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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/25/2020LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 1 of 4 August 25, 2020 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Andi Moffatt, Jeff Dains, Roxanne Grove, Kelly Dolphin, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilors absent: None. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Miles Cline, Deputy City Clerk. Approvals Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any additions to the meeting agenda. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of the August 18, 2020 city council meeting. There being none, Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2020 city council meeting. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Grove moved and seconded by Councilor Moffatt to approve the claims totaling $20,829.50. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Consent Councilor Moffatt moved and seconded by Councilor Dains to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving the amended North Suburban Communications Commission Joint and Cooperative Agreement for the Administration of the Cable Communication Franchise. Informational Presentations/Reports A. City Council Updates Councilor Dains said that the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization planned to attend an October council meeting to present on storm water topics and the Adopt -a -Drain program. Mayor Gaasch shared that cities have been collaborating with school districts to make difficult decisions on how to operate schools safely this upcoming year. Gaasch added that she would like input from the public on how the City can support families and students in need of assistance. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 2 of 4 August 25, 2020 Discussion/Action Item A. Draft Fence Ordinance Revisions Over the past year, the Council has been improving the fence ordinance to address areas where residents have requested to deviate from the current standards, especially front yard fences. During the meeting, the Council discussed safety standards at alley egress and site lines at intersections as well as aesthetic standards. Staff will revise the draft for the next meeting and advertise a public hearing on the issue to get community feedback prior to adoption by the end of September. B. Request for a Fence in the Right -of -Way at 2445 Summer Street — Resolution No. 082520A Zack and Claire Zehrer, 2445 Summer Street, requested the City Council grant an exception to city code to allow them to construct a fence in the right-of-way of Summer Street, on the east side of the alley between Malvern Street and Walnut Street. The Summer Street boulevard is approximately eleven feet wide, plus there is a one -foot setback requirement for corner houses. Thus, the minimum setback from Summer Street for the fence is twelve feet. They proposed to locate the fence six feet from Summer Street, which would be an encroachment of five feet. Councilor Dolphin made a motion to approve Resolution No. 082520A as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilor Dains and failed on a 3-2 roll call vote with Councilors Dolphin and Dains voting yea, and Councilors Grove, Moffatt, and Mayor Gaasch voting nay. C. Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the City of Lauderdale for Construction and Maintenance of Gasperre Ravine Improvements Butkowski spoke to the ravine erosion on the north side of the trolley tracks near Rosehill Townhomes. This erosion expanded quickly after the Japanese knotweed treatments were successful and left bare soils. Capital Regions Watershed District (CRWD) and City staff have been working on a plan to fix the erosion with the support of Rosehill Townhomes. Their association board signed temporary and permanent easement agreements to allow for the repairs. The work was bid with the Luther Seminary Pond Project improvements to get the best pricing. CRWD paid for all costs to engineer a solution and bid the project. The cost of the repairs was anticipated to be around $60,000. Lauderdale was responsible for the construction costs and future maintenance. The construction costs were paid to CRWD over three years from the storm water improvement fund. Councilor Moffatt made a motion to approve the Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the City of Lauderdale for Construction and Maintenance of Gasperre Ravine Improvements. This was seconded by Councilor Grove and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. D. Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the Cities of Lauderdale and Falcon Heights for Construction and Maintenance of Fowell/Fulham Outfall Improvements LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 3 of 4 August 25, 2020 Butkowski explained that there was a storm water pipe that started at the corner of Folwell Avenue and Fulham Street on the Lauderdale / Falcon Heights border. The pipe went down a steep embankment on Falcon Heights' property to the ravine on the south side of the trolley tracks in Lauderdale. The volume of water through this pipe washed out the area at the bottom of the pipe multiple times. This project would move the storm water from the top of the pipe to the ravine through a series of grade changes to dissipate the energy of the flow to prevent further erosion of the ravine. Lauderdale and Falcon Heights were cooperating on the project with Capital Regions Watershed District (CRWD). CRWD paid for costs to engineer a solution and bid the project. The cost of the repairs was anticipated to be $100,000. Falcon Heights was responsible for the construction costs and future maintenance, while Lauderdale allowed the infrastructure on city owned property. Councilor Moffatt made a motion to approve the Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the Cities of Lauderdale and Falcon Heights for Construction and Maintenance of Fowell/Fulham Outfall Improvements. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously. E. Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the Cities of Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, Ramsey County, and University of Minnesota for Construction and Maintenance of Seminary Pond Improvements Butkowski noted that the City, in partnership with Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD), Ramsey County, Luther Seminary, and Greenway Village Apartments, began looking at water rate and quality issues around Seminary Pond over four years ago. The efforts resulted in a project to improve the pond the City installed on Luther Seminary property in the 1980s. The project required the cooperation of the original partners, Falcon Heights, and the University of Minnesota to bring to fruition. CRWD secured grants and committed the resources needed to make the project affordable to the partners. Lauderdale's anticipated contribution was $96,000. The total project cost with engineering and construction was expected to exceed $1,000,000. Councilor Dolphin made a motion to approve the Capitol Region Watershed District Cooperative Agreement with the Cities of Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, Ramsey County, and University of Minnesota for Construction and Maintenance of Seminary Pond Improvements. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Administrator Butkowski stated that the September 8 council meeting may include the 2021 budget and levy and Halloween ideas. Work Session A. Coronavirus Impacts Update Butkowski stated that staff was accounting for the amount of CARES funding spent to date, and determining a plan for Council consideration of what to do with the remaining funds. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCE Page 4 of 4 August 25, 2020 Butkowski asked the Council if they needed additional technology to participate in the remote Council meetings. The City may receive a small allocation of CARES funding specifically for elections; however, the funds come with red tape. Staff will bring forth an agenda item to have the money remitted to Ramsey County Elections to pay for costs they incurred on behalf of the City. B. Community Development Update Butkowski stated that letters were sent regarding diseased ash trees. Goodmanson Construction planned to start the excavation process at Skyview Park with the plan of installing new playground equipment the third week of September. Staff was working with the police department to address this summer's street racing concerns. The Adopt -a -Drain program encouraged people to sign up online. For participating, they would receive a State Fair bag. C. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened up the floor to anyone in attendance interested in addressing the Council. Josh Dirksen, 1815 Lake Street, stated his concerns about the three-foot front yard fence guidelines. He asked what traffic and accident data was used to develop the sightline regulations. There being no additional people interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adjournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 p.m. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Respectfully submitted, Heather Butkowski City Administrator