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Center City's first meeting of the year was called to order Jan. 6 by newly elected Mayor Jill Behnke. Before the meeting, City Clerk Terrie Trudeau administered the oath of office to Behnke and incoming council members Will Pennings and Madonna Higgins.

The council immediately addressed the appointment of a council member for the vacancy left by the resignation of Barry Moe just before election. Five citizens, all experienced in city government, had submitted letters of interest. The council considered the applications of Jon Alvin, Sharon Helgestad, Lynn Longnecker, Mary O'Reilly and Lloyd Vetter. Mark Wolcott suggested that since all the applicants are very qualified, the remaining four should be considered for the committee appointments that the council would address later in the evening. The council unanimously selected Vetter on his merits of bringing continuity and experience to the council. (See sidebar for the full list of the Center City appointments for 2009)

Staff update to the council on the County Law Enforcement Center parcel included reviewing a letter from a citizen complaining of misuse of taxpayer's money without representation for the project. The council directed the city clerk to respond to the letter and include contact and public meeting information.

City Engineer Les Mateffy reported that the construction season has ended with the majority of sewer and water lines installed at the LEC property. Roads and remaining lines will be completed in spring, he said. The council discussed the possibility of obtaining funds from the proposed federal economic stimulus package intended to build public infrastructure. Mayor Behnke commented that the money could be available as early as 2009 and that the city should be ready with projects. Mateffy said that he is considering projects such as new pump houses, and the city will be ready to apply when funding is made available.

John Anderson, representing Municipal Development Group, reviewed the scope of services and time frame, grant amounts, contracts, and billing procedures for two contracts between Center City, MDG and 1000 Friends of Minnesota, with the council and staff. Center City hired MDG as its planning consultant with funding from the Community Growth Options Grant last month. Council unanimously approved the two contracts detailing the working relationship between the three entities into 2014.

Like many city governments, Center City is searching for ways to economize. Center City "Dodged the first bullet of state cuts," Mayor Behnke stated, "because it has a population of less than a thousand." She cautioned that there will be major cuts in the future and the city needs to plan for them. One cost-cutting measure the council discussed was going to four 10 hour work days. Before undertaking the change on a trial basis, the council decided to see how neighboring cities handle cuts and tabled the topic.

The city's salt expenditure for the year will be higher than anticipated because there is no more salt available from the county at a discounted price. City staff purchased two truckloads of black shaved rock from Dresser Trap Rock for $300. Barring unusually severe weather, the city maintenance department expects this should be adequate for the remainder of the winter.

One expense on the horizon will probably be the city's portion of the state's Public Safety Communications Interoperability Mandate. The purpose of the legislation is to provide seamless, efficient communication among public safety entities, specifically an upgrade to 800 MHz radio communication. Since the letter to the city from the Chisago County Sheriff's Department was an initial "FYI," the upgrade of communications will be tied into the LEC construction, the council took no action. The city attorney will research the issue and report his findings to the council.

Resident Lynn Karwand asked the council about adopting a sidewalk snow shoveling ordinance. The council discussed the current ordinance, specific conditions in different neighborhoods and possibilities for how upcoming construction on CR 9 can address the problems of runoff entering North Center Lake and the steep slopes of Summit Avenue. Some residents have expressed an interest in an "adopt a sidewalk" program to maintain sidewalks for elderly or absent homeowners. Council directed city staff to contact Sentence to Serve as a possible labor source.

Clerk Trudeau asked for the council's direction as to her next step when addressing code violations. Trudeau said she is currently working on seven violations and none of the violators have responded to her letters. By motion and vote the council gave the clerk authority to turn code violations over to the sheriff's department after offenders receive a certified letter.

Council member Will Pennings reported that fire department volunteers found a 48-star American flag while cleaning out city storage areas. The department is seeking information about the flag, and if it has historic value and how it should be preserved.

In other business the council:

• Tabled the Golf Cart Ordinance in order to obtain input from county law enforcement

• By unanimous vote approved the "Red Flag" policy intended to protect utility customers from identity theft

• Scheduled a public hearing to determine the 2009 fee schedule for 7:30 p.m., February 3 (during the monthly council meeting)

• Approved a three percent wage increase and ten percent health insurance stipend increase for Center City's full time employees

• Appointed Jill Behnke and Will Pennings to attend the "Newly Elected Officials Conference in Bloomington in February

• Appointed Madonna Higgins to attend The Municipal Energy Savings Conference in St. Cloud on January 22

Upcoming Events

• Area business owners are invited to an informational meeting featuring a guest speaker at the City EDA sponsored breakfast. The event will be at the Swedish Village Restaurant at 7 a.m. on February 17

• Many family activities are planned for the area's annual Celebration of the Lakes on North Center Lake on the weekend of January 30-February 1.

Center City Council Appointments for 2009

Newspaper: Chisago County Press

Depository: Mainstreet Bank

Attorney: Peter Grundhoefer

Engineering: Mateffy Engineering Inc.

Acting Mayor: Mark Wolcott

Weed Inspector: Paul Harvey

Assistant Weed Inspector: Jill Behnke

Committees:

Personnel: Jill Behnke and Will Pennings

Sexual Harassment: Jill Behnke and Will Pennings

Highway 8: Mark Wolcott, alternate Jill Behnke

Joint Sewer Board Representative: Mark Wolcott. Alternate Jill Behnke

Library: Lloyd Vetter

Safety: Jill Behnke

All members serve on the Streets, Finance, Water and the newly formed EDA committees

Citizen Committees and Commissions

Heritage Preservation: Madonna Higgins, Jill Behnke, (alternate) Bob O'Neill, Frank Duncan and Kelly Harris

Parks: Mary O'Reilly, Madonna Higgins, Larry Houger, Jean Remes, Bonnie DeClercq, Midge Zemlin, Kirsten Leaf

Planning: Jill Behnke, Lloyd Vetter, Mary O'Reilly, Darrin Janzig.

There is one open seat on the HPC and three on the Planning Commission. Please contact city hall to express your interest in serving on these citizen boards.

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