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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025/01/27APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 27, 2025 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:00 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Clark, Gunn, Lindstrom, Meehlhause and Smith NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, January 27, 2025, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Clark/Meehlhause. To Approve the Monday, January 27, 2025, agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Lindstrom asked to remove Item 5C. A. Approval of Minutes: January 13, 2025. B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 10046, Authorizing Recruitment Process for Public Works Arborist/Parks Maintenance Position and Approve Revised Job Description. D. Resolution 10047, Authorizing Recruitment Process for Public Works Public Works Maintenance Position and Approve Revised Job Description. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Approve the Consent Agenda as amended removing Item 5C. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 10046, Authorizing Recruitment Process for Public Works Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 2 Arborist/Parks Maintenance Position and Approve Revised Job Description. Mayor Lindstrom stated he would like to have a longer conversation about this position. He recommended action on this item be tabled to a future Council worksession meeting. MOTION/SECOND: Lindstrom/Clark. To table action on this item to a future City Council worksession meeting. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Resolution 10042, Appreciation to Marsha Anderson for her Service on the Mounds View Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. Mayor Lindstrom read a Resolution of Appreciation in full for the record for Marsha Anderson and thanked her for her service on the Mounds View Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Smith. To Adopt Resolution 10042, Appreciation to Marsha Anderson for her Service on the Mounds View Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 10043, Appreciation to Marcus Curtis for his Service on the Mounds View Planning Commission. Mayor Lindstrom read a Resolution of Appreciation in full for the record for Marcus Curtis and thanked him for his service on the Mounds View Planning Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Adopt Resolution 10043, Appreciation to Marcus Curtis for his Service on the Mounds View Planning Commission. Council Member Meehlhause and Mayor Lindstrom thanked Commissioner Curtis for his excellent service to the City of Mounds View. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Lindstrom encouraged the public to speak with kindness and respect when addressing the City Council during Public Comment. Vince Meyer, 8380 Spring Lake Road, encouraged the City Councilmembers to drive down Mounds View Boulevard and to look at the crooked benches that were installed. Russell Zeck, 8431 Pleasant View Drive, explained his wife has spoken to the Council regarding a tree that was removed from his yard. He indicated this tree was not removed legally as he was Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 3 only given two business days’ notice. He reported City Code states he should have been given 30 days’ notice and now he was being charged $500 for the tree removal. He indicated he would not be paying $500 for the removal of a tree that was no danger, did not have emerald ash borer and he could have removed himself. He recommended the City pay the cost for this tree given the fact he received no notice. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. PUBLIC HEARING: Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 1023, Vacating a Sidewalk Easement on the Properties at 2118 Terrace Drive, 2126 Terrace Drive, 2119 Pinewood Drive and 2127 Pinewood Drive. This item was removed from the agenda. B. Resolution 10044, Approving a Separate Driveway for Lot 3 Block 1 Long Lake Cove at 2557 County Road I. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve a separate driveway for Lot 3 Block 1 Long lake Cove at 2557 County Road I. He explained all the required approvals have been achieved and staff was recommending approval of the separate driveway. Mayor Lindstrom questioned if the property owner would be building this year. City Administrator Zikmund stated he was uncertain of the construction timeline for the property owners. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 10044, Approving a Separate Driveway for Lot 3 Block 1 Long Lake Cove at 2557 County Road I. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. C. Resolution 10045, Appointing the Mounds View Planning & Zoning Commission Chairperson. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council appoint the Mounds View Planning and Zoning Commission Chairperson. He explained the Commission recommended Dennis Farmer serve as Chairperson. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Clark. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 10045, Appointing the Mounds View Planning & Zoning Commission Chairperson. Council Member Meehlhause explained this would be Dennis Farmer’s second or third year serving as the Planning and Zoning Commission Chairperson. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. D. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 1024, Amending the Mounds View City Code by Deleting all Sections Referencing the Mounds View Economic Development Commission. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 4 City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council introduce an Ordinance that would amend the Mounds View City Code by deleting all sections referencing the Mounds View Economic Development Commission. He reported this action would follow through with the Council directive to eliminate the EDC. Mayor Lindstrom asked if a public hearing was required for this Ordinance. City Attorney Riggs explained a public hearing was not necessary for this ordinance amendment. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 1024, Amending the Mounds View City Code by Deleting all Sections Referencing the Mounds View Economic Development Commission. Further discussion ensued regarding the differences between the EDC and the EDA. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. E. Resolution 10041, Authorizing Abatement of Hazards at 8391 Spring Lake Road. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council authorize the abatement of hazards at 8391 Spring Lake Road. He reported this property was well known to the City’s code enforcement division and has had a chronic history for excessive junk in the backyard. He explained the neighbors have made complaints. He noted he spoke to the property owners today and invited them to attend this meeting. He shared recent pictures of the property with the Council and further discussed the abatement process that would be followed by the City. He asked for direction from the Council if staff should pursue criminal charges or just move forward with the abatement piece. Jim Willie, 8403 Spring Lake Road, stated he has been dealing with this property for the past 15 years. He understood the City has visited the property on several different occasions and stated he was pleased the City would finally be acting to remove the junk from his neighbor’s backyard. Council Member Smith asked if someone has reached out to the County to sit down with the property owner to talk about the reoccurring problem of hoarding. City Administrator Zikmund explained it was not the role of the City to provide social services. He stated the City could draft a letter and send it to the property owner letting them know about the services that were available from the County. City Attorney Riggs reported nuisance abatements were a resource problem for every community in the State and some communities have designated staff to address these properties. He explained staff was proposing to deal with the property now, allowing both criminal and civil charges to move forward. He commented further on what would be done through both the civil and criminal charges. He understood this was not a perfect process, but noted property owners do have rights. He explained adoption of the proposed Resolution would get the abatement process started for this property. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 5 Council Member Clark questioned if the property owner has been fined. City Attorney Riggs reported this would be done if criminal action was pursued. He recommended the Council authorize staff to pursue both criminal and civil action against the property owners. Council Member Gunn indicated the property owners would be made aware of the timeframe for the abatement process. Council Member Smith anticipated it was an environmental hazard to have these items in a backyard. City Attorney Riggs reported this was the case. Council Member Meehlhause asked if one of the challenges for backyard abatements was the fact the City needed to have a partnership with the neighbors who have reported the code enforcement issues. City Attorney Riggs stated this was correct. Council Member Meehlhause commented the neighbors have his sympathies for having to put up with this property owner given the amount of junk that has accrued in the back yard. Mayor Lindstrom asked what it would look like to work with the home owner if the Council opted to pursue this matter civilly. City Administrator Zikmund explained if the Resolution were adopted as is, staff would have the authority to pursue the homeowner both civilly and criminally. He reported once an abatement order was received from the courts, the City would then convey this information to the property owner. He indicated a reasonable about of time (30 days) would have to be given to clear the property and after that time, the City would be able to move forward with the abatement. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Smith. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 10041, Authorizing Abatement of Hazards at 8391 Spring Lake Road. Mayor Lindstrom indicated he was not interested in fining the property owners at this time. He recommended only civil action be taken at this time. The Council agreed. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. F. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 1025, Adopting Regulations Related to Cannabis. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council introduce an ordinance that would adopt regulations related to cannabis. He noted this ordinance would be brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 5 and would come back to the City Council on February 24. He reported he would be reaching out to Minnesota Roots tomorrow. City Attorney Riggs indicated this ordinance was a first step and noted this was a fluid ordinance that could be amended in the future if necessary. Mayor Lindstrom questioned if anti-discriminatory practices for landlords should be addressed in this portion of ordinance. City Attorney Riggs indicated he did not believe this issue had to be Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 6 addressed within this portion of city code. Council Member Gunn noted she would be participating in a cannabis webinar on Friday morning and she could ask how other cities were addressing this matter. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 1025, Adopting Regulations Related to Cannabis. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. G. Resolution 10053, Approval of Change Order #1 regarding the Ardan Park Ponds Project. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council approve Change Order #1 for the Ardan Park Ponds project. He explained the issue was not the contractor looking for additional money for the work they did, but rather staff made an error in clarifying the material that had to be moved. He discussed the project timeline noting action was needed tonight to get all the street sweeping material moved offsite. Mayor Lindstrom indicated the street sweepings must be removed to complete the trail and finish the project properly. