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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/12/2023LAUD IARDAL N, CITY COUNCIL MIi,ETING MINUTF,S Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Sheet Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 6 December 12, 2023 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: 1 -wan Sayre, Sharon Kelly, Duane Pulford, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilors absent Jeff Dains. 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 Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the November 28, 2023 City Council meeting. Theie being none, Councilor Pulfoid moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the November 28, 2023 City Council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the claims totaling $78,506.38. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Kelly moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the Consent Agenda thereby approving the 2024 SafeAssure contract, 2024 Northeast Youth and Family Services contract, CivicPlus contract renewal, and the year-end accounts payable authorization. Informational Presentations/Reports A. City Council Updates Councilor Pulford shared that he attended a meeting at NineNorth on December 7. Beginning in 2024, he will step down from his role as secretaiy-treasurer to become the vice chair of the organization with the exit of chair Sue Majerus. Finally, Pulfoid stated that NineNorth wrote a letter to the FCC about the relevance of future local cable organizations. Councilor Kelly stated that she attended the Roseville school board truth -in -taxation meeting in regards to the levy. Kelly also attended a Ramsey County League of Local Governments meeting in Maplewood regarding strength assessments. LAUDF,RDALFi, CITY COUNCIL MhETING MINUTES L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 2 of 6 December 12, 2023 Mayor Gaasch shared that she attended a couple of Regional Council of Mayors meetings, and met the new mayor of the city of St. Anthony. P ublic Hearings A. Side Yard Setback Variance Request for 1773 Fulham Street The applicant requested to reconstruct a detached garage at the same distance to the north pioperty line as the cunent garage. The current garage is fourteen inches from the north property line 7oning requires a five-foot side yaid setback. Thus, the applicant requested a three-foot, ten -inch variance to the side yard setback requirement. Mayor Gaasch opened the floor at 7:22 p.m. to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council on this issue. Karen Gill Gerbig, 1753 Fulham Street, wrote a letter in support of the variance that was read by Bownik. Tom Moffatt, 1773 Fulham Street, addressed the council to answer questions about the proposed project at his residence. There being nobody else interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 7:29 p.m. The Council discussed the peculiarities of this property, namely that the parcel only has access from Fulham Street (no alley), and a sewei easement in the real yard diminishes the area in which a structure can be built. The home was centered in the lot leaving no more than a driveway width to access the rear of the pioperty. Garages are not allowed in front yards. One reason for side yard setbacks is to piovide room for drainage between properties. If approved, staff recommended a condition that would require drainage to terminate no closer than five feet to the property line and no portion of the building can be constructed over the sewer easement. Staff also noted that the applicants would have to meet stricter building code requirements (one-hour fire wall) as the garage would be closer than five feet to the property line. Additional conditions include a maintenance agreement with the neighbor and that staff are required to review the construction plans for compliance prior to issuance of a building permit. Councilor Sayre made a motion to direct staff to prepare a resolution of approval for a side yard setback variance of three feet, ten inches at 1773 Fulham Street. This is contingent on the five conditions noted above. This was seconded by Councilor Pulford and carried unanimously. B. Proposed Ordinance No. 20-03 Amending City Code Regarding City Parks The city attorney and the City Council previously discussed use of tobacco and cannabis in city parks and natural spaces. The discussion centered on prohibiting tobacco and cannabis use for LAUDIH,RDALF, CITY COUNCIL MF,F,TING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 6 December 12, 2023 the public health benefits of all park users. The city attorney incorporated the previous council comments into the final draft of the ordinance. Staff sent the draft ordinance out to the community for a ten-day review period and received a variety of responses and questions via email, to which staff responded. After the public hearing, the Council may approve or amend the draft ordinance prior to adoption. The Council does not have to adopt the ordinance should new information arise, as it can be carried over into 2024. If the Council does adopt the ordinance, then the resolution allowing publication by title and summary should also be approved. Mayor Gaasch opened the floor at 7:35 p.m. to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council on this issue. No one present wished to speak so Butkowski read the written comments into the record. The Association for Nonsmokers -MN and Live Smoke Free provided letters of support for the proposed ordinance. hdee Affeldt provided her support for the ordinance amendment not allowing tobacco or cannabis in parks and natural spaces. Gayle Mangan, Rosehill Circle, said she is all for keeping any kind of smoke/drug private. Barbara Meier, Carl Street, said she supports the ordinance amendment prohibiting smoking (tobacco, cannabis, whatever) in Laudeidale's City park and other natural spaces. Tom Moffatt, Fulham Street, said he completely supports this effort and applauds the city for taking this on. He encouraged the council to support the proposed ordinance. Barbara Robinson asked why the Council wants to prohibit smoking in the park. Staff noted they responded to her question. In turn, she said she wonders why leaders made cannabis legal. Quentin Roggenbuch said: Do we really need to ostracize them more? Do the police have enough to do? Lauderdale allows the sale of cigarettes but can they be arrested for lighting one in the parking lot? And no I don't smoke. But they pay a lot of taxes and have probably walked outside their home for fresh air. It's killing them and they smoke. Do you really think your ordinance will stop them? Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 7:40 p.m. LAUD FRDAL Fi; CITY COUNCIL MEF,TING MINUTKS Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 4 of 6 December 12, 2023 Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 23-03 Amending Title 7, Chapter 1 of the City Code Regarding City Parks. This was seconded by Councilor Pulfoid and carried unanimously. C. Resolution No. 121223A — Authorizing Publication of Ordinance No. 23-03 by Title and Summary Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223A Authorizing Publication of Ordinance No. 23-03 by Title and Summary. This was seconded by Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously. D. Resolution No. 121223B — Adopting and Certifying Liens for Delinquent Utilities and Unpaid Services teach year the City must submit a resolution to Ramsey County certifying special assessments for the year. This year the City has one special assessments for unpaid tiee removal services. Prior to adopting the resolution, the City Council must hold a public hearing in the event the owner or their representative would like to contest the special assessment. Mayor Gaasch opened the floor at 7:42 p.m. to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council on this issue. There being nobody interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor at 7:43 p.m. Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223BA Resolution Adopting and Certifying Liens for Delinquent Utilities and Unpaid Services. This was seconded by Councilor Kelly and carried unanimously. Discussion/Action Item A. Resolution No. 121223C — Adopting the 2024 Final Property Tax Levy Butkowski said the City Council previously held the Truth -in -Taxation public hearing required by statute. No changes were recommended to the budget. The only remaining items are to adopt the levy and budget resolutions with the following motions. Councilor Sayre made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223C A Resolution Adopting the 2024 Final Property Tax Levy. This was seconded by Councilor Kelly and carried unanimously. B. Resolution No. 121223D — Adopting the 2024 Final Budget and hstablishing Fund Appropriations Councilor Pulford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223DA Resolution Adopting the 2024 Final Budget and hstablishing Fund Appropriations. This was seconded by Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously. LAUDF,RDALE CITY COUNCIL MF,F,TING MINUTES L auderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street L auderdale, MN 55113 P age 5 of 6 December 12, 2023 C. Resolution No. 121223F, — Appioving the Application for Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) 2024 Private Property Inflow and Infiltration Giant Program Butkowski explained that the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) will have grant funds to help home owners with sanitary sewer repairs that will remove and prevent clear water from entering the wastewater treatment system. Three individuals benefitted from the last program that happened around 2014, and now MCF S is trying to make this an annual program. Lauderdale has a handful of folks each year that either need to repair, replace, or line their sanitary sewer that would qualify for these funds. To that end, staff recommend applying for $25,000. The maximum individual grant award is $5,000. The amount granted to the City will be determined after all applications are received. The biggest impact would be to divert water entering the sanitary sewer system thiough exterior drains. They are most pievalent in homes that have below grade doors. Staff will reach out to these homeowners directly to educate them about the grant opportunity. Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223P, --Approving the Application for Metropolitan Council hnviromnental Services (MCES) 2024 Private Property Info and Infiltration Grant Program. This was seconded by Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously. D. Resolution No. 121223F — Adopting and Certifying Recycling Assessments Recycling fees are remitted through the property tax system. Staff prepared the documents necessary for Ramsey County to complete that work on our behalf. Councilor Pulford made a motion to approve Resolution No. 121223F Adopting and Certifying Recycling Assessments. This was seconded by Counciloi Sayre and carried unanimously. E Resolution No. 121223G — Resolution Relating to the Issuance of Conduit Revenue Jenny Boulton from Kennedy and Graven attended the meeting virtually to provide information and answer any questions of the Council regarding the City s participation in securing conduit debt for Roers Companies Project Holdings LLC They plan to use the funding to construct a 180 -unit affordable multi -family apartment building in Burnsville. The City has participated in a number of conduit debt projects outside of the city limits. The City partners with the organization that wants to use the City's bonding authority. The City can offer its authority to other worthwhile organizations which it does in exchange for a fee. Our current rate is 90 basis points of the project amount (0.90%). The funds ale deposited in the 414 Development Fund, which is currently paying the debt levy from the 2019 Eustis Street/ Roselawn Avenue reconstruction project This project may result in enough funds to cover through the final debt levy payment in 2029. LAUD F,RDALE CITY COUNCIL M1;1,TING MINUThS Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 6 of 6 December 12, 2023 Participating in conduit debt project does not create a financial obligation for the City. The following resolution allows for the call of a public hearing on the matter at a future meeting. Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 121223G Resolution Relating to the Issuance of Conduit Revenue Bonds to Finance the Costs of a Multifamily Rental Housing Facility and Under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 462C, as Amended; Granting Preliminary Approval Thereto; Calling for a Public Heating; Kstablishing Compliance with Certain Reimbursement Regulations Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as Amended; and Taking Certain Other Actions with Respect Thereto (Burnsville Heart of the City Affordable Multifamily Project). This was seconded by Councilor Sayre and carried unanimously. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Butkowski stated that the January 9 council meeting would include the November financial report; starting an environmental commission; designating official depository and investment institutions; 2024 committee appointments and assignments; establishing the 2024 fee schedule; and establishing the 2024 City Council meeting schedule. Work Session A. Community Development Update Butkowski shared that the new public works truck will be purchased on December 13. The auditors will be here next week for their first visit. Staff are working with Metro-Inet to price security cameras to be installed at City Hall and the public works building Ramsey County Manager Ryan 0 Connor will be leaving to head the Metropolitan Council. B Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council. John Mueller, 1931 Carl Street, asked the Council about the zoning code update process and if the Council was willing to reduce the minimum lot use size. There being nobody else interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adjournment Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to adjourn the meeting at 8:33 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, antLetg- (-1474-6 Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk