HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_010912City of Falcon Heights
City Council Minutes
September 12, 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: There was no one present wishing to speak.
PRESENTATION
Kay Andrews and Perry Lofquist of Northwest Youth and Family Services were present
to update the council on the relationship the city has with this organization. Some of the many programs they offer are Diversion (youth), Senior Chore (elderly) and Community Social
Work (families). The city is encouraged to put information in the newsletter and to be thinking of other ways of communicating their services to residents.
PUBLIC HEARING: Establishment of TIF District 1-3
Administrator Worthington said council is being asked to hold this hearing regarding the establishment of a tax increment financing district (1-3) for the redevelopment of the Southeast
corner of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues. The TIF district would be created to facilitate the construction of a mixed use development on that site, including approximately 120 units
of rental apartments, 60 senior apartments, 20 townhomes, and
10,000 square feet of retail space.
Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates, Inc. said that the TIF Plan was prepared for the project area and he highlighted some of the key areas and told council that the plan provides required
statutory permission that the city will grant in order to establish a TIF district. Prosser said the instrument to do that is the Development Agreement. After considerable discussion
and questions by council, Mayor Gehrz opened the public hearing at 8:08 p.m. The hearing will lay open until the next council meeting on September 26, 2001 and will close that evening.
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Talbot asked the city administrator to provide additional information regarding Nos. 3 and 4. After receiving this, Talbot moved to approve the following consent agenda.
The motion passed unanimously.
General disbursements and payroll.
License for Mechanical Contractor.
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Council Minutes
September 12, 2001
Step increase and title change for Dave Tretsven, Public Works Maintenance Worker.
Authorize staff to award sidewalk replacement contract for 2001 to Midwest Concrete
Driveway Co.
Request for approval of the mayor and city administrator to negotiate a contract with an
independent contractor to fill Eileen Weber's position with the Mayor's Commission Against Drugs
(MCAD).
POLICY
Contract with Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. to do geotechnical analysis, hydrologic analysis, and geotechnical engineering in the Curtiss Field pond area.
Administrator Worthington said improvements were budgeted for improvements to the Curtiss Field pond for 2001. Soil borings were done last winter and the Park and Rec Commission voted
to solicit a proposal from SEH for a comprehensive plan to improve drainage and the aesthetics of the pond area. Bill Maertz, Director of Parks and Public Works said SEH submitted
a proposal for the study and redesign of the pond area taking into account the possible redevelopment of the SE corner of Larpenteur and Snelling and the potential for increased amounts
of storm runoff. The proposal was more than the amount budgeted for this year so Maertz said the Park and Rec Commission recommended that the city proceed in two stages. Maertz answered
several questions from the council and after brief discussion, councilmember Lindstrom moved to contract with SEH to do site investigation and technical analysis of the Curtis Field
pond area for a total fee of $16,645.00. The motion passed unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution 01-21 adopting the proposed 2002 general fund budget of $1,349,783 and certified levy of $860,313.00.
Administrator Worthington said the state legislature made sweeping changes to the property tax system.
These included the restructuring and compression of class rates, elimination of Homestead Agricultural Credit Aid (HACA), phasing out limited market value increases on property valuations,
and taking over general education funding. Worthington explained, via overheads, that the general fund budget is an increase of $32,434, or 2.4 over the 2001 budget. The proposed certified
levy of $860,313 is a 69% increase over the 2001 levy but Worthington said this reflects a loss of state aid and the entire fiscal disparities amount (currently unknown). Worthington
said it is anticipated that the certified levy will be decreased substantially once these numbers are available but the city is unable to increase the levy once it has been certified
so recommendation is to certify the maximum allowed and then decrease it if necessary when the budget is adopted in December. After considerable discussion, councilmember Kuettel made
a motion to adopt Resolution 01-21. The motion passed unanimously.
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Council Minutes
September 12, 2001
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Gehrz said a memorial bench in memory of Vince Wright, former Public Works Superintendent for 22 years, was placed in front of city hall. Vince's family, friends and councilmembers
attended a brief ceremony before tonight's council meeting.
Administrator Worthington said the citywide garage sale is scheduled for September 22, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ads have been placed in the Pioneer Press and Roseville Review. Maps
of the garage sales will be available outside city hall on Saturday morning. Worthington reminded everyone of the clean-up day on the state fairgrounds which is scheduled for the following
Saturday, September 29, 2001. Falcon Heights residents may bring unwanted items to this clean-up (a fee will be charged for some items). A flyer will be mailed to each resident and
that will be needed in order to be able to drop things off
at the clean-up site. Volunteers are needed to work a few hours as well.
Worthington also reminded everyone of the Falcon Heights Fire Department Open House on October 13, 2001, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In the aftermath of the tragic events in New York and Washington, Worthington gave some emergency
telephone numbers in the event residents had a need to use them.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk