HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 08251987 Meeting Sheet
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Box: 21
Folder: CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1987
Document: CC MINUTES 08251987
C 2 TY O F S T . ANTHONY
C OUN C= L M 2 NUT E S
AUGUST 2 5 1 9 8 7
1 The meeting was opened at 7 : 32 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance
2 led by Mayor Sundland. The meeting was preceded by an H.R.A.
3 interview at 6: 30 P.M. with Lang/Nelson related to that firm' s
4 proposal to develop the last phase of the Kenzie Terrace Redevel-
5 ment Project. The Council had also interviewed an applicant to
6 serve on the Eastside Hennepin County Human Services Committee
7 before the meeting.
8 Present for roll call: Marks, Ranallo, Sundland, Enrooth,
9 Makowske.
10 Also present: David Childs , City Manager
11 William Soth, City Attorney
12 Larry Hamer, Public Works Director
13 AUGUST 11, 1987 COUNCIL MINUTES
14 Motion by Makowske, seconded by Marks to approve the above with
15 the following changes:
16 Page 2 , line 26 : Delete 111" before "who" .
17 Page 5 , line 29 : Substitute "she" for "should" .
•18 Page 6 , line 11 : Delete "k" before "30" .
19 Motion carried unanimously.
20 LICENSES/PERMITS/PETITIONS
21 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Marks. to grant the following
22 licenses as listed in the August 25 , 1987 Council agenda packet:
23 Contractors
24 Cragg Sign, Inc. , Golden Valley
25 Heating
26 Boehm Heating Co. , St. Paul
27 Motion carried unanimously.
28 CLAIMS
29 Motion by Marks , seconded by Sundland to approve payment of all
30 verified liquor accounts payable for August 25 and July 31 and the
31 August 25th City accounts payable, as listed in the August 25 ,
32 1987 Council agenda packet.
•33 Motion carried unanimously.
1
• 1 Motion by Marks, seconded by Enrooth to approve payment of $9, 000
2 to School District #282 for the City' s use of the Parkview
3 facilities during July, August, and September.
4 Motion carried unanimously.
5 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Marks to approve payment of
6 $45 , 552 .00 to Fullerton Lumber of materials used in the liquor off
7 sale addition.
8 Motion carried unanimously.
9 Motion by Makowske, seconded by Marks to approve payment of
10 $24 ,896. 08 to the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission for sewer
11 services during August.
12 Motion carried unanimously.
13 REPORTS
14 AUGUST 11, 1987 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - ROSEMARY FRANZESE
15 Request for Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Additional Caretaker
16 Unit in Mini-Warehouse Facility Postponed Until September
�7 The Planning Commission Chair reported the above had resulted from
18 a request from the applicants.
19 Three to Two Vote Grants Minnesota Scientific Request for a
20 Temporary Mobile Office at 3839 Chandler Drive
21 Application: for a Special Use Permit to allow Minnesota Scient-
2.2 ific to locate a 12 foot X 56 foot temporary
23 mobile office on the east side of the building
24 the firm leases from Donatelle Properties at the
25 above address until December, 1988.
26 Supporting
27 documents: same as had been provided the Planning Commission.
28 Commission Franzese reported the major portion of the Com-
29 recommenda- mission' s discussion had been related to how long
30 tion the. trailer would remain on the premises once the
31 lessees had left;
32 indicated Commission had recommended the permit
33 be granted under the conditions reported in the
34 minutes.
35 Proponent: Bruce LeVahn, President of Minnesota Scientific
•
2
1 told Mayor Sundland his move to New Brighton was
2 only a possibility because negotiations with Dona-
3 telle to provide his firm with a new building was
4 still in the talking stages;
5
6 reiterated his lease wouldn' t expire until October
7 31 , 1988 and he had only requested the City set a
8 December date for the trailer ' s removal so he
9 could have some leeway if the building he was
10 moving to wasn' t ready yet;
11 agreed with Councilmember Enrooth that there were
12 empty office spaces in the area but said an
13 attached office would provide better communication
14 with the sales and marketing staff who would be
15 housed in the trailer;
16 indicated Mr. Childs had been right when he said
17 Minnesota Scientific had grown much faster than
18 had ever been anticipated and at first had been
19 disappointed when Donatelle had refused to sign
20 a five year lease with them. Now, of course,
21 they were happy not to be held to a longer lease
22 on a building which they had outgrown;
1023 reported Donatelle had unsuccessfully sought to
24 buy the property behind their building and had
25 been forced to move out of St. Anthony for their
26 own expansion purposes;
27 indicated his firm had not even begun to explore
28 just how much additional square footage they might
29 need by next year, but certainly wouldn' t fore-
30 close the possibility of relocating in
31 St. Anthony;
32 said he had only tentatively considered a New
33 Brighton location because Donatelle had indicated
34 they considered his company to be good tenants
35 and might be able to provide the needed space in
36 the additional property they are constructing in
37 New Brighton.
38 Council Makowske said she recalled when. the City had
39 reaction: allowed Central Engineering to have a similar
40 trailer on their property, it had been because
41 they were adding to their existing building and
42 she thought this was an entirely different case;
43 indicated she was uncomfortable with granting a
44 permit in this instance.
•
3
• 1 Enrooth agreed, saying he couldn' t see why Minne-
2 sota Scientific couldn' t just find other office
3 space which was plentiful in St. Anthony;
4 agreed the whole building vacated by Medtronics
5 would be too large for Minnesota Scientific but
6 said he understood Medtronics was considering
7 parceling it out for some sort of medical complex.
8 Ranallo said he could see Councilmember Makowske ' s
9 point that the City wouldn' t want a sudden pro-
10 liferation of trailer offices which would make
11 St. Anthony look "junky; "
12 told Councilmember Enrooth Medtronics wanted to
13 sell the whole building and let somebody else
14 parcel it out;
15 was told by Mr. Childs that the R. L. Johnson Com-
16 pany had about 150 of its office workers in the
17 building on a temporary basis.
18 Marks stated he considered this to be a reasonable
19 request because Mr. LeVahn still has another year
20 on his lease which he probably wouldn' t want to
1021 break just to get additional space;
22 commented that if he were in charge of this firm,
23 he would also find split offices very unmanageable
24 and would want to have all his staff consolidated
25 under one roof;
26 said he would have no problem at all approving
27 this request.
28 Makowske said she did have a problem with grant-
29 ing this request because the Council had just
30 passed an ordinance preventing vehicles from being
31 parked on lawns and now "we' re going to let a
32 business park a trailer on the lawn. " ;
33 told Mr. LaVahn she recognized it would be much
34 better for him to have all his staff at one site;
35 but
36 said she didn't see the justification for trailers
37 all over in St. Anthony just to accommodate the
38 businesses;
39 indicated this would not create the kind of atmos-
40 phere she would like to see;
4
• 1 concluded by saying, although she perceived the
2 Planning Commission had been careful to impose
3 good conditions on the permit, she still opposed
4 the concept.
5 Marks responded by saying the picture of the Gelco
6 trailer in the agenda packet certainly didn' t look
7 "junky" to him and the Planning Chair had
8 indicated it would fit attractively next to the
9 building.
10 Franzese responded by pointing out that the
11 trailer would be the same width as the building
12 so it shouldn' t give the impression of just being
13 added on and shouldn' t detract from the appearance
14 of the neighborhood;
15 reported the only response from that neighborhood
16 had been from the next door neighbor who said he
17 was only concerned that the trailer be removed
18 when the firm moved and was not opposed to its
19 placement under the conditions the Commission
20 recommended be imposed upon granting the permit.
21 Sundland said he recalled a similar instance where
1822 the City had allowed Medtronics, who had outgrown
23 their building in St. Anthony, to put a mobile
24 office next to their building until their building
25 in Fridley was completed;
26 indicated he shared Councilmember Makowske' s con-
27 cerns but tended to agree with the Planning Com-
28 mission that, if all the conditions the Commission
29 recommended are met and the trailer is removed
30 when the company moves, the permit should be
31 granted.
32 Council Action
33 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Sundland to grant a special Use
34 Permit to Minnesota Scientific which would allow that company to
35 temporarily install the 672 square foot mobile office they propose
36 on the east side of their building at 3839 Chandler Drive, on the
37 conditions that:
38 *the trailer would be removed by October 31 , 1988 ;
39 *the structure meets all applicable building, electrical,
40 fire, and placement codes ;
•
5
• 1 *the trailer be properly skirted and otherwise installed to
2 be aesthetically pleasing to the neighborhood;
3 *no trees be removed from the site to accommodate the
4 structure;
5 *the area where the trailer is sited be resodded or reseeded
6 as needed, once the structure is removed;
7 *the permit only applies to the operations of Minnesota
8 Scientific and that immediate removal should be required
9 should they cease operations prior to the expiration of
10 the permit.
11 In granting the permit, the Council finds, as did the Planning
12 Commission, that there have been no expressions of neighborhood
13 objection to the permit and the only person who spoke at the
14 Commission had been the next door neighbor who said he had no
15 objections to the permit per se, but was only concerned that the
16 trailer be removed at the same time Minnesota Scientific vacates
17 the premises.
18 Voting on the motion:
19 Aye: Ranallo, Sundland, Marks.
•20 Nay: Makowske, Enrooth.
21 Motion carried.
22
23 COUNCIL REPORTS
24 Council Remains Opposed to Pull Tabs in St. Anthony
25 Mayor Sundland said he knew each of the Councilmembers, like he,
26 had been talked to by St. Anthony Lions Club members pushing for a
27 change in the City' s policy against such "fund raisers" being
28 conducted in the City. The Mayor said he had told the Lions who
29 had contacted him about conducting these games in the City liquor
30 stores , that, although he was fairly certain they wouldn't change
31 many minds , their organization would be given an opportunity to
32 make a formal request to the Council.
33 Council Makowske reported she had taken the Lions members
34 response: who had called her to the August 19th Ramsey
35 County League of Local Governments meeting where
36 problems experienced with pull tabs had been
37 reported;
38 said when Roger Franke, Executive Secretary of the
39 Minnesota Charitable Gambling Control Board had
•
6
• 1 estimated the average pull tab player would be
2 expected to spend $42. 00 a night playing the game,
3 her belief that the City' s Ordinance against most
4 forms of charitable gambling in the City had been
5 reinforced as a good one;
6 added, however, that she had requested reassurance
7 from the City' s Liquor Manager that not having
8 pull tabs in the City liquor stores had not ad-
9 versely affected sales;
10 indicated she had been particularly uncomfortable
11 to learn the Lions Club only intended to run the
12 games the first few months then proposed turning
13 the operation over to an 'outside professional
14 group; and
15 had concluded that, although the Lion' s club it-
16 self might be a reputable organization, their
17 intent of running the games only a few nights a
18 week, meant others less reputable might want to
19 finish out the week.
20 Enrooth said he had told the Lions members who had
21 approached him that, from his own perspective,
22 there was little chance the ordinance would be
•23 changed until the concerns which had caused the
24 Council to set up the Ordinance in the first
25 place had been satisfactorily addressed;
26 said he had asked his callers how they perceived
27 the City could handle other requests which might
28 be just as legitimate as their own; and
29 asked them what they suggested the City could do
30 about the organizations who haven' t approached the
31 Council just because they knew there was an
32 ordinance forbidding this type of activity in the
33 City.
34 Ranallo recalled the City had turned down its own
35 Fire Department request to conduct pull tab games
36 in the liquor stores for a very commendable pur-
37 pose;
38 reported he had declined to meet with the Lions
39 who had called him, telling them the City already
40 had an ordinance which permitted pull tab games to
41 be conducted no more often than five times a year;
42 said he had told the Lions members who approached
•43 him at the RCLLG meeting in Shoreview that,
7
• 1 although he recognized there were many good things
2 which could be done with the money earned from
3 - pull tabs, he would never personally consent to
4 having an outside organization running that type
5 of operation in the City liquor stores;
6
7 said he had been given to understand that the same
8 organization whose request had prompted the ordin-
9 ance in the first place had already been replaced
10 as managers of the Bingo Hall in Little Canada by
11 a Roseville sports booster group.
12 Marks reported hg had been asked to "keep an open
13 mind" on the issue by the Lions who contacted him;
14 said he would have a hard time doing that because
15 he was firmly opposed to their request, perceiving
16 no benefit for St. Anthony, whatsoever, from pull
17 tabs;
18 indicated he had told his callers he would be glad
19 to see they got on the Council agenda but to
20 expect no support from him when they appeared.
21 Sundland said he had also assured the Lions they
22 would be given the opportunity of having their
•23 request heard but not to expect to change any minds
24 when they came, because, every time he had polled
25 the Council on whether they had changed their
26 minds about the ordinance, their unanimous opposi-
27 tion to doing that had been affirmed;
28 reported an outstate mayor had told him his city
29 had allowed a local organization to conduct pull
30 tab games in corporate institutions like Seven/
31 Eleven stores but not in City facilities for as
32 long as they needed to fund a specific project.
33 However, once that goal had been reached, the
34 games were discontinued;
35 recalled it had been the fact that there would
36 probably be so many local organizations wanting
37 to run pull tabs for commendable purposes that the
38 Council had written the Ordinance to get away from
39 having to constantly explain why the Council did
40 not perceive gambling games like Bingo and pull
41 tabs would be good for the City.
42 Nelson to Provide Information for September 22nd Meeting with
43 Lions Club
8
1 Mr. Childs said one of the Lions Club members had called him that
2 day to schedule an appearance before the Council and he had put
3 him off because he was waiting for Mr. Nelson to complete the
4 research necessary to answer Councilmember Makowske' s question
5 about whether not having pull tabs might be jeopardizing the
6 City' s liquor operations. Mayor Sundland said he perceived the
7 Council should rely on Mr. Nelson' s professional opinion on that
8 question.
9 The Mayor said he wasn' t sure it was the pull tabs which made the
10 Legion Club in New Brighton so successful as some members have
11 claimed or, whether it was the excellent food and the bar opera-
12 tion itself which pulled in the players. He pointed out that the
13 Legion was conducting the games itself and on its own
14 premises which would not be the case with the organizations who
15 were requesting to operate in City facilities.
16 Councilmember Marks indicated he had talked to a liquor profes-
17 sional after the Lions Club members had contacted him. He said
18 that person had told him the only time he had seen the pull tab
19 games draw in business to a bar had been where the liquor dealers
20 had set up some sort of incentive which coincided with the pull
21 tabs.
22 Mr. Childs reported New Brighton people had told him they per-
23 ceived the pull tabs in their City liquor operations had neither
•24 brought in or hindered liquor sales.
25 He concluded by saying he would be informing the Lions Club that
26 the Council would consider their request during their September
27 22nd meeting which would give Mr. Nelson plenty of time to
28 complete his research.
29 Ramsey County Commissioner Salverda' s Support for Youth Service
30 Bureau Noted
31 Councilmember Makowske passed around the reply she had gotten from
32 the above official supporting the above.
33 State Health Department Says City Water Still Safe to Drink
34 Councilmember Enrooth reported calls he was again getting related
35 to the safety of St. Anthony' s drinking water had intensified
36 lately and he perceived it might be necessary to update the issue
37 in each Newsletter. Mr. Childs reiterated that the State Health
38 Department knows what the City' s current contaminant levels are;
39 told him last week they are within a safe criteria; there is no
40 reason for the City not to continue to use its water supply; and
41 no necessity for using bottled water. Their advisory hadn' t
42 changed since 1982 , he added.
i
9
• 1 Walker Advisory Board' s Concerns About an All-Senior Kenzie
2 Project Allayed
3 The Mayor reported he and Mr. Childs had met informally that
4 morning with Sally Haik, George Wagner, and Ed Ostberg of the
5 above Board and reported on the proposals which had been received
6 for the final phases of the Kenzie Terrace Redevelopment Project
7 which all included an occupancy mix which should guarantee the
8 whole area would not end up with seniors only. He added that the
9 three had been told the City was interfacing with the Minneapolis
10 neighbors through their Alderman concerning the occupancy mix.
11 Mayor Sundland said he had been very happy to have been able to
12 sit down and talk to the Walker Residence representatives about
13 the concerns they had expressed about the project mix.
14 Ranallo Reports Busy Schedule of Meetings Ahead for Him
15 The League of Minnesota Cities Board of Directors, of which he is
16 a member, would be participating in a series of four regional
17 meetings in Little Falls starting this week and the first of these
18 would be held Thursday, the Councilmember indicated. He also
19 reported he had been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors
20 of the Minnesota Notification Corporation, a group set up by the
21 State Legislature to oversee pipeline activities in Minnesota.
22 Councilmember Ranallo said only two of the 18 member Board were
23 city officials with the rest being pipeline professionals. He
024 indicated the League had appointed him to keep them informed about
25 the Board' s activities.
26 Marks Reports Underground Inspection of City' s Lift Station
27 Larry Hamer had given him a first hand inspection of the above
28 where he had seen for himself why it was going to cost so much to
29 replace all the old pumps and motors which are 30 feet under-
30 ground.
