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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 02101976CITY OF ST. ANTHONY COUNCIL MINUTES February 10,1976 The meeting was called to order at 7:38 P.M. by Mayor Miedtke. Present for roll call: Sauer, Stauffer, Miedtke, Haik and Sundland. Also present: Jerry Dulgar, City Manager I.C. Comstock, City Engineer Jim Fornell, Adm. Asst. (at 10 P.M.) Motion by Councilman Sundland, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve the minutes for the Public Hearing January 26, 1976. Motion carried unanimously. The following corrections were made to the minutes for the Council meeting January 27, 1976: Page 2, Para. 6: Add "because the bridge would be partially constructed in Ramsey County" as the reason for the pedestrian footbridge over 37th Avenue N.E. might not qualify for C.D. funds. Page 4, Para. 3 & 4: References to the agreement with the Police Department employees should be identified as "labor contract". Page 4, Para. 10: Strike "might have" after "Industrial Square". Page 5, Para. 3: Correct spelling of Councilman's Haik name. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve the minutes of January 27, 1976 as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. The Mayor advised all present that the Council Chambers had been designated as a non-smoking area. Mayor Miedtke then introduced Steven Novak who is State Representative from District 48A which includes the northern one-third of the City. Representative Novak discussed some legislation which City officials had indicated they were interested in including the Planning and Land Use Bill and how it relates to school districts. Representative Novak also gave an up-to-date summary of the legislation including the possible development of the land now used by the Brightwood Golf Course; liquor price advertising; modification of the Open Meeting Law, and the construction of a metropolitan sports stadium. The legislator then encouraged Council members to continue contacting him on any legislation which they felt was germane to the interests of the community and the Mayor thanked him for the courtesy of his visit. Page 2 Mr. Dulgar read the Water Rate Ordinance. Councilman Sundland indicated that, though he saw the value of providing relief to low users on fixed incomes, he joined Councilman Haik in her view that the new rates might transfer the burden to large families and wondered if the raise was not coming at the wrong time since the Manager had said there was presently no actual deficit in the Water Fund. The Manager reiterated his concern that the fund be built up to provide for possible future expenditures especially the new well and treatment plant which had been included in the long range planning for the City's water system. He said he felt it was preferable to raise the water rates by 5C this year rather than the 104 which would be necessary if the system had to be added to or improved in the next few years. The raise would only amount to 2k a day for the average user he pointed out. The Mayor agreed saying he felt the relatively gradual raise was a fiscally responsible method of building up the Water Fund for future improvements and expressed the hope that higher water bills might encourage more people to conserve water. Motion by Councilman Stauffer, seconded by Councilman Sauer to waive further readings and adopt Ordinance #76-002. ORDINANCE #76-002 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO WATER CHARGES AND RATES: AMENDING SUBDIVISION 2 AND 3 OF SECTION 550:00 OF THE 1973 CODE OF ORDINANCES Voting on the motion: Aye: Stauffer, Sauer and Miedtke Nay: Haik, Sundland Motion carried. Motion by Councilman Sundland, seconded by Councilman Sauer to adopt Resolution 76-013 which requests the State Legislature to consider using the current Metropolitan Council estimates rather than the 1970 Federal Census as a basis for allocating State funds to local communities. RESOLUTION 76-014 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL AID FORMULA Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Sauer's inability to serve as a delegate to the Suburban Rate Authority because of the conflict of their meeting dates with those of the Community Services Advisory Committee resulted in the following motion: Motion by Councilman Stauffer, seconded by Councilman Haik to adopt Resolution 76-013 designating Robert Sundland as the City's delegate to the Suburban Rate Authority and naming Jerry Dulgar, Donna Stauffer and Sally Haik to serve as alternates. RESOLUTION 76-013 RESOLUTION DESIGNATING DIRECTOR AND AND ALTERNATE DIRECTOR TO SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY Page 3 Motion carried unanimously. About a dozen residents of 29th Avenue N.E. were present for the discussion of the preliminary plans containing the geometrics of the reconstruction proposal for their street as presented by Mr. Comstock. The Engineer explained they were the final results of negotiations between the Council, T.A.P. 29th Avenue Committee members, state legislators and the Minnesota Highway Department in an effort to get an acceptable roadway which would qualify for Minnesota State Aid funds. He said he felt the 16 hour traffic survey which had been taken on the street February 4th and 5th might provide a basis for requesting that the right turn lanes insisted upon by the Highway Department might be eliminated and that the base of the roadway might be decreased somewhat causing a savings of $35,000 in construction costs. The residents present, especially those whose front yards would be cut down by the right hand turning lanes, spoke in favor of eliminating those lanes. Mr. Tom Shaeffer, Co-chairman of T.A.P. expressed his committee's appreciation of the aid that had been provided to them by the Engineer and asked that the committee be allowed to participate in the negotiations with the Highway Department for the elimination of the turning lanes. Only one resident of 29th, Leonard Toth, expressed his dissatisfaction with the revised plans saying he disliked the proposed 4 foot nodes which he felt served no useful purpose since "you can't walk in them or park a car in them" and did not feel it was the consensus of the T.A.P. committee that the road be constructed in this manner. His opinion was challenged by Mr. Stan Mirocha and Rick Wolowicz who felt the vast majority of the residents of 29th had "agreed to go along with what T.A.P. 29th did". Councilman Haik said she did not want the turning lanes to serve as an accomodation for people who use 29th Avenue as a shortcut between Silver Lake Road and Highway 8. The Manager then pointed out the City's responsibility to move traffic expeditiously through the City and reminded the Council that many of those who were being thought of as "foreigners" who use 29th were in fact residents of other sections of the City who have every right to use all the streets in the community. Mayor Miedtke added his feeling that any diversion of traffic from any one particular street would result in a heavier buildup of traffic on another City street and said that street might well be 37th Avenue where residents and parents of children who go to Wilshire School are already petitioning the Council to do something to provide greater traffic control. When Councilman Haik said she wanted the sidewalks along 29th included in the final plans for reconstructing the street, Mr. Shaeffer said he would oppose having it considered at the present time since the subject was so volatile with the residents and he feared an attempt to get a consensus at the present time might result in a delay in the start of the construction of the new roadway. The question was then raised as to whether the proposed design for the reconstruction would provide safety for bicyclists without sidewalks with Mr. Shaeffer Page 4 saying he thought the striping of the road as proposed would provide somewhat of a safety factor. Consideration was also given to whether sidewalks only 5 feet wide would allow passage of bicyclists and pedestrians and what set back from the road would be necessary to prevent the walks being covered when the road is plowed. Councilman Haik said the traffic survey probably wouldn't justify walkways on both sides of 29th. Councilman Sauer said that, though he felt additional sidewalks might be necessary on the east side of Silver Lake Road because of Silver Point Park, he could see no necessity for their installation on the west side. Motion by Councilman Sundland, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to accept the preliminary plans presented by the Engineer for the reconstruction of 29th with the exception of the right hand turning lanes which Mr. Comstock is directed to negotiate with the Highway Department to have them eliminated. Before voting on the motion the following amendment was proposed: Motion by Mayor Miedtke, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to include in the plans 5 foot concrete sidewalks on both sides of 29th Avenue from Stinson Boulevard to Highway 8 which should be designed to allow the existing trees to remain. Voting on the motion to amend: Aye: Miedtke Nay: Sauer, Sundland, Stauffer, Haik Motion to amend not carried. Voting on the original motion: Aye: Sauer, Stauffer, Haik, Sundland Nay: Miedtke Motion carried. A possible timetable for construction was discussed with the Engineer and it was agreed that taking no action that evening on setting a public hearing would enable the Council to set the date for the hearing at either the February 26th or March 9th meeting. The meeting was recessed from 9:05 P.M. to 9:20 P.M. when Mr. Kenneth Solie, Chairman of the Teen Center Committee of the Community Services Advisory Committee, discussed the interim report, proposal and request for initial funding of a Teen Center which his committee had prepared. He discussed the encouraging response which junior and senior students had given in a survey taken to ascertain their interest in a teen center and to pinpoint the specific activities they might be interested in having included. Joan Patterson, President of the St. Anthony League of Women Voters, read a statement indicating that group supported the establishment of a supervised teen center. Page 5 The Council, though expressing a desire that the high school and community civic organizations should participate in the financing of such a center, made the following motion to assure the committee of their intent to cooperate in the venture. Motion by Councilman Haik, seconded by Councilman Sauer to indicate the Council's support of the concept of a teen center as proposed in the above mentioned report. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Haik to authorize the utilization of the City Mai,itenance Department to upgrade the proposed room in the St. Anthony Civic Center for a teen center and to provide a dean used carpet, lighting and any excess material now stored in the warehouse which might be used, with tentative approval given to the suggested bylaws, procedures and code of conduct. Motion carried unanimously. Dennis Engle of the St. Anthony Jaycees reported that the annual Distinguished Service Award from the Jaycees would be presented at the Bicentennial Dance February 28, 1976. He also called the Council's.attention to the legislative report which applies to the establishment of speed zones in school zones and felt the new legislation could be applied to obtaining a safe crossing of 37th Avenue N.E. in the Wilshire School area. He and Harry Hoff, Principal of Wilshire, told of how a tragedy had been narrowly averted at that crossing that previous Friday saying the incident pointed up the need for greater traffic control near the school. The Council will give their requests greater consideration at the next Council meeting, and the Manager was directed to ask that the study which would ascertain whether greater traffic control were warranted near the school be started by Ramsey County. Mr. Comstock explained the Comprehensive Sewer Plan and any changes which had been made on the map which pinpointed trouble spots in the City. - Motion by Councilman Sauer,seconded by Councilman Sundland to accept the Comprehensive Sewer Plan and direct the City Engineer to forward it to the Metropolitan Waste Commission with a cover letter explaining that the pertinent ordinaces are being revised and updated and will be submitted at a later date. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Fornell who had been meeting that evening with the Sanitary Sewer Study Committee reported that the group had requested that the Engineer provide them with some technical advice. He was instructed to return to the committee's meeting and to ask them for a more detailed listing of the extent of the technical advice they felt their study might require from the Engineer so that the Council might authorize the payment of the fees which might be expected to result from that consultation. Page 6 Mr. Comstock left the meeting at 10:50 P.M. Action was again tabled on the Richard Ernst request to have the lots between the G & G Body Shop and the Legion Club on Kenzie Terrace rezoned. Mr. Dulgar took the names of the Council members who planned to attend the League of Minnesota Municipalities convention in Duluth from June 9th thru the 11th. Mr. Fornell returned at 11 P.M. from the meeting in the adjoining room and reported that the Sewer Study Committee had decided they were not yet ready to consult with the Engineer. The Administrative Assistant then discussed his memo of February 6th detailing the application which had been made to the State Humanities Commission for a grant to fund the Community Youth Seminar planned to be held at the Salvation Army Camp March 14th. Councilman Haik explained that the seminar was a Bicentennial project with partial funding from the Bicentennial Committee and from the Silver Oak School PTA and with the probability that some funds might be allocated from the Human Relations Committee budget, a fact that was verified by committee member, Joan Patterson. Councilman Stauffer wanted assurance that the Committee and other civic organizations were willing to participate in the program and funding. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Sundland that, if funding is not available from other sources, up to $450 will be funded by the City for the Community Youth Seminar. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Stauffer, seconded by Councilman Haik to direct the Manager to have the Attorney prepare an amendment to the personnel ordinance to include the funeral leave policy and a modification of the longevity benefits for employees not covered by union agreements as they are recommended by the Manager. Motion carried unanimously. The January 20, 1976 letter from the Ramsey County Engineer regarding the City's request for a pedestrian bridge over the Soo Line tracks at Silver Lake Road was filed as informational. The January 26, 1976 letter from League of Minnesota Municipalities detailing the settlement of the League's challenge of Judge Schultz' decision on the arbitration award for Police Union Local 320 was filed as informational. Motion by Councilman Sundland, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to table action on the proposed Hennepin County Criminal Justice Council agreement until the next Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Page 7 The Mayor urged all Council members to attend the meeting of the Suburban Hennepin County officials regarding local government aid which was scheduled to be held at the Minnetonka City Hall the following evening. Consideration was given to the Manager's February 4th memorandum providing rough estimates of the costs of the projects which the Council had indicated an interest in including in the application to be made for Community Development Grant Funds. Motion by Councilman Haik, seconded by Councilman Sundland to authorize Mr. Fornell to prepare the application for the C.D. Grant Funds for the following projects listed in order of priority: (1) Preparation of survey for a Housing and Rehabilitation program. (2) Community Improvement projects (a) tree plantings (b) drinking fountains in parks and lavatories in Central Park. (3) Remodelling and furnishing of room in Civic Center for Senior Citizens. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Haik, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to waive fees and grant the beer license requested for the Mardi Gras to be held in the St. Charles Borromeo School on February 22, 1976. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sundland, seconded by Mayor Miedtke to request John Sarna, Eugene Stokowski, Steve Novak and Roger Ashbach, the City's representatives in the State Legislature to facilitate the allowance of the City's claim for recompense for damage done to 29th Avenue while St. Anthony Boulevard was being reconstructed. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Sundland to approve payment of $2,807.00 to Constructive Design for architectural/ engineering services on the St. Anthony Civic Center. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Sundland to approve payment of $17.37 to the League of Minnesota Municipalities for the City's share of the cost of the Schultz court challenge. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Mayor Miedtke, seconded by Councilman Haik to approve payment of $2,095.12 to the Dorsey Firm for legal services during December, 1975. Motion carried unanimously. Page 8 Motion to Councilman Sundland, seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve payment of $1,942.15 to Victor Carlson & Sons, Inc. for work on Sidewalk Improvement Project 75-001. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Sundland to approve Change Order #1 for $159.58..on Sidewalk Improvement Project 75-001. Motion carried unanimously. k4l 9 �J Motion by Mayor Miedtke, seconded by Councilman Haik to approve payment of all verified claims listed in the February 10th agenda. Motion carried unanimously. The Legislative Action Conference sponsored by the League of Minnesota Municipalities with the Association of Minnesota Counties which is scheduled for February 18th was noted. Motion by Councilman Sauer, seconded by Councilman Haik to adjourn the meeting at 12:15 A.M. Motion carried unanimously. ATTEST: Clerk