DRAFT – These minutes are not official until approved at the next regular City Council meeting.

City of Bigfork

Regular Meeting April 8, 2008

Members Present: Mayor Amy Tendrup, Richard Salmi, Jean Lexvold, Mike Stevens and Linda Koppelmann

Absent: none

Also Present: Lonnie Kacon, Jim Manske, Warren Welch, Al LaTrace, Roger Logdahl, Public Works Superintendent Chuck Almhjeld, Todd Veitenheimer and Police Chief Jon Babcock

Mayor Tendrup called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Public Forum: Tendrup asked anyone wishing to address the Council to do so at this time. Warren Welch asked about the Huskie Café’s request for waiver of late fees and stated that if they were given a waiver, everyone should be given one. Tendrup responded the item was on the agenda but no waiver had been given at this time. As no one else wished to address the Council, the public forum was closed.

Motion to approve the agenda by Koppelmann, seconded by Lexvold, Motion Carried Unanimously (MCU).

Consent Agenda Consent Agenda item #7 was removed as the claims were not prepared for approval due to the absence of City Clerk Angie Storlie.

#1- approval of the minutes of the March 11, 2008 regular City Council meeting

#2- approval of the Police Report for March 2008

#3- approval of the City Clerk’s Office Report for March 2008

#4- approval of the Financial Report for March 2008

#5- approval of the Public Works Department report for March 2008

#6- confirmation of the hire of Chris Manske as Casual Maintenance Laborer

#7- removed

Motion by Lexvold to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Koppelmann, MCU.

Copies of documentation relating to any consent agenda item are available at the City Clerk’s office.

Commissioners' Reports: Airport Commissioner Salmi reported that the airport had been closed due to the snowfall. He complimented Water/Wastewater/Maintenance Assistant Joe Zimmer on the good job of snow removal after the recent storm.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Engineer's Updates: A memo was received from Jeff Ledin of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) recommending that the City Council approve the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and authorize SEH to submit the information in the PER for funding applications. Tendrup explained that approving the PER does not commit the City to completing any certain project, it simply allows SEH to start applying for funding on the City’s behalf. Salmi made a motion to table the issue until there was more information. The motion died for lack of a second. Stevens clarified that the City has already incurred the cost of preparing the PER and asked if there was additional cost for SEH to submit applications for funding. Tendrup explained that there are charges for SEH staff time to write and submit grants, however in the past the City has been able to get reimbursement for those costs through the grants awarded or through Iron Range Resources grant writing reimbursement program. Neither Stevens nor Koppelmann felt that the Council would change its priorities and did not see the point in tabling it.

Salmi wanted Storlie to do the grant writing instead of paying SEH to do it. Tendrup stated that Storlie assists SEH with the grant writing but does not have the contacts or skills to complete the process on her own. Koppelmann made a motion to approve the PER and to authorize SEH to submit information for funding, seconded by Stevens, motion carried with Salmi opposing.

Cedar Street Lots: Storlie provided information on the current listing price of the lots, the realtor’s recommendations and the value of the neighboring property. Tendrup reminded the Council that Al LaTrace had indicated at the last Council meeting that he may be interested in trading a portion of his property to the City in exchange for forgiving his assessment. LaTrace asked why his assessment was twice what other properties were assessed. Tendrup stated that the City’s records showed he was assessed the same as everyone else and Storlie would have to check with the County to make sure they had assessed his property correctly.

Motion by Lexvold to lower the listing price on the lots to $14,000 and $17,000, seconded by Koppelmann, MCU.

Ordinance #147 – Minnesota Power Franchise: City Attorney John Licke and the attorney representing Minnesota Power had suggested a few changes to the proposed ordinance and an updated draft was provided to the Council. Motion by Salmi to table the ordinance until more information on collection of a franchise fee could be obtained, seconded by Lexvold, MCU.

Ordinance #148 – Regulating Animals: Stevens asked if this ordinance would have an impact on people who have animals now and Tendrup stated the Planning & Zoning Commission was not aware of anyone that would be in violation of the new ordinance. Motion to adopt Ordinance #148 by Stevens, seconded by Lexvold, MCU.

Ordinance #149: This ordinance amends the Fees & Charges Ordinance by adding the fees associated with the new animal ordinance. Motion to adopt Ordinance #149 by Stevens, seconded by Tendrup, MCU.

Resolution 2008-06: This resolution sets the administrative offense penalties associated with the new animal ordinance. Motion to adopt Resolution 2008-06 by Lexvold, seconded by Stevens. MCU.

Appointment of Board of Health: Tendrup reported that the City had stopped appointing a Board of Health a number of years ago, however the Planning & Zoning Commission discovered during their update of the animal ordinance that one was necessary to review complaints of potentially dangerous dogs. Storlie contacted Dr. Jeffery Scrivner who agreed to serve as the doctor. Koppelmann agreed to serve as the councilmember. Motion by Salmi to appoint Scrivner and Koppelmann to the Board, seconded by Stevens, MCU. A resident of the City is needed to complete the Board.

Public Works Truck: One bid was received for the public works truck in the amount of $2,456.00. Motion by Lexvold to accept the bid and sell the green public works truck and to direct Almhjeld to obtain quotes on a small fuel-efficient vehicle, seconded by Stevens, MCU.

NEW BUSINESS:

Airport Update: Almhjeld reported the Bergquist plane that had skidded off the runway back in January was determined to have a malfunction that caused the accident. While the condition of the runway was not a contributing factor, there are issues being looked at now in light of the accident. Bergquist is not currently utilizing the Bigfork Airport and would like to see some improvement made to it. They are interested in getting the runway extended and are asking that the City start working on financing for the project. Almhjeld stated that the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the airport has runway reconstruction scheduled for 2010. It may be possible to include a runway extension with the reconstruction and move the project up to 2009 or even yet this year. Almhjeld stated that our engineer will need to check into zoning, space, land ownership and other issues. Almhjeld stated that SEH would like to have a meeting with Almhjeld and representatives from Bergquist to see where we are at and where to go from here. Motion by Lexvold to authorize Almhjeld to meet with SEH and Bergquist, seconded by Stevens, MCU.

Wilderness Celebration Planning Update: The 6th annual Bigfork Wilderness Celebration is being planned for Saturday, June 14th.

Huskie Café Request for Waiver of Late Fees: This issue was tabled due to lack of information in Storlie’s absence.

Time Clock Policy: The Personnel Committee prepared a draft time clock use policy for approval by the Council. Motion to adopt the policy by Koppelmann seconded by Lexvold, MCU.

Temporary Liquor License for Edge Center Gallery: As the event requiring a license was to take place in Marcell, the Council did not approve the application as it was believed that Marcell Township or Itasca County should grant the approval.

City Clerk Advanced Academy: Storlie requested permission to attend the Minnesota Municipal Clerk’s Advanced Academy in July. She received a grant in the amount of $150 to attend this training and it provides credits toward her certification as a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The Council clarified that CMC certification is not required for the City Clerk position, however they may be willing to allow Storlie to attend and to cover training costs that exceeded the grant amount. The issue was tabled until clarification of the union contract requirements could be obtained.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Mayor Tendrup adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Angie Storlie

City Clerk/Treasurer