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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2021/04/26APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting April 26, 2021 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:01 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Mueller stated due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting would be held virtually. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Cermak, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, April 26, 2021, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Bergeron. To Approve the Monday, April 26, 2021, agenda as amended adding a report from City Administrator Zikmund under Item 9B to address Food Trucks, Deck Permits and Tree Removal. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes: April 12, 2021. B. Just and Correct Claims. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Mounds View City Council April 26, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 None. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. 1st Quarter Report from the Mounds View Police Department Police Chief Harder provided the Council with a presentation on the 1st quarter report from the Mounds View Police Department. He discussed the number of citations and traffic stops that occurred in the first quarter compared to 2020 and 2019. He commented on how the pandemic was impacting calls for service and traffic stops. He reported there had been a rise in auto thefts and auto part thefts in the community. He described how the department was addressing this concern. He discussed how the reserve unit has been assisting the department and thanked all of the officers who participated in the Polar Plunge. He noted the great work the VCET unit was conducting on behalf of the community. He encouraged the public to consider participating in an upcoming dog walk with K9 Officer Niko on May 22, 2021. Council Member Bergeron asked how Mounds View residents could learn more about how to protect their catalytic convertor. Police Chief Harder reported the department would be advertising a clinic this summer. Council Member Bergeron thanked Police Chief Harder for his efforts regarding catalytic convertors and how to protect Mounds View residents. Mayor Mueller thanked Police Chief Harder and the entire department for keeping the community safe over the past few weeks. She stated the Mounds View Police Department means a great deal to this community. She explained she appreciated the catalytic convertor event the department was planning, along with the proposed dog walk because these events would build community. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution 9418, Approval of the Preliminary Plat for Anthony Properties, Second Addition. This item was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting. B. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution 9419, Amending the PUD Narrative for the O’Neil Property, and Approving a Development Review of Caribou Cabin, 24XX Mounds View Boulevard. This item was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting. C. Resolution 9423, Approval of Cigarette/Tobacco License for Aldo J. Olivas, Savilo Liquor Store, 2345 County Road H2. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a cigarette/tobacco license for Aldo J. Olivas for the Savilo Liquor Store at 2345 County Road H2. He noted this was for the Vino & Stogies site. He reported the applicant has submitted all necessary paperwork and fees to the City Mounds View City Council April 26, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 3 and staff recommended approval. Aldo Olivas, 2345 County Road H2, thanked the Council for their consideration. He explained he owned a liquor store and his patrons were asking for him to sell cigarettes. This led him to apply for a license with the City of Mounds View. Mayor Mueller questioned how long the Savilo Liquor Store had been open in the community. Mr. Olivas reported he has been open for the past three weeks. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9423, Approval of Cigarette/Tobacco License for Aldo J. Olivas, Savilo Liquor Store, 2345 County Road H2. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Resolution 9413, Approving the Purchase of One Ford Police Utility Vehicle along with Additional Set Up Costs. Police Chief Harder requested the Council approve the purchase of one Ford Police Utility Vehicle along with additional set up costs. He explained this was a budgeted expense and would replace Squad #144 with in the department. He reported the bid was from the State and the total cost would be $48,274.24 with equipment totaling $6,959.90. Council Member Meehlhause asked what would happen to the squad that would be replaced. Police Chief Harder indicated once the squad car gets stripped down, he could see if it would be better utilized by his department or the public works department, or if it should be sent to auction. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9413, Approving the Purchase of One Ford Police Utility Vehicle along with Additional Set Up Costs. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. E. Resolution 9416, Approving the Purchase of 25 Motorola Police Portable Radios. Police Chief Harder requested the Council approve the purchase of 25 Motorola Police portable radios. He explained he received a State bid for this purchase which came in at $92,839.25. He reported the original bid was $105,000 to $115,000, but this amount was whittled down. He indicated these were excellent radios and requested the Council approve the purchase. Mayor Mueller stated she understood the 911 communication centers were overwhelmed with calls and texts for assistance at various times during the pandemic and civil unrest. She asked if the Mounds View City Council April 26, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 4 radios helped with that when the cell towers were jammed up. Police Chief Harder indicated there are a certain number of encrypted radios, but reported the Motorola radios would continue to work even when cell towers were jammed. He explained the current radios have reached the end of their useful life and had to be replaced. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9416, Approving the Purchase of 25 Motorola Police Portable Radios. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Meehlhause reported he would be attending the Quincy House Open House at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. He stated he would be attending the NYFS Board meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Council Member Meehlhause encouraged residents to visit the Lions Annual Garage Sale Wednesday, May 12 through May 14, 2021 at Hillview Park from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday. He explained the Mounds View Police Foundation would be serving brats on Wednesday and Thursday. Council Member Meehlhause invited the public to visit the Manitou Grill in White Bear Lake on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in White Bear Lake after 4:00 p.m. He reported 10% of all meal sales would be donated to the Mounds View Police Foundation. Council Member Cermak stated last Thursday she attended the Fire Relief Board meeting where the group discussed and passed their budget. Council Member Cermak explained on May 11, 2021 she would be having eye surgery but noted she would be in attendance at the May 10, 2021 meeting. Mayor Mueller reported she would also be attending the Quincy House Open House on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. She requested staff post a quorum for this event. Mayor Mueller commented the Festival in the Park Committee met last week and reminded residents that the Festival would be held on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21, 2021. She discussed the fun events that were being planned and encouraged residents to consider volunteering to help make this celebration happen. The next Festival in the Park planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Mayor Mueller stated last Friday she attended a virtual event hosted by Minnesota Women in Government where a panel discussion addressed lessons learned during the pandemic. She Mounds View City Council April 26, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 5 believed it was amazing how well cities and other governmental agencies adapted during the pandemic to keep public services operational. Mayor Mueller stated on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 she would be attending a Ramsey County Dispatch Policy Committee meeting where the budget would be discussed. Mayor Mueller reported on Friday, April 30, 2021 she would be attending a Minnesota Mayor’s Association Executive Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. B. Reports of Staff. Assistant City Administrator Beeman provided the Council with an update on redevelopment that was occurring in the City. 1. Food Trucks. City Administrator Zikmund stated the City was seeing a significant number of inquiries regarding food trucks in the community. He reported Mounds View requires licenses both from the City and the County, which was different from surrounding communities. He noted the license fee from the City was $100. He questioned if the Council would consider an amendment to City Ordinance in order to eliminate or reduce the fee. The Council supported this change. 2. Deck Permit City Administrator Zikmund stated a resident in Mounds View wants to put a deck in their back yard. He explained when Silver Lake Commons was approved, this property was required to have a drainage easement. He noted this drainage easement has never been used and was not necessary. He commented the proposed deck would encroach on this easement. He indicated the City has made numerous attempts to contact the property owner to no avail. He reported the City could issue a building permit with the condition the deck would be built at the property owner’s risk. City Attorney Riggs explained he spoke with staff on this matter and he concurred with the proposed course of action in order to accommodate the property owner’s request. Mayor Mueller asked if a future owner would be bound to comply with an encroachment easement. City Attorney Riggs reported this was the case, encroachment easements run with the property. He indicated in this case, the resident requesting the deck has not been able to make contact with the adjacent property owner in order to finalize an encroachment agreement. He stated staff was recommending the building permit be issued knowing full well the deck would be built at the property owner’s risk and any concerns that may arise regarding the encroachment would then become a civil matter. Mayor Mueller questioned how a perspective buyer would know about this risk when purchasing this property. City Attorney Riggs stated this would be difficult. He reported the property owner should continue to work with the owner to reach an encroachment agreement. If this was not done and the deck was built, there could be a concern in the future. But again, this would be a civil Mounds View City Council April 26, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 6 matter that would have to be worked out between the two property owners. He stated unfortunately the City does not control this property, otherwise the easement would already be vacated. Consensus of the Council was to support staff issuing the deck building permit. 3. Tree Removal City Administrator Zikmund stated the City has a resident that had diseased trees that were marked and removed. He indicated this property changed ownership and the new owner was not notified of the expense. He stated the new property owner does not want to pay the $857 bill. He explained the City had made an error and the single mother now living in the home requested the City waive the fees. Consensus of the Council was to waive the fees for this tree removal. City Administrator Zikmund commented on the stormwater issues along Silver Lake Road at Silver View Pond. He reported the City would be done with its municipal water and street upgrades in the next year. However, he noted the City’s stormwater system needed work. He discussed the six drainage and watershed areas in the City and noted the work needed on the City’s stormwater system would be a large project. He indicated he was meeting with representatives from outside consulting agencies to discuss how to address this project. He stated some of the work may require Ramsey County and the DOT to clean ditches and pipes. Mayor Mueller recommended this topic be further discussed at a future worksession meeting. City Administrator Zikmund stated he had to learn more on how to proceed prior to bringing this topic to the City Council. C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs had nothing additional to report. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, May 3, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Next EDA Meeting: Monday, May 10, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, May 10, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial