HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Workshop Agenda Packet 6-05-19CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
City Council Workshop
City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue
AGENDA
June 5, 2019
6:30 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER:
B. ROLL CALL: Vacant ___ LEEHY____ HARRIS ___
MIAZGA ___ GUSTAFSON___
STAFF PRESENT: THONGVANH____ LOR____
C. PRESENTATIONS:
D. POLICY ITEMS:
1. Fire Inspections for High Density Residential and Businesses
2. 2019 City Council Priorities
a. Cultivating a Caring Community Efforts – 2019 Budget Item
b. Community Park Building
3. 2020 Budgeting Update
E. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS
F. ADJOURNMENT:
BLANK PAGE
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Families, Fields and Fair __________________________
The City That Soars!
Item Fire Inspections for High Density Residential and Businesses
Description
Currently, the Fire Marshall inspects rental units during the license renewal period,
which occurs each year (licensed from January 1 to December 31). Typically, units
are inspected on the odd years or when a unit is sold and a new license is granted.
Staff would like to consider expanding the fire inspection program to include all
high density residential (4+ units) and businesses in the City.
Purpose
As currently stated in our City Code in the rental housing section, “the purpose of
this article is to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city
who have as their place of abode a living unit furnished to them for the payment of
a rental charge to another by adopting licensing regulations for all rental dwellings
in the city.”
This licensing program currently leaves out a large percentage of the city’s
population with over 700 high-density rental units that are not inspected.
Additionally, staff feel that it is important to protect the health of the general public
who visit our businesses.
In Ramsey County, many cities implement both a rental housing and business fire
inspection program. These include Vadnais Heights, North St. Paul, New Brighton,
Little Canada, and Lauderdale. Others have programs for one or the other.
High Density Residential
In 2019, the Fire Marshall inspected 55 rental residences, which include buildings
with 1, 2, or 3 dwelling units. There are approximately 30 larger rental buildings in
the City, ranging from 5 to 119 units, with a current total of 704 rental units.
High density buildings do not currently require any licensing. Staff are proposing a
program that would require fire inspections of the common areas of the buildings.
Some cities tie this to a rental license while others require a certificate of occupancy.
Meeting Date June 5, 2019
Agenda Item Policy D1
Attachment N/A
Submitted By Justin Markon, Community Development
Coordinator
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Businesses
In a similar vein, commercial properties are another source of potential fire hazards
that should be inspected for the welfare of the public. The current business license
program requires yearly registration. In 2019, the city issued 40 municipal business
licenses. An inspection requirement would also allow the Fire Marshall to check lock
box keys on a regular basis.
Program Structure
The Fire Marshall currently inspects rentals every two years, typically in January
and February. The expanded program for rentals and businesses would follow
much the same schedule and could include a yearly or every-other year inspection
requirement.
Staff would like to have the Ordinance establishing the program approved in the
early fall and offer a complementary fire inspection before the end of the year so
that businesses and large rentals have an idea of their existing hazards before the
program officially begins.
Fees
The current fee structure is $50.00 for each rental unit and business license. Like
other programs, cities have various fee structures. Examples include:
Vadnais Heights
Rental: $35/unit Business: based on square footage
North St. Paul
Rental: $150 + $10/unit Business: no fee
New Brighton
Rental: $18/unit Business: based on square footage
Budget Impact No impact
Attachment(s) None
Action(s)
Requested
Staff recommend a discussion on the proposed expansion of the fire safety and
inspection program.
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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Families, Fields and Fair __________________________
The City That Soars!
Item 2019 City Council Priorities – Cultivating a Caring Community Efforts
Description
In 2018, the City Council budgeted $30,000 for inclusion efforts for 2019. On
November 29, 2017, The Saint Paul Foundation authorized of $20,000 for
Including Everyone in Falcon Heights: Creating Inclusion and Securing Safety.
The City had to shift priorities based on only receiving the St. Paul Foundation
Grant and determine the best use of the dollars that would have the most
impact in the community. Below is the list of projects or events completed on
behalf of the funds from the Foundation.
