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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 01271976CITY OF ST. AMTHONY COUNCIL MIPUTES January 27, 1976 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Miedtke at 7:30 P.M. Present for roll call: Sundland, Haik, Miedtke, Stauffer, Sauer Also present: Jerry Dulqar, City Manager Larry Vickrey, City Attorney Jim Fornell, Adm. Asst. The following additions and corrections were made In the minutes for the January 13, 1976 meeting: Page 3: Insert between paragraph 3 & 4: ''Councilman Haik said she felt the purpose of establishing a study group of citizens at their request was to gain understanding of the sewer system itself and gain perspective on the relative value of proposed solutions". Page 4, para. 3: Substitute "first meeting of the Council in February" for "at the next Council meeting". Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Sundland to approve the minutes of the January 13th meeting as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. Jerry Cowan appeared to report on actions taken by the Planning Board at their meeting January 20, 1976 as well as the reorganization of the Board. He told the Council that, though all the Board members and the residents expressed an interest in the proposal made by Richard Ernst to construct a two story building designed for professional offices and retail shops between the G & G Body Shop and American Legion Club on Kenzie Terrace, they were concerned that rezoning the property to C -Commercial under the existing zoning ordinance might result in allowing an unacceptable commercial use of the property once the zoning was changed. He further said that when the developer indicated he would need the C-2 zoning under the new zoning ordinance to allow the type of retail businesses he contemp- lated leasing the building to, the Board and residents expressed their concern the rezoning would open the door to a number of unacceptable commercial uses they felt would not afford a compatible transition from the heavy commercial uses of the St. Anthony Shopping Center and the residential neighborhood to the west. The Board's representative therefore said the Board intended to base its decision to recommend either approval or denial on the City's being able to restrict usage of the land in question once its zoning had been changed from residential to commercial. The Attorney then said there is no way to legally restrict the usage of the land once the zoning is changed to commercial. The classification of C-1 (service - office) is now being considered for that parcel in the proposed zoning changes and that would not allow many of the shops included in the Ernst proposal. Mr. Cowan and Mr. Vickrey speculated that maybe an additional classification should be considered in the new zoning ordinance to separate more desireable usages under the commercial classification from those not compatible to residential areas. 2 +s. Cagan then told the Council that the Board's recommendation to them Would have to be for denial of the rezoning request, if specific usage could not be restricted. The Attorney suggested one solution to the dilemma might be for the City to enter into an agreement with the developers, Mr. Ernst and the Bryant Investment Company, which would prohibit their use of the land for specific commercial enterprises with the covenant running with the land. When Mayor Miedtke told the Council that h1r. Ernst had requested the Council to table action on his request for two weeks, the following motion was made: Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to table action on the request from Bryant Investment Co, to rezone from R-1 to Commercial Plat 63507, Parcel 7620 (approximately 2651 Kenzie Terrace) to allow the construc- tion of a two story building designed for professional offices and retail shops. Motion carried unanimously. Certificates of honorary citizenship were presented to two foreign students who make their homes with St. Anthony families and attend school here this year under American Field Service sponsorship. Mayor Miedtke introduced Brigitte Frtho from Switzerland who has become a member of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Ostebee, 3406 Highcrest Road.while she attends St. Anthony High School and presented the certificate to her. Councilman Sauer introduced Oscar Pena, the student from Columbia, South America who is a member of the Sauer family while attending school this year and made the certificate presen- tation to him. The meeting was recessed at 7:45 PM and reconvened by the Mayor at 8;01 PM for a Public Hearing on the proposed uses for Community Development Bl,)ck Grant funds which are allocated to the City, Consideration was given to 15 possible projects which had resulted from suggestions from the Council, residents and staff for the funds which Mr. Dulgar said were now estimated to be $22,500. Mr. Fornell said he had ascertained from his contacts with Hennepin County that several suggested projects would probably not qualify for funding. These included the purchases of either a larger snow thrower or ice surfacing machine,repair of the warming house roof; tennis court construction; an outdoor band concert shell; the pedestrian foot- bridge over 37th Ave. NF or the redevelopment of the St. Anthony Shopping Center. Since the funds are primarliy intended to benefit lower and middle income segments of the community, it was felt that the senior citizens of St. Anthony would be the group to which that criteria for use could best be applied. Mrs. Mast' Hoffman, 3616 Coolidge St. NE, and Mr. Tom Shaeffer of the T.A.P. 29th Committee spoke in favor of using the funds for tree plantings with Mr. Shaeffer indicating the desire of his committee to confer with City officials regarding the feasibility of the residents of 29th Ave. NE contributing a portion of the cost of planting trees on that street if the remainder of the project were financed from the grant funds. The Attorney pointed out that 35% of the property owners affected or four fifths of the Council would have to indicate their approval of this proposal if it was to be financed by assessments. Mr. Dennis Engle, Chairman of Welfare and Safety of the PTSA Wilshire Park School had indicated a preference for the uses -of the funds for the pedestrian footbridge near the school before Rr. Fornell indicated the proposal might not quality for funding. 3 Mr. Cowan and another member of the Planning Board, Mr. George Marks, also participated in the discussions with the latter indicating an interest in having the funds used for a small park area within walking distance from the southwest corner of the City and/or the extension of the walkway system along the main thoroughfares of the community. The Public Hearing was closed at 8:16 PM. The individual Councilmen then indicated which of the proposals they thought should be given priority in the use of the funds and decided it would be necessary for the Manager to supply estimated cost figures for the following so they could make their decision at their next meeting: 1. Tree Plantings 2. Remodel and furnish a room in the Civic Center for senior citizens. 3. Lavatories in Central Park. 4. Drinking fountains in all parks. 5. A housing rehabilitation program. 6. Extension of walkways. 7. "Mini park" acquisition. Mr. Fornetl also suggested using the funds for reconstruction of a portion of the City sewer and water lines and Mr. Dulgar said the City was about to receive a request for about $1,000 for remodelling a room in the new City center for a teen center. Councilman Stauffer also wondered if there would be a need to use the funds for removing any architectural barriers in the new center which might prevent the use of the facilities by the handicapped. Mr. Dulgar explained that the remodeling would accomplish the above. The Manager explained his recommendation that the Council adopt Resolution #76-012 whereby the Council will agree to the Management Bargaining Committee not submitting to binding arbitration under the joint representation agreement in the negotiations with the 49'rs. Before the Council voted he told them their action could result in a strike being called for February 7th Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Councilman Sauer to adopt 'ego '.0 Resolution #76-012 RESOLUTION 76-012 RESOLUTION Approving Continued Joint Representation in Regard to International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No.49 Motion carried unanimously. Consideration was given to sample ordinances dealing with controlling large assemblies and it was the consensus of the Council that a more simplified version would better serve the City's needs with possibly only guidelines set for Community Service's policy regarding the use of Gtty parks for large gatherings. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to table action on any ordinance regulating large assemblies for further recommendations from the staff on guidelines which might be set for use of ar# applicant who desires to use the City parks for a large gathering. Motion carried unanimously. 4 The joint Council/Planning Board meeting with Howard Dahlgren which will precede the Council meeting February 10th at 5:30 PM, was noted. Mr. Dulgar discussed with the City Attorney acceptable ways of informing poten- tial buyers of the availability of expensive unclaimed property. Mr. Vickrey suggested that bids for such property could be solicited by mail or phone and opened at the same time bids were taken from the floor during the auction of such items. The Manager discussed any changes which had been made in the contract he was negotiating with the Police Department. Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Councilman Sauer to approve the agreement with the members of the Police Department and to authorize the signing of the contract. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Vickrey left the meeting at 9:00 FM. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to approve the use of the North Memorial Home Care Service as a replacement for Suburban Health Nursing Service and to allocate $2,000.00 to the service for 1976 with the option of reconsidering the service if the costs should exceed that amount. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Dennis Engle discussed the steps taken by the Wilshire Park School PTSAA Board to provide greater safety for the pupils who must cross the busy 37th Avenue NE to and from the school..as well as for other persons who also find the ­ lack of traffic control at that point both inconvenient and hazardous. Among these were persons crossing 37th to and from the St. Anthony Nursing Home, the staff and volunteers at the school and those who use the school playgrounds. He said the PTSA's efforts to have an acceptable safety measure included in the reconstruction plans for 37th Ave. was supported by the neighboring apartment house dwellers without children in the school. There was some discussion of whether a 4 -way stop or a semaphor could best provide the safety measures desired. The Mayor pointed out the preference of the principal of Parkway School for the semaphor over the h -way stop at the corner of 33rd and Silver LakeeRoad. Motion by Mayor Miedtke and seconded by Councilman Sundland to indicate to the Ramsey County Highway Department the City's desire to have stop traffic control at the Foss Road intersection with 37th Avenue NE when County Road D (37th) is reconstructed. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Miedtke told the Council why he felt an impact study by the Metro Council of the effects on the metro system of building the proposed stadium at Industrial Square might have should be made. Motion by Mayor Miedtke and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to adopt Resolution 06-oll RESOLUTION 76-011 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF METROPOLITAN SIGNIFICANCE 5 Motion carried unanimously. The possibility of more businesses or industries being established in the City as a result of building the stadium nearby was then explored. Following an explanation of the number of false alarms originating at Medtronics, Inc, the Police and Fire Report for December was filed. Mr. Fornell commented on his January 14th Water Rate Study in which he recomor-* mended a raise -in rates between 29.9/ and 33¢ per cu. ft. and a lowering of the minimum bill from 3,000 cu. ft. to 1,000 cu.ft. He said he felt the latter would be more equitable to low volume users such as the elderly. Councilman Hail questioned the fairness of penalizing Large families whose budgets might already be strained by inflation. Mr. Fornell also cited the problems of getting accurate readings when res3cents can juggle their high readings to the low consumption months; the reduction of the Utility Fund by the cost of the water pressure improvement project and the possibility of additional long range expenditures to add to or improve the water system in the community. Among the latter R¢s the possibility of a new well and treatment plant being needed for the north end of the City. He also pointed out that the rates had not been revised for seven yaars. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seennded by Councilman Sauer to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance whereby City water rates might be increased to 33¢ per 100 cu.ft. with a minimum of 1,005 cu.ft. set. Voting on the motion: Aye: Sauer, Stauffer, Miedtke and Sundland Nay: Haik Motion carried. The Council then discussed the interest shown by Mr. Gordon Hedlund in the use of his undeveloped property across from the Apache Plaza Shopping Center for covered tennis courts which would require some financial cooperation from the City to construct. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to table action on the possibility of financial cooperation in the construction of tennis courts on the Hedlund property until the Manager has researched similar enterprises in other metropolitan communities. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to nominate Mayor I.4iedtke for the C.C. Ludwig award from the League of Minnesota Municipalities for distinquished service to the community. Voting on the motion: Aye: Sauer, Stauffer, Haik and Sundland. Abstention: Miedtke Motion carried. 0 Councilman Sundland said he would be willing to attend the next meeting of the Suburban Rate Authority if Mr. Sauer were unable to go, Some consideration was gives to the justification for the continance of that organization now that the Public Service Commission is in full operation. This discussion will be continued at the next council meeting. The Manager advised Councilman Stauffer that Lowell Thompson's comments on the squam footage restrictions for residential construction would be included in the items to be discussed at the IFebruary meeting on the new zoning ordinance. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Haik to approve the payment of all Verified Claims listed in the January 27, 1976 agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Haik and the Manager discussed the merits of deferring assessments payments for senior citizens and Mr. Dulgar requested the Council consider setting the policy and quidelines for granting such deferments. Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Mayor Miedtke to adjournothe meeting at 10:30 PM. Motion carried unanimously. ATTEST:Clerk