Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_60Jun91.31 REGUhAR r7EETING 69/60 T~,4eeting was called to order at 7s00 P. t,4., the following Council ?Members being presents Harold C. Nilsen, D.4ayor; George Shavor, Trustee; Paul Coppini, Trustee; and Willis VJarkentien~ Trustee. Also present were Frank N. Graham, Village Attorney; yVm. E. Olsen, Treasurer and Ethel E. White, Dep. Clerk and Dep. Treas. Absents Wm. R. Utecht, Clerk. The ?Minutes of June 2nd were approved as submitted. Licensees On motion by Nilsen, seconded by Coppini, and unanimously carried License #30 to sell non-intoxicating malt liquors on premises was granted. to Virginia R. Piecek, Lido Cafe, 1611 W. Larpenteur. On motion by Coppini, seconded by Shavor, and. unanimously carried, License #51~ to sell non-intoxicating 'Malt Liquors off premises was granted to S. S. Grais, Gray's Drug Stores, 1552 W. Larpenteur. On motion by Coppini, seconded by Nilsen and unanimously carried, License #55 to sell Non-Intoxicating malt liquors off premises was granted to Virginia R. Piecek, Lido Cafe, 1611 W. Larpenteur Ave. On motion by Nilsen, seconded by Coppini, and unaf~imously carried, licenses #119 and 120 to sell cigarettes at ~gando Photo and Ba.den's Pure Oil were issued to Pioneer Vending Company, 266 E. 7th St., St. Paul, l~ R2innesota. On motion by Nilsen, seconded by Shavor and unanimously carried, license #117 to sell cigarettes was issued to Gray's Drug Store, 1552 w. Larpenteur. On motion by Coppini, seconded by Shavor and unanimously carried, License.#118 to sell cigarettes was issued to Lido Cafe, 1611 W. Larpenteur Ave. On motion by Nilsen, seconded by Coppini, ~~4aster Gas Installer's License #138 was issued to Geo. S. Sean, dba Northwestern Heating Engineers, Inc., 970 Raymond, St. Paul, 14, rainn. Police Letter of June 1st from sirs. C. VJ. Roberts was read. She thanked the Falcon Heights Police for their courtesy. Letter from Dewey Smith advising he expected to arrive June 13th was read. Water Slama's report on hydrant water pressures was read and filed for Pressure future reference. • Streets Copies of letters wri+,ten by Bonestroo to the Ramsey County Engineers and the City of St. Paul were read. Letters asked for correction of drainage on Albert and called a+.tention to needed repairs to Hamline near Iowa. The Deputy Clerk was instructed to refer Robert Blomberg's letter of June 6th to Engineer Bonestroo. s 132 Schmelz Nilsen moved that the Hearin- be continued until 9:30, June 15th. B:ezoning Seconded by Shavor a.nd c~~rried, Falcon Heights Treasurer Wm. E. Olsen reported T!!r. Sanford of the Falcon Heip_hts State Bank State Bank called and told him they would like to reinvest the Securities securities they are holding to guarantee the Falcon Heights Bank Account in something that would pay them a greater return and the Deputy Clerk was instructed to get the receipt out of the Safety Deposit Box and give it to ?~Zr. Sanford. The guaran- tee will remain the same. Streets Graham reported on Bonestroo's letter regard~:ng~-. some settling of streets over sewer lines. Graham will check further with Bonestroo. Hermes' Nilsen reported on developments and Attorney Graham said it was Business his opinion that it was a private matter between the owners of Block the business property and the residents. It does not involve the Council. Vacation alley At this point, mayor Nilsen recessed the regular meeting to Johnson Peti- hold a special hearing on the vacation of the 20' platted alley tion which runs from Pascal to Holton approximately 125' north of Larpenteur, as petitioned by Norman L. Johnson and others. R4ayor Nilsen read notices as published and posted, Norman John- Besides the original petitioners, I have gotten the names of son. various neighbors up and down the street in support of the vacation. He submitted a paper reading as follows: "6"+e the undersigned are in favor of closing the alley between Holton and Pascal Rvenues as the alley is of no consequent need; Paper was signed by lit residents. At the time the alley was designa±ed in the original plat, it was thought the area would be semi-commercial. It didn't develop that way. It is entirely residential. The petition for vacation has been signed by 100% of the abutting property owners. The alley isn't suitable for vehicular traffic. Vdhen it is muddy, cars get stuck in there. A Tr;lephone Truck kept us awake half of one night trying to get out. Coppini This matter has come up before. It is a sore spot, and, in my opinion, should never have been used as a thoroughfare. The Village has not spent any money on it. Nilsen The Village doesn't keep up any alleys until they have first been brought up to specifications by the adjoining property ovmers. Shavor I think we should put posts in there. Johnson I was told that could not be done. Therefore, I favor the only other alternative - vacation. Shavor If it were blocked off to motor traffic, would you take care of it then? Johnson Do you mean 3ust put posts across it? I think there might be a legal responsibility in case of accident. 1433 Shavor I would suggest putting them in at the head of the alley on both sides. Johnson I have to get into my garage. P~4y garage is at the rear property line. I think the only answer is to vacate it and let us maintain it that way. Nilsen read report from Dahlgren, which read, in part, as follows: "Alley noes not serve it's intended function of providing vehicular access to the lots facing Larpenteur, which use direct street access. Home owner on Holton, immediately north of the alley, uses alley as a driveway. East portion is surfaced with crushed rock. P.emainder is unimproved. Alley serves important function in providing pedestrian access to~the business district. Pedestrian traffic would be more adequately served with a sidewalk along Larpenteur. Pdhen sidewalk is installed, alley would no longer be needed, and could be relinquished to the adjoining property owners." Nilsen read report from the Planning Co^~mission which read, in part, as follows: "The Planning Hoard recommends that the alley be closed to automobile traffic by erecting a barricade, but that it remain as Village Property and that it be kept open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If, after two years, the change has resulted in any further problems, or if the use by pedestrian and bicycle traff'e does not justify it's continuance as public property; or if a sidewalk is constructed on Larpenteur, the case should again be reviewed." Johnson Under those circumstances, the only thing to do is to show cause. Shavor Show cause why the alley should not be uacated? ".Zrs. S. L. There have been many times when we hay=e been kept awake by cars Carlson 1713 going thru that- alley. One night a telephone truck kept us awake Holton all night. Johnson I just put four ton of crushed rock in there. Nilsen You have to keep up your end because you have to go through there to get into your garage. Johnson I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be closed. Coppini Has that alley ever been black-topped. I notice the alleys t+est of it have been black topped. Graham The ovaners of the abutting property paid for the improvement of those alleys. Johnson The other blocks are semi-commercial -- duplexes, !t plexes and apartments. They need an alley. I am the only adjoining property owner who uses the alley in question. Plilsen I have always felt we should have sidewalks on Larpenteur, as well as Arona. People shouldn't have to walk on these busy streets on their way to the business section. Johnson People walk along the boulevards on Larpenteur. 1434 Nilsen I see many of them -°ralking in the street on both T,arnenteur and Arona. In the ~^+int>,:r, :~snecially. No~ody sho~r~,ls a path along the boulevards for them. Coppini '~ay I ask the `Tillage Attorney if we are committed in any way because we have put "No Thoroughfare" signs at both ends? Graham No, we are not committed. ~t all. The law says no vacation is to be made unless it is in favor of the public. Sam Carlson If this alley is vacated, no one can go through, even pedestrians? Shavor Not even pedestrians. Graham I think we could barricade it. Johnson I had. thought of planting shrubbery in there which would prohibit vehicular traffic but permit pedestrian traffic. Cars pull in there and use it for a Lover's Lane. Shavor How many times does that happen? Johnson Quite often. Shavor What a•e our policemen doing? Johnson He can't get in there. Nilsen He could shine a light in there. It serves no function as far as vehicular traffic is concerned, but pedestrian traffic is another problem, I vrould like to see sidewalks on Larpenteur before the alley is closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Johnson Someone stole the tire off my wheelbarrow and a snow tire. Shavor That happens in other alleys and even vrr~ere there are no alleys. I feel I have to go along vrith the planners and the planning commission. I am not in favor of giving away Village property. Vacation would result in the acquisition of about X500.00 worth of property to each abutting property owner. 4`ie don't know the ultimate value of that property, To my way of thinking, we can achieve practically the same result as vacating if we barricade the street against vehicular traff.'ic in such a manner that. vrould permit Johnson entry to his garage. , V~arkentien 1";e might nedd an alley there to accommodate commercial T~roperty in the future, probably twenty or thirty years from now. Shavor 3y that time some of those houses will be ovor forty years old and someone might come along and buy them for commercial use. Then the~e would be the possibility of the Village having to nay good money for it. Johnson If it is vacated, the village will receive tax benefits. Shavor The Village gets only 10%. For the present, and under conditions as they exist, it seems to me that barricading the a_11ey to prohibit vehicular traffic would serve your purpose just as v~~ell. 143 Johnson In a few ,years, under. a different council, we may have to go through this whole thing again. Shavor ~i;'ha.tever decision is made will be recorded in such a manner that any succeeding Council will be able to see our reasoning. They will undoubtedly review the record. if the matter comes up again. Nilsen I think the people should seriously consider sidewalks along . Larpenteur. A sidewalk along Larpenteur would serve a large area but it is customary for the abutting property owners to pay for it. It is nossi'~;le the business men might consider paying part of the cost. Johnson l!Jhat.would my responsibility be if I put in posts and shrubbery and someone had an accident? ti",arkentien I don't like the idea of shrubbery. I think tiosts with scotch- light tape would be the thing. Graham I am concerned about pedestrians. The Council is concerned about stopping vehicular traffic. I think it should be referred to the Engineer, I think we could justify anything the Council wanted to do if they hold to barricading that alley. If someone goes barreling through that alley and hits a post, a claim could be made. Nilsen i'~e could leave it "No '?"horoughfare," Shavor I think the Vi:!lage has a right to barricade a non-passable alley. Graham I don't think these people should be permi±ted to plant shrub~ery until the T~illa~e Engineer has decided where to place the posts. Johnson I think we vrill go ahead with an order to show cause. Graham That's your privilege. I don't think we should give you folks the privilege of putting in shrubbery until the Village puts in Hosts. Then you can put your shrubbery around anywhere you want to, vF.'e will not give up the rights of the public to ever utilize that property for an alley. Carlson It would be much better to have a sidewalk on Larpenteur. Shavor According to custom, it would have to be assessed to the adjoining property owners. ~;'hy knows it might be to the advantage of the .businessmen to share in the cost of a Sidewalk. In the meantime , you will get what you want. Vehicular traffic will be kept out. It think it is a good compromise myself. Tars. Carlson All ±he neighbors are very cooperative, I have never heard of anyone stopping the children even when they go through private property. Johnson °:~ir. '.layor, I would like t.o see curbing on the streets. :~dilsen 'v'!e ha~,~en't hack any petitions for it. 1~3~ Shavor moved that the petition be rejected but that the Village barricade the alley to vehicular traffic in such a manner that pedestrian and bicycle traffic be continued, and that the details of barricading be referred to the engineer for his recommendations, bearing in mind that Johnson has to have access to his garage, and that action be taken as soon as possible. Seconded by Vdarkentien and unanimously carried. On motion by ti5`arkentien, seconded by Shavor, the following bills were ordered paid: SINKING FUr1D: American Nat'l. yank, Int. and bank chgs on sewer dated 7~1~57 due 7~1~60 GENERAL FUND: Bertrand J. Slama, grater pressure survey B & E Patrol, dog catcher service Kenneth Schmidt, policing P,Zay Peter T. Peterson ditto LeRoy Humphrey, ditto Jerome R. Johnson, overtime policing P~~ay Ethel E. ~4`hite~ services 1st half of June Volunteers, fire and drill time Ramsey Co. Treas., remove signs and street lights ~.7. 1Rt. Plan. ?~ Research, Inc. , village planning State Fair Car '+~lash, car wash books Gray's Drug Stores Ist aid supplies Rose Tribune, print notice Rose Tribune, print notice Dunn 1~M~elding Sup. , oxygen Thermo-Fax Sal~:s Corp., office supplies Continental Safety Equip. Inc., safety treads Gordon Nelson, investigation Volunteers , sewer ti~rork ~'tm. Jastrow, fees and expenses 1 mo H. J. Dachtera, policing °.:qay U. S. Postmaster, stamps ?+!lotorola C & E maint. radio squad car Thorne Coal ~r Oil, fuel oil Chippewa Springs, water service Rose Tribune, publish notices Paramount Tailors, uniform exp. Falcon Heights Shell, tires squad car Falcon Heights Hdwe., supplies American Linen, laundry On motion _,~ P Johnson Couldn't the Village instiga±e its Shavor That, isn't the way we do things. jr~e don't force anything on the public unless it entails public health and welfare. That's why people moved. out here -- to get away from sidewalks, curbing, etc. ?oline The Catch 3asin on the 4'~~est side of Holton at Larnenteur is 1)33 VJ. Larp. too high. The water can't drain into it. It pockets along the V~test side of the street and floods over onto my boulevard and lawn. The Deputy Clerk was instructed to call this matter to the attention of the Village Engineer. Sills Adjournment A.-~*~roved~~ the meeting adjourned at ldayor Signed. bonds 19,680.33 15.00 5~ .25 226.13 137.25 122.63 31.50. 16L.06 35.00 ~~7.63 200.00 10.00 12.68 1G.60 30.15 8.86 25,63 11.25 3.00 218.75 76.00 6l~. 00 16.00 7.70 20.11 2.50 17.12 50, o0 19.20 20.27 10.12 1 1 1 Clerk,