Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1978/11/27A G E N D A Mounds View City Council November 27, 1978 1. Roll call of officials 2. Approval of minutes of regular meeting November 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. Sale of surplus equipment B. Set public hearing on Woodlawn house renumbering C. Receive October department activity reports D. Bills for payment E. Licenses 5. White Oak Homeowners Association Silt removal from ponding area 6. Street light policy 7. Public hearing (8:00 PM) Proposed change of MTC Routes 25 and 35F 8. Hillview /Greenfield stop sign installation 9. Improvement Project 1978 -3 Special assessment of costs incurred 10. Reports of officials 11. Adjournment CONSENT AGENDA November 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 approval. By request of any individual Council Member, any item can be removed from the consent agenda and placed upon the regular agenda for debate. ITEM A. Authorize the sale of surplus sewer department bucket cleaning machine equipment to Midwest Underground Inspections for $3,500. Reject their alternate $5,500 bid of future video inspection and grouting services. With the purchase of the jet rodder, the sewer department anticipates it would take several years to use the full value of these services. ITEM B. Set public hearing for 7 :40 PM, December 11, 1978, to consider revising the postal numbers of buildings in the 7600 block of Woodlawn Drive. ITEM C. Receive the October, 1978, activity reports of the city attorney, police, fire and nuisance departments. ITEM D. Approve the November 27, 1978, bills for payment. ITEM E. Approve the following licenses: CONTRACTORS expire 6/30/79 General new Stordahl Construction 3749 Cedar Avenue South Ed Halonen Construction 4188 Forest Court Heating A/C new Superior. Contractors', Inc. 6121 42nd Avenue N. 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 Hodges at 7:33 PM on Monday, November 27, 1978, at the Mounds View City Hall, 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112. Members present: Also present: Councilmember Ziebarth Councilmember Baumgartner Acting Mayor Hodges Members absent: Mayor Pickar Councilmember Rowley Clerk- Administrator Achen Attorney Meyers MSP (Baumgartner Ziebarth) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting November 13, 1978. 3 ayes WHITE OAK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Acting Mayor Hodges indicated this matter carried over from the last City Council meeting. Tom Foster, president of the White Oak Homeowners Association, said his understanding was that the City Council would give concept approval tonight after City Council approved the specific conditions of the special use permit. Acting Mayor Hodges requested Administrator Achen to review the specific conditions proposed. Mr. Foster stated that the Pollution Control Agency should also be included as an agency whose approval should be obtained. Councilmember Baumgartner agreed and asked that these agencies give their approval in written form. MSP (Ziebarth- Hodges) to authorize Building Zoning Official to issue a special use permit for excavation under the provisions of Chapter 44.05 and the following conditions: (a) Applicant or contractor shall svhmit detailed specifications of the proposed work including equipment and structures to be used, pumping flows and duration, water quality, proposed location of lines and apparatus, quantity of silt to be removed from lake, analysis of silt for toxic, noxious or otherwise hazardous contents and preferred schedule of operating hours and calendar days. November 27, 1978 Page 2 (b) The applicant shall obtain appropriate permission from ali. affected property owners for the temporary use of their property. (c) Applicant shall obtain approval for the proposed work from the Rice Creek Watershed District, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (d) The applicant and /or contractor shall be responsible for any damage occurring to public drainways, drainage structures or streets as a result of the proposed work. (e) Before any work commences, the contractor, as required under the provisions of Municipal Code Chapter 60.02, shall provide the necessary information and certificate of insurance and obtain a city license. (f) In consideration of the silt fill to be deposited at Silver View Community Park, the special use permit fee shall be waived. (g) the work shall be performed in a manner that avoids conflict with any other city construction activity, with the free flow of traffic on public streets, and that does not overburden public or private drainage systems. (h) A special use permit, as required under the provisions of Municipal Code Chapter 44.05, shall be issued by the building and zoning official when he is satisfied all conditions have been met. He shall be authorized to specify the dates and times when the proposed work may be conducted and shall order the work halted whenever it does not meet all of these conditions. 3 ayes STREET LIGHT POLICY Acting Mayor Hodges reviewed the formal policy discussed at the last City Council meeting. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that he had requested the additional provision regarding budgetary constraints to avoid any commitment to unlimited approval of street lights. MSP (Baumgartner Ziebarth) to adopt Resolution No. 946 on a street light installation policy. 