Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting was duly held at the Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road, on the 23rd day of January 2008.

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mayor William Hargis called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  Audience, staff, and Council pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Upon roll call the following were present: Mayor William Hargis, Council Members: Paul Rebholz, Amy Scoggins, and Julie Ohs. The following were absent:  Council Member  Stephens.  Others also present: Clinton Gridley, City Administrator, Jody Eilertson, Administration Services Director, Mark Vierling, City Attorney; Dwight Picha, Community Development Director, and David Jessup, Public Works Director.

 

Mayor Hargis welcomed those watching at home to join the Council meetings and call City Hall if they need information.  He also referred to the manila brochures located on the chairs entitled "Welcome to the Woodbury City Council Meeting" and noted there are Public Input Sign-Up Sheets, and invited audience members to sign them and give them to a staff member if they wished to comment during the meeting.  He also noted that the times listed on the Agenda are only estimates and that items may be addressed by the Council earlier or later than those times listed.

 

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

A)                   Tree City USA Community Program Award

 

                        Mr. Don Mueller, Minnesota DNR, congratulated the City Council and Staff for receiving the Tree City USA Award.  This is a national award that recognizes cities for their commitment to their city forests and associated vegetation.  This award recognizes communities that have recognized the environmental and social value that this vegetation brings to the citizens.

 

                        Mr. Mueller presented a plaque to Mayor Hargis by a program of the National Arbor Day Foundation as well as the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

 

                        Mayor Hargis said trees are important to the city and congratulated staff and all the volunteers that helped the City receive this award.

 

                        Mr. Gridley said this is the first time the City has received this award, and the City will be placing plaques around the City recognizing Woodbury as being a Tree City USA® Community.

 

                        Mayor Hargis asked Parks and Recreation Director Bob Klatt to speak about the City’s Arbor Day activities.  Mr. Klatt explained there is an Arbor Day celebration every year and the City has volunteers that help plant about 300 trees a year within the parks.  There is also a tree incentive program that is conducted in the fall where they provide a monetary incentive for residents to plant trees on their own private property.  The stipulation is that the tree must be on a boulevard or street frontage area so that the street will have shading.  These programs are advertised through the Parks and Recreation brochure and the City’s newsletter.

 

b)                    Presentation of Advisory Commission Plaques

 

                        Mayor Hargis recognized the following retiring Advisory Commissioners and presented plaques to those in attendance.

 

                        Joni Barg, Economic Development Authority, Authority Member, 2006 – 2007

 

                        Gary Westeen, Environmental Advisory Commission, Commission Member, 2005-2007

 

                        Gary Moore, Planning Commission, Commission Member, 2005-2007

 

                        John Moore, Planning Commission, Commission Member, 2002-2007; Chair, 2005-2007

 

                        Jeff Janechek, Park and Recreation, Commission Member, 2002-2007

 

                        Brett Anderson, Environmental Advisory Commission, Commission Member, 2005-2007; Chair, 2006-2007

 

                        Mayor Hargis reminded residents that if they are interested in serving on a commission, there is information on the City’s website and in the fall, the City formally advertises for citizens to come forward to volunteer and there is a brief application that needs to be completed.  Mayor Hargis thanked all the people who have served on the commissions.

 

 

OPEN FORUM

 

There were no speakers.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Mayor Hargis explained that Consent Agenda items are considered routine and are adopted by one motion in an affirmative vote of the Members.  He said there is no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member or citizen so requests, in which event the item(s) will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered during the Discussion portion of the agenda.

 

Moved by Mayor Hargis, seconded by Member Rebholz, to approve the Consent Agenda, Items 6A through 6I.

 

Item A            Approval of Council Minutes – November 29, 2007, December 12, 2007, and January 9, 2008.

 

Item B             To adopt the following resolution:                                                                   RESOL. NO. 08-13

 

                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WOODBURY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY REPORT AND ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING DATE OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008, FOR THE 2008 ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT – ROYAL PARK AND AFTON ROAD, LANDAU DRIVE AND PINEHURST ROAD.

                       

Item C             To adopt the following resolution:                                                                   RESOL. NO. 08-14

 

                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WOODBURY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, FOR THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS TO BE LEVIED AGAINST TAMARACK HILLS 2ND ADDITION.

 

Item D            To adopt the following resolution:                                                                   RESOL. NO. 08-15

 

                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WOODBURY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, FOR THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS TO BE LEVIED AGAINST FAIRWAY HILLS ADDITION.

 

Item E             To adopt the following resolution:                                                                   RESOL. NO. 08-16

 

                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WOODBURY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, FOR THE APPROVAL OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ADJUSTMENT, APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT OF REASSESSMENT AND WAIVER OF IRREGULARITY  AND APPEAL FOR WEIR DRIVE UTILITY AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS – VALLEY CREEK ROAD TO TAMARACK ROAD AND CORRECTION OF CERTIFIED SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS PAYABLE IN 2007 AND 2008 FOR ROLL 7581076.

