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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_03Jul23 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 23, 2003 Mayor Gehrz convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 PM. PRESENT: Mayor Sue Gehrz, Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington, Parks and Public Works Director William Maertz and Deputy Clerk Mary Shea Kodluboy COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Council minutes dated June 25, 2003 and July 9, 2003 were unanimously approved as submitted. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Scheduled CONSENT AGENDA: Kuettel moved that the Consent Agenda be approved, as outlined below. The motion was unanimously approved. General Disbursements through July 22, 2003: $151,196.67 Payroll (7/1/03-7/15/03): $ 16,089.31 Licenses – The Council, to encourage residents to patronize local businesses, read aloud the names of the most current businesses renewing their licenses for 2003 3. Authorize Purchase of Rotating Chain Scraper for the Sewer Jetter - Enz 10.080 Rotating Chain Scraper, at a cost of $1,750, to be paid for from the Sanitary Sewer Enterprise Fund PRESENTATION: 2002 Accomplishments Administrator Worthington gave a brief, oral review of budget goals and accomplishments for 2002. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -2- July 23, 2003 POLICY AGENDA: Ramsey County League of Local Governments Survey Mayor Gehrz said that the Ramsey County League of Local Governments is surveying members about options for reducing membership dues. The dues’ structure is based upon population and the City’s current annual dues are $379.00. The Board has presented four options and she said she would like to discuss them, plus a fifth option, which would reduce the membership dues even more. The options proposed by the RCLLG are: Maintain the status quo – continue the current activities and services provided by Government Training Service (GTS) with a 2% increase in budget and dues. Reduce dues 30%, with a $100 dues minimum – reduce the GTS services by approximately 30%. Board to assume more administrative function Bare bones budget – member groups would pay $100 - $500 dues in four categories based on population. Would rely on all volunteer support with modification of the governance structure and meetings. Abolish the RCLLG. Mayor Gehrz said that she is proposing selection of the lowest cost option, with the recommendation that it be reduced even more. Set the annual dues at $25.00/year. Spend down the reserve. Eliminate the recognition plaques. Do away with the Christmas banquet and the entertainment. Use e-mail. Council member Lamb asked what the reduction would leave them doing. What would be the value? Mayor Gehrz said the group could continue its core functions. Board members need to be willing to do more of the actual work. Council member Lamb said a motion could be drafted that stated the City Council was in favor of the organization being run at a level of $25/year per member and that the organization continue to perform the principal functions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Mayor Gehrz said the fallback position could be Option 3. Lamb moved that the City Council of Falcon Heights supports the implementation of $25.00 annual dues for the Ramsey County League of Local Governments, with the expectation that the organization’s four major areas will continue to be the primary focus. The motion was unanimously approved. Metropolitan Radio Board’s Metropolitan Public Safety Communication System (800 MHz) Resolution Administrator Worthington said that in early 2003, Ramsey County began exploring the possibility of implementing 800 MHz service for public safety departments countywide. They are now seeking support for the development of a system, with input from each city and local unit located in the County. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3- July 23, 2003 Metropolitan Radio Board’s Metropolitan Public Safety Communication System (800 MHz) Resolution (continued) Administrator Worthington said that in order to move forward, they need to demonstrate broad-based support for this process amongst cities. Through the City’s contract with St. Anthony Village, our police officers already have access to 800 MHz in Hennepin County and they have reported satisfaction with the technology. Ramsey County will be providing demonstrations of the technology to local fire departments in the next few months, and will also be implementing a process by which local government officials will have input in how this plan progresses. In addition, they are committed to seeking non-local funds for the implementation of an 800 MHz system. In response to a question from Council member Talbot, Council member Lamb said the system is a non-wired communication system instead of massive towers. There are receivers located around the metro area. This is not the best technology. In order for the system to work, you need to be able to communicate with everyone else who is on it. Ramsey and Hennepin Counties are not on the same systems. If the County were to shift to technology that is more advanced, the cost would be 100 times what is being proposed. In the short term, the most practical approach is to convert to the 800 MHz. It is a wireless technology that requires receivers and transmitters that sit on top of public buildings. The City’s costs would be for Public Works and the Fire Department. There would be some monthly or annual fee. Council member Talbot asked what is coming and how will the cost come down. Council member Lamb said that over time the larger communities will participate and the cost will be driven down. In the near horizon, this is the only option we have. Mayor Gehrz said that she was talking with Police Chief Engstrom about this and he said that one of the problems with traffic management around the Fairgrounds is that they can’t communicate with the Saint Paul police. Saint Paul is now interested in participating in the 800 MHz communication system. The goal is to make this statewide. RESOLUTION 2003-12 Talbot moved adoption of Resolution 2003-12 in support of planning for the development of an upgraded radio communication system for Ramsey County. The motion was unanimously approved. Authorize Final Plan Preparation for Curtiss Field Improvements Parks and Public Works Director Maertz said that in 2000, the Falcon Heights Park Commission began studying the flooding problem at Curtiss Field. In 2001, the City contracted with SEH Engineering to develop three design concepts that would improve drainage and recreational opportunities at Curtiss Field. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -4- July 23, 2003 Authorize Final Plan Preparation for Curtiss Field Improvements (continued) Director Maertz said that after the design concepts were completed, all residents of the Northome neighborhood were mailed notice of a public meeting to discuss these potential improvements. This meeting was held in May, 2002. Comments from this meeting were used to further refine the design concepts. In July, 2003, another mailing was sent out and an open house was held at City Hall. This open house featured all of the design options and had informational booths with the landscape architect, hydrologist, and engineer from SEH there to answer questions and solicit feedback. Based on the residents’ comments, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend the option that provided the most relief from flooding. The Council is being asked to contract with the HR Green Company for engineering services related to final plan preparation of the preferred alternative, at a cost not to exceed $19,500. Additional public meetings will be held as the planning goes forward. Staff will be contacting residents adjacent to Curtiss Field and soliciting comments and concerns before plans are finalized and brought forward for Council approval. Council member Lamb asked if there will still be flooding. Director Maertz said the northwest corner of the building still floods, but that has been reduced quite dramatically. This area drains 14 acres of land and there will be 20% less water coming in with the new development. The final plan phase should be completed within the next two months. Council member Talbot said that he would like to see quality materials used at Curtiss Field, the only park that the City owns. Council member Lindstrom asked if the developer for the SE Corner would be contributing to the Curtiss Field improvements. Administrator Worthington said that in the development agreement there is a $150,000 park dedication fee that will go directly to this project and will cover more than 75% of the total cost. The City has a 5-year CIP for this project and funds will come from the Parks and Public Works portion. Director Maertz said there will be a pedestrian link between the new development and the park. Part of the project cost will be for deepening the pond. Plantings will be smaller and more ornamental. He has talked to MN DOT about planting pine trees along Snelling Avenue. Mayor Gehrz asked why Xcel Energy would be burying their electrical lines at no cost to the City. Council member Lamb said that Xcel lost the lawsuit in downtown Minneapolis and is now absorbing the costs for burying electrical lines in public rights-of-way. Lindstrom moved that staff be authorized to contract with HR Green Company to provide engineering services related to the final plan preparation of Curtiss Field improvements, at a cost not to exceed $19,500. The motion was unanimously approved. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -5- July 23, 2003 Recommendation from Parks and Recreation Commission to Donate Money from the Falcon Heights Friends of the Parks Fund to the Recreation Scholarship Account Parks and Public Works Director Maertz said the recreation budget includes a line item for scholarships for families who cannot afford to pay for recreation programs. In 2003, 42 children received some level of scholarship. The City has never turned anyone away. This year, the requests for scholarships exceeded the donations received from residents for the scholarship fund. Budgeted for scholarship $200 Donations to scholarship fund $68 Cost of scholarships $905 Scholarship deficit $637 On July 14, 2003, the Falcon Heights Parks and Recreation Commission discussed this deficit and voted unanimously to make a recommendation to the City Council that a donation from the Friends of the Parks Fund be made to the recreation scholarship account. This donation will help the recreation program stay within budget, while continuing to promote recreation opportunities for those who could not otherwise afford them. The FOTHP Fund has a current balance of $2,100. Mayor Gehrz asked if there is something the City can do to promote the scholarship program. The survey that was done last fall indicated that people do read the newsletter. Director Maertz said there would be an informational booth at the ice cream social next week. Also, Chuck Long, the Parks Commission Chair, and Heather Worthington will be in the dunk tank. Mayor Gehrz reminded the television audience that the ice cream social is on Thursday, July 31, from 6-8 PM, at Community Park. Practice throwing and bring money! Kuettel moved approval of the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission to authorize the donation of $637 from the Falcon Heights Friends of the Parks Fund to the recreation scholarship account. The motion was unanimously approved. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: None INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: SE Corner/Dino’s Update Administrator Worthington said the Embers building should be demolished next week. The groundbreaking ceremony for the SE Corner will be in September and the community will be invited to participate. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -6- July 23, 2003 INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) Voice Over Internet Telephony Update Administrator Worthington said that she will be presenting information about this at the first Council meeting in August. Council member Talbot said that the sealcoating project is going along very nicely. Three cars were towed to the other side of the street. He asked how long sealcoating extends the life of a road. Administrator Worthington said that road life can be extended between 20-30 years if a 7-year cycle of sealcoating is maintained. Council member Lamb said the Solid Waste Commission is utilizing virtual meetings for the next two months. Deb Jones has put this together. The Commissioners will be posting to a web page. This can evolve into chat room technology. Mayor Gehrz said the Neighborhood Commission has been communicating via e-mail. Four of the commissioners are involved in the CERT training. There was some discussion at the last CERT training about including a personal walkie-talkie in each kit and she is checking availability and cost. Ramsey County has a proposal for a Countywide HRA levy. The County explored this before and Council member Lamb represented Falcon Heights in the past. Commissioner Janice Rettman will be chairing a meeting about this on Monday, August 4, 2 PM, at the Falcon Heights City Hall. Council member Lamb and Administrator Worthington will represent Falcon Heights at the meeting. The City has been awarded a grant of $54,000 from the DNR for improvement of the Trolley Path. Eventually, the path will connect the Bell Museum with the nature area in Lauderdale. Site selection for the Bell Museum has been done and the question is when will construction begin. She reminded the television audience again that the annual Ice Cream Social will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2003, from 6-8 PM, at Community Park. National Night Out is August 5, and she encouraged people to get together. Call City Hall to make arrangements. The regular City Council meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mary Shea Kodluboy Deputy Clerk