HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_01Oct23City of Falcon Heights
Council Minutes
October 23, 2002
Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present was Heather Worthington, City
Administrator and Pat Phillips, Deputy Clerk
ABSENT: Kuettel
COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no one present to speak before council.
MINUTES
The minutes of October 9, 2002 were approved as submitted.
CONSENT
Councilmember Lindstrom pointed out a correction in the disbursement list after which councilmember Talbot moved to approve the following consent agenda.
General disbursements and payroll
Licenses
Appointment of firefighters
POLICY
2002 Report on the Falcon Heights Urban Forestry Program
Parks and Publics Works Director Bill Maertz reported on the 2002 forestry program and said there are three main components to the program. The first is disease management, second is
maintenance and third is education. Maertz said 30 trees were lost this year due to dutch elm;
22 were on public property and 8 on private property. Maertz said 22 boulevard trees were planted to replace the diseased elms and 5 Japanese lilacs were replaced along the Cleveland
Ave. median. Maertz said the master plan is to have as much information as possible entered into a computer software program showing the specie and size of each boulevard tree and which
street they are planted on.
Maertz said the city forester, Anita Twaroski, made the city aware of oak wilt in a nearby neighborhood and said the University Grove neighborhood needs to be informed of what needs
to be done to their private oak trees in the event the disease spreads. There will be flyers delivered to homes and information in the newsletter and on the website educating the public
about oak wilt. Maertz said the safest time to trim oaks is November through March.
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October 23, 2002
Maertz also said Twaroski will be arranging an Arbor Day event at Falcon Heights School next spring and will re-apply for a Tree City Award. There were some questions by councilmembers
regarding buckthorn in the Grove which were addressed by Maertz.
Update on 2002 Elections
Kathy Ciernia, Elections Coordinator, updated the council on the AccuVote machines that were used for the first time in the primary election. The machines worked well and the city had
a 24.5% turnout in Precinct 1 and a 35.21% turnout in Precinct 2. Ciernia said 75% voted yes on the 623 school district referendum. Ciernia then reminded everyone to vote at the general
election on November 5th and spoke about the absentee voting procedure. Ciernia also reminded
everyone that the city is no longer in District 54 but in senate district 66 and house representative district 66B. Ciernia answered questions from councilmembers with regard to the
registration process.
Administrator Worthington said Kid’s Voting is a community project sponsored by the Roseville Rotary and the Falcon Heights/Lauderdale Lions Club. Worthington said this is a new project
so voters may see children voting at their own stations as they come to the polls with their parents.
Update on the University of Minnesota/Minnesota Vikings Stadium
Mayor Gehrz updated council on a meeting she recently attended regarding the proposed
U of M/Vikings stadium. The University and the Vikings have been studying the issue of a stadium to be built at a location on the Minneapolis campus with the requirement that 4700
cars be parked on the state fairgrounds and shuttled to the stadium. Gehrz said Vice President Pfutzenreuter of the University said “all costs associated with the event will be paid
by the University and the Vikings”. These are costs associated with traffic control and management. Gehrz said she brought up some traffic gridlock concerns as well. Gehrz said the
city will need to obtain legal advice as the Memorandum of Understanding is proposed between the Vikings and the University. A full report will be presented at a December University
Regents meeting. Gehrz said no additional neighborhood meetings are scheduled. After much discussion by council, Gehrz said the next step would be for she and Administrator Worthington
to meet with the St. Anthony Police Department to estimate costs so figures will be available.
Update on the Neighborhood Commission Training Plan
Mayor Gehrz said a first aid training class has been scheduled for November 18 at city hall from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The training will be provided by the Red Cross and will focus
on kinds of injuries normally found in emergency/disaster situations. There is no charge to residents but a book will be available for $5.00 to those interested. Pre-registration is
required by calling city hall.
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Gehrz also said there would be additional training classes next spring for the neighborhood liaisons on organizing block parties and learning how to direct traffic during an emergency.
REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Lindstrom said the Planning Commission set a date of November 26 for a Public Hearing on the lot coverage issue.
Councilmember Talbot reminded residents to not rake or discharge leaves from a lawnmower into the street.
Mayor Gehrz said the Ramsey County League of Local Governments held a meeting on October 24th at city hall which was open to the public. Various county officials spoke at this meeting.
Gehrz said the Mayors Regional Housing Task Force committee presented a report on affordable housing to the Met Council. Copies of the reports were available.
Gehrz said the city’s application to the Livable Communities Demonstration Account for a one million dollar grant is progressing through several committees. This grant is for the re-development
project on the Southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur and recipients will be announced soon.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk