HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-2022 Regular Meeting CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
Regular Meeting of the City Council
City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES October 26, 2022 at 7:00 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:01 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: GUSTAFSON__X__ LEEHY_X__
MEYER ___ WEHYEE__X_ VACANT___ STAFF PRESENT: LINEHAN___X_ FREIHAMMER__X___
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Gustafson states that there is a different agenda that what appears on the website and that went out on Friday. We have the addition of and the Consent Agenda of item three the 2023 Ramsey County Select Committee on Recycling & The Environment (SCORE) Grant
Submittal and Enter into Agreement with Ramsey County for Funding. That was added to the
Consent Agenda number three. That will cause reordering and renumbering the agenda, which will be addressed later in the meeting. City Council Members Leehy and Wehyee
motion to Approve the Agenda; approved 3-
0 D. PRESENTATION: 1. Receiving the Feasibility Report and Ordering Public Hearing for the 2023 Pavement
Management Program (PMP)
Jesse Freihammer, the City Engineer, states that the proposed project involves milling the
existing pavement, spot curb replacement, spot utility improvements and pavement
replacement. Utility improvements for the project include the repair of selected storm sewer
manholes and catch basins. As has been discussed during development of the CIP, the City
Council has expressed the desire to complete maintenance on City streets that, if neglected for
too long, would need to be reconstructed. The proposed mill and overlays included in the 2023
PMP achieves this, while also maintaining a neighborhood approach to minimize the
inconveniences residents experience due to construction. Streets include:
• Holton Street, Larpenteur Avenue to Roselawn Avenue
• Albert Street, Ruggles Street to Roselawn Avenue
• Sheldon Street, Ruggles Street to Roselawn Avenue
• Ruggles Street, Holton Street to Hamline Avenue
Garden Avenue, from East Snelling Drive to Hamline Avenue, is proposed for pavement
reclamation to address deficiencies in the pavement and base section of the roadway. This area
is proposed for a significant amount of curb removal. Also proposed are impacted driveway
replacements, and minor storm sewer and sanitary sewer work. The existing street design
changes at Holton, so staff recommends Council look at the new options as two segments.
Segment 1 is west of Holton, Segment 2 is east of Holton and includes the elementary school.
Different decisions can be made on the width of the roadway and if a pathway should be
installed for each segment. The decisions can be made independent for each segment. Roadway
Geometry was examined for benefits, including lowering driver speeds and decreasing
stormwater run-off. Reduction of the roadway width would result in some loss of parking.
Pathway Installation on the north side of the street was examined. Previous Council Action
determined, if a pathway is installed with this project, costs would not be assessed and snow
removal would be done by City staff. All proposed sidewalk options are located within the
existing curb line so no further impacts to residents’ yards or loss of driveway space would
occur, even though the City has additional right of way and could exercise this right.
Segment 1 – Snelling to Holton Options
• Option 1 (Existing Street Design)
o Street Width 36 Feet
o 11-foot Drive Lanes
o 7-foot Parking Lanes on Both Sides
o No Sidewalk
• Option 2 (Existing Street Design Modified)
o Street Width 36 Feet
o 11-foot Drive Lanes
o 8-foot Parking Lanes on South Side
o 6-foot shoulder on North Side, No Parking
o No Sidewalk
• Option 3 (Concept B modified)
o Street Width 34 Feet (Narrowed 2 Feet by Moving the North Curb)
o 11-foot Drive Lanes
o 7-foot Parking Lane on South Side
o 5-foot shoulder on North Side, No Parking
o No Sidewalk
• Option 4 (Concept A)
o Street Width 29 Feet (Narrowed 7 Feet by Moving the North Curb)
o 11-foot Drive Lanes
o 7-foot Parking Lane on South Side
o 7-foot Sidewalk on North Side, Next to the Curb
Segment 2– Holton to Hamline Options
• Option 5 (Existing Design)
o Street Width 42 feet
o 12-foot Drive Lanes
o 9-foot parking South Side Only
o 9-foot Shoulder North Side Currently Signed No Parking.
o No Sidewalk
• Option 6 (Concept G)
o Street Width 32-foot (Narrowed 10 Feet by Moving North Curb)
o 12-foot Drive Lanes
o 8-foot Parking South Side Only
o Elimination of North Shoulder Currently Signed No Parking.
o No Sidewalk
o East of School Property: North Side Shoulder for School Pick-Up Queuing, No
Sidewalk
• Option 7 (Concept F)
o Street Width 32-foot (Narrowed 10 Feet by Moving North Curb)
o 12-foot Drive Lanes
o 8-foot Parking South Side Only
o Elimination of North Shoulder Currently Signed No Parking.
o 6-foot Sidewalk
o 5-foot Boulevard Between Sidewalk and Curb Adjacent to the School Property
o East of School Property: North Side Shoulder for School Pick-Up Queuing, 7-foot
Sidewalk, No Boulevard
o Bumpouts at Intersection to Eliminate Parking Near Intersection/Shorter Pedestrian
Crossings
Ruggles Ave. Pathway:
The right-of-way connecting Ruggles Avenue from Pascal Street to Holton Street was
evaluated for a pathway. The existing right of way (ROW) is 12 feet wide. The existing
surface is unimproved so access can be limited to some users, particularly those in
wheelchairs or those who are less mobile. Options for this pathway include installing a
concrete sidewalk, installing a permeable paver sidewalk or doing no improvements. If
improvements are not completed, consideration of vacating the right of way could be
considered since the unimproved segment would not meet ADA standards. The total
project cost for Falcon Heights is estimated to be $1,688,000 if sidewalks are fully
installed on Garden Avenue. This also includes contingencies and overhead costs. If
Ruggles Pathway was added, this would add between $35,000 and $51,000 to the costs.
This estimate applies to all options but is the highest cost scenario. All the street cost
options are generally the same with only some minor estimated reductions. Funding for
the project will be provided through assessments from the benefitting properties, utility
funds, street infrastructure funds, and Municipal State Aid (MSA) funds.
A summary of the estimated project costs and funding sources are as follows:
Mill and Overlay Street Costs: $427,000
Garden Avenue Street Costs: $680,000
Garden Ave Sidewalk (West): $172,000
Garden Ave Sidewalk (East): $127,000
Storm Sewer Costs: $242,000
Sanitary Sewer Costs: $ 40,000
Funding:
Approximated Assessments: $533,000
Street Fund: $287,000
Municipal State Aid: $586,000
Storm Sewer Fund: $242,000
Sanitary Sewer Fund: $ 40,000
The City’s assessment policy for streets is that streets are assessed by the front footage of
each lot. Residential corner lots are assessed 100% for the long side, 0% for the short
side. Residential depth to be capped at 176 feet. Assessment rates for street
improvements:
• Residential – 40% of the improvement
• Commercial/Multi-Residential – 60% of the improvement
• Tax-Exempt – 100% of improvement
Mill and Overlay Assessment Roll
• 96 parcels
• Total frontage = 8,705 feet (504 feet non-assessable)
• Estimated Assessment Rates
o Residential = $19.62/ft
o Tax-Exempt = $49.05/ft
• Average residential assessment = $1,495.34
• Approximate residential range = $1,100 to $3,200
Garden Ave Assessment Roll
• 22 parcels
• Total frontage = 4,241 feet (553 feet non-assessable)
• Estimated assessment rate
o Residential = $64.14/ft
o Tax-Exempt = $160.34/ft
• Average residential assessment = $8,844.57
• Approximate residential range = $8,100 to $11,300
• The City may choose to pursue a benefit appraisal on the properties to ensure the
assessment proposed does not exceed the estimated benefit to the property, as required
by Minnesota State Statute 429.
After the assessment hearing (Fall 2023):
• Pay in part or full, interest-free within 30 days
• Add to property taxes with interest:
o Length and interest rate set by City Council
o 7 years, Mill and Overlays
o 10 years, Garden Avenue
o Interest rate at 2% above current rate of return on City’s portfolio
o First payment due in 2024 with property taxes
• Hardship deferral
o Homestead property
o Age 65+, or retired by virtue of disability
o Payment would be a hardship
o Assessment will accrue interest while deferred and be due when the above no
longer applies
o Application available at City Hall
Please note, this schedule is subject to change. Council actions are denoted with “CC” and will
take place at a public meeting:
CC Receive Feasibility report and Set Improvement Hearing October 26, 2022
CC Improvement Hearing, Order Improvement, and November 9, 2022
Authorize Preparation of Plans & Specifications
CC Approve Plans & Specifications, and January, 2023
Order Advertisement for Bid
Bid Opening February 2023
CC Award Contract March 2023
Construction Start Summer 2023
Substantial Completion Fall 2023
CC Set Assessment Hearing October 2023
CC Assessment Hearing October 2023
Requested Council Actions:
Current Council meeting
• Adopt resolution receiving the feasibility report and ordering public hearing
November 9 Council Meeting – Public Hearing
• Hold Public Hearing
• Make decision on which improvements, if any to Ruggles Street.
• Make decision on which Garden Avenue layouts to proceed with for final design.
• Adopt resolution ordering improvement and authorizing preparation of plans and
specifications.
Council Member Leehy recaps that the public hearing and the decision are on the same day,
which is November 9th and asks if that is correct.
Freihammer says it is correct but the Council could choose to delay the decision, if needed.
There is no timeframe on that, but typically that is how it is done. But, if Council needs another
meeting, that is an option.
Jack Linehan, the City Administrator, states that similarly, we have discussed the Ruggles
Pathway as well. But, if we needed more time, that's not critical on November 9th. So, if we
need to do more research and more decision-making on that, we could hold that off.
Freihammer states that Ruggles Pathway, since it's not being assessed, can be added before we
advertise for bids. But, the rest of the project really all needs to be decided before the Council
order in the improvement, because the sidewalk on Garden and the layouts all affect the design
going forward.
Mayor Gustafson asks for clarification. On November 9th, that is when we will hold the public
hearing; that is what we are calling here for, right?
Freihammer says Yes. I should add if Council does approve the resolution tonight, we will post
a notice and then mail it out to residents their proposed assessment with a notice. We will
probably put that in the mail on Friday, so they will probably get that over the weekend or
Monday. So, that will meet the ten-day requirement. Every resident will get an individual letter
with their proposed assessment. Everyone's will be slightly different, depending upon the
length of their lot.
Mayor Gustafson says on November 9th, we will finalize one of the options for each segment.
choosing between option one through four for segment one, and choosing between options five
through seven for segment two) and then decide on Ruggles as well, if needed. Or, we can
postpone that one up until we go out for bid.
Freihammer says that is correct.
Linehan states the best time to have a final answer is probably about December, and probably
our December Workshop will most likely be capital, just because, at this point, we can't really
finalize our capital improvement plan until we know what the options are. So, if that date will
be prior to our truth and taxation, at that point, we will adopt the budget. So, having the
numbers for the budget would be helpful.
Mayor Gustafson thanks Freihammer for the feasibility report, which is a culmination of several
years' worth of discussions and, this year, numerous community meetings.
Freihammer states we did do a summary of the meetings in the feasibility report. One of the
appendices is a summary of the comments that we have either emailed or written down as
comments. So, you will certainly see that in there, and then I am anticipating that we will get
additional comments here on November 9th.
Mayor Gustafson says that he did receive an email today from Council Member Meyer, who
was unable to be here. Council Member Meyer's comment was that he lives just three houses
down from the Ruggles Path and that he and his wife use almost daily that path along with
their dog, Daisy. “Though I understand the city's desire to ensure that the path is ADA
compliant or vacated to the adjacent property owners, it's important to me, Eric, that we are
able to preserve this pathway for the use of the neighborhood along with its rustic character.
Eric will support initiatives to make this happen and is looking forward to more community
input. As far as Garden Ave. is concerned, we need a sidewalk to ensure safety for our kids and
residents. I am happy to see some great proposals to make that happen from our city engineer.”
Council Member Wehyee motions to
Receive the Feasibility Report and Order a
Public Hearing for the 2023 Pavement
Management Program (PMP) for November
9, 2022; approved 3-0
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. October 12, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Council Member Leehy motions to approve the
Minutes; approved 3-0 F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: G. CONSENT AGENDA:
1. General Disbursements through: 10/20/22 $222,924.42
Payroll through: 10/15/22 $23,798.22 Wire Payments through: 10/15/22 $16,067.73 2. City Licenses 3. 2023 Ramsey County Select Committee on Recycling & The Environment (SCORE) Grant
Submittal and Enter into Agreement with Ramsey County for Funding
4. Appointment of Michael Tracy to Parks Commission 5. Appointment of Randi Lundell to Parks Commission 6. Flexible Benefits Plan Amendment
Mayor Gustafson thanks Michael Tracy and Randi Lundell for becoming a commission member
for the Parks and Recreation Commission. TomFaust says that he is happy to serve on the Commission.and that he has been to no meetings yet. But, he looks forward to it and hopes to contribute.
Randi thanks the Council for the opportunity. Randi worked at the University of Minnesota for 25 years, grew up in St. Anthony Park near here, and raised her kids in neighboring Roseville. So, I feel like I am very much a part of this community and am looking forward to working with the City Council.
Mayor Gustafson states that the Parks and Recreation Commission is going to be a great deal in this next year as we look to renovating Community Park and changing it, getting it rebuilt and
useful again and getting it mobilized. So, you have picked a great time to step forward and be a part of an exciting effort. Thank you.
Council Member Leehy motions to approve
the Consent Agenda; approved 3-0 H: POLICY ITEMS:
I. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Council Member Wehyee states that, although he was unfortunately able to make it, the Planning Commission met yesterday.
Mayor Gustafson states the Community Engagement Commission met last week. We are
finalizing the plans for Human Rights Day, which is going to be on December 8th. The plan is to hold it at the elementary school in the cafeteria. The event is going to be a resource fair type of setup, touching on some of the issues that we have run into the past, such as food insecurity, and we are in the process of working with Keystone to be drop off for food donations or a drop off
where we support the school’s food shelf efforts. We are going to have representatives from
JustDeeds and International Institute. Zach Lindstrom is trying to come up with something that is going to engage children, and so then, whole families will show up and make it kind of fun. We are going to get some food involved somehow too, whether we get one of our local food producers who have something to make it worthwhile, or else we will just have apples and
caramel. We will have bottled water because we have a good supply of that on hand. Also, we
want to make sure that everyone is safe for trick or treating next week. Linehan states
• City Council Vacancy
o The City promoted the City Council vacancy in all communication channels
starting on Thursday, October 13th, including a press release, which was sent to all
local media. It was picked up with a story in the Pioneer Press.
o Applications closed today at noon.
o In total, the City received three applications. Any postmarked by today and in the
mail would still be eligible for consideration.
o Council can review the applications and provide feedback on the next steps in the
application process at the November 2nd Workshop meeting.
o We may want to retool our process since we had less applications than we thought
we might receive.
• November 8th General Election
o The 2022 General Election is less than two weeks away.
o Once again, Falcon Heights will have two polling locations, depending on where
you live:
Falcon Heights Church – United Church of Christ
Falcon Heights City Hall
We have a link to a map to find your polling place on our website at
www.falconheights.org/residents/elections.
o Early voting is currently open, but City Hall is not an early voting place, nor is it a
ballot drop off location.
Early Voting is available at two locations:
• Ramsey County Plato Building
• Ramsey County Library – Roseville.
• Falcon Woods 2025 PMP Neighborhood Meeting
o Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers
o The meeting will discuss the planned reconstruction of roads in Falcon Woods
occurring in 2025 to give residents an early overview.
• Ruggles Pathway Update
o Residents adjacent to Ruggles pathway have requested a meeting. The meeting
will be on Thursday, October 27th at Falcon Heights Church at 5PM.
o I plan to meet with the residents to hear their concerns and explain the feasibility
report.
o I will report back their concerns to the Council.
Mayor Gustafson says one observation on knowing where to vote, the dividing line is really
Snelling Avenue. So, if you live in Falcon Heights East of Snelling, vote at Falcon Heights United Church, and if you live West of Snelling, come here to City Hall and vote. Council Member Wehyee says Happy Halloween, everyone.
J. COMMUNITY FORUM:
Please limit comments to 3 minutes per person. Items brought before the Council will be referred for consideration. Council may ask questions for clarification, but no council action or discussion will be held on these items.
K. ADJOURNMENT: 7:41 p.m. Council Member Leehy motions to adjourn; approved 3-0
Dated this 9th day of November, 2022
____________________________ __________________________ Jack Linehan, City Administrator Randall C. Gustafson, Mayor