31 Youth Service Bureau May be Cut from Ramsey County Budget
32 Councilmember Marks indicated he had been pleased to see Commis-
33 sioner Salverda' s letter continuing his strong support of the
34 Youth Service Bureau. The Councilmember reported attending one of
35 Commissioner Salverda' s early morning meetings last Friday where
36 Terry Schutten, Ramsey County Executive Director, explained how
37 the funding for various service organizations was being prioriti-
38 zed for their 1988 budget. The Councilmember and Bureau Board
39 member said he was unhappy to hear that because the Bureau is
40 considered a discretionary, and not mandated, fund it might be
41 eliminated from the budget. Councilmember Marks added that he
42 perceived the County might be intending to substitute the Bureau' s
43 services by training surplus probation officers to become family
44 counselors. Commissioner Salverda' s defense of the Bureau was
�45 therefore greatly appreciated, the Councilmember indicated.
10
1 MARKS ANNOUNCES HE WILL BE A CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION
2 The Councilmember said he had informed the Mayor of his intentions
3 the previous week and would be informing the press that he would
4 be running for re-election.
5 Conditions Set for Hennepin County to Use City Recycling Center
6 for Hazardous Waste Collection
7 When Councilmember Marks told the Public Works Director his
8 facility was identified in a County brochure his wife had seen as
9 a deposit point for the September 19th Hennepin County collection
10 in Northeast Minneapolis, Mr. Hamer said he had not yet been
11 informed of that. However, he said he would be glad to have the
12 County use the facilities for that purpose as long as the City
13 wouldn' t have to undertake the expense of disposing of the wastes.
14 He reported it had "cost the City dearly" to dispose of any toxic
15 wastes in the past.
16 Councilmember Marks indicated that as long as the County was
17 responsible for the disposal, he considered this to be a program
18 with which it behooved St. Anthony to cooperate. He said he
19 perceived many residents would welcome an opportunity to get rid
20 of the paint thinner, etc. they have around their homes and don' t
.21 know what to do with.
22 Hamer Waiting for Replacement Part to Get City Fountain Going
23 Again
24 Councilmember Makowske said she had learned the above after
25 relaying a resident' s inquiry to the Public Works Director.
26 Residents ' Objections to Standard Station' s Cementing Right-of-
27 Way for Parking Reported
28 The Councilmember indicated she had also spoken to Mr. Hamer about
29 whether the station was allowed to cement over the City' s right-
30 of-way on Kenzie Terrace after receiving several calls asking that
31 question. The Public Works Director reported the station owner
32 had only asked him about the driveway approaches and the next time
33 he had gone down there he had found they had cemented the whole
34 front of the station.
35 The following discussion ensued:
36 Ranallo said he perceived when the City had allowed resi-
37 dents to pave their front yards for parking the way had been
38 opened for this type of thing.
39 Sundland recalled that in spite of objections in the past,
•40 the station had always used the boulevard for parking.
11
1 Hamer said as long as he had been with the City, the policy
2 had been not to allow parking on the boulevards because of
3 problems with plowing heavy snowfalls and covering up parked
4 cars.
5 Marks asked if the Council was going to make the station
6 take the concrete out.
7 Childs said he knew of nothing in the City' s Ordinance which
8 prevented the station from paving the right-of-way; recalled
9 that when the owner had been granted a permit to upgrade the
10 station, there had been a discussion of landscaping and
11 parking, but he would have to check the minutes to see what
12 was specified.
13
14 Makowske indicated she personally thought the concrete was
15 "less tacky and cleaner looking" than unkept grass in that
16 area, but didn't want allowing this to become a "permission
17 slip" for parking on the concrete.
18 Enrooth agreed with the Mayor that the station had always
19 parked cars on the boulevard when it was grass;
20 said he didn' t believe it had been a concern with keeping
021 up a sodded right-of-way but rather a desire to park cars
22 in that area which had prompted paving it over.
23 Childs said he would look again at the pertinent minutes to
24 be sure there wasn' t something there which the City could
25 use to prevent parking on the cemented area; and
26 would further research the Ordinance to see if it contained
27 any type of restriction which applied.
