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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/26/2008LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Pagel of 5 August 26, 2008 Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilors present: Karen Doherty, Clay Christensen, Denise Hawkinson, Lara Mac Lean, and Mayor Jeff Dains. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, Acting City Administrator; Jim.Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator. Mayor Dains asked for any additions, deletions, or changes to the meeting agenda. There being none, Councilor Christensen moved to approve the agenda. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried. Councilor Doherty moved approval of the August 12, 2008, City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried. Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the August 18, 2008, Special City Council meeting minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried. Councilor Christensen moved approval of the claims totaling $25,462.01. Councilor Mac Lean provided the second and the motion carried. Mayor Dains asked if members of the public wished to address the Council. There being none, the Council moved on to the Consent Agenda. The Mayor asked if anyone wished to remove items from the Consent Agenda. Councilor Hawkinson removed item B relating to Rainbow Tree Service's request to use the park. Councilor Mac Lean moved the remaining consent agenda item authorizing the change of signatories. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried. The Council moved on to the first of three variance requests. The first request was a two -foot side yard setback variance and lot coverage variance for 1898 Walnut Street. Bownik explained that the property owner, Jeremy Carr, was requesting a three-foot side yard setback versus the five-foot setback required in the zoning ordinance to build a two stall garage (24' x 24'). The garage also requires a one percent lot coverage variance as the lot would go from 30-31% coverage. The Council opened the public hearing at 7:37 p.m. No one wished to address the Council and the public hearing was closed at 7:38 p.m. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 5 Bownik explained that Joe and Mayken Cox of 1844 Carl Street were requesting a four -foot variance to construct an open-air front yard porch. Generally, the front yard setback is 30 feet. Since the adjacent properties are closer to the property line, they were able to build to within 27 feet without a variance; however, they wish to build within 23 feet of the property line. Their open air porch would be in line with the neighbor to the south. The public hearing opened at 8:02 p.m. Mr. Cox explained the porch was one part of an overall home improvement project including siding, a new roof, replacement windows, and the porch. The house was built in two halves in different decades and he argues the porch will help make the house look more uniform. When asked by the Council about previous requests, Bownik said the Council has generally approved them since he has been on staff. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the four -foot variance from the front property line for 1844 Carl Street. Councilor Christensen seconded the motion and it carried with all Councilors voting yes. Bownik introduced the lot division request from the owners of 1948 Walnut Street as the original plats had been consolidated into one property identification number. After being surveyed, the owners', Tim and Carolyn Rysgaard, realized the existing structure was 2.2 feet from the side property line thereby creating an encroachment which makes the northern platted lot unbuildable by the City's zoning codes and the State Building Code. Bownik asked the Council to deny or approve the request so staff could prepare the appropriate resolution for the next Council meeting. Mr. Rysgaard addressed the Council. He said they would like to build a 24 foot home constructed to LEED standards which would leave 11 feet between the existing home and the new one. As a lot division would create an unbuildable lot, the Council denied the request. Councilor Christensen moved to direct'staff to create a resolution denying the lot division request. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried with all Councilors voting yes. After further discussion, the Council directed staff to discuss alternatives to a lot split with the owner and bring back information to the next meeting about requirements and timeframes for the alternatives. Butkowski told the Council the computer used by the officers was not functioning and was beyond repair. The City is under no contractual obligation to provide a computer for the police but it does allow them to do their paperwork in the City instead of traveling to Falcon Heights or St. Anthony. Roseville IT quoted a new system that included Microsoft Office. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 4 of 5 One option had Windows XP and the other Windows Vista. Staff suggested ordering the machine with Windows XP as the City's software had not been tested on Vista. Councilor Doherty agreed that a replacement computer was necessary but felt city staff, specifically the Assistant to the City Administrator Bownik, should get the computer and the police should receive his. Councilor Doherty moved to purchase workstation WX4600 with Microsoft Office and a DVD burner at a cost of approximately $1,033.00. Councilor Christensen seconded the motion and it carried with all Councilors voting yes. Councilors Christensen and Mac Lean worked with Acting City Administrator Butkowski on an amendment to her employment agreement. If Butkowski will not be offered or would not accept the City Administrator position after November 30, Butkowski agrees to continue as the acting administrator while the City seeks a new administrator as defined in the employment amendment. Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the employment agreement amendment as provided in the council packet. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried with all Councilors voting yes. Councilor Hawkinson removed item 5B from the consent agenda to clarify what kind of activity Rainbow Tree Service was requesting to do in the Park. Butkowski explained that they sometimes climb trees using a friction method to trim them. As a result, they practice ways to safely rescue a trimmer from a tree should they be hurt while trimming. Councilor Doherty moved to authorize Rainbow Tree Service to use Community Park for tree rescue training provided they carry liability insurance and name the City as an additional insured. Councilor Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried with all Councilors voting yes. Butkowski read the items on the agenda for the next meeting which included: setting 2009 preliminary levy, recycling contract renewal & presentation by Eureka Recycling, participation in MCES I/I Mitigation Program, accident insurance for city volunteers, Laipenteur Avenue Development, and variance requests. The Council then moved into the Work Session. The first item of discussion was Larpenteur Avenue. Mayor Dains questioned whether there should be another meeting with the Larpenteur Avenue property owners; and if so, who would participate. Mayor Dains and Councilors Christensen and Mac Lean volunteered to participate in the meetings. The Council felt the best thing to do was learn more about LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 5 of 5 property owner Ahvo Taipale's plans for the vacant lot. Butkowski was asked to invite him to a future Council meeting. The Council then discussed possible expenses for lighting when the TH280 Bridge is replaced in 2009. Staff received quotes from a vendor that offers the same fixtures as Xcel. Staff anticipates that budgeting $43,000 would cover the cost of the low -maintenance lights. Councilor Hawkinson proposed the idea of decorative plantings in the two triangular spaces around the hockey rink as they are slated to be seeded with grass. As there is limited top soil with gravel underneath, the Council suggested having the area seeded with grass as planned and assess the results next year. Butkowski provided a brief overview of the budget materials included in the packet before the Council discussed a potential levy increase and what the money would be used for. The concern was having enough money to fund park projects. Staff was asked to bring back information on levy increase options and the amount of any projected surplus from 2008. Councilor Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Heather Butkowski Acting City Administrator