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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1978/02/27Mounds View City Council February 27, 1978 7:30 PM 1. Roll call of officials 2. Approval of minutes of regular meeting February 13, 1978 3. Citizen comments and requests CITIZENS: BEFORE SPEAKING, PLEASE GIVE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE MINUTES 4. Approval of consent agenda: Item A. Feasibility report, Project 1978 -4 B. January activity reports C. Bills for payment D. Licenses E. Appointment to advisory commissions 5. Public hearings 10. Reports of officials 11. Adjournment A G E N D A (a) Gale Addition (7:40 PM) Preliminary plat of five homesites (b) Mounds View Square Addition (7:50 PM) CANCELLED 6. Project 1978 -1, Storm sewer improvements Pending development proposals policy 7. Michael L. Sobczak Transient merchant license sell firewood 8. Project 1978 -2, City hall improvements Change order no. 1 storage closet 9. International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 49 Labor contract 1978 -1979 CONSENT AGENDA February 27, 1978 The consent agenda is a technique designed to expedite handling of routine and miscellaneous official business of the City Council. The entire agenda may be adopted by the Council in one motion. The motion for adoption is non debatable and must receive unanimous -p a u ci member, any item approval. By request of any individual mem r _n can be removed from the consent agenda and placed upon the regular agenda for debate. ITEM A. Receive the Engineer's feasibility report on Project 1978 -4, sanitary sewer, water main and street construction for Mounds View Industrial Park No. 2. ITEM B. Receive the January, 1978, activity reports of the police, legal, fire, and nuisance abatement departments. ITEM C. Approve the February 27, 1978, bills for payment. ITEM D. Approve the following license: MASONRY expires 6/30/78 Barry Bjugstad new 1182 Rockstone Court New Brighton, MN 55112 ITEM E. Receive and accept Mayor Pickar's recommendation for the following appointments to citizen advisory commissions: Park Recreation Commission Jerry Linke 2319 Knoll Drive thru 1978 Gordon Kuluvar 7815 Gloria Circle thru 19R0 Lakeside Park Commission Barb Stone 2609 Woodale Drive thru 1979 Donna Bowman 8046 Long Lake Road thru 1980 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA A regular meeting of the Mounds View City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Baumgartner at 7:30 PM on February 27, 1978 at the Mounds View City Hall, 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112. Members Present: Also Present: Acting Mayor Baumgartner Councilmember Rowley Councilmember Ziebarth Clerk- Administrator Achen Engineer Hubbard Acting Mayor Baumgartner announced that Mayor Pickar was in Arkansas with the National Guard and that Councilmember Hodges was out of town on business. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that the minutes of February 13th meeting indicate 7 -11 has two dumpsters in front of their store. Since that meeting, another dumpster has been added. MSP (Rowley-Ziebarthi to approve the minutes of the February 13, 1978 meeting. 3 ayes CITIZEN COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Charles Wilken, 2283 Knoll Dr. stated that he would like some areas cleared on the storm sewer project and stated that he did not feel the problem was as bad as some people were claiming. He stated that Mayor Pickar had stated at the public hearing that he had had water in his basement, and that he did not feel it was possible for the Mayor to have had water at any time since he was a neighbor of the mayors and had never had trouble. Administrator Achen replied that he did not recall Mayor Pickar stating that he had personally had a water problem. Paul Pashiban, of Rainbow Lane stated that he felt the letter the City had sent to the residents was very informative but that he still had questions, such as how many people were adversely affected by the water and could those problems be alleviated in some other way, on an individual basis, and if any industries other than the airport were seeking to locate in Mounds View that would help the tax situation, and if the existing apartment complexes had contributed to the problem or reduced the tax load, and suggested that perhaps the surrounding communities could be benefited by the project and help pay for it. Mr. Pashiban also stated that he would like to see a vote on the issue, with a six month moritorium so that the citizens would have time to study the issue. February 27, 1978 Page 2 Mr. Siedleicki, 2749 Sherwood Road asked why the Council was pushing the project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that the Council was not pushing the project but simply trying to get all the citizen input possible. Councilmember Rowley also stated that she had received numerous phone calls at home and was presently trying to answer the questions of the citizens, as well as collect all the input possible from them. Mr. Siedleicki asked if the decision made by the Council would be based on what the majority of the citizens want. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that if they were to go by a majority, a vote would have to be made. He added that the Council must look at both sides of the issue and weight all the factors in deciding what would be best for the City. He pointed out an example of when Governor Anderson authorized the 3% sales tax for Minnesota, how the citizens were against it, but the benefit was now very visable. He also pointed out how the City had put in running water, sanitary sewer and blacktop streets, without the majority of the citizens backing the decision, and pointed out how those improvements were very important and necessary to the City. Mr. Siedleicki asked if the project would lower the level of the sand point wells in Mounds View. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that it most likely would. James Wills, 2241 Knoll Dr. asked if the names of the citizens who had water problems in 1975 were available. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that they were, as a petition with 70 signatures was presented to the City at that time. Mr. Wills asked if an environmental impact study had been done. Engineer Hubbard replied that a study would not be done until the project was approved, but that several comments had been received from the DNR which were favorable to the project. He added that if the study did come back negative, the City would have to conform to the study and make the necessary adjustments. Mr. Wills asked if the study could be done before the project was started. Engineer Hubbard replied that the cost of the study was such that the project should be approved before the money was spent on a study. Administrator Achen added that there is no statute or mandatory requirement that an environmental impact study be done, and that the DNR and Rice Creek Watershed District have indicated that there would be no problem. Mr. Pashiban asked how many residents there were in the City. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that there were approximately 13,000. Mr. Wills asked if any of the Council members had a financial interest that would be affected by the project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner and Councilmembers Rowley and Ziebarth replied that they did not and to their knowledge, Mayor Pickar and Councilmember Hodges did not either. I nhruiry 27, 1978 Page 3 1curry, 5391 Clifton Drive asked why there was no alternative minted to the project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that nUs personal feeling was that there should be at least one alterna- tsvn and added that there was another month in which citizens could ubmit their comments before the Council makes a decision, and that that decision could be to stop and regroup and look for alternatives. Councilmember Ziebarth added that the question was not so much what the City could do right now as what the citizens could do with their written comments and letters. Lyle Nelson, 2357 Sherwood Road stated that he felt the project should be handled on a small scale, rather than one major project and asked if there were other recommendations for solving the problem other than the project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that the project was going to have to be done sooner or later, whether it be now, five years from now, ten or twenty years, and that the problems in the Spring of 1975 made the City aware of what it was facing. Mr. Nelson stated that he did not feel the system was necessary and pointed out that homes were built on low spots the past summer. Administrator Achen replied that the City Council had been advised that its ability to limit construction is limited as the people who own the wet lands have been assessed the same as all other residents, and thus could not be denied the right to build. He added that the court will not support the Council in stopping construction on wet lands that have been assessed, but that even if the City could totally prohibit construction on wet lands, there would still be a problem. Administrator Achen added that the drainage problems that exist now are in single family areas and that a good percentage of the cost would be charged to the property owners of the wet lands. Clyde Linell, 5205 Sunnyside Road stated that he was confused with the charge on his tax statement referred to as drainage, and stated that he felt he was paying for a drainage system already. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that Mr. Linell should stop into the City Hall during business hours and see the City Engineer who would check into it, or also call the Ramsey County office of taxation. Mrs. Scott, 5100 Red Oak Drive asked why no one had checked into the assessments between the public hearing and the Council meeting. Councilmember Rowley replied that Mr. Swanson had taken down infor- mation at the hearing and was checking into it for various residents. Kathy Lanke, 2234 Lambert asked why everyone should have to pay for the problems of very few. Councilmember Ziebarth replied that the Council was still collecting information before making such a decision. Jerry Linke, 2319 Knoll Drive stated that he had checked with the weather bureau and found out that they classified the storms of 1975 and 1977 as 50 year rains, and that he had not heard of problems being caused by five year rains, which is what the project would be capable of handling. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that they could not predict the rains but that the City should look to the future and try to solve the problem somehow. February 27, 1978 Page 4 Margaret Helch, 5091 Rainbow Lane asked why the residents were not notified when the feasibility study was first authorized. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that all Council meetings are open to the public, and that the feasibility study was discussed during the Council meetings, and that the Council authorized the study since they felt it was very necessary. Councilmember Rowley added that public hearings were held on the matter in January and November of 1976 and that the hearings were advertised and also published in the New Brighton Bulletin with articles in past city newsletters. Mr. Wills asked what the source of funds would be for the project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that an application was made for a HUD grant but was denied, and that the front end of the project would be bonded and the property owners would be assessed approximately 3.79 cents per square foot for the project. Administrator Achen added that the bond would be financed at 5 to 535 percent interest, dependent upon the market at the time, and that the residents would be assessed at 8 percent interest, with the difference going for administrative costs, but that the residents who pay it in full when assessed would not pay any interest costs. Acting Mayor Baumgartner also pointed out that the residents would have the option of taking out a bank loan for two or three years, at a lower interest rate, to pay off the assessment. Acting Mayor Baumgartner stated that a request had been made at the public hearing that the March 27 meeting also be held at Bel Rae when the decision would be announced, and directed the City Admini- strator to set the meeting place at Bel Rae, if it was available or Edgewood Junior High. Bill Werner, 2765 Sherwood asked if the Council would consider the group at the public hearing a representative sampling of the City. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that he would but that it must also be remembered that there were at least 12,000 residents who were not at the meeting and that the City is waiting to hear from them before March 15. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that he felt $6,500,000 was a great deal of money to be spent but that he did not feel he could vote against the project based on just a percentage of the residents. Councilmember Rowley stated that at this point she was weighing the pros and cons and would be taking all comments, letters and phone calls into consideration before making a decision. She added that she felt the system would have to be put into the City eventually. Jules Wold, 2616 Hillview stated that the storm sewer system could not guarantee 100 percent that there would not be water problems and asked what guarantee the residents would have that ten years from now the system would not be obsolete. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that at some point in time, everyone was going to have to trust someone, and that the City has a great deal of respect and trust for Short, Elliott and Hendrickson, who is a very professional and reputable firm, and that the City must be able to accept a February 27, 1978 Page professional recommendation. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA MSP (Ziebarth- Rowley) to approve the consent agenda as follows: 3 ayes ITEM A. Receive the Engineer's feasibility report on Project 1978 -4, sanitary sewer, water main and street construction for Mounds View Industrial Park No. 2. ITEM B. Receive the January, 1978, activity reports of the police, legal, fire, and nuisance abatement departments. ITEM C. Approve the February 27, 1978, bills for payment. ITEM D. Approve the following license: MASONRY expires 6/30/78 Barry Bjugstad new 1182 Rockstone Court New Brighton, MN 55112 ITEM E. Receive and accept Mayor Picker's recommendation for the following appointments to citizen advisory commissions: Park Recreation Commission Jerry Linke 2319 Knoll Drive thru 1978 Gordon Kuluvar 7815 Gloria Circle thru 1980 Lakeside Park Commission Farb Stone 2609 Woodale Drive thru 1979 Donna B)wman 8046 Long Lake Road thru 1980 Acting Mayor Baumgartner closed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing. GALE ADDITION PRELIMINARY PLAT OF FIVE HOMESITES Ken Sjodin, a representative of the owner of the property presented the plat of the proposed development and stated that there is presently one home located on the property, which they would like to divide into five lots. He stated that Staff has recommended a 30' easement for the proposed extension of Fairchild Avenue. Mr. Sjodin added that Official Rose had looked at the plat and approved it. February 27, 1978 Councilmember Rowley questioned if the owner of the property was concerned with getting the most lots possible out of the subdivision. Mr. Sjodin replied that the owner wished to keep the plat as it was, with five lots. Administrator Achen recommended that the Council decide if Fairchild Avenue should be extended to the south, to decide if the 30' easement was required. Page 6 Acting Mayor Baumgartner asked if a petition had been presented for the street. Administrator Achen replied that one had not been received, and that it would require 35 percent of the property owners requesting it before a public hearing would be set. Mr. Werner stated that while he approved of the plat, he did not feel the street would be asthetically pleasing. Engineer Hubbard reported that if the street were put in, lnly two lots could be assessed, which would amount to approximately a $14,000 assessment per lot for the street only, or about $33,000 total for both lots for the street, sewer and water. Mr. Sjodin stated that at approximately $16,500 per lot, the assess- ments would exceed the actual value of the property. He stated that he would be willing tt live the easement if it was necessary but that he would prefer not gi',g it if the street was not going to be put in. Acting Mayor Baumgartne tated that the 30' easement on the east side of the property line would also have to be vacated if the street was not put in. Councilmember Ziebarth asked if any easement would be required for a walkway to the park. Engineer Hubbard replied that a 30' easement should be adequate. Councilmember Rowley added that she would like to have the 30' easement taken as it might be required in the future. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that he would like to see the 30' easement taken. MSP (Baumgartner- Rowley) to approve the subdivision request of Ray Gale at 8227 Groveland Road as presented on the proposed plat dated February 1978, without a 30' easement. 2 ayes 1 nay Acting Mayor Baumgartner closed the public hearing and reopened the regular meeting. PROJECT 1978 -1 STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PENDING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS Administrator Achen reported that project 1978 -1 provides storm sewer trunk capacity for future development but until the Council acts on the project, developers do not know whether they can handle drainage needs by simply connecting to the 1978 -1 system, and recommended that all pending development proposals for which a development agreement February 27, 1978 Page has not been executed be tabled until the Council acts on project 1978 -1 on March 27. Councilmember Rowley asked if the six month time period could be extended. Administrator Achen replied that they could only be extended if the ordinance was changed. Mr. Werner asked if preliminary plats had been approved contingent upon the storm sewer project. Administrator Achen replied that to the extent that the developer must agree to be responsible for his cost of the project if it is approved. Able Reese, 2287 Terrace asked if Short, Elliott and Hendrickson couldn't come up with some alternatives to the project now that all the facters were known. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that if the City was to direct them to come up with an alternative plan, they would have to come back with a cost estimate first. Mr. Reese questioned that if HUD turned down the City's request for financial assistance, if it could be taken as an indication that HUD did not feel the system was needed. Acting Mayor Baumgartner replied that HUD was not aware of the problems the City was experiencing. Councilmember Rowley added that the application was turned down as Mounds View did not rank as high as the other applications for the HUD grants, with the priority being given to the poor and low income cities. MSP (Ziebarth Rowley) to recommend that all building development proposals for which a development agreement has not been executed be tabled until the Council acts on project 1978 -1 on March 27. 3 ayes TRANSIENT MERCHANT LICENSE MICHAEL L. SOBCZAK Acting Mayor Baumgartner reported that the applicant wishes to sell firewood from the parking lot of the Launching Pad. Administrator Achen added that it would be split birch firewood which the applicant plans to stack on the ground, and guard. The applicant would like to start with one truckload of firewood, and perhaps bring in two if the first proves successful. The truck would be left on the lot, and the area would be cleaned up when they finished. Administrator Achen reported that the applicant would like a license for the month of March. Administrator Achen stated that the Police Chief urges disapproval of the request due to unsightliness, security and children in the area. He added that the tree inspector has stated that the birch would not fall under State regulations but pointed out that the birch could possibly present a hazard due to the bronze birch beetle which hatch in the spring, and recommended that if the Council did approve the request, that it be approved for Fall, not Spring, when the larva are hatching. MSP (Ziebarth- Rowley) to deny the permit requested by Mr. Sobczak based on the security, unsightliness and bronze birch beetles. 3 ayes February 27, 1978 Page PROJECT 1978 -2 CITY HALL IMPROVEMENTS CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 Engineer Hubbard reported that when the basement remodeling plans were drawn up, approximately 120 square feet of storage were lost, and that Change Order No 1 would add 180 square feet by building the closet area out 6'. Acting Mayor Baumgartner asked what type of wall it would be. Engineer Hubbard replied that it would be a partition wall. Councilmember Rowley stated that she could definitely see the need of additional storage and asked if any other change orders were anticipated, as she did not like to see change orders on projects. Engineer Hubbard replied that no other change orders were anticipated. MSP (Baumgartner Rowley) to approve Change Order No. 1 to Project 1978 -2 for $1506 to construct a storage closet. 3 ayes INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LABOR CONTRACT 1978 -1979 Administrator Achen reported that Local No. 49 has agreed to the terms previously related to the Council, to revise 1978 terms for wages from $7.02 to $7.08 per hour and for employer insurance contribution from $60 to $65 per month retroactive to January 1, 1978, and settle 1979 terms for wages at $7.53 per hour and for insurance at $72 per mont. Administrator Achen stated that those terms were accepted by the union membership of 15 of the 21 joint bargaining communities and that managers of the other 21 indicate they will urge their councils to approve the terms. MSP (Ziebarth-Rowley) to authorize execution of the memo of understanding with Local No. 49, which raises the terms as previously stated by Administrator Achen. 3 ayes ADMINISTRATOR ACHEN'S REPORT Administrator Achen reported that the newsletter was about to be published and that it would contain an article on Spring Clean-Up. MSP (Baumgartner- Rowley) to set Saturday, April 22 as Spring Clean -Up Day, with the alternate of April 29, 1978 if the weather is bad. 3 ayes Acting Mayor Baumgartner recommended that Councilmember Hodges be asked to contact the various organizations regarding the clean -up day, as he has done in previous years. Administrator Achen reported that the Veteran's Affairs Subcommitte of the House Committee on General Legislation and Veteran's Affairs passed H.F. 2275, which prohibits relocation of the Minnesota National Guard helicopter unit from Holman Field to Anoka County Airport. February 27, 1978 Page 9 MSP (Ziebarth Rowley) that the City address a letter to Midwest Planning indicating that the City may require their services at a later date regarding the Anoka County Airport. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that there would be a meeting at City Hall at 7:30 on March 2 of concerned citizens of Mounds View regarding the airport. ENGINEER HUBBARD'S REPORT Engineer Hubbard inquired if a date had been scheduled for the public hearing on the Beim property. Administrator Achen replied that it was scheduled for March 13 but should be postponed until a decision was made on the sewer project. Acting Mayor Baumgartner recommended waiting until after March 27 to see the outcome of the storm sewer project before holding the hearing. Administrator Achen stated that Staff should prepare a list of all projects that are pending before the March 27 meeting. MSP (Baumgartner Rowley) to postpone the improvements hearing for Northcrest Properties that was scheduled for March 13. COUNCILMEMBER ROWLEY'S REPORT Councilmember Rowley had no report. COUNCILMEMBER ZIEBARTH'S REPORT Councilmember Ziebarth stated that a representative of Northcrest Properties was present at the Park and Recreation meeting and stated that they did not feel they should have to pay for a park dedication. The Park and Recreation committee denied that request, based on the information they had and the present ordinance. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that the issue could be expected at the next Council meeting, and stated that Mr. Beim should be requested to document his request. ACTING MAYOR BAUMGARTNER'S REPORT Acting Mayor Baumgartner had no report. MSP (Baumgartner Rowley) to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 M. Respectful X submitted, Mask Achen Clerk- Administrator 3 ayes 3 ayes 3 ayes