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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 10-28-15CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the City Council City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA Ocotber 28, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: LINDSTROM ___ HARRIS ____ BROWN THUNDER ___ LONG ___ MERCER-TAYLOR ___ STAFF PRESENT: THONGVANH____ C. PRESENTATIONS: D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. October 14th, 2015 City Council Meeting Minutes E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: F. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. General Disbursements through: 10/22/15 $42,503.44 Payroll through: 10/15/15 $16,943.03 2. Approval of City License(s) 3. Appoint James Wessenberg to the Environment Commission 4. Statutory Tort Liability Limits Coverage for 2016 G: POLICY ITEMS: 1. Safe Route to School (SRTS) – Letter of Consent H. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: I. COMMUNITY FORUM: J. ADJOURNMENT: BLANK PAGE  CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the City Council City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES October 14, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 pm B. ROLL CALL: LINDSTROM ___ HARRIS _X___ BROWN THUNDER _X__ LONG _X__ MERCER-TAYLOR _X__ STAFF PRESENT: THONGVANH__X__ FREIHAMMER, CITY ENGINEER _X__ C. PRESENTATIONS: 1. U of MN Students - Sustainability Fair and Capstone Projects • November 19th 5:30-8:30pm at Silver Wood Park. The event is free to the public. 2. Resiliency Report– Great Plains Institute • Great Plains Institute is a Minneapolis nonprofit. The work on the Resiliency Report is supported by the MN Pollution Control Agency and funded by a grant through their Environmental Assistance Program. The goal is to get cities to think more about adaption for climate change. Great Plains Institute is looking into sustainability both economically and environmentally in the city. This work is specific to the step three Green Step status that Falcon Heights has obtained. There are three parts to looking at resiliency for the comprehensive plan: acknowledging existing conditions, determining desired conditions, and generating strategies to meet those goals. Council Member Harris Moved, Approved 3-0 D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. September 23rd, 2015 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Approved E. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. General Disbursements through: 10/07/15 $195,079.69 Payroll through: 9/30/15 $16,565.75 2. Score Grant • City Administrator Sack Thongvanh presented that the city has continued to work with Ramsey County to increase participation in the citywide recycling system. The Score Grant is provided by Ramsey County to increase participation through education, events, and activities around recycling. The estimated allocation for 2016 from Ramsey County is about $13,000. Staff requests approval of resolution 15-31. 3. Appoint Ben Reichelt to the Park Commission Page 1 of 28 4. Appoint Mark Miazga to the Environment Commission 5.Authorizing Final Payment on 15-08 2015 Falcon Heights Sewer Lining CIPP Project 6. Resolution Ordering Assessment Hearing for the 2015 Pavement Management Project Council Member Mercer-Taylor Moved, Approved 4-0 F.PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 2015 Pavement Management Project Assessment Hearing •City Administrator Sack Thongvanh stated that the Pavement Management Project Public Hearing is to establish special assessments that apply to Roselawn Avenue, Fairview Avenue to Snelling, East Snelling Service Roads from Roselawn Avenue to Crawford Avenue, and West Snelling Service Drive from Roselawn Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue. Once the final assessment is adopted, the city will allow for a 30 day prepaid assessment period. Following the 30 days the assessment roles will be certified to Ramsey County. Residents are allowed to do partial payments during the 30 day period. The Snelling Service Drive project was $255,590.87 and assessments will be about $45,566.80. The Roselawn project was $269,219.25 and assessments will be $129,765.53. Due to be completed by October 23, 2015. The City does receive MSA funding. The city will contribute $50,000 of these funds to the Snelling Service Drives, and another $50,000 will be contributed to the overall Roselawn project. This decreases the assessment price for property owners, and it decreases the total cost the city has to levy for debt services. The total cost to the city is $249,477.79. G: Council Member Harris Moved, Approved 4-0 POLICY ITEMS: 1. RFP Recycling – Request Staff Authorization to Negotiate Contract •Council Member Mercer-Taylor stated that the Environment Commission is pleased with the services that Tennis Sanitation has provided for recycling. Their recommendation was based not only on cost, but on a variety of other components: residuals, services, and education. Falcon Heights received three bids for the Recycling RFP: Waste Management, Republic Services, and Tennis Sanitation. Council Member Mercer-Taylor