01-02-2009 CCM
MINUTES
HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009, 12:00 P.M.
– 12:00 P.M.
1.CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cook called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Members present were Bill Arndt, Jim Haugen, Eric
Yost and Chad Czmowski.
City Attorney, Marc Sebora, swore in the newly elected Mayor, Steve Cook, and Council Members Eric
Yost and Chad Czmowski.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
(a)RESOLUTIONS
1.RESOLUTION NO. 13514 – APPOINTING GARY PLOTZ AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FOR 2009
2.RESOLUTION NO. 13515 – DESIGNATING OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AS
HUTCHINSON LEADER
3.RESOLUTION NO. 13516 – RESOLUTION APPROVING SECURITIES FOR
COLLATERAL FROM WELLS FARGO BANK OF HUTCHINSON, MINNESOTA
4.RESOLUTION NO. 13517 – RESOLUTION APPROVING SECURITIES FOR
COLLATERAL FROM CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST CO. OF HUTCHINSON,
MINNESOTA
5.RESOLUTION NO. 13518 - RESOLUTION APPROVING SECURITIES FOR
COLLATERAL FROM MIDCOUNTRY BANK OF HUTCHINSON, MINNESOTA
6.RESOLUTION NO. 13519 – RESOLUTION APPROVING SECURITIES FOR
COLLATERAL FROM FIRST MINNESOTA BANK N.A. OF HUTCHINSON,
MINNESOTA
7.RESOLUTION NO. 13520 – DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES OF CITY FUNDS IN
COMMERCIAL BANKS AND INSTITUTIONS
(b) CONSIDERATION OF 2009 CITY CALENDAR
Motion by Arndt, second by Czmowski, to approve Consent Agenda. Motion carried
unanimously.
3. OLD BUSINESS
4. NEW BUSINESS
SELECTION OF COUNCIL’S VICE PRESIDENT
(a) – Bill Arndt
Motion by Haugen, second by Yost, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill Arndt as the
Council’s Vice President. Motion carried unanimously.
DESIGNATION OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS:
(b)
1.AIRPORT COMMISSION – Steve Cook
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Steve Cook
to the Airport Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
2. CREEKSIDE ADVISORY BOARD – Bill Arndt
Organizational Meeting Minutes – January 2, 2009
Motion by Czmowski, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill
Arndt to the Creekside Advisory Board. Motion carried unanimously.
3. HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD (EDA) –
Jim Haugen and Steve Cook
Council Member Haugen recommended that Chad Czmowski serve on the EDA Board
instead of Mayor Cook.
Motion by Haugen, second by Arndt, to not ratify the mayor’s appointment to the EDA
Board. Council Member Yost asked for Council Member Haugen’s reasoning to replace
Czmowski with Steve Cook. Council Member Haugen noted that he is not planning on
running for re-election in 2010 and the mayor had noted that he may not be either. Due
to that, he feels that Chad Czmowski would be a good appointment to the EDA Board,
along with his experience. Mayor Cook noted that he has not decided that he will not be
seeking re-election in two years. He also noted that there are currently several business
people sitting on the EDA Board. Mayor Cook noted his experience that he has had
already in working with the EDA on various projects. Roll call vote: Haugen – aye;
Arndt – aye; Yost – nay; Czmowski – aye; Cook – nay. Motion carried 3 to 2.
Mayor Cook noted that he is not ready at this time to name another appointee, unless the
considerations would be to have the mayor and Chad Czmowski appointed.
Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to table this item to the January 13, 2009, regularly
scheduled City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
4. HUTCHINSON HEALTH CARE BOARD – Eric Yost
Motion by Haugen, second by Czmowski, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Eric
Yost to the Hutchinson Health Care Board. Motion carried unanimously.
5.HUTCHINSON HOUSING, INC. (HRA) – Bill Arndt
Motion by Yost, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill Arndt to
the HRA Board. Motion carried unanimously.
6. JOINT PLANNING BOARD – Jim Haugen
Motion by Arndt, second by Czmowski, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Jim
Haugen to the Joint Planning Board. Motion carried unanimously.
7. LIBRARY BOARD – Eric Yost
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Eric Yost to
the Library Board. Motion carried unanimously.
8.MID-MINNESOTA COMMISSION – Bill Arndt
Motion by Czmowski, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill
Arndt to the Mid-Minnesota Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
9.PARKS, RECREATION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD – Chad
Czmowski
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Chad
Czmowski to the Parks, Recreation, Community Education Board. Motion carried
unanimously.
10.PLANNING COMMISSION – Chad Czmowski
Organizational Meeting Minutes – January 2, 2009
Motion by Haugen, second by Yost, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Chad
Czmowski to the Planning Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
11.PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION – Jim Haugen
Motion by Arndt, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Jim Haugen to
the Public Arts Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
12.TREE BOARD – Steve Cook
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Steve Cook
to the Tree Board. Motion carried unanimously.