28 Hamer said he was sure there was an Ordinance which required
29 City Manager permission for planting or anything else on the
30 City right-of-way.
31 Soth said "even if you didn' t have an Ordinance stating
32 that, it would nevertheless be true. "
33 DEPARTMENTS AND COMMITTEES
34 The following July reports were considered briefly and ordered
35 filed as informational:
36 *Fire Department Monthly Report
37 *Liquor Monthly Sales Summary
38 *Financial Monthly Report
•
12
• 1 CITY MANAGER REPORTS
2 August 19, 1987 Staff Meeting Notes
3 Mr. Childs said he would have suggestions ready for the budget
4 work session the Council would be holding the next evening related
5 to the replacements for Kathy Ristau, the Payroll Clerk in
6 September, and Carol Johnson, Finance Director, who will be
7 retiring in June.
8 Manager to Seek Facilitator for September 9th City/School Board
9 Meeting on Parkview
10 Mr. Childs had included in the Council' s agenda packet an overview
11 of the City negotiations to purchase the Parkview building from
12 the School District as well as estimates he had gotten of what it
13 would cost the City to move the Fire Station up to the building
14 and make the necessary improvements to the roof and heating
15 system, which the City would want to do if the building were to be
16 used for City Hall. These costs did not include the cost of the
17 land itself , he added. According to the Manager, the bottom line
18 for making the move would be approximately $230 ,000 , which would
19 put a new roof on the building; update the boilers but not
20 replace any of the radiators. The electrical and plumbing seem
21 to be in good order, he said. The estimate did not include
22 window replacements; any type of mansard roof; parking lot
•23 repairs; or remodeling any of the offices the City might be
24 leasing to new tenants. The costs would cover the installation
25 of four large doors for the fire trucks in the gymnasium as well
26 as a new floor with traps and plumbing for the new station area in
27 the gym; a hose dryer; and what it would cost to remodel existing
28 office space for dormitory and kitchen facilities for the firemen.
29 Not included would be any costs for remodeling the police offices
30 or covering over the alcove between the police station and the
31 gymnasium for a police parking area. No new ceiling tile for the
32 hallways would be included in the remodeling. Mr. Childs said
33 these costs were planned to only cover the "bare bones" expense of
34 making the move from the current fire station to Parkview and to
35 make two necessary major system repairs to the building.
36 The City Manager summarized his own recollection of how the
37 concept of the City taking over Parkview had evolved as first
38 involving an offer by the School District to give the building to
39 the City, followed by their asking the City to pay at least
40 ' $70 , 000 to protect the District' s New Brighton tax payers '
41 interests. That figure was adjusted upwards when the School Board
42 discovered they had only $63 , 000 available to make the move when
43 it was estimated it would cost them $273 ,000, leaving them
44 $210 , 000 short, which they now wanted the City to make up.
45 The Council would be reacting to that request during the joint
•46 Council/School Board meeting scheduled to be held in the Council
13
1 Chambers at 7 : 00 P.M. , September 9th, when an informal work
2 session would be conducted to get the School District' s position
3 on the issue, including what appears to be the serious considera-
4 tion they seem to be giving to tearing the Parkview building down
5 and constructing single family homes on the property. Mr. Childs
6 said he understood the School Board had already gotten demolition
7 estimates and had their appraiser include in his report a prelimi-
8 nary sketch of what a plot for 10 or 11 houses might look like.
9 The City Manager indicated the property is currently zoned
10 Recreational/Open Space and would require Planning Commission and
11 Council approval of a change to R-1 , single family dwelling in
12 zoning.
13 Cost of Remodeling Current Fire Station and Building a New City
14 Hall Explored
15 In his report to the Council, Mr. Childs had drawn a comparison
16 between the costs of converting Parkview to house all but the
17 Public Works facilities, with the above estimates and had provided
18 the Council with things he thought they should consider when
19 comparing an old versus a new building, which included a better
20 image, greater flexibility of space, greater efficiency for
21 windows as well as lower heating, electrical, mechanical and
22 maintenance costs.
•23 Mr. Childs had also pointed out the difference between the resale
24 value of new and old building, which he said the Council might
25 want to take a closer look at before deciding to purchase the
26 Parkview building.
27 Councilmember Ranallo reminded the Councilmembers that the City
28 already owned property in an "ideal spot" near the Highway 88
29 entrance to the City where the existing park area and fountain
30 could be worked in perfectly with a new, aesthetically appearing,
31 City Hall. He said he couldn' t forget that the City had given
32 the School District the Parkview property in 1951 for $1. 00 , on
33 the condition it be used for school purposes and now the School
34 District is expecting the City to pay them to get it back when
35 that use is no longer being made. The Councilmember said he
36 perceived the Council' s responsibility at this stage is to look
37 at what' s good for the entire St. Anthony community and not just
38 what' s good for either the City or the School. His suggestion
39 that a facilitator be retained for the joint session was accepted
40 with the perception that any adversarial atmosphere would be
41 eliminated if that were done.
