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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 04121977 Meeting Sheet IIIIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIIIIIIIII fossas Box: 35 Folder: CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1977 Document: CC MINUTES 04121977 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY COUNCIL MINUTES April 12 , 1977 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Miedtke at 7 :31 P.M. Present roll call: Haik, Miedtke, Stauffer and Sauer Absent: Sundland Also present: Jerry Dulgar, City Manager Jim Fornell, Administrative Assistant The minutes for the March 29, 1977 Council meeting were corrected as follows: Page 6 , paragraph 10 : Councilman Haik left the meeting at "9 :30 P.M. " not "9 :00 P.M. " Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Haik to approve the March 29 , 1977 Council minutes as corrected. • Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Sauer presented the St. Anthony Jaycee Distinguished Service Awards for exceptional and innovative volunteer service to the community through the school, churches or service organizations to Bill Bowman, Barbara Capelletti, Marge Cowan, Donald Hickerson, Mary Hoffman, Jeanne Kantorowicz and Andrea Wyatt. The Mayor then extended the congratulations and gratitude of the community to the recipients . The sequence of the agenda was then resumed to take up the matter of ex- tending the chip pathway around the perimeter of Mirror Lake on City owned property. Dennis Engle who represented the Mirror Lake Condominium Owners Association Board of Directors , reported that another poll of the association had been taken with a 44% response indicating 42 condominium owners oppose the upgrading of the pathway and 24 were for it. He said along with the ballots the residents had shown a preference for establish- ing a grass path and improvement of the area by plantings and landscaping contemplated by the City. Several who had responded to the poll had re- quested that fences which were on City property should be removed to allow the use of the lakefront for pedestrian and jogging purposes. Mr. Engle said the board would have preferred to ascertain the sentiments of the 56% of condominium owners who had not returned their ballots but were willing to comply with the expressed views of the majority who had indicated they opposed making a formal path around the lake. Thomas Obinger, 510 15th Avenue S.W. identified himself as a New Brighton resident whose residence abuts the City property and said he opposed the establishment of a formal pathway around the lake for reasons which were • shared by other lakeshore residents and city officials of New Brighton. It was his contention that improving the pathway for general usage would tend to increase the incidents of littering the shoreline, vandal- ism of residents' belongings and landscaping now experienced by the home owners as well as practice of outsiders cutting through people 's back yards which are not maintained down to the shoreline past the City' s property line. He pointed out that the pathway would now run within 10 feet of one resident's back door. This resident later identified herself as Mrs. Orville Melsby who opposed the pathway because of its proximity to her home at 520 15th Avenue S.W. Dennis Connors, 620 Con- tinental Drive shared Mr. Obinger' s concern about who would maintain the pathway and Mr. Obinger concluded his remarks by thanking the Council for allowing him as a non-resident to express his concerns and saying "though a park area might be nice, its advantages were far outweighed by the problems which the residents will experience if a formal pathway encourages persons other than those living on the lake to use it" . Vernon Anderson, 2712 34th Avenue N.E. , owner of the Lakehill Apartments located on Highcrest Road told of the problems he now has with people who leave their vehicles in the apartment parking lot when they use the lakefront. He feared the path might be constructed in such a manner as to encourage its use by motorcyclists as a race track and said he failed to see how the pathway could benefit his property. Joyce and Ken Cleland, 670 Continental Drive and Phil Van Tassel, 650 • Continental Drive told of having to extinguish fires set by smokers on the lakefront near their homes with the latter saying his experience as a Minneapolis policeman led him to doubt that emergency vehicles would be able to respond to fires or accidents which he felt will increase with the addition of people who use the lakefront for recreational purposes . The Clelands agreed with this saying they resented having to serve as baby sitters for the children who play near the lake now as well as having to police the area where young couples , smokers and drinkers now trespass on their property. Their neighbor Robert Hanson, 668 Continental Drive echoed their complaints about vandalism to fences and trees on private property and their fears that there will be an increase in the destruction of wildlife on the lake if the pathway is improved. Randy Mikkelson whose condominium at 3917 Foss Road overlooks the lake was the only speaker from among the approximately 30 neighbors in at- tendance who said he was "not sharply for or against the pathway" . He only wondered if the walkway could be left grassy and improved just enough so that it would not become a recognizable public pathway but jogging and walking around the lake would be possible. He said he was reluctant, however, to arouse the resentment of home owners on the other side of the laek who might view him as an intruder if he used the pathway which up to now they had considered part of their back yards . He was also curious about the fences which prevented passage along the walkway. This question drew a response from Mrs. Carol King, 517 15th Avenue S .W. , who said she was in the process of complying with the City 's directions that she remove both the wood and steel fences which extended past the City' s property line. She said her late husband had sodded all the way (2) • down to the lake with the permission of the City Council which sat at that time over eleven years ago and added her complaints regarding damage to her landscaping and other property as well as to the wildlife in the area by the uncontrolled dogs and children in addition to the annoyance from motorcyclists, etc. She then questioned Councilman Haik 's interest in having the area developed as a park area in face of the opposition from residents and city officials of New Brighton over the past two years. When Councilman Haik later responded to her query, she said she felt she was fulfilling her responsibility as a councilman to the community as a whole to see that every natural resource is developed for the use of St. Anthony residents and said the lack of funding had prevented her from pursuing the effort in the past. The petition from the Mirror Lake residents for extending the pathway and the availability of CETA funds for the project had renewed her interest in preserving this area as a recreational development since it was one of the few open spaces which could be developed for the use of City residents. Mayor Miedtke defended her premise that the situations on Silver Lake where she lives and Mirror Lake are not similar since the property owners own all the land past the lakeshore at Silver Lake and there is no city owned property around that lake which could be developed as a pathway. However, she noted that residents on Silver Lake recognize the lake as public property and told of her personal efforts to work with Columbia Heights to enhance the use of the lake by residents of both cities . Mr. Van Tassel added to his previous objections to the pathway telling • of the instability of the hilly incline on City property in front of his home which he said he has tried to shore up with the clay he had removed when he built his swimming pool. He answered Mr. Dulgar's complaint later that evening that he had not kept his agreement to sod to the lake which had been a condition of the permission from the City to dump his extra dirt or seed by saying he had begun the project within the last week. Mr. Van Tassel said it is his intention to petition the EPA to make a study of the possible environmental impact the pathway might have on the lake which serves as natural breeding ground for mallards and which is frequented by many other types of wildlife including trumpeter swans, all of whom are often the object of destruction by children and teenagers. The Mayor answered questions regarding the maintenance of the pathway by saying "If it's a St. Anthony park, the City will maintain it. " and he speculated that if the area were developed as a recreational spot with adequate policing provided, the vandalism might be diminished rather than increased and the additional landscaping anticipated by the City might serve to better preserve the wildlife along the lake. He also felt de- lineation of City and private property might be better accomplished by the plantings and City installed signage. He then made note of the re- quest from the New Brighton City Council that any affirmative action on the walkpath be deferred until that City's officials had an opportunity to study the issue and provide its input to St. Anthony and the Council was also provided with copies of the personal letter of opposition to the project from Gene Fisher, a New Brighton councilman. • (3) Councilman Stauffer indicated she felt a pedestrian path less sophisti- cated than a chip path could be developed for the use of walkers and joggers and that a step by step plan for enhancing the area rather than destroying it could be worked out with the residents, with the City providing good maintenance and possible using natural materials to de- lineate the pathway from private property. Councilman Haik agreed that she primarily wanted a method which would make it possible to circulate around the lake. She felt plans should be studied for providing for the stability of the pathway, the establishment of areas for parking cars and a structural method of discouraging use of the path by motorcycles and other smaller loud vehicles. They both agreed that there has been a demand for more park area in the City and this is the first instance of funds (CETA for labor costs) being available for developing a natural resource which "we don't have anywhere else in the City. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Mayor Miedtke not to extend the chip pathway around the holding pond known as Mirror Lake. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to request the City Manager to prepare more specific plans for a walkway, plantings and signing on the City' s property around Mirror Lake. Motion carried unanimously. • Following a discussion with the Manager of how extensive these plans were to be, Mr. Dulgar said he would try to have some preliminary recommenda- tions for Council consideration during the first meeting in May. The meeting was recessed from 9 : 00 to 9 :17 P.M. , and reconvened to discuss the MTC 's proposal to construct a bus shelter on the west side of Silver Lake Road near the Silver Lane intersection. Councilman Haik said she was delighted that her request for such a shelter had been granted at this particular spot where she felt the facility was sorely needed. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to approve the maintenance agreement with Ramsey County whereby the City will be reimbursed for sweeping Silver Lane. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Haik to nominate Councilman Stauffer to serve as either an officer or member of the Board of the League of Minnesota Cities . Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to grant permission to St. Anthony Village Legion Post #513 to hold a parade in the City on June 18 , 1977. • (4) • Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to indicate the Council' s support for Senate File #865 as long as the objectives of the bill are obtained through the use of existing liquor revenues and not through additional taxation. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Dulgar reported that Chief Ed Brown who is retiring, has served on the City' s police force for 31 years since the establishment of the City itself and the following motion was made: Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to accept the resignation of Chief Ed Brown and request that a Certificate of Ap- preciation for his years of service to the City be presented to him dur- ing the testimonial dinner to be held in his honor. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to deny the request from the Apache Corporation that the City accept the service road just east of the Firestone building as a City street. Motion carried unanimously. • The Metropolitan Council memorandum regarding application for funding for recreation open space projects was filed. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to adopt Resolution #77-026 approving the agreement with the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation which provides reimbursement to the City for use of 29th Avenue as a detour during the rebuilding of Highway #8 . RESOLUTION #77-026 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT NO. 58454 Motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Haik and Stauffer and Manager Dulgar indicated the sessions they anticipate attending during the 1977 Annual Conference of the League of Minnesota Cities to be held in Rochester in June. The February Police Report was filed. Councilman Sauer expressed his gratitude for the input provided by Mr. Dulgar which helped him make a decision regarding the choice of a consult- ing engineer to serve as City Engineer. Although both Council members and the Manager said they had difficulty in making a choice between McCombs-Knutson Associates and the Bannister group, the majority followed • the Manager's recommendation that the first group be appointed and Councilman Haik said her "nay" vote indicated her preference for the Bannister group. (5) • Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Mayor Miedtke to adopt Resolu- tion #77-008 appointing McCombs-Knutson Associates, Inc. , to serve as the City Engineer. RESOLUTION #77-008 A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING CONSULTING ENGINEER Voting on the motion: Aye: Sauer, Miedtke and Stauffer Nay: Haik Motion carried. The Manager verbally reported on the developments in the creation of a coordinating committee who will work with the Public Health Officer and advise those who are now providing community health services . The Council agreed with his suggestion that membership on the committee not be restricted to St. Anthony residents. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to create a Health Service Advisory Committee and to request the Manager to furnish at a later date the names of persons who have agreed to serve on this committee. • Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Haik said she understood through contacts with the City's legis- lators that the levy for community services was in danger of being abolished through legislative action or inaction and requested that the Council indicate its interest in having the levy continued. Motion by Councilman Haik and seconded by Councilman Stauffer to request the Manager to indicate to the City's legislators as well as the legis- lative committee chairman involved that the City supports the continua- tion of the levy allowance for community services . Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Sauer reported complaints he has received regarding the im- proper usage by juveniles of the service road owned by the school district near Maplewood and Skycroft. Earle Wethe, 3501 Skycroft Drive told of the harassment and annoyance to his neighborhood and the inability of the Police Department to control the speeding, illegal parking as well as the noise and foul language of juveniles who congregate in the area each night. He had come to the meeting in the hopes that the Council members could make some helpful suggestions for solving the problem. It was suggested that the residents might take down license numbers of the of- fenders and the police might inform the parents of their children's actions. The juvenile officer was also to bring up the subject during his regular • (6) • meeting with the Student Council. Restriction of parking on the street after the park curfew was also considered. Mayor Miedtke proclaimed the week of April 24 through 30 as St. Anthony Volunteer Recognition Week. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to grant all licenses listed in the April 12 , 1977 Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Haik to approve payment of all Verified Claims listed in the April 12, 1977 Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Dulgar and the Mayor gave the background for the item listed in the statement from the City Attorney which dealt with the lawsuit of former resident Cottle against Ramsey County for alleged damage to the residence at the intersection of Silver Lake Road and Silver Lane when Silver Lake Road was being upgraded. Councilman Haik requested the Manager to in- vestigate the staking by the county which she had observed this week at that corner. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Sauer to approve • payment of $3,463.85 to the Dorsey Firm for services rendered during February, 1977 . Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Stauffer and seconded by Councilman Haik to adjourn the meeting at 10: 23 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. • Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Ci Man er I// • (7)