HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_08Feb13Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council
February 13, 2008
Members present: Mayor Lindstrom, Council members Harris, Kuettel, Long, and Mercer-Taylor, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser.
Mayor Lindstrom called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
The council approved the minutes of the January 23, 2008 regular council meeting.
Public Hearing:
1. Coventry Apartments Conduit Bonding
Administrator Miller began by giving the council a brief explanation of the conduit bonding process, stating cities are allowed to issue up to $10 million in bank-qualified bonds. He
stressed issuing bonds does not affect the city’s bond rating. In exchange for issuing bonds, the city receives an issuer’s fee of ½ of one percent, which translates to roughly $70,000
in the city’s favor.
Council member Kuettel stated the city has done this before, and it is a risk-free, win-win situation.
Mayor Lindstrom opened the public hearing.
Norm Jones, the attorney representing Gary Carlson, the owner of the apartments, was present and addressed the council. He stated the city was very nimble to work with, and explained
the money would be used to renovate and upgrade the apartment units. He explained the multi-building apartment complex was located on the east side of Snelling, north of Fuddruckers.
Council member Mercer-Taylor asked if the units were affordable. Jones replied they were, and there would be no displacing of residents due to rent increases.
Mayor Lindstrom asked the total cost of the project. Jones replied the total would be around $17 million, and would be bonding for $14 million.
Mayor Lindstrom closed the public hearing.
Consent Agenda:
The council pointed out new commissioner Tim McDevitt would be a good addition to the Neighborhood Commission. McDevitt lives in an apartment, and all the other commissioners live in
single-family homes.
Council member Kuettel moved to approve the consent agenda. The following four items were approved unanimously.
1. General Disbursements through 2/7/08: $95,077.22
Payroll through 1/31/08: $17,489.11
2. City Licenses
3. Commission appointment
4. 2007 Forestry Report
Policy Agenda:
1. Resolution of support for bonding request - Bell Museum of Natural History
Administrator Miller began the item by explaining the representatives at the University were very thankful for Falcon Heights’ support of the Bell, and they remain cautiously optimistic
for funding to be included in the bonding bill. He said the resolution would be sent, along with a letter from the mayor, to legislators.
Council member Kuettel suggested a minor wording change to the seventh whereas, as Miller noted.
Council member Harris said she was supportive of bringing the U’s resources and expertise to the public through the new Bell.
Council member Mercer-Taylor suggested an addition to the point the new Bell would be located on the St. Paul campus, where most faculty and staff who would utilize the facility are
housed.
Mayor Lindstrom noted the executive director of the Bell had visited the council many years back, seeking support for such a project, and Lindstrom marveled at how quickly the time has
passed. He said he was happy to support a project that would bring many visitors to Falcon Heights.
Council member Kuettel agreed, stating with the new Bell Museum, Gibbs Farm, and the Raptor Center the area will become a positive learning center.
Council member Harris moved to approve the resolution of support for bonding request for the Bell Museum of Natural History. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Comprehensive Plan Update Review Part I
Administrator Miller began the item by explaining the process of making the comp plan update. He said the Met Council now requires cities to have their council approve the plan and
then send it out to other neighboring cities. It used to be the other way around, he said. He said the Planning Commission would review the plan and hold their public hearing in March.
The council will approve the plan in April, and then it will be sent to neighboring cities. The cities have six months for review, and the Met Council will get the final copy by the
end of 2008. The MC has three months to review it and make changes and then will notify Falcon Heights of their comments. He announced there are comp plan open houses scheduled for
March 13 and April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Next Miller spoke about the two sections before the council – the background and land use portions. He said the 2010 comp plan theoretically takes the city through the year 2030, and
the city was required by the Met Council to adopt a plan that would accommodate 250 new residents, as population growth is predicted. Miller stated the additional housing required would
not require a lot of land, but would likely utilize redevelopment along the Larpenteur corridor rather than new development. He noted the Hermes property, Rose B&B, the land west of
TIES, and TCCFCU. He added the apartment buildings along Larpenteur Avenue might be redeveloped in the coming years.
Miller said the zoning districts as they are now include R1 single family residential, R2 for duplexes/triplexes, and R4 for apartments. The current zoning code allows for 12 units
per acre, and currently the city’s density is 28 units per acre. The new comp plan would call for an additional zoning classification of R3 for 12 units per acre, and amend the R4 classification
for higher densities.
Mayor Lindstrom asked Miller to review the process up to its current point. Miller replied through the comp plan steering committee meetings, neighborhood meetings and listening sessions
the city gathered data on what was important to Falcon Heights residents. Questions were asked and answered, and Deb Jones compiled the gathered information into the draft plan.
Council members Kuettel and Long thanked Jones for her hard work. Long said as a CPSC member he was impressed with the city document.
Mayor Lindstrom said the city heard how much residents value open space. He asked Long what other comments were heard. Long replied residents wanted to retain the unique
characteristics of neighborhoods, sense of community, housing styles, and vestment in community.
Miller added the University and State Fair land is public, and has zoning of R1, single family residential. He said a change to the new plan would be to eliminate that classification,
so that if the public land were ever sold, the city would have to be consulted on its new use.
Council member Harris asked about page 37, #5. Miller replied that was in response to layering the zoning for community living. The idea was not to carve out specific parcels as potential
U fraternity/sorority houses, and instead identify a larger area where it could occur.
Council member Mercer-Taylor stated the St. Paul campus of the U was headed in a compatible direction to Falcon Heights plan.
Mayor Lindstrom said each commission was able to read the section(s) related to the focus of their commission, and Harris added she liked the openness and community involvement in the
process.
Council member Kuettel reiterated the city was given a task by the Met Council to find 250 housing units, and although Falcon Heights is not trying to go that route we have a plan in
place, just in case we do see that amount of growth.
Council member Mercer-Taylor encouraged residents to read the plan, and said she has read many comp plans and this one was very well written.
Miller and Mayor Lindstrom both thanked Jones for her hard work and long hours put into the project.
Information/Announcements:
Council member Mercer-Taylor was happy to have successfully gone paperless with her agendas, accessing them through a wireless connection and reading along online.
Council member Harris reported she attended the Ramsey County League of Local Governments meeting where various legislators appeared.
Council member Kuettel announced the Planning Commission would be meeting on February 26, welcoming two new members.
Council member Long thanked residents and volunteers for coming out to Winterfest, and estimated 120-130 attended. He also reminded residents to watch for the summer program guide coming
out in March. Lastly, there are staff openings for rec staff, so watch for those announcements.
Administrator Miller said there are four openings left for the community garden, just call to sign up. Cost is $25, and there is a dedicated water line planned for installation in spring.
Mayor Lindstrom encouraged residents to nominate a youth for the Neil Kwong award. Applications are accepted through March 7. Next, he thanked the public works crew for the great job
they have done in renovating the chambers. A rain garden workshop will be held March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall – come with questions and get answers on how to build a rain garden.
The SAPD is holding a Citizens’ Police Academy, beginning March 26 until May 14. Call St. Anthony PD to sign up. Finally, on March 8 there will a daylong neighborhood sustainability
conference at Augsburg. Visit www.afors.org for more info; all are welcome.
Mayor Lindstrom adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk