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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 05221979 Meeting Sheet 0 IIIIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIII IIIIIIII 105861 Box: 36 Folder: CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1979 Document: CC MINUTES 05221979 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY COUNCIL MINUTES May 22 , 1979 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Haik at 7: 30 p.m. Present for roll call : Sauer, Sundland, Haik , Ranallo and Letourneau. Also present: Jim Fornell, City Manager William Soth, City Attorney Ron Berg, Administrative Assistant Carol Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to approve as submitted the minutes for the Council meeting held May 8 , 1979 . Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Letourneau and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to approve as submitted the minutes for the Special Council meeting held May 9, 1979 . Motion carried unanimously. • - Richard Rymarchick appeared to present the actions taken and recom- mendations made to the Council during the meeting of the Planning Board, May 15, 1979 . He said the Board had unanimously agreed that the St. Anthony National Bank should be allowed the variances necessary to develop the triangular vacant lot between Kenzie Terrace and Lowry Avenue N.E. for an employee and renters parking lot, if the conditions they suggested regarding screening the residential area across Lowry, adequate snow storage on the site , and positioning of parking bumpers to avoid damage to the land- s caped areas around the lot are met. Councilman Sundland, seeing the "development of the lot as an improvement over its existing unkept condition" , made the following: Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Mayor Haik to approve the plans indicating the planting plans for the St. Anthony National Bank parking lot as submitted for the same findings as set forth by the Planning Board in their May 15 recommendation of approval . Motion carried unanimously. Confusion as to whether the conditions for approval , as set by the Planning Board, had been included in Councilman Sundland' s motion led to the reopening of the matter for consideration. The maker of the motion said he had not intended to set any conditions for ap- proval of the parking lot plans and the other four Council members I -2- verbally indicated this had not been their understanding when they approved the motion. Since the motion had been misunderstood resulting in a "mistake of fact" , the City Attorney advised it could either be withdrawn by the maker or voted on again. Councilman Sundland indicated he intended to stand on his original motion. The Mayor then withdrew her second of the motion which died for lack of a second. Wil Johnson, architect for the bank, then defended his opposition to the height of the screening stipulated by the Board citing the concern of the bank owners for poor visibility for drivers leaving the lot and for the safety of young female employees who might be accosted by someone "lurking behind the bushes" as they approach their vehicles, in the darkened lot. Mr. Rymarchick saw similar hazards present all over the metropolitan area and felt it should be up to drivers or young women to take the necessary precautions to avoid such dangers . Motion by Councilman Ranallo and Seconded by Mayor Haik to approve the setback variances of two feet on the east side , four feet on the Kenzie Terrace side, seven feet on the Lowry Avenue side of Lot 1, Block 1, Kenzie Terrace Addition (approximately 2510 Kenzie Terrace N.E. ) which will permit parking for the St. Anthony National • Bank, as proposed within the setbacks, finding that: 1) because of the unique shape of the property, it probably would be a problem to develop any other commercial use , especially considering the associated parking requirements; 2) no apparent desire is demon- strated through these variances to increase the value, but rather just to maximize the use of this odd-shaped lot; and 3) strict adherance to City ordinance would hinder the maximum use of the property for a parking facility by limiting the number of automobiles and making the use unreasonable. Recommendation of approval is made contingent upon the owner being responsible to: 1) either provide adequate snow storage on the property or to have it hauled away; 2) provide density of plantings and screening along the Lowry Avenue side to an opaque or near opaque visibility and height of no less than four feet; and 3) position parking bumpers at least six feet from the lot line in all cases, with the owners urged to encourage their employees to cross at the appropriate locations and directed to follow their planting proposals as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sundland ,and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to follow verbatim the recommendations of approval by the Planning Board to grant the variances requested which will permit the proposed improvement of the Toth residence on Lot 8 , Block 4 , Murray Heights Second Addition, as presented, which will maintain the existing roof line of the home, finding that strict adherance to the existing City ordinance requirements for a corner lot will place undue hardship on g these applicants since the property was platted and improved prior -3- to the adoption of the present ordinance and the resulting property setbacks will be consistent with those for adjacent properties . __Motion carried unanimously. The matter of the St. Anthony National Bank parking lot was reopened to receive the comments of Donald Best, 2342 Taft Street N.E. , re- garding the placement of the driveway to the lot on Lowry Avenue _rather than utilizing the existing curb cuts on Kenzie Terrace. He told them the residents on Lowry, Taft and Roosevelt were concerned that increasing the traffic flow along Lowry might eventually pro- mote a service road for the St. Anthony Shopping Center should the vacant lot at the end of Lowry be developed for a commercial use. He disagreed that having the driveway on Kenzie Terrace would impede the traffic along Kenzie Terrace anymore than the 38 curb cuts now being utilized along that road at the present. Although the Council was sympathetic to these concerns , there was no interest demonstrated to reopen the matter for inclusion of the driveway in the conditions under which the parking lot was approved. Mr. Rymarchick continued his presentation of the May 15 Board minutes by telling the Council the Board had two main concerns with the new concept for dual ownership of a residential unit as promoted by Sid Johnson for the double bungalows he has just built on 39th Avenue N.E. He said Board members were in agreement that some type of home owner- ship association would be necessary to handle disputes between owners • and the City should maintain control of the location of such develop- ments if the concept is adopted for the City. Mr. Soth commented on the issue saying the concept should correctly not be addressed as a "condominium" development since the state legislature has applied that description to a more dense and usually a three dimensional development where this concept would appear to have a closer relationship to a "townhouse" development. He felt to convert the double bungalows to dual ownership, there would h:,ve to be re-zoning and re-platting of the property as well as setbacl; and lot size variances granted. He saw the biggest problem for the City to get a townhouse concept where property has not been thus platted. He did not view a home owners association as being effective for six units and thought if utility services are provided through a common line, they could not be considered separate services. Mayor Haik, noting the Metropolitan Council ' s approval of the concept as one which would provide affordable housing for all segments of the populations, saw a conflict with the City' s desire to provide rental housing and said she would rather consider such a concept for property before it is built. There was no consensus from the Council for staff continuation of researching the concept and Mr. Rymarchick will report their lack of support to the Board. The Mayor directed him to also advise Mr. Bjorklund that Planning Board members are governed by the Open Meeting Law, a question he had raised at the last Board meeting. , -4- Since there was some question of whether the Board had been informed • regarding the Metropolitan Council ' s seminar on developing cities , Mr. Berg agreed to see what he can do to have all communications from that body directed to the chairman. Mr. Soth then asked Mr. Rymarchick to relay his commendations to the Board for the outstanding job they are doing in articulating the legal reasons they recommend either approval or denial of requests for vari- ances. Motion by Councilman Letourneau and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to adopt the resolution approving the agreement with the State of Minne- sota for the purchase which will result in the provision of moving radar units . RESOLUTION 79-032 A RESOLUTION ALLOWING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF MOVING RADAR Motion carried unanimously. It was noted that the Citizen Advisory Board to advise the City re- garding cable communications franchising legally must be limited to no more than seven persons, and it was agreed to seek five such per- sons who will serve on the Board. Mr. Berg reported receiving an indication from one person, who seemed to have expertise in this field, • of a willingness to serve. Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Councilman Letourneau to adopt Resolution 79-033. RESOLUTION 79-033 A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CITIZEN ADVISORY BODY TO ADVISE THE COUNCIL ON MATTTTRS RELAT- ING TO A CABLE COMMUNICATIONS PRANC'riISE. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Sundland to adopt the resolution which authorizes the transfer of funds received from District #282 for gas purchases to an appropriation for additional gasoline purchase. RESOLUTION 79-034 A RESOLUTION TRANSFERING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT #108-3 TO ACCOUNT #4223-33 Motion carried unanimously. • -5- Motion by Councilman Sundland and seconded by Councilman Letourneau • to adopt the resolution which will authorize the transfer of $3,968 . 