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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 081220141 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2014 CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Jenson (arrived at 8:12 p.m.), and Stille. Absent: Councilmember Roth. Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. I. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 12, 2014, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve the City Council Meeting Agenda of August 12, 2014. Motion carried 3-0. II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE. III. CONSENT AGENDA. A. Consider July 22, 2014, Council meeting minutes; B. Consider licenses and permits; and C. Consider payment of claims. Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve the Consent Agenda items. Motion carried 3-0. IV. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE. V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE. VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. A. Ordinance 2014-02; an Ordinance Amending Title XV Land Usage, Chapter 155 Sign Code, Section 155.22 of the Zoning Code of the City of St. Anthony Village Pertaining to Oro, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 12, 2014 Page 2 Prohibited Signs (St Anthony Mobil 2801 Kenzie Terrace) Tabled at the July 8, 2014, City Council meeting. Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting. City Manager Casey explained that this matter was tabled at the July 8, 2014, City Council meeting and the 120 -day deadline for making a decision on this item is September 24, 2014. Mr. Thomas Archambault, St. Anthony Mobil, approached the City Council and asked that the City Council and Planning Commission move forward in a productive manner and asked that the Planning Commission consider limiting the size and height of the requested sign to a maximum height of 18" and limiting the message to only fuel prices with only one fuel price rather than three fuel prices as recommended by the Planning Commission. He advised they presented information to City Planner Johnson from the sign manufacturer about sign brightness and what is acceptable in other municipalities, adding that the manufacturer recommends that signs be no brighter than 3,000 nits during the day and 500-1,000 nits during nighttime hours. He suggested that the City Council and Planning Commission consider setting off hours for signs, e.g., midnight to 4:00 a.m., as a way to improve safety and enhance the appearance of the City. Councilmember Stille explained that the City Council heard two requests at its July 8a' meeting, one request from St. Charles Borromeo to allow electronic signs for all public and private schools and the other request from St. Anthony Mobil to allow signs advertising gas prices on all gas stations throughout the community, and the request from St. Charles Borromeo was denied and the request from St. Anthony Mobil was tabled. He stated that the statute requires the City Council to act on any request within 120 days or the request is considered approved and the City Council felt it was appropriate to bring back the request of St. Anthony Mobil and deny the request in order to allow the City Council and Planning Commission to address this issue as expeditiously as possible and to make sure it is done right the first time. Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Mayor Faust, to deny the applicant's request for a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow gasoline stations to use electronic message signs to display gas prices only. Councilmember Gray stated he wanted to be clear that he would vote for the denial with the understanding that the City Council and Planning Commission will be considering this issue again in order to come up with a workable solution for the gas station and church as well as the entire community. Motion carried 3-0. Councilmember Jenson arrived at 8:12 p.m. B. Ordinance 2014-03 (or 02)• an Ordinance Amending Chapter &111.045 through &111.057 Pertaining to Tobacco (first reading). Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting. City Manager Casey stated the City Council previously imposed a moratorium on the creation, establishment, or operation of businesses that sell electronic cigarettes or on the sampling of electronic cigarettes and related products and the moratorium was established to provide an opportunity to research regulations of electronic cigarettes and related devices. He stated if the Ordinance is adopted, electronic cigarettes would be regulated under the Minnesota Clean Air 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 12, 2014 Page 3 Act, thus prohibiting them in public spaces and pointed out the proposed Ordinance treats electronic cigarettes just like tobacco. Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve first reading of Ordinance 2014-02; an Ordinance Amending Chapter § 111.045 through § 111.057 Pertaining to Tobacco. :Motion carried 4-0. C. Organized Collection. Mark Casey, City Manager, presenting. City Manager Casey explained that on June 29, 2014, the City completed its 60 day exclusive negotiation period with Allied Republic Services, Walters Recycling and Refuse, and Waste Management and on June 30, 2014, the City Council received the collector's proposal which included a draft agreement, and on July 8, 2014, the City Council received staff's analysis and directed staff to meet with the collectors again regarding price and term of the proposal. He advised that throughout the entire process the meetings have been productive and City staff felt the negotiations were conducted in good faith and the collectors demonstrated a willingness to be cooperative partners. He stated the Organized Collection Statute is a consumer -driven statute and if the Revised Proposal is approved, residents will benefit from the collective bargaining to receive consistent delivery of service, equitable pricing, and accountability in a transparent manner and residents will not see additional add-on fees such as fuel surcharges, environmental fees, or administrative fees, and the City will ensure that all provisions of the agreement are enforced. He stated the collectors compared their proposed prices to three cities that operate as a consortium and the collectors have proposed handling the billing, customer service, and public education, therefore, the City does not have to manage the cash flow of billing. He advised that City staff believes the sixteen priorities have been met and noted that the length of the contract still needs to be determined, i.e., five years or seven years. Mayor Faust asked when the public hearing would take place. He also asked if all the documents including the proposed prices would be posted on the City's website. City Manager Casey replied that the earliest date for the public hearing would be September 9, 2014. He also confirmed that all of the documents including the proposed prices would be posted on the City's website. Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to accept the Revised Proposal for Comprehensive Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Services dated August 1, 2014, submitted by the City's licensed collectors and to direct staff to schedule a public hearing on September 9, 2014, to consider the Revised Proposal. Councilmember Gray reminded residents to keep in mind that they might end up paying more for refuse and recycling and some residents might be paying less, adding that the City Council's primary goal was not only to get better prices. Motion carried 4-0. 2 4 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 12, 2014 Page 4 Mayor Faust stated the Organized Collection Statute requires the contract to be between three and seven years and the City received bids for a five-year contract and a seven-year contract. Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve a five-year agreement with the City's licensed collectors pursuant to the Revised Proposal. Motion carried 4-0. D. Liquor Operations Mid -Year ReportMike Larson Liquor Operations Manager, reporting. Liquor Operations Manager Larson presented the mid -year report for liquor operations and stated that profits from liquor operations are used for reducing the property tax levy, providing funds for special projects, and providing funds for equipment purchases. He reviewed the five-year profit history stating that since 2009, the liquor operations have averaged $485,000 in net profit each year. He stated that through June 2014, sales have decreased $199,000 and net profits have decreased $56,000 and explained that possible factors for the decrease includes weather, some decreased shopping traffic at Silver Lake Village, and increased competition from brew pubs and new off sale liquor stores. He stated that 2014 sales are projected at $6.4 million and 2014 net income is projected at $325,400. He discussed several 2014 accomplishments, including many wine and beer sampling events and increased social media and print advertising to combat the decrease in sales. He stated they have been awarded the "Best Wine" and "Best Beer" selection by Lillie Suburban Newspapers Readers Choice Awards. He stated that upcoming events include the Touch a Truck event on September 13`h, the ten-year anniversary of the liquor stores in their current locations, and October beer and November wine events, adding they are also looking into implementing a customer loyalty program. Mayor Faust noted that the City anticipated some pressure on its liquor operations based on what is happening in the marketplace and urged the Liquor Operations department not to lower its standards in any way. Councilmember Stille agreed that the Liquor Operations should not alter its standards by any means and stated the Liquor Operations has been a great operation and he was certain the community would continue to support it. Councilmember Gray stated he continues to hear from people that have tried other places that they come back to the St. Anthony liquor stores and they want to do business here, adding that it is not all about price and he urged the Liquor Operations staff to keep up the great work. VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. City Manager Casey reported that he participated in Night to Unite on August 5h along with the Liquor Operations Manager, Finance Director, and Public Works Director and they all enjoyed meeting residents. Mayor Faust expressed the thanks on behalf of the City Council to the City's department heads for taking the initiative to participate in Night to Unite and stated that this speaks volumes about their commitment to the City. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 12, 2014 Page 5 Councilmember Gray reported on his attendance at the July 3151 North Suburban Cable Commission meeting. He also reported on his attendance at Night to Unite on August 5cn 5 Councilmember Jenson reported on his attendance at Night to Unite on August 5`n. He also 6 reported on his attendance at the City Council work session on August 4 1 and the joint meeting 7 with the School Board. He commended the Public Works staff for their efficiency in cleaning up 8 the streets after the VillageFest parade and stated that several people commented to him about 9 how pristine the streets were within half an hour after the parade. 10 11 Councilmember Stille reported on his attendance at the City Council work session and joint 12 meeting with the School Board to discuss a possible referendum. He also reported on his 13 attendance at Night to Unite on August 5`n. He reported that on August 11`n, he and Mayor Faust 14 met with staff and Congressman Keith Ellison to receive an update from Congressman Ellison. 15 He stated that one major theme at this meeting was increased railroad traffic and safety concerns. 16 17 Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the City Council work session and joint meeting with 18 the School Board as well as Night to Unite on August 5`n. He also reported that the City Council 19 participated in several VillageFest events. He reported on his attendance at the August I I`n 20 meeting with Congressman Ellison and the August 11`n meeting with the mayors and city 21 managers of the North Suburban Cable Commission. 22 23 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM. 24 25 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that 26 are not on the regular agenda. Hearing none, Mayor Faust moved forward with the agenda. 27 28 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. 29 30 None. 31 32 X. ADJOURNMENT. 33 34 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m. 35 36 Respectfully submitted, 37 Barbara Hughes (TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.) 38 L:�4� 39 ATTEST: Mayor 40 City Clerk