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 10053, Approval of Change Order #1 regarding the Ardan Park Ponds Project. Council Member Meehlhause stated this was an unfortunate oversight and noted if the work was done later it would cost the City even more money because equipment would have to be brought back to the site. Mayor Lindstrom indicated the work had to be done now because there was a large drop off on the property and he did not want anyone to get injured. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Gunn stated the Police Foundation met recently and would be holding the Daddy Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 8. She encouraged residents to purchases tickets through Eventbrite. Council Member Gunn explained the Tribute Park Committee met and came up with two dates to celebrate the grand opening of the park. She indicated the first would be Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m. which would celebrate EMS and the three tragedies that occurred in the community, and the second date would be Tuesday, November 11. She commented the committee was going to begin pursuing grants and introductory letters to assist with seeking donations. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 7 Council Member Clark reported she attended the Parks meeting on Thursday, January 23 where new members were sworn in and the group discussed upcoming programming, the park plan was presented by WSB, and along with the growing popularity of the bags league at the Community Center. Also, it was noted the City only had 35 diseased trees left to be removed. She noted the permanent soccer goals at Silver View would be put in storage for 2025 to allow for this field to be used for lacrosse/multi-use. Council Member Clark stated she attended the Festival in the Park Committee meeting last week and noted the group made plans for the second annual Easter egg hunt, which would be held on Saturday, April 19 at City Hall Park at 10:00 a.m. In addition, she reported the Festival in the Park Committee voted to purchase four bricks for the Tribute Park. Council Member Smith stated the Cable Commission would be meeting next on Thursday, February 20. Council Member Smith explained the Ramsey County League of Local Government would be meeting next on Friday, February 7. Council Member Smith discussed her recent experience at the White Bear Lake Polar Plunge, noting the event had over 2,000 plungers and raised over $200,000 for the Minnesota Special Olympics. Council Member Meehlhause suggested the County Commissioner, State House reps, Representative McCullom, Senators Klobuchar and Smith, and the governor be invited to attend the Tribute Park ceremony on Saturday, September 13. Council Member Meehlhause thanked School Resource Officer Bosco for following local school buses in to assist with slowing traffic during the morning bus routes. Council Member Meehlhause commented on the discussion that was held at the recent Charter Commission meeting regarding Council appointments and the proposed succession order. He noted this group would meet next in a joint meeting with the City Council on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. Further discussion ensued regarding the process that would be followed in the event the City Council were to have a vacancy. Mayor Lindstrom explained he and City Administrator Zikmund had a meeting with Ramsey County Manager Ling Becker. Mayor Lindstrom indicated he also met with State Representative Kelly last week where different legislative ideas were discussed. Mayor Lindstrom stated he had the opportunity to speak at the Stillwater Prison and noted this was a very eye-opening experience for him. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 8 Mayor Lindstrom reported he would be attending a Board of Pardons meeting on Thursday, January 30. Mayor Lindstrom explained on Wednesday, January 22 he celebrated seven years of sobriety and then his chipmunk died. B. Reports of Staff. Finance Director Bauman explained she was looking into purchasing new copiers for City Hall through a cooperative purchasing agreement. City Administrator Zikmund reviewed photos of the Mermaid, noting she was in the process of being refurbished. He reported staff would be receiving a quote for the work in the coming weeks and this information would be passed along to the City Council. City Administrator Zikmund explained the New Brighton Lions would be making a $1,500 donation to the Tribute Park on behalf of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. City Administrator Zikmund stated he submitted a grant for $41,000 and noted Eva Mackey submitted a grant for $50,000, both for the Tribute Park. He encouraged the Council to make him aware of any other grant opportunities for this park. City Administrator Zikmund explained he met with Tim Hill today, who was the third-generation owner of CG Hill & Sons, noting Mr. Hill’s grandfather invented the toaster. He stated Mr. Hill was a former SBM Fire Board member. City Administrator Zikmund asked if the Council wanted to hold a Town Hall meeting in 2025. Mayor Lindstrom supported the City holding a Town Hall meeting and he recommended this be done in the fall. The Council agreed. City Administrator Zikmund reported he had communicated with Ramsey County Manager Becker to see when a meeting could be held with the Mounds View City Council. Staff suggested this meeting be held on Monday, March 17. The Council supported this recommendation. C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs provided the Council with an update on the Greenwood property easement and discussed the letter he received regarding the recent ordinance the City Council approved that now required trash haulers to post their rates with the City before receiving a permit from the City. Mayor Lindstrom stated this ordinance was passed to ensure prices were transparent for Mounds View residents. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, February 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Mounds View City Council January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 9 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial