►
From YouTube: City Council Meeting - 3/02/2020
Description
City of Austin, Minnesota
A
B
Now,
therefore,
I
Thomas,
a
steam
Mayor
of
the
City
of
Austin,
do
hereby
proclaim
March
9th
as
colorectal
cancer
awareness
day
in
the
City
of
Austin.
Ok,
so
the
doctor
knew
God.
Would
you
like
to
speak
on
this?
You
can
have
the
proclamation
and
why
don't
you
tell
us?
You've
got
a
lot
of
information
on
this.
This
is
pretty
important.
We
pay
a
lot
of
attention
to
breast
cancer
because
it's
so
prominent,
but
this
is
almost
as
prominent.
Isn't
it
yes.
C
Yes,
it's
the
second
leading
of
death
in
by
cancer
in
the
US,
and
many
of
us
are
very
familiar
with
the
pink
as
one
way
to
be
aware
of
breast
cancer.
But
we
also
want
everybody
to
know
that
colorectal
cancer
affects
both
men
and
women,
and
we
want
to
do
all
we
can
to
educate
all
Minnesotans
to
be
aware
to
take
the
early
tests,
because
if
we
do
that
early
detection
would
help
prevent
a
lot
of
cases
of
cancer.
C
C
Day
for
us
to
go
blue
in
the
sense
that
if
you
have
lights
in
your
establishments
workforce
or
you
have
employees,
let
them
we
have.
You
well
then
display
blue
on
that
day
to
just
not
that
day
as
the
colorectal
cancer
awareness
month.
So
I
think
that
mayor.
Thank
the
council
I
thank
all
our
city
representatives
and
people
in
general,
the
citizens
of
Austin.
That
would
help
us
publicize
that
day,
March
9
as
the
co-director
awareness
day,
1.
C
B
C
C
B
E
F
Is
the
asphalt
pavement
that
our
street
crews
use
for
patching
different
areas
around
town?
This
is
not
for
Street
reconstruction
projects,
but
rather
just
what
our
street
crews
use
for
patching
and
we
took
bids
on
this.
We
received
a
base
bid
from
both
Yulin
brothers
in
Rochester,
sand
and
gravel.
We
applied
a
mileage
cost
based
on
the
distance.
It
takes
for
us
to
travel
to
pick
up
asphalt
from
those
two
different
plants
and
when
doing
that,
ulam
brothers
is
the
low
bidder
at
269,000.
Eight
hundred
twenty
dollars
and
we'd
recommended
awarding
this
contract
to
them.
E
B
B
F
City
owns
different
property
around
the
perimeter
of
town
that
we
lease
out
to
farmers
in
those
areas.
This
happens
to
be
down
by
the
airport
and
Patricia
Morris
owns
a
date
adjacent
property
to
these
two
parcels.
We've
worked
with
them
previously
and
would
recommend
continuing
a
five-year
lease
agreement
for
it
be
$225
per
acre
over
the
course
of
five
years.
B
B
F
F
We
would
apply
for
a
point
source
implementation,
grant
that
would
cover
80
percent
of
eligible
costs,
and
then
we
would
apply
our
sanitary
sewer
access
charge
to
the
adjacent
property
owners
to
fund
the
remainder
of
the
cost
that
is
not
covered
by
the
grant.
So
with
that
we
would
apply.
Our
sack
fee
at
its
current
rate,
is
for
2020
is
sixteen
thousand
seven
hundred
dollars.
If
people
came
in
to
hook
sometime
in
the
future,
that
rate
is
adjusted
yearly
as
needed,
so
it
may
be
something
higher
in
the
future.
B
G
B
B
F
As
Jason
was
just
referring
to
there,
this
is
a
policy
that
we
would
develop
to
help
property
owners
fund,
the
sanitary
sewer
access
charge
that
sixteen
thousand
seven
hundred
dollars
or
for
some
properties.
If
they
have
a
low-pressure
grinder
pump,
it
could
be
up
to
eighteen
thousand
nine
hundred
fifty
dollars
so
working
with
different
folks
from
different
departments.
We've
developed
a
policy
for
that
and
how
that
would
be
applied,
taking
direction
from
council.
F
Looking
at
a
ten
year
assessment,
we
would
assess
an
interest
rate
to
that
and
we
would
then
have
set
assessment
hearings
for
these
property
owners
that
choose
to
want
to
have
it
put
on
their
taxes
versus
paying
the
lump
sum
at
the
time
of
the
plumbing
permit.
So
we've
adopted
or
we've
put
two
get
together
for
you,
a
policy
that
would
apply
and
then
also
a
waiver
form
that
property
owners
would
need
to
sign
and,
if
approved
tonight.
