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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_07Mar28Regular Meeting of the City Council March 28, 2007 Members present: Mayor Gehrz, Councilmembers Harris, Lindstrom, Kuettel, and Talbot, City Administrator Miller. Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes of the February 28, 2007 City Council meeting were approved as submitted. Consent Agenda: Mayor Gehrz asked the Council’s approval to add an addendum item, number 4. There were no disapprovals. 1. General Disbursements through 3/22/07: $57,404.29 Payroll through 3/15/07: $15,739.88 2. 2007 Licenses 3. Purchase of Upgraded Video System for Council Chambers 4. Appointment of Paul Faust to the Parks and Recreation Commission Council member Kuettel asked about the expenditure to Ramsey County. Administrator Miller replied the expenditure was paid once, but Roland allocates them to each enterprise fund. Council member Talbot asked about the snowplowing expenditures for 06/07. Administrator Miller said the City was okay on 2006, but the City should hope for light snow in November/December of 2007 because of the expenditures in the earlier part of this year. Policy Agenda: 1. Approval of Joint Grant Application – Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program Administrator Miller began the item with an overview of the pilot program. In 2005, he explained, Congress, as part of the six-year federal transportation program, established the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTP). He said the law provides $21.5 million to four communities nationwide to evaluate how investments in planning, infrastructure, and public education can increase rates of bicycling and walking and reduce driving. Four pilot communities were selected, and the Minneapolis area has received $7.3 million. He explained that Lauderdale invited Falcon Heights to the table, and the Cities, together with Roseville, proposed a plan for new pedestrian facilities. He said an off-street pedestrian pathway would be proposed for Fairview, where now is a paved shoulder. Larpenteur and Gortner would also be involved, with a final tie-in to transit to Rosedale. He said there is not a specific way to include Lauderdale, but they are happy with this plan, and that Falcon Heights chances are high. Council member Kuettel asked if there are matching funds. Administrator Miller said there are not, and that if the entire amount of $1.25 million is not awarded for the project, the cities will be required to re-evaluate the plan. He added that the City will find out late in 2007, and will need to spend the funds by the end of 2009. Council member Harris asked about the inter-campus transit way. Administrator Miller explained it is a transit way for buses and pedestrians that connects the two campuses. Mayor Gehrz stated that since Lauderdale is not connected specifically to that City, it is still a benefit to them. Administrator Miller stated the City agreed to write a letter of support for the project. Mayor Gehrz added the Active Living Ramsey County (ALRC) group also met with the Sierra Group in order to make more connections across Hwy 36, especially at Victoria and Dale, but would be interested in expanding their interest west to include Roseville. She stated the two groups would also be writing letters of support. Council member Kuettel said Larpenteur, Hamline, Roselawn, and Snelling – she asked if the City could include in the newsletters how far each street is from the next, in order to get a distance. Mayor Gehrz added that ALRC has also been working hard on publishing an interactive map online to show where the bike paths, sidewalks, etc. are in order to encourage physical activity. Some issues have arisen concerning maintenance, naming, and updating challenges but it is on the horizon. Council member Talbot asked about out-of-pocket expenses if the grant is not awarded. Administrator Miller replied it would be only staff time invested. Council member Lindstrom asked why the path shown on the map ends at the Golf Course on Larpenteur. Administrator Miller stated that it ends in Lauderdale, but will be altered on the map for the grant application. Lindstrom added the cities should ask for a little more money and install a sidewalk through Lauderdale to Minneapolis. Miller replied that when Larpenteur was reconstructed ten years ago, there was a conscious effort on the Lauderdale resident’s part against it. Council member Talbot moved to approve resolution 07-07 Approval of Joint Grant Application – Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Resolution of Support for Metro Need LGA Proposal Administrator Miller began the item by stating one of the main areas of debate during this year’s legislative session has been the topic of property tax reform. Metro Cities (formerly the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities) has partnered with Senator Mee Moua (DFL – St. Paul) on a bill that would significantly add money to the Local Government Aid (LGA) program and focus that money towards metropolitan cities who were faced with large LGA cuts during the 2003 budget crisis. The City of Falcon Heights lost approximately $127,000 because of the decrease in LGA between 2002 and 2003 and the bulk has never been restored. Miller added the bill would add $100 million dollars to the overall LGA allotment and would target aid to older and fully developed cities (those with pre-1960s housing and a significant number of rentals). For Falcon Heights, the impact would be extremely large. For example, in 2007 we will receive $228,102 in LGA from the State of Minnesota, a direct benefit to the budget. If this bill were to pass in its current form, our allotment would increase to $559,828. Miller added that $100 million is a little optimistic, but any increase will benefit the City of Falcon Heights. Metro Cities is asking those impacted pass a resolution. Council member Kuettel asked what ANTC stands for. Administrator Miller thought it was “adjusted net tax capacity’ but would double-check. Council member Harris stated she read the summary, along with the bill itself, online. Mayor Gehrz stated that bills like this benefit the cities with smaller tax capacities, and cities like Falcon Heights have to fight for funding through these avenues. Council member Kuettel asked how the percentages would be calculated if the increase would be approved at the legislature. Administrator Miller replied it would be calculated across the board, with all cities taking even hits. He added that likely there would be one omnibus tax bill created, and this would be a rider on that bill. Council member Kuettel pointed out a typo. Council member Harris moved to approve resolution 07-06. The motion passed unanimously. Information/Announcements: Council member Kuettel announced the Food Drive would be April 1 – April 7. City Hall and Falcon Heights Elementary are drop-off sites. The food collected will go to Community Keystone Services on Fairview. Council member Talbot announced the deadline is approaching for the CTV15 mass communications scholarships. Applications are on the web. Mayor Gehrz welcomed a U of M student in the audience. Council member Lindstrom encouraged residents to apply for a Community Garden plot at the park. He added that the City joined Minnesota Green, and each resident who gets a plot will get a packet of seeds. Mayor Gehrz stated 2007 is the first year that the City would not be awarding the Neil Kwong Youth Citizenship Award, due to no nominations. She also stated the Mayor’s Meals on Wheels occurred, and she and Craig Klausing delivered meals in Roseville and Falcon Heights. She also added that residents should donate to the food shelf. Administrator Miller stated the sewer cleaning and televising began. The workshop for April 4 is canceled, and the May workshop may be a joint meeting with Lauderdale. Mayor Gehrz adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Stacey Kreuser Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk