The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09-01-2009 CCMLAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 1 MINUTES APPROVED: September 15, 2009 City of Lake Elmo City Council Minutes September 1, 2009 Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Johnston and Council Members DeLapp, Emmons, Park (arrived 7:10 p.m.), and Smith. Also Present: Interim City Administrator Dawson, Planning Director Klatt, City Engineer Griffin, Attorney Snyder, Finance Director Bouthilet and City Clerk Lumby APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: Council Member Emmons moved to approve the September 1, 2009 City Council agenda as presented. Council Member DeLapp seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. Future Workshop Items: Enforcement of sign ordinance; Discuss ordinance revision relating to storage for boats and trailers ORDER OF BUSINESS: GROUND RULES: APPROVED MINUTES: The August 18, 2009 City Council minutes were approved by consensus. PUBLIC COMMENTS/INQUIRIES: None CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: Council Member Smith moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Council Member Emmons seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0. Approve payment of disbursements and payroll in the amount of $117,460.16 Adopt Resolution No. 2009-036 approving variance request by Vernon and Vicky Reichow for construction of a porch at 8619 Ironwood Trail Approve Resolution No. 2009-037 allowing construction of detached garage to be located closer to the road right-of-way than the existing house and attached garage by 26 feet on the 0.79 acre parcel at 4633 Birchbark Trail N. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 2 REGULAR AGENDA: Adopt Resolution No. 2009-038 setting proposed tax levy collectible in 2010 Craig Dawson, Interim City Administrator, reported that at its August 25 work session, the City Council directed staff to set the proposed tax levy at the maximum allowed by the levy limit statute. This action would give the Council maximum flexibility in determining the final tax levy to support the final budget for 2010. The increases to the levy for 2010 would be: General Levy $28,660 2008 MVHC Unallotment $19,365 2009 MVHC Unallotment $35,475 3,500 Levy Limit Maximum Existing Bonds 407 2009 Street Improvement Bonds $51,000 Special levies, not subject to levy limits $134,907 Total levy increase (4.98% over 2009) The General Levy figure is greater than the simple 0.83% levy limit increase of $19,357 that has been presented to Council to date. On August 26, the State’s certified levy limit for cities became available, and the amount shown was $28,660 an increase of $9,303. The 2010 proposed budget is presented in summary form and reflects the recommended budget presented by staff at the August 11 work session. The Council plans to discuss the budget further over the next few months and will likely have revisions for the proposed budget to be discussed during the public meeting on December 1. Craig Dawson, Interim City Administrator, reported that numbers just coming in from Washington County indicate the decrease in the overall tax capacity will likely be less than the 5% amount assumed in developing the budget thus far. MOTION: Council Member DeLapp moved to adopt Resolution No. 2009-038 approving the proposed tax levy collectible in 2010 and the proposed general fund for 2010, and setting the public meeting on the budget for December 1, 2009. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. DeMontreville Trail shoulder widening/trail options as part of the Washington County Reconstruction and Turnback project Jack Griffin, City Engineer, reported that at the July 21, 2009 meeting, the City Council directed staff to present the DeMontreville trail shoulder widening/trail options to the Park Commission and obtain its input. Staff made this presentation at the August 17, 2009, Park Commission meeting. The presentation included a high level summary of three options, costs and impacts associated with widening the shoulder or adding a trail along DeMontreville Trail. Jack Griffin added that a decision must be made in the next month and a half to ensure that something can get done in 2010. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 3 Comments from the Park Commission have been provided. Mayor Johnston stated that he received more than a dozen calls from people who have expressed their concern for the need of some type of safety improvement for pedestrians along DeMontreville Trail. The Mayor noted this is probably the most heavily walked area in the City and there is a need for a much improved path to walk safely to DeMontreville Wildlife Park and the Gateway Trail. Council members Park and Smith indicated that just widening the road would not make it safer and would give users a false sense of security. Council Member Emmons would like a better perspective of the priority system for trails used by the Parks Commission. He would like to explore it further and see if the City can get some sort of additional safety without spending a million dollars. Council Members Smith and DeLapp commented that spending one-quarter of million dollars on a trail along a small stretch of road was not considered in this budget. Denise and Terry Boczek, 8110 DeMontreville Trail N., voiced concerns on the cost and installing a separate trail cannot be physically accomplished due to limited right-of-way. They have lived their 20 years and found that only a few people walk by their house so they are not the most heavily walked street in the City. Steve Nelson, 8080 DeMontreville Circle N., stated he has been a neighbor of Boczek’s for twenty years and was not in favor of spending money on a trail. He pointed out that there is a 4’ drop steeply down to the lake so there is no room to install a trail. He has not heard of an incident along the trail. He would like to see the road resurfaced for safety. Nan Trang, 7970 DeMontreville Trail, stated he would be in favor of widening the shoulders, but this would increase speed on the road. If trees were cut in front of his house, because it is close to the road, Mr. Trang stated that when it rains this may cause problems with his foundation. John Ames, 9799 51st Street N., commented as a resident runner there is not a place to go when a car comes and there are no sight lines along the lake. He asked the City to consider, as it will be doubling in population, there will be more users to the Gateway Trail. MOTION: Mayor Johnston moved to direct staff to schedule a meeting to take public input on options and impacts associated with widening the shoulder or adding a trail along DeMontreville Trail. Council Member Park seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-2 (Council Members DeLapp and Smith voting against.) City Administrator Contract LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 4 Sharon Klumpp, Senior Vice President of Springsted Inc., announced the hiring of the new City Administrator Bruce Alan Messelt and provided a signed contract. Mr. Messelt will fully assume his duties beginning September 28, 2009 and will work with current Interim Administrator Craig Dawson to ensure a smooth and timely transition. The Lake Elmo City Council commended Mr. Dawson for his service as Interim City Administrator over the past eight months. MOTION: Mayor Johnston moved to approve the contract with Bruce Alan Messelt for the City Administrator position as presented and the press release subject to modifications by staff. Council Member Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Mayor Johnston read a proclamation recognizing the contributions of Jim Beers to the City of Lake Elmo REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: In discussing topics for the September 8th work session, Council decided that it would hold the informational meeting regarding potential walkway/bikeway along DeMontreville Trail at 6:30 p.m., September 8, in the Council chambers. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sharon Lumby, City Clerk Resolution No. 2009-036 approve variance Vernon/Vicky Reichow for construction of a porch at 8619 Ironwood Trail Resolution No. 2009-037 approve detached garage to be located closer to the road than the existing house at 4633 Birchbark Trail N. Resolution No. 2009-038 approve proposed tax levy collectible in 2010 and proposed general fund for 2010, setting public meeting on budget for December 1, 2009