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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/13/2007MINUTES OF THE LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007 7.30 p.m. Lauderdale City Hall, 1891 Walnut Street Mayor Jeffrey Dains called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked Administrator Heck to call roll. Council members present were Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay Christensen, and Mayor Jeffrey Dains. City Administrator, Brian Heck; Assistant to the Administrator, Jim Bownik; Heather Butkowski, Deputy City Clerk; Marc Goess, Robert Evbayekha, and Chris Roy from Mn/DOT were also present. Mayor Dains requested a change to the order of business for the meeting. He asked the canvassing of the election be moved to the first order of business followed by the appointment and swearing in of the new councilmember. Councilmember Hawkinson moved approval of the agenda as amended. Councilmember Doherty seconded the motion and it carried. Heck read the results of the election. Mayoral race — Incumbent Dains 280 votes. Write-in candidates 21 votes. Dains remains Mayor. Council Seats — Lara Mac Lean — 271 votes, incumbent Denise Hawkinson — 216 votes, Jack Barlow —122 votes, and write-in candidates 9. The two candidates with the most votes won seats on the council. Councilmembers elect are Lara Mac Lean and Denise Hawkinson. Councilmember Christensen moved adoption of Resolution 111307B A Resolution Certifying the Election Returns of the November 6, 2007 General Municipal Election. Councilmember Hawkinson seconded the motion. The motion carried with councilmembers Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. Mayor Dains stated the council agreed to appoint the winner of the general election to the seat vacated by Karen Gill -Gerbig in August. Councilmember Hawkinson moved Resolution 111307A A Resolution Appointing a New Council Member. Councilmember Doherty provided the second. The motion carried with councilmembers Christensen, Doherty, Hawkinson and Mayor Dains all voting yes. Heck administered the Oath of Office to Councilmember elect Lara Mac Lean. Ms. Mac Lean joined the Council for the balance of the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Councilmember Doherty motioned to approve the Council minutes for Tuesday, October 23, 2007. Councilmember Christensen seconded the motion and it carried. Councilmember Hawkinson moved approval of claims totaling $71,108.88. Councilmember Doherty seconded the motion and it carried. Councilmember Christensen moved the consent agenda accepting the PCIC minutes, appointing Kendra Kauppi to the Park Committee, and approving the final payment to Nadeau Excavation for Park Improvements. Councilmember Doherty seconded the motion and the motion carried. Bownik presented information on the annual Halloween party. He thanked all the volunteers and the residents who donated the candy and money that makes the annual event a success. He said photographs are available for residents to look through and take if the photo features their child. Mayor Dains took a moment to thank the Halloween party volunteers and the election judges for a well-run election. Mr. Evbayekha, engineer for the Highway 280 Bridge project, presented information. He stated the department plans to let bids for the bridge replacement in February 2009 with an estimated start date of April 2009. He added the time line is contingent on the completion of the new I -35W Bridge. Evbayekha said the current plan is to close the bridge during construction and to keep traffic on highway 280 flowing in single lanes past the bridge site and to use the ramps as a by-pass while working on underground facilities and pillars. Mayor Dains wanted to ensure Mn/DOT coordinated with St. Paul and Ramsey County on the construction so there is no conflicting construction on alternate routes such as Como Avenue. Councilmember Doherty asked about the Broadway intersection. Chris Roy stated changes will occur on Highway 280 as the I -35W Bridge construction progresses. He said one of the changes is re -opening Broadway. He anticipated this intersection would re -open in the spring of 2009. Due to safety concerns and the potential for a sound wall, Roselawn and Walnut are expected to remain closed. Roy and Evbayekha stated the current plan is to complete the bridge in one construction season which is why they recommend closing the bridge. Mayor Dains asked if keeping the bridge open and staging the process is possible or at least negotiable. Roy indicated the cost could be 25% or more due to contractors needed to mobilize staff and equipment several times. Roy suggested a different bidding process that takes completion time into consideration. He concluded by saying that municipal consent is generally restricted to final design and not the construction process. Councilmember Christensen wanted Mn/DOT to be cognizant of the businesses on Larpenteur Avenue and ensure proper signage is installed. He also voiced his desire to keep the northbound exit ramp open if at all possible during the construction. Councilmember Mac Lean asked about deicing and general safety of the bridge. Roy said they are looking at deicing; however, this technology is usually reserved for longer bridges and may not be cost effective for this project. He said the bridge is being replaced because of age and functionality, not due to being an unsafe structure. Brian Malzer, owner of the Lauderdale Wellness Center and Kirk Buckley, manager of the BP station, said they preferred Mn/DOT complete the project in one season and not stretch it out over two or more seasons. The Council thanked Mn/DOT officials and recessed for 5 minutes. The Council meeting reconvened at 8:48 p.m. Bownik presented information on three options for the updated resident's guide. Option 1 keeps the guide the same, option 2 uses a full color, heavy weight cover, option 3 is full color cover and color paper. Councilmember Hawkinson moved to award the Residents' Guide printing to Rapit Print with Option 2. Councilmember Christensen seconded the motion and the motion carried with councilmembers Christensen, Doherty, Hawkinson, Mac Lean, and Mayor Dains all voting yes. The council set the agenda for the next meeting including 2008 Budget review, presentation by Ramsey County Commissioner Jan Parker and public hearings on draft ordinances. The Council entered closed session to discuss pending litigation at 9:06 p.m. The Council resumed open session at 9:49 p.m. Heck and Butkowski reviewed the comments made by the city attorney on the Inflow and Infiltration ordinance draft and policy. The Council set the public hearing on the ordinance for Tuesday, November 27, 2007. Heck and Butkowski discussed changes made to the draft nuisance ordinance per the city attorney. Mayor Dains raised concerns about the composting section and questioned the enforceability of some of the requirements. The council set a public hearing on the ordinance for Tuesday, November 27, 2007. Councilmember Hawkinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Doherty seconded the motion and the motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brian W. Heck City Administrator