Minutes - Council - 11/28/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council consensus was to table discussion of the street assessment policy until the next Council meeting. Case #11: Request For Snowplowing At Airport: Several years ago, Gateway North Airport requested and received approach from the City Council to have snowplowing done by the City crew with City Equipment. They are again requesting the City to plow the one runway only when the snow depth is three inches or more. Mr. Goodrich stated that in order for an expenditure to be legal, the City Council must find that a public purpose would be accomplished by the expenditure. Because the City has authority to have an airport, it probably has authority to plow an airport that will serve the public. The League of Minnesota Cities indicates that the City taking on the task of plowing the airport is an additional undertaking with liability involved, but is insurable. Mr. Goodrich also noted that plowing the airport runway could set a precedent with respect to other businesses requesting the same service of the City. Motion by Councilmember Cich and seconded by Councilmember Peterson to deny the request of the Gateway North Industrial Airport for snowplowing services to be provided by the City crew and equipment. Further Discussion: City Attorney Goodrich stated that in order for the City to provide the snowplowing service legally, it would have to charge back the cost of the service to Gateway Airport. Councilmember Cich stated that if Gateway can afford to pay the City for the services, then it can also afford to hire a commercial plower; the City's equipment should not be tied up at the airport when there are streets to be plowed. Councilmember Peterson stated that the service was free to Gateway in the past and that it was probably not their intention to pay for the service this time either. Mr. Hartley stated that he will research how it came to be that Gateway received snowplowing services from the City at no cost. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Reimann, Councilmembers Cich and Peterson. Voting No: Councilmembers DeLuca and Pearson. Case #12: Space Needs For 1989: Mr. Hartley stated that the City now has the financial tools to make needed improvements to facilities for the long term. Minnesota Statutes now allow cities to finance capital purchases through installment purchase contracts which are obligations of the issuer and which need not be subject to annual appropriation; this amendment will now permit a wide variety of projects to be financed which may have been impossible in the past. With regard to solving the immediate space needs, Mr. Hartley indicated that there are two options: 1) Use of the CAPCO Building as a police station with ample space for storage and meeting rooms; 2) Use of limited finished space in the Ramsey Medical Center as a space for the Engineering Department. Mr. Hartley noted the City does have about 6 months to solve the space needs as the plan is to lease a one-person space at Hakanson/Anderson accommodate the engineer's need to become acquainted with the City's records and projects. City Council/November 28, 1989 Page 11 of 14