HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_02Aug28City of Falcon Heights
Council Minutes
August 28, 2002
Mayor Gehrz opened the meeting at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present was Heather Worthington,
City Administrator
ABSENT: Councilmember Kuettel, Deputy Clerk Phillips
COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no one present wishing to speak.
MINUTES: The minutes of August 14th, 2002 were approved with a couple of corrections.
PRESENTATONS
Lee Pao Xiong, the city’s representative on the Metropolitan Council, presented a certificate for
the grant the city was recently awarded for funding for the SE Corner Redevelopment project from the Livable Housing Initiatives Account (LHIA) program. Xiong spoke about the role of
Met Council in helping to award funds for certain types of redevelopment and said $300,000 was awarded to help develop 120 rental units in the Falcon Heights Town Square redevelopment
project.
The second presentation at the meeting was given by Dr. John Thein, Superintendent of Independent School District 623. Thein spoke on the referendum which is on the ballot for the September
10th primary election. Thein said this is an Operating Levy referendum and said he was here to give the council information but not to try to solicit a vote one way or another. Thein
spoke about the area demographics for the next ten years and also said that this is the first time in 23 years that the school district has asked for a referendum.. If passed, the referendum
would have a 5 year limit. Thein said there will be a Public Hearing on September 5th at 7 p.m. at Roseville Area High School and hoped many residents would attend. Thein also thanked
the City and its residents for their continued support.
Councilmember Lindstrom asked why the district is asking for a referendum now versus last year or next year and if the referendum isn’t passed, that would mean teacher layoffs. Thein
responded by saying there has been a change in the way referendums are funded and the district would be forced to reduce programs and services.
Councilmembers Talbot and Lamb asked about the cost to the average homeowner and whether the school district had looked into the option of sharing services with other districts. Thein
responded it would cost about $85 to $95/year for a person owning a home valued at 200,000. Thein said the district had looked into sharing services with the school district serving
the City of St. Anthony but it didn’t work out at the time and they hope to approach them again in the future.
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August 28, 2002
He described many examples of collaborative and cost sharing arrangements the district currently has in place.
CONSENT
Councilmember Lindstrom made a motion to approve the following consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
Disbursements and payroll
Licenses
Authorize the additional costs for the installation of the picnic shelter at Community Park
REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Lindstrom said the Planning Commission is moving forward on the lot coverage issue and hopes to have a recommendation to council in the next month.
Council member Talbot thanked Mayor Gehrz for leading the city towards its neighborhood security effort and mentioned the article that was in the August 19th issue of the Pioneer Press.
Talbot also thanked Deb Jones, Planning and Zoning Coordinator, for her very informative report to the council on the issue of lot coverage which the planning commission is studying.
Mayor Gehrz reported on the meeting held at city hall with several University of Minnesota employees and certain residents living near the area where research is going to be conducted
regarding the Turf Grass Research Outreach Education project. Gehrz said it was an informative meeting and other meetings will be held as needed in order to keep the residents updated.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Gehrz said she had received several comments regarding the article appearing in the Pioneer Press about the city hosting the State Fair each year. Gehrz said the city is aware
of both the pros and cons the fair brings to the city and its residents.
Gehrz said the Neighborhood Commission has decided to distribute its Neighborhood Liaison Handbook in a smaller version that will be available free of charge on the city’s website.
If a printed version is requested, there will be a limit of 2 copies and a charge of $25/per copy.
Gehrz said she testified at an August 20th budget hearing for the county indicating the city supported a county-wide levy for housing. Councilmember Lamb and Administrator Worthington
attended an earlier meeting on the city’s behalf.
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August 28, 2002
Gehrz said on August 21st, Senator Ellen Anderson toured city hall and the entire city and discussed the redevelopment site. If re-elected in November, Anderson will be the city’s senate
representative in the city’s new district which is now District 66.
Gehrz spoke of the Kid’s Art Fair Extravaganza sponsored by two Girl Scouts as a project for their bronze award. It will be geared for children in elementary school and will be held
September 7th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Falcon Heights United Church of Christ. Gehrz also mentioned that resident Karen Greiner received recognition in Better Homes & Gardens magazine
for her unique and beautiful year.
Administrator Worthington said the city was sending out corrected voting brochures as the brochures mailed from the county to Falcon Heights residents in the 55108 zip code had the wrong
polling places listed on the map.
Worthington mentioned the citywide garage sale to be held on September 21st from 9 to 3 p.m. and also the Neighborhood Clean-up which will be held the following week on September 28th.
The clean-up will be for residents wishing to drop off unwanted and unused items at the state fairgrounds on the Camel Lot. A fee will be charged and a flyer will be mailed to all
residents which will be needed to get into the clean-up area. Worthington said volunteers are needed for shifts the day of the clean-up as well as volunteers to pick up items at homes
of senior or disabled persons.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, (via videotape)
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk