Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/08/2014LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Pagel of 3 April 8, 2014 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Councilor absent: Denise Hawkinson. 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. Mayor Dains added the Cable Commission Public Hearing and a discussion of bees to the agenda. Councilor Grove moved to approve the amended agenda. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the March 25, 2014 City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved approval of the claims totaling $87,886.28. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Grove moved approval of the Consent Agenda which included a PCIC appointment. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Informational Presentation Audit Report Andy Berg of Abdo, Eick and Meyers, the City's auditing firm, presented the 2013 audit and spoke to the City's financial condition. Berg issued a "clean" opinion and said the City is maintaining a stable general fund balance at 60% of the next year's anticipated operating expenses. Berg stated that general fund revenues came in at $54,000 above budget and expenditures at $52,000 below budget. Tax receipts and intergovernmental aid (mostly Local Government Aid) make up 50% and 42% respectively of revenues collected in 2013. Berg stated the special revenue funds are sufficiently funded. He also observed that the debt burden of the City has decreased as the street improvements bonds have been paid off. All debts related to the street improvements bonds will be paid fully in 2015. Discussion Items Use of Interim Ordinances At the previous council meeting, the city attorney explained that interim ordinances (moratoriums) can be used when a City Council feels it needs to study an issue. In this case, the Council could consider an interim ordinance to study pawn shops within the City before acting on Best Pawn's zoning text amendment request. The City Council can also forego the interim LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 April 8, 2014 ordinance and act on the zoning amendment request within the time frame established by state law. Mayor Dains said he preferred the Council forgo the interim ordinance and act on the zoning application. Councilor Gaasch expressed concern about the use of staff time in studying the pawn shop use if the City exercised the interim ordinance. Mayor Dains agreed and believed it would cost at least $5,000.00 to hire a consultant to conduct the study. The Council also expressed concerns about a pawn shop's impact on police services and costs. Easement Agreements for Larpenteur Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project The owner of 2383 Larpenteur signed the temporary construction easement agreement and the Korean Service Center signed the temporary and permanent easement agreements. In exchange for the permanent easement for the sidewalk project, the Korean Service Center will receive sidewalk improvements on their property along Eustis Street. Councilor Grove moved to execute the Temporary Easement for Construction agreements with the owners presented and the permanent easement agreement with the Korean Service Center as presented. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Additional Items Cable Commission Public Hearing and Presentation Mayor Dains mentioned that Comcast will be presenting on the City's cable television franchise renewal on Thursday, April 17 at the City of Shoreview City Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. After the presentation, the Cable Commission will hold a public hearing to allow for community input on the proposed franchise agreement. Mayor Dains encouraged Lauderdale residents to attend the public hearing. Agenda items for the April 22 Council Meeting may include a discussion of the Music under the Trees events, a presentation from Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire, and a discussion with St. Anthony City Manager Mark Casey regarding the police contract. 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. Work Session: Proposed Tobacco Ordinance Revisions Butkowski stated the legislature is considering bills that would regulate electronic cigarettes in the same manner as regular tobacco products. That legislation would supplement the City's proposed ordinance. Based on feedback during the tobacco ordinance public hearing, the LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 April 8, 2014 Council discussed whether to change the penalties for compliance check failures as one of the two City licensed tobacco vendors felt the proposed penalties were too stringent. The Council discussed the penalties and came to a general consensus. Within 24 months, the first violation would incur a $200 fine, the second violation a $400 fine and a three-day license suspension, and a third violation would incur an $800 fine and a year's suspension of the tobacco license. The Council also felt compliance checks should happen twice per year. Staff will include this language in the draft ordinance and bring it back for approval at a future meeting. Community Development Update Luther Seminary has a signed purchase agreement for the sale of their student housing. The Council can expect to see a replat request in the next few months. The Seminary looks to close the sale in August. Brandychase Condominiums Board of Directors (BOD) has decided not to approve the temporary easement agreement for the Larpenteur Avenue sidewalk project. Without the agreement, the sidewalk must be placed directly behind the curb instead of behind a grassy boulevard. The City will submit construction plans for both designs to Ramsey County and Mn/DOT for approval should the BOD change course and want the enhanced design. Councilors commented on the Brandychase BOD's decision not to sign the temporary construction easement agreement. Since snow removal is more difficult and costly directly behind the curb, and there is a way to avoid that situation in this case, some Councilors mentioned that the City should not take on the snow removal responsibilities on that block. Butkowski will be meeting with the staff from the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, and Xcel Energy to discuss options for a sidewalk along Eustis Street south of Larpenteur Avenue. Bees Mayor Dains discussed the plight of bees whose population has decreased significantly in recent years. Staff reiterated that the new animal ordinance allows for bees and one Lauderdale resident recently picked up an application but it has not been returned. 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 8:56 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin elly Deputy City Clerk