2023.11.07 Council Meeting AgendaPage 1 of 3
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Nov. 3, 2023
City Council Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023
7 p.m.
Council Chambers/Zoom Meeting
The city manager’s comments are bolded.
1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance
2. Approval of Agenda
The Council will consider approval of the agenda.
3. Proclamations
3.1 The Mayor will read a proclamation proclaiming Nov. 11, 2023, as Veterans Day in the City of
Crystal.
3.2 The Mayor will read a proclamation affirming the City of Crystal’s commitment to the Quad
Cities Beyond the Yellow Ribbon initiative.
4. Appearances
4.1 Minnesota Section American Water Works Association Hydrant Hysteria Competition
recognition.*
5. Consent Agenda
The Council will consider the following items, which are routine and non-controversial in nature,
in a single motion:
5.1 Approval of the minutes from the following meetings:
a. The City Council work session on Oct. 17, 2023.
b. The City Council meeting on Oct. 17, 2023.
5.2 Approval of the list of license applications submitted by the city clerk to the City Council, a
list that is on file in the office of the city clerk.
5.3 Approval of the 2024 regular City Council meeting and work session schedule.
5.4 Acceptance of Troylyne Womack’s resignation from the Inclusion and Diversity Commission.*
5.5 Adoption of a resolution authorizing the 2024 Federal Regional Solicitation Program Grant
Application.
6. Open Forum
The City Council appreciates hearing from citizens about items of concern and desires to set aside
time during each meeting for Open Forum. To provide ample opportunity for all, speaking time is
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limited to three minutes and topic discussion is limited to 10 minutes. The Mayor may, as presiding
officer, extend the total time allowed for a topic. By rule, no action may be taken on any item
brought before the Council during Open Forum. The Council may place items discussed during
Open Forum onto subsequent council meeting agendas.
7. Regular Agenda
7.1 The Council will consider approval of disbursements of more than $25,000 submitted by the
finance department to the City Council, a list that is on file in the office of the finance
department.
Recommend approval of disbursements over $25,000.
7.2 The Council will consider the second reading of an ordinance amending the Unified
Development Code (UDC), and a resolution approving summary language for publication of
the ordinance.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed ordinance on Oct. 9
except for the definition of Gross Density and the rezoning of 3443 Douglas Dr. N. Staff
removed those two items from the proposed ordinance and the Council approved first
reading on Oct. 17. Two Council actions are requested:
a. Approve second reading and adopt the ordinance.
b. Adopt a resolution for summary publication of the ordinance.
7.3 The Council will consider a resolution approving the purchase of replacement water meter
radios.
The city has planned to replace over 7,000 water meter radios over five years and needs to
average approximately 1,500 radio replacements per year to get the project completed
during that timeframe. City utility staff will do this work in-house so there are no
contractor fees and existing replacement processes can be used for quality management.
The radios are propriety to the entire SENSUS metering, reading, and data processing
system, and as such, only one vendor is available to sell the product in Minnesota. The
initial proposed purchase is for 2,000 radios at a cost of $325,000. Recommend adoption of
the resolution authorizing the purchase of water meter radios from Core and Main.
7.4 The Council will consider a resolution extending the forestry services contract.
In the beginning of 2023, the city awarded a forestry services contract to Nick’s Tree
Service, which was the low bidder of the two vendors who responded to the city’s request
for quotes. The current contract with the current forestry services provider expires in
December of this year. The current contract provides for the option to extend the contract,
and the contractor has agreed to honor the current rates for the one-year extension.
Recommend adoption of the resolution awarding the contract extension for forestry
services to Nick’s Tree Service.
7.5 The Council will consider a resolution approving the purchase of a Toolcat and attachments.
This vehicle purchase is replacing a 2007 Cushman golf cart with a much more versatile
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Bobcat ToolCat. The current vehicle has an important but limited use of hauling people,
items, and materials throughout the city due to its nature. Instead of replacing the
Cushman with a similar limited purpose vehicle, staff is recommending replacing it with a
ToolCat. This purchase will allow public works and parks staff to use this vehicle year-round
with many more types of use. Funds are allocated in the fleet maintenance fund for this
replacement purchase. Recommend adoption of the resolution approving this replacement
purchase.
7.6 The Council will consider a resolution approving the purchase of a replacement pickup truck.
In March of this year, the Council approved the purchase of a replacement truck for the
Parks Department off the state contract from North Country GMC. Due to stock issues,
North Country is unable to fulfill the order, so the city has canceled the order. We have
secured alternative vendors who do have equivalent vehicles in stock. This new price is
$3,264 more than the amount approved in March and $17,044 more than the original
budgeted price, which was estimated several years ago. The fleet internal service capital
fund includes funds for the purchase of replacement vehicles and has adequate funds to
cover the overage. Recommend adoption of the resolution approving this replacement
purchase.
7.7 The Council will continue discussion and consideration of a labor agreement and a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Union of Operating Engineers
(IUOE), Local 49 (Public Works) for 2024-2025.
Earlier this year, staff and the city’s labor attorney met multiple times with Local 49 union
representatives. A settlement has been approved with Local 49 for 2024-2025. We
successfully negotiated a two-year contract matching the 2023 wage and insurance
adjustments for both police unions last year and a market rate adjustment to keep our
public works employees competitive in our immediate market. The next two years match
the general wage adjustment (COLA) of 3.25% and include annual re-openers for insurance.
The contract is consistent with the updated compensation program approved by the
Council in 2022. Recommend approval of the labor agreement and MOU with a re-opener
for health insurance contributions for 2025 for the IUOE, Local 49 (Public Works) for 2024-
2025.
8. Announcements
a. The City Council will hold a work session on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the upper
Community Room at City Hall and via Zoom.
b. City offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
c. The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall and via Zoom.
d. City Council meetings and work sessions are open to the public. Current and previous
meetings are available for viewing and listening at www.crystalmn.gov.
9. Adjournment
Have a great weekend. See you at Tuesday’s meeting.