48 for the replacement of the transmission on the City' s sweeper. RESOLUTION 79-035 A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR A 1979 BUDGET TRANSFER FOR EQUIPMENT REPAIR Motion carried unanimously. Council members had been provided with the Manager' s May 15 memorandum and supporting data relating to the future location of the City of- fices , including the police and fire stations , and conceivable alter- natives as viewed by the City staff. Mr. Fornell was requested to relay this information to the Planning Board at their next meeting to get their reaction in context with the capital improvement and comprehensive plan they are developing with B.R.W. , Inc. The Board report can then be made during the second Council meeting in June. Motion by Councilman Ranallo and seconded by Mayor Haik to follow the recommendations of the City Manager regarding the Fire Department Reserve uniform allowance. Motion carried unanimously. The Council considered the May 11 explanation from McCombs-Knutson, Inc. • of the difference between the estimated costs of Anthony Lane project 78-01 and the cost as it had been bid in conjunction with the County Road C rebuilding project. The project will be rebid according to Mr. Fornell and the figures should be available for the first Council meeting in June. He suggested these could be presented to the af- fected property owners and at the same time their reaction sought to the M & M Corporation request for an access to the property they propose to develop in Roseville for a warehouse immediately adjacent to Anthony Lane. In the Agenda there had been provided a copy of the May 18 letter from the City of Roseville to Rod Bernu, construction manager for M & M, suggesting Roseville might continue the roadway east of the St. Anthony city limits to service the site in question and other undeveloped lots in the same area. Mr. Bernu was present and reported further conversations he had with Roseville officials and owners of those properties and suggested the City should cooper- ate with Roseville in the dedication of roadway necessary for the new access. However, he still wanted the temporary driveway access on Anthony Lane and storm sewer service for the warehouse, although his firm "does not want to share with St. Anthony in the upgrading of Anthony Lane" , a statement he later modified to say he did not feel M & M should have to pay an equal share of such costs as St. Anthony properties. Councilman Sundland questioned whether Roseville would be willing to answer emergency calls at the warehouse before the permanent loop • of Anthony Lane North is completed. The Manager agreed, saying he felt there should be written commitment from Roseville regarding the looping and an indication they are willing to provjr1e emergency -6- and maintenance services to the proposed warehouse before the improvement is made. Councilman Sauer assured Mr. Bernu that raising these questions was not an indication of the City' s un- willingness to work with him, and the Manager was requested to meet with the Roseville officials regarding the matter. Councilman Sundland left the meeting at 8 :51 p.m. Motion by Mayor Haik and seconded by Councilman Sauer to authorize the purchase of Set No. 2 of the Elected Officials Handbook. Motion carried unanimously. The annual meeting of the Association of Metro Municipalities , May 24, and the League of Minnesota Cities meeting on levy limits , June 12 , were noted with reservations to be made by Mr. Fornell, upon request. Councilman Sauer indicated an interest in attending the surplus school space seminar, June 21 and 22. The grant to establish a chemical dependency program for the school district was explained by the Mayor. Motion by Mayor Haik and seconded by Councilman Ranallo to express official City Council support of the grant application by District #282 for funding of a chemical dependency program for the high school . • Motion carried unanimously. An interest in ascertaining which tools are available to the City for the redevelopment of the St. Anthony Shopping Center area was indicated and Council members will be looking to the Comprehensive Plan being developed by the Planning Board for such information which then can be presented to the businessmen in that area. Councilman Ranallo will attend the next meeting of the Merchants Association to see what interests there might be for redevelopment. Problems with trash disposal in the shopping center were discussed and the Manager will accelerate his efforts in this regard, possibly with the aid of greater inspections. Council attendance at the meeting of the Apache merchants with the center owner, May 31, was also encouraged. Even though two Council members may be unable to attend the Board of Review and hearing on liquor store alternatives, May 30, it was deter- mined that three members will constitute the required quorum. The Police Department report for April was ordered filed. Motion by Councilman Letourneau and seconded by Councilman Sauer to grant a service station license to St. Anthony Standard, and an amuse- ment license to National Amusement Company . Motion carried unanimously. i -7- Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Councilman Letourneau to • approve payment of all Verified Claims listed in the May 22 , 1979 Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Ranallo and seconded by Mayor Haik to approve payment of $2 ,180. 87 to B .R.W. , Inc. for work on the City's Compre- hensive Plan during March, 1979 . Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sauer and seconded by Mayor Haik to adjourn the meeting at 9 : 10 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor ATTEST: A A i LA� J City Clerk •