HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/28/2007MINUTES OF THE LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007
7.30 pan. Lauderdale City Hall, 1891 Walnut Street
Mayor Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked Administrator Heck to take the
roll. Members present: Council members Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen
Doherty, and Mayor Dains. Council member Clay Christensen was not present.
Also present were staff members Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator, and Heather
Butkowski, Deputy City Clerk.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any additions or deletions to the agenda. There being none,
council member Hawkinson moved to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by council member
Gill -Gerbig and carried.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any additions or corrections to the July 24, 2007, City Council
minutes. There being no amendments to the minutes, council member Doherty moved approval.
Council member Gill -Gerbig seconded the motion and it carried.
Mayor Dains asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being no questions, council
member Gill -Gerbig moved to approve the claims in the amount of $31,302.81. Council
member Doherty seconded the motion and it carried.
Mayor Dains asked if anyone present wished to address the Council on issues not on the agenda.
Karen and Jack Schultz of 1953 Carl Street addressed the Council on an issue relating to the
condition of their front yard and their request to have the City mitigate the slope they claim was
created as a result of the road improvement project in 2002. Mr. and Ms. Schultz provided a
letter and slope calculator outlining their concerns. They commented the slope increased after
the construction project and the sod placed by the City did not hold. They further stated they
attempted to grow grass without success and mowing the slope is difficult. They would like the
City to consider installation of some sort.of retaining wall.
The Mayor thanked them for their comments and said the City will consider the issue at a later
meeting.
Mayor Dains asked if the Council wished to add or remove items from the consent agenda. There
being no items to remove from the consent agenda, council member Hawkinson moved approval
of the consent agenda consisting of the following: setting the September 11, 2007, City Council
meeting start time to 8:00 p.m. and approving the waste hauler license for Veolia. Council
member Gill -Gerbig seconded the motion and it carried.
Heck provided the Council with a brief update on the status of the TH280 project.
Bownik informed the Council the Day in the Park event was cancelled due to inclement weather.
He said the fun run/walk had 17 participants and went well. He thanked the volunteers and those
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who donated to the event. He stated the next event is the annual Halloween Party and the PCIC
will be preparing for this event.
Butkowski updated the Council on the status on the work of the comprehensive plan task force.
She stated the group is close to completing their work and outlined some of the major discussion
points. She said the group hopes to have a mostly completed document for Council review by
the end of September.
Council member Gill -Gerbig announced to the Council her intent to resign effective at the
conclusion of the meeting. She thanked staff, the other Council members, and the community
for allowing her to serve and requested the Council consider allowing her to remain the
representative to the Middle Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO). The
Mayor and Council thanked Gill -Gerbig for her years of service to the City of Lauderdale as a
council member. Following additional discussion and comments, Council member Hawkinson
moved to accept the resignation of Council member Gill -Gerbig and to keep Gill -Gerbig as the
MWMO representative from Lauderdale. Council member Doherty seconded the motion and the
motion carried with Council members Hawkinson, Doherty, and Mayor Dains voting yes;
council member Gill -Gerbig abstained.
The Council discussed traffic calming options including message stripping, radar speed
indicators, and lowering the speed limit. After reviewing materials prepared by staff regarding
cost estimates for message stripping and radar speed signs, the Council consensus was to forgo
the radar speed sign and directed staff to prepare a more comprehensive plan on traffic calming
strategies including costs. The Council wants to discuss this material before spring so the.
strategies can be implemented early next year.
The Council chose to lay over discussion of the preliminary levy until the next meeting when
council member Christensen will be present.
The Council set the agenda for the next meeting:
1) Larpenteur Avenue planning
2) 1953 Carl Street Request
3) Council member appointment discussion
4) 2008 Preliminary Levy Resolution
5) Cross Country Race preparations
6) Social Room Floor quotes
7) Bonestroo mapping work
8) Park Committee Appointment
9) Resolution of Commendation for Karen Gill -Gerbig
Butkowski walked the Council through the final sections of the proposed nuisance ordinance.
Time was spent discussing the particulars of outside storage, rank growth and residential
composting.
Council member Gill -Gerbig motioned to adjourn the meeting and council member Hawkinson
offered a second and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
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Respectfully. Submitted,
Brian W. Heck
City Administrator
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