42 Councilmember Enrooth said he perceived the City was now having
43 serious second thoughts about the move, where at the beginning he
44 and Councilmember Marks, as the City' s negotiators, had perceived
45 there had been a consensus of direction and agreement between the
•46 City and School District at the outset of the discussions.
14
• 1 Councilmember Ranallo pointed out that the City had even spent
2 money to have a purchase agreement drawn up because it was
3 perceived an agreement had been worked out.
4 The Mayor said he had to echo the perception that because the City
5 had given the School District the land on which to build a school,
6 it only seemed reasonable now that they no longer have an
7 educational purpose for the land that it should revert back to the
8 City and the City would only have to buy the building.
9 Mr. Soth said that is what the deed says. He also pointed out
10 that the statute which dictated that covenant expired in 30 years
11 had been rePealed one year after the covenant had expired.
12 Councilmember Ranallo reiterated that he perceived what the
13 Council had to look after was what would benefit all the tax-
14 payers . Mayor Sundland said he doubted those taxpayers would be
15 happy to see both the School and City paying thousands of dollars
16 to get "a matter resolved which the City and School District
17 should be able to resolve by themselves , " because, as Councilmem-
18 ber Ranallo had observed, "it all boils down to which taxpayers '
19 pockets you take the money from. "
20 Councilmember Marks said he agreed with Councilmember Enrooth that
21 they had thought a deal had been struck before the School District
22 started "unsweetening" rather than "sweetening" the pot. He
•23 pointed out that because the Parkview location was in the exact
24 center of St. Anthony, it made more sense to have the administra-
25 tion and principal City services located right in the center of
26 town. He added, however, that he could also see where it might
27 enhance the "Gateway to the City" if a new City Hall were
28 incorporated into the Trillium Park in that area.
29 Mr. Childs commented that he would have some serious reservations
30 about constructing homes which would have a carbon filtration
31 plant, a well pump house, the water tower, softball diamonds and
32 tennis courts in their back yards. He also agreed it was hard to
33 conceive how the school could come out ahead selling ten lots for
34 $30 ,000 apiece in face of the costs of developing a residential
35 tract on that land, which but for a technicality actually still
36 belongs to the City. The costs the School District could be
37 expected to incur included those for surveying the land for homes ,
38 sewer - installations and the construction costs if the school
39 undertook the project itself.
40 Councilmember Enrooth indicated that he had to agree with Mr.
41 Childs that in view of the resale value of Parkview, the City
42 would have to stay there no matter what if they paid to remodel it
43 for its own use at this time.
44 Councilmember Ranallo concurred and added he perceived the last
• 45 thing the City would want to do would be to try to lease the
15
• 1 building out because he expected taxes would have to be paid on
2 any rents which were taken in.
3 Mr. Childs said he perceived it would be essential for the
4 Councilmembers to take a positive approach to their September 9th
5 negotiations with the School Board, even if there might be reason
6 for them to feel they "were being taken. " He agreed having a
7 facilitator for the meeting at little or no expense, would
8 probably eliminate a lot of arguing time, which should be used
9 instead to determine what could realistically be accomplished in
10 relation to the disposition of Parkview.
11 NEW BUSINESS
12 Electrical Work on Well #5 to be Done by Dickson Electric
13 The City Manager indicated the $3 ,050.00 quotation from the above
14 firm covered the purchase and installation of the new control
15 panel the Council authorized March 25th, in anticipation of
16 converting the well pump to an electric motor and gas backup to
17 take advantage of an interruptible service arrangement with NSP
18 next year. He indicated the Public Works Department wanted to get
19 the 480 volt service in before the weather gets bad because there
20 is underground work that has to be done this winter.
21 Mr. Hamer told Councilmember Ranallo there had been no other
•22 quotes received but the costs of this installation were pretty
23 much in line with electrical quotes received on the installation
24 of the kitchen in the Stonehouse.
25 Council Action
26 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Marks to accept the $3 ,050.00
27 quote from Dickson Electric to supply and install a new control
28 panel in Well #5.
