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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/13/2006LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2006 Mayor pro tem Christensen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked administrator Heck to call roll. Council members present: Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty and Clay Christensen acting as Mayor. Mayor Jeffrey Dains was not present. Staff present: Jim Bownik and Heather Butkowski. Mayor pro tem Christensen asked for additions or deletions to the agenda. There being none, Council member Doherty moved and Hawkinson seconded the agenda. The motion carried. Mayor pro tem Christensen asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes of May 23, 2006. There being none, council member Gill -Gerbig moved and council member Hawkinson seconded the minutes as presented and the motion carried. Mayor pro tem Christensen asked for questions on the claims. There being none, council member Hawkinson moved and Doherty seconded approval of the claims in the amount of $52,953.16 and the motion carried. Mayor pro tem Christensen stated this is the time for members of the audience to address the council on items not on the agenda. Gayle Strain, of 1805 Fulham addressed the council regarding the city's policy and process in gaining compliance with tall grass. Mayor pro -tem Christensen stated the city sends letters requesting compliance with city ordinance regarding rank growth. If the homeowner does not comply as requested the city then takes care of the problem and bills the resident for the cost. Gill -Gerbig added that if there are persistent problems residents are encouraged to contact city hall. The consent agenda authorizing use of the community park and adding Northeastern Companies as an approved broker carried on a motion by council member Gill -Gerbig and a second by Doherty. Butkowski addressed the council regarding the proposed ordinance to restrict parking in the community park parking lots. She stated staff worked with police chief Ohl on the wording of the sign. Before placement of the signs, the council needs to pass a resolution prohibiting parking. Council member Hawkinson moved Resolution #061306A A Resolution Establishing Parking Restrictions in Lauderdale Community Park. Council member Doherty seconded the Pagel of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 135 2006 resolution and the resolution carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty and Christensen all voting yes. Butkowski then spoke to the next issue, a resolution to install no parking signs along Fulham Street from Larpenteur Avenue to Spring Street. She stated there have been safety concerns raised and there have also been accidents involving parked vehicles. Due to the design of the road and curb in this area, vehicles are parked in the traffic lane. To increase safety, staff is suggesting no parking in this area. Gill -Gerbig took a moment to read from a police report of an accident that occurred this week in which a parked vehicle's rear wheel was sheered off by another vehicle going down the road. She spoke in favor of the no parking, but also raised the issue of the lack of off street parking for some residents. After further discussion, mayor pro tem Christensen said he would like to hear from the residents along Fulham Street as the city has not contacted or informed the residents of the potential change. It was suggested that staff also communicate with Falcon Heights and the University of Minnesota. The council laid over consideration of this item until the June 27 meeting to give staff the opportunity to receive comment from residents and others on the proposed parking restrictions. Rep. Greiling appeared before the council to discuss the results of the legislative session. She addressed two specific legislative actions: eminent domain and joint powers liability issues. She then discussed the success of the session regarding enhanced environmental issues. She stated the legislature passed a bill requiring the three coal fired power plants to reduce mercury emissions by 90% over the next several years. Following her presentation, the audience and council asked questions. Several questions related to health care and education. Rep. Greiling said that health care is the top issue in the state even surpassing education funding. Another resident asked about the possibility of more stadium discussions next session. She reported she hoped not, however the Vikings have language in the Twins stadium bill that states the Vikings stadium will be constructed in Anoka and there will not be a referendum required. Mayor pro -tem Christensen asked about local government aid (LGA). Rep. Greiling said that she supports LGA funding especially if the funding is need based. She said that some cities receiving LGA may not have the same need as other cities and therefore give LGA a negative image. Christensen then asked about the possibility of local levy limits. Rep. Greiling said she does not support caps on local governments' ability to raise property taxes. She feels the state Page 2 of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 133 2006 needs to provide better funding to local governments, schools, etc, so that local governments are not forced to raise taxes. The council thanked Rep. Greiling for her presentation. Bownik discussed the topic of tennis court rehabilitation. He said that the city's engineering firm provided a proposal and timeline to develop a comprehensive master plan for park facilities that include the tennis courts, basketball courts, lighting, hockey rink paving, trail improvements and a skate park. Mr. Stuart Krahn of BRAA discussed with the council the proposal and master plan concepts. Gill -Gerbig questioned the construction of two half court basketball facilities rather than one full court facility. She further suggested that the community be asked to weigh in on the issue. Gayle Strain volunteered to assist in handing out and collecting surveys. Following some additional questions and comments, Hawkinson moved to authorize the engineering firm to prepare plans and specifications for a park master plan. Motion seconded by Doherty and carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty and Christensen voting yes. Due to the large number of residents present at the meeting to address the council on nuisance housing, the council chose to move into their work session to hear from the residents. The council moved to work session at 8:20 p.m. Pavel Jany of 1772 Eustis Street addressed the council. He told the council he has lived at this address for the past five years with his family. He said he is next door to 1768 Eustis and since some college students moved out about four years ago, renter's cycle through the house regularly and over the past year problems with behavior has become worse. He described situations where people walk around on his deck at night, wonder around his property, his security lights have been unscrewed and on one occasion a bloodied individual pounded on his window for help at night. He is concerned for the children in the neighborhood, for his property value and the potential for this type of problem to spread throughout the city. Leslie Kratz of 1773 Carl stated her main concern is the safety of the children. Adrian Stec of 1762 Eustis commented to the council about the physical condition of the house, grounds and garage. He said there is an electrical conduit exposed in the yard, windows are missing and boarded up, there is broken glass in the driveway and yard and the siding is peeling. He also said the condition of the yard is bad with grass and weeds growing in an uncontrolled manner. He said the property continues to decline and as a result, the quality of the resident also declines. Mae Schmidt of 1774 Eustis Street told the council she documented several incidents at the address and recorded license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions. She reported she calls the police regularly and said that when leaving this evening to come to the meeting, there Page 3 of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2006 were three police cars at the house. She wanted to know why residents need to wait until something happens. Pamela Stec of 1762 Eustis said she is home during the day and on one occasion saw a woman who appeared to be moving into the house. The woman went into the house and came out angry demanding her money back stating there was a mouse infestation. She, like the other residents, sees the property getting worse and does not see the situation improving. Other residents commented that the house is currently not occupied; however, during the evenings, cars will arrive with prospective renters who come and go. In the past, when the house was unoccupied, people would arrive late in the evening, but in the morning, the cars and the people would be gone. Ms. Sweet of 1840 Walnut Street said she and her husband just moved into their house in November and are now reconsidering their decision. They experienced several problems from the residents at 1846 Walnut. She expressed concern over her property value. She said they are planning to undertake a major renovation of the home but due to the problems next door and across the street, they might reconsider their decision. She wants to know why single family home owners are forced to consider selling their homes because of the activities of renters and landlords who do not keep up their property. Christensen told the audience the city council will consider a rental licensing ordinance at the next meeting. The city attorney will also be present to answer questions. The council began discussionsof a possible compensation increase for the City Administrator. Following the discussion, council member Gill -Gerbig moved to increase the compensation for the administrator by 4% or $2,800 over the next year. Council member Doherty seconded the motion and it passed with Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, and Christensen all voting yes. The council closed the meeting at 9:57 p.m. for the purpose of discussing labor negotiations. The meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m. on a motion by Hawkinson and a second by Doherty. Page 4 of 4