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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_95Jun28o~~ CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 28, 1995 Acting Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt, Asleson, and Rigdon. ABSENT Baldwin. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. MINUTES OF MAY 24, 1995 Minutes were approved as presented by unanimous consent. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the following consent agenda: 1. Disbursements 2. .Licenses 3. Proposed schedule of 1996 budget planning workshops 4. Request to bid the roof replacement 5. Consideration of Resolution 95-20, regarding side yard setback variance request at 1865 N. Hamline Avenue 6. Approval of fire department capital expenditures 7. Approval of part-time, temporary summer recreation staff 8. Purchase of summer recreation program T-shirts 9. Authorization to proceed with the sale of surplus city equipment POLICY AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ALONG TATUM STREET Administrator Hoyt reported that petitions for residential permit parking had been received for Tatum Street. This residential street has been impacted by non-residential parking and traffic associated with the University of Minnesota. Last winter, weekday two-hour parking was established on Tatum Street. Residents are now requesting that residential parking permits be available for residents to park on the street beyond the posted two- hour limits. The city's parking policy requires that 75% of affected property owners in the requested area (a minimum of 600 lineal feet) sign a petition requesting the change in order to have the request considered. Two 600' sections of Tatum have the necessary signatures to ~! ~~ I~ J City Council Minutes June 28, 1995 Page 2 2.~ establish permit parking districts. However, the planning commission has recommended that the city council establish residential permit parking along the entire length of Tatum Street, rather than just these two sections. Posting the entire street wilt make the policy easier for the public to understand and easier for the police to enforce. About 61 % of Tatum property owners. have expressed an interest in permit parking. Finally, since life cycles of neighborhoods change, future property owners may have a need for permit parking that they may not anticipate at this time. Since the purchase of a parking permit is optional, it makes sense to have the option available to all residents of Tatum Street and not just those that need a permit at the present time. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve Resolution No. 95-19, establishing residential permit parking on Tatum Street. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO PLANT ON THE CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 1755 N. PRIOR AVENUE Administrator Hoyt reported that the Minnesota Horticultural Society has requested to do plantings in the city right-of-way along Prior Avenue. The request was made due to two unique circumstances. First, there is limited green space on the property itself, particularly in the front and second, the society's role in demonstrating its educational techniques. The planting scheme has been reviewed by a landscape planner, Paul Paige, for aesthetic design and plant materials. It is Mr. Paige's opinion that the design would fit well into the area. The code does allow staff to allow plantings in the right-of-way under certain circumstances. However, due to the uniqueness of this request, staff is requesting formal approval from the council before permitting the plantings. Councilmember Jacobs expressed a concern about the ability to do work in the right- of-way if this project were approved. He commented that the city should not be held liable for replacement costs if it became necessary to dig up the plants to do work in the right-of-way. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the landscape plans as presented allowing the Minnesota Horticultural Society to plant in the city right-of-way, provided that the city be held harmless from financial liability should it become necessary to remove the plantings to do utility or other city business in the right-of-way. Motion passed unanimously. REQUEST TO APPROVE THE MAINTENANCE MATERIALS RECYCLING JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT Administrator Hoyt stated that work had been completed on a joint project to recycle streetsweepings. Several Ramsey County cities and Ramsey County are proposing to purchase a piece of equipment that recycles streetsweepings and make the resulting sand available to participating entities. Users are charged for depositing and picking up materials, but would not be charged if they did not use the equipment. The equipment City Council Minutes June 28, 1995 Page 3 2 ~ ~ would be purchased using a Minnesota State Innovation Grant of approximately S 94,000. Councilmember Jacobs questioned the vague language included under the section "user fee" in the proposed Joint Powers Agreement. His concern was that all cities might become responsible for the operation if not enough cities contribute user fees toward its operation. Hoyt responded that the county expects to be using the machine about 65% of the time. The user fees and regulations for operating the equipment will be established by a joint operations committee of which Falcon Heights would be a member. Jacobs responded that he is comfortable with the proposal provided that the city does not have to pay a fee when they are not using the machine or materials it produces. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve the Joint Powers Agreement related to the Maintenance Materials Recycling project. Motion passed unanimously. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM SENATOR JOHN MARTY AND REPRESENTATIVE MARY JO MC GUIRE Senator Marty and Representative Mc Guire updated the council and staff on the actions of the recently ended legislative session. Among the topics discussed were legislation that passed (Metro Area Livable Communities Act, county-wide curfews, city deadlines for planning requests) and legislation that did not pass (property tax reform, property tax freeze, taxation of municipal bond interest. Individual councilmembers also had specific questions of Marty and McGuire. REPORT FROM CITY AUDITOR REGARDING 1994 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT Ms. Jennifer Thiennes, of Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd, presented the city's audited comprehensive financial report. The results of the audit produced an unqualified, or "clean" opinion from the firm. Thiennes guided the council through the different fund sheets, explaining that the city has again done a good job of anticipating revenue and expenditures. She advised the council that they may wish to watch their debt load since, due to lowering interest rates, some assessments may be paid off early. Administrator Hoyt noted that this type of behavior can usually be predicted and that thus far the city has not experienced large numbers of pay-offs. DISCUSSION OF A "GOOD NEIGHBORS" COLUMN IN CITY NEWSLETTER Acting Mayor Gehrz suggested that a column in the newsletter be dedicated to acknowledging citizens or city businesses that have performed an unusual service to the community or have been especially neighborly in some way. The council concurred with Gehrz's idea. Viewers of the council meeting were encouraged to contact city hall with ideas for inclusion in the column. City Council Minutes June 28, 1995 Page 4 c~ CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Jacobs reported that the governor had appointed him to the Metropolitan Radio Board, which is studying the use of the 800 megahertz radio band for use for metropolitan emergency dispatching. Acting Mayor Gehrz reported that she and Administrator Hoyt had made a presentation on community involvement at the League of Minnesota Cities conference earlier in the month. Several other cities have contacted her regarding how Falcon Heights promotes community involvement in all facets of its operations. Administrator Hoyt reported on the following: 1) staff have met with abutting property owners regarding the Larpenteur Avenue concept plans; 21 an archeological dig at Gibbs Farm; 3) planting of trees in the Grove Park; 4) alley reconstruction project in progress in the Northome neighborhood; 5) summer recreation programs are in progress; and 6) a survey was sent to affected Grove property owners seeking input on streetlight placement. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Susan Gehrz, Acting Mayor C- ~~-~ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary