HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCAgen_09Jan28CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the City Council City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA January 28, 2009 A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 PM B. ROLL CALL: LINDSTROM ____ HARRIS
____ KUETTEL ____ LONG ____ MERCER-TAYLOR ____ MILLER ____ C. PRESENTATIONS: D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 14, 2008 TAB 1 E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: F. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. General Disbursements
through 1/22/09: $29,703.37 TAB 2 Payroll through 1/15/09: $20,056.96 2. Revision of 2009 Fee Schedule TAB 3 3. City License Renewals TAB 4 4. 2008 City Forester Report TAB 5 5. 2009
Special Event Monetary Donations TAB 6 G. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: I. COMMUNITY FORUM: J. ADJOURNMENT: If you have a disability and need accommodation in order to attend this meeting,
please notify City Hall 48 hours in advance between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 651-792-7600. We will be happy to help. ??????????
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the City Council City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES January 14, 2009 A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 PM B. ROLL CALL: LINDSTROM __X__ HARRIS
__X__ KUETTEL -ABSENT LONG __X__ MERCER-TAYLOR __X__ MILLER _X___ C. PRESENTATIONS: NONE D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 10, 2008 APPROVED E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE F. CONSENT AGENDA:
ALL ITEMS APPROVED; HARRIS MOVED APPROVAL 4-0 1. General Disbursements through 1/8/09: $273,530.31 Payroll through 12/30/08: $31,764.36 2. Designation of official newspaper for 2009
3. City License Renewals 4. Resolution designating official depositories for 2009 5. Council liaison assignments 6. Review of Elected Official Out-of-State Travel Policy 7. Appointment
of City Engineer 8. Appointment of Prosecuting Attorney 9. Appointment of City Auditor 10. Accept Resignation of Deputy Clerk/Assistant City Administrator Stacey Kreuser 11. Review and
adopt Council standing rules 12. Designation of 2009 Acting Mayor 13. City Administrator Performance Review 14. Appointment of new firefighter, Rich Hinrichs 15. Approval of DNR Urban
Forest Grant 16. Commission Appointments G. POLICY AGENDA: 1. Recreation Program Refund Policy –LONG MOVED APPROVAL; 4-0 2. Agreement between the City of Falcon Heights and the City
of Lauderdale Regarding program fee charges – MERCER-TAYLOR MOVED APPROVAL; 4-0 3. Salary Adjustment/Recognition of Additional Duties for Lisa Abernathy-LONG MOVED APPROVAL; 4-0 4. Joint
Powers Agreement with the City of Little Canada for the Purchase
of a Streetsweeper-HARRIS MOVED APPROVAL; 4-0 5. Delay of 2009 Cost of Living Adjustments for City Employees-MERCER-TAYLOR MOVED APPROVAL; 4-0 H. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: I. COMMUNITY
FORUM: FRANK MEAH, 1597 HOLLYWOOD COURT SPOKE REGARDING A POTENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION AT THE BP GAS STATION AND COMMISSION SELECTION PROCEDURES. J. ADJOURNMENT: MEETING ADJOURNED
AT 8:10PM.
CONSENT F1 1/28/09 ITEM: General Disbursements and Payroll SUBMITTED BY: Roland Olson, Finance Director REVIEWED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator EXPLANATION: General Disbursements
through 1/22/09: $29,703.37 Payroll through 1/15/09: $20,056.96 ATTACHMENTS: General disbursements and payroll ACTION REQUESTED: Approval
CONSENT F2 1/28/09 ITEM: Revision to 2009 Fee Schedule SUBMITTED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator EXPLANATION: When looking at the 2009 fee schedule which was approved by the city
council on December 10, 2008, it was noticed that gas water heaters were left off the mechanical permit section. Staff is recommending that a fee of $25 be added to the 2009 fee schedule
for gas water heater installations. This fee helps offset the inspections that are conducted to ensure that the appliances are installed correctly and safely. ACTION REQUESTED: Staff
recommends that the Falcon Heights City Council add a $25 fee for gas water heater installations to the 2009 fee schedule.
CONSENT F3 1/28/09 ITEM: City License Renewals SUBMITTED BY: Lisa Abernathy -Deputy Clerk The following businesses have applied for municipal business licenses for 2009. Staff has received
the necessary documents for licensure. • Butler Vacuum The following businesses have applied for tree trimming/removal licenses for 2009. Staff has received the necessary documents for
licensure. • Hugo’s Tree Care The following businesses have applied for general contractor’s licenses for 2009. Staff has received the necessary documents for licensure. • Doug Lee &
Associates The following businesses have applied for refuse/recycling licenses for 2009. Staff has received the necessary documents for licensure. • Waste Management of MN, Inc.
CONSENT F4 1/28/09 ITEM: 2008 City Forester Report SUBMITTED BY: Andy Hovland, City Forester EXPLANATION: The City of Falcon Heights hires a contract forester each year to handle all
tree related issues in the city. Attached to this report is a synopsis of activity for 2008. ACTION REQUESTED: Staff recommends that the Falcon Heights City Council accept the 2008 forestry
report as prepared by Andy Hovland of Branch and Bough Tree Service.
City of Falcon Heights 2008 Forestry Report Compiled by: Andrew Hovland Branch and Bough Tree Service Introduction This report summarizes the work performed by contract city forester,
Andrew Hovland during the 2008 calendar year. This work can be broken down into three categories: diseased tree management on both public and private property, boulevard tree replanting,
and responding to resident’s tree related questions. Included with this report is an updated boulevard tree inventory for 2008. Disease Management Managing Dutch elm disease (DED) within
the city limits is the primary forest health concern. Expedient removal of diseased trees helps to prevent DED from spreading to other elms within the city and the surrounding areas.
Three city-wide inspections are carried out during the year to identify diseased trees. These trees are marked and removed by either city contractor if on public property or by tree
contractor selected by the resident if on private property. A total of 18 elms were marked for removal in 2008. 4 of these were publicly owned. Tree Loss from Dutch elm disease 2008
2007 2006 2005 Public Trees 4 8 11 18 Private Trees 15 11 12 35 Total 19 19 23 53 The occurrence of Dutch elm disease in the city has leveled out over the last two years. Currently,
31 publicly owned American elms exist on city boulevards. 4 of these trees are suspected of having contracted DED late in the 2008 growing season and will be reviewed in 2009. To preserve
these elms it is imperative that the city develop a Plant Health Care program to inoculate these elms against Dutch elm disease. A list of the remaining elms and the elms to review in
2009 can be found at the end of this report. No oak wilt was identified in 2008. Several oaks in the Grove neighborhood are showing signs of Two Lined Chestnut Borer which will attack
oak trees previously stressed by events such as drought or construction damage. Educating residents about oak wilt and insect issues such as two lined chestnut borer continue to be important.
Also, residents should be provided information on how best to maintain their mature trees including when and how they should be pruned, proper mulching techniques, and watering requirements.
These cases within the city are uncommon and, in general, the health of the city oak trees is good. Tree Removal 8 trees were removed in addition to those elms that were diseased. These
were either dead or dying, had major structural defects and were deemed hazardous, or had been damaged in storms. A list of the trees removed can also be found at the end of this report.
Tree Pruning Recently, the public works director and city forester met with Steve Sylvester, owner of S&S Tree Specialists and reviewed the boulevard tree pruning specifications. After
driving through the city and discussing various pruning styles that have been implemented by the city over the years we agreed to a more conservative pruning style; lifting the crowns
by making smaller cuts and heading back limbs to strong, upright laterals. Street clearance would continue to be 14 feet. Over residential yards and sidewalks crowns will be lifted to
only 10 feet to provide additional shade for residents and passersby. Several residents had commented about the severity of the 14 foot clearance cuts and how bare the trees looked.
By leaving the residential side of the tree lower it will provide some additional screening for residents from the street and reduce the number of large cuts that need to
be made for each tree which is favorable from a tree health standpoint. The city forester will be drawing up a pruning specifications letter to be sent to S & S Tree Specialists prior
to their winter pruning work. The city has been divided up into zones in the past with one zone being pruned each year by the city contractor. Over the last year or two this pruning
cycle has been interrupted and several areas of the city are now overdue for pruning. The most pressing is the Northhome neighborhood. S & S will be directed to start their pruning work
in this area following the specifications laid out by the city forester and public works director. Several trees were pruned during the growing season per resident request or as the
city forester identified as being necessary for pubic safety due to storm damage. 11 trees were pruned in the 2008 growing season. The specifics and locations of these trees can be found
at the end of this report. Tree Planting All of the boulevard tree planting in 2008 was done by contractors. 9 trees were planted this year. All but one of these was balled and burlapped.
Balled and burlapped trees are more expensive but the advantage is that you get a larger specimen to begin with. Studies have also shown that vandalism is less of an issue when planting
lager caliper trees. Most of the plants that were installed were in 1 ¾ or 2 inches in diameter. Several residents in the 2008 season had trees removed and tree replacement had yet to
be arranged. Letters have been sent out to these residents. It also appears from the 2007 final report that several residents had requested trees in locations where old stumps were an
issue and it was suggested to wait several years prior to replanting. The city forester will review these sites in 2009 for replanting. A list of trees planted in 2008 can be found at
the end of this report. Resident Consultation Over 40 residents called or emailed in 2008 inquiring about both city and private trees. The city provides forestry consultation free of
charge. A majority of these residents met with the city forester to discuss a wide array of issues including disease management, concerns about trimming or removal, and tree replanting.
Conclusion and Future Considerations Reviewing data from previous seasons the occurrence of Dutch elm disease appears to have plateaued in the city. Looking towards next season we should
focus on diversifying our urban forest by planting a wide array of trees tolerant of our urban conditions. Keeping in mind that emerald ash borer is a threat we should begin planning
now on how we will deal with the large amounts of wood waste that will be generated when the insect spreads to the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, keeping our existing mature urban forest as
healthy as possible is the priority. This can be accomplished by managing disease and insect issues, timely pruning, and removal and replanting of declining trees. In order to better
inform residents about the state of the urban forest in Falcon Heights answers to common questions will be posted on on the website along with helpful links regarding general tree maintenance
and forest health.
CONSENT F5 1/28/09 ITEM: 2009 Special Event Monetary Donations SUBMITTED BY: Lisa Abernathy, Recreation Supervisor REVIEWED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator Tim Pittman, Director
of Parks and Public Works EXPLANATION/DESCRIPTION: Summary and action requested: At the conclusion of each year Falcon Heights businesses are sent a letter inviting them to support our
two City special events-January’s Winterfest and July’s Ice Cream Social. There are three levels at which the business can donate-Gold ($100+) Silver ($50-$99) and Bronze ($25-$49).
The Parks and Recreation department uses the money from the local businesses to assist in purchasing the events entertainment, supplies and any other event related costs. Each business
that donates money to the City is recognized on the City’s website, newsletter and at the event. ACTION REQUESTED: Accept the following donations for the 2009 special events from the
following businesses. Gold Level-$100+ Source Comics and Games Awad Eye Care Dino’s The Greek Place Central Pediatrics Priority pediatrics Cornerstone Construction Management John A.
Knutson & Co. PLLP Dr. James Kernik Hermes Floral Silver Level-$50-$99 Warner’s Stellian Hair Designs Unlimited John A. Knutson & Co. PLLP Kinderberry Hill Child Development Center Bronze
Level $25-$49 None at this level