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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025/05/27APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 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. Tuesday, May 27, 2025, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Clark/Smith. To Approve the Tuesday, May 27, 2025, agenda as revised adding Item 6B – SBM Fire Department Yearly Updates under Special Order of Business. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes: May 12, 2025. B. Just and Correct Claims. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Smith. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Mayor Jerry Linke Memorial Proclamation Council Member Gunn read a proclamation in full for the record recognizing former Mayor Jerry Linke for his years of dedicated public service and declared May 27, 2025 as a day of remembrance for former Mayor Jerry Linke in the City of Mounds View. She stated former Mayor Linke worked very hard for this community and she sent her condolences to the Linke family. Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 2 Mayor Lindstrom reported he received an email from former Mayor Linke’s wife and he understood he still had family that lives in the area. He sent his condolences to the entire Linke family and thanked them for their tremendous dedication to the City of Mounds View. B. SBM Fire Department Yearly Updates Fire Chief Dan Retka provided the Council with a presentation from the SBM Fire Department. He reported six new recruits recently graduated from the academy and in total the department has added 32 fire fighters over the last two years, after losing 10. He explained the chiefs in the county voted to part ways with Century College and would be taking back the fire training academy with Anoka County. He explained mutual aid calls continue to rise and he was working to improve the relationship between SBM and the Lake Johanna Fire Department. He stated the Lino Lakes Fire Department was having issues with staffing and over the last few months a staffing study was completed and Lino Lakes decided to hire a full-time fire chief and police chief. He stated this was a positive decision for this community and would greatly enhance their police and fire services. He discussed how the fire department was working to engage with the public from elementary aged children to senior citizens. He indicated the fire department has certified just under 1,000 people in CPR this year. He commented further on the fire safety work that was being done with the apartment complexes in Blaine, Spring Lake Park and Mounds View. He reported the bike helmet events have been struggling since COVID. He explained the Senior Fair was very well received this year. He thanked the Council for their time and asked if there were any comments or questions. Council Member Meehlhause asked how things were going with the Centennial Fire Department. Fire Chief Retka reported SBM has an administrative contract with the Centennial Fire Department and he hoped this contract would continue into the future. Council Member Meehlhause requested an update on the new fire station land. Fire Chief Retka explained the city of Blaine has land set aside as a preferred location for the new fire station that was on the corner of Lexington Avenue and Main Street. Council Member Meehlhause inquired if the fire department had any new apparatus on order. Fire Chief Retka reported the fire department had two new pieces of equipment on order, one being a new engine and the other being a rescue vehicle. He reported the new engines were taking three years to build. Council Member Clark thanked the SBM Fire Department for being on hand at the recent Easter egg hunt. Mayor Lindstrom asked how the closing of the federal fire academy would impact the fire department. Fire Chief Retka stated this was a huge hit for the fire service because the federal fire academy was the foremost education provider for firefighters. He reported more local and state educational options were becoming available. Mayor Lindstrom inquired if there was anything the SBM Fire Department required from the City of Mounds View at this time. Fire Chief Retka asked for the City’s continued support of the fire Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 3 department. He stated he enjoyed working in Mounds View and explained he had a great working relationship with Police Chief Zender. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Lindstrom encouraged the public to speak with kindness and respect when addressing the City Council during Public Comment. Debbie Eckstrom, 5231 Skiba Drive, she requested the Council find funding to move the zip line from Random Park to Silver View Park. She explained it has been nice not having the zip line in place as it has been quieter in the neighborhood, but the park was still being utilized. She understood the zip line had been taken down and asked that it not be put back up in Random Park until funding was in place to move the zip line to Silver View Park. Mike Berry, 5237 Skiba Drive, reported the zip line was near his backyard. He expressed concern with the number of adults that were riding the zip line in Random Park. Ms. Eckstrom indicated there was a party at the park on Saturday and it did not disrupt the neighborhood because the zip line was not in use. City Administrator Zikmund reported the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission discussed this matter last week and explained the group voted to take the zip line to see what the reaction would be. He understood the Commission received feedback for both sides of the issue once the zip line was taken down. He indicated the Commission then voted to put the zip line back up with the option of moving the zip line to another park. Mayor Lindstrom asked that the neighbors be patient while the City works through the process of finding funding and moving the zip line. He explained he supported the zip line being put back in place until the Council had funding in place. He stated he would support moving the zip line and he believed Silver View would be a better park for this amenity. Ms. Eckstrom expressed concern that the summer would go by and the neighbors would have to listen to the zip line again and the Council would not take action to address this concern. Council Member Smith questioned if a lock could be placed on the zip line during quiet hours. Mayor Lindstrom stated this would be difficult to enforce. He asked if the Council supported moving the zip line to Silver View Park. The Council supported this action. Sharon Kirscher, 8406 Red Oak Drive, explained she objected to spending City funding, even if it was a nominal amount, to put the zip line back in place this summer. She was of the opinion spending money on this did not make sense. Debra Savano, 5093 Irondale Road, asked if there were ordinances or protocols in place that directed the Mounds View Police Department in the event ICE enters the community to abduct Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 4 residents without a proper warrant. She commented she did not want the Mounds View Police Department to cooperate with ICE in any way. Mayor Lindstrom reported the City’s position has been to not do immigration checks when people are pulled over. He indicated the City cannot control whether or not ICE comes into the community. City Administrator Zikmund explained it was his understanding through the Ramsey County Chief’s of Police Association that ICE was focused on individuals who had already been arrested, incarcerated, in prison and were in the system. He reported the activity being described by Ms. Savano has not been occurring in Ramsey County. Ms. Savano stated she wanted to see the police department having specific guidelines to follow given what was occurring throughout the country. She did not want to see the Mounds View Police Department abetting ICE, but rather wanted to see Mounds View officers protecting its residents. City Administrator Zikmund reiterated that there was no evidence that this was going on in Ramsey County. Ben Gillespie, 7980 Fairchild Avenue, explained he supported his neighbor, Deb Sabano’s comments. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. PUBLIC HEARING: Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 1042 Amending the Mounds View Zoning Code on Standards Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units. ROLL CALL VOTE. Evan Monson, Stantec, requested the Council consider adopting Ordinance 1042 which would amend Mounds View City Code standards relating to accessory dwelling units. He explained this ordinance would address owner occupancy requirements along with requiring the ADU to have the same finish as the existing structure. Mayor Lindstrom opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. Sharon Kirscher, 8406 Red Oak Drive, asked if this ordinance allowed for a single-family home to become a duplex. Mr. Monson reported this ordinance would allow for a basement or an attached garage to be converted to an ADU. Hearing no further public input, Mayor Lindstrom closed the public hearing at 6:53 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Gunn. To Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 1042 Amending the Mounds View Zoning Code on Standards Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and directing staff to publish the ordinance summary. Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 5 ROLL CALL: Clark/Gunn/Meehlhause/Smith/Lindstrom. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 1043 Amending Title XV, Chapters 151, 154, 158, 159 and 160 of the Mounds View Municipal Code relating to Public Hearing Processes. This item was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting. C. First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 1044 Amending Title XV, Chapter 160 of the Mounds View Municipal Code Relating to Off-Street Parking Requirements. Evan Monson, Stantec, requested the Council introduce an ordinance that would amend a portion of City Code related to off-street parking requirements. He discussed the proposed parking ratios and noted the proposed changes would be more consistent with neighboring cities. Council Member Smith asked if a garage counts as one of the parking spaces for a duplex. Mr. Monson stated the language could be amended to include a garage as one parking space. He reported typically driveways are used for counting parking spaces. Council Member Clark recommended this language not include a reference to garage parking spaces, given how not all properties in Mounds View have garages. Council Member Gunn questioned if the restaurant parking requirements would be changed given the issues that had occurred at Mounds View Square. Mayor Lindstrom asked if this was the friendliest version of the ordinance or was more work required. He anticipated multi-family parking would still have to be discussed by the City Council. Mr. Monson stated he could bring this matter before the Council. Assistant City Administrator Beeman reported staff could bring this ordinance back to the Council at the Monday, June 2 joint worksession meeting with the Planning Commission. Council Member Gunn supported this recommendation and suggested language also be considered for fitness clubs. