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Home My WebLink About07/27/2021LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TELECONFERENCF, Page 1 of 4 July 27, 2021 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Jeff Dains, Roxanne Grove, Andi Moffatt, Duane Pulford, 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. Gaasch added that she would like to talk about Night to Unite during Community Events. There being nothing else, 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 July 13, 2021 city council meeting minutes. Theie being none, Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the minutes of the July 13, 2021 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 Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the claims totaling $31,385.03. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Consent Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to approve the Consent Agenda thereby acknowledging the June financial report and second quarter investment report and approving the processing of August 10 accounts payable; Resolution No. 072721A — A Resolution Approving 1.8% Variance to the Lot Coverage Requirement at 1747 Malvern Street; and Resolution No. 072721B — A Resolution Approving a 1.5 Foot Variance to the Rear -Yard Setback Requirement at 1806 Walnut Street. Informational Presentations/Reports A. I Tpdate by MnDOT Staff Regarding Long -Term Construction Plans for TH280 Including a Speed Study and Proposed Lane Closure Tony Wotzka, a MnDOT transportation planner, addressed the community regarding future TH280 projects. Tony presented the timeframe for paving projects and on-going discussions iegarding the closure of the turn onto Broadway Drive from northbound TH280 He said the speed study that was initiated has been put on hold until after the paving project is completed in 2026 01 2027. LAUDhRDALE, CITY COUNCIL ME;FTING MINUTES HF?LD REMOTF,LY VIA TE,LhCONFF,RENCE, Page 2 of 4 July 27, 2021 After Wotzka's presentation alongside colleague Ashley Roup, Mayor Gaasch asked the Council if they had any questions or comments foi MnDOT. Mayor Gaasch asked what factors would lead to a 21% increase in crashes by 2045 if no changes were made to the 280 and Broadway inteisection. Councilor Dains asked MnDOT staff to provide presentation materials ahead of the meeting in the future. Dains said he is opposed to the idea of raising the speed limits on 280. Dains asked why southbound access to 280 off Broadway would continue to exist after removal of the stoplight. Dains also asked what improvements would be made to the East Hennepin Avenue sidewalks and bike lanes with the increased traffic flow to that road. Councilor Pulford asked what factors would lead to reduced traffic conflicts on the neighboring streets to Highway 280. Councilor Moffatt addressed the issues of racing on Highway 280 and asked why municipal consent does not apply to the TH280/Broadway inteisection. Mayor Gaasch then opened the meeting to questions from residents. Josh Dirksen, 1815 Lake Street, believes that an increase in traffic flow from TH280 to the neighboring streets could cause other unforeseen traffic issues. Paula Biever, 1803 Lake Street, said that street racing would increase if the traffic light was removed from TH280 and Broadway Drive. Biever asked if MnDOT's cameras could be used to curb the racing issue. Chris Bower, 1639 Rosehill Circle, stated that he supports the closure of highway access at Broadway Street, but expressed concerns about how that would impact Larpenteur Avenue, East Hennepin Avenue, and Industrial Boulevard as a result. Carol Solie, 1622 Rosehill Circle, shared that she supported closing northbound access onto Broadway Drive, but wanted to know if MnDOT was willing to study connecting northbound TH280 with southbound 35W to provide an additional westbound access point. B. July 29 Community hvent Bownik shared that Thursday's event was themed around community health and wellness. There also would be food, music, beverages, market vendors, and a dance group at the event. C. City Council Updates The City Council had no updates to share at this time. LAUDERDALti, CITY COUNCIL Mli,l'TING MINUTES HELD REMOTELY VIA TEL FCONFERENCE, Page 3 of 4 July 27, 2021 D. Night to Unite Bownik said Night to Unite would take place on Tuesday, August 3. Those hosting block parties could register by calling City Hall or visiting the St. Anthony Police Department website. The parties receive visits from the pohce department, fire department, and local leaders upon request. Discussion/Action Item A. Resolution No. 072721 C — Terminating the Local H mergency After 18 months, cities around the state and country are ending their emergency declarations surrounding the pandemic. If the City Council intends to do the same, the City attorney has prepared a resolution. Councilor Moffatt made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 072721C A Resolution Terminating the Local Emergency. This was seconded by Councilor Dams and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. B. Discussion with Julie hddington, Bond Counsel, Regarding Housing Tax Credit Application Process Julie Eddington, the City's bond counsel from Kennedy and Graven, presented to the Council the outcome of the City's recent application for housing tax credits through the State of Minnesota to build affordable senior housing at 1795 Eustis Street. Unfortunately, the City did not receive an allocation this month. $113,000,000 was available, with $51,000,000 awarded to preservation projects, and $58,000,000 awarded to two projects with deeper affordability (50% AMI) than the City's. She noted that the tax credits are distributed first to projects that preserve existing affoidable housing and next to projects that guarantee the lowest rents. The State doesn't award the tax credits based on merit or project readiness. The next affoidable housing tax credit award will happen in January 2021. After her presentation, Eddington answered questions from the Council. C. City Council Chambers Update CTV provided a $28,108 estimate for technology updates to the Council Chambers. The need for technology updates has been talked about in the past and some expenses were incurred in 2020 to allow for virtual City Council meetings. Additional improvements are needed to continue to integrate with CTVs equipment for the live and playback feeds on our cable access channel and their website. Staff anticipates that costs will be covered by the American Rescue Plan Act. The City needs these improvements to continue current operations in an environment where we may need to return to a virtual environment either due to the pandemic or any other disturbances that may come about in the future. LAUD Fi,RDAL Iii CITY COUNCIL MFie IHTING MINUThS HFH,LD RF4,MOTELY VIA TELECONTI-4,RENCE Page 4 of 4 July 27, 2021 Councilor Moffatt made a motion to approve the estimate prepared by CTV staff and direct City staff to work with CTV on the Lauderdale Chamber Update. This was seconded by Councilor Grove and carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Set Agenda for Next Meeting As we have no items on the agenda for the August 10 meeting, it may be canceled. The Mayor will determine whether or not to hold a meeting closer to the date. Work Session A. Community Development Update Butkowski stated that she met with Justin Townsend of the Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation District in regards to grant funding for removing invasive species and habitat restoration around Walsh Lake. Butkowski continued to say that she has been working to schedule a community meeting with Inland Development Group who was hired to sell Luther Seminary's land. B. 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 that the Halloween planning group had already started organizing this fall's event. Adjournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Grove to adjourn the meeting at 9:22 p.m. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Respectfully submitted, Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk