HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_02Nov27 City of Falcon Heights
City Council Minutes
November 27, 2002
Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Kuettel, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present:
City Administrator, Heather Worthington
ABSENT: Deputy Clerk, Pat Phillips
COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no one wishing to speak before the
council.
MINUTES: The minutes of November 13, 2002 were approved as written.
CONSENT
Councilmember Kuettel moved to approve resolution 02-22 as well as the other items
on the following consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
General disbursements and payroll
Close Special Revenue Employee Fund (203)
Close Debt Service 1991 Improvement Bonds Fund (312)
Close the Larpenteur Avenue Improvements Capital Fund (424) and
transfer the remaining fund balance to the Debt Service 1996 TIF
Larpenteur Bonds Fund (316)
Adoption of resolution 02-22 eliminating the 2003 debt levy on general
obligation debt
POLICY
Approval of purchase of turnout gear for Fire Department
Administrator Worthington said the purchase of two coats and one pair of pants is requested by the Fire Department for equipping two new firefighters who recently joined the department.
Worthington said the expenditure of $1,575.00 would come out of the department’s capital
budget. Councilmember Talbot made a motion to approve the purchase of the coats and pants. The motion passed unanimously.
Update on activities and upcoming training events from the Ramsey County Homeland
Security Advisory Committee
Mayor Gehrz gave an informational update on the activities of Ramsey County’s Homeland
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November 27, 2002
Security Advisory Commission. Gehrz said one of the areas that were discussed is the logistics and preparation of vaccination clinics through the Ramsey County Department of Health.
These clinics would be set up, should it become necessary, for receiving smallpox vaccinations.
Gehrz also talked about the city’s First Aid Fast training sessions. The first session had 39
people in attendance and the second class will be held on December 3rd at city hall. The
sessions are taught by the American Red Cross and are free to the public. Gehrz recommended calling city hall to pre-register.
Gehrz mentioned that she received a response to a letter she sent to the National Safety Council regarding a pilot project for an on-line first aid training program. Gehrz’ approach
was that the Safety Council would offer the two hour program free to our residents in turn for the city’s promoting it in city newsletters, flyers, through neighborhood liaisons, etc.
and evaluating the program. Gehrz said the next step would be to find a professor willing to work with a student in market research or some related field to do this evaluation. If
the research is found to be positive, this could help the Safety Council improve or refine what they have and perhaps apply for a grant to promote the program nationally.
Update on the University of Minnesota/Vikings Stadium issue
Mayor Gehrz updated council on the latest stadium issues. The two issues that the city is concerned about are (1) we should be compensated for any and all expenses incurred as a result
of parking on state fairgrounds; and (2) U of M will provide all public safety personnel necessary to regulate traffic as a result of parking cars on the fairgrounds. Recent media coverage
indicated the Vikings did not think the proposal would work with the University. There was also media coverage about placing the Viking stadium on the state fairgrounds. Gehrz said
the city wants to make sure it is included in any future discussions of alternative plans there may be for the stadium. Councilmember Lamb suggested the city meet with the State Fair
Board to have a broader conversation about what our relationship is with them.
REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Lindstrom said the Planning Commission had passed the proposal on lot
coverage and this will be coming before the council for its approval at the December 18th meeting.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Kuettel reported that at the last Solid Waste Commission meeting, the owner of E-Z Recycling gave a presentation. He informed the commission that E-Z presently has a
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November 27, 2002
4-sort system and will soon have the equipment and machinery to offer a 2-sort system. Kuettel said this means residents would have less separating of recyclables and would need only
two
bins. One would be for cans, glass bottles, plastics and the other for newspapers, magazines, junk mail, catalogs. Kuettel also said E-Z Recycling will be including the pickup of textiles
which would be placed in a separate bag. Kuettel said this announcement will be coming very soon to the residents of the city and the new program should be in place shortly after the
first of the year.
Kuettel also said that she attended the meeting held at city hall regarding the move of the Farmers Market from Har Mar Mall to Falcon Heights next spring/summer. The new location would
be the rear parking lot of the Twin City Co-ops Federal Credit Union at 2025 W. Larpenteur. Kuettel then asked Administrator Worthington to expound on the meeting.
Administrator Worthington said some people attending had questions about the noise and extra
traffic that would be created. Worthington said these issues would be addressed in the
Conditional Use Permit and council would re-visit this in a year’s time to see how things went.
Worthington said most of the people attending were in favor of the market being held at the
new location. Worthington said the matter would be brought before the city council at a December council meeting for formal approval.
Mayor Gehrz was advised by Maureen Anderson, a volunteer for the cable commission who videotapes the meetings for Falcon Heights, that its informational Bulletin Board was not working
properly and it is hoped that it will be operating soon.
Gehrz said she went to Falcon Heights School’s 50th Birthday and was impressed with the amount of historical information and photos on display. She said it was a well planned, fun event.
Gehrz said the next city newsletter will have an insert which is a survey that will help the
city plan for some future issues and encourages residents to complete and return the survey.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, (via videotape)
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk