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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_06Sep13Regular Meeting of the City Council City Hall September 13, 2006 Members Present: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Harris, Kuettel, Lindstrom, and Talbot, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser, City Attorney Knutson, and Zoning and Planning Director Jones. Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes of the August 23, 2006 regular council meeting were approved as submitted. Consent Agenda: After a brief explanation of resolution 06-21 by Administrator Miller, the TIF district at 1666 Coffman has available TIF funds for the City, however the development district boundaries need to be modified, Council member Talbot moved the following five items for approval. The motion passed unanimously. 1. General disbursements through 9/6/06: $39,461.57 Payroll through 8/31/2006: $16,836.49 Appointment of Sam Bontrager to Environment Commission Approval of license Resolution 2006-21 Calling for a Public Hearing by the City Council on the Proposed Adoption of a Modification to the Development Program for Development District No. 1. Resolution 2006-22 authorizing the City to eliminate the 2007 Debt Levy on General Obligation Debt Policy Agenda: 1. 2007 Preliminary Tax Levy and Setting Dates of Truth-in-Taxation Hearings Administrator Miller presented the council the 2007 preliminary levy findings and budget, and explained the maximum levy amount was required to be set by September 15. He said the increases in the levy were attributable to the increases in public safety costs, utilities, and health insurance premiums. He added that no services were planned to be added or cut. He explained the City’s enterprise funds would begin to be used for their specific types of expenditures, thus eliminating the burden on the general fund. After explaining the history of transfers to the general fund and tax levy, he said the increase since 2003 would be 2.4%. The recommended increase for 2007 is 3.5% Council member Kuettel asked Miller to explain where the property value increase of 7.7% originated. Miller stated it came from Ramsey County’s estimates. Council member Harris asked Miller to talk about the history of the tax levy. Miller explained 2.4% was the change from 2003, which was the last year the levy was increased. The 3.5% increase was the change from 2006-2007. Council member Talbot reminded residents that months were spent working out the amounts for the budget and levy. Council member Harris stated after seeing the budget process, she was convinced 3.5% was the best the City could do in terms of the levy, and best the City could do in terms of budget. Council member Kuettel reminded residents that $29,000 of the increase was due to the police contract. Council member Lindstrom said he agreed with everything that had been said, and thought the increase was a very balanced answer to the budget for 2007. He said the 3.5% was taxpayer dollars wisely spent. Mayor Gehrz stated the 800 mhz communication system would be new for 2007, and there was an increase in dispatch costs associated with that, however she also thought that residents would likely support spending on improved public safety. Council member Harris said she learned there were several funds where monies are in reserves. Over previous years, reserves were spent to cover expenses rather than raising the levy. Mayor Gehrz asked residents to come to the December 4 Truth-in-Taxation hearing, or call with questions or suggestions. Council member Kuettel moved to approve the 2007 Preliminary Tax Levy and Setting Dates of Truth-in-Taxation Hearings. The motion passed unanimously. Proposed Ordinance Amending City Code on Drive-through Businesses Administrator Miller began the item by giving an overview of the process to date. He stated the Council’s recommendation to the Planning Commission was to allow for drive-throughs in B-2 zones for banks only. He stated the Planning Commission reviewed and made their own recommendation to allow drive-throughs for all uses, the addition of a visual screen, and to increase the lot size minimum to 35,000 square feet. Council member Kuettel asked the council to reconsider the Planning Commission’s recommendation, and to continue to hold financial institutions and banks as the only allowable uses for drive-throughs in B-2. She added the visual screen was a good idea, along with the 35,000 square foot lot size requirement. She said the reason for the increase was one party could purchase adjacent properties and combine them, then they would meet the 30,000 square foot lot size requirement but still be less than 35,000. She also said the Commission asked for clarification on the exit and entryways. Mayor Gehrz gave a explanation of the business zones in Falcon Heights. She explained the only allowable properties would be located in the B-2 zones. Council member Harris said no restaurants would be allowed in B-2, but questioned if the council’s motivation for drafting the ordinance as it was, was to protect due to the idea the properties could be re-zoned by council’s in the future. Zoning and Planning Coordinator Jones replied that was true. In response to Mayor Gehrz’s question, Jones also replied that pharmacies are not listed as either a permitted or conditional use. Council member Kuettel stated she was concerned about the B-1 zones, as they could be re-zoned to a B-2 or B-3 zone. She stated the council should try and include language that would protect residents. Council member Talbot asked if a request for rezoning was not processed within 60 days if it would automatically be deemed as approved. City Attorney Knutson replied that was true. Council member Harris stated her preference had not changed, and she still was of the persuasion to not allow any drive-throughs in the City. The stated the reason she was suggesting it was because she didn’t think there were any parcels of land that were big enough to allow a drive-through, even if it were for a bank. She said she recognized that if there weren’t going to be any drive-ups for banks, then there weren’t going to be any banks in Falcon Heights. She added that she realized she was taking the position that the potential for an increased tax base would be eliminated. Council member Talbot said he was on the same page as Harris. Council member Lindstrom said he would like to stick with the original plan. He argued leaning more towards the homeowner’s protection, but if one looked at the Code, allowing restaurants tips the scales, and there were eight items that balanced it back out. He said the Planning Commission’s recommendations were good, except for allowing all drive-throughs in B-2 zones. Mayor Gehrz stated she agreed with Council member Lindstrom. She said Commissioner Tom Lageson encouraged the Planning Commission to open the option of a drive-through to any business in B-2, and she was not comfortable with that. She said that logically limiting the zone to B-2 eliminated the worry about traffic on Snelling and Larpenteur, the square footage would control for setbacks, and the distance from residential properties would not be a factor. She added she could not make an argument that with all the conditions that a bank or financial institution would have a big impact on the houses or surrounding apartments. Council member Talbot stated in doing deference to the homeowners, Falcon Heights was not being hostile to businesses, but only was trying to limit the impact on homeowners. He stated that since the rest of the council wanted to agree with no drive-throughs, it was perfectly acceptable to go along with drive-throughs in B-2 zones. Ray Wirth, 1795 Pascal, came to the podium, and thanked the council for hiring Planning Consultant Dan Cornejo, who in Wirth’s opinion, did an excellent job. He urged the council to follow Cornejo’s recommendation to not allow any drive-throughs in the City. Council member Harris stated it would be a good thing for the City if the council was unanimous. She added that it was not her viewpoint for the City to have drive-ups, at all, but would vote with everyone else. Mayor Gehrz asked for a motion. Council member Kuettel moved adoption of ordinance 06-03, including the Planning Commission’s recommendations, with the amendments in section one, section two, and section three. Administrator Miller read the ordinance as it would be adopted. The motion passed unanimously. Review of Draft of Falcon Heights City Code Recodification (Part IV) Administrator Miller stated the council had the zoning chapters to proofread for the recodification project. He asked the council for their changes to the draft code. The council went through the code, page-by-page, and made their changes. Information/Announcements: Council member Harris reported the Human Rights Commission set their agenda for the remainder of 2006, while the Parks and Rec Commission discussed the play equipment at Curtiss Field. She also stated she had used the AutoMark for voting in the primary and found the machine easy to use. Council member Lindstrom said he went to the Environment Commission meeting and looked forward to the new member, Sam Bontrager, joining. He added the Commission would likely come before council during November with their recommendation on the community garden project. Council member Kuettel thanked the election judges and voters. Council member Talbot reported the Cable Commission was staying informed of the legislation regarding city rights-of-way. Administrator Miller announced the City Garage Sale was scheduled for September 16. Maps at City Hall and on the website. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stacey Kreuser Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk