Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/25/2006LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 Mayor Jeffrey Dains called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. and asked administrator Heck to call roll. Council members present: Karen Gill -Gerbig, Denise Hawkinson, Karen Doherty, Clay Christensen and Mayor Jeffrey Dains Staff present: Jim Bownik and Heather Butkowski. Mayor Dains asked for additions or deletions to the agenda. Heck informed the council Mr. Bolger requested removal from the agenda, as he wants to do more research regarding wind generation. Council member Doherty requested addition of "Day in the Park" and Mayor Dains requested removing the pay request for seal coating. There being no other additions or deletions, council member Christensen moved and Hawkinson seconded the agenda. The motion carried. Mayor Dains asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of July 11, 2006. There being none, council member Hawkinson moved and council member Doherty seconded the minutes as presented and the motion carried. Mayor Dains asked for questions on the claims. Council members did not have questions on the claims. Council member Gill -Gerbig moved and Hawkinson seconded. approval of the claims totaling $28,890.27. The motion carried. Mayor Dains stated this was the time for members of the audience to address the council on items not on the agenda. No one was present to address the council. The consent agenda authorized approval of the annual statement indicating the city is not waiving monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minnesota Statute 466.04 and authorized agreement between Ramsey County and the City of Lauderdale for 911 dispatch services, carried on a motion by council member Gill -Gerbig and a second by Christensen. The honorable State Senator John Marty addressed the council and discussed issues facing the State and the citizens of Lauderdale. He told the council the past session seemed a bit more cooperative than past sessions and several things were accomplished. He touched on the transportation issues focusing mainly on transit. Mayor Dains asked about his policy stance on education. Senator Marty responded education is an area requiring greater emphasis. He referenced a story told by a former finance commissioner who grew up in Minneapolis. The former commissioner came from a large family and did not have the money for him to play in the band — the family could not afford the instrument, lessons, or the uniform. The school provided the lessons, instrument and the band uniform. The school did this during the great depression. Senator Marty finds it Page 1 of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 interesting that a school district had the funds during the depression to provide these items, but cannot provide them to students today. Several questions from the audience pertaining to health care were addressed by Senator Marty. He discussed his work on redesigning the current health care system. The council thanked Senator Marty for his continued work on behalf of the City of Lauderdale. Coralie Wilson, executive director of the NSCC presented information on the history of the NSCC and CTV 15. She provided information on the number of volunteer hours used in the production of local shows. Ms. Wilson spent some time updating the council on federal legislation that could present a problem for the commission and the member cities. Under the proposal, the commission and CTV 15 could see a substantial reduction in revenue because the local franchise fee could be cut by as much as 80%. She urged council members and residents to contact their state and federal representatives to oppose the bill. Following a few more questions, the council thanked Ms. Wilson for her comments and excellent work on behalf of the commission. Bownik provided the council with an update on the activities of the Park and Community Involvement Committee. He informed the council that the committee spent the last meeting discussing a possible capital improvement program for the parks. The committee would like to make full use of existing parks and open space. The committee did not think it wise to create new space. Bownik then read a few specific suggestions for each of the city -owned areas. Butkowski then provided an update of the comprehensive plan task force. The committee is taking a couple of nights to look at parks and open space. They are also looking at what the current assets are in the community. The priority areas are reinvesting in the existing infrastructure, creating a master plan for the park, and connectivity to the parks. Council member Christensen asked about the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Eustis. Heck responded he spoke to the Mayor about this issue and that he has not yet contacted the landowners or developers. Heck said he and the Mayor decided it were better to meet with all the business owners as a group. Following significant discussion, the council directed staff to make contact with Dave Callister and Jessica Cook from Ehlers and Associates to see if they would submit a proposal to work with the city on this issue, to get members of the comprehensive planning task force together to generate a "vision" for the area, and have the administrator contact landowners and developers and get more information regarding their plans and possible willingness to work with the city. Bownik outlined the process thus far with the tennis court and expanded park plan. He discussed comments made by residents regarding the basketball courts and other possible amenities for the community park. Stuart Krahn from the city engineer's office presented the council with three concept plans for the development of the park. All plans call for two new Page 2 of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 tennis courts, upgraded trails and other improvements such as relocating the hockey rink and paving the surface. Members of the public commented on the plans following the presentation. Both of the residents stated outdoor basketball courts are not as long as the one we presently have and both recommend expanding the two half courts a bit and installing two more hoops thereby making two full court basketball surfaces. Both indicated the orientation of the courts is not critical. Council member Christensen suggested each council member comment on the concepts. Christensen said he liked the concept that provided a trail along Fulham and the restrooms. He likes concept B with the two shorter basketball courts and the path along the outside of the ball field that runs along Summer Street. He also mentioned an Eagle Scout candidate in the city who is thinking of making safety at the archery range his project. Council member Doherty agreed with much of council member Christensen's comments. She added she liked the water amenity for smaller children as well as creating two play areas, one for older children (10+) and one for younger children. She liked the idea of a full sized hockey rink. Council member Hawkinson suggested improving the parks we have. She liked the idea of two basketball courts as long as they did not infringe on the hill. She liked the trail idea that separated the tennis courts and the basketball court as well as a full sized hockey rink. She suggested paving the hockey rink to provide for roller hockey or a skate park during the summer months. Council member Gill -Gerbig stated a preference for concept B and liked the idea of two play areas. She felt the informal play area could accommodate volleyball and other activities such as bocce ball. Stuart said he will present revised concepts and price estimates at the next council meeting. The council considered the rental -housing ordinance. Mayor Dains said this ordinance has undergone several revisions over the past year and is presented for adoption. Council member Christensen stated the ordinance calls for an inspection of all rental property upon application for the first license. Council member Doherty moved with a second by Christensen to adopt Ordinance 072506A rental housing. The ordinance carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains voting yes. The council then discussed resolution 072506A relating to rental housing licensing fees. Following discussion on the proposed rates, council member Gill -Gerbig moved to have staff do more research and bring back the fee resolution for consideration at the next meeting. Page 3 of 4 LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 Council member Christensen seconded the motion and the motion carried with council members Gill -Gerbig, Hawkinson, Doherty, Christensen and Mayor Dains all voting yes. The council agenda for the August 8, 2006 meeting will include budget discussion, rental housing licensing fees, park concept plans, and Larpenteur Avenue. Work Session convened at 11:00 p.m. Council member Christensen addressed the issue of vacant housing. He said he was approached by a few residents regarding the city's roll in regulating vacant buildings. The council discussed the issues and directed staff to gather information regarding registration or regulation of vacant structures. The meeting adjourned at 11:16 p.m. on a motion by Doherty and a second by Christensen. Page 4 of 4