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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/28/2014LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 January 28, 2014 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Councilors absent: Denise Hawkinson and Roxanne Grove. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Kevin Kelly, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. Butkowski added the Metropolitan Council's Inflow and Infiltration Grant to the agenda. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the amended agenda. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the January 14, 2014 City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved approval of the claims totaling $33,914.71. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved approval of the December Financial Report and the Fourth Quarter / Year End Investment Report. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Discussion Items Easement Agreement with the owners of 2449 Larpenteur Avenue The property owners signed the easement agreement before the meeting and now the Council must execute the agreement to make it official. Butkowski stated the property owners support the pedestrian improvement project and see the need to complete the "missing" sections of sidewalk. The easement agreement covers the temporary construction and permanent easements needed. Councilor Gaasch thanked the property owners for working with the City. Councilor Mac Lean moved to execute the easement agreement with Steven Ramlow and Susan Kay and to compensate them $5,180 for the permanent and temporary construction easements. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 January 28, 2014 Support for Ramsey County Bonding Request — Resolution 012814A Mayor Dains and the Council support Ramsey County's efforts to seek bonding money for road improvements in the County. Councilor Mac Lean moved adoption of Resolution 012814A - A Resolution Supporting Ramsey County's Request for TCAAP Road Improvements at 35W/Highway 96 and 35W/County Road H. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. City Labs Project The Council discussed the City Labs Project at the last Council Meeting. The City will partner with the Cities of St. Anthony and Falcon Heights and the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities if selected for the grant. Projects identified by the cities will be incorporated into the students' curriculum with the outcomes being research and materials the City's identify. Councilor Gaasch moved adoption of Resolution 012814B — A Resolution Supporting Application to the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities for the CityLabs Program. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously Additional Items Inflow and Infiltration Grant The Metropolitan Council is offing financial support to property owners to fix their private sewer lines in order to reduce "clean water" getting into the public sanitary sewer system. Butkowski stated that four residents have expressed interest in applying for a grant as of this time. The Council previously discussed limiting the grant to lining projects in order to protect the City's streets. Butkowski said this is proving difficult to implement. Unless the Council has reservations, she said she will submit all applications to the Metropolitan Council for consideration instead of just those for pipe lining. Agenda items for the February 11 Council Meeting may include a discussion of the Larpenteur Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project and Tobacco Ordinance revisions. Mayor Dains explained that the Council was moving into the work session. Work sessions are a continuation of the meeting but not aired on community television. Mayor Dains asked if anyone wished to address the Council. No one came forward. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 January 28, 2014 Work Session: Request for the Waiving of Permit Fees A property owner is requesting the Council waive a building permit requirement and its associated fee as she has a disability and is also on a fixed income. Butkowski explained that staff have been working with the owner for an extended period of time to help her find the resources to raise or repair her garage. The property owner found a person to repair the garage but a permit was not applied for. Staff notified the owner of the need to pull a permit. After a number of conversations, staff received the letter that was included in the Council's packets. While the Council doesn't have the authority to waive the permit requirement, the Council can waive the fee. The Council felt that many residents are on fixed incomes and permit fees were not waived for them. Waiving the fee would set a precedent and could ultimately erode the funding needed to support the City's inspection program. Mayor Dains suggested offering a payment plan to the property owner if they were unable to pay the full amount for the permit. Fun Run The Council is interested in continuing the Fun Run in 2014. Kevin Kelly will take the lead in organization of the event with the City of Falcon Heights. Community Development Update Butkowski said she spoke with Croix Oil recently. They are slowly gearing up their redevelopment plans. Croix Oil also expressed their concerns regarding the draft tobacco ordinance. The Phase II environmental report for 2430 Larpenteur Avenue was completed. The request for the "No Association" letter was sent to the MPCA. After the MPCA review, the closing for the property can be scheduled. There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Gaasch moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, C Kevin Kelly Deputy City Clerk