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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/22/2014LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 July 22, 2014 Mayor Dains called the City Council meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. Councilors present: Mary Gaasch, Roxanne Grove, Denise Hawkinson, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Staff present: Jim Bownik, Assistant City Administrator and Kevin Kelly, Deputy City Clerk. Mayor Dains asked for changes to the meeting agenda. There being no changes, Councilor Gaasch moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the July 8, 2014 City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $93,344.46. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mayor Dains asked if Councilors wished to remove items from the Consent Agenda; none did. Councilor Grove moved approval of the June Financial Report and wood chips for the playground at Community Park. Councilor Gaasch seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. MN Night to Unite Bownik stated there is time for residents to sign up to host a block party on August 5, 2014. Mayor Dains and the Council wanted residents to know that National Night Out was a good way for residents to get out and meet their neighbors. Public Hearings Variance Request — Wally & Jan Borner, 1754 Walnut Street The Borner's requested a 7 -foot variance from the front property line setback to add a front porch edition onto their home. Mayor Dains opened the Public Hearing at 7:43 p.m. No one came forward to speak on the proposed variance. The Public Hearing closed at 7:43 p.m. Councilor Gaasch stated she liked to see residents who reinvest in their property. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 July 22, 2014 Councilor Mac Lean moved to approve the 7 -foot front property line variance request of Wally and Jan Borner of 1754 Walnut Street. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Variance Request — Phyllis Carroll, 1784 Walnut Street Bownik stated the variance request is to increase lot coverage to 33% which is 3% above the limit set in ordinance and an 11 -foot variance to the front -yard setback requirements. Bownik explained there has been concern expressed by Ms. Carroll and the neighboring property to the north regarding drainage issues on each property. In light of this, City Engineer Darren Amundsen, recommended requiring a swale on 1784 Walnut to help divert drainage to Walnut Street. Councilor Mac Lean questioned whether the alley improvement which took place years ago impacted drainage onto the two properties. Mayor Dains opened the Public Hearing at 7:56 p.m. Phyllis Carroll of 1784 Walnut Street addressed the Council. Phyllis stated that she has made improvements to her property which have improved drainage to Walnut Street. Those improvements included longer downspouts facing Walnut Street and a trench between the properties. Phyllis stated the storm drains on the alley aren't doing their intended purpose as they are not at the lowest points on the alley. Michael Carroll, Phyllis Carroll's son, stated the drainage problem was the cause of water pooling onto both properties. William Wells, of 3344 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, introduced himself as the architect for the project and stated he would work with the City Engineer to address drainage on the property and would prefer that the City would not recommend the property owners work together on the drainage on site but preferred to address this with their planning. Wally Borner, of 1754 Walnut, addressed the Council. Borner stated he was a former resident of 1784 Walnut and was in favor of any opportunity to upgrade housing in the neighborhood. Lynn Berkeland, of 1774 Walnut, stated she was delighted with the upgrade of housing and stated "anything to improve the neighborhood is a good thing". Mayor Dains closed the Public Hearing at 8:22 p.m. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 July 22, 2014 The City Council also discussed the front yard parking space. The lot has a curb cut but Carroll recently built a garage off the alley with a driveway. Carroll would like to use the driveway for construction purposes and future parking needs. Staff recommended the driveway be removed after construction of the new home as the parking surface would not meet city code. Councilor Grove moved to approve the variance request of Phyllis Carroll, of 1784 Walnut Street, to allow an eleven foot variance to the front yard setback and a three percent increase in lot coverage on the following conditions: property drainage is addressed through site planning in consultation with the City Engineer, and removal of the temporary driveway after construction of the house is completed. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Agenda items for the August 12 Council Meeting may include a discussion of the 2015 budget, approval of payments for recipients of the inflow and infiltration grant program, review of the Luther Seminary preliminary plat, the Eureka Recycling Contract, and nuisance abatement at 1701 Carl Street. Work Session: 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. Mayor Dains wanted to remind residents that the August 12 Council Meeting will commence at 8:00 p.m. due to the State Primary Election. 2015 Budget Due to the absence of City Administrator Butkowski the 2015 Budget was not discussed. Bownik stated that the first Local Government Aid payment was received by the City. There being no further business on the council agenda, Councilor Gaasch moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Grove seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Ke ly Deputy City Clerk