HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/27/2007MINUTES OF THE LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH27, 2007
GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP & REGULARLYSCHEDULED MEETING
5:00 p.m. Lauderdale City Hall, 1891 Walnut Street
Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. and asked City Administrator Heck to
call the roll. Council members present: Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen
Doherty, Clay Christensen and Mayor Jeff Dains.
Also present for the meeting: Assistant to the City Administrator, Jim Bownik; Heather
Butkowski, Deputy City Clerk; David Hinrichs, Public Works Coordinator, and Joe Hughes,
Maintenance worker.
Heck started the meeting by providing a summary review of the 2006 goals and the current
status in the achievement of these goals. Highlights include the progress on the park and
county road turn backs.
Heck then outlined a few general areas staff discussed for 2007, including completing the
work on the park and turn backs. Heck then asked for the Council's thoughts on goals /
projects for 2007.
The Council discussed two main areas of interest, the City Park and redevelopment at
Larpenteur and Eustis. The Council also addressed the status of county roads. The main
focus of the discussions was to develop or prepare more detailed plans for the park and open
space as well as a plan for the redevelopment of Larpenteur and Eustis.
The specific direction the Council wants staff to take is the development of a long range, 10 —
15 year park and open space improvement plan that includes an assessment of the types of
amenities, best use of space, possible trail connections / expansion, and general costs for
various improvements. The Council also suggested inclusion of funding mechanisms for
improvements. Generally, the idea is to further enhance the existing "master plan" for the
park and open space. It was suggested to use information generated by the Comprehensive
Plan Committee and the PLIC.
Heck then asked if there were other priorities the Council had and the Mayor mentioned the
Larpenteur Avenue and Eustis Street area. He indicated a desire to see something happen at
this location. Dave indicated the BP station may also be headed for closure. Heck asked the
Council how aggressive or proactive they wanted to be in seeking redevelopment of the area.
He said there are opportunities available for Lauderdale to acquire property in the area and
thereby exert some control over the future of the area.
The Council discussed how to address the redevelopment of this area. Council member
Doherty suggested starting where they left off in late November by reviewing the outline of
options presented by Dave Callister and Jessica Cook of Ehlers and Associates.
Following additional discussion, the Council felt that working on a plan for the area is a good
place to start including funding options and possibilities.
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Heck asked if there were any additional suggestions for possible goals / work plan items.
Council member Gill -Gerbig mentioned the Inflow and Infiltration program and where the
City is in terms of Zoning. Council member Doherty asked about the City's web page and
progress on improvement.
Heck then went over the possible goals for 2008 that included park and open space
improvements, trails, road maintenance, inflow and infiltration, and possible facility
improvements. Heck suggested the Council continue to develop the 2008 goals with the
2008 budget.
The Council recessed at 7:00 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Dains called the meeting to order and asked
Heck to take the roll.
Present for the regular meeting of the City Council were Council members: Gill -Gerbig,
Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Mayor Dains.
Also present were Bownik, Butkowski, and Hinrichs.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any additions or deletions to the agenda. There being none,
Council member Christensen moved and Hawkinson seconded the approval of the agenda
and the motion carried.
Mayor Dains asked for corrections or additions to the minutes of Tuesday, March 13, 2007.
There being none, the minutes were approved on a motion by Council member Hawkinson
and a second by Council member Gill -Gerbig.
Mayor Dains asked if any members of the Council had questions on the claims. There were
no questions. Council member Christensen moved approval of the claims in the amount of
$43,523.50. Council member Hawkinson seconded the motion and it carried.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any members of the audience who wished to address the
Council on items not included on the agenda. No one was present who wished to address the
Council.
Mayor Dains asked Council member if they wished to remove any items from the consent
agenda.
Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and member Hawkinson seconded approval of the
Consent Agenda including: 1. awarding the street sweeping bid to McPhillips in the
amount of $5,600.00; 2. approving the tennis court colors as dark and light green; and
3. approving rental housing licenses.
Mayor Dains introduced the public hearing regarding the removal of an elm tree infected
with Dutch Elm disease. Butkowski reported the tree in question was removed that
afternoon; therefore, the public hearing to authorize the City to remove the tree was not
necessary.
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Mayor Dains introduced Resolution #032707A, a resolution in support of legislation to
increase the Local Government Aid. Heck reported the bills in the House and Senate
(HF1534 / S171046) create a third "pot" of money dedicated to fully developed metropolitan
cities and, if passed and signed by the governor, would increase the LGA Lauderdale receives
by approximately 50%.
Council member Christensen moved adoption of Resolution #032707A. Council
member Gill -Gerbig seconded the motion and the motion carried on a roll call vote with
members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Dains all voting yes.
Mayor Dains then introduced Resolution #03270713, a resolution in support of legislation
requiring counties to make grants to small metro cities from County State Aid Highway
(CSHA) Funds to support repair and maintenance of local city roads.
Council member Gill -Gerbig moved resolution #032707B. Council member Doherty
seconded the motion and it carried on a role call vote with members Gill -Gerbig,
Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Dains all voting yes.
Mayor Dains introduced the dog park item and asked Bownik to provide additional
background.
Bownik provided background and the process that brought this issue to this point. He stated
a group of residents approached him regarding the creation of a dog park at the Walnut / Ione
open space. The group discussed the issue with the Park Committee and the Comprehensive
Plan committee who endorsed the idea. Bownik then prepared additional information on the
creation of the dog park at this site including costs and facilities needed to accommodate such
a park. The idea with costs was presented to the Council and following discussion, the
Council suggested the idea be sent back to the Park Committee with consideration of using
the hockey rink as a temporary test for a dog park as cost was an issue.
Bownik reported this suggestion was presented to the Park Committee and the Committee
endorsed the idea. The issue is now before the Council for formal approval of the dog park.
Council member Hawkinson asked what staff would do to prepare for this new facility.
Bownik responded staff will close the 12' open area and create a small entry area
approximately 3' for access to the hockey rink.
Council member Gill -Gerbig inquired if staff will still be able to maintain the hockey rink in
the winter with the larger area closed off.
Bownik stated the larger area will be a gate and staff will be able to maintain the rink.
Mayor Dains asked about signage. Bownik stated signage will be installed. Bownik also
stated the City will need to provide some type of box to hold plastic bags and a garbage can.
Council member Gill -Gerbig wanted to make sure that it is clearly indicated the dog park is
temporary in nature and also wanted to say many plans for the park have been waiting in line
for quite some time.
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Council member Gill -Gerbig moved to create a temporary dog park in the hockey rink.
Council member Christensen seconded the motion and it passed on a roll call vote with
members Gill -Gerbig, Doherty, Christensen and Dains voting yes and member
Hawkinson voting no.
Jean Blat addressed the council and thanked them for their decision to create a dog park. She
asked when the hockey rink would be ready for use. She added someone placed cyclone
fencing across the large opening.
Council member Hawkinson asked Hinrichs when he felt they could get the gate installed.
Hinrichs stated this project is a lower priority. The first priority is jetting the sewers.
After a bit more discussion, Council member Gill -Gerbig moved to have the hockey rink
ready for use as a temporary dog park on Friday, June 1, 2007. Council member
Christensen seconded the motion and is carried on a roll call vote with Gill -Gerbig,
Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen, and Dains all voting yes.
Mayor Dains introduced the next item and asked Heck to provide background on the subject.
Heck deferred the item to Butkowski who has been working on this subject.
Butkowski said staff has been meeting with neighboring cities on the development of
connected trail systems and the potential of applying for a grant from the Non -motorized
Trail Pilot Project (NTP). She went on to say that St. Paul is submitting an application for
funding a project along Como Avenue from Raymond to Minneapolis. She said the project
proposal is to add bike on Como Avenue, provide countdown timers at the lights, and install
"bump outs" at these intersections as well. She said Roseville and Falcon Heights are
submitting a joint application that also includes the University of Minnesota to create a new
bike and pedestrian path down Fairview Avenue to the University of Minnesota where it will
connect to the University bike and pedestrian transit way. She ended by stating the projects
tie into plans discussed at the comprehensive plan committee for possible trails in
Lauderdale.
Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and Hawkinson seconded sending the letters of
support for these two grant applications and the motion carried.
Items for consideration for the April 10, 2007 meeting include a legislative update and
presentation of the 2006 audit.
Mayor Dains announced the Council is going in to the work session part of the meeting,
which is a continuation of the regular meeting, just in a different format with the time being
8:00 P.M.
The first item on the work session agenda was discussion of a practice board for the new
tennis courts.
Bownik told the Council the original plan for the tennis court renovation did not include the
installation of a practice board. He stated the contractor quoted the cost to install an 8' x 40'
practice board. He said it's proposed to go on the northwest corner of the court and will
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require 3" posts rather than the 2 3/4" posts. He said the material for the practice board can
be either plywood or fiberglass; Bownik said he recommends the fiberglass option.
Bownik provided another possible option and that is for the City to purchase and install the
practice board at a later date, however doing so may increase the liability to the city.
Discussion then focused on the fencing installation, specifically the posts to hold the practice
board. Bownik indicated the engineer, Bonestroo, stated no concrete was needed to secure
the posts; that driving the posts further down is sufficient. Hinrichs disagreed and indicated
most tennis court screens allow the wind to flow through, the practice board will not. Mayor
Dains stated when the council decided to move forward with this project, he wanted to make
sure it was done right and asked staff to re-evaluate the issue of concrete footing for the posts
that will support the practice board. Council member Hawkinson inquired if the quote from
the contractor included cement footings. Bownik was not sure.
Council member Christensen moved approval of an 8' x 20' fiberglass practice board
concept installed by the contractor with the detail on the total cost for the installation.
Council member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried with all members voting
yes.
Mayor Dains introduced the next item for discussion and asked Heck to provide a brief
background.
Heck told the council staff is seeking direction in the area of nuisance detection and
enforcement. He stated the general practice is providing notice in the City Newsletter of the
"Spring Clean-up" and inspection. Following the inspections, nuisances are handled on a
complaint basis. Heck also stated there are different types of nuisances and these violations
are contained in different parts of the city code.
Butkowski added the process has been improved, but it could be much faster. She said
historically, the city sends about three letters before coming to the council for public hearing
and abatement. She said by the time the issue gets to this process, several months have
passed. She also added that some issues call for legal action such as citations and complaints,
while others only need abatement ordered by the council without a formal legal remedy.
Hinrichs stated his preference is to see a more proactive and consistent enforcement of the
nuisance ordinance including the police issuing citations for violations where necessary. He
also agreed with Butkowski the entire nuisance ordinance needs to be cleaned -up and
modernized.
Mayor Dains wanted to know what other communities are doing in this area before moving
forward.
Council member Gill -Gerbig asked what other cities are doing and how many of these issues
would go away if the rental standards were applied to all residential property in the city.
Council member Hawkinson said the nuisance ordinance needs to be refined and
consolidated into one ordinance. She also would like to see what other communities are
doing in this area.
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Council member Doherty was concerned about only enforcing the nuisance ordinance and
other regulations during the spring clean-up and having it as a complaint basis thereafter.
She wanted to know if this was a council policy as she felt there should be continuous
enforcement. Heck indicated he was told by staff that in the past, it wasn't felt there was
support by the council to pursue nuisance and other issues.
Council member Gill -Gerbig confirmed that in the past, when staff pursued nuisance and
other issues, the Council waived violations when residents appealed.
Hinrichs stated that past administrators said nuisances would only be looked into if a
complaint was made by a non-employee resident.
Council member Doherty stated she supports year round enforcement of nuisances.
After additional discussion, the council directed staff to gather additional information from
other communities on nuisance ordinances and begin to work on developing a revised
ordinance for Lauderdale.
Heck informed the Council the city will need to acquire sewer and storm sewer infrastructure
maps from Bonestroo. Heck said he spoke with Tom Kellogg and the estimated cost for
these maps is approximately $6,000. He said the maps are required as part of the
comprehensive plan process.
There being no further items for discussion by the Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:10
p.m. on a motion by Council member Christensen and a second by Council member
Hawkinson.
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