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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_95Nov8CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 1995 ~ ~' 3 Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt, Asleson, and Maurer. COMMUNITY FORUM There was no one wishing to take advantage of the community forum. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 25, 1995 Minutes were approved by unanimous consent. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the consent agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 1. Disbursements 2. Licenses 3. Scheduling of public hearing on delinquent utility payments 4. Payment for Falcon Heights School playground improvements 5. Cancellation of December 6 and December 27 meetings and scheduling of December 20, 1995 meeting 6. Request for use of Community Park shelter as a site for the Lions' Club holiday tree sale POLICY AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95-29 CERTIFYING THE CITY RETURNS OF NOVEMBER 7, 1995 The city council, acting as the canvassing board for the city, is responsible for certifying election returns prior to their being sent to the Ramsey County Auditor. At the November 7, 1995 election, Sue Gehrz received the most votes for the office of Mayor and Sam Jacobs and Jan Gibson Talbot received the most votes for the two city council seats. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve Resolution 95-29, certifying the city election returns. Motion passed unanimously. EXPLANATION AND APPROVAL OF THE LARPENTEUR AVENUE RIGHT-OF-WAY PLAN Engineer Maurer explained that the county's reconstruction of Larpenteur Avenue will involve the city council approving the acquisition of several easements. He introduced Dan Soler of Ramsey County, who could explain the details more thoroughly. City Council Minutes November 8, 1995 Page 2 23~ Soler noted that the municipalities involved in the reconstruction must approve the easements because this project involves federal funds. Most of the easements are temporary in nature and would ordinarily just be obtained on an informal basis. Soler showed the council the proposed easements, explaining that most are being acquired in order to allow crews to perform nearby construction or to facilitate drainage. Permanent easements are being requested for traffic signals at Cleveland/Larpenteur and at Gortner/Larpenteur and also for parking on the south side of Larpenteur between Arona and Pascal. No permanent easements are being requested from residential properties except the parking easement for the apartment properties on the south side of Larpenteur. Soler further explained that they are erring on the conservative side in their request by asking for more easement than the county may eventually need. Councilmember Gehrz asked about plans for a tunnel under Larpenteur to connect the north and south sides of the golf course. Soler replied that the plans are not concrete at this point; it may depend upon whether funding is available. Lighting the tunnel is an issue that will eventually need to be addressed. Mayor Baldwin commented that there is areal hazard to golfers crossing Larpenteur but that the city will likely have little impact over whether it is built. The University of Minnesota will have to find the funds to pay for its construction and the county will need to determine if a tunnel under their road is an appropriate use. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve the Larpenteur Avenue right-of- way plan. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95-30, ELECTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE METROPOLITAN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT Administrator Hoyt reported that the Metropolitan Council is encouraging cities to participate in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. The program is designed to provide financial incentives to communities throughout the metro area to accommodate affordable housing. The Met Council establishes benchmark goals for several indicators that are used to measure a community's affordability. With its current housing stock, Falcon Heights nearly meets or exceeds all of these benchmarks and therefore will not be required to expand its affordability measures. There are no financial implications one way or the other for the city to participate in this voluntary program. Following a discussion of the benchmark data, a motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to approve Resolution 95-30. Motion passed unanimously. REVIEW OF DRAFT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PLAN Administrator Hoyt explained that staff has been working to review and revise the city's tax increment financing plan, which was last amended in 1988. The council received a copy of the staff's most recent draft of the proposed amendments; however, the city attorney must still review the amendments for conformity to current TIF laws. The staff also reviewed the principles and procedures for private requests for city financial City Council Minutes November 8, 1995 Page 3 L~ 23 assistance with the council. Hoyt recommended postponing the scheduling of a public hearing until the attorney has completed his review of the proposed amendments. APPROVAL OF COMMUNITY PLAYROOM STAFF APPOINTMENTS I The council received a copy of the individuals who desire seasonal appointment as playroom attendants for the 1995-96 season. Councilmember Hustad excused himself from this vote, as a member of his family was proposed for appointment. Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to approve the hiring of Diane Meyer, Julie Obermiller, Nan Knutsen, Kathy Schaefer, Greg Schaefer, and Wendy Teisberg as seasonal playroom attendants. Motion passed unanimously. CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Gehrz announced activities related to Minnesota Chemical Health Week and asked about the city's policy about animals in city parks. She was informed that the Park and Recreation Commission is currently examining that topic. Mayor Baldwin congratulated the winning mayoral and council candidates and thanked them for running. Councilmember Gibson Talbot thanked members of the community for their interest in the city election. Administrator Hoyt noted the end of streetsweeping,the coming of the hockey boards and rink flooding, and the progress on the school playground construction. The council also had a brief discussion regarding the process that was used to select a new Councilmember in 1990, in anticipation of a January 1996 vacancy in Councilmember Gehrz's seat. This topic will be more fully discussed in 1997 once the office is officially vacant. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. C_~~-X-~ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary ~ ' G~/'~ Tom Baldwin, Mayor