13.UTILITY COMMISSION – Steve Cook
Mayor Cook noted that there is no appointment available. There were discrepancies
between the HUC’s records and the City’s records in term limits. Craig Lenz will be
reappointed to the HUC at the next Council meeting.
14.HUTCHINSON SAFETY COUNCIL – Bill Arndt
Motion by Yost, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill Arndt to
the Hutchinson Safety Council. Motion carried unanimously.
DESIGNATION OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO OTHER COMMITTEES:
(c)
1.HUTCHINSON DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION – Chad Czmowski
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Chad
Czmowski to the Hutchinson Downtown Association. Motion carried unanimously.
2.FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION – Fire Chief Brad Emans, Finance Director Jeremy
Carter, Mayor Steve Cook
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Fire Chief
Brad Emans, Finance Director Jeremy Carter and Mayor Steve Cook to the Fire Relief
Association. Motion carried unanimously.
3.FACILITY & INFRASTRUCTURE (RESOURCE ALLOCATION) – Bill Arndt &
Steve Cook
Motion by Yost, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Bill Arndt and
Steve Cook to the Resource Allocation Committee. Motion carried unanimously.
4.WAGE COMMITTEE – Jim Haugen and Eric Yost
Motion by Arndt, second by Cook, to ratify Mayor Cook’s appointment of Jim Haugen
and Eric Yost to the Wage Committee. Motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION OF SNOW PLOWING POLICY
(d)
Mayor Cook asked how snow plowing activities are limited due to budget constraints. John
Olson, Public Works Manager, noted that materials have been significantly reduced, by almost
40%. Another cost-saving measure is to reduce premium overtime. A third reduction is the
number of personnel utilized for snow removal. Mr. Olson also provided a report on
sidewalk/trail snow removal operations. Mr. Olson further noted that there are basically two ways
to remove snow, those are plowing and melting. Melting requires salt however and the price of
salt has doubled in the last five years. Future operations include more plowing than chemical use.
Organizational Meeting Minutes – January 2, 2009
Mayor Cook asked if it is best to wait for the snow to stop falling before operations begin. Mr.
Olson explained that during a typical snow fall, plowing begins during the day and then ceased
until about 1:00 a.m. the following morning.
Council Member Yost asked about the cost of replacing blades vs. salt materials. He also noted
that he has been in communities where sand drums are placed strategically where residents can
spread sand in areas where a plow driver may have missed.
Mayor Cook also asked about plowing curb to curb. Mr. Olson explained that that is to the benefit
of the freeze/thaw cycle.
DISCUSSION OF STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL AND LOCAL BUDGET IMPACT
(e)
Mayor Cook noted that he would like to see the City come in with a balanced budget and not a
deficit in 2008. City Administrator noted that a $317,000 unallotment from the State will be seen
in 2008. Mr. Plotz noted that Steve Apfelbacher from Ehlers & Associates will come and meet
with the Council to discuss the differences in how to handle the unallotment. Mr. Plotz will ask
Mr. Apfelbacher to attend the workshop scheduled for January 27, 2009. For the year 2009, it
appears that a cut in local government aid will be seen. In comparing the LGA cut in 2003, a cut
in 2009 may be even more substantial. The cut could potentially be in the range of $500,000 -
$1,000,000. The Council put in place a freeze on wages and performance pay increases which
will see a savings of $394,000. Mayor Cook expressed that he feels the Council should give the
staff the authority to start planning and acting on what is necessary in consideration of this cut in
funding. Mayor Cook suggested staff start planning for a $500,000 reduction and work up from
there to the $1,000,000 mark.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COUNCIL MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES – MARC SEBORA,
(f)
CITY ATTORNEY
Marc Sebora, City Attorney, provided an overview on the open meeting law, data practices, and
conflicts of interest. Mr. Sebora reminded the Council of a session the Leader is sponsoring on the
th
.
Open Meeting Law happening on January 16
Motion by Arndt, second by Yost, to set January 16, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. as an open meeting for
Council Members to attend the session being sponsored by the Hutchinson Leader. Motion
carried unanimously.
CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF SETTING DATE FOR POLICY
(g)
GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP ON ENDS POLICIES
Motion by Arndt, second by Haugen, to set January 15, 2009, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. for Policy
Governance workshop to review/discuss ends policies.
CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL OF SETTING JOINT MEETING WITH
(h)
HUTCHINSON UTILITIES COMMISSION
Motion by Yost, second by Cook, to set January 29, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. as a joint meeting with
HUC. Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
(i)
Motion by Arndt, second by Cook, to adjourn at 1:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.