HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2020/02/10PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Regular Meeting
February 10, 2020
Mounds View City Hall
2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112
6:39 P.M.
1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller
NOT PRESENT: None.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A. Monday, February 10, 2020, City Council Agenda.
MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Approve the Monday, February 10, 2020, agenda
as presented.
Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes: January 27, 2020.
B. Just and Correct Claims.
C. Resolution 9234, Approving a One-Time Compensation Payment to Barb
Benesch.
D. Resolution 9236, Approving 2020 Public Works Parks Seasonal Positions.
E. Resolution 9238, Approving the Continual MNDOT Master Partnership
Contract between the City of Mounds View and Minnesota Department of
Transportation.
MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Hull. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
A. Police Chief Nate Harder – Annual Report.
Police Chief Harder provided the Council with a presentation on the 2019 Annual Report. He
discussed the strategic plan and goals for the Mounds View Police Department. He commented on
the new programs being offered in 2019 which included the reserve department. He stated he was
proud of the great work being conducted by the reserves and the Neighborhood Resource Officer.
He reviewed the calls for service in 2019 noting the department had its most calls for service ever,
and also remained proactive in the community. He described the partnership the Police
Department had with NYFS. He discussed the work being done by the VCET team and K-9 units.
He thanked the Council and the Mounds View Police Foundation for their continued support.
Mayor Mueller stated she was a little alarmed after reading an investigators report of a robbery
that occurred in the City. She questioned why charges were declined. Police Chief Harder stated
this was due to the fact the District Attorney failed to charge the minors for the offense.
Mayor Mueller expressed concern with the fact the person that hit and almost killed Sergeant Ben
Zender was allowed out on bail and he then skipped town. Police Chief Harder reported this
individual was on the run for some time but has since been arrested in Alexandria and he was back
in custody.
Mayor Mueller requested the Police Chief read the 2019 traffic stop by race information in full for
the record. Police Chief Harder reviewed the 2019 traffic stops by race. He noted there was a
total of 3,579 stops. Of those 2,225 were white individuals, 760 were black, 181 were Hispanic,
241 were Asian, and there was 1 Native American. He explained all race information was gathered
from ID’s and no individual was asked their race during a traffic stop. He commented further on
the information that was gathered during traffic stops.
Mayor Mueller asked how the public could view the 2019 Annual Report. Police Chief Harder
stated this report would be posted on the Mounds View Police Department’s website.
Council Member Meehlhause thanked Police Chief Harder for his incredible leadership of the
Mounds View Police Department.
B. Jerry Hromatka – Northeast Youth and Family Services.
Jerry Hromatka, Northeast Youth and Family Services, thanked the Council for their time. He
discussed the number of households that were served each year by NYFS. He explained NYFS
had two main program areas which were mental health (clinic based, school based and day
treatment) and community services, which included Diversion, senior chore and community case
management services. He commented on how there has been a growing trend of families
approaching NYFS with complex issues.
Mr. Hromatka described the benefit of working with youth and the long-term positive effects this
can has over the individual’s life time. He stated it was important to have these individuals
connected to the community while building valuable life skills. He reported Community Case
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Management addresses quality of life, proactive outreach, along with engaging a client network
that is community based and requires follow through. He explained 75% of the services provided
by NYFS focus on mental health. The positive functions of expressive and cognitive therapies
was discussed.
Mr. Hromatka reviewed NYFS’s revenue sources and discussed what Mounds View receives each
year from its support of NYFS. He described the transition and reorganization that would occur
at NYFS in 2020, noting he would be retiring in June. He stated NYFS had 14 candidates to
interview for his position. He reported the new Executive Director of NYFS would be introduced
to the public at the Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, May 6th. He thanked the City of Mounds
View for their continued support.
Council Member Gunn stated the NYFS volunteers that assisted at the Daddy Daughter Dance
were wonderful. She indicated the partnership the City had with NYFS was phenomenal.
Council Member Meehlhause thanked Mr. Hromatka for his strong leadership and years of
dedicated service at NYFS.
8. COUNCIL BUSINESS
A. Public Hearing: Ordinance 972, Title 1200, Chapters 1201, 1202, 1203, and
1205 relating to Land Subdivisions. Second Reading, Adoption and Summary
Publication. ROLL CALL VOTE
City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council adopt an Ordinance that addresses Title 1200
related to Land Subdivisions. He explained the Planning Commission reviewed this Ordinance
and recommended approval.
Mayor Mueller opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.
Hearing no public input, Mayor Mueller closed the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.
MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 972, Title
1200, Chapters 1201, 1202, 1203, and 1205 relating to Land Subdivisions along with the Summary
Publication.
Mayor Mueller thanked City Administrator Zikmund for all of his work to update City Code.
ROLL CALL: Bergeron/Gunn/Hull/Meehlhause/Mueller.
Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
B. Resolution 9233, Approving Transfers between Funds for 2019.
Finance Director Beer requested the Council approve transfers between funds for 2019. He
discussed how the transfers would assist the City in achieving its budgeting goals. He reviewed
the proposed transfers and recommended approval.
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MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9233,
Approving Transfers between Funds for 2019.
Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried.
C. Resolution 9237, Approving Development Agreement for Long Lake Woods
Second Addition.
City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a Development Agreement for Long
Lake Woods Second Addition. He stated Marty Harstad has been working on a development in
the City and this development required a Development Agreement. He reported the eminent
domain process would not be addressed this evening. He described the process that would be
followed for the negotiations that would be followed for eminent domain. He explained this project
could move forward and the eminent domain process would move through the court. He noted the
City had received an appraisal for the property in question and a formal offer was being drafted by
staff. He reviewed the costs the developer would be covering through the development. He
indicated by approving the Development Agreement the project could move forward with a
feasibility study.
Mayor Mueller opened the meeting for public comments.
Jana Yoder, 8206 Long Lake Road, stated her family has visited Rice Creek a number of times.
She explained Marty Harstad has not been forthcoming and honest with things he has and has not
done. She reported Mr. Harstad has not gone to Rice Creek yet and was late in noting the property
had a wetland. She indicated the property he was trying to develop was within a floodplain. She
stated 26 people live on her block and if this development were to move forward the lives of 19
people that oppose the development are being neglected. It was her hope that the Mounds View
City government would be for her and not against her. She feared that the value of her home would
decrease if this development were approved because she would now have a large retention pond
in her back yard. She recommended the City Council not approve the proposed development
agreement.
Dan Madsen, 8206 Long Lake Road, stated it was a shame the City was considering using eminent
domain for private gain. He indicated it was ill-advised to mess with a wetland that was located
on a floodplain. He explained he was disturbed by the fact the developer would not be responsible
for maintaining the wetland pond. He expressed concern with how his property value would be
adversely impacted by the proposed development.
Mayor Mueller closed the meeting for public comments.
Mayor Mueller explained eminent domain were the words used in State Statute that describe a
process a City may utilize in order to exercise their right to have access to the public easement for
the purpose of constructing a road. She reported the City was not taking a home away. She noted
the proposed roadway has been platted on its plat maps for the past 20 years. She stated the City
had a signed document on file with the property owner stating he understands his driveway would
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have to be removed if the City needs to put a street through. She explained the City Council would
have no personal or private gain over this project. She understood that change was hard but
commented there was a need for more single-family homes in Mounds View, which could only
happen through in-fill developments. She stated the Council was not disregarding the view of 19
people in this neighborhood but was respecting the rights of the seven property owners that have
come together to create the proposed development. She reiterated the fact that this project was not
initiated by the City.
City Administrator Zikmund explained the developer would be responsible to hire a private
engineer to complete an assessment on the property. He stated going forward as part of the
feasibility, Mr. Harstad will be responsible for completing a permit with the Rice Creek Watershed
District. He reported the City does not have anything to do with this process, but rather Mr.
Harstad will have to comply with all of the requirements of the watershed district. He indicated
the City would have a stormwater pond management maintenance agreement with Rice Creek. He
commented it can be as frustrating for the City to deal with stormwater management issues as it is
for residents given the fact determinations on this were made by the developer and the watershed
district.
Council Member Bergeron stated in Article 2.06 under Additional Requirements it states the
developer shall satisfy, complete and abide by all requirements set forth in any City approvals,
including adequately addressing all items that may be directed by the City Attorney, City Engineer,
or other review. He indicated this was a safeguard and until he saw specifics he could not support
this document. He reported in Article 3.10 under the Indemnification language, he did not want
the City to be held hostage by poor the workmanship of the developer. He stated this has happened
in the past. He commented he wanted to see more definitive measures taken regarding the water
situation otherwise he would not be able to support the Development Agreement.
MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9237,
Approving Development Agreement for Long Lake Woods Second Addition.
Council Member Gunn indicated this was a preliminary document and was not a final plat
agreement. City Administrator Zikmund reported the Development Agreement was a standard
agreement that would allow the developer to proceed with a feasibility study. He commented the
Council could delay action on this item by two weeks to allow for additional comment from the
City Attorney. However, he noted the provisions within this agreement were standard.
Council Member Meehlhause stated he understood that for some of the property owners in this
neighborhood this project was tough. He commented on how property owners have the right to
sell and develop their property. He explained the Comprehensive Plan has shown for years that
this area of the City will be developed into single-family homes. He understood the neighbors
were not happy with this, but explained the City also had to consider the rights of the property
owners.
Council Member Bergeron indicated there was a big difference between commercial and
residential developments. He noted this was a residential development that had little or no
separation for the neighbors.
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Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Abstain – 1 Motion carried.
9. REPORTS
A. Reports of Mayor and Council.
Council Member Gunn stated the Daddy Daughter Dance was a tremendous success again this
year. She thanked the Mounds View resident that served as the official photographer.
Council Member Meehlhause explained the NYFS Service to Youth Award Ceremony would be
held on Thursday, February 13th. He noted Police Chief Harder and Tammy Moberg would be
individuals honored at this event.
Council Member Meehlhause updated the Council on the four NYFS meetings he would be
attending in the next two weeks.
Council Member Bergeron commented he has had two people reach out to him regarding the
Daddy Daughter Dance stating how positive this event was. He thanked the Mounds View Police
Foundation for putting on this great community event.
Mayor Mueller stated she would be attending the Festival in the Park Committee meeting on
Tuesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. She reported additional volunteers
were still needed to assist with planning this year’s event.
Mayor Mueller indicated she was looking forward to attending the NYFS Service to Youth Award
Ceremony on Thursday, February 13th.
Mayor Mueller reported the Ramsey County League of Local Government would meet on Friday,
February 14th at 7:30 a.m. and the Minnesota Women in City Government would meet at the
League of Minnesota Cities in St. Paul on Friday also.
B. Reports of Staff.
Finance Director Beer reported the City’s audit was underway and should be completed in the next
two weeks.
City Administrator Zikmund stated the Town Hall meeting would be held on Monday, April 20th
at 6:00 p.m. He noted the Town Hall event would be held at the Community Center this year. He
reported the City would have a number of different displays for the public to view at this meeting,
including the HOP program.
City Administrator Zikmund indicated the Mounds View Business Council would meet next on
Wednesday, March 4th at the Mounds View Community Center at 7:30 a.m.
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City Administrator Zikmund reported Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire and
Commissioner Nicole Frethem would be attending the next City Council meeting to provide the
Council with an update from Ramsey County.
City Administrator Zikmund stated staff was getting painting and carpeting bids and would have
this information for the Council to review in two weeks.
C. Reports of City Attorney.
There was nothing additional to report.
10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, March 2, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.
Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 24, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Transcribed by:
Heidi Guenther
Minute Maker Secretarial