Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_03Nov12CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS COUNCIL MINUTES November 12, 2003 Council member Kuettel convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 PM. PRESENT: Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington and Deputy Clerk Mary Shea Kodluboy Absent with prior notice: Mayor Sue Gehrz COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience. PRESENTATION: Mr. John Zanmiller introduced himself to the Council. He explained that he is a member of the West St. Paul City Council and also represents this area on the St. Paul Regional Water Utility Board. He was appointed two years ago, as one of two suburban representatives on the Board. In January, 2004, it will be Falcon Heights’ turn to appoint a representative and he would like Falcon Heights to allow him to continue that representation, instead of taking its position in the Board rotation. Mr. Zanmiller proceeded to give a brief description of the St. Paul Regional Water Utility and answered questions from the City Council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Council minutes dated October 22, 2003 were unanimously approved as presented. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Scheduled CONSENT AGENDA: Lindstrom moved approval of the Consent Agenda, as outlined below. The motion was unanimously approved. General Disbursements through November 7, 2003 in the Amount of: $ 80,185.54 Payroll (10/15/03-10/30/03) in the Amount of: $ 11,981.44 Mileage Reimbursement Rate Adjustments Close Debt Service 1993 Improvement Bonds Fund (312) and Transfer the Remaining Balance to the 1999 NE Quadrant Improvement Bond Fund (317) Add New Reserve Policy and Make Minor Wording Changes to Fiscal Policies Section of Annual Budget FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -2- November 12, 2003 CONSENT AGENDA (continued) 5. Proclamation—Ramsey County Library Foundation Day 6. Consideration of 2004 SCORE Contract and Adoption of Resolution 03-22 POLICY AGENDA Stipulation Settlement for Insty-Prints and JEMJAHS Administrator Worthington said that last month the developer of the SE Corner project negotiated a relocation settlement for $25,000 with Insty-Prints regarding the termination of their lease in the Northome Shopping Center. Sherman and Associates has settled Insty- Prints claim, and the Council may now consider the settlement for final approval. JEMJAHS will execute this agreement after the city finalizes it. Talbot moved approval of the stipulation settlement for Insty-Prints and JEMJAHS for payment of $25,000 to Insty-Prints. The motion was unanimously approved. Change in Recycling Method from Five-Sort to a Two-Sort Administrator Worthington said that earlier this year, the Solid Waste Commission voted unanimously to allow E-Z Recycling to utilize a two-sort method, rather than the five-sort method required in the current contract. Staff toured the E-Z Recycling plant last week, and is confident that they are capable of making the switch, with little or no increase in the amount of residual material, and thus no negative environmental impact from switching to 2-sort. Under the 2-sort system, corrugated cardboard is still collected separately from the two streams of Newspaper-Magazines-Mixed Mail-Cereal Boxes and Cans-Glass-Plastic. The city will make sure that people know they must still flatten and bundle corrugated cardboard and put it out separately. (So it is, technically, a third stream, for those who recycle corrugated cardboard.) The Solid Waste Commission would now like to roll out this new method, update the contract, and do resident education about the change in the upcoming newsletter and flyer. Chris Reinhardt at E-Z has offered to distribute tags to residents at the November 21 or December 5 recycling pick-up to instruct them on the new sorting method. Council member Lamb said this will be a simple method for the residents. Most people sort paper, glass and metal. E-Z said their recovery rate is between 95%-98%. E-Z re-sorts everything and the end result at their plant yields 2%-5% of residual non-recyclables. The goal on the East Coast is 21%. Council member Lindstrom commented that E-Z does not own its own landfill so it is to their benefit to maximize recycling. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3- November 12, 2003 Change in Recycling Method from Five-Sort to a Two-Sort (continued) Council member Lamb said that a lot of it has to do with the residents. If residents don’t want to sort into five categories, they can do just as good of a job on a 2-sort. The first sort is paper of all types. The second sort is cans, glass and plastic. The third sort, if needed, is the bundling, separately, of corrugated cardboard. Council member Talbot asked if the new method will cost more. Council member Lamb said no, it is the type of sort that E-Z uses anyway. The major effect will be on what residents have to do. It will be a simpler method. In response to a question from Council member Kuettel regarding bins, Administrator Worthington said that residents can come down to City Hall and get a second bin for free. Or, residents can still use paper bags. Council member Kuettel said that E-Z will continue to pick up clean recycled clothing, batteries and used oil. She asked that she be able to take a peek at the newsletter before it goes out in December. Council member Lindstrom asked what percent of the community recycles and Administrator Worthington said she will get that information for him. Lamb moved that staff and the Solid Waste Commission be authorized to update the recycling contract to require a 2-sort method, and commence with resident education about this change in the upcoming newsletter and city flyer. The motion was unanimously approved. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Council members Talbot and Lindstrom thanked the residents who voted for them on November 4. Council member Talbot said that he looks forward to serving the community and working with the other good people on the Council for another four years. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council member Lamb asked Administrator Worthington for an update on the Farmer’s Market. What kind of feedback came to the City and City Hall over the last few months? Administrator Worthington said the Farmer’s Market began in late May and continued through October. The City only received one complaint and that was about a back-up beeper that had nothing to do with the Farmer’s Market. Early one morning there was a truck and trailer using the Twin Cities Co-op parking lot for offloading purposes. There were no parking problems on Farmer’s Market days. If necessary, people utilized City Hall parking lots. People commented on how much they enjoyed the Farmer’s Market and want it to come back next year. Many of the vendors thought this was one of the best locations in the Twin Cities. There was a variety of vendors to choose from: Flower, vegetable, meat and cheese and bakery. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -4- November 12, 2003 INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) Administrator Worthington said that traffic was manageable. Only occasionally did people find it difficult to make a left turn at Larpenteur. Overall, she would give it high marks. It was quite popular. Council member Kuettel said that she thought it was really successful. Council member Lindstrom said that he talked to a resident who was initially very skeptical. Now that resident feels positive about it. Parking is not a problem and it is a great addition to the City. Council member Kuettel mentioned that from November to April, the City sponsors the Playroom at the United Church of Christ Nursery, Wednesdays and Friday mornings, from 9:30 AM-12 noon. The fees are $2/visit for a child/adult and the family rate is $3/visit. There are also multi-visit punch card rates. There will be an open house at the Playroom on Saturday, November 22, from 10 AM-1 PM. The City also sponsors Saturday morning open gyms at the Falcon Heights Elementary School, at no cost to the participants. Basketballs and other equipment are provided, or participants can bring their own. Clean, dry footwear is recommended for admittance to the gyms. Council member Kuettel reminded the cable audience that the City needs people for its commissions: Planning, Parks, Solid Waste, Neighborhood and Human Rights. Check the City’s web site for more information. Council member Talbot said that because of the incredible volunteerism in Falcon Heights, it is one of the best-run cities in the state. Administrator Worthington said that street sweeping began this week, but because of the snow showers on Wednesday, the sweepers had to stop around noon that day. She asked residents to not rake their leaves into the street because they will go into the storm sewers and cause problems downstream. The street sweeping should be done by Friday, weather permitting. If residents have questions, feel free to call City Hall at 651-644-5050. The regular City Council meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mary Shea Kodluboy Deputy Clerk