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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_95Jan11CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 11, 1995 ~ y Acting Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7:01 p.m. PRESENT Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt, Asleson, Kriegler, and Klingenberg. ABSENT Baldwin. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. INFORMAL PRESENTATION St. Anthony Police Chief Engstrom introduced Officers Lebens, Capocasa, and Flynn to the city council. These officers will be among those on duty in Falcon Heights in the upcoming year. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 21, 1994 Minutes were approved with minor changes in wording for clarification. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Councilmember Gibson Talbot requested that the Commission liaison assignments portion of Item C-4 be removed from the consent agenda and voted upon at the next meeting. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the following consent agenda, with the deletion as noted above. Motion passed unanimously. 1. Disbursements a. Additional payroll ending 12/21 /94: $331.27 b. Disbursements, 1 /1 /95 to 1 /5/95: $41,621.53 2. Licenses 3. Review and amend city council standing rules 4. 1995 council liaison assignments 5. Designation of official newspaper 6. Consideration of Resolution 95-01, designating official depositories for 1995 7. Acceptance of the resignations of Lisa Lampi and Kay Andrews from the Planning Commission 8. Commission reappointments 9. Authorization of the purchase of ten pagers and one radio for emergency service in the fire department 10. Authorization for the purchase of a laser printer City Council Minutes January 1 1, 1995 Page 2 ~, `~:: POLICY AGENDA INDOOR PLAYROOM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Park and Recreation Director Kriegler explained the details of the contract negotiated between Falcon Heights United Church of Christ and the city for the use of space for the pilot Indoor Playroom program. The proposed agreement included: 1) No rental fee for city use of the church space and 2) the city will provide for consumables such as facial tissue, diapers, and dish detergent and the church for bathroom related consumables. In return, the church will have use of the city's play equipment. The church has been willing to give up some of its old play equipment. Kriegler proposed that there be an initial expenditure of $1200 to buy new, large toys for the playroom, with the idea that the equipment would be different than what most children have in their basements. The initial program fee was proposed to be S2 per tot, $3 per family and $5 per day care group of no more than five children. Kriegler also indicated that tentative plans are to hold an open house at the new site on February 4, 1995. Kriegler also explained that the city's scholarship program would be available to program participants whether or not they lived in Falcon Heights. Councilmember Hustad suggested that a program be established to encourage donations to the program. Fees charged to use the facility will only cover operating costs; donations could be used for new capital items such as books and toys. Councilmember Jacobs expressed concern with the clause in the rental agreement that states that the city would retain ownership of the play equipment and toys and would give the church the first option to purchase them if the program does not continue. Jacobs did not feel it would be fair to the church if it disposed of the old toys in the nursery and then had the city decide to leave the church with the city play equipment, leaving the church nursery without any equipment or toys. Jacobs indicated that he wold prefer to donate the toys to the church in the event that the city opted out of the arrangement with the church. The council discussed several options with respect to the toys. On Acting Mayor Gehrz's suggestion and the council's concurrence, staff was directed to consult with the city attorney regarding the legality of donating the toys or selling them for a very nominal amount if the city severs the space agreement with the church. The city would retain ownership if the church severed the relationship. Acting Mayor Gehrz expressed concern that the fees for the playroom would not cover the operating costs of the program, which the city tries to do with each new program. She also had questions regarding the provision allowing for large day care groups to use the facility, because of the space limitation of fourteen children at any one time. The city's intent was for this facility to allow for interaction between adults as well as provide play space for children. Nan Knutsen, 1825 Arona Street, explained that she has been working with Kriegler on this project and outlined the reasoning for the proposed fee structure. She urged that the council not prohibit day care groups from the facility since home day care providers also need adult interaction. She suggested that there be a limit on the number of day care children that could be brought in with one adult to control for the possibility of the playroom being dominated by one or two large groups. 1 City Council Minutes January 1 1, 1995 Page 3 d. r After discussing several different fee schedules, the council agreed upon the following: 52.50/tot/visit and 53.50/family/visit; non-related children would pay the per-tot rate with a maximum of four unrelated children per adult caregiver. Acting Mayor Gehrz also inquired as to why the amount to be spent on play equipment had increased from the 5800-51000 proposed at an earlier council meeting to the present request of 51200. After discussion, the council in the end agreed to the request for 51200 from the Parks Capital Fund. Julie Lehr, editor of the Park Bugle newspaper, asked if this program would be open to non- residents of Falcon Heights. Director Kriegler said that in accordance with city park and recreation policies, the program it would be open to everyone. If the program proved to be so popular and space became a problem, the policy could be revaluated. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to authorize the administrator to enter into an agreement for space use with Falcon Heights United Church of Christ with the provisions as discussed earlier and to purchase toys for the program from the Parks Capital Fund at a cost of 51200.00. Staff was also authorized to solicit and accept donations for playroom capital improvements. Motion passed unanimously. REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE MAINTENANCE MATERIALS RECYCLING GRANT Administrator Hoyt explained that Falcon Heights was one of several northern Ramsey County cities that was jointly awarded 594,179.00 in state funding through the Board of Innovation and Cooperation for the purchase of a machine that cleans and recycles materials collected from streetsweeping and sealcoating. The equipment may lower the city's streetsweeping and sealcoating costs by providing a space to dump the materials rather than landfilling them, although the savings will not be as great as stated in the grant application. Hoyt also explained that staff is involved in negotiating specifications and a use contract for the equipment. Public Works and Parks Superintendent Klingenberg commented that he welcomes the opportunity to share equipment with other cities and counties. Councilmember Gibson Talbot asked if the city was being asked for any kind of monetary contribution. After she was informed that at this time the city's only contribution would be in staff time, Gibson Talbot moved to authorize the city's participation in the Multi- Jurisdiction Road Maintenance Recovery Operation. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95-02, RECEIVING FEASIBILITY REPORT AND CALLING HEARING ON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT C~ Administrative Assistant Asleson noted that the city council must pass a formal resolution to set a date for the first public hearing regarding alley improvements in the Northome neighborhood. The hearing would be formally set for February 8, 1995. Notices would be mailed to property owners and published in the paper in accordance with state law. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve Resolution 95-02. Motion passed unanimously. City Council Minutes January 1 1, 1995 Page 4 (ti CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Gibson Talbot noted that she had met with the Human Rights Commission the previous evening and they had inquired as to whether the city would be completing A.D.A. retrofitting in the upcoming year. Administrator Hoyt replied that these are budgeted improvements and the staff is proceeding with getting cost estimates to complete them. Administrator Hoyt made several announcements regarding city ice rinks, snowplowing, and the activities of the St. Anthony police force. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. ~~. ~~ Susan Gehrz, Acting Mayor ~~~ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary.