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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_07Jan24Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council January 24, 2007 Members present: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Harris, Kuettel, Lindstrom, and Talbot, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser, and Attorney Andrea Poehler. Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes of the January 10, 2007 council meeting were approved as submitted. Consent Agenda: Mayor Gehrz pointed out one item on the disbursements was coded incorrectly – a check to Ramsey County was not to be coded miscellaneous. Council member Harris confirmed there would be a public hearing for the Hoyt sewer replacements. Administrator Miller replied it would be set for February 28, and notices would be mailed to property owners and published in the Roseville Review. Council member Kuettel moved the following four items for approval. The motion passed unanimously. 1. General Disbursements through 1/19/07: $96,143.57 Payroll through 1/15/06: $14,228.71 2. 2007 License Renewals 3. Additional Two Year Proposal for Services by Audit Firm Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd for Years Ending 2007 and 2008 Resolution Approving Costs to be Assessed for Hoyt Sewer Replacements Policy Agenda: 1. Approval of stormwater pond maintenance projects Administrator Miller began the item by stating the bids solicited from Roseville originally came in higher than expected, and a re-posting of the RFP produced lower bids. He explained that storm ponds fill with run-off including sand, salt, and gravel and occasionally must be cleaned. He said the residents on Prior have been notified, and a letter will go out as to when the work begins. Council member Lindstrom asked how they could clean ponds when they are frozen. Administrator Miller replied that it is better when the water is frozen because they can get in to the middle. Council member Kuettel asked about developing a storm pond maintenance plan. Administrator Miller replied Parks and Public Works Director Pittman was currently developing one. Council member Harris asked if the lowest bidder was a person or a company. Administrator Miller said that it was a company, and Pittman and Roseville Public Works have worked with them before. Council member Talbot asked about the status of the Curtiss Field pond. Administrator Miller said the City is monitoring it. Council member Talbot moved to approve the stormwater pond maintenance project. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Approval of Safe Routes to School Grant Application Administrator Miller stated students are not allowed to bike to school currently due to unsafe routes. With the Council goal of promoting active living within the City, and in conjunction with the school, the City decided to apply for the Safe Routes to School grant. He outlined the projects the money would be spent on, if awarded and added he obtained letters of support from Active Living Ramsey County, the Falcon Heights Elementary PTSA, the school principal, and Ramsey County. Council member Kuettel said that regardless of whether the City receives the grant, a pedestrian crosswalk should be a goal of the Council. Mayor Gehrz agreed, stating the criteria laid out in the grant application were the best available and worth it for the safety of the children. Council member Harris asked if Roseville would be involved. Miller replied they would be involved for their own aspects. He added that no City finances would be associated and Falcon Heights would ask Roseville if no grant funds are awarded. Mayor Gehrz added that if the City does not receive the grant, the County would be pressured to assist. Council member Lindstrom asked if the grant application had to come from the school or the City to be considered. Miller said the school applied last time and did not receive it, but historically cities have been awarded grants more than school districts. The Council lauded Paula Mielke for bringing it to the City’s attention. In response to Council members Talbot and Harris’s questions, Administrator Miller said the school would be teaching bike classes if the grant is awarded, and students cannot ride now because there are not safe enough routes for them to take. With a pathway at the back of the school, bikers would be away from buses and would have their own area to park. The City expects to receive word on the grant in March 2007. Council member Kuettel moved to approve the Safe Routes to School grant application. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Approval of recodified City Code Administrator Miller began the item by stating the final code was several months work by the Planning Commission, Council, and staff. He added Council approval would allow the code to be accessible online. He stated that Municipal Code, whom the City contracted with for recodification, will complete quarterly updates to the code if they receive updated ordinances from staff. Mayor Gehrz asked if statutes change, who would handle those. Attorney Poehler replied that the City Attorney and staff would be responsible for sending those updates to Municipal Code. Mayor Gehrz stated the City’s contract includes Municipal doing the updates for the Code, and for them hosting the Code online. There will be a link from the Falcon Heights website to access it. Council member Talbot reminded residents that staff is given latitude in interpreting the Code, so residents should be mindful that not all portions are set in stone. The Council discussed briefly the electronic billboard signs case that is in the courts currently. Administrator Miller replied there is no perfect sign code, and that it is an issue many cities are dealing with. He added that before Falcon Heights takes any specific action on its sign code, the City should wait and see what other cities do first. Council member Lindstrom moved to approve the recodified City Code, ordinance 07-04. The motion passed unanimously. The Council again thanked Deb Jones and staff for their work on the project. Information/Announcements: Council member Harris invited residents to the Dead of Winter of January 28 in Community Park. Council member Lindstrom said the Community Garden Steering Committee would have a table at the event, and residents could come to the DOW to see the plots/maps/and learn more about the project. Council member Kuettel said the Planning Commission met in January to greet the four new members. She thanked the old commissioners. Council member Talbot gave his sympathy to Maureen Anderson, CTV employees, for her loss. Mayor Gehrz announced applications for the Neal Kwong Award would be accepted through March 5. Information can be found on the website or by calling City Hall. She gave a report on the January 22 meeting of the CERT/Liaison/Commission gathering, where 41 residents attended. Presentations on crime, fire reports, emergency preparedness, and pizza were enjoyed by all. Administrator Miller announced the Council workshop would be held on February 7. The assessment policy and personnel policy will be on the agenda. Also, the Comp Plan Steering Committee will hold neighborhood meetings beginning the first week in February – invitations to be mailed. Finally, old street signs are for sale for $10 each. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stacey Kreuser Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk