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062298 CC WS Min . . " j CITY OF SHOREWOOD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1998 COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD IMMEDIA TEL Y FOLLOWING REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Dahlberg called the meeting to order at 8:58 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Mayor Dahlberg; Councilmembers Stover, O'Neill, Garfunkel and Champa; Administrator Hurm; Finance Director Al Rolek; Engineer Larry Brown. B. Review Agenda Mayor Dahlber-g reviewed the Agenda for June 22, 1998. Councilmember Champa suggested adding the issue of Wiltsey Lane to the agenda. The agenda was approved as amended. 2. DISCUSSION OF WILTSEY LANE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING City Engineer Brown provided the Council with a Memorandum describing three scenarios addressing funding alternatives for improvements to Wiltsey Lane. Brown requested Council review the alternatives and provide direction to staff prior to the public information meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 1998 at 6:30 p.m. He suggested perhaps Scenario No.3 would be appropriate. Councilmember Stover pointed out she is not comfortable with Scenario No.2 in that it may set a precedent. She noted her belief property owners should contribute to these costs and commented it would be impossible for the City to reconstruct all of the roadways in the City. Mayor Dahlberg felt Scenario No.2 to also be somewhat extreme. Councilmember Garfunkel noted he would not support this scenario either. Councilmember O'Neill stated he would not support either Scenario Nos. 2 or 3. Councilmember Champa noted property owners in a new development would be absorbing the entire cost of their roadway. He stated he would not support Scenario No.2. Mayor Dahlberg commented he could support Scenario No.3. It was the consensus of Council that Scenario No.2 is not a consideration. Rolek noted when Church Road was reconstructed, this was at the expense of the property owners and there was no contribution by the City. Councilmember Champa felt the Council will need to address any precedent which has been set in this regard. Councilmembers O'Neill, Champa and Garfunkel stated they are in favor of Scenario No.1, unless the residents are able to convince the Council there is a reason the City should contribute to this expense. . Brown pointed out there are currently three other gravel roadways in existence in the City. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22,1998 - PAGE 2 . Mayor Dahlberg requested staff set up a meeting with representatives of MNDOT relative to obtaining MSA funding which would take pressure off of the budget. 3. DISCUSSION OF ASSESSOR POSITION Rolf Erickson, City Assessor, was in attendance. Mr. Erickson will be discontinuing his duties as assessor to the City of Shorewood. Mr. Erickson explained the City needs to have a certified specialist. This person could be employed by contract or as a City employee. Hurm suggested the City could participate in a cooperate agreement with another municipality in hiring an assessor. Mr. Erickson provided some background to the City. He pointed out the work is completely controlled by statute. He noted there is an extensive amount of auxiliary work which is required in addition to the valuation and classification of a property. In addition, there is a shortage of workers in this area. Mr. Erickson pointed out Hennepin County contracts with a number of the lakeshore communities. 'He felt it would be a favorable option to contract with the County. Mayor Dahlberg felt this would be the least desirable option. He would like the City to maintain as much local control as possible. Mayor Dahlberg felt the most favorable option would be to share services with another city. Mr. Erickson felt Shorewood to be of the size where an employee would be warranted. . Councilmember Stover noted when the City utilized a County assessor in the past, there were a variety of assessors who would come out. Mr. Erickson felt it would be beneficial to hire one assessor. Hurm felt the position may be too much for one full time person noting there would be clerical and support work which would also have to be taken into consideration. Mr. Erickson noted this is specialized type work as well. Mayor Dahlberg inquired whether the Council should consider and review operational and administrative criteria by which an assessor would work. . Mr. Erickson pointed out there are 700 parcels which need to be reviewed. He stated this work should be started in approximately September to allow sufficient time for the work to be completed. Mr. Erickson stated he has enjoyed his work with the City of Shorewood and noted he has appreciated all of the councils with whom he has worked in the City. He felt the Council to be very diligent in their work. Councilmember Garfunkel commented it may not be possible to meet the criteria the Council establishes since the market is so tight at this point. Mayor Dahlberg felt it to be important to hire an assessor who is able to work well with the public. Councilmember O'Neill suggested the Council seek applications for this position. Councilmember Champa pointed out the City of Orono will be looking for an assessor at this time as well and suggested the City consider a cooperative effort with them. Hurm will investigate this possibility. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22,1998 - PAGE 3 . Mayor Dahlberg directed staff to review this matter and determine who would be available to fill this position. (Councilmember Stover left the meeting at 10:00 p.m.) 4. REVIEW OF LIQUOR OPERATION STATUS Finance Director Rolek provided the Council with financial statements through the month of May. He commented he does not have faith in the perpetual inventory system. Rolek distributed the State Auditor's Report on Municipal Liquor Store Operations in 1996. This report describes the status of liquor stores around the state. Mayor Dahlberg questioned whether Rolek would anticipate the same position as the previous year in which there was a $60,000 loss at the Waterford location resulting in a net $10,000 loss against the profit of the other two stores. Rolek anticipates this year will produce very similar results. . Rolek reported there has been an offer by a chiropractor wishing to lease 1,300 square feet of the Waterford space. There has been some preliminary interest shown in the remaining portion as well. Any potential lease would have to be approved by the Property Management Company. Rolek explained the Property Management Company at the Shorewood Shopping Center is requesting the City sign a lease rather than utilizing a month to month rental. The Company plans to renovate the Center and in order to accomplish this, the Center must be fully leased. There is a provision in the lease, however, if the store were to go out of business, there would be a six month notice required. Rolek pointed out, given the renovation, there will be an increase in the monthly lease obligation. Mayor Dahlberg requested Rolek make inquiry of the various stores and report back to the Council relative to any staffing concerns the stores may be experiencing. Councilmember Garfunkel felt there have always been staffing problems given the rapid turnovers which tend to occur. Mayor Dahlberg expressed concern and felt it should be a routine management function to ensure there is no drinking of alcohol on the premises of the stores. Rolek pointed out there is to be no drinking on the premises of any City property. Councilmember Garfunkel expressed concern relative to shortages and overages which are reflected in the financial statements. Rolek noted this would also be a function of management. Councilmember O'Neill suggested scheduling an Executive Session at the conclusion of the next regular Council Meeting to discuss personnel issues relative to the liquor stores. With respect to a potential lease at the Shorewood Shopping Center, Mayor Dahlberg stated he would like to delay taking action on this issue until pending legal issues as well as the lease situation with the Waterford store are more stable. Councilmember Champa suggested negotiating a lease with a 90-day notice period as opposed to a six month provision. . . . . .. '. . CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22,1998 - PAGE 4 Councilmember Garfunkel suggested scheduling a meeting of the Liquor Committee to address any issues there may be at the various stores. It was suggested this be scheduled prior to the Executive Session. 5. ADJOURNMENT Dahlberg moved, Champa seconded adjourning the work session at 10:36 p.m. Motion passed 4/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Cheryl WalIat, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. TOM DAHLBERG, JA YOR