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In a brief council session last week Wyoming City Council watched as a festive atmosphere filled the council chambers, as loved ones and friends of new police hirees observed three officers sworn-in to begin their duties. (see photo).  

Council also said  goodbye to 37-year public works staffer Bill Eisenmenger, who retires effective June 30.  And, HRA/EDA member Nate Wilner informed the city it’s time for him to part ways after 12 years serving on the city agency.  

Alex Blumer was appointed 5-0 to fill Wilner’s vacant seat.

The council set a public hearing for providing information on a financing plan for multiple Fairview Healthcare facilities, including the hospital and medical center in Wyoming.  
The conduit non-profit debt will be sold under the authority of the city of Minneapolis, but all local government units benefiting from the capital infusion will hold hearings, said City Administrator Craig Mattson.  

The hearing is July 7 during the regular council meeting.  Mattson said Fairview in Wyoming is using its allocation of the financing to install an MRI.

The massive street repairs and maintenence contract with A-1 Contracting is revised, due to unexpected engineering issues. The change orders for revisions to the design for storm water infrastructure amounts to about a $20,000 overall project increase.

City Engineer Mark Erichson said the budget contingency line item can easily accommodate this change. There’s $200,000 in contingency. Otherwise, he said, the work is ahead of schedule (as of Tuesday last week.) Erichson cautioned council to expect changes though, as surprises are to be expected when doing long deferred work underground.

Council agreed to table on a 5-0 vote any action on a “special events” fee policy.  All council members needed clarification and asked for re-wording.

Mattson said the goal is to adopt a policy applying “consistent” conditions and fees on events that may impact public property or public safety.  The fee structure is to cover city staff costs or providing no parking signs.  He gave as examples, events where a road is shut down, or where a park is monopolized for a cause or fundraiser, etc.

Council was not supportive of some of the staff recommended language for imposing various fees and some of the references in the policy were too vague.  The policy will be on a future agenda for adoption.
 
In reports on committee meetings:  Mayor Eric Peterson explained that the HRA/EDA has contracted with a hotel market study firm for possibly attracting a hotel to near Stars & Strikes,  on property the city owns.

Peterson said the city “owns” the data and analysis on lodging demand that is being put together.  It can act unilaterally and won’t need to wait for other economic agencies to pursue projects.    The HRA/EDA hired Hospitality Marketers Inc. for the report.

Engineering is looking over plans for a plat called Heims Lake Villas on 257th.  Planning commissioners will probably see the development proposal July 14.

The new water tower design is moving ahead for a site near 273rd Street.  Erichson said in a memo specs are nearly complete and can be advertised for bid when the site ownership is made ready legally.

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