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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCAGENDA_95fEB22 City of Falcon Heights AGENDA Regular Meeting of the City Council February 22, 1995 I. CALL TO ORDER: 7 p.m. II. BALDWIN GEHRZ GIBSON TALBOT HUSTAD JACOBS HOYT ASLESON ATTORNEY ENGINEER III. COMMUNITY FORUM IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 8, 1995 V. PUBLIC HEARING: None VI. CONSENT AGENDA: C -1. Disbursements a. General disbursements through 2/15/95, $128,543.22 b. Payroll, 2/1/95 to 2/15/95, $13,075.76 C -2. Licenses C -3. Approval of budgeted 1995 wage compensation for personnel VII. POLICY AGENDA: P -1. Review of the alley assessment policy ACTION: P -2. Ideas for a "donation opportunities list" for the Falcon Heights /Lauderdale Lions Club and other interested parties ACTION: P -3. Proposed guidelines during the Minnesota State Fair for Section III D of the city's administrative manual ACTION: P -4. Request for authorization for the city administrator to negotiate for a new fee structure for prosecutions ACTION: Page 2 Council Agenda February 22, 1995 P -5. Consideration of request from Ramsey County for a donation toward Community Celebration Event ACTION: VIII. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: IX. ADJOURNMENT WORKSHOP FOLLOWS IN CONFERENCE ROOM WITH PAUL CIERNIA RE COMPUTER OPPORTUNITIES CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 8, 1995 Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:07 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt, Asleson, Maurer and Sampson. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. MINUTES OF JANUARY 25, 1995 Minutes were approved as presented. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to approve the following consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. 1. Disbursements a. General disbursements through 2/1/95: $89,836.55 b. Payroll, 1/16/95 to 1/31/95: $12,790.65 2. Licenses 3. Consideration of Resolution 95 -04 in support of the Community Development Block Grant applications by Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) 4. Approval of funds for fire training materials PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 1995 ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Mayor Baldwin opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. City Engineer Maurer gave a brief presentation regarding the proposed 1995 alley reconstruction project. He explained to the audience that this public hearing is intended for the public to make comments on the merits of the project as a whole, rather than about specific, individual assessment amounts. He also explained the history of the project and outlined the various neighborhood informational meetings that had already been held. The alleys proposed to be reconstructed are as follows: between Larpenteur Avenue and California Avenue, Arona Street to Pascal Street and Pascal Street to Albert Street; between California Avenue and Idaho Avenue, Arona Street to Pascal Street City Council Minutes February 8, 1995 Page 2 and Pascal Street to Albert Street; and between Idaho Avenue and Iowa Avenue from Pascal Street to Albert Street. The alleys would be constructed for a nine ton capacity, which will remain strong through spring thaws and minimize future cracksealing needs. An overlay construction is not possible due to drainage issues. The alleys will be reconstructed essentially at their current width. Mr. Jim Dixon, 1495 W. California Avenue, asked if residents would be required to pay their assessments all at once or if they would be spread out over time. Maurer replied that, after the assessment hearing, each resident would have 30 days in which to pay their assessment in full without interest. After the 30 days, the assessment is placed on the tax rolls and the resident pays it with their property taxes over a set number of years, most likely five to seven. Mr. Mitch Rothman, 1485 W. Idaho Avenue, noted that a number of garbage trucks use his alley each week. Why can't the city limit the number of garbage trucks that come down each alley? Mayor Baldwin replied that there are two ways that this limitation can be accomplished. The first is for the city to adopt "organized collection" whereby the entire city is serviced by a single, contracted garbage hauler. The city council and solid waste commission considered this option a few years ago and rejected the idea for a number of reasons, including the fact that with organized collection, residents lose the freedom to switch haulers if they are not satisfied with their service. The second option for limiting the haulers is for neighborhoods to voluntarily agree among themselves to use only one or a few haulers. Due to state laws, the city cannot assist neighborhoods in this type of effort. Mr. Rothman thanked the mayor for his response and then asked a question regarding the alley assessment formula. Mr. Rothman stated that when his house was built, the owner chose to put in a driveway rather than accessing the garage from the alley. Since he doesn't use the alley as much as his neighbors, Mr. Rothman questioned whether he should pay the same assessment. Mayor Baldwin responded that this will be an item for discussion at the February 22, 1995 council meeting. The city's assessment philosophy has always been to assess not for how much a resident actually uses a service, but rather the amount for which a benefit is available. For example, a person who doesn't drive and therefore doesn't use the streets is still assessed for street improvements because they are necessary for public as a whole. It is the city's obligation to provide safe alleys and roadways and Falcon Heights has chosen to assess those properties which receive the most potential benefit. Engineer Maurer noted that he had received a verbal comment from Mr. Mary Flodin, who owns an apartment building at the corner of Larpenteur and Pascal. Mr. Flodin City Council Minutes February 8, 1995 Page 3 had stated that in 1973 the city required that he build his garages in such a way that cars accessing them did not use the alley. Given this, Mr. Flodin questions why he would be paying assessments on alley improvements. Mr. Lloyd Jacobson, 1436 W. Idaho Avenue, asked about the accuracy of the project cost estimates; were they up -to -date? Engineer Maurer responded that the cost estimates included an inflation factor for 1995. Mr. Jacobson stated that he was very pleased with the total cost of the project, that the cost seemed very reasonable, and that he was "all for the project He also complimented the city council on undertaking these types of improvement projects. There being no one else wishing to be heard, Mayor Baldwin closed the public hearing at 7:44 p.m. POLICY AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95 -05, ORDERING IMPROVEMENT AND PREPARATION OF PLANS FOR THE 1995 ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Engineer Maurer explained that the next step in the reconstruction process is to pass a resolution ordering the improvement and the preparation of plans. This does not commit the council to any particular assessment formula. After bids are received on the project, assessment calculations for individual properties will be computed and the affected property owners notified prior to the next public hearing. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve Resolution 95 -05. Motion carried unanimously. CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Hustad reported excellent attendance at the Indoor Playroom Open House. Administrator Hoyt made the following announcements: Staff is working with the St. Anthony Police Department on a 1995 kick -off event for neighborhood watch. This will probably occur in late March. The annual Dead -of- Winter Inspirational event was held the previous Sunday with Katie McLoon finding the "prize" (Mayor's toupee) in the treasure hunt. The audit of 1994 finances is going well. Roland Olson, the temporary accountant that the city hired in August to ease the transition until a permanent replacement was hired, has proven invaluable during the past six months. His last day will be Friday and his work has been appreciated! City Council Minutes February 8, 1995 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. Tom Baldwin, Mayor Carla Asleson Recording Secretary Meeting Date: 2/22/95 Agenda Item: C 1 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Disbursements SUBMITTED BY: Joe Rigdon, Accountant EXPLANATION /SUMMARY: a. General disbursements through 2/15/95, $128,543.22 b. Payroll, 2/1/95 to 2/15/95, $13,075.76 ACTION REQUESTED: Approval