HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_010822City of Falcon Heights
Council Minutes
August 22, 2001
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gehrz at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Kuettel, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present was Heather
Worthington, City Administrator, Pat Phillips, Deputy Clerk
COMMUNITY FORUM: Mr. Bryan Olson, 1592 Roselawn Avenue stepped forward with the following concerns:
Concern about the extreme amount of traffic at the intersection of Roselawn and Snelling. The traffic backs up along Roselawn from Fairview Ave. to Snelling Ave.
He would like to be informed about the traffic count being done by the Department
of Transportation.
Asked about the amount of taxpayer money that was already expended to study the possibility of redevelopment of the Southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur.
UPDATE
Kathy Ciernia, the city's election administrator, informed everyone of the upcoming city election and the need for election judges in the future. She also talked about the new voting
machines which the city will use in the 2002 gubernatorial election. Ciernia said our present machines are about fourteen years old. The new machines will be purchased through Ramsey
County at a cost of $5,100 each and we will need one for each precinct or a total of two. Ciernia said the new machines have fewer moving parts so maintenance costs will be less, and
the ballots fed into the machines will be easier to reproduce and less costly if extras are needed from the county during a heavy election.
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember moved to approve the following consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
General disbursements and payroll
Licenses
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Council Minutes
August 22, 2001
POLICY AGENDA
Discussion of civic service organization signs at entrances to city
Administrator Worthington said that on direction from council, staff had developed a draft policy that addresses the installation of signs at the entrances to the city, and what groups
would be eligible to install such signs. The policy was requested at this time because the Falcon Heights/Lauderdale Lions Club asked that they be allowed to install their Lions Club
signs. Councilmember Lindstrom requested that additional language be added to the policy. The language is "All signs must be approved by the city council and may be removed at any
time". After some discussion, council directed Administrator Worthington and the city attorney to re-draft the policy using tighter language and also said that the zoning code would
have to be amended as it presently says no signs are allowed on any city property. Worthington said she will bring a draft to the next council meeting on September 12th.
Update on storm drain stenciling
Mayor Gehrz said after the last council meeting's presentation regarding storm drain stenciling, council is being asked to comment on their thoughts of the program. The stenciling was
unanimously opposed by council due to the visual clutter it would create but also the lack of maintenance in re-painting the stencils. Council did like the informational door hangers
that were presented and asked Worthington to see if the city could use some of that information for the city's newsletter. After further discussion, Mayor Gehrz said the council may
accept the stenciling program in the future but under certain conditions such as finding local young people to volunteer to do the stenciling each year. Administrator Worthington was
asked to send a letter stating that at this time, council is not approving the stenciling project. Gehrz said if a local group came before the council indicating their willingness
to volunteer to do the stenciling and maintain the stenciling, council would be very receptive to that.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Talbot reminded everyone about the State Fair and also that in the Northome area, the sod will be placed after the Fair is over.
Mayor Gehrz informed everyone of a report prepared by the St. Paul Association of Realtors in which Falcon Heights' median sales price of homes sold as of year end 2000 increased 15%
since 1999. She said that the median sales price of 37 homes sold was $178,000.
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Council Minutes
August 22, 2001
Mayor Gehrz announced that the coordinator of the Mayor's Commission Against Drugs
who the city hired as an independent contractor, has resigned to accept admission into law school full time. The city has selected Carol Smith to replace her as of September 1, 2001.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk