HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-2011 Council Minutes (2) CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 1, 2011
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
s- 2 MINUTES
3 DATE : August 1,2011
4 TIME STARTED : 6:23 p.m.
5 TIME ENDED : 7:10 p.m.
6 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Members Rafferty, O'Donnell,
7 Mayor Reinert
8 MEMBERS ABSENT : Council Members Roeser and Gallup
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10 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
11 Director Michael Grochala; City Engineer Jason Wedel; City Planner Jeff Smyser; Public
12 Safety Director John Swenson; City Clerk Julie Bartell
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14 1. 7301 Apollo Court—Zoning Violation,Jenmar Equity, LLC-Community
15 Development Director Grochala reviewed the situation regarding the property at 7301
16 Apollo Drive. The property owner, Mark Deitz of Jenmar Equity LLC, and his attorney
17 Mr. Bill Griffith, informed the council at a recent Open Mike of certain concerns about
18 the city's finding of violations at the property. The city has found that the existing
19 outdoor storage on the property is in violation of the city zoning ordinance and that the
20 property would not qualify for a conditional use permit to allow the outdoor storage to
21 continue. The property owner is requesting that the council allow the condition to
22 remain, however, Mr. Grochala explained that the council doesn't have the authority to
23 do so except by approving a zoning ordinance amendment impacting all like properties.
24 The council viewed photos of the site and the location. The mayor noted that the city
25 council generally does not consider variances as a way to solve zoning issues but rather
26 prefers to look at code changes when that is considered appropriate; at this time it hasn't
27 been determined that it is appropriate in this case. When the property owner asked about
28 obtaining an interim use permit (as is done in other cities), staff explained that it would
29 require a code change but he added that one was accommodated recently for the I35E
30 batch plant operations. Such a permit would have a time limitation and this situation may
31 not be open to change even in a three year period. The property owner's attorney offered
32 that the owner would be willing to move things that are located outside as quickly as
33 possible through the industrial process and also to add fencing to the area; they would
34 understand the need to look again at the situation again after an interim period such as
35 three years. When a council member asked for an explanation of what's going on in the
36 building, Mr. Dietz explained the operations, pointing out that there is no room inside the
37 facility for the materials in question.
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39 The council concurred that they are interested in helping a viable business to remain in
40 the city and recommended that the matter be referred to the Planning and Zoning Board
41 for review with a recommendation that it will be key to have an"end game" in any
42 solution. Community Development Director Grochala noted that he will recommend to
43 the owner that he apply for a code amendment to get that process going.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 1,2011
APPROVED
44 2. Issue Tracker Demonstration,Jason Wedel—City Engineer Wedel gave a
45 demonstration of the Issue Tracker system that his firm offers as part of their services to
46 the city. The computer program will assist the city in tracking its issues and projects.
47 Information can be continually updated and allows for citywide tracking of data. He wills
48 end a link to the council members so they can review the program.
49 3. 80th Avenue—Zoning Complaint Update—Community Development Director
50 Grochala recalled that a concern was brought forward to the council about and operation
51 believed to be in violation of the city code at 2122 80th Street. Staff has investigated the
52 situation and discussed site operations with the property and business owner. There are
53 ongoing concerns about the situation in the area of identifying the property use, the
54 amount of junk located on the property and the oversized vehicles that are located on the
55 property. Staff is working with the city attorney to answer outstanding questions, will
56 continue enforcement as appropriate, and will continue to report to the council as new
57 information becomes available.
58 4. Election related Charter Amendments—City Clerk Bartell recalled that the
59 council had previously received information on two areas of the City Charter that are
60 problematic in relation to recently passed state election law that changes dates for certain
61 election activities such as absentee voting. Specifically in the area of filing period dates,
62 the language currently in the City Charter would dictate a filing period open past the time
63 when names can be submitted to the county for inclusion on the ballot. Also, the Charter
•--- 64 section on public improvements contains language that is impacted by pre-election dates
65 (submission of ballot language). Staff brought the matter to the Lino Lakes Charter
66 Commission for their consideration of moving technical changes forward for
67 consideration as amendments by ordinance (not to the ballot). The Commission has
68 forwarded a response that they are interested in considering the amendments but would
69 need the city to authorize reasonable funding above their regular budget for their attorney
70 to provide a review to them of the proposed amendments.
71 The Council suggested that city staff should be given an opportunity to answer any
72 outstanding questions about the amendments and, if questions do remain, they encourage
73 the Commission to utilize their existing budget for review costs.
74
75 The city administrator noted that the Charter Commission has delivered some other
76 charter amendments that they propose be adopted by ordinance. As required by state
77 statute, a public hearing is being scheduled at the council meeting of September 12 for
78 those amendments.
79 5. Weekly Progress Report—The city administrator reviewed the report.
80 Regular Council Agenda - The agenda was reviewed.
81
82 Item 6A, Oppidan proposal for a Grocery Store Development Near Hodgson Road
83 and County Road J—City Planner Smyser noted that the city has received a concept
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 1, 2011
APPROVED
84 review plan for a development that includes a grocery store, liquor store and multi-unit
85 building. Looking at the plans included in the staff report, he noted that those indicated for
86 the future are not to be considered a part of the current proposal. He reviewed the plans and
87 told the council that this would be an informal review and comment period; the plans have
88 been run through the advisory boards and their comments are attached to the report. At this
89 time staff is looking for an informal council review and to receive comments from the
90 council.
91
92 The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
93
94 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
95 August 22, 2011.
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100 . 1.nne Bartell, City I lerk Jeff r ei e , Mayor
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