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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2004/10/11~ ` ~• PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL • CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW ~~~~_ /r RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA ~ ~~ Regular Meeting ~~ October 11, 2004 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 7:00 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Linke, Marty, Quick, and Gunn ABSENT: Stigney 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Monday, October 11, 2004 City Council Agenda. • MOTION/SECOND: Marry/Quick. To Approve the Monday, October 11, 2004 Agenda as presented. Ayes -~ Nays - 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT None. 6. CITY BUDGET QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS None. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. 8. JUST AND CORRECT CLAIMS. Council Member Marty asked what the bill for All City Elevator was for on page 2, 114521, for $107. He stated a question was asked at the last City Council meeting regarding a bill for All City Elevator. • Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 2 • Public Works Director Lee stated that the last bill was for $113 for work that was actually done, and this bill is the service payment that is made six times a year. Council Member Marty asked if the City was going to get reimbursed for the Hidden Hollow bill for $16,400 and $1,800 on page 6, 114531. Public Works Director Lee stated that the City would get reimbursed 100 percent because the developer would be assessed for it. Council Member Marty noted that there were a number of residents taking advantage of the sump pump reimbursement, and Mayor Linke stated that there were a total often of them. Council Member Many asked if the bills on page 14 for the Spring Creek study and the Silver Creek Park Pond design were the final bills. Public Works Director Lee stated that the Spring Creek study was the final bill and that they had completed the report and the work. He stated that there may be a minimal bill yet for the Silver Creek Park for a final follow-up inspection once they do the restoration and get the final culvert in. Mayor Linke asked what the bill on page 12 for $56 at the Days Inn was for. • Chief Sommer stated it was for putting up a person who was destitute and needed a place to stay that night. Mayor Linke asked if they would notify the Lions to reimburse that amount. Chief Sommer stated there was still an amount left in the fund. Mayor Linke stated they try to maintain the $200 in there as a club, so they should be notified when it's used so they can reimburse it, because some day the whole $200 might be needed and it's best to keep it in there. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Gunn. To waive the reading and approve the Just and Correct Claims as presented. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried 9. CONSENT AGENDA A. Licenses for Approval B. Resolution No. 6367 Approving 2005 SCORE Recycling Grant request to Ramsey County. • C. Approve Executive Session Immediately Following the Regular City Council Meeting to Review Union Negotiations. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 3 C7 D. Resolution 6369 Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Letter Agreement with BRAA for the Investigation and Development of Vehicle Safety Measures at Program Avenue/County Road H2 Curve. E. Set a Public Hearing for Monday, October 25, 2004 at 7:15pm to consider Resolution 6375 for an Off-Sale Liquor License for Network Liquor Store LLC located at 2345 County Road H2 F. Appointing Darrell Meyer to the position of Investigator. G. Resolution 6370 Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Letter Agreement with SEH for the Development of Plans and Specifications for the City Hall Rehabilitation Project. H. Resolution to Participate in a Hazard Mitigation Planning Process. Council Member Marty asked to remove Items D and F. Mayor Linke asked to remove Item H. MOTION/SECOND: Marty/Gunn. To Approve the Consent Agenda Items A, B, C, E and G. Ayes - 4 Nays - 0 Motion carried. • D. Resolution 6369 Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Letter Agreement with BRAA for the Investigation and Development of Vehicle Safety Measures at Program Avenue/County Road H2 Curve. Council Member Marty asked for a brief overview of this item. Council Member Gunn stated that she had driven past there twice and was trying to figure out how they could straighten it out as there is no room there. Public Works Director Lee stated that the resolution was to get the assistance of BRAA to take a look at the intersection of Program Avenue and County Road H2. He stated that it was a very sharp corner, and there have been many vehicles coming north on Program Avenue that have not been able to negotiate the corner and have driven off the roadway and hit the fence. He stated this was a study to look at a long and short-term solution. He stated the short-term solution will probably involve some sort of a berming along there. He stated that the long-term solution may be when the road is resurfaced in the future to possibly look at super-elevating it or perhaps changing the radius of the curve. Council Member Quick asked whether a stop sign would work. Public Works Director Lee stated that that was one of the possible solutions for the short term. He stated he would have to have BRAA take a look at that. He stated it might be difficult to get vehicles to stop if they are not taking a 90-degree turn at that point. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 4 • Council Member Quick suggested putting in a pedestrian crosswalk and a stop sign. He stated it wouldn't be the first stop sign the City had installed that didn't meet warrants, but the ones they had put in had worked very well to slow down the traffic. Mayor Linke suggested putting rumble strips in to alert people that something is happening. Public Works Director Lee stated that the short-term solution may include several tactics and rumble strips wouldn't be ruled out. He stated that another one would be a larger barricade. Council Member Gunn asked if there was a speed limit sign there, and Public Works Director Lee stated that there is a posted 20 mile an hour sign. Council Member Marty stated that the staff report states that you can't negotiate the curve at 20 miles an hour. Public Works Director Lee stated that the sign was not effective. Council Member Quick asked when accidents typically occur. Doris Heilman, 3034 Ardmore Avenue, stated that the majority of the accidents happen late in the evening, and she didn't know how many of them involve alcohol, but she was sure that there had been a few. She stated that they typically happen in the winter. She stated that it was a 10 • mile an hour curve when it was slippery. She stated that the utility pole had once been hit, leaving them without electricity from 8:30 until 11:30. She stated that there had been five or six times in the last 12 months that the fence has been hit. Council Member Quick asking whether a blinking amber light would work, and Public Works Director Lee stated that that was another possibility, although the City would be liable if the light burnt out and something happened. Mayor Linke stated two of the items were survey and base map preparation, and he asked whether that was something that could already be provided. Public Works Director Lee stated that the information that they had was not detailed enough for them to do the study. Mayor Linke stated that these amounts seem high to come up with these solutions. Public Works Director Lee stated that the problem isn't as simple as it appears on the surface. Ms. Heilman stated that another consideration is the parking lot exits which can't be seen when you are coming around the corner. • Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 5 . Public Works Director Lee stated that the resolution discusses using funds from the 2005 budget, and after discussing the matter with the Finance Director, they would like to change the resolution to use funds from the 2004 budget from the same account. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Marty. To approve Resolution 6369 as amended, using 2004 funds. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. E. Appointing Darrell Meyer to the position of Investigator. Council Member Marty read the Resolution aloud. MOTION/SECOND. Marty/Gunn. To approve the appointment of Darrell Meyer to the position of Investigator. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. H. Resolution to Participate in a Hazard Mitigation Planning Process. Mayor Linke asked whether all of the funds would be coming out of the grant, so it would not cost the City itself any funds. • Chief Sommer stated that this would allow them access to federal grant programs that could filter into the City of Mounds View, and the staff of Ramsey County Emergency Management would do the planning and prepare the documents for this. He stated that just about every city in Ramsey County is going to participate in this plan. MOTION/SECOND. Linke/Marty. To approve the Resolution to Participate in a Hazard Mitigation Planning Process. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. 10. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Consideration of Resolution 6366, Ordering the Abatement of Hazardous Conditions Existing at 2617 Sherwood Road (J. Anderson). Council Member Marty stated that this has been an ongoing problem. Housing Inspector Jeremiah Anderson stated he had received a fax that the tenants have moved out, and the property owner has the property scheduled for remodeling. It also stated that the property has been cleaned up on the inside. He stated there will be a new roof, new siding, egress windows, electric to meet code, landscaping, new basement flooring, painting inside and • out, lot and house cleaned up when remodeling is complete, and foundation repairs. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 6 • Mayor Linke asked whether a permit had been pulled. Mr. Anderson stated that he was not certain whether there was a permit for any of this work yet, and he didn't believe there was anyone in attendance here tonight. Mayor Linke asked what his recommendation would be as far as continuing with this process. Mr. Anderson stated that he recommended authorizing the resolution, but that they would hold off on having the attorneys start their process. MOTION/SECOND. Marty/Gunn. To waive the reading and adopt Resolution 6366, Ordering the Abatement of Hazardous Conditions Existing at 2617 Sherwood Road. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 6373 Authorizing a Transfer from the Community Fund to the Golf Course Fund to Reimburse the Costs of the Lawsuits. Finance Director Hanson stated that the Council would need to make a judgment call with the information available as to what they feel the appropriate amount might be to reimburse the golf course. He recommended that the money be taken from the Community Fund, which is also the • source of the internal loan to the golf course. He stated if the Council did not want to do that, they could look at using the General Fund, although that would put it below its target for fund balance. He stated there are currently discussions underway that could ultimately result m the sale of the golf course, and they may want to wait in the event there is a sale and get reimbursement essentially out of the sale proceeds. He stated that there may be a wait of six months or longer for that event to occur. Council Member Marty stated that it made sense to him and Council Member Stigney to hold off on this to see what the final outcome was going to be, because there was no real hurry. He stated if the golf course doesn't sell, they could still do this. Council Member Gunn stated that the tractor had been sold, and that money had gone into the golf course fund. She stated if that was subtracted from the total, then it's down to $265,746. She asked what the benefit of doing this would be. City Clerk/Administrator Ulrich stated that one of the benefits would be it lowered the total debt of the golf course, and in terms of cash flow it would help the golf course appear to be in a better financial position if these costs were taken off of its total debt. He stated if the Council was of the opinion that the General Fund should have picked this up in the first place, then they don't belong in the long term debt. Mayor Linke stated that the sale of the golf course is going to have a set dollar amount, and that • this would not change that dollar amount. He stated that the City would get the dollars, no matter what. He stated he was a firm believer that this money should not have been paid by the golf Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 7 • course. He stated that when this started, all of a sudden the money they had there had been taken away, and now the City basically is saying they are going to take their chunk first, and then now make your bond payments. MOTION/SECOND. Quick/Gunn. To waive the reading and adopt Resolution 6373 Authorizing a Transfer from the Community Fund to the Golf Course Fund to Reimburse the Costs of the Lawsuits, minus the tractor. City Clerk/Administrator Ulrich stated that Council Member Stigney had contacted him and asked him to pass along that he was opposed to the transfer and would like the fees to stay with the golf course. Council Member Marty stated that he could see both sides, but with the potential sale of the golf course, he thought they should wait a few months to get this cleared up. Mayor Linke stated that there had been a lot of money spent on the possible sale, and he hadn't seen anything concrete yet. He stated that they had been burned before, and he learned a long time ago that you don't want to do that kind of thing. Nays-1 (Marty) Motion carried. Ayes-3 C~ C. Review of Banquet Center Management Agreement with Canyon Grille. Stricken from agenda. D Consider Mermaid Request for Reimbursement of Leasehold Improvements. City Clerk/Administrator Ulrich passed out a revised resolution setting the final amount at $7,978.70, and withholding a damage charge of $677.30. Mayor Linke stated he was going to speak against the resolution because there was an estimate invoice for $1,500, and there was one from Abby Carpet that he didn't know whether or not it had been paid. He said there was another invoice for $6,500, and it didn't say what work was done. He stated he wanted to see lien waivers before approving this, as in any normal construction project. Council Member Quick stated that the proper action would be to table this item. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Marty. To table the Mermaid's Request for Reimbursement of Leasehold Improvements until lien waivers are provided. Ayes -11 Nays - 0 Motion carried • Mayor Linke stated he was willing to pay the Mermaid, but not without lien waivers. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 8 • Council Member Quick stated that lien waivers are important. E. Resolution 6371, Step Increases for Officers Wolfe and Demarest of the Mounds View Police Department and Ken Gammell of the Cable Department. Mayor Linke read the Resolution aloud. MOTION/SECOND. Marty/Quick. To adopt Resolution 6371 as presented. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. F. Resolution 6371 Creating Mounds View Citizenship Award. Mayor Linke stated he would like the resolution amended under time commitment to say, "Volunteers a significant amount of time and energy toward the betterment of the City of Mounds View and its residents, more than just financial contributions." Council Member Many stated that when they had talked about this before, it had said candidates who were nominated were ineligible the next year or two, and he didn't see that in there. Mayor Linke stated that that was no longer in there. • MOTION/SECOND. Linke/Marry. To approve Resolution 6371, Creating Mounds View Citizenship Award, as amended. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. 11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. September 27, 2004 City Council Minutes Council Member Marty made the following corrections: 1. Page 95, line 7, "Barb Haake". 2. Page 95, Line 19, "Mike Marone" (and also throughout) 3. Page 104, line 4, currently should be changed to "current". 4. Page 110, line 21, remove "was" from the sentence. 5. Page 113, line 15, change billboard to "billboards". Also add, "He also didn't want to saddle future Councils with decisions made now by this Council." MOTION/SECOND. Marty/Gunn. To approve the September 27, 2004 City Council Minutes as amended. • Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 9 • 12. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Quick stated he would like to have a professional phone survey regarding selling the golf course since the option of having a city ballot at the election is not possible. He stated another item he would like to have on the survey is whether or not they should hire apart- time Code Enforcement Officer. He stated the inspections are not getting done because the department is stretched too thin. He stated that sore spots are popping up everywhere in the City, and you see illegally parked vehicles and trash. He stated he thought these two areas were critical. Council Member Gunn stated she agreed with Council Member Quick, but that she thought a broader expanse of households should be included than what normally gets done in phone surveys. She stated that there are normally 400 households called, but she would like to see that every household gets called. Council Member Quick suggested calling 600 households, and Council Member Gunn agreed with that number. Council Member Marty stated he thought they should get a cost analysis for this. Council Member Gunn stated that they had agreed on spending other money regarding the • possible sale of the golf course, and this is another option, and she felt it would be money well spent. Mayor Linke stated that they had already budgeted fora $10,000 survey. He felt that the first question should be whether or not the golf course was an asset to the City, and then break the question down from there. Council Member Quick stated that professional surveyors can come up with the questions, and that it would probably end up being a ten question survey, and that that comes automatically. MOTION/SECOND. Quick/Gunn. That staff be directed to contact the necessary companies to find out the cost of conducting a survey regarding the golf course and the part-time Code Enforcement Officer of 600 people, 150 people in each precinct, and present it to the Council. Ayes-4 Nays-0 Motion carried. Council Member Marty asked whether the water meters were now paid off and whether the fee on the bill is no longer applicable. Mayor Linke stated it would be good to get a report on that from staff. • Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 10 • Council Member Marty stated that the Finance Director had pointed out that the charges for waste water were less for next year than they had anticipated by almost $100,000, and he asked whether that would be reflected in the residents' sewer bills. Mayor Linke stated that he thought that that was reflected in the Finance Director's decision on the rates. Council Member Quick stated that that will shake out because they are done periodically. Mayor Linke stated he had picked up a sign on some park property, and he wanted to notify all candidates that they can only put signs where they've asked permission, and right-of--ways and parks are not to be used. He stated he would like staff to look at what the cost would be for them to go around and pull signs off of right-of--ways and parks, and perhaps notify candidates that they will be billed maybe $10 a sign for every one picked up. He stated if anyone has a sign on their private property that they did not authorize, they have the right to remove them, or they could call the candidate and tell them to pick it up. B. Staff 1. OSHA Inspection Report Mayor Linke stated that they had been penalized for a couple of things, and he wondered if old equipment was grandfathered in because things weren't required on them when they built them. Public Works Director Lee stated that the were re uired to kee thin s u to date in terms of Y q p g p guards, and if they are not there, then they are responsible for that. Mayor Linke stated that if the machine is older than the requirement, then you are not required to install it. Public Works Director Lee stated he didn't think that was the case with these pieces of machinery. Mayor Linke stated that the amount of the fine had been very small. Council Member Quick stated that if the insurance company heard about it, then they would pay for it. Mayor Linke stated that it was a good report, and it sounded like the inspectors were very impressed with Public Works. Council Member Quick stated that they do a very fine job. City Clerk/Administrator Ulrich stated that he had heard from Clear Channel, in response to their • request to delay the billboards, that they have denied the request, saying that they've come too far along on the project to stop at this point. Mounds View City Council October 11, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 11 • C. City Attorney None. 13. Nezt Council Work Session: Monday, November 1, 2004 Nezt Council Meeting: Monday, October 25, 2004 14. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Linke recessed the meeting to Executive Session at 8:00 p.m. Transcribed and recorded by: Sheree Theobald Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. • •