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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_90Oct24MINUTES REGIILAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 24, 1990 Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:00 P.M. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT Baldwin, Ciernia, Gehrz, Jacobs and Wallin. Also present were Gedde, Maurer, Wiessner and Chenoweth. ADDENDA TO AGENDA Council agreed to add the following items to the Agenda: Consent Agenda: Designation of Additional Election Judges and Planning Commission Minutes of 10/22/90, Policy Agenda: Funding of 1991 Recycling Program, and Administrator's Compensation. MINUTES OF 10/10/90 APPROVED The Minutes of October 10, 1990 were approved by unanimous consent. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON POLICY AGENDA The following items were removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Policy Agenda for discussion: E(2) Variance Request from David Gorringe, E(7) Cable TV Monitor for City Hall Lobby, and E(5b) Parks and Recreation Minutes of 10/8/90. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED The following Consent Agenda items were approved by unanimous consent: 1. Disbursements: a. General Disbursements through 10/24/90, $140,075.20 b. Payroll, 10/1/90-10/15/90, $10,692.96 2. Donations for Community Park Amenities 3. Lions Club Christmas Tree Sales 4. Solid Waste Commission Minutes of 10/4/90 5. Appointment of After School Sports Insructor, Laura Hanson 6. Licenses 7. Appointment of Additional Election Judges 8. Planning Commission Minutes of 10/22/90 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF DONATIONS TO NEW COMMUNITY PARR BUILDING Baldwin acknowledged and thanked the following donors: North Suburban Youth Association, Falcon Heights/Lauderdale Lions Club, and Roseville Jaycees. VARIANCE GRANTED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A DOUBLE GARAGE, DAVID GORRINGE, 1457 W. IDAHO Ciernia briefed Council on the request for a 14 ft. 6 inch variance from the 15 ft. minimum corner side yard setback to ~~ ' MINUTES OCTOBER 24, X990 PAGE 2 allow Mr. Gorringe to construct a double garage with the garage entrance in the same location as the existing garage. He explained that the Planning Commission at their October 11, 1990 meeting had recommended approval of the variance with the stipulation that no parking will be allowed on the northern half of the apron to increase visibility from the adjacant alley. Following a brief discussion, Ciernia moved approval of the variance with the driveway parking restriction as recommended by the Planning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION OF CODE REQUIREMENT REGARDING SCREENING BETWEEN RESIDENIAL AND COMMERCIAL AND RELATED COMPLAINT AGAINST AUTO REPAIR SHOP AT 1565 HAMLINE Baldwin presented a brief review of past complaints relating to the appearance of the repair shop at 1565 Hamline and a staff report addressing a section of the present City Code which relates to screening between businesses and residential areas. The complainant, Warren Peterson, 1373 W. Hoyt, explained that he has lived four houses west of the business for 28 years and had no problem until the business changed from a service station/garage to a heavy mechanical garage business. He noted problems such as unlicensed vehicles, junk, old tires, unmowed grass, unshoveled•snow, and the fact that some of the vehicles had been on the lot for months. Mr. Peterson questioned why such problems are prohibited in residential areas but allowed in a business zone. He also felt that screening would not be a proper solution as the problem would still remain behind the screening. City Planner Susan Hoyt reviewed the present screening requirements and presented slides of various businesses within the City which abut residential zones. She explained the complexity of retroactive screening where the building, parking and access drives are already on the site limiting space for creative screening. Council held a lengthy discussion regarding inconsistencies in the City Code, the possibility of addressing some of the problems by code revision, and whether or not requiring screening of every business is feasible or practical. Wallin inquired if elimination of the junked cars would meet Mr. Peterson's immediate concerns to which he replied he would like the mess cleaned up, including the junked cars and tires and general maintenance of the business with some concern for neighbors. Gedde felt that there are enforcable sections of the present code which would address some of the problems and recommended that a letter be written to the owner of the business requesting him to clean up the area (junked cars, tires, etc)., with a time limit for conformance. Council concurred. Future possible code changes will also be studied. Following further discussion, Council agreed they were not in favor of enforcing the screening requirementt in all existing businesses and directed staff to draft new language to allow more flexibility, such as requiring screening with change of use or intensif ication of the business, and refer the matter back to the Planning Commission. MINUTES OCTOBER 24,1990 PAGE 3 CITY TREE PLANTING GUIDELINES DISCUSSED Council reviewed the present guidelines for planting boulevard trees and some additions proposed by the City Forester. Gerhz expressed concern over the section requiring avoidance of underground wires and requested more information be obtained on this subject to determine if it is totally impractical or if there is some manner in which planting over wiring is possible. CREATION OF A CITY FLAG PROPOSED Wiessner explained that the City has been requested to provide a City Flag for the opening ceremony of the 1991 LMC Conference in Rochester and asked Council if there was an interest in creation of such a flag at an estimated cost of 5600.00 for design and production of the first flag. A brief discussion ensued after which Jacobs moved that a city flag be created and that staff be directed to come back with the cost of reproduction of additional flags and the cost of flag standards. SANITARY SEWER BILLING POLICY FOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO REMAIN AS IS Council considered a request from Bruce and Maureen Misgen, owners of the apartment building at 1701 Tatum, that the City change the sanitary sewer billing for apartments to some method other than the flat rate per unit now being used. Council concurred that the billing should remain as is based on information provided by staff regarding the complexity and cost of reading water meters in each apartment building and the possibility that the rate might even increase if based on water consumption. 1991 FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT WITH CITY OF LAUDERDALE APPROVED Wallin moved approval of the 1991 fire protection services contract with the City of Lauderdale which carried unanimously. CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT FOR MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE TO REMAIN IN PLACE Council reviewed a request from Mel Collova, Collova HVAC, that he be issued a Mechanical Contractor's license even though. he does not have a Certificate of Competency as required by City Code. After a brief discussion Council unanimously agreed that the code requirement remain as is making Mr. Collova inelligible for a license. HAMLINE AVENUE PROJECT UPDATE Maurer reported on Ramsey County's proposed time line for the project, the right-of-way acquisition progress, and the City. of Roseville's request that if MN/DOT reduces the street width requirement, Hamline be restriped to allow parking on one side. The consensus of opinion was that the restriping would also be desired on the Falcon Heights portion of Hamline providing the designated parking lane is on the west side of the street. V~ MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 1990 PAGE 4 INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON PROPOSED 1991 STREET IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULED FOR 12/12/90 Council scheduled an informational meeting for 6:30 P.M. on December 12, 1990 to provide an opportunity for property owners to view the proposed plans and be given an update on the project. ENGINEER TO REQUEST VARIANCE TO MSA GUIDELINES FOR PARKING ON ALBERT AND ARONA STREETS Ciernia commented on the fact that residents have expressed concern regarding the fact that the residents on Albert and Arona will be limited to parking on one side only due to the MSA guidelines. Council discussed the matter, after which Maurer was directed to begin the procedure to apply for a variance to allow parking on both sides of those streets. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CITIES GROUP Following,a brief discussion and making an amendment to the second paragraph of the proposed resolution, Jacobs moved adoption of Resolution R-90-41 which carried unanimously. RESOLUTION R-90-41 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FALCON HEIGHTS TO JOIN \ AN ENVIRONMENTAL CITIES GROUP CITY TO DIRECT BILL FOR RECYCLING COLLECTION IN 1991 Wiessner explained that Ramsey County had given a deadline. of October 26, 1990 for the City to notify them whether or not Falcon Heights will be requesting exemption from the recycling portion of the solid waste service fee which presently appears on the tax statement, If the City wishes exemption certain criteria must be met including provision for long term funding of the program. Council discussed the following options: (a) direct billing for recycling on a quarterly basis, (b) organized and integrated collection with the hauler billing the customer, (c) amending the present code to require all haulers to provide recycling collection as a condition for licensing, or (d) continue with the present system leaving the recycling fee on the tax statement with the County handling the funding through a possible grant. Following a discussion regarding the uncertainty of the County program for 1991 and the advantages of becoming independent from Ramsey County, Council unanimously opted for Option (a), direct billing with the utility charges. Staff will notify the County that the City wishes exemption from the County fee for recycling as of January 1, 1990, and will not apply for a recycling grant in 1991.. APPROVAL OF ADMINISTRATOR'S COMPENSATION Baldwin presented the following proposed compensation package ~, e~ MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 1990 PAGE 5 rt ~! for the City Administrator: Salary; $45,000 per year, ~`~ retroactive to June 1, 1990; Vechicle Allowance: $165.00 per month; Professional Development Allowance: $2,000; Other Fringe Benefits: As provided by Personnel Policy and Existing Employment Agreement. Ciernia moved approval of the proposed package which carried unanimously. PURCHASE OF CABLE TV MONITOR FOR CITY HALL LOBBY APPROVED Gehrz explained she had requested this item moved from the Consent Agenda to the Policy Agenda to obtain additional information rationale for purchasing the monitor. Wiessner stated it would be helpful for staff to regularly monitor items and determine when updating is necessary, and would tend to remind residents that Cable TV with a city channel is available. Baldwin commented that it would be very useful during public hearings when persons wish to move to the lobby to discuss issues, and still have the ability to view the Council meeting in progress. Ciernia then moved approval of the purchase, which carried unanimously. FURTHER DISCUSSION TO BE HELD ON HOCKEY PLAYING ON CITY PLEASURE RINRS Ciernia stated he had requested the Parks and Recreation Minutes be moved to the Policy Agenda as he had some concern regarding the Commission's decision to prohibit hockey on the Falcon Heights School rink. The matter will be referred back to the Commission for further discussion. They will also be asked to address the Community Park rink as there will only be one rink at that site this winter and a similar problem may occur. ITEM F(10), SEWER BACKUPS AND SEWER STUB REPAIRS, DEFERRED TO 11/14/90 This item was deferred due to lack of time. ADJOIIRNMENT The meeeting was adjourned at 10:30 P.M. ,~~ ~~~~ Tom Baldwin, Mayor ATTEST .~~ Shir3ey Cheno eth, City Clerk