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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_010523City of Falcon Heights City Council Minutes May 23, 2001 Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Gehrz, Kuettel, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present: Heather Worthington, City Administrator, Pat Phillips, Deputy Clerk, Terry Maurer, City Engineer. OATH OF OFFICE: Mayor Gehrz introduced Robert Lamb who was appointed by the council to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of John Hustad. Mr. Lamb was sworn into office by the mayor. COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no one present wishing to speak. 2001 ALLEY ASSESSMENTS Mayor Gehrz said that before the public hearing, Terry Maurer, City Engineer, was on hand to make a brief presentation of the 2001 alley improvement project and requested the people in the audience to refrain from asking questions until the public hearing was officially opened. Engineer Maurer presented, via overheads, the proposed alley design and reconstruction, the cost involved, and the terms of assessment. He said Crawford Ave. West alley is assessed at $11.67 a front foot, payable over a 5 year period at an interest rate of 6.4%. Maurer said the Crawford Ave. East alley and the Hollywood Court alley is assessed at $29.00 per front foot, payable over a 10 year period at an interest rate of 6.4%. The first alley will be milled and overlayed; the other alleys will undergo a complete reconstruction. PUBLIC HEARING The public hearing was opened at 7:20 p.m. Bruce Kessel, 1583 Hollywood Court, asked if the city would be maintaining the alley on a regular basis after it is reconstructed. It was his understanding this alley had not been maintained and he wanted it on record that the city will be placing the alley on a maintenance schedule. Engineer Maurer said city streets and alleys are sealcoated on a 4 year rotating basis. After an alley is reconstructed, it is usually six to seven years before it is scheduled for a sealcoating and then every four years after that. Page 2 City Council Minutes May 23, 2001 The second question was whether the south edge of the alley could be defined so his corner lot would not be damaged by snow plows, garbage trucks, etc. Engineer Maurer said he would talk to him about some options available but stressed there would not be any curbs placed at the ends of this alley. The third question pertained to his assessment and the fact that it was much higher than he was led to believe at an earlier hearing. Engineer Maurer said he uses as an example in his presentations a 50 front footage lot and multiplies that by the rate per front foot. If a person has more front footage, he/she would have to use his or her exact front footage multiplied by the rate to get an exact assessment figure. Mr. Kessel suggested that in the future, the example used should reflect the average size lot in the area being assessed. The lots on Hollywood Court run from 60 to 75 feet wide. The fourth question was how the city was factoring in the estimated increase in market value of his property according to state law. Engineer Maurer said that state statute 429 speaks to this issue and said the city is comfortable that the amount of the assessments do equate to the increase of property value increases that would meet the definition of law. Maurer also said the homeowner has the right to place an objection and challenge the amount of the assessment in District Court. Frank Meah, 1597 Hollywood court questioned the amount of his assessment and said he wasn't sure of his front footage and how the assessment figure was arrived at. He also asked if he had to pay an additional tax on the assessment. Richard Kranz, 1484 Crawford, wanted to know if the bids were received and the contract signed for the work to be done. He also wanted to know how long it would be before residents would have access to garages. Engineer Maurer said that as the work progresses, the contractor and the city would keep the residents informed as to when the alleys would be inaccessible. There being no further questions, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. CONSENT Councilmember Kuettel made a motion to approve the following consent agenda with the correction of the disbursement figure on the staff report to coincide with the printout. The motion passed unanimously. Disbursements Appointment of firefighters Authorization for staff to make the first progress payment on the purchase of a new fire truck in the amount of $60,500.00. Page 3 Council Minutes May 23, 2001 POLICY Introduction of new part-time Planning/Zoning Coordinator – Deborah Jones Administrator Worthington introduced a new employee who was recently hired as the part-time planning/zoning coordinator. Deborah began working on May 14, and works approximately 20 hours per week. She spoke briefly to the mayor and council about her background and was warmly welcomed to the staff. Adoption of the assessment for the 2001 Alley Improvement project Administrator Worthington said the hearing and assessment notices had been sent to each of the residents affected by the alley improvement project this summer. Some of the residents appeared at the earlier public hearing and shared their concerns. Resolution 01-13 formally adopts the assessment for the alley reconstruction. Councilmember Lindstrom requested that clarification be made as to when the assessment is due the city before interest is accrued. A minor change in the resolution was suggested. Councilmember Talbot made a motion to approve Resolution 01-13 adopting the assessment for the 2001 alley improvement project. The motion passed unanimously. Request to adopt Resolution 01-12, accepting bid from Hardrives, Inc. and awarding contract for 2001 Street Repairs and Alley Improvement project Administrator Worthington said four bids were received for the street and alley project. Recommendations are to accept the bid of Hardrives, Inc. at $449,385.80. After brief discussion, councilmember Lindstrom moved to adopt Resolution 01-12. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion of development programs for SE Corner Redevelopment Administrator Worthington introduced Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates who, together with Dan Cornejo of Short, Elliott, Hendrickson, presented a summary analysis of proposals received from developers for the SE corner of Snelling and Larpenteur. This analysis was provided to guide the council in the selection of developers to be interviewed prior to selection of a developer for a preliminary development review. Prosser and Cornejo presented summaries of proposals from seven developers. After considerable review and discussion, councilmember Lamb made a motion to invite four of the seven developers to be interviewed on June 6, 2001. They are (1) Cornerstone; (2) Metro Plains; (3) North American Properties; and (4) Sherman. The motion passed unanimously. Page 4 City Council Minutes May 23, 2001 INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Gehrz announced that Vince Wright, a 22 year employee of the city, died on May 17. Vince was a very dedicated employee and staff is encouraged to think about an appropriate memorial. Administrator Worthington had received telephone calls regarding the boulevard trees newly planted along Larpenteur Ave. Some appeared to be dead and Worthington said the city forester inspected them and reported they are delayed due to the excessive amount of salt and sand from last winter. They will be watched closely. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Pat Phillips Deputy Clerk