29 Motion carried unanimously.
30 HAMER SUGGESTS REMEDIES TO PREVENT FUTURE STORM PROBLEMS
31 *Council Okays Purchase of Manhole Cover Liners
32 The Public Works Director had gotten a quotation for the 71 Preco
33 liners he thought would be helpful in reducing infiltration of
34 groundwater into the City' s sanitary sewer lines during heavy
35 rainfalls like that which fell on St. Anthony, July 23rd.
36 Mr. Childs said he agreed that by preventing the substantial
37 amount of water which Mr. Hamer had estimated had infiltrated
38 through the one inch openings in the manholes during the storm,
39 the City would be taking at least an initial step towards prevent-
40 ing future sanitary sewer backups into homes, which seems to
16
1 follow storms of the calibre the City experienced this summer and
2 in 1978.
3 Mr. Hamer told the Council he expected to be able to pay for the
4 liners from the savings his department had experienced because of
5 the lower costs for gas and oil earlier in the year.
6 Council Action
7 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Makowske to accept the quotation of
8 $2 ,804. 50 from the Water Products Company for the purchase of 71
9 manhole cover liners.
10 Motion carried unanimously.
11 Mr. Hamer indicated he would not be attending the Council ' s budget
12 work session the following evening, , but wanted them to have a
13 general feel for some of the costs the City might be facing if the
14 other steps he was proposing were taken. On a map of the City' s
15 sanitary and storm sewer installations the Public Works Director
16 pointed to the areas for which he is seeking engineering advice
17 related to taking corrective measures. He expanded on his other
18 proposals which had been mentioned in the August- 19th staff
19 meeting notes with the following suggestions:
20 *Feasibility of 48 Inch Storm Sewer Line to be Studied
21 Mr. Hamer had provided Councilmembers with copies of proposals
22 from Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, Inc. and Reike Carroll Muller to
23 study the feasibility and costs of constructing new 48 inch pipes
24 and backups from Harding Street behind the Northgate Office Park
25 building, along Coolidge to hook up the Highway 88 storm sewer
26 lines. He indicated he expected this would divert all the storm
27 water from the industrial park area and ditch lines as well as
28 from the new lines on Coolidge which drain the area from 29th
29 Avenue N.E. , just before the "big dropoff" , where the existing
30 lines have been backing up even with less than two inches of
31 rainfall. The study would also indicate,_; just how much flow from
32 the shopping center area could be diverted to the holding pond
33 planned for the new redevelopment project.
34 *Feasibility of Retention Pond in Landlocked Area West of Silver
35 Lake Road and Between 30th and 31st Avenues To Be Studied
36 Mr. Hamer said the very large back yards in this area are con-
37 stantly flooded and their owners might welcome a project which
38 alleviated that. He indicated:
39 *one of the largest back yards is on Harding Street and its
40 owner might be willing to sell part of his land to the
41 City for an outfall easement;
•
17
t-
1 *this purchase would provide the necessary land for a reten-
2 tion pond which would enable the City to control the levels
3 and let out enough water at a time to prevent flooding.
4 Councilmember Enrooth said he could see where the existing sewer
5 system could only accommodate so much water and the City has to
6 take steps to get some control over the flow to prevent future
7 flooding problems. He said he considered Mr. Hamer' s suggestion
8 to be part of the solution to flooding problems which the Council
9 had asked staff to research.
10 *Fees or Taxes Needed to Pay for Corrective Measures
11 The Public Works Director said he thought the City Council should
12 be considering imposing users fees just as Fridley and a number
13 of other cities have to pay for updating their storm sewer system.
14 Councilmember Ranallo suggested consideration should be given
15 instead, to -bonding and taxing for the improvements because, at
16 least the taxpayers could deduct those charges from their taxes.
17 Mr. Childs indicated he would be providing further information on
18 both methods.
19 *Engineer Studying Costs of Repairing Destruction of the Mirror
20 Lake Basin
•21 The City might be facing a major cost doing the above, as
22 indicated in the report furnished the Councilmembers that evening,
23 Mr. Hamer said. Mr. Childs indicated this involved a side issue
24 which could also be discussed during the budget work session.
25 ADJOURNMENT
26 Motion by Ranallo, seconded by Marks to adjourn the meeting at
27 8 : 58 P.M. for the St. Anthony Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
28 meeting which followed immediately.
29 Motion carried unanimously.
30 Respectfully submitted,
31 Helen Crowe, Secretary
32
33 May r
34 ATTEST: 0_4V_1V, A
35 City Clerk
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