Moved, Approved 4-0 2.Sidewalk Maintenance Policy •City Administrator Sack Thongvanh, per request from the Mayor, has reviewed current policies and how the city can be consistent in its snow and ice removal practices. The city currently provides snow and ice removal on Larpenteur from Fulham Street to Hamline Avenue. Per city code snow and ice must be removed from sidewalk within 24 hours of snowfall. Current practice, the City has removed snow and ice from some street and not other. Staff recommends enforcing the current code that all homeowners, businesses, and property owners be responsible for removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks. Notifications of the proposed Page 2 of 28 change would be sent to businesses and residents off Larpenteur from Fulham Street to Hamline Avenue. Council Member Harris Moved, Approved 4-0 H. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council Member Mercer-Taylor: • Environment Commission met and U of MN sustainability course students were in attendance. There was discussion of the resiliency reports, brainstorming of agenda items, and the commission welcomed a new commissioner. • Mercer-Taylor attended the Annual University Grove Association meeting. There was discussion of the Bell Museum’s plans, golf course updates, street projects in the Grove, localized flooding issues, and discussion with City Administrator Sack Thongvanh. Council Member Harris: • Planning Commission did not meet. No updates. Council Member Brown Thunder: • Northeast Youth Family Services had its board meeting three weeks ago. They reviewed services they offer and started planning for the upcoming year. Their next fundraiser is the Taste of Northeast on Thursday, October 22 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Vadnais Heights Commons. There will be 20 restaurants and an auction. City Administrator Thongvanh: • The November 11 Council meeting will be moved to November 18 due to holiday. • The 2017 PMP was discussed with St. Paul Water Utility. The price difference between a mill and overlay versus a reclaim would be about $70,000-$80,000. St. Paul Water Utility would be involved in the reclaim, and they would look at replacing the water main. That’s a benefit for the city and the lifespan of that road. City Engineer Freihammer: The Roselawn project may be a few days behind, but it will be done in the next two weeks. Council Member Long: • The Parks Commission met on Monday night, and they discussed wrapping up the park master plan and the recommendations. The Parks Commission would like to get some more input and comments on Curtiss Field. The Commission is working with staff to put together an online survey specific to Curtiss Field. The survey will be available by the first week in November, and the Parks Commission will be hosting an open house at their November 9th commission meeting and before the November 18th Council meeting. The open houses will be a time to review history of the park, receive comments, and discuss the park master plan. After the first of the year, the park commission would bring their recommendations for further action to the council. I. COMMUNITY FORUM: Resident Farook Meah from 1597 Hollywood Court: Page 3 of 28 He inquired about the Environmental Commission opening advertised on the weekly e- newsletter. He stated he submitted an application, and he wanted to know the application process as well as the status. J. ADJOURNMENT: 8:04 pm _____________________________ Chuck Long, Mayor Pro Tem Dated this 14th day of October, 2015 __________________________________ Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator Page 4 of 28 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION The City That Soars! Item General Disbursements and Payroll Description General Disbursements through: 10/22/15: $42,503.44 Payroll through: 10/15/15: $16,943.03 Budget Impact The general disbursements and payroll are consistent with the budget. Attachment(s) • General Disbursements and Payroll Action(s) Requested Staff recommends that the Falcon Heights City Council approve general disbursements and payroll. Meeting Date October 28, 2015 Agenda Item Consent F1 Attachment General Disbursements and Payroll Submitted By Roland Olson, Finance Director Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ Page 5 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 6 of 28 Page 7 of 28 Page 8 of 28 Page 9 of 28 Page 10 of 28 Page 11 of 28 Page 12 of 28 Page 13 of 28 Page 14 of 28 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION The City That Soars! Item Approval of City Licenses Description The following individuals have applied for a Municipal Business License for 2015. Staff has received the necessary documents for licensure. 