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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 05281985 Meeting Sheet IIIIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIIIIIIIII ioisi7 Box: 21 Folder. CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1985 Document: CC MINUTES 05281985 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY • COUNCIL MINUTES May 28, 1985 The meeting was opened at 7:30 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Sundland. Present for roll call : Makowske, Enrooth, Sundland, Ranallo and Marks. Also present: David Childs, City Manager. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Makowske to approve as sub- mitted the minutes for the Board of Review conducted by the Council May 14, 1985. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Enrooth to approve the minutes as submitted for the Council meeting held May 14, 1985. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Makowske and seconded by Councilman Marks to approve the minutes of the Council 's Executive Session with the City Attorney May 14, 1985, with the following revisions: Page 1 , para. 6: Substitute for all wording following "Briggs and Morgan to. . . . " • in lines 2, 3, and 4, "follow New Brighton's suit against the parties alleged to be responsible for that City.'s and St. Anthony's water contamination problems to protect the City against the possibility of failing to initiate the necessary litigation before the statute of limitations had run out. " Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Ranallo and seconded by Councilman Enrooth to grant the follow- ing licenses as listed in the May 28, 1985 Council agenda packet: Contractors Durabuilt Association, Inc. , Eden Prairie L. R. Tabor & Sons, Inc. , Columbia -Heights Woodcrest Construction, Coon Rapids Classic Builders, Inc. , Anoka Gibralter Mausoleum Construction Co. , Inc. (_renewal ) Ru-Dell Builders, Inc. , Anoka Belair Builders, Inc. , New Brighton Rubbish Removal Waste Management, Blaine Woodlake Sanitary Service, New Brighton Amusement Devices Slick' s Alternative (2) -2- Service Station Sroga's St. Anthony 76. Cigarette Woodside Enterprises CBaker!s')'Squarel Speedy Market #7 Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Ranallo and seconded by Councilman Makowske to grant a temporary 3.2 beer license to Patricia A. Fagerlee, 3407 Croft Drive, for the Robertson family picnic to be held in Central Park, June 1 , 1985. Voting on the motion: Aye: Ranallo, Makowske, Sundland, and Enrooth. Nay: Marks. Motion carried. The Manager indicated he would request the Community Services Department to refer these applications to the City offices as soon as they are received. Motion by Councilman Enrooth and seconded by Councilman Makowske to approve payment • of $1 ,825 to Edward J. Hance for services rendered in connection with St. Anthony prosecutions from April 3 through May 1 , 1985. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Mayor Sundland to approve payment of $2,300 deposit to American Risk Services, Inc. for professional consulting services for the City's risk management needs. Motion carried unanimously. George Wagner reported the May 21st Planning Commission minutes, telling the Council members that there had been a tie vote on the sign variance request from the 9.90 Video Club/Curtis Mathes dealership for identification of their business recently relocated at 2908 Pentagon Drive. The Commission representative indicated he per- ceived valid points for argument on- both sides because the request was for a sign almost double the size permitted by ordinance for a store with only a 26 foot wide frontage, but which had a depth of 110 feet and a total store area of over 3,100 square feet. The Commissioner also reported that the three Commissioners who had voted for the variance had taken into consideration that the requested 100 square foot sign would be replacing the 200 square foot Ledwein sign on that building. Sam. Czaplewski , 1759 Long Lake Road, New' Bi.ighton, . who had previously operated the 99¢ Video sales and rental store in another location in the same shopping center, and who had now incorporated that store with the Curtis Mathes Home Entertainment • franchise in the new location, told the Council he did not believe it would be fair to limit their, signage to only the frontage of the store since his establishment and the vacant Penney store next to him are the only stores that deep in the center. The petitioner also pointed out that his and the vacant store buildings are the only -3- structures in the center which have seven foot f.acia� above the canopy on which to • hang their signage and Mr. Czaplewski told the Council he foresees even the sign he was requesting -would be dwarfed by the signage next door ,if the next tenants are permitted to use the existing sign space on the old_ Penney's supermarket. The store proprietor also indicated he did perceive the 100 foot square sign would be out of line when compared to the signage allowed the-Warners Hardware and Snyder., Bros. stores in the same center, and he added his own sign would be tastefully done in muted grey and black tones. When questioned by Councilman Ranallo about the lettering on the sign, the store owner said he had not seen the sign yet but understood it would only have the store name and small Curtis Mathes logo on the bottom. He then added that the words "video, television, and audio" might also be added in small black lettering to the bottom of the sign. When Mayor Sundland asked Mr. Czaplewski. what he would do if the shopping center management decided to establish a uniform sign code for the center and asked the store owners to replace their signage with a smaller sign to conform, the applicant said he and his partner would be willing to work with the center management and as Mr. Mortice had indicated during the Commissioner hearing, would welcome an improve- ment in signage for the center. When Commissioner Ranallo asked Mr. Czaplewski whether the franchise owners would permit them to replace their company identifica- tion with what could be smaller signage, the petitioner admitted he did not know what the reaction of Curtis Mathes would be. Councilman Enrooth asked Commissioner Wagner whether there had been more conversation than that attributed to Commissioner Jones regarding the "extenuating circumstances • related to the shape of this particular store". The Commissioner told him all three Commissioners who voted to recommend approval of the sign variance were in agreement that, for the City to limit the signage for a. 3,000 square foot store to only signage permitted for its 26 foot frontage, would probably pose an undue hardship for the store owners. Councilman Ranallo asked the Commission spokesman whether the Commission perceived the ordinance itself might be in error and Commissioner Wagner responded by saying he perceived that would not be true for the majority of cases and, he said, the purpose of variances, as he saw it, was to make exceptions for extenuating cir- cumstances like those he perceived in this request. The Councilman said he had not yet been convinced the store owners could not use smaller signage since the applicant had admitted he wasn't even certain just what the final sign would say. Councilman Marks responded by saying that, in his opinion, that was beside the point, since it was the. unique configuration of the store.-which was the problem when the ordinance based the signage on"::only:the-;frontage. At this point, Mr. Czaplewski interjected that he believed the Council should take into consideration the facts that there would be two businesses in the same store and only one, the Curtis Mathes dealership would be advertised and that the signage he had placed on the window of the former 99¢ Video store would not be put up in this location because the store owners wanted passersby to be able to see the tele- vision sets which would be for sale within the store. Motion by Councilman Makowske and seconded by Councilman Marks to grant a variance • to the City Sign Ordinance for the requested 100 square foot (_5' X 201 ) Curtis Mathes Home Entertainment sign, where only a 54 square foot sign would be allowed for the 26 foot frontage on the store at 2908 Pentagon Drive, finding that: -4- 1 . The store's frontage does not accurately reflect the total square footage for • that extremely narrow and deep store; 2. At the May 21st 'Commi ssj'on meeting, the -appl i cant 'had stated._ that .the "990 Video" sign had already been removed from the- store front and sold and that he and his partner would -now, be utilizing only the "Curtis Mathes Home Entertainment Center" sign, which better conforms to the standards for quality sought in the Sign Ordinance, to identify their business; 3. The store owners had also agreed that granting the requested signage would not preclude its replacement with a smaller sign if the St. Anthony Shopping Center owners make the determination later on that signs of lesser magnitude would be more appropriate for all the stores in the center; 4. Because of the unique configuration of this particular store, as compared to other stores in the same. center, it would appear that to require strict adherence to the Sign Ordinance requirement that signage be based on store frontage would impose an undue hardship on the store proprietors; and 5. The three questions on the petition application which are required to be answered affirmatively have been done so by these petitioners. Voting on the motion: Aye: Makowske, Marks, Sundland, and Enrooth. Nay: Ranallo. • Motion carried. Linda Donaldson of Brighton Development Corporation was present to answer questions related to the development of a -29 unit townhouse project on the Walbon property for which her firm was asking preliminary plat approval . Included in the agenda packet was the schedule of drawings giving the description of unit sizes, identifying the utility easement locations and spelling out that there would be no access permitted onto 33rd Avenue N.E. , except during the construction and initial sales periods. Ms. Donaldson told the Council members that she had prospective buyers for townhomes in both' Phase I and Phase II of the project and is only waiting for completion of appraisals and bank approval to sign the purchase agreements. The development representative said the project would progress as fast as the first phases marketed out, and she told Councilman Ranallo there would soon be a staffed sales trailer on the site and gave the phone number where inquiries regarding the project could be referred. Councilman Enrooth reported receiving inquiries from potential buyers and Councilman Ranallo commented that he perceived there was a great deal of interest in the project in the community. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Enrooth to approve the preliminary platting for the Village Townhouses of St. Anthony, a 29 unit townhouse subdivision being developed by Brighton Development Corporation at 3242 Old Highway 8, finding, • as did the Planning Commission, that: 1 . The proposed plat meets all City zoning requirements and the configuration of the project calls for a minimum of variances; -5- 2. There was significant staff and community input into the final project plans • through various public hearings on the proposal ; and 3. The 29 units of residential housing provided by this project would be a welcome addition to the community. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Wagner reported the request for subdivision without platting for'. the three apartment units on the west side of the Caravelle Apartment complex had gained unanimous approval of the Commission members who accepted the Manager 's May 16th assessment that "the individual buildings would stand as separate projects without violating the letter or intent of the City zoning and subdivision ordinances. " Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Makowske to approve the sub- division without platting for the S 1/2 of Lot 4 and all of Lots 5, 6, and 7, Block 7 Moundsview Acres, 2nd Addition (3720, 3728, and 3800 Foss Road N.E. ) to be�_ ,divided into three separate parcels to conform with Survey #4427, dated February 28, 1964, find- ing, as did the Planning Commission, that: . 1 . No opposition to the subdivision request was expressed at either the May 21st Commission hearing or May 28th Council consideration of the project; and 2. The proposed subdivision would allow the existing buildings on these parcels to conform to all pertinent zoning requirements, including those for setbacks and lot size. • Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Marks noted .Commissioner Bjorklund's remarks related to the need for a Capital Improvement Plan which had been reported on the last page of the minutes and he asked Commissioner Wagner whether it was his perception that there was a Commission consensus that such a program was needed immediately, especially as it pertained to rebuilding the streets in the Village. The Commissioner responded by saying the Commission members had been talking for some time now about the need for the City to make some long range plans related to capital expenditures and had come to believe a year ago that the Commission would be involved in that planning process, because they had been invited to participate in a special Council work session with representatives of the Metropolitan .Council where suggestions for setting up the planning process were given. However, Commissioner Wagner said, only Commissioner Bjorklund had specifically raised the questions about the Commission 's involvement in the planning for the reconstruction of the streets, although, the. Commissioner added, the rest of the Commissioners agreed :that some sort of master ,plan for that project would have to be drawn up and d,i.scussed,with-.the residents well in advance of actual construction. Councilman Marks recalled that when he had first gone on the Council five or six years ago, he had been given the impression that St. Anthony had a real problem with its streets, and the Councilman said, he had been prepared at that time to move on the project immediately. Reflection over the years, however, the Councilman said, had caused him to perceive that "Maybe we don't have such a problem after all ". The • Councilman also said he perceived further that, in spite of many studies, the Council was still without any clear direction that the streets needed to be replaced immediately and that, rather, it might be adequate to just continue sealcoating, which could possibly be less expensive. -6- Commissioner Wagner indicated he perceived some of the Commission members were also • not completely convinced the project had to be undertaken immediately but aTT had agreed it would be much better for the City to look- into a broad capital improve- ment plan now so the City wouldn't be faced sometime in the future with the need to make an immediate outlay for capital improvement like the reconstruction of the streets without having made some long range plans for that type of expenditure beforehand. Councilman Makowske said she did not entirely agree with Councilman Marks' assess- ment of the condition of all the streets and indicated she perceived the intention of the recent City Update meeting had been to sound the residents out as to how they viewed their community and just what improvements they perceived would be necessary in the near future. However, the Council member noted, the attendance at the meeting had not been encouraging and there did not seem to be a great concern about the condition of the streets voiced by the residents who were in attendance. She therefore was not at all certain the City should be trying to generate_ that type of resident interest at this particular time. Councilman Ranallo indicated his perception over the eight years he had served on the Council had been that the Planning Commission up to now had only been charged,. with responsibilities having to do with variances, platting, etc. and even the major redevelopment of the Kenzie Terrace area had been initiated by a task force and the Council and then referred to the Commission for their reaction. The Councilman suggested the time might have come to make a determination as to just what responsibilities, if any, the Commission would have related to the planning for future capital improvements. • Mr. Childs indicated the staff had just begun to get the information for such a plan gathered, and had even gotten to the point where expertise had been sought from the Metropolitan Council on how to start the planning process, which had been given at the joint Commission/Council meeting last spring, when 'the tornado struck and the Council had directed all staff energies should be directed towards getting the community back on its feet. He assured those present that staff had not forgotten the project but had just not gotten back to it yet. He also said that, if the Commission is to make recommendations on any long range plan, they would first. need the data the staff is just now starting to put together. Mayor Sundland reiterated, as he said he believed he had made clear in the past, that staff would first put together a Capital Improvement Plan which the Council would look at and add to, if necessary, before getting the Commission's reaction. Councilman Ran.allo said it was his perception that not only the Planning Commission would be ;in_v_olved' in the planning for street improvements but that a task force comprised of residents and representation from the schools, churches, civic organi- zations as well as from the Planning Commission would be formed to aid the Council in making the final determination of just what needed to be done to the streets. Councilman Marks wondered-whether what might really be needed would be to update the City's Comprehensive Plan from which the Capital Improvement program should naturally evolve.. Councilman Enrooth commented that he perceived the only reason the City had become involved in the Kenzington, and Walbon redevelopment projects had been because both represented situations where non-conforming land had to be addressed and he agreed • it would make a lot more sense to first look at the Comprehensive Plan than to go at each project piecemeal as some community groups seem to be suggesting. -7- The Manager said he perceived the direction he had been given that evening was to • proceed with the data gathering which would- be necessary before the Comprehensive Plan could be updated. Councilman Enrooth reported attending a recent meeting of the Rice Creek Watershed District Citizens Advisory Board which had been held four months later than antici- pated, where the Water -Resource Management Plan had been presented. A copy of the plan would be available in the City Offices and Councilman Enrooth, who served as the Council 's representative on that body, said the City had a week to voice any concerns related to water management problems which needed to be addressed. Although St. Anthony had requested this study group to consider better management of Silver Lake, Commissioner Enrooth i'ndicate'd they would also be interested in hearing about water quality or other problems the City believes warrant further consideration. The Councilman warned that, if the City doesn't speak up now, those concerns might never be addressed after the final plan is adopted. Mr. Childs cautioned that, if the City asked the Rice Creek Commission to look at water quality problems at Mirror Lake, etc. , the District would then be empowered to assess the City to carry out those suggestions. Councilman Marks reported the Youth Service Bureau had undertaken a senior citizens chore program whereby kids who need jobs would be performing services for the elderly which they cannot do or can't afford to hire done. This program is funded by both the Bureau and the Metropolitan Council on the Aging, he said. The Mayor said he understood Nativity Lutheran Church' s Outreach Program provided a similar service and Councilman Makowske said the young adults from St. Charles also provide the same kind of service to the elderly through the Cross and Anchor programs. • Council members were reminded that they would be meeting with the Youth Service Bureau representative June 3rd. Councilman Ranallo reported the youth group on which he had reported at the last meeting, would be holding their first dance in Park View, June 7th.- Senior housing would be the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Ramsey County League of Local Governments, June 15th, Councilman Makowske reported, and she indicated she perceived St. Anthony would be recognized as one of the leaders in this program with such projects as the Kenzington, Village Townhouses of St. Anthony, and the proposed Chandler Residence. Councilman Marks commented that he was impressed with the number of prosecutions reported by the Hance Firm in their May 1 and 16 summaries of St. Anthony cases in the Hennepin County Municipal Court. There was a brief discussion of what these figures indicated for the City. Mayor Sundland reported he, himself had been burglarized the previous Friday morning when his garage service window had been removed and an outboard motor taken from the premises. Councilman Makowske reported a minor vandalism (toilet paper) at her home which she speculated might just be an act by "kids having fun". The two reports on City prosecutions and the April Financial Report were ordered filed as informational . • The May 16th letter from Wayne Leonard, Coordinating Engineer for the Ramsey County Department of Public Works advised the City that the bids for the reconstruction of County Road D had been let and that the Engineer anticipated construction would -8- start in July, Mr. Childs commented that the City's share of the Ramsey County costs for the project would be zero while around $150;000 would have to be paid to • Hennepin County from M.S.A. funds as the City's share of Hennepin County's costs for the same project. The Manager had also included in the agenda packet a copy of the May 2nd letter from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency relating to the Municipal Home Mortgage program which would allow communities to apply for below market interest rate mortgage revenue bond financing through the MHFA to aid young families to buy their first homes in those communities. The funds are distributed on a lottery system and, Mr. Childs said, it is possible the City might get financing. for a •half dozen homes through the program since he estimated there were more than 400 homes in St. Anthony which would fall within the $75,000 eligible purchase price. Both the St. Anthony National Bank and Twin City Federal have indicated an interest in serving as the local mortgage lender for these loans, the Manager said. Councilman Ranallo commented that he perceived this program had worked well for Minneapolis and he urged the staff to pursue the funding vigorously. The Council accepted the agenda addendum request from the St. Anthony Nursing Home that public hearings be scheduled on the issuance of Multifamily Development Revenue Bonds to finance the construction and equipment of a 116!.unit rental housing facility to be occupied primarily by elderly people and the acceptance of a housing plan for that project. Motion by Councilman Ranallo and seconded by Councilman Marks to adopt the resolution which authorizes a public hearing to be conducted by the Council July 9, 1985 on the issuance of Multifamily Development Bonds for the Chandler Place residence to be • constructed northeast of the intersection of Chandler Drive and 37th Avenue N.E. RESOLUTION 85-027 A RESOLUTION RELATING TO A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAPTER 462 C AND CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman E_nrooth to adopt the resolution which authorizes a public hearing to be conducted ;Jul' 9, 1985 by the Council on the housing plan for Chandler Place. RESOLUTION 85-028 A RESOLUTION RELATING TO A PROPOSED HOUSING PLAN FOR THE !:CITY OF ST. ANTHONY UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, CHAPTER 462 C AND CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Childs reported Neil Hamlin, of Garment Graphics, had told him that, even though it appeared IDB funding would not be available for relocating and expanding his plant in the former Keebler building, he still wanted to stay in St. Anthony and would be seeking conventional financing for his expansion program. -9- Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Makowske to cancel the Council 's regularly scheduled meeting June 11th to allow staff and Council members • to attend the first evening of* the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Childs reported further developments in the City's attempts to secure a better insurance package than had been proposed by Home Insurance Co. and assured the Council members that a binder on the existing policies would be written if that effort is not successful before the end of May when the Home Insurance coverage expires. Action could be taken during the June 3rd work session or a special Council meeting could be called if necessary, the Manager indicated. Motion by Councilman Marks and seconded by Councilman Enrooth to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 P.M. for the St. Anthony Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting which followed immediately. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Helen Crowe, Secretary Naylor ATTEST: City erik