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause. To table action on this item to the Monday, June 2, 2025 City Council Joint Worksession meeting with the Planning Commission. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 6 Council Member Smith provided the Council with an update from the recent Cable Commission meeting. She explained the group received an update on the new standard for websites. In addition, the group learned NSCC had filed to be a non-profit. Council Member Smith reported the suburban fire departments along with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Water Patrol have formed a water rescue task force group. Council Member Clark explained she attended the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission meeting last week where the zip line topic was discussed. Council Member Clark commented on the Rec on the Go program that would be offered this summer free of charge. She reported residents could register for this program on the City’s website. Council Member Clark reported bingo would be held this summer at Lambert Park on the first and third Thursdays. Council Member Clark explained the Festival in the Park Committee met on Tuesday, May 20. Council Member Clark encouraged residents to visit Cross Fit North from June 2 through June 7 as it is Bring a Friend week. She noted Cross Fit North would be holding a grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 7. Council Member Gunn reported she attended a Mounds View Police Foundation meeting on Tuesday, May 13. She explained the police department now has a hot dog cart that would be shared with the New Brighton Public Safety Department. Council Member Gunn stated the Tribute Park Committee was proofing all of the monuments and work continues on the lighting. Council Member Gunn indicated she attended the NYFS luncheon along with the police memorial event that was held at Christ the King Church in New Brighton. Council Member Meehlhause explained he attended the NYFS luncheon as well and stated he believed this was the organization’s most successful event to date. Council Member Meehlhause reported the Mounds View Lions held their annual garage two weeks ago. He thanked all of the community members who supported this event. Council Member Meehlhause stated last Tuesday he attended the Charter Commission meeting with City Administrator Zikmund. He explained the Charter Commission discussed the City’s succession and appointment strategy in the event the Council were to lose a member, and they unanimously passed the plan. The Charter revisions will come to the Council later this summer or early fall for approval. Mayor Lindstrom wished his mom a happy 65th birthday. Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 7 Mayor Lindstrom reported he and City Administrator Zikmund met with a constituent about gathering data and discussing how the City can provide better services as a City. Mayor Lindstrom commented Mounds View would be receiving the City of Excellence Award at the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference for the work the City has done to address racial covenants. Mayor Lindstrom provided the Council with an update on his recent clemency efforts, noting he was able to speak on a recent radio show. Mayor Lindstrom reported he had a meeting with the Vadnais Heights Mayor where homelessness was discussed. Mayor Lindstrom explained he would be having knee surgery on June 3. B. Reports of Staff. City Administrator Zikmund provided the Council with an update on the City’s cannabis license. City Administrator Zikmund explained there was a vacancy on the Planning Commission as Gary Rundle had to step down for health reasons. 1. Selection of 2024 Citizen of the Year and Decision on When to Present Award. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council make a selection for the 2024 Citizen of the Year. In addition, he asked that the Council decide when this award would be presented. The Council discussed presenting the Citizen of the Year award at the Town Hall meeting. Mayor Lindstrom asked if the Citizen of the Year award could be presented at Festival in the Park. Council Member Smith suggested the award be presented prior to the drawing at Festival in the Park. Council Member Clark stated she would bring this suggestion to the Festival in the Park’s next meeting. Mayor Lindstrom questioned who the Council wanted to present with the Citizen of the Year award. Council Member Clark recommended the Council select C or A. Council Member Meehlhause and Council Member Gunn supported A. Mayor Lindstrom indicated he supported A as well. Mounds View City Council May 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 8 City Administrator Zikmund provided the Council with an update on a recent tornado victim he had a conversation with where the Tribute Park was discussed and this individual was invited to attend the parks grand opening. C. Reports of City Attorney. There was nothing additional to report. 10. Next Joint Council Work Session with the Planning Commission: Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, June 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial