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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_03Sep24CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS COUNCIL MINUTES September 24, 2003 Mayor Gehrz convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Kuettel, Lamb, Lindstrom and Talbot Also Present: City Administrator Worthington, retired Deputy Clerk Phillips COMMUNITY FORUM: There were no comments from the audience. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Council minutes dated September 10, 2003 were unanimously approved as presented. CONSENT AGENDA Council member Kuettel moved to approve the following consent agenda. The motion was unanimously approved. General disbursements through 9/21/03, $82,783.32 Payroll from 9/1/03 to 9/15/03 in the amount of $10,733.46 Licenses Approval of partial pay estimate #3, Jay Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $95,574.96 Appointment of firefighter Purchase of a new bobcat Mayor Gehrz commented that over $50,000 of the amount in above item #3 is paid by the City of St. Paul for work done on Folwell Ave. and the remaining portion will be covered by MSA funds for costs associated with Sheldon Avenue. POLICY AGENDA Acceptance of settlement for the purchase of land adjacent to Curtiss Field Park and the SE Corner Redevelopment Administrator Worthington explained that the city negotiated the purchase of a tract of land that will be part of the improvements to Curtiss Field and the SE Corner Redevelopment. This land is currently a roadway (Snelling Service Drive), which was transferred under an easement to the city in the mid 1980’s. The underlying fee title was retained by the estate of the original owner, Roland K. Wilson. Worthington said this was a routine part of condemnation and negotiations were made with the attorney for the trust of the original owner for a purchase price of $3,000 for the underlying land. Worthington said the land will be used to improve drainage at Curtiss Field Park and also serves as part of the lot assembly needed for the SE Corner Redevelopment. Council member Lindstrom made a motion to approve the acceptance of this settlement for purchase. The motion passed unanimously. Page 2 Council Minutes September 24, 2003 Approval of Joint Powers Act with Saint Paul/Ramsey County Division of Contract Services & Analysis to Provide Joint Purchasing Services. Administrator Worthington said that the city and other suburban communities has an opportunity to utilize joint purchasing for equipment, services and supplies with the City of St. Paul/Ramsey County. The Joint Powers Act has been approved by the City of St. Paul and Worthington said Falcon Heights would be able to participate in the joint purchasing pool enabling the city to take advantage of better prices for equipment, services and supplies. There is a $350 annual fee. Worthington said if the city wants to take advantage of other services such as Request for Proposal or Advertised Bid, it will cost $900 or $400 depending on the size of the bid. Mayor Gehrz asked if the city would have to pay the extra ½% sales tax that St. Paul has in place and Administrator Worthington said to her knowledge, the city would not but she would verify that. Council member Talbot then made a motion to approve the Joint Powers Act with St. Paul/Ramsey County Division of Contract Services & Analysis to provide joint purchasing services. The motion passed unanimously. Additional Engineering Services Related to Curtiss Field Project Administrator Worthington said the city staff and staff from H. R. Green met recently and identified some issues that would require additional engineering expenses for the Curtiss Field project. The services are beyond the scope of the original proposal authorized by the city council. These engineering services are estimated at a not-to-exceed amount of $17,000 of which $6,800 is for major engineering around the storm sewer to include new concrete pipe. Some of the other services include (1) deck construction details, (2) lighting options for gazebo, (3) design for ADA compliance pedestrian ramp. Council member Lamb asked what the cost of the original proposal was and said the city needs to be careful about the percentage of increase it approves in add-on services. Lamb said some firms will bid low and make up margins later by adding things on. Administrator Worthington retrieved the figure of the original proposal, which was $19,500 from H. R. Green and $54,000 from SEH. Worthington said the SEH proposal did not include storm water design and evaluation nor sidewalk and parking lot construction and design. With H.R.Green’s add-on of $17,000, the total comes to $36,500, which is still the lesser amount of the two proposals. Council member Lamb was satisfied with this answer and said the engineering firm of H. R. Green is very reputable but wanted council to be made aware of this tactic for future reference. With respect to the retaining wall, Council member Talbot asked if the neighbors were receptive to the wall to which Worthington responded they have been very cooperative and liked the idea. Council member Kuettel made a motion to approve the additional engineering services related to the Curtiss Field Pond. The motion passed unanimously. Page 3 Council Minutes September 24, 2003 INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council member Lindstrom said the Planning Commission is undertaking a major task in reviewing the Zoning Code next year, having started at the first meeting in September. Lindstrom said this will be a year long process. Council member Kuettel said in talking with Commissioner Janice Rettman, she understood that the St. Paul Suburban Court’s operating costs are included in the budget, which may be good news. Council member Lamb said the Solid Waste Commission will have their first meeting in November and will work on their statement of mission and goals Mayor Gehrz said there will be a second series of CERT classes beginning October 20th from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The cost is $15 for all seven classes. Some of the training includes medical triage, lifesaving techniques, disaster preparation, putting out a small fire. All residents 13 years of age and older are encouraged to attend. Call city hall at 651-644-5050 to register. Gehrz said Ramsey County is organizing a committee to oversee the process of getting everyone on the 800 MHz communication system. Gehrz said she spoke to eight members of the Danish Parliament recently and they were most interested in what a city our size had done in utilizing volunteers and the planning and implementation process in emergency preparedness. Administrator Worthington reminded everyone of the kick off meeting on the construction of the SE Corner on Tuesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. Notes from the meeting will be on the city’s website. Representatives from Sherman and Associates and Kraus Anderson will be at the meeting. Worthington also reminded everyone of the citywide garage sale on Saturday, September 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Council member Talbot asked a question regarding whether the SE Corner will have to adhere to R-1 zoning code rules. His main concern was whether trash pickup time would be the same as residential to which Administrator Worthington responded that yes, it would. Respectfully submitted, Pat Phillips Retired Deputy Clerk