This
is
something
that
we
would
apply
to
both
the
trota
Creek
to
sanitary
sewer
area.
B
H
F
B
F
So
we
do
still
have
some
wording
in
there
that
the
business
owner
needs
to
create
a
drive-through
bay
for
this
facility.
They
are
working
still
working
through
the
process
of
acquiring
the
building,
so
as
the
lessee
they're
apprehensive
to
make
an
investment
of
a
drive
through
B
until
after
they
own
it,
but
we
are
still.
We
still
I
still
have
that
wording
in
the
ICM
agreement.
This
is
a
about
a
10
month
agreement.
It's
set
to
expire,
December
31st
of
2020,
but
with
the
wording
that
we
have
in
the
and
we'd
recommend
approval.
I
I
think
he
mayor
members,
this
is
come
up,
came
up
at
our
discussion
at
a
recent
work
session
and
to
accommodate
that
for
March.
Ninth
retreat.
We
had
a
couple
different
proposals
that
we
looked
at
I.
Think
council
council
suggested
I'm
working
with
Pam
Bishop
who
works
at
the
southern
Minnesota
initiative
foundation.
We
have
kind
of
an
established
relationship
with
them
and
they've.
Given
up
proposal
for
$1,000
that
was
included
in
the
package.
H
G
The
rationale
is
that
to
have
to
have
an
outside
third
party
leading
the
discussion,
you
ultimately
end
up
with
a
more
fruitful
discussion.
I
think
if
we're
gonna
invest
three
or
four
hours
of
our
time
to
go
out
and
talk
about
community
issues,
it's
worth
on
a
pilot
basis,
seeing
if
we
can
bring
someone
else
in
to
ensure
that
we
get
the
right
discussion
so
that
people
who
are
internal
processors,
external
processors,
everybody
has
the
opportunity
to
contribute
to
it.
I
know
past
retreats
that
the
conversation
has
been
that
we
wished.
B
I
think
we're
gonna
change
the
format
at
the
retreat.
A
little
I
mean
we
don't
need
a
facilitator
if
we're
gonna
get
reports
that
are
15
minutes
long
from
all
the
department
heads,
but
we're
gonna
go
kind
of
a
different
direction.
This
time,
so
I
would
ask
people
to
wait
till
it's
over
before
you
judge
it
I
think
it
hopefully.
B
B
A
E
B
I
You
may
remember,
is
just
for
the
public's
edification:
it's
been
over
25
years
since
we've
had
a
base,
pay,
I,
reviewed
and-
and
this
is
necessary
to
ensure
that
we
are
in
compliance
with
pay
equity
and
competitive
within
our
marketplace.
We've
embarked
on
this
to
ensure
that
positions
are
adequately
compensated
in
that
we
stay
competitive
in
an
increasingly
strained
workforce
shortage
situation.
We
selected
a
firm
in
March
of
2018
and
it's
been
purposeful
and
focused
process.
That's
placed
a
premium
on
you
getting
it
right,
rather
than
getting
it
fast.
I
This
plan
will
keep
us
in
compliance
with
the
state
mandated
pay
equity
by
having
our
job
duties
evaluated.
That
ensure
that
that
equity
is
maintained
with
many
positions
tonight
we
have
labor
contract
and
the
tool
the
base
pay
plan.
That's
been
the
fruits
of
the
efforts
over
the
past
several
years
tonight.
We'd
need
several
different
motions
from
council.
First
is
approving
a
base
pay
schedule.
Without
this
approval,
we
can't
take
action
on
the
other
agenda
items.
The
base
pay
schedule.
Resolution
also
applies
to
non-union
staff,
so
members
should
know
that
as
well.
I
That
would
allow
for
retroactivity
4
to
2
to
July
1st
of
2019,
as
well
as
the
MOA,
to
put
the
employees
on
the
proper
bps
steps
over
the
duration
of
the
contract,
and
then
the
last
item
that
we
need
to
address
is
the
city
attorney
contract.
That's
a
separate
position
and
we
need
to
take
separate
action
on
that
other
than
that.
The
provisions
of
the
LA
Olins
contract
were
part
of
the
memorandum
included
in
the
packet.
I
H
Yes,
I
have
a
question
back
at
one
of
our
meetings.
Last
fall.
The
question
was
asked
anything
had
been
changed
to
the
conference
last
study.
Then,
when
it
was
given
to
Council
in
September
I
was
told
we
were
told
by
the
two
people
that
put
it
together
that
nothing
had
changed
yet
before
us
tonight.
In
this
document
there
are
four
positions
whose
points
have
changed
from
the
September
document.
Is
there
an
explanation
for
that.
H
J
H
B
G
Think
there's
some
unique
circumstances:
I
think
the
police
department
I'm
fully
in
favor
of
that
contract
and
we'll
vote
for
that,
because
we've
got
some
unique
challenges
with
recruitment
and
retention
around
the
police
officers.
But
I
got
a
vote
against
this
for
three
reasons.
The
first
is:
if
we
fully
implement
this
we're
gonna
end
up
with
double-digit
tax
increases
for
a
couple
of
years.
G
Property
taxes
have
already
gone
up
over
60%
over
the
last
five
years,
and
so
to
ask
taxpayers
and
businesses
to
continue
to
see
double-digit
increases
I,
don't
think
it's
sustainable
for
us
number
two.
Is
this
constrains
our
ability
to
make
needed
financial
investments
back
into
the
community,
and
so
right
now
our
number
one
expense.
Sixty-Two
cents
of
every
dollar
that
we
spend
is
on
salaries
and
wages
and
as
well.
It
should
be
fully
implementing.
G
When
we
look
at
this
study,
the
cop
cities
have
higher
average
incomes
and
higher
tax
bases
than
what
the
City
of
Austin
has,
and
so
to
have
some
departments
that
are
looking
at
20
to
30
percent
wage
increases.
I
can
guarantee
you
that
most
taxpayers
aren't
getting
30
percent
wage
increases,
and
so
absolutely
we
should
be
paying
people
more,
but
I.
Just
don't
think
that
the
way
that
this
is
implemented
is
in
the
best
shorter
long-term
interest
of
the
community.
H
Anybody
else,
I,
guess
I
share
some
of
your
concerns.
I
be
the
first
one
to
say
that
this
is
a
flawed
document,
but
now
that
we
have
a
contract
in
front
of
us
that
is
tied
to
this
document,
I,
don't
know
how
we
can
expect
to
settle
contracts
without
approving
this
comp
class
study,
because
that's
what
our
contracts
are
hinged
on,
I
guess,
I,
don't
feel
comfortable,
passing
it
without
having
I
guess.
H
K
I
guess
I
would
respect
the
distribution
I
counter
part
in
the
second
Lord
mr.
baskin,
on
that
sustainability.
Piece
I
think
we're
at
a
point
that
I
don't
think
the
city
is
be
sustainable
unless
we
approve
this
compensation
plan.
I
always
put
it
on
us.
Shame
on
us
for
not
having
a
compensation
plan
for
the
last
20
25
years
to
get
to
this
point,
and
I've
often
said
that
being
if
their
seventh
lowest
tax
City
of
a
population
over
5,000
there's
nothing
to
be
proud
of.
This
is
the
result.
K
Is
that
we're
underpaying
our
employees
by
a
significant
amount?
We
just
need
to
bite
the
bullet
on
this
and
I.
Think
most
of
the
constituents
would
understand
that
yeah
I
hate
to
balance
the
budget
on
the
backs
of
a
low-paid
employees.
So
I
would
just
stress
that
it's
really
our
fault
for
getting
us
to
this
point,
but
I'm,
looking
at
it
sooner
and
incrementally
along
the
way,
so
I
would
certainly
favor
I
would.
E
E
Then
just
the
number
of
pages
in
the
report
tells
you
how
complicated
it
is
and
for
us
to
find
one
or
two
figures
that
we
aren't
sure
are
correct
and
justify
that
it
for
a
no
vote.
I
think
doesn't
doesn't
wash
I
think
we
know
we
spent
good
time
and
good
money
and
had
good
people
on
the
probe
on
the
project
and
I
think
we
can
feel
confident
in
the
overall
answers
and
results.
I
guess.
H
B
Beside
that,
the
study
came
back
and
supported
raises.
You
know
the
other
I
think
this
study
has
been
years
over
a
year,
I
think
in
the
making.
We,
you
know,
we
put
it
off
for
a
lot
of
years.
Well,
we
it's
an
impartial
study.
It
told
us
that
we're
not
paying
our
workers
what
we
should
be
paying.
It
happened
for
a
while
and
it
is
gonna
be
a
real
challenge,
putting
together
a
budget
this
year,
but
at
the
same
time
you
still
have
to
pay
your
people
what
they're
worth
and.
H
I
think
back
well
I'm
Denver
in
October,
when
we
were
talking
about
this.
If
you
had
these
concerns,
we
maybe
should
have
delved
into
this
document
further
at
that
time,
and
we
had
that
opportunity
and
nobody
I
brought
it
forward,
and
nobody
else
seemed
to
think
they
needed
to
discuss
it
further
because
we
were
told
the
algorithms
were
great,
and
this
was
the
greatest
thing
we
can
do
wedding.