1. Metro Nation of IL LLC, dba Metro PCS Budget Impact N/A Attachment(s) N/A Action(s) Requested Staff recommends that the Falcon Heights City Council approve the 2015 City License Application for Metro Nation of IL LLC, dba Metro PCS. Meeting Date October 28, 2015 Agenda Item Consent F2 Attachment N/A Submitted By Tim Sandvik, Deputy Clerk Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ Page 15 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 16 of 28 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION The City That Soars! Item Commission Appointment Description City Staff has interviewed and recommended James Wassenberg to Mayor Lindstrom for final recommendation for the Environment Commission. Summary from James Wassenberg: I am a midwestern native, being born and raised in a farming community in northeastern Kansas. I graduated from Kansas State University (B.S. Biochemistry) then the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ph.D. Biochemistry). During my graduate work I met my wife, Deena and we then moved to North Carolina where she received her Ph.D. from the Duke School of the Environment and I completed my post- doctoral work at the Medical School across the street. We moved to Minnesota to be close to family and have been here for ten years now, seven of them in our current home in Falcon Heights. Our daughter Anja is in fourth grade at Falcon Heights Elementary and our other daughter, Priscilla is in preschool at Como Park Language and Arts. Deena teaches biology and environmental sciences at the U of M and I am the R&D department manager at DiaSorin, a medical device company in Stillwater that specializes in diagnostic tests for use by hospitals and other care providers. When I'm not working, spending time with my family, or socializing with friends and neighbors, I like to swim, run, hike, garden and practice my home improvement "skills", including finding ways to cut the energy usage of our household. I would like to join the Falcon Heights Environment Commission for many reasons, but the main reason is that I love living in Falcon Heights and I want to help make it an even better place to live and raise a family. The fact that the work of the Environment Commission can help to make the world a better place to live at the same time makes me feel that this is the right place for me to dedicate my training, talents and energy. Budget Impact N/A Meeting Date October 28, 2015 Agenda Item Consent F3 Attachment Application & Resolution Submitted By Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ Page 17 of 28 Attachment(s) • Resolution 15-39 Appointment of James Wassenberg to the Environment Commission Action(s) Requested Staff would recommend approval of Resolution 15-39 Appointment of James Wassenberg to the Environment Commission Page 18 of 28 James Wessenberg – Environment Commission Applicant James Wessenberg 1446 California Avenue Falcon Heights, MN 55113 How Long at Above Address? -7 years In Which Capacity Would You Like to Serve? -Environment Commission What is the Reason You Would Like to Serve? - I have wanted to give back to my community for quite a while and environmental and conservation issues are of particular interest to me. My wife and I try to make low impact choices in our daily lives and I would like to help make these options known and available to other Falcon Heights residents List Prior (Previous). List Prior (Previous) Public Service I have no prior public service. Other Relevant Background (Other Comments) - I am a biochemist by training and a personnel and project manager by practice. I have well developed skills of consensus building and effective execution from my professional life. I also expect that my educational background will help me to have a good level of competence and understanding regarding the issues handled by the commission. > Page 19 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 20 of 28 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS COUNCIL RESOLUTION October 28, 2015 No. 15-39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - RESOLUTION APPOINTING JAMES WESSENBERG TO THE FALCON HEIGHTS ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION WHEREAS, the Environment Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council on all policy matters relating to energy use, air quality, recreation and aesthetic appreciation, green infrastructure, water, solid waste, and environmental education; WHEREAS, City Staff and the Mayor has interviewed James Wessenberg and recommends appointment to the Falcon Heights Environment Commission. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota: 1. That the appointment is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Falcon Heights. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Moved by: Approved by: ________________________ Peter Lindstrom Mayor LINDSTROM ____ In Favor Attested by: ________________________ BROWN THUNDER Sack Thongvanh HARRIS ____ Against City Administrator LONG MERCER-TAYLOR Page 21 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 22 of 28 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION The City That Soars! Item Statutory Tort Limits Liability Coverage for City in 2016 Description Effective January 1, 2016, the statutory tort limits for the City of Falcon Heights under our insurance policy with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust will continue to be $1,500,000. An individual claimant would be able to recover no more than $500,000 on any claim to which the statutory tort limits apply. The total which all claimants would be able to recover for a single occurrence to which statutory tort limits apply would be limited to $1,500,000. The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust is requesting that cities determine if they wish to waive the statutory tort limits for 2016. Under certain circumstances the LMCIT, which represents the city in these claims, may negotiate above the legal liability limit if necessary because some claims like employment are exempt from the cap. The general council from the LMCIT states that cities make different choices depending upon their circumstances. However, they perceived that maintaining the limit was prudent in many cases. The city has had no claims for settlements for several years. Since 2000, the city council has voted not to waive the statutory tort limits. Budget Impact NA Attachment(s) Liability Coverage Waiver Form from the League of Minnesota Insurance Trust (LMCIT) Action(s) Requested Staff recommends that the city council approve a motion not to waive the city’s statutory tort limits for 2016. Meeting Date October 28, 2015 Agenda Item Consent F4 Attachment Waiver Form Submitted By Roland Olson, Finance Director Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ Page 23 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 24 of 28 Page 25 of 28 BLANK PAGE  Page 26 of 28 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION The City That Soars! Item Safe Routes to School (SRTS) – Letter of Consent Description MnDOT has set aside $1.7 million in federal funds for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) for Infrastructure Assistance and Planning Assistance. Communities may request between $100,000 to $300,000 in federal funds for construction and up to $500,000 for planning assistance. Infrastructure Assistance - Eligibility and Requirements include(s): • Projects must be within a 2 mile radius of a K-8 school • 20% local match • Completed student travel tally and parent surveys • Infrastructure improvements eligible under the federal SRTS program Planning Assistance – Eligibility and Requirements include: • K-12 Schools (private and public), cities, counties, tribes, regional development organizations and metropolitan planning To be considered, the City will need to complete a Letter of Intent Form (LOI) by October 30, 2015. Submitting the Letter of Intent does not commit the City. It only keeps our options open as we continue to evaluate Garden Avenue. For more information: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/grants.html Budget Impact This will reduce the cost to adjacent property owners and reduce the overall cost if the City continues to submit a full application. Attachment(s) • Solicitation Letter Action(s) Requested Staff recommends that the City Council authorizes the City Administrator to complete a Letter of Intent Form (LOI) to MnDOT for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Funds. Meeting Date October 28, 2015 Agenda Item Policy G1 Attachment Safe Routes to School Flyer Submitted By Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ Page 27 of 28 Statewide Safe Routes to School Solicitations Infrastructure Assistance MnDOT has set aside $1.7 million in federal funds for SRTS infrastructure projects in 2017 that would improve student walking and bicycling routes to and from schools. Communities may request between $100,000 and $300,000 in federal funds for the construction cost of their project. Eligibility and Requirements • Projects must be within a 2 mile radius of a k-8 school • A 20% local match is required with the federal funds. • Completed student travel tally and parent surveys • Infrastructure improvements eligible under the federal SRTS program How to Apply Complete a Letter of Intent Form (LOI) by October 30, 2015 to be considered for infrastructure assistance. After the LOI process, applicants will need to complete an application and submit required attachements to MnDOT by January 8, 2016. Planning Assistance MnDOT is offering up to $500,000 in SRTS planning assistance grants for planning in 2016-2017. SRTS plans look at existing conditions around schools and develop 5 Es (education, encouragement, evaluation, engineering and enforcement) action plans for local SRTS programs. SRTS planning assistance through this grant is provided to schools by local regional development organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, or the MnDOT statewide planning consultant. Eligibility and Requirements • K-12 schools (public and private), school districts, cities, counties, tribes, regional development organizations and metropolitan planning organizations eligible to apply How to Apply Complete the SRTS planning assistance application and submit to MnDOT by January 8, 2016. State Legislation—new eligibility requirements This past spring new eligibility requirements were added to state funded grants for SRTS. This new requirement will not apply to the fall 2015 planning or infrastructure solicitations. Visit the MnDOT SRTS grants page or www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org to learn more. Lincoln Elementary School Page 28 of 28