Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-2008 Continuation of Meeting 2-25-08MINUTES MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL 5:00 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2008 Council Chambers, City Hall Meeting No. 08-06 continuance A. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the City Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Longrie. B. ROLL CALL Diana Longrie, Mayor Erik Hjelle, Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann, Councilmember John Nephew, Councilmember Will Rossbach, Councilmember L. NEW BUSINESS Present Present until item L8 Present until item L9 Present Present Community Design Review Board 2007 Annual Report (Carried over from 2-11-08 and 2-25-08). a. Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report. Councilmember Juenemann moved approval of the Community Design Review Board 2007 Annual Report. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. Ayes — All Councilmember Juenemann thanked the members of the Community Design Review Board for their volunteer work for the City of Maplewood. The work that goes into serving on the board is a great help to the council in making the final decision on items that have been reviewed by the CDRB. Mayor Longrie echoed those comments. 4. Budget Modifications — Revisions to Management Structure and Creation of Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Position (Carried over from 2-11-08 and 2-25-08). (Requires four votes) a. Acting City Manager, Chuck Ahl gave the report. Councilmember Hjelle moved to recommend that the city council approve the following revisions to the 2008 Budget. Councilmember Hielle moved approval of the Creation of the position of Finance Director at a cost approximately equal to the position of Finance and Administration Manager, which position shall be eliminated. The Acting City Manager and HR Attorney are directed to implement this position into the overall Bargaining Group structure as required by overall agreements. Seconded by Councilmember Rossbach. Ayes — All The motion passed. February 28, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Continuance of February 25, 2008 Meeting Councilmember Hielle moved approval of the Creation of the position of Citizen Services Director at a cost approximately equal to the position of Citizen Services Manager, which position shall be eliminated. The Acting City Manager and HR Attorney are directed to implement this position into the overall Bargaining Group structure as required by overall agreements. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. The motion passed. Ayes — Councilmembers Hjelle, Juenemann, Nephew, & Rossbach Nom— Mayor Longrie Councilmember Hjelle moved to table the elimination of the position of Public Safety Manager from the overall budget and have a workshop to discuss the overall process regarding a Public Safety Director formation and or removal and the impacts that would have. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. Ayes — Councilmember Hjelle Mayor Longrie Nays — Councilmembers Juenemann, Nephew and Rossbach The motion to table failed. Councilmember Hjelle moved to recommend approval for the Elimination of the position of Public Safety Manager from the overall budget. The HR Attorney and Acting City Manager are hereby directed to investigate the current contract with the Public Safety Manager and are authorized to prepare a separation agreement. Furthermore, funds dedicated to the position of Public Safety Manager be redirected 100% back into both the Fire department and Police department budgets. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. The motion passed. Ayes — Councilmembers Hjelle, Juenemann, Nephew & Rossbach Nay — Mayor Longrie Mayor Longrie voted nay because the Mayor felt the motion to table the elimination of Public Safety Manager should have passed. Councilmember Hjelle moved to recommend approval for the elimination of the position of one Planner in the Planning program. Seconded by Councilmember Rossbach. Ayes — All The motion passed. Councilmember Hjelle moved to table the creation of the position of Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director. February 28, 2008 2 City Council Meeting Minutes Continuance of February 25, 2008 Meeting Seconded by Mayor Longrie. After discussion amongst the council and the City Attorney, Alan Kantrud it was decided no action was necessary. Councilmember Hjelle withdrew his motion. No action was taken regarding the Creation of the position of Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director. The council decided to compile further information before acting on this. 6. Consider Increasing Expenditure Limit for Staff from $5,000 to $10,000. a. Acting City Manager, Chuck AN gave the report. Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve increasing the financial limit for purchases allowed by staff without Council approval, provided there is an appropriate budget allocation, from the current limit of $5,000 to $10,000. Seconded by Councilmember Rossbach. Ayes — Councilmembers Juenemann, Nephew & Rossbach. Nays — Mayor Longrie & Councilmember Hjelle The motion passed. Mayor Longrie said in a Plan 8 City, one of the primary duties as a council is to be aware of how city money is being spent and to monitor that. She may have considered this if there was a policy in the City Council Policy Handbook that stated that any spending that was done under the $10,000 on a monthly basis it is the expectation that this information would be sent to the council in an email to inform the council of expenditures that fall under the $5,000-$ 10, 000 range. 7. Revision of Rules and Procedures for City Council and Council Meetings Manual. (Carried over from 2-25-08) a. City Clerk, Citizen Services Manager, Karen Guilfoile gave the report. Mayor Longrie moved to recommend the city council chambers and city buildings will be made available for non-partisan political meetings, non-political town hall meetings, citizen oriented forums, workshops or neighborhood meetings sponsored by the city and candidate forums at no charge for a maximum use of four hours during periods when not otherwise required for city business and when a building custodian is scheduled to be on the premises. Seconded by Councilmember Rossbach. Mayor Longrie withdrew her motion after a lengthy discussion regarding the original motion Councilmember Rossbach withdrew his second. Mayor Longrie moved to recommend that based on the council discussion the council directs staff to craft the proper language for revising the Rules and Procedures for City Council and the Council Meetings Manual and bring it back to the council for review within one month. February 28, 2008 3 City Council Meeting Minutes Continuance of February 25, 2008 Meeting M Seconded by Councilmember Hjelle. The motion passed. Ayes — All Mayor Longrie moved to table the remainder of this discussion until such time that all councilmembers can be present. Staff will bring this item back at a later time for the council to review. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. Ayes — All The motion passed. Councilmember Hjelle departed the council meeting before item L8. 8. Approval of Agreement with Springsted, Inc. for Debt Management Study. (Carried over from 2-25-08) a. Finance and Administration Manager, Bob Mittet gave the report. Councilmember Juenemann moved to authorize staff to enter into contract with Springsted for the study at a cost not to exceed $13,000. Seconded by Mayor Longrie. Ayes — Mayor Longrie, Councilmembers Juenemann, Nephew & Rossbach Councilmember Juenemann departed the council meeting before item L9. 9. Recovery and Burial of City Time Capsule and Budget 50th Anniversary DVD. (Carried over from 2-25-08) a. City Clerk, Citizen Services Manager, Karen Guilfoile gave the report. Mayor Longrie moved to recommend that staff shall compile some possibilities regarding either building a cabinet to house the City Time Capsule in the City Hall Building. Councilmember Rossbach volunteered to build a cabinet at no labor charge. Further information shall be brought back to the council for review at a later date. Seconded by Councilmember Nephew. Ayes — Councilmembers Nephew, Rossbach & Mayor Longrie The motion passed. 10. City Commissions. (No Report) (Carried over from 2-25-08) The Council decided to bring this item back during a council workshop. COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS Caucus/Election Judges — Councilmember Nephew. a. Councilmember Nephew discussed this agenda item. February 28, 2008 City Council Meeting Minutes Continuance of February 25, 2008 Meeting El b. City Clerk, Citizen Services Manager, Karen Guilfoile discussed elections and Election Judges. 2. Metro Transit — Councilmember Rossbach. Councilmember Rossbach spoke regarding Metro Transit funding. 3. Ten Most Wanted — Councilmember Hjelle. Councilmember Hjelle had to leave the council meeting so he was not present to discuss this agenda item. N. ADMINSTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS Absentee Ballot Question — Karen Guilfoile. a. City Clerk, Citizen Services Manager, Karen Guilfoile gave the report. 2. Announce Council -Manager Workshop March 3, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. a. Acting City Manager, Chuck Ahl gave the report. Acting City Manager, Chuck AN requested to update the council on the External Investigation Regarding Mr. Greg Copeland's Contract. The council agreed. Mr. AN read aloud the following: At the January 18, 2008, City Council Meeting, the Council adopted a motion that was seconded and adopted to have an outside agency examine Mr. Copeland's employment contract to determine if any criminal violation occurred in regards to the drafting or content of the contract. On January 18, 2008, contract was made with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Superintendent Tim O'Malley. Mr. O'Malley requested time to reconsider the issue to determine what agency would be best to handle this issue. On January 22, 2008, Superintendent O'Malley indicated he had discussed the matter with an agent at the Minneapolis office of the FBI, who oversees the Public Corruption Unit. Superintendent O'Malley indicated that would be the best avenue for this issue to be examined. On January 25, 2008, FBI Special Agent Brian Kenney indicated he was in charge of the investigation and on January 30, 2008, was provided a copy of the Copeland contract along with copies of the previous two City Manager's contracts and a copy of the DVD from the January 17, 2008, City Council meeting. On February 21, 2008, Special Agent Kinney indicated that he had looked at the case in their office and did not feel there was anything to pursue criminally. He was instructed to have the case looked at by the United States Attorney's office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David McLaughlin looked at the case and declined any prosecution at this point and indicated no further investigation, at this point, would be authorized. O. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Longrie adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m. February 28, 2008 5 City Council Meeting Minutes Continuance of February 25, 2008 Meeting AGENDA REPORT Cj�'LG TO: City Council FROM: Charles Ahl, Acting City Manager SUBJECT: Update: External Investigation Regarding Mr. Copeland Contract DATE: February 28, 2008 UPDATE FOR RELEASE At the January 17, 2008 City Council Meeting, the Council adopted a motion that was seconded and adopted to have an outside agency examine Mr. Copeland's employment contract to determine if any criminal violation occurred in regards to the drafting or content of the contract. On January 18, 2008, contact was made with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Superintendent Tim O'Malley. Mr. O'Malley requested time to consider the issue to determine what agency would be best to handle this issue. On January 22, 2008, Superintendent O'Malley indicated he had discussed the matter with an agent at the Minneapolis office of the FBI, who oversees the Public Corruption Unit. Superintendent O'Malley indicated that would be the best avenue for this issue to be examined. On January 25, 2008, FBI Special Agent Brian Kenney indicated he was in charge of the investigation and on January 30, 2008, was provided a copy of the Copeland contract along with copies of the previous two City Manager's contracts and a copy of the DVD from the January 17, 2008 City Council Meeting. On February 21, 2008, Special Agent Kinney indicated that he had looked at the case in their office and did not feel there was anything to pursue criminally. He was instructed to have the case looked at by the United States Attorney's office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David McLaughlin looked at the case and declined any prosecution at this point and indicated no further investigation, at this point, would be authorized.