G
H
G
B
B
H
I
H
H
E
H
H
Right
and
the
point
value
ties
to
their
pay
grade
right.
So
how
do
I
know
what
position
is
going
to
get
paid?
What,
based
on
the
two
documents
that
we
have?
There's
no
tie
between
the
point
system
and
the
pay
grades?
There's
nothing
that
gets
me
from
page
a
to
page,
B
or
page
C.
Actually
we're
missing
a
page
B.
E
E
H
B
B
A
B
B
A
E
B
L
L
But
no
thank
you.
I
only
have
two
notes.
One
is
to
wear
blue
on
Monday,
so
thank
you
and
the
second
one
is
just
that
I
guess
just
even
that
the
decisions
come
down
to
even
wages.
Like
those
I
mean
the
City
Council
makes
those
types
of
decisions
so
that
those
are
just
my
my
two
notes
that
is
complicated,
I
think
it's
Laura
said
you.
B
G
Wanted
to
highlight
the
outstanding
coverage
that
Austin's
been
getting
recently.
You
know
the
Star
Tribune
had
a
special
report.
Last
Sunday
they've
had
a
follow-up
editorial
and
the
recent
Sunday
they've
had
podcasts,
and
you
know
really.
It
tells
the
story
of
the
outstanding
work
that
so
many
people
in
this
community
are
doing,
and
it's
it's
coaches
at
schools.
It's
the
police,
that
city
leadership,
it's
nonprofits
and
I.
Think
what's
really
cool
is
that
this
is
a
story
and
hard
work.
G
That's
been
done
really
over
the
last
20
years,
and
so
it's
really
cool
to
see
that
being
told
on
a
statewide
on
a
national
level.
So
we
should
feel
really
good
about
the
work
that
we're
doing
in
Austin,
and
it
really
is
a
shining
example
of
positivity
and
we
have
more
work
to
do.
I
think
we
all
know
that,
but
we're
moving
in
the
right
direction,
and
we
should
be
really
proud
of
that.
B
E
Dovetailing
perfectly
with
that,
two
weeks
from
today
the
welcoming
America
national
group
will
be
doing
a
community
visit
here
to
Austin.
So
that's
March,
16th
on
Monday
there'll
be
a
little
reception
before
the
council
meeting
that
Monday
and
there's
other
events
and
chances
to
face-to-face
with
the
welcoming
America
people,
so
Austin
Human,
Rights
Commission
is
involved
with
that
and
I'm
sure
you
can
get
more
information
from
them.
H
B
K
I
We
I
think
I
mentioned
to
counsel
that
we
went
to
the
external
signed
variance
committee
to
try
to
get
road
signs
on
I-90
I
did
receive
response
that
we
will.
They
will
be
going
to
the
Commissioner's
Office
on
April
13th
sounds
like
they
don't
move
very
quickly
either,
but
to
see
what
our
requests
will
be.
They
don't
tell
us
what
they're
recommending,
because
the
Commissioner
has
the
right
to
overrule
them,
so
they're,
keeping
that
keeping
us
in
suspense
on
that
but
progress.
K
I
Share
with
them
our
project
and
how
important
it
is
to
our
community,
the
house
representatives
will
be
testifying
on
Wednesday
for
our
wastewater
treatment
plant
in
our
19
million
dollar
request.
We
did
find
talking
with
our
engineers
on
the
project
that
will
be
subject
to
probably
a
million
to
a
million
and
a
half
and
sales
tax
as
part
of
the
project.
The
way
the
state
has
handled
when
the
contractor
takes
control
of
different
parts
of
the
construction
project
that
makes
them
eligible
for
sales
tax.
I
I
I
Interesting
because
there
is
a
way
that
the
municipality
can
essentially
hold
the
hold
the
stuff
to
try
to
get
around
it,
but
that
creates
some
delivery
issues
and
liability
issues
for
the
city
and
it
really
is
not
very
feasible
but
hoop
jumping.
That's
the
state
evidently
wants
you
to
try
to
go
through,
but
and
then
our
council
retreat
on
March
night
that
we've
had
some
discussion
on
tonight.
B
D
Tomorrow,
the
polls
will
open
at
7:00
7:00
a.m.
for
the
presidential
primary
voting,
so
it
will
be
all
your
normal
polling
locations
in
the
City
of
Austin
I'll,
put
something
out
on
Facebook
with
a
poll
finder.
It's
also
on
our
website,
or
people
can
call
City
Hall
and
we
can
help
them
find
their
polling
location.