 

 

Item F.            To adopt the following resolution:                                                                   RESOL. NO. 08-17

 

                        RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WOODBURY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, APPPOINTING ALLAN J. OLSON TO THE NON-EXEMPT POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 4, 2008.

 

Item G             Staff recommends that the City Council approve the following proposed changes to the agreement between the City of Woodbury and the Woodbury Police Officers Association.

 

                        APPENDIX A

                       

                        f. Assignment pay for Patrol Officer – Firefighter shall be $1.21 per hour effective 2/18/07 and $1.25 per hour effective 12/23/07 when assigned to the Patrol-Officer-Firefighter assignment.

 

Item H            Staff recommends that the City Council approve the 2008 State of Minnesota Pay Equity Report.

 

Item  I             To approve the Abstract of Bills for January 11, 2008 in the amount of $239,782.97, the Abstract

of Bills for January 18, 2008 in the amount of $239,782.97.  Any purchase contracts requiring the signature of the Mayor and City Administrator are hereby approved.

 

 Voting via voice:

 

                        Julie Ohs – aye                     Amy Scoggins – aye

                        Paul Rebholz – aye              Mary Stephens - absent                                                            

                        Mayor Hargis – aye

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

None scheduled.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

A.  Discuss February 13, 2008 City Council Meeting Schedule

 

Mr. Gridley explained the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is scheduled for February 13th;  however,   two council members are unable to attend the meeting.  He suggested the Council might wish to consider of the two following options 1) schedule a different meeting date, 2) cancel the meeting without a replacement, or 3) to have a short consent agenda on the workshop meeting of February 20th. 

 

Mr. Gridley stated staff recommends Council cancel the February 13, 2008 meeting.

 

Mayor Hargis said the meeting originally scheduled for February 27th was moved to February 28th by his request as will be unable to attend the February 27, 2008 meeting.  Mayor Hargis reminded everyone that there is a Council workshop session scheduled for February 20, 2008.

 

Member Rebholz moved, seconded by Member Ohs, to cancel the meeting of February 13, 2008 and hold the next meeting on February 28, 2008.

 

Voting in favor:                    Ohs, Rebholz, Scoggins, Hargis

Voting against:                     None

Absent:                                  Stephens

 

 

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

 

Mr. Gridley said Washington County has scheduled the 2008 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization and Open Book meetings.   Woodbury property owners can attend any one of the following meetings:

 

·          Cottage Grove City Hall – April 10, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

·          Oakdale City Hall, April 16, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

·          Woodbury City Hall, April 24, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

·          Washington County Government Center, April 30, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Gridley said property valuations are also available on-line.

 

Neighborhood Meetings

1.        Century Avenue Reconstruction - Joint Meeting with Washington and Ramsey Counties, February 6, 4:30 p.m., Woodbury Council Chambers

2.        Lake Road Utility Street Improvement Project, February 7, 6:30 p.m., Ash/Birch Meeting Rooms

3.        Well No. 17,  February 11, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers

4.        2008 Roadway Rehabilitation Project – Royal Park and Afton Road, February 11,
7:00 p.m., Council Chambers

5.        Pinehurst Road Improvement Project, February 12, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers

6.        Landau Drive Road Improvement Project, February 12, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers

 

Other Meetings

1.     2030 Comprehensive Plan Draft Land Use and Phasing, January 24, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers

2.     Advisory Commission Orientation, January 28, 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers

3.     Sustainability Committee, February 6, 6:30 p.m., Poplar Conference Room

4.     Comprehensive Plan Task Force, February 7, 7:00 a.m., Ash/Birch Conference Rooms

 

Mr. Gridley said everyone has been mourning the loss of the Washington County Commissioner Greg Orth.  Many had attended the wake and funeral.  City staff extended their condolences to the Orth family.

 

Mr. Gridley said the replacement of Commissioner Orth must be done on an interim basis and asked the Council to forward any thoughts and/or recommendations on the interim commission appointment.  The County’s intent is to receive applications or statements of interest, and at their next meeting on February 5, 2008 they will be making a decision.  They will select only someone who will not seek election in November.

 

Mayor Hargis said this is a decision that needs to be made by the Washington County Commissioners.  Mayor Hargis said he received a call from Mr. Hagberg with some suggestions and one of the names mentioned was Dick Stafford, who has recently retired.  Mr. Stafford said he would be interested in serving on this assignment.

 

Mayor Hargis welcomed any suggestions or recommendations from the Council. 

 

Member Rebholz said he believes no one would object to having Dick Stafford, former Washington County Commissioner serve in this capacity.  Member Rebholz said it is really up to the County Commission to decide.

 

Mayor Hargis said it seems that the Council is comfortable with Mr. Stafford, but would respect the County’s decision.

 

Mr. Gridley said there was an article in the paper about wind power for the schools.  The Council has met with the school board and is in support of their efforts.  Mr. Gridley said a discussion has not occurred regarding bonding authority, the City has not offered and the school district has not requested.

 

Mayor Hargis adjourned the Council meeting at 8:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

              

                                                                       

Clinton P. Gridley, City Administrator