1. Cultivating a Caring Community Kickoff and Mini Inclusion Training
2. Inclusion Training for City Council and Staff
3. Survey and Service on the Spot (SOS) – Food Trucks
4. Mural – Partnership with Falcon Heights Elementary
5. Developed 2019 Guest Speakers for Inclusion
a. “Letters from Jackie”
b. “Healing and Understanding”
c. “Grey Area Thinking”
Mayor Gustafson, Council Member Leehy and I are going through a strategic
planning for inclusion efforts with former Task Force Co-Facilitator Kathy
Quick and Mariah Levison, Manager for the Bureau of Mediation Services and
Office of Collaboration & Dispute Resolution.
The next step will be to involve the full Council in determining the use of the
$30,000 budgeted for 2019 to advance “Cultivating a Caring Community”.
Budget Impact • 2019 Budget - $30,000
Attachment(s)
Meeting Date June 5, 2019
Agenda Item Policy D2a
Attachment Support Documents
Submitted By Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator
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Action(s) Requested Staff recommends a discussion on the use of funds for the 2019 inclusion
efforts.
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February 13, 2019
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City was awarded $20,000 from the St. Paul Foundation to
continue our efforts for inclusion work (request was for
$40,000).
Funded Activities from the Grant that are completed or on-
going.
o Cultivating a Caring Community Event
o Rec on the Go
o Survey/Service on the Spot
o Community Survey –Present Results on March 13th Council
Meeting
o Mural at Falcon Heights Elementary –Estimated Completion Date of
Spring 2019.
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85% stated that they were Very Satisfied or Satisfied
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%
Very unlikelyq
Unlikely
Neither likely nor unlikely
Likely
Very likely
Based on your experience at this event, how
likely are you to attend future event?
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What did you like most about the event?
o The Lakota Medicine Wheel Activity
o Speakers
o Interacting with members of the community
o Bringing our community together with other communities that are trying to solve similar problems. Help to get perspective.
“Really Good Group of People, Inspirational”
What did you like least about the event?
o Location: more diverse neighborhood
o Make more interactive
o Lack acknowledgement of oversight of shooting
How do you think this event could have been improved?
o More time –a lot to go through in two hours
o More interactions at the table and mix the table up
o Different day of the week to hold the event
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Purpose: Feedback from untraditional methods
Tales of Two Cities by Charles Dickens’
Dicken’s opening sentence for Book the First: Recalled to Life
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the
age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness”
City One: People that live, work and play in the City
City Two: the 50,000 motor vehicles that go through the
intersection of Larpenteur Ave and Snelling Ave
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294 Responses
2.38%
33.67%
6.12%
11.90%
45.92%
0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%
I live and work in Falcon Heights
I drive through Falcon Heights
I am visiting Falcon Heights
I work in Falcon Heights
I live in Falcon Heights
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46%
42%
11%1%0%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree or Agree: 88.3%20 of 41
35%
52%
9%
3%
1%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree or Agree: 86.8%21 of 41
33%
37%
21%
8%
1%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree or Agree: 70.1%22 of 41
Continue to Build Community
More welcoming/ inclusive events
More Parks and Sidewalks
o Garden Ave and to School
Enhance Tourism
Connecting Neighborhoods
The City is moving in the right direction
More food truck events
“Falcon Heights is a great community. I grew up across from
FH and think it is one of the best cities in the metro”
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Coffee Shop near Snelling and Larpenteur Ave
Enhance safety on Snelling Ave and Larpentuer Ave
Clean community, need more housing
Parking during the State Fair
“FH is great! The Mayor is truly exceptional and have you met
his son! WOW! He is smart and great..you should meet him.”
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If you have any questions or would like more information:
Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator
Phone: 651-792-7600
Email: sack.thongvanh@falconheights.org
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Falcon Heights
Weekly Newsletter
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West, Falcon Heights, Minnesota 55113 | 651-792-6000 | https://www.falconheights.org/
Inclusion Guest Speaker Part I – “Letters from Jackie”
(Administrator Thongvanh, Councilor Miazga, Ron
Rabinovitz, Councilor Leehy, and Mayor Gustafson)
The City of Falcon Heights had the pleasure of hosting Ron
Rabinovitz last night for the first of a three series event that
focuses on "Cultivating a Caring Community." Ron's story was
of an adopted young Jewish boy born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
that became pen-pals with the first African American to play
Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson. When Jackie signed
with the Brooklyn Dodgers and started at first base on April 15,
1947, he ended racial segregation in professional baseball that
relegated black players to the Negro Leagues since the 1880s.
April 15, 1947, is a day to remember in American history and
the impact it had for the Civil Rights Movement. This was
eight years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a
Montgomery bus and sixteen years before the Reverend Martin
Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have a Dream" speech. Jackie was
a pioneer and created a path to equality.
I could go on and on about the life of Jackie Robinson and the
impact he had on baseball and across the country, but this is a
story of true friendship between Ron and Jackie that was tested
but never wavered.
If you want to watch the event on video, it will be replayed on
the city's cable channel 16 and is available on CTV. Click
HERE to watch the video.
“The reminder that we each make a difference in the world by
our daily interactions” stated Mayor Randy Gustafson.
Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator
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We saw a growth spurt this week in our city's caring
community cultivation. On Thursday morning the
mural at Falcon Heights Elementary was officially
welcomed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This
public art project celebrating cultivating a caring
community was led by the fourth-grade students,
artist in residence Melodee Strong, art teacher Teri
Eiswald and teachers Dana Browne, Meggan Lovick
and Sally Schroeder. The project engaged students,
staff, families, and community members in the
painting process that brought the mural to life on the
cafeteria wall. The collaborative effort was
commissioned by the City of Falcon Heights and
involved Falcon Heights Elementary, School District
623, and grant funding from the Saint Paul
Foundation. The mural will be enjoyed by students,
staff, families, and visitors to the school for many
years to come.
Click HERE to watch the full story.
Randy Gustafson, Mayor
Ribbon Cutting - Cultivating a Caring Community Mural
The mural has
been
completed!
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Philando Castile Relief Foundation
John Thompson's official website
For more information on
our speakers, please click
on the link below.
Valerie Castile's Bio
Key Dates
May:
Planning Commission: May 28, 7PM
Holiday:
Memorial Day: May 27 - City Hall Closed
Summer Hours begins on May 28.
Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 5pm
Friday: 7:30am - 12pm
- Agenda Packet
Larpenteur Avenue will be a busy place this summer with road construction
and the newest building in Falcon Heights taking shape.
Ramsey County crews will be replacing the concrete in all four lanes of
Larpenteur Avenue from Malvern Street in Lauderdale to Snelling Avenue.
Other work will include catch basin repairs, pedestrian curb ramp
replacements, and traffic signal upgrades. In Falcon Heights, the signals at
Gortner and Fairview Avenues will be upgraded with new LED bulbs and
new flashing left turn lights. Work is expected to begin next week, May 28.
Learn more on the Ramsey County website.
The Hendrickson apartment building continues as well. With the first floor framed, crews are working on all aspects of
the project. This will include connecting underground utilities next weekend, May 31 to June 3. Both eastbound lanes
of Larpenteur Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Fry Street will close starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May
31. The signed detour will use Fairview Avenue to County Road B to Snelling Avenue.
The Parks and Recreation Commission is
specifically, in immediate need of
commissioners! For more information,
including on how to apply, please click
here.
Have you ever thought
about serving on a city
commission?
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Summer Programs
Registrations is NOW OPEN!
Registration Form
2019 Summer Program
Guide
CTC - Commonwealth
Terrace Residents
School is almost out! Make the
Falcon Heights Parks &
Recreation programs part of your
summer plans! Programs start on
June 10th.
Why do we have Neighborhood Liaisons?
We want to connect residents of Falcon Heights’
neighborhoods with each other with the city through the
Community Engagement Commission (CEC). Liaisons do
this by building relationships to more effectively cultivate a
caring, supportive, and inclusive community.
What do Liaisons Do?
- Welcome new residents.
- Promote neighborhood gatherings, block parties, or other
activities that work for your neighborhood.
- Be a connector and communicator between the
neighborhood and City Council through the CEC.
Want to Know More?
Click here to read the Neighborhood Liaison Packet.
If you are interested in being a Neighborhood Liaison,
then SIGN UP HERE!
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Como Park/Falcon Heights
Living at Home Block Nurse Program
The Como Park/Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse
program provides services and support to residents 65 and better
who wish to remain in their home safely and independently.
We are a local nonprofit that has served this area for almost 25
years.
No Cost Blood Pressure Clinics: Come meet our RN,
Maria! Every 4th Monday, Maria is available at the City
Hall, 2077 Larpenteur Avenue, for a No Cost Blood
Pressure
Clinic. The next No Cost Blood Pressure Clinic is on
Monday, June 24, 1:00pm-2:00pm.
Homemaking Services: Would you like to have a hand
cleaning out the basement or has your doctor recommended
you limit household activities like vacuuming and mopping
the floor? We have Homemakers that will come to your
home for housekeeping. This service is $25/hour with a one-
hour minimum. They can come one-time or on a regular
basis. Homemakers can also help with laundry, changing
bed linens, meal prep, dusting, bathroom and kitchen
cleaning.
No Cost Rides to Medical Appointments: We have
reliable volunteers that can take you to and from your
medical appointments. Must be enrolled in our program to
qualify. Call for more information.
Tech Help: Do you have an ipad, smartphone or an
electronic device and have questions about using it? We
have volunteers that specialize in helping with technology
issues. All volunteers have had training and have passed a
background check. Call our Volunteer Coordinator to be
connected with a tech helper.
For more information about any of our programs or
services, please call 651-642-1127 or visit us
at www.comobnp.org
Saint Anthony Park Seniors
Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors helps seniors maintain
their independence and remain in their homes as long as they
wish and that is safe to do so. They provide individualized
services (such as rides, chores and shopping trips)
for seniors who live in Falcon Heights, west of Cleveland
Ave.
Upcoming activities that are open to ALL Falcon Heights
residents include:
Exercise classes: Thursday from 2-3 PM at Lauderdale City Hall
(1891 Walnut) , Wednesday from 10:30 -11:30 AM at Centennial
United Methodist Church (2200 Hillside Ave.) No registration or
fees required. NO exercise or chair yoga at the SAP library this
week due to preparation for the SAP Art Fair. NO exercise class
on May 27 due to Memorial Day.
Blood pressure checks: Wednesday, May 29 from 11:30 AM-
noon at Centennial United Methodist Church (2200 Hillside Ave.)
For more information, please visit us at:
http://www.sapaseniors.org or
call 651-642-9052
Follow us on Social Media!
#FalconHeights #TheCityThatSoars #FHFD
FHFD's Facebook
FHFD's Twitter
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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Families, Fields and Fair __________________________
The City That Soars!
Item 2019 City Council Priorities – Community Park Improvements
Description
The City will be exploring two funding sources concurrently to help fund
improvements at Community Park that include some park amenities and
replacement of the main building.
Funding Source A: State Bonding Money that will be submitted no later than
Friday June, 14, 2019. Projects entered by that deadline will be published on
Monday, July 15 pursuant to M.S. 16A.11.
Funding Source B: There are two options that need to be explored for the
improvements to Community Park related to how the debt service can be
funded.
Option 1: Tax Abatement for Public Improvements and Facilities – similar to
the issue of street improvement bonds that would require the City to pass
resolutions and hold a public hearing.
Option 2: Referendum –The resolution and ballot question must be sent to the
County within 74 days of the election.
Budget Impact There would have a large and lasting impact on debt service for the next 15 to
20 years to property owners in the City.
Attachment(s) • 2014 Park Master Plan: Click Here to View Plan
• Tax Abatement for Public Improvements and Facilities
• Pictures of the condition of the Park Building
Action(s) Requested Staff is looking for direction and which option under Funding Source B the
Council would like to explore.
Meeting Date June 5, 2019
Agenda Item Policy D2b
Attachment Documents
Submitted By Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator
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Tax Abatement for Public Improvements and
Facilities
Tax abatement is a flexible tool local governments can use to finance public improvements and
facilities, including recreation facilities. Municipalities can issue general obligation bonds
without a referendum if principal on those bonds is repaid with a tax abatement levy.
What is tax abatement?
Tax abatement is the ability for an individual taxing entity to capture and use all or a portion of
the local property tax revenues within a defined geographic area to finance a specified project or
improvement. It allows each major taxing jurisdiction to choose to contribute its share of the
taxes and limit abatement in any manner it determines appropriate. The taxing entity can grant an
abatement without other jurisdictions agreeing to participate. Tax abatement is governed by
Minnesota Statutes 469.1812-469.1815.
How does tax abatement work?
In practice, tax abatement is a reallocation of taxes rather than an exemption from paying taxes.
The property for which taxes have been abated will continue to pay their taxes in full. The
amount of the abatement, however, is redirected to a specific project rather than going to the
general fund. To offset the lost revenue, the municipality annually adopts an abatement portion
of their property tax levy equal to the amount of abated taxes.
What kinds of projects can be financed with tax abatement bonds?
Tax abatement is a tool that can be used to finance public infrastructure, public facilities
including parks and recreational facilities, as well as development and redevelopment projects.
The benefited project or infrastructure does not need to be on or adjacent to the parcel for which
taxes are being abated.
There are several recent examples of how Minnesota communities have used tax abatement. In all
of these examples the communities issued general obligation tax abatement bonds to finance the
project, and repaid the bonds in full or in part with the proceeds of an abatement.
Land acquisition for parks
Swimming pools and recreation facilities
Civic centers
Expansion of major intersections to accommodate new retail projects
Stoplights for new, market rate housing subdivisions
Bonding authority
The maximum principal amount of tax abatement bonds may not exceed the estimated sum of the
abatements for the property for the years authorized. If bonds are issued to provide advance
payment of abatements, the amount of abatement is not subject to periodic review by the political
subdivision that approved the abatement. Tax abatement bonds are excluded from the calculation
of the net debt limit.
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What is the process for establishing tax abatement?
After identifying the details of the abatement, including the amount, term and the parcels for
abatement, a public hearing with at least a 10 day published notice must be held by each entity
granting the abatement. The entity granting the abatement is then required to adopt a resolution
approving the abatement. The adopting resolution must include the following: (1) Term of the
abatement; (2) Statement of public benefit expected to result from the abatement; (3) Required
findings; and (4) Schedule of repayment of deferred taxes (if applicable). This process must be
completed by each entity granting the abatement.
What are the findings a community must make to approve abatement?
The entity granting the abatement must make a finding that the abatement benefits to the political
subdivision at least equal the costs of the proposed agreement, and that the abatement is in the
public interest for at least one of the following reasons:
Increase or preserve tax base
Provide employment opportunities
Provide or help acquire or construct public facilities
Redevelop or renew blighted areas
Provide access to services for residents
Provide public infrastructure
Phase in a property tax increase, in specific circumstances
Stabilize the tax base
What is the term of abatement?
If all three taxing entities (city, county and school district) participate in tax abatement the
maximum term is 15 years. However, if only one or two of the entities participate, the term is a
maximum of 20 years. The term of the abatement must be included in the adopting resolution. If
the resolution is silent to the term, the maximum term is 8 years.
What is the maximum amount that can be abated?
In any one year, the TOTAL amount a political subdivision may abate may not exceed the greater
of 10 percent of the entity’s net tax capacity or $200,000. In addition, taxes on a parcel may not
be abated while the parcel is located in a tax increment district.
How do abatements affect tax levies?
Abatements are special tax levies. The amount of the abatement must be added to the total levy
for the current year. The abatement amount must be included in the proposed levy for Truth in
Taxation as well as the certified levy.
Where can I get more information?
Contact your Ehlers Financial Advisor at 651-697-8500. A list of Minnesota Financial Advisors
and their direct dial numbers can be found under the Contact Us tab at the top of our website at
www.ehlers-inc.com.
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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Families, Fields and Fair __________________________
The City That Soars!
Item 2020 Budgeting Updates
Description
I will provide a brief overview of the budgeting process for 2020. The outcome
will include dates, times, and funds to be discussed.
Budget Impact
Attachment(s)
Action(s) Requested Updates
Meeting Date June 5, 2019
Agenda Item Policy D3
Attachment N/A
Submitted By Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator
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