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Home My WebLink About20200326 - CC Special Meeting Follow-Up Agenda CITY OF HASTINGS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL FOLLOW-UP AGENDA Thursday, March 26, 2020 7:00 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Balsanek, Braucks, Folch, Leifeld, Lund and Vaughan Staff Present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha Administrative Services Director Julie Flaten City Attorney Dan Fluegel Community Development Director John Hinzman Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins Public Works Director Nick Egger IV. COUNCIL ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED V. REPORTS FROM CITY STAFF These items are intended primarily for Council discussion and action. It is up to the discretion of the Mayor as to what, if any, public comment will be heard on these agenda items. A. Public Works Resolution No. 03-13-20: 1. Postponement of Public Hearing on Special Assessments for 2020 Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvement Project Wietecha summarized the history of the public hearing for assessments relating to the 2020 Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvements program. The hearing was scheduled for April 6, 2020. Staff recommends postponing the hearing until the COVID-19 Pandemic subsides and City operations and business return to normal. Council discussion on reasons for delay, desire to keep moving forward with caution, timing of contract and debt, and condition of current bond market. Braucks, Vaughan to approve as presented. Roll call vote 7 Ayes, 0 Nays 2. Postponement of Public Hearing on Municipal Consent for the Final Layout of the Highway 316 MnDOT Improvement Project Wietecha summarized the history of the public hearing for the Highway 316 Improvements Project. The hearing was scheduled for April 6, 2020. Staff recommends postponing the hearing until the COVID-19 Pandemic subsides and City operations and business return to normal; probably late May or early June. Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 City Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City’s website at http://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes Council discussion on financial impact, what are council options after public hearing, status of neighborhood petition follow-up, request to send direct mailing to residents for public hearing, and pandemic effects on state surplus. Folch, Leifeld to approve as presented. Roll call vote 7 Ayes, 0 Nays B. Parks 1. Cancellation of City Sponsored Activities Wietecha asked Council to cancel all City sponsored activities and all activities taking place at City facilities through May 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. ’ Council discussion on why May 31 was chosen, consider following Governors orders for school dates, staffs desire to be clear events may be re-scheduled as soon as practical, plan for outside playgrounds, need clarification on executive order regarding playgrounds, invest in fences to close playgrounds if necessary, status of other City events. Councilmember Balsanek made a motion to cancel all City sponsored activities ’ and events occurring at City facilities until such time there is a Governors executive order that would be appropriate to opening all City activities and events with the stipulation that the Parks & Recreation Department would be sensitive to preparing for such an executive order. Seconded by Councilmember Braucks. Roll call vote 7 Ayes, 0 Nays C. Administration 1. Emergency Ordinance Authorizing Finance Department and City Administration to Waive Late Fees Imposed for City Utilities Fluegel recapped the history of the proposed emergency ordinance, described the waiving of utility late fees and clarified when the ordinance would expire. Council discussion if other license fees should be included at this time, timing of late fees, and effective dates. Braucks, Leifeld to approve as presented. Roll call vote 7 Ayes, 0 Nays 2. Approve Personnel Policies Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic Flaten defined the proposed Interim Short-term Telecommuting Policy and Sick Leave Gap Funding. Council discussion on potential dollar amount of sick leave gap funding, option to not have employees use sick leave, definition of quarantine, intent of the gap Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City’s website at City http://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes leave funding, effects on employees from federal stimulus package, intended use of sick leave, what happens if employees run out of sick time. Motion to approve by Councilmember Braucks, seconded by Councilmember Balsanek. Councilmember Folch makes a motion to amend the sick leave gap funding to have employees who are forced to stay at home not be required to use sick leave. Seconded by Councilmember Leifeld. Roll Call vote: 2 Ayes (Folch, Leifeld) 5 Nays (Vaughan, Balsanek, Lund, Braucks, Mayor Fasbender). Roll call vote on main motion. 7 Ayes, 0 Nays Roll call vote on Interim Short-term Telecommuting Policy 7 Ayes, 0 Nays 3. Update on City Procedures, Services, and Plans for Conducting Future City Council Meetings and Public Hearings Wietecha itemized the various City procedures, services and plans for future City Council meetings and Public Hearings during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Hinzman provided comments on the work of the Economic Development Task Force. Council discussion on work of task force, concept of Hastings Foundation, appreciation for City staff, and operational changes made and the Police and Fire Departments. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VII. NEW BUSINESS VIII. REPORTS FROM CITY COMMITTEES, OFFICERS, COUNCILMEMBERS • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to practice social distancing, all City meetings will be conducted remotely until further notice. We are using a platform called Zoom. This platform is free for the public and can be accessed by a computer, laptop, or phone. • If you are unable to attend a meeting through Zoom, you can submit your comments before the meeting via email. Please remember to include your name and address for the record. The email is PublicComment@HastingsMN.gov The City’s annual water system flushing and hydrant inspection program • began this week and will continue for several weeks. During this time please remember any discoloration is harmless and the water remains safe to drink. It is completely normal to witness discoloration during the process, and it comes from iron sediments being stirred up by the large volume of Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City’s website at City http://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes water being moved. The sediments are exactly what we’re working to flush out. • Tennis Sanitation will only collect bagged trash. No loose trash items will be handled or picked up. Please place overflow trash in tightly sealed trash bags next to your bins on pickup day. All recycling should be loose in the cart as usual, not overflowing. If it doesn’t fit in the cart, plea se call Tennis for another pick up or hold overflow items until the following week. • Heritage Preservation Commission will meet Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. • Utilities Committee of Council will meet Monday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. • Next City Council Meeting will be Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. IX. ADJOURNMENT 9:10 p.m. Next Regular City Council Meeting: Monday, April 6, 2020 7:00 p.m. Sign up to receive automatic notification of Council agendas At ccagenda-subscribe@hastingsmn.gov or by calling 651-480-2350 Council packets can be viewed in searchable format on the City’s website at City http://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-council/city-council-agendas-and-minutes