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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1994/06/13 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL 411 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting June 13, 1994 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Hwy. 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 CALL TO ORDER The Mounds View City Council was called to order by Mayor Linke at 7 : 00 p.m. on Monday, June 13 , 1994 . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Linke, Councilmembers Wuori, Blanchard, Trude and Quick MEMBERS ABSENT: None • ALSO PRESENT: Samantha Orduno, City Administrator; Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Manager; Mary Saarion, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry; Paul Harrington, City Planner Cathy Bennett, Economic Development Coordinator; Mike Ulrich, Director of Public Works ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: Item 1: Councilmember Trude stated that she wanted to add the reconsideration of Resolution No. 4572 Approving the Development Request of Westminster Corporation because Councilmember Trude stated that she felt there were procedural errors in its adoption at the May 23 , 1994 Council Meeting. Mayor Linke stated that, in his opinion, the resolution and amendments were accepted by the maker and seconder and the vote was taken inclusive of all amendments. Mayor Linke explained that this procedure has been used many times in the past and that Resolution No. 4572 would not be reconsidered. Item 2 : Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, reported that the final payment to Mikkelson-Wulff Construction Company had been tabled at the May 23 , 1994 meeting and that it was scheduled to be considered at the June 13 , 1994 meeting. Mayor • Linke stated that this item would be added to the agenda as Agenda Item 9 .H. Mounds View City Council Page Two 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION/SECOND: Trude/Wuori to Table Minutes of May 23 , 1994 , to the June 17 , 1994 Meeting Councilmember Trude requested that the minutes be tabled and the Council video tape be reviewed because of minutes not reflecting procedural actions regarding amendments to Resolution No. 4572 Approving the Development Agreement of Westminster Corporation (pages 4 , 5 and 6) . Mayor Linke explained that the amendments become a part of the main motion if agreed upon by the maker and seconder of the main motion. VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried ACCEPTANCE OF ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION/SECOND: Blanchard/Wuori to Accept the Planning Commission Minutes . dated May 4 , 1994 , Regular Meeting VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: There was no special order of business scheduled for this meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, read the Consent Agenda. Mayor -Linke--asked if there were -any--items----the Council desired removed - --from the Consent Agenda. Item D. was removed from the Consent Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Trude/Quick to Adopt the Consent Agenda minus item D. VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Councilmember Trude asked the Mayor to read Resolution No. 4582 Formally Accepting the Emergency Plans for Towns Edge, Colonial Village and Mounds View Manufactured Home Parks for the record. Trude explained that the Council would have like these storm shelters to be built in 1994 , but there were some difficulties obtaining grants so the shelters will be • built in the spring of 1995 . Mayor Linke read the resolution. Mounds View City Council Page Three 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 MOTION/SECOND: Trude/Quick to Adopt Resolution No. 4582 Formally Accepting the Emergency Plans for Towns Edge, Colonial Village and Mounds View Manufactured Home Parks VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Mayor Linke introduced Representative Geri Evans who presented a brief update of legislative actions taken at the last legislative session. RESIDENTS REQUESTS AND COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR There were no resident requests or comments brought forth at this meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7 : 05 p.m. - Consider Revisions to the Surface Water Management Plan Mayor Linke opened the public hearing at 7 : 26 p.m. Mike Ulrich, Director of Public Works, reported that staff is requesting that this public hearing be tabled. Ulrich explained that the documents from SEH were in a format not consistent with the recodified Municipal Code. Ulrich further reported that the City Attorney would be devising a format in the next couple of days that the City could use to tie the • old code to the new recodified Code and then the revisions would be in compliance with the new code. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Blanchard to Table the Public Hearing to Consider Revisions to the Surface Water Management Plan to the June 27 , 1994 Council Meeting VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried COUNCIL BUSINESS: There were no Consent Agenda items brought forward. A. --Cons der-ation--of Adoption of Ordinance No -54-0 Prohibiting--Parking - --on a Portion of Bronson Drive Paul Harrington, Community Development Coordinator, reported that was formally introduced at the May 23 , 1994 , Council Meeting. Ordinance No. 540 prohibits parking from 9 : 00 p.m. to 2 : 00 a.m. on the north side of Bronson between Edgewood Drive and Jackson Drive. MOTION/SECOND: to Adopt Ordinance No. 540 Prohibiting Parking on a Portion of Bronson Drive ROLL CALL VOTE: Mayor Linke - yes Councilmember Blanchard - yes Councilmember Wuori - yes • Councilmember Quick - yes Councilmember Trude - yes . Mounds View City Council Page Four Regular Meeting June 13, 1994 Motion Passes B. Consideration of Formal Introduction of Ordinance No. 542 Amending the Municipal Code of Mounds View By Adopting a New Chapter 408 , Entitled, "Economic Development Commission" As Amended Cathy Bennett, Economic Development Coordinator, explained that the Ordinance No. 542 would establish an Economic Development Commission made up of members of the community and business representatives at the appointment of the President of the Economic Development Authority with the approval of the Authority Board of Commissioners. Bennett stated that a point of clarification with regard to the definition of the word "qualified" as stated in Section 408 . 03 , Subdivision 1, is that there is no indication that "qualified" refers to a requirement for residency in Mounds View and business representatives would be qualified to serve as commissioners as long as they had no conflicting interest. Councilmember Trude suggested a moving the period after qualified to after the parenthesis in Section 408 . 03 , Subdivision 1, last sentence. • Bill Frits, 8072 Long Lake Road, asked what is the EDA's function, who comprises the EDA and is the charge of the EDA something the Council can't do? Mayor Linke explained that the City Council is the EDA and that there have been EDA meetings immediately following the regular Council Meetings that have been open to the public. Linke further explained that the Economic Development Commission would be similar to the Planning Commission. The EDA provides more flexibility to work with the business and retain businesses. -- -Bi-1-1-- Fr-its -asked-how the -EDA-is reimbursed for their- time-.- _. - ? - - - -- - -..---- Mayor Linke stated that the EDA members are not paid for EDA Meetings. Linke explained that this is part of the position of Mayor and Councilmember. EDA has separate rules from those of the City Council and provides a separate function. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, explained that cities of the first class were given more and more economic development authority. State statutes expanded economic development authority to port authorities, economic development authorities, HRA's and only those authorities could partake in some powers that legislation was granting. Cities could not take part, therefore powers for those . entities were expanded. The City Council decided to organize an EDA for the City of Mounds View so that the City could take advantage of some programs that would not be available otherwise. Mounds View City Council Page Five 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Unknown resident asked if the EDA was given power for TIF financing? Mayor Linke explained TIF responsibility was transferred to the EDA from the City Council. Orduno explained that if the EDA should amend the TIF plan, public hearings must be held by the Council and the EDA. Notification would have to be given to the school district and Ramsey County and they would have to provide written response. TIF powers have been available in Mounds View since 1986 . VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried C. Consideration of Resolution No. 4579 Regarding Variance Request (oversized sign) , Major Video Concepts, 2537 Highway 10 Paul Harrington, Community Development Coordinator, explained that the applicant proposes to install a wrap-around awning sign on the Southeast corner of the Mounds View Square Shopping Center (the Old Country Club Market site) . Harrington stated that the total text area on the awning would be 221 . 50 square feet - equally split among • the two facias. Mark Spore, owner of Major Video Concepts, was in attendance and provided pictures of the sign. Councilmember Trude commented that she was happy to see a business in the Old Country Club and wished the new business success. MOTION/SECOND: Trude/Blanchard to Adopt Resolution No. 4579 Regarding Variance Request (oversized sign) , Major Video Concepts, 2537 Highway 10 VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion- Carried D. Consideration of Resolution No. 4577 Hiring Joyce Pruitt, Planning Associate Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, explained that the City Council at their April 25, 1994 Council Meeting approved the creation of the position of Planning Associate. Cruikshank explained that process taken to obtain applicants for this position and the requirements of the position. Cruikshank reported that nine applicants were interviewed on May 24 and May 25 by an interview panel consisting of Samantha Orduno, Paul .Harrington and himself. Cruikshank noted that the successful candidate was Joyce Pruitt. Cruikshank presented a brief summary of Ms. Pruitt's work • experience. Cruikshank noted the pay scale for this position and stated that funding would be paid from the budgeted amount for the Mounds View City Council Page Six 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 former Recycling Coordinator/Code Enforcement position as well as $10, 000 from the contingency account. Councilmember Trude asked why the title of this position was Planning Associate when Code Enforcement Officer was to be the primary responsibility of this position. Orduno explained that this person was coming on board with a Bachelor' s Degree and has a Masters Degree. The position is called a Planning Associate but Code Enforcement would be the primary responsibility. The position was explained to Ms. Pruitt as primarily Code Enforcement Officer but the title of the position would be Planning Associate. Orduno further explained that the title of Planning Associate places a cap on the salary and that a Planning Associate makes less than a Code Enforcement Officer. Orduno stated that this person would be expected to fill in when the Community Development Coordinator was out on vacation. Orduno noted that Pruitt was chosen for this position because of her extensive background in Code Enforcement. Mayor Linke stated that the job description refers to Code Enforcement. Councilmember Trude stated that the former employee, who was working in this capacity, was titled Code Enforcement Officer/Recycling Coordinator. Councilmember Trude further stated that the City could set any wage that it wanted for this position. Orduno explained that the City would have to be in compliance with pay equity for this position. Orduno noted that a Code Enforcement Officer would be more in line with Building Official and Housing Inspector which are positions that are paid more. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Wuori to Adopt Resolution No. 4577 Hiring Joyce -P-ruitt, -Pla-n-ning Associate, As-As- Presented Bill Frits, 8072 Long Lake Road, stated that this subject is very confusing. Frits stated that at every Council Meeting more and more chiefs are being added and the City really needs more Indians. Councilmember Trude stated that she would like to see Code Enforcement Officer placed in the title of the position as she is concerned that code enforcement may be lost in the planning pay schedule. Trude stated that this is of great concern to her. Orduno pointed out that everyone on staff wears many hats and gave examples of Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, who . also is responsible as MIS Coordinator, Human Resources person, Personnel and many other items but is called Assistant to the City Administrator. Orduno explained that title could be anything, but i Mounds View City Council Page Seven 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 the job description is what guides the position. Orduno stated that this is an entry level planning position. Councilmember Trude stated again that this could be a means for moving this person up the planning hierarchy. Orduno explained that in a large organization a person would be hired to perform one job, but in a small organization Ms. Pruitt will be doing more than one job. Orduno further explained that in the winter Ms. Pruitt would be working more on planning. Mayor Linke stated that the job duties mean more than the title. Unknown resident asked if the Code Enforcement Officer would be writing letters or driving out. Orduno stated that the Code Enforcement Officer would not be just reacting to complaints, but would also be looking for areas of concern which will be a more proactive role. . Mayor Linke explained that in the past the Code Enforcement Officer had to write letters because there was not enough staff to respond to the number of calls received. 411 An unknown resident asked if it would take six months to take action on some of the concerns. Mayor Linke explained that it took two years on one particular area because of State and Federal laws. Councilmember Quick stated that he felt confident that staff would keep the Planning Associate focused on the fact that the main charge of the position would be code enforcement. Councilmember Trude stated moved to amend the resolution to add Code Enforcement Office__in__the—title_and that this would__be an entry level position. Councilmember Trude noted that there is a great deal of work going on in planning and that the planning department is overworked and overloaded and it would be too easy for this position to get lost in the planning rather than code enforcement. Councilmember Blanchard seconded motion and stated the title could read Code Enforcement Officer/Planning Associate. Councilmember Trude accepted the second and revision to the title as a friendly amendment. Trude further stated that the need for this position was identified to the public as a Code Enforcement Officer and that the duties were so great that a full time person was needed. Councilmember Trude stated concerns that if the job is 411 called Planning Associate that the priorities of code enforcement may be lost. Mounds View City Council Page Eight 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Councilmember Quick again stated that he was confident the staff would keep the Planning Associate focused on the duties of code enforcement. Mayor Linke stated he would be voting in opposition to the revision to the resolution. Councilmember Trude asked if the 5 step pay plan is a progression to planning assistant. Orduno explained the 5 step plan and pay scale and stated that this 5 step plan is not a progression to any other position. VOTE: 1 aye 4 nays Motion Fails MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Wuori to Adopt Resolution No. 4577 Approving the Hire of Joyce Pruitt, Planning Associate VOTE: 4 ayes 1 nay Motion Carried E. Consideration of Resolution No. 4578 Approving the Installation of Stop Signs As Drawn on the Petitioners Sketch and Directing the Park and Recreation Commission to Make Recommendations to the Council on • the Parking and Crossing of Street Signs In This Area Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, reported that several residents from the Hillview/Quincy neighborhood signed a petition in support of stop signs, park signs and street lights being installed in their neighborhood as a result of two recent accidents in the area. Cruikshank further reported that Council directed staff to draft a resolution approving the installation of the stop signs and directing the Park and Recreation Commission to research and recommend a solution to crossing Hillview at Quincy and to the parking situation around Oakwood Park. Cruikshank noted that the streetlights are scheduled for installation this year as part of the-- proactivestreetlightstr--eetlightinstallation- plan. -- -- - -- Mayor Linke indicated that the request is to stop Hillview east and west at Quincy and to direct the Park and Recreation to place park signage in that area. MOTION/SECOND: Wuori/Trude to Adopt Resolution No. 4578 Approving the Installation of Stop Signs as Drawn on the Petitioner's Sketch and Directing the Park and Recreation Commission to Make Recommendations to the Council on the Parking and Crossing of Street Signs In This Area Cindy Huro, 2146 Hillview Road, reported that 5 years ago there had been a series of meetings held to revamp Oakwood park. Home plate • was moved from the southeast corner of the park to the northwest corner of the park. Huro noted that the Hillview/Quincy intersection Mounds View City Council Page Nine 0 Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 is a very busy intersection with home plate, a school bus stop and one of two intersections that access the mobile home park. Huro reported that this area has twice the density than a normal City block does regarding pedestrians, children and drivers. The request is that signs indicating playground ahead and parking on only one side of the street be put in place. Councilmember Quick asked to make a friendly amendment to the motion by placing signage at the intersection of Lois, Hillview and Jackson indicating that Hillview comes to a dead end. Quick stated that this has been a problem in the past with emergency vehicles. (Unknown) Most persons exceed the speed limit in the area. Police should be using radar on Hillview and Quincy. Mayor Linke stated that the Police Department, Lieutenant Brick, was at the meeting and is aware of the problem in that area. The Police Department doesn't have enough staff to have a police person at each corner. VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried F. Consideration of Request for Transfer of Contingency Funds to Parks Operations (100-4360-703 and 303) for the Purchase of Woodchipper and the Algae Treatment of Silver View Pond Saarion reported that the Parks and Recreation Commission is requesting that the City Council approve the use of Contingency Funds to pay for the treatment of Silver View Pond algae growth. Saarion stated that the algae has a foul smell on warm days. Saarion further reported that the cost for this treatment including permits, materials and services including a dye treatment is approximately $23 , 000 . Saarion noted that the treatment would take place in July and would last for six weeks which would take us into the autumn months when the weather is cool and algae growth retards. Saarion also requested that the City Council approve the use of of Contingency Funds to purchase a Goossen Woodchipper at the cost of $5 , 600 . Saarion stated that occasions have been increasing where a woodchipper would enable to City to chip tree branches rather than take them to a landfill . Saarion further stated that the woodchips can be used in the parks for tree mulch, trail surfaces, and for the public' s use in landscaping yard projects. Councilmember Trude stated that there had been a discussion at one of the work sessions regarding the use of a woodchipper for the public. Trude suggested that this be looked into in the future where a time could be set and residents could bring in wood to be chipped. • Mounds View City Council Page Ten Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Saarion indicted that the public could be notified as when to drop off their Xmas trees and they could be chipped as well as using the chipper for clean up day branch collection. Councilmember Trude also stated that during a windstorm the City could assist the public with the woodchipper. Saarion informed the public that wood chips could be taken by residents for use on their property. Bill Frits, 8072 Long Lake Road, stated that the City would be increasing their insurance rates if the City purchases a wood chipper. Mayor Linke stated that the City borrows the City of New Brighton. Bill Frits stated that the algae in the pond will be a problem as long as the residences around the pond continue to use fertilizer on their banks. MOTION/SECOND: Trude/Quick to Approve the Request for Transfer of Contingency Funds to Parks Operations (100-4360-703 and 303) for the • Purchase of Woodchipper and the Algae Treatment of Silver View Pond VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried G. Consideration of Resolution No. 4580 Requesting that the Governments of the State of Minnesota and the United States of America Cease and Desist from Imposing Unfunded Mandates on Cities. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reported that in response to the growing number of unfunded mandates, and a request from Councilmember Blanchard, Resolution No. 4580 was prepared. Orduno noted that this resolution, if approved, would be forwarded to all state and national-elected--officials-as--a- formal- -r-eq-ues-tto stop the onslaught of unfunded mandates that undermine the ability of cities to provide affordable services to their public. Orduno read Resolution No. 4580 . Orduno presented the newest unfunded mandate requiring abandoned animals to be held 10 days rather than 6 days when picked up in the City. Also, in addition to holding the animals for ten days the veterinarian/pound must place a legal notice in the paper regarding the animal. The City will be impacted in two ways; an additional four days for holding and the cost of the legal notice in the official newspaper. Orduno also sited a mandate which dictates the size, shape and 11 color coordination of logos to be placed on the side of City vehicles. Mounds View City Council Page Eleven . Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Councilmember Blanchard stated that the message she wants to send is do not put mandates on the City without providing funds to complete those mandates. MOTION/SECOND: Blanchard/Wuori to Adopt Resolution No. 4580 Requesting that the Governments of the State of Minnesota and the United States of America Cease and Desist from Imposing Unfunded Mandates on the Cities VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Mayor Linke commented that this is the third or fourth resolution passed by this Council this year on the subject of unfunded mandates. Bill Frits stated that the City of Mounds View thinks they have a problem, look at California and Arizona with the immigration laws. These states have to enforce immigration laws without any funding from the federal government. Councilmember Trude stated that Pat Leong from the Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board who sits on the Transportation • Committee that reviews request for funds had called her to let her know that the grant prepared by Mary Saarion for federal funds for pedestrian passover on Highway 10 had made it through the first hurdle. There are two more transportation committees to meet. Trude stated that Leong informed her that there are four times the number of requests that there are funds available. Trude stated that Leong will keep the City of Mounds View informed as to the status of the grant. H. Consideration of Tabling of Final Payment to Mikkelson-Wulff MOTION/SECOND: Linke/Blanchard to Remove Final Payment to Mikkelson-Wulf-f__from_the Table VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried Cruikshank explained that the firm of Mikkelson-Wulff is not quite finished with the work on the expansion. Cruikshank noted that the windows have arrived but need to be finished off. Cruikshank requested that the Council table this item to the next Council Meeting. MOTION/SECOND: Linke/Quick to Table the Final Payment to Mikkelson- Wulff to the June 27 , 1994 Council Meeting VOTE: 5 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried • Mounds View City Council Page Twelve • Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Richard Gerlach, resident, spoke to the Council at a work session regarding the realignment of Old Highway 8 . Gerlach talked with Mr. Wayne Leonard of Ramsey County who stated that the City was not pushing to get this work done. Construction date is 4/96. Mr. Gerlach repeated that Mr. Leonard stated that the City Council was not pushing to try to get this done because the County was spending the money elsewhere. Mr. Gerlach commented that the County was attempting to get the funding for the bridge over the creek. The new bridge has to go through the process of federal funding. Orduno stated that Mr. Leonard may not be a decision maker for the County. Mr. Leonard' s comment is only part of the answer. The last Legislation Session put pressure on counties to turn over roads to the cities. Mayor Linke asked that Paul Harrington, Community Development Coordinator write a letter to the County and also create a resolution indicating the City Council's desires to have the construction for the realignment of Old Highway 8 begins as soon as • possible. Mr. Gerlach stated that the last study indicated that there were 4 , 000 cars per day on Highway 8 . Mayor Linke stated that the County ignores Mounds View. It seems Mounds View is at the northeast corner of the County and is left out many of the times. Mr. Gerlach asked if the City budgets money for this realignment. Mayor Linke indicated that it would be County money, not City money. Highway__10 is _a state highway and County Roads H and Old 8 are county roads. REPORTS 1. Report of Councilmembers: Councilmember Quick reported that Irondale made the first round and will play at 1 : 00 at Memorial Stadium in the State Tournament. Quick did state that Irondale won region as AA champs. Councilmember Blanchard: No report. 410 Councilmember Wuori Regular Meeting June 13 , 1994 Councilmember Trude: No report. Report of Mayor Linke: No report. Report of Administrator: No report. Report of Staff: No report. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before this Council, Mayor Linke adjourned the meeting at 8 : 40 p.m. -spe tf 11cpsubmitteq, ichele Severson Recording Secretary 1111 • 111