3 ayes November 27, 1978 Page 3 HILLVIEW /GREENFIELD STOP SIGN INSTALLATION Administrator Achen submitted police department report recommending that the trial period be extended an additional 60 day period before final Council action. The police report indicated that a survey of area residents yield 14 in favor and 6 against out of 25 homes. MSP (Ziebarth- Hodges) to extend the trial period an additional 60 days for the stop signs on Hillview Road at Greenfield Drive and that another survey of residents' attitudes be made before Council's final action. PROJECT 1978 -3 NORTHCREST PARK Acting Mayor Hodges reviewed the Administrator's report regarding the unfunded expenses incurred in this Project. Attorney Meyers stated that city should bill the developer for these expenses and have the attorney review the matter to determine what legal recourse the city has. Administrator Achen stated that Council indicated, when it rejected Project 1978 -1, that those expenses would be prorated in some fashion to future drainage improvement projects. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that he did not feel Council could establish a policy on distributing Project 1978 -1 costs tonight, but that it should be considered at a future meeting. MSP (Hodges Ziebarth) to bill the Northcrest Park property for the Project 1978 -3 costs and to indicate to the owner that additional costs are still forthcoming. 8:03 PM Acting Mayor Hodges opened the public hearing on MTC ARDAN/ SPRING LAKE /RED OAK ROUTE CHANGE Councilmember Baumgartner asked whether MTC is present. Scott Dickson of MTC identified himself. He stated MTC decided to return to old route but willing to consider other alternatives. Philip Fauchald, 8270 Red Oak Drive, asked for results of survey, area covered and how survey used. Acting Mayor Hodges stated survey was conducted, using Scouts, to determine attitudes of residents on MTC bus routes in northwest corner of city. 3 ayes 3 ayes Administrator Achen reviewed survey results: 63% indicated they never used bus, 58% indicated that complete elimination of buses would be a poor or terrible solution, 621 indicated a park and ride program would be an excellent or good solution; 72% did not want bus service on their own streets; 51% said bus shelters would encourage more ridership; 52% said reducing bus speeds would be a good or excellent solution. November 27, 1978 Administrator Achen read a letter received from Susan and David Thymian, 8325 Spring Lake Road, favoring realignment of the routes to Red Oak Drive. Judy Hamilton, 8260 Red Oak Drive, asked why more residents weren't asked to input into survey format. David Notaro, 2749 Ardan, stated that at no time have the residents on Ardan and Spring Lake Road, who don't want the buses on their street, argued that the buses should be shifted back to Red Oak residents. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that we got to this point, because MTC had difficulty making left turns from Red Oak onto County Road J. Council authorized the change in the spirit of cooperation, but resi- dents on Ardan spring Lake Road quickly made Council aware of their objection to the rerouting. He stated that, if the original change was made just for MTC convenience, it should be changed back to the Ardan route. Administrator Achen asked Mr. Dickson whether MTC had any smaller buses to use in our area. Councilmember Ziebarth asked whether some buses travelling through Mounds View could not be routed to by -pass the city since ridership is not that great. Councilmember Ziebarth asked whether MTC would object to 25 mph limit for buses in this area. Page 4 Mr. Dickson stated that the buses being used are MTC's standard sizes which are needed to accommodate passenger load as buses approach down- town. Mrs. Hamilton stated that `ITC buses on Red Oak have been a problem for the ten years she has lived there. She has complained to police of MTC bus speeding because of the straight shot from Sherwood to County Road J on Red Oak. Kathy Heilman, 8250 Red Oak, stated she has been there 3 years and accepted buses, but they shake the windows because of their fast spe 's. Not complaining about buses as much as their speeding. Joan Notaro, 2749 Ardan, stated her walls have been cracking and nails popping out from buses travelling in front of house. bir. Dickson stated where MTC has encountered similar problems they've tried to reroute to avoid bumpy streets, He also stated speed limits are to be obeyed by MTC drivers. MTC supervisors make occasional checks to assure compliance with speed limits. Mr. Dickson stated MTC would not object but would request some type of posting. Pat Johnson, 8281 Red Oak, has followed an MTC bus travelling 50 mph. She was losing light bulbs frequently and an electrician told her it was the buses. November 27, 1978 Page 5 Peg Mountin, 8287 Red Oak, supports MTC bus service and feels city should encourage MTC service to our residents. She stated that last year she requested a stop sign at Red Oak Drive and County Road J but could not obtain one. Suggested outbound routes travel the Ardan alignment and the inbound routes travel the Red Oak alignment. Otherwise without a stop sign at Red Oak on County Road J the buses will lose time which will merely have to be made up on other areas of the route. David Scales, 8281 Spring Lake Road, has been riding bus daily since route changed. Three other family members ride bus to Minneapolis or school. He wants it to continue on Spring Lake Road. He has not experienced any jarring or other problems. The buses are not driving at an excessive speed. Ms. Bodor, 8289 Spring Lake Road, rides bus daily and they are really full by the time they reach downtown. She feels bus drivers are much safer drivers than average motorist. She has a child who has learned to play in the back yard. At least 4 or 5 residents on Spring Lake Road ride the buses. David Notaro, states that he counts no more than six people are ever on the bus and often only one or two. States buses are very annoying, dirty and hazardous. He specifically moved out of city to get away from buses. Only way for his kids to get to Groveland Park is to travel on Ardan where the buses also travel. Mr. Fauchald, asked whether any complaints about bus traffic at Hillview Park had been received. Administrator Achen stated none had been received to his knowledge, but police department may have. Mrs. Hamilton asked whether Red Oak School ever complained about the buses. Acting Mayor Hodges stated that he imagines the school has just tolerated the situation. Neil Loeding, 5646 Longview Drive, stated that speeding problem might be resolved by improving schedules to allow drivers more time. He suggested that shorter routes, for example between Apache Plaza and Northtown, might reduce need for the high frequency of routes. Mr. Dickson stated that the average MTC system speed is about 13 mph so lower speed limits would be acceptable. He stated that shorter routes, as suggested, are not very feasible when most riders' needs are to travel to and from work in the city centers. Gary Meyer, 3024 County Road J, stated city should not bicker about routes as much as whether bus service is needed. He feels that it is. Until additional stop signs are installed on County Road J he feels that a return to the Red Oak alignment would be unnecessarily hazardous. John Weinand, 8394 Spring Lake Road, has used MTC buses to travel to work. He said buses waited as long as 15 minutes at Red Oak and County Road j because motorists won't let them out onto J. November 27, 1973 Page 6 Councilmember Baumgartner stated one of the problems in obtaining another stop sign or lower speed limit on County Road J is in the number of governmental jurisdictions there: Anoka Ramsey Counties, Mounds View, Spring Lake Park and Blaine. Mr. Bodor, 8289 Spring Lake Road, state that MTC buses travel much safer than the average motorist. Ile feels bus service is very needed. Mrs. Mountin rides bus daily and finds six to nine riders on both inbound and outbound routes between Ardan and T.H.10. She feels bus service is definitely needed, but neighborhood load should be shared. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that this level of ridership does not warrant the need for 42 buses a day. He read a portion of Scott Dick son's letter indicating that MTC considers only two alternates feasible: alignment on Ardan /Spring Lake Road or alignment on Red Oak Drive. George Gustafson, 8391 Spring Lake Road, stated that as a 40 year resident he felt very fortunate to even have bus service in Mounds View. If gasoline shortage continues, all the people who complain about bus routing will be back begging for bus service. He added that children in that area treat the street as a playground with utter disregard for any vehicles, buses or passenger cars. Would be good step in right direction to reduce bus speeds. Suggested that by rerouting back to Red Oak it will encourage this as a major thoroughfare to service the Anoka County Airport if it's expanded. Suggested that blacktop shoulder is needed on County Road J for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Rose Langenberger, 2740 Ardan, moved to Mounds View to aet away from the buses and bought where there were no bus routes. Ellen Johnson, 8295 Red Oak, lived there eight years. Wants bus service to continue in Mounds View. Thomas Field, 8409 Knollwood, stated gas prices too high now and our taxes are subsidizing buses now, so we should support them. Charlotte Forslund, 7886 Sunnyside Road, agrees with Mr. Gustafson. Stated that city has strugged to get bus service and to reject it now would make it very difficult to ever get them back if we wanted them. Tom Foster, 2516 Ridge Lane, thinks problem is getting another stop sign on County Road J. Rachel Bardwell, 2932 County Road J, has no sympathy for residents of Ardan who allow their children to play in the streets. Requested Council support for additional stop sign on County Road J and reduced speed limits there. Acting Mayor Hodges stated that he agrees with •1r. Gustafson. The only way city will get action is for people to make personal appearances to demand action by the County and State. November 27, 1978 Page 7 Councilmember Ziebarth stated that there is no neat answer to the problem. The only alternative that will compromise enough to satisfy everyone's needs is to use the Ardan /Spring Lake Road align- ment outbound and the Red Oak alignment inbound. Mrs. Fauchald stated that a who is not here, is not strongly interested in the matter. She suggested that a straw poll of those present be taken. Mr. Notaro stated that he has submitted a petition signed by 40 people opposed to Ardan alignment, many who live on Laport, Fairchild and Groveland. Mrs. Forslund stated that she no longer travels on Ardan, because the children are such a traffic hazard. 9:30 PM Acting Mayor Hodges stated that he will close the hearing. He feels route should not be changed, and we should work together to get whatever necessary action needed from the County and the State. Councilmember Baumgartner asked Mr. Dickson whether MTC would really consider any alternatives other than the Red Oak or Ardan alignment for all buses. Mr. Dickson stated that, while splitting the route is less desirable, MTC would be willing to try it. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that there are only two alternatives: the area residents get together to resolve the problem themselves or splitting the routes. Mr. Dickson stated that to avoid the area entirely would pose diffi- culties in adequately servicing riders in the Long Lake Road and Ardan /Sherwood area. Mr. McCarty suggested another alternative would be to use an alignment via Sherwood to Groveland to Arden to Spring Lake Road which avoids two blocks of Ardan. Councilmember Baumgartner stated that he desires a straw poll of those present, but he personally favors leaving it on the Ardan /Spring Lake Road alignment. Acting Mayor Hodges stated that the alternate mr. McCarty suggested is a good one and points out that maybe other alignments should be looked at. He took a straw poll: 13 favored continuing the Arden/ Spring Lake Road alignment and no one indicated they favor returning to the Red Oak alignment. He stated that as a consequence he feels we should maintain the existing alignment. Mr. Notaro complained that no hearing was held when the original change was made. November 27, 1978 Page 8 Councilmember Baumgartner stated that he feels Council erred when it did not have such a hearing, but that Council is now striving to allow full citizen participation. Mr. Dickson stated that MTC would direct drivers to abide by a 20 mph limit on this segment. MSP (Baumgartner- Hodges) to retain existing routing of MTC buses on Ardan /Spring Lake Road alignment. MSP (Ziebarth- Hodges) to amend motion to include study of the proposal for a new alignment alternative on Sherwood /Groveland /Ardan /Spring Lake Road. 3 ayes Amended main motion passed. 9:52 PM Acting Mayor Hodges recessed the meeting. 10:02 PM Acting Mayor Hodges called the meeting back to order. Councilmember Ziebarth stated that he will attend the January 10 Conference for Elected Officials by the Clean Air Committee. He prefers that the State Implementation Plan (SIP) News would be best kept at city hall for reference by others. Councilmember Baumgartner stated that a Planning Commission meeting is scheduled this Wednesday. It conflicts with RCLLG meeting which has election of new officers and cable tv on its agenda. He asked that another councilmember attend the Planning Commission meeting so that he can attend the RCLLG meeting of which he is a voting represen- tative. Acting Mayor Hodges stated he would attend the Planning Com- mission meeting. Attorney Meyers stated that Ardan Avenue is strictly a city street and consequently the Council can exclusively regulate the speed limit there. He stated that he has recommended the city demand $31,500 as a settle- ment of the Walijarvi negligence lawsuit, while the defendant's attorneys have offered $25,000. Since major legal expenses could be avoided if legal proceeding could be avoided, he requests Council direction. He noted that the city will have to pay expert witnesses and legal fees for preparation and trial to pursue the city's claim in a lawsuit. If we proceed, there is a degree of risk that we could lose the case or have a finding of contributory negligence which would nullify or reduce any award of damages. He stated that we are probably at the point where the city must accept the offer of $25,000 or proceed with the preparation and trial of the lawsuit. He estimated that if we proceed through trial it will cost about $0-7,000 additional. DeposiLio11b are set for Wed- nesday morning, so Attorney Meyers desires Council direction tonight. MSP (Baumgartner Ziebarth) to authorize Attorney Meyers to negotiate a settlement of the Walijarvi lawsuit for $25,000 and preferably to be paid in one lump sum. 2 ayes 1 nay 3 ayes November 27, 1978 Page 9 Attorney Meyers reported on negotiations with Kraus Anderson for purchase of 19 acres for park purposes. He feels that condemnation might not be appropriate, since the LAWCON grant could be insufficient to pay condemnation prices for the 19 acres. Attorney Meyers asked that staff let him know what options are available to the city under the grant regulations. Administrator Achen reported that the Metropolitan Council will conduct a public hearing on its proposed Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Policy Plan December 19, 1978. He indicated that the next agenda session will be devoted to the five year street construction program required by the State Aid Section of Mn /DOT. MSP (Baumgartner Ziebarth) to adjourn at 11:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Mark Achen Clerk- Administrator