HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_08Oct22Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council
October 22, 2008
Members present: Mayor Lindstrom, Council members Harris, Long and Mercer-Taylor, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Admin/Deputy Clerk Kreuser. Members absent: Council member Kuettel.
Mayor Lindstrom called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Presentation:
Community Garden Year-End Presentation
Wendy Ihlick of California Avenue presented the council with a brief history of the garden, stating May 3, 2008 was the beginning workday for the garden. The new water line from the
park building through to the garden was a welcome addition in 08. There is also a blog for the garden where updates are posted and for picture sharing between the members. The gardeners
had many events in 08: monthly meetings, Falcon Heights Ice Cream Social, GardenWorks Parade of Community Gardens, and potluck. The challenges in 08, were too must compost materials,
not as many food shelf donations as anticipated, and produce theft (four legged and two legged variety). The primary outreach event on 09 will be the Ice Cream Social. The garden is
considering expansion through 10 additional plots, and a possible expansion on the east side. Ihlick thanked the city and staff for their work.
MT asked how the attendance at the meetings and potluck was. Ihlick responded the potluck was very well attended, and the meetings are attended by three or four plots monthly.
Miller stated the city continues to see a waitlist, both from residents and non-residents. Returning gardeners will get first shot, then Falcon Heights apartment dwellers, then Falcon
Heights homeowners. He said there were 10 to 15 people on the wait list, and said additional plots would be used.
Long asked the renewal rate. Ihlick said there were three or four that did not return.
Harris asked if the process for deciding who gets a plot was fair. Ihlick responded that there is always a returning member. Miller added Falcon Heights residents always has first
crack. Miller added that ten plots make the extra work clearing the space worth it. Ihlick added most gardeners would want to expand their plot also.
Lindstrom was happy with how well the garden was cared for.
The minutes of the October 8, 2008 council meeting were approved as submitted.
Consent Agenda:
The following four items were approved unanimously by motion from council member Long.
Mayor Lindstrom asked where the SCORE grant money comes from. Miller responded it comes from the state, and it may come from the feds as a pass-through but he was not sure.
1. General disbursements through 10/15/08: $84,821.29
Payroll through 10/15/08: $14,894.90
2. Adoption of Assessment Roll for Removal of Hazardous Tree
3. City Licenses
4. Resolution authorizing SCORE Grant application
Policy Agenda:
1. Adoption of New City Slogan – Continued
Mayor Lindstrom said at the last meeting the council asked staff to come up with a couple ideas for using both slogans. Miller said staff came up with ideas to put a slogan on the bottom
of the letterhead. On the website, the slogan could be displayed there as well, for the theme of the photo contest, or the Falcon Flyer masthead, and on the email signatures for city
staff.
Harris said at the last meeting she was undecided, but has since thought “families, fields, and fair.” She thought that was the better option and was more characteristic for Falcon
Heights.
MT said she did not have a strong feeling towards either; however, FFF seemed hard to remember the order. She wished there was one that had the themes of our city, and was easier to
remember. She stressed that she did not feel that strongly about the city that soars, but wishes it was more specific.
Long said his opinion has not changed, and still liked FFF as his preference. He said he understood using the city that soars, and incorporating both.
When asked, Miller said finding a way to use both would be possible. The council agreed that using both. In addition, Lindstrom added that Falcon Heights is the home of the first airport
in Minnesota, in Falcon Heights at Curtiss Field, which is why he was a proponent of the city that soars, but he was okay with having both. Harris moved to use both slogans. The motion
passed unanimously.
2. Rental housing licensing ordinance
Miller said the council goals in 08 included adopting a rental housing licensing ordinance. He added the fire marshal, who has since retired, would handle the inspections on this.
Since there are many firefighters who are interested in becoming a marshal, the city feels it is safe to move forward. He said a license will be required if a single-family home is
rented out for more than four months. Miller said a $50 fee would cover an initial inspection, and would be required before a license is issued.
MT said she was glad the city was doing that, as it protects those who are renting. She questioned the verbiage dealing with outlined domestic abuse. Miller said that was outlined
in section 4G, as outlined in state statute and incorporated through reference. Miller said the city attorney had also drafted these for other cities and he is confident.
Lindstrom asked about how many properties this would affect. Miller said there were probably 20 or so properties that the city suspects are rentals.
Harris said the ordinance was well thought out and is needed.
Long asked about section 105-89, the application for licenses, and suggested to list where the property owner can be reached by phone. In section 105-92, every registrant will be issued
a copy of the license, but also one will be provided to the tenant at the time the lease is signed. Miller thought adding in ‘every registrant and occupant will receive…’
Miller said the new ordinance would be published in the Falcon Flyer, through water billing, and then by sending out letters to properties that are suspected as rentals.
MT, UA.
3. Water Resource Management Plan
Deb Bloom, City Engineer, said the city needed to meet requirements of the CRWD and the Met Council of water resource management. The plan has been approved by both entities. The plan
includes historic trends – soil, rainwater, topography, water flow. Bloom explained the plan outlines the complete system and who is in charge of each system. She also said there were
eleven goals as outlined by the plan that are storm water related, in coordination with the district.
She added the plan calls for an updated stormwater ordinance, and a capital improvement plan (city hall parking lot), and any other maintenance (street sweeping, manhole maintenance).
Bloom added all the watershed districts need to approve the plan, along with the council, and the comp plan has been revised to be made consistent with the WRMP. Both Rice Creek and
Capital Region are in the process of revising their plans as well. Bloom said right now our plan is being adopted, but once the watershed's is, done Falcon Heights may need to adapt
their plan to match.
Lindstrom asked if there are any major improvements coming down the line. Bloom said none of Falcon Heights' water would flow into any of the projects coming up.
Check notes.
MT asked if the city is working on promoting the pervious pavement. Miller said it has not been brought up with the environment commission yet, and it is not in the code. Miller said
that residential driveways must be asphalt or concrete, and may need to address the unintended consequences. Bloom added Roseville is going through this also, and it working at changing
the ordinance to allow pervious pavers and the aim is to educate.
Long moved to pass the water management plan. The motion passed unanimously.
Information/Announcements: MT said the Neighborhood Commission will meet next week.
Long announced open gym starts Nov 1 at the FH Elementary gym. Rink attendant job applications are available. He asked everyone to be safe on Halloween.
Lindstrom said he attended the Grove Annual meeting with about 50 residents in attendance, and several signed up to make some improvements with gardens and plantings in the traffic triangles
there. In terms of the Cleveland/Hoyt intersection, there is a crosswalk, but cars have a hard time seeing people there so please be careful. Miller said the city will be looking into
some improvements, but it is a county road. Lindstrom added the LMC has produced a program on green cities, on what four MN cities have done for energy reduction. It will air on TPT
channel 2, 6 p.m. Oct 26.
Miller said the pedestrian flashers were ordered and will be installed next week on Garden/Hamline. The open house for the Northeast Suburban Campus Connection meeting will be held
Oct. 29 at 6:30 at city hall. Residents along the corridor did see a direct mailing.
Kreuser reminded voters they can vote at city hall up until Election Day by absentee.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk