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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_04Aug25CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS MINUTES August 25, 2004 Mayor Sue Gehrz called the regular Council meeting to order. PRESENT: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience. PRESENTATIONS: Superintendent John Thein, Roseville School District 623 Superintendent Thein thanked Falcon Heights for being such a wonderful part of the Roseville School District. The School District has seen increased enrollment at the Falcon Heights Elementary School because people find Falcon Heights and the School District attractive for raising families and to move to. He reviewed the District’s goals for 2003-2006: Achievement, Communication, Instruction, Diversity (ACID). He acknowledged Administrator Worthington’s active involvement in the community and the schools, and said that through the Rotary Club she has led the kids’ voting program. During the summer, the School District serves about 3,000 students. These are students who are making up classes and/or attending enrichment and music classes to improve their academic skills. The District distributes a survey every three years to its students, staff and district parents. This year the survey was distributed in February and the results were very positive. A number of school districts, including Roseville, are going through declining enrollment as student populations are decreasing. At one time the District served over 13,000 students. This year, there will be about 6,400. This area has an aging community but houses are starting to turn over. A lot of young families are choosing Roseville, Falcon Heights and this area. The School District has involved its citizens in an Educational Planning Advisory Committee that is looking at how the District’s facilities, buildings and resources can best be utilized over the next 5-10 year period. The preliminary report has come back and he will be putting together recommendations for the School Board to consider. That information will be made public and a formal presentation will be made in November. There is not a central local gathering place for people in this area, but the neighborhood schools serve as gathering places. This is something that gives a community an identity. Roseville Area Schools is proud of its neighborhood schools. People who choose to live in this area do so because they like the small neighborhood schools. Council member Kuettel said there are many volunteers at the Falcon Heights Elementary School who are not associated with the school in any way, i.e. they don’t have children or grandchildren who go there. However, they are Falcon Heights residents who want to help and they attend reading programs to work with the children. The Falcon Heights City Council, to help with declining enrollments, helped bring about the SE Corner development, which will increase the student population. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -2- August 28, 2004 Superintendent John Thein, Roseville School District 623 (continued) Superintendent Thein said the housing for seniors will allow seniors to move into a secure area, feel comfortable and remain in their community. This opens up their homes to families who want to invest in the community. The City of Roseville is talking about similar things in Roseville. People take the Falcon Heights Elementary School very seriously. Two or three years ago there was a community parade through Falcon Heights and it was surprising how many people came by the school with their young children to show them where they would be going to school someday. Council member Talbot said that the other night he attended a joint Roseville HRA/City Council confab. This area enjoys high property values but the unintended consequence is that young families are priced out of the market. He asked what the projected enrollment will be over the next ten years. Superintendent Thein said the School District utilizes John Carpenter, a private demographer who also does work for Ramsey County and the City of Roseville. He has indicated the student population will start to level out. The School District is being very proactive to make sure it is attractive to young parents. Many homes in this area are nice starter homes. There are a lot of apartment buildings in Roseville, but mobility is an issue. The School District has capped enrollment at the high school this year to help maintain manageability and make sure there is space available for the District’s residents. He thinks the population will be stable. Council member Lindstrom said that one of the goals for Falcon Heights is to get younger people involved in City government. There are a few young people on City Commissions. There are Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who come to City Council meetings. The Council is investigating the possibility of having a City Council meeting at the Falcon Heights Elementary School this fall or winter. He talked to the principal in June and he was open to the idea. They will be reconnecting about this in September. Superintendent Thein said there are partnerships between the School District and the local municipalities. There were assessments to help fix roads, purchase playground equipment and create a skating facility in the back part of the school property. The more the City is involved with the school, the better. The School District has very committed employees and he is very proud of them. It is caring adults who make the difference. Kids know who likes them and who cares. The Falcon Heights Elementary School is in the long range plans for the School District. Mayor Gehrz thanked Superintendent Thein and the staff at the Falcon Heights Elementary School. A number of the school’s staff participated in the recent CERT training cycle-Team 3. In the event of a disaster, the school is one of the critical places. It was so gratifying to see that the principal and staff were willing to be trained over a period of 21 hours. This is one of the many examples of how great the Falcon Heights Elementary School is. FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3- August 28, 2004 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council member Kuettel said that on page 2, third paragraph, the address for TIES should be 1667 North Snelling Avenue, not Larpenteur. The minutes dated August 11, 2004 were unanimously approved, as corrected. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Scheduled CONSENT AGENDA: In response to questions from Council member Lamb about the bid received for sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements (Item G2 below), Administrator Worthington said that the City Engineer sent RFP’s to a number of companies. The project is small and only one bid was received. The contractor’s bid is within the cost parameters determined by the City Engineer prior to the bid letting, and the City Engineer is also very familiar with the quality of the work O’Malley Construction does. Next year the City will be able to include jobs like this with the City of St. Paul when they go out for bid, which should mean cost savings for Falcon Heights because the projects will be so much bigger. In response to questions from Council member Talbot about Curtiss Field Pond and Item G4 below, Administrator Worthington said the pond is holding about 5” of water. The pond sides are sloped so gradually the pond should not present a danger to young children. The pond is designed to be a dry pond, with the capability of holding water during rain events and draining out again. After the State Fair there will be more testing and additional material may need to be removed from the pond’s bottom. During the design of the Curtiss Field improvements, the Parks Commission discussed whether or not to fence the pond and determined it wasn’t necessary. The tot lot area will be fenced, which will help keep youngsters from the pond. Kuettel moved approval of the Consent Agenda, as outlined below. The motion was unanimously approved. General Disbursements through August 19, 2004: $ 77,091.76 Payroll (08/01/04-08/15/04): $ 13,625.86 2. Acceptance of low bid for sidewalk and curb and gutter improvements from O’Malley Construction, Inc., in the amount of $18,166.32 3. Approval of fourth partial pay estimate to Jay Brothers, Inc., in the amount of $21,217.55, for the 2003 Folwell and Sheldon Street and Utility Improvements 4 Approval of fourth partial pay estimate to Jay Brothers, Inc., in the amount of $87,952.65, for the 2004 Curtiss Field Pond improvements project Approval of expenditure for Braun Pump to repair sanitary lift station in the amount of $5,169.05 FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -4- August 28, 2004 REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council member Talbot reminded the viewing audience that the State Fair is beginning. If residents experience any problems related to parking or traffic they should call Ramsey County Dispatch at 651-484-3366 and they will send an officer over. If there is an emergency, call 911. Council member Kuettel said the City-wide garage sale will be held on Saturday, September 18, 9 AM-3 PM. She reminded residents to call City Hall or use the City web site to have their garage sale listed and highlighted on a map. The City wide cleanup will be held on Saturday, October 9, at the State Fairgrounds. The regular City Council meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM and the Council proceeded with a budget workshop. Respectfully submitted, Mary Shea Kodluboy Deputy Clerk