Project

·         Rutledge Avenue / Northome Avenue Storm Sewer Improvement Project

·         Construction of the New Cruiser Docks at St. Louis Bay

 

B.                 Park Committee

 

Administrator Young provided a brief summary of the following items discussed at the June 6th Park Committee meeting:

 

·         Request from the Boisclair’s on modification of the path along Parkway

·         Request from Amesbury residents to improve Paddle Tennis Park

·         Xcel Energy tree trimming on the LRT Trail

·         Weed control at Hill Park, Shuck Park & Cottagewood Children’s Park

·         Purchase of benches & tables at Thorpe Park benches & tables

·         Purchase of basketball court backboards for Thorpe Park

·         Deephaven Days

 

C.                Boat Committee

 

Councilmember Kask provided a brief summary of the following items discussed at the June 13th Boat Committee meeting:

 

·         Length of Boat Definition

·         Policy manual to address day to day marina operations

·         Development of a mission statement

 

Mayor Skrede stated that he would like to have a discussion at the July 16th Council meeting on allocation of marina resources.

 

8.                  ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Wheaton.  Seconded by Councilmember Crockett.  Motion carried 5-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dana H. Young

City Administrator