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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2001/03/12r PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA ~°' 1"' ' ~U ~ - R x `~ 4.._ .~.__~.. :..~..:._. ._ .~ .__.. ~ ~._ _.. A„ Regular Meeting March 12, 2001 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:15 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: Sonterre, Quick, Marty, Stigney, Thomas. Council Member Quick was absent. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, March 12, 2001 City Council Agenda. • Mayor Sonterre asked the Council if anyone would like to add items to the agenda. City Administrator Miller asked that Item lOC be removed from the agenda as Springsted was not able to be at the meeting. MOTION/SECOND: Thomas/Stigney. To Remove Item lOC from the Agenda. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. Mayor Sonterre asked that a report from Police Chief Clark concerning traffic and speed issues on County Highway 10 be added as Item l OC. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Sonterre. To Approve the March 12, 2001, City Council Agenda as amended. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Monday, January 8, 2001 City Council Minutes. • Council Member Marty requested the following changes: On Page 6, Paragraph l OB the last line is all caps please correct. On Page 10, Paragraph 7 insert the word "today" between her and she. On Page 12, Paragraph 4 change the word "work shop" to "work session". Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 2 • MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Stigney. To Approve the Monday, January 8, 2001, City Council Minutes with the Requested Changes. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. B. Monday, February 26, 2001, City Council Minutes Council Member Marty requested the following changes: On Page 5 the motion and second should come at the end after the discussion. On Page 6 Council should approve the list of the candidates before approving the hiring of an officer. On Page 8, Paragraph 6, Line 1 after "the council" insert a comma. On Page 21, Paragraph 4, last line change "work shop" to "work session". Council Member Stigney stated he felt the motion and second on Pages 5 and 6 were in the proper sequence. After some discussion Council determined no change was needed to Pages 5 and 6. Mayor Sonterre requested the following change: On Page 3, Paragraph 6, change the reference from Marty Sonterre to Mayor Sonterre. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Thomas. To Approve the Monday, February 26, 2001, City Council Minutes with the Requested Changes. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. 5. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: A. Minnesota State Senator Satveer Chaudhary Senator Chaudhary updated Council on the events taking place in the legislature. He noted he was elected to the House of Representatives before being elected to Senate and then gave an overview of some of the things he worked on while in the House of Representatives. Senator Chaudhary told Council he has been appointed to several major committees and that education is his number one issue. The committees he has been appointed to are the K-12 Budget Division, renamed the E-12 Budget Division, the Education Technology Committee, two separate Transportation Committees, Transportation Policy and Budget Division, and the Crime Prevention Committee. Senator Chaudhary told Council one of the major issues facing the legislature is what to do with the budget surplus. Another issue is the Governor's tax reform plan. The third major issue is re-districting. Initial observations have shown that both rural Minnesota as well as the metropolitan area will have lost population and will lose districts and there will be additional districts added in the suburbs. Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 3 Senator Chaudhary commented that the state is wrestling with what type and how well to fund education. He then stated his top issue is to cut class sizes. He explained there is another proposal to cut class sizes before the legislature that takes a little bit more money but in comparison to the budget surplus he feels it is well worth it. Senator Chaudhary also reported DWI issues and internet pornography are at the top of his list of concerns. He then explained an internet pornography bill will be introduced to the legislature and he is hoping it will make it easier for law enforcement to catch those that possess and/or disseminate child pornography. Senator Chaudhary sent a message to parents indicating he felt that letting kids surf the internet alone is the equivalent of sending kids to the park alone and that great care should be exercised by parents to protect children from viewing things that are inappropriate. He then stated he wants parents to know government is attempting to do its part to catch them with this bill but noted parents need to be ever vigilant at the same time. Senator Chaudhary then spoke to issues concerning Mounds View noting there appears to be some feelings from MNDOT that there is flexibility with the agreement between Mounds View and the County for the use of turn back funds. He noted he entered Mounds View into a program to allow the City to use funds from the Scattered Site Housing TIF Program to take care of dilapidated housing which includes up to 50 homes over the course of 10 years. He noted he will draft a bill for bonding to help fund the renovation or rebuilding of three park shelters in Mounds View noting he was not sure if there will be bonding this year or if it will be worked into next year. Senator Chaudhary noted he and Representative Evans would meet to discuss the sound barrier issue to see what can be done. He then explained he feels there are a couple of approaches. One is to look into why it was not built in the first place and the other is a proposal to fund sound barriers through a leveraging program where locals split the cost with the state with the state paying two thirds of the cost and the locals paying one third of the cost. It may also be possible to fund the sound barrier on an assessment basis. Mayor Sonterre welcomed Senator Chaudhary and invited him back at the end of this legislative session to let Council know what actually happens this session. He then made a point of clarification that the interpretation on turn back funds was the interpretation of Ramsey County to the City of Mounds View noting if Senator Chaudhary felt there maybe some flexibility there is a need to schedule a meeting to discuss it. Council Member Stigney thanked Senator Chaudhary for coming to the meeting. Council Member Marty thanked Senator Chaudhary for coming to the meeting and for the town hall meeting noting he liked the way that Senator Chaudhary was staying on track and was tuned into the concerns of residents. Mayor Sonterre pointed out a former mayor was is in the audience who would be a good resource • for sound wall information and he asked Senator Chaudhary to speak to him before he left. Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 4 6. REPORTS Mayor Sonterre re orted that on March 6, 2001 he attended the o enin ni ht festivities at the P p g g newly remodeled community center at the manufactured home park. Mayor Sonterre reported that on March 7, 2001 he attended a meeting of the I-35 Corridor Coalition noting the purpose of the meeting was to form a legislative action plan. Mayor Sonterre reported he represented the city at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C. He noted there was a lot of course work available and the social interaction with other mayors and council members was invaluable. Mayor Sonterre noted he was honored to be appointed to the policy committee for crime prevention and public safety. This steering committee brought forward several items to work on at the national level and those were school safety issues with regard to violence, reintegration of prisoners into society, and the ratings system instituted by the media and entertainment industry to protect children from violence. 7. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve Just and Correct Claims B. Licenses for Approval C. Resolution SS36 -Resolution Amending Previously Adopted Resolution SS27 Regarding a Development Review Request for an Office Building Located at 7664 Greenfield Avenue; Planning Case No. DE00-002 D. Resolution SS38, Title Change from Lieutenant to Deputy Police Chief E. Set a Public Hearing for Monday, March 26, 2001, 7:OS p.m., to consider Resolution SS40, a Resolution Approving a Conditional Use Permit and Development Review for Pinewood Elementary School F. Resolution SS39, Authorizing Repayment of the Overpayment to Innovation Images for the Year 2000 MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Thomas. To Approve the Consent Agenda as Presented. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 9. RESIDENTS REQUESTS AND COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR David Jahnke of 8428 Eastwood Road told Council he was expecting an answer to his question from the last meeting concerning the attorney's fees for the billboard issue. Mayor Sonterre indicated the attorney's fees amount exceeds the initial amount but stated he did not have the exact dollar amount to answer the question at this time. Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 5 Mr. Jahnke stated he had watched the work session and is concerned about some of the issues discussed indicating he is hoping this Council and Mayor will take accountability for their actions. John Stacy of 8000 Woodlawn Drive addressed Council and expressed concern for the $47.00 sewer charge as he does not feel it is fair to charge him a flat rate. He stated he would prefer to pay per usage as he does for the home he owns in Minneapolis. He then questioned whether the $47.00 is actually more than what it costs the City to provide sewer service. Mayor Sonterre indicated the Public Works Director was not at the meeting and noted he was not privy to the information needed to properly answer the question. He then asked City Administrator Miller to investigate the situation and provide Mr. Stacy with an answer. Finance Director Kessel arrived at the meeting and explained there are two ways to bill for sewer noting the revenues that are generated equal the expenses and the City is not overcharging anyone. In the metro area most cities bill a flat amount for sewer service. Finance Director Kessel referred to a report from the Metropolitan Council noting he could get a copy for Mr. Stacy which outlines the flat rate billing as the most common way to bill for sewer services. Council Member Marty stated he had raised this question a year and a half ago and it faded off the agenda and was not dealt with. He then stated he felt it was a valid question that he would like to see revisited. Council Member Stigney thanked Mr. Stacy for bringing the issue to Council. He then stated he would like to discuss the issue at a work session. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Consideration of Resolution 5537, a Resolution Awarding and Authorizing Execution of a Contract for the Highway 10 Reconstruction and Revitalization Corridor Study. City Administrator Miller noted the City received six proposals and of those six three firms were interviewed. Of the three that were interviewed, Staff feels one in particular stood out as being the best firm for the project. Staff recommends URS/BRW be awarded the contract. Council Member Marty noted the BRW bid was the low bid and that it fit with the RFP but noted with the other costs included some of the other bids could have come in under the BRW bid. Council Member Marty then inquired as to whether BRW had been asked what the costs for everything would be and, if not, if the City should ask the total amount of costs ahead of awarding the contract. City Administrator Miller noted there was a problem comparing proposals as each firm submitted a slightly different proposal. She then explained BRW matched the needs of the City the best Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 6 noting they have a team to work on funding for the project. She also explained BRW was the most qualified of the companies noting they were the firm who worked on the Highway 96 reconstruction in Shoreview. Council Member Stigney stated he felt BRW should be able to estimate the costs for the drawings and estimate future costs based on those drawings. He then stated he did not feel it was acceptable to grant an open-ended contract noting he would prefer to have an estimate of the total costs. City Administrator Miller stated this project was in the early planning stages which is why there is not a total estimate for costs at this point. Council Member Stigney expressed concern for ending up with a grandiose plan that the City could not afford. Council Member Thomas asked if BRW was the only firm with staff to do grant research. City Administrator Miller indicated one other firm had staff for grant research but noted the difference between the two firms was quite significant. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Thomas. To Table Resolution 5537 to allow Staff Time to Further Research the Costs Involved. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 5541, Authorizing the Hiring of a Police Officer, from a Certified List of Candidates. Assistant to the Administrator Reed noted one of the police officer candidates selected at the February 26, 2001 meeting had accepted a job with another city. She then noted Council would need to consider the next two names on the list and those names are August Wehmeyer and Kirk Leitch. Council Member Marty recommended Council consider Kirk Leitch for the position. Council Member Thomas asked why Council Member Marty had recommended the lesser- ranked individual. Assistant to the Administrator Reed noted Council could have the Police Civil Service Commission review and advise Council as to how to proceed. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Stigney. To Waive the Reading and Approve Resolution 5541, A Resolution Authorizing the Hiring of Kirk Leitch as a Police Officer, from the Certified List. • Mounds View City Council March 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 7 Council Member Stigney stated he did not know either candidate but said in light of the fact that Council Member Marty had researched the matter he would go with his recommendation. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. C. Discussion of County Highway 10 Traffic Issues • • Police Chief Clark addressed Council and explained that when he arrived in the City traffic was an issue on County Highway 10. Chief Clark explained that due to the various names the Highway has gone by over the years it was impossible to pull statistics just for County Highway 10. Chief Clark reviewed the report he had submitted to Council pointing out citation information and accident reduction information contained in the report. Chief Clark reported that early last summer he presented the traffic issues to the sergeants and the officers and asked them to find proactive ways to slow the traffic down on County Highway 10 rather than a ticketing blitz for one day. The officers went out and set up analyzers on the roadway and found that on County Highway 10 the average speed in the slow lane of traffic was 48 m.p.h. with 26.1 percent of vehicles exceeding the limit and only 8.22 percent of vehicles traveling in excess of 55 m.p.h. Over the next six (6) days the officers went out with the speed trailer and did selective enforcement and also placed a marked car out there. Six days later the average speed dropped to 45 m.p.h. and the rate of speeding vehicles was cut in half. Chief Clark explained the trailer had to be pulled due to cold weather but stated he intended to put it back out on County Highway 10 as soon as the weather warms up. Chief Clark reported this past week there were three (3) state troopers as well as Mounds View officers setting up a radar site and 50 tickets and several hundred warnings were issued. Council Member Thomas noted she saw three stops this weekend and was impressed. Council Member Marty thanked Chief Clark for the report and for continuing to follow up with this situation. Mayor Sonterre thanked Chief Clark for his report and for presenting it to Council. Chief Clark noted he is not taking nearly the number of telephone complaints concerning traffic issues on County Highway 10 that, to him, means his officers are having an impact on the roadway. 11. Next Council Work Session: Next Council Meeting: Monday, Apri12, 2001 Monday, March 26, 2001 12. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Sonterre adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Transcribed and recorded by: