HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/09/2008LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Pagel of4
December 9, 2008
Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Councilors present: Lara Mac Lean, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay
Christensen, and Mayor Jeff Dains.
Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City
Administrator.
Mayor. Dains asked for additions, deletions, or changes to the meeting agenda. Mayor
Dains added annual employee recognition to the agenda.
Councilor Hawkinson moved to approve the agenda with the addition. Councilor
Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Councilor Christensen moved approval of the November 25, 2008, City Council
minutes. Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Councilor Hawkinson moved approval of the claims totaling $74,205.94. Councilor
Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Mayor Dains asked if members of the public wished to address the Council. No one was
present to address the Council.
Mayor Dains asked if councilors wished to remove items from the consent agenda.
Councilor Doherty removed the item concerning 2009 depositories and investment
institutions,
Councilor Hawkinson moved the consent agenda approving 2009 rental housing
licenses, 2009 investment policy, 2009 city council meeting schedule, emergency
radio grant application to Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (MESB),
resident reimbursement arrangement with the cities of Falcon Heights and
Roseville, PCIC minutes from November 17, and pay request #3 in the amount of
$2,780.46 to Dunaway Construction for hockey rink improvements. Councilor
Christensen seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Bownik presented infonnation on the proposed changes to Lauderdale ordinance Title 9,
Chapter 7 and Title 10, Chapter 8. The ordinances currently regulate the constntetion and
location of fences. Bownik explained the changes would expand application of the
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 2 of 4
ordinances to retaining walls. The change was a need identified by the Council at a
previous meeting.
Mayor Dains opened the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. As no one was present to address
the Council, the public hearing was closed at 7:39 p.m.
Mayor Darns noted the setback for garages running parallel to the alley is three feet, so
this set back of two feet seemed reasonable. He asked Bownik if residents could still
apply for variances in case of hardship. Bownik responded they could.
Councilor Christensen moved Resolution 120908C — A resolution authorizing
publication of summary ordinance No. 08-02 by title and summary. Councilor
Doherty seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
At the previous meeting, Butkowski provided summary budget information and the
Council held a public hearing. No changes were proposed at the time and the final
budget as presented in the Council packet did not reflect any changes.
h1 light of proposed cuts to local government aid (LGA), Butkowski asked the Council if
they would consider a special meeting before the end of the year if the aid was cut.
Mayor Dains wanted to keep the option open.
Councilor Christensen moved Resolution 120908B — A resolution approving the
2009 budget and levying 2008 taxes payable in 2009 in the amount of $558,381. This
includes an estimated fiscal disparities amount of $101,843 but no debt levy for the
2000, 2002, or 2003 general obligation bonds. Councilor Doherty seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
Mn/DOT previously requested the Council choose a color for the signal posts on the new
TH280 Bridge; the Council chose architectural brown. Subsequently, other Mn/DOT
officials informed city staff that the new styles of posts made from galvanized steel and
anodized aluminum are best left unpainted. They asked the Council to reconsider the
previous request for painted posts. The brown posts would now cost the City $5,000.
Additionally, Mn/DOT requests the Council consider the traffic control agreement for the
new traffic control signals for the TH280 Bridge. The City is required to contribute
$6,480 to the Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) system.
Councilor Doherty moved Resolution 120908D — A resolution approving Mn/DOT
agreement No. 93699R to remove the existing temporary traffic control signals and
install new traffic control signals with street lights, emergency vehicle preemption,
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 3 of 4
interconnect, and signage on Trunk Highway 280 and County State Aid Highway 30
(Larpenteur Avenue). Councilor Mac Lean seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Councilor Christensen moved to request Mn/DOT not paint the TH280 Bridge
signal posts architectural brown; instead they request they be left unpainted
galvanized steel and anodized aluminum. Councilor Doherty seconded the motion
and it passed with Councilors Hawkinson, Mac Lean, Doherty, and Christensen
voting yes, and Mayor Dains voting no.
The Council continued the discussion from the previous meeting regarding ways to
celebrate Lauderdale's 60`h anniversary. Mayor Dains describes how the 50`' anniversary
was celebrated including speeches from state and federal representatives at Day in the
Park. Councilors continued to feel that Day in the Park was the most appropriate event to
celebrate the anniversary. The Council suggested staff contact state representatives
Greiling and Marty, Governor Pawlenty, and congressional representatives McCollum
and Klobuchar. Additionally, the PCIC will be asked for their feedback and ideas.
Mayor Dains asked whether a budget should be set for the event. Councilors Mac Lean
and Christensen felt the event should stay within the current budget set for Day in the
Park. Along with that, Councilor Doherty suggested moving ahead with the low-cost
items listed on the council memo. These included highlighting the anniversary on the
city's community television channel, website, newsletter, and stationary in addition to
discussing article opportunities with the Roseville Review and Park Bugle. Mayor Dains
also suggested having CTV do a program on Lauderdale's yearlong celebration.
Moving to the next agenda item, Butkowski explained that staff member Colleen
Callahan worked in recreation programming for a number of years and suggested
opportunities to partner with neighboring communities to bring more recreation
programming here. Her memo explained some of the options available and she asked the
Council whether they would like her to pursue these opportunities.
After some discussion, the Council would like staff to bring back more information about
specific programs and their costs for further consideration. They like the idea of working
with the City of Roseville as Lauderdale is part of the Roseville School District and
Lauderdale kids have relationships with other kids in the Roseville area.
Councilor Doherty removed the agenda item naming the 2009 depository and investment
institutions due to a work-related conflict of interest. There was no further discussion on
the item.
LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Lauderdale City Hall
1891 Walnut Street
Lauderdale, MN 55113
Page 4 of 4
Councilor Christensen moved Resolution 120908A — A resolution designating
Lauderdale's official depository and investment institutions for 2009. Councilor
Hawkinson seconded the motion and it passed with Councilors Hawkinson, Mac
Lean, Christensen, and Mayor Dains voting yes, and Councilor Doherty abstaining.
Mayor Dain added employee recognition to the agenda. He noted that the City Council
traditionally offers a bonus holiday each year to staff members in recognition of their
work throughout the year. He proposed the same for this year if the Council agreed.
Councilor MacLean moved to provide each employee a recognition day be used
between December 10 and January 31, 2009. Councilor Doherty seconded the
motion and it carried.
Butkowski read the agenda items for the next meeting which include: 2009 committee
appointments, 2009 official newspaper, 2009 gas station, tree, mechanical, cigarette, and
3.2 liquor licenses, travel policies, 2009 employee wage adjustment, 2009 fee schedule,
and request by V. Matheny regarding the former lift station near 1974 Walnut Street.
The Council moved into the work session.
Mayor Dains asked that a discussion on lot sizes and lot splits be added to the agenda.
He said he felt the decision at the previous meeting allowing the Rysgaards to build on a
37 foot lot was precedent setting and wanted to revisit the rational used to make the
decision. He noted that previous comprehensive plan steering committee felt the goal
should be to create bigger lots, but in this case a smaller lot was created.
BoNvnik addressed the Council. He said the current zoning ordinance allows residents to
fairly simply divide their lots once consolidated. In the Rysgaard case, however, the
existing house encroached on the proposed new lot which necessitated a replat. He
questioned whether the ease in which residents can consolidate and divide lots ultimately
ran coulter to the goal of larger lots within Lauderdale.
Councilor Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Mac Lean
seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Butkowski
City Administrator