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Folder. CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 2003
Document: CC MINUTES 03112003
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2003
Page 1
CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
3 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
4
5 March 11, 2003
6
7 CALL TO ORDER
8 Mayor Hodson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
9
10 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
11 Mayor Hodson invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
12
13 ROLL CALL.
14 Present: Mayor Hodson; Councilmembers Sparks and Thuesen.
15 Absent: Councilmembers Horst and Faust.
16 Also Present: City Manager Mike Mornson.
17
18 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION,AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
19 ITEMS.
20
21 I. APPROVAL OF MARCH 11,2003 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
22 Motion by Councilmember Sparks to approve the City Council Meeting Agenda of March 11,
to 2003.
25 Motion carried unanimously.
26
27 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
28 A. Proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
29 Councilmember Sparks read the Proclamation proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention
30 Month.
31
32 Motion by Councilmember Sparks to approve the Proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse
33 prevention Month.
34
35 Motion carried unanimously.
36
37 III. COMMUNITY FORUM.
38 Mayor Hodson invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items
39 that are not on the regular agenda.
40
41 Stan Nelson of 3504 Maplewood Drive came forward and addressed his thoughts regarding the
42 affordability of new City facilities. He said the fees for Homeowners Insurance is jumping
43 considerably in 2003. His homeowners insurance was raised 53%this year. He said many
44 senior citizens rely on fixed income investments for living expenses and his own income for
2002 was down$4500 compared to 2001.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2003
Page 2
Mr. Nelson reviewed some Real Estate Tax comparisons with the Council. He said Real Estate
Tax is currently based on Taxable Market Value. He stated that currently, the much higher
3 Estimated Market Value has no effect on Real Estate Tax to be paid. He indicated that State law
4 dictates that over the next four years Taxable Market Value must converge toward Estimated
5 Market Value until they are equal for the 2007 Tax year. He stated that using the 2003 tax rate
6 schedule his 2004 taxes will be increasing$250.00, however, it would be increasing$750.00 if it
7 were based on Estimated Market Value instead of Taxable Market Value.
8
9 Mr. Nelson said the taxpayers of St. Anthony are facing huge and automatic Real Estate Tax
10 increases, income is dropping for senior citizens, and Homeowners Insurance Rates are climbing
11 dramatically; therefore,the affordability of a new fire station and maintenance facility must be
12 considered.
13
14 Mr.Nelson also discussed County tax issues and gave an overview of Real Estate tax dollars
15 percent distribution. He recommends joining with other County suburbs to force Hennepin
16 County to curb spending and limit their tax increases.
17
18 Councilmember Sparks asked what Mr. Nelson's take was on financing a fire station. Mr.
19 Nelson said he is not against updating the fire station,however, it's the affordability he's
20 concerned about. He feels the size of the fire station is something that needs to be justified.
21
22 Robert Kluwe of 2600 30 Avenue Northeast came forward to address the Council. He stated
his purpose of coming forward was to give a formal notice of appeal on the assessment he had.
He said he lives on a corner lot and does not understand why corner lots are assessed on both
25 frontage and side lengths while non-corner lots are assessed only according to their frontages.
26
27 Mr. Kluwe stated that if equal assessment amounts are not going to be applied then he feels
28 square footage should be considered. He stated his lot is 11,250 square feet and believes the
29 property at 3326 Edward Street is 17,775 square feet. He said that property is probably valued at
30 twice of what his is, yet he is being assessed$7,506.00 compared to their assessment of
31 $4,448.00. Mr. Kluwe reviewed the diagrams he provided.
32
33 He said that State law says all properties have to be assessed in the same manner. He said it
34 would be a great year to change the policy since there are only four residents that need changes.
35
36 Mayor Hodson asked if there were any other residents that wanted to come forward. Hearing
37 none, Mayor Hodson moved forward with the agenda.
38
39 IV. CONSENT AGENDA.
40
41 1. Annrove February 11, 2003 Council meeting agenda.
42 2. Consider licenses and permits.
43 3. Consider payment of claims.
44 4. Resolution 03-025,re: Submittal of the 2003 Hennepin County Municipal Recycling
0 Grant Application.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2003
Page 3
Motion by Councilmember Thuesen to approve the Consent Agenda items.
3 Motion carried unanimously.
4
5 Councilmember Sparks asked about the possibility of recycling plastic bags. City Manager
6 Mornson said he would look into it.
7
8 V. PUBLIC HEARINGS.
9 None.
10
11 VI. GENERAL POLICY BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL.
12 A. Engineering update and Resolution 03-026, re: Authorize bids for City's water filtration
13 System(Todd Hubmer, WSB & Associates, Inc.)
14 Todd Hubmer of WSB & Associates, Inc. provided an update on the current status of projects
15 within St. Anthony Village.
16
17 Mr. Hubmer gave an update on the Influent Infiltration Reduction Program. He said as a follow-
18 up to the goal-setting retreat, options for reducing clear water influent and infiltration into St.
19 Anthony Sanitary Sewer System are currently being reviewed. He anticipates that these options
20 will be presented to City Council in April.
21
22 Mr. Humber gave an update on the St. Anthony Village Wellhead Protection Plan. He said the
Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation District has completed a draft of the City of St.
Anthony's Wellhead Protection Plan. City staff met with Ramsey County staff to discuss this
25 plan on March 11, 2003.
26
27 Mr. Humber gave an update on the NPDES Phase II Permit. He indicated that the City of St.
28 Anthony National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Phase II Permit is being worked on.
29 He said this permit was prepared and submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on
30 March 10, 2003.
31
32 Mr. Hubmer gave an update on the Kenzie Terrace Sanitary and Water Main Improvement
33 Project. He stated that construction plans for completion of this project are 90%complete. It's
34 anticipated that the plans will be completed by the end of March with an anticipated bid opening
35 of May 2003. He anticipates that a neighborhood meeting will be held for individuals adjacent
36 to this project in April 2003.
37
38 Mr. Hubmer gave an update on the 2003 Street Reconstruction Project. He said the utility
39 meeting was held on March 5, 2003 to discuss the coordination between Minnegasco and the
40 City's Contractor for the 2003 Street Project. He indicated that the Preconstruction Meeting with
41 the Contractor,the City staff, WSB staff, Subcontractors, and all utility organizations is
42 scheduled for April 2003. Following this Preconstruction meeting Mr. Hubmer said a
43 neighborhood meeting will be held during the last week of April to discuss the project's schedule
44 and to provide residents with additional information concerning the 2003 project and to answer
any questions. The first construction newsletter is scheduled to be published and mailed the last
week of April 2003.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11,2003
Page 4
Mr. Humber gave an update on the Stone House Right-of-Way vacation Documents. He
indicated that WSB &Associates, Inc. has been working with Hennepin County to coordinate
3 the vacation of portions of County Road 88 and Silver Lake Road back to the City of St.
4 Anthony. These portions of right-of-way currently reside over the eastern third of the Stone
5 House parcel. He said it is anticipated that the easements will be vacated and St. Anthony will
6 have ownership of these parcels in the near future.
7
8 Mr. Hubmer provided an update on the St. Anthony Boulevard Neighborhood Meeting. He said
9 a neighborhood meeting was held with the residents of St. Anthony Boulevard on March 5, 2003
10 to discuss a potential lighting improvement plan, as well as to discuss speed limit issues related
11 to St. Anthony Boulevard.
12
13 Mr. Hubmer reviewed the resolution authorizing WSB &Associates, Inc. to prepare the final
14 plans and specifications for the improvements to the chemical treatment room at the St. Anthony
15 Village Water Treatment Plan. He said this project is an implementation component of the water
16 and sewer study which was conducted in 2002. He said it is anticipated that the project would
17 begin construction in September 2003 and be completed by the spring of 2004.
18
19 Mr.Hubmer stated that as part of the preparation of final plans and specifications, a number of
20 options for the chlorine storage facility will be evaluated and presented to City staff for their
21 review. He said a preliminary estimate of the cost to complete water treatment plant
22 improvements is approximately$1,000,000.
0 Councilmember Sparks asked why it's being used as a bond versus taking it out of the fund
25 established for the water treatment facility. Mr. Hubmer said the fund is there so the City can
26 accrue interest and replace the plant at sometime in the future.
27
28 Motion by Councilmember Thuesen to adopt Resolution 03-026, re: Authorize bids for City's
29 water filtration system.
30 Motion carried unanimously.
31
32 VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND STAFF.
33 A. Liquor Operations 2002 Annual Report.
34 Mike Larson came forward to review the St. Anthony Liquor Operations.
35
36 Mr. Larson provided background information on the St. Anthony Liquor Operations. He said the
37 City owns and operates two ofd sale liquor stores and one on-sale bar and restaurant. He said the
38 operation has a full time operations manager, a store manager at each off-sale store and a
39 bar/restaurant manager. A full time lead liquor clerk and a full time bartender are also employed
40 at the off-sale stores. He said in addition to the full time staff, the off-sale stores have 15 part
41 time clerks and the Stonehouse has 15 part time employees.
42
43 Mr. Larson said the City's liquor operations experienced increased sales during 2002 when
44 compared to 2001. He indicated that sales at store#1, located next to the Stonehouse, increased
$20,000.00. Sales at store#2, located at Apache Plaza, increased $87,000.00. The Stonehouse
experienced a$15,000.00 increase in sales. He said the overall sales increased$122,000.00 for
47 the liquor operation. He briefly reviewed the reasons for the increase in sales.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2003
Page 5
Mr. Larson gave a recap of 2002 activities and events. He said they continued with the annual
3 promotions such as the Villagefest"Kick-off Party in the Parking Lot", the Stonehouse golf
4 tournament and"Pig Skin Pick's"contest where customers at the Stonehouse can pick the
5 winners of each week in the NFL. He said the Stonehouse also hosted the St. Anthony Chamber
6 of Commerce Golf Tournament dinner and awards ceremony. Mr. Larson also gave an overview
7 of the awards received in 2002.
8
9 Mr. Larson said that liquor sales accounted for$1,288,770.00 at both stores, an increase of
10 $32,000.00 over 2001. Beer sales accounted for$1,838,700.00 at both stores, an increase of
11 $16,000 over 2001. Wine sales accounted for$966,000.00 at both stores, an increase of
12 $68,300.00 over 2001. Tobacco sales accounted for$113,000.00 in sales at both stores, a
13 decrease of$1,200.00 over 2001. Mix and miscellaneous sales accounted for$95,900.00 in
14 sales,a decrease of$150.00 over 2001. Mr. Larson also reviewed the eight-year net profit
15 history.
16
17 Councilmember Sparks asked Mr. Larson to talk about dram shop insurance. Mr. Larson said he
18 expected an across the board increase in 2003.
19
20 Councilmember Sparks asked Mr. Larson to explain the process when there are claims. Mr.
21 Larson said his staff goes through beverage alcohol training to help them identify someone who
22 has had too much to drink.
0 Councilmember Thuesen complemented Mr. Larson and the staff and said he appreciates all of
25 their hard work.
26
27 Mayor Hodson also thanked Mr. Larson and the staff and said their customer service is excellent.
28
29 VIII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
30 Mr. Mornson gave an update on State budget aid cuts in 2003 and 2004.
31
32 Mr. Mornson gave an update on the fire truck. He said a demo is being bid for an estimated
33 savings of$80,000.
34
35 Mr. Mornson provided an update on the Public Facilities Study Group. He said the next Open
36 House is scheduled for April 22,2003 and the final report will be presented May 13,2003.
37
38 Mr. Mornson gave an update on the Stonehouse Redevelopment. He said title work and Phase 1
39 is currently underway. He indicated that Hennepin County staff has tentatively agreed to deed
40 the easement back to the city. He said Amcon will meet with Mike Larson on possible design
41 for the off-sale and the Developers Agreement will be approved May 13, 2003.
42
43 Mr. Mornson gave an update on the Apache Plaza project. He said a property owners meeting
44 will take place to discuss the project. He attended a meeting with the Met Council staff last
0 week.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 11,2003
Page 6
Mr. Mornson said a joint meeting with the School Board is scheduled for April 29, 2003 from
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. A neighborhood meeting with St. Anthony Boulevard residents will take place
3 at 8:00 p.m.
4
5 Councilmember Sparks said she attended the Parks Committee meeting. She said proofs for the
6 prefab building were provided and it was a good meeting overall.
7
8 Councilmember Sparks indicated that Village Fest may take place at the Salvation Army Camp.
9
10 Councilmember Sparks said the Citizens Advisory Committee will be formed for the Mississippi
11 Watershed. She indicated they would be interested in having a resident of the City on this
12 committee. She said the Watershed will be forming a stewardship fund and they will also be
13 looking at forming education programs by 2004.
14
15 Councilmember Thuesen said he will attend the March 18, 2003 Planning Commission meeting.
16
17 Councilmember Thuesen wanted to assure the residents that the Council will continue to look at
18 how they can be responsible for tax dollars.
19
20 Mayor Hodson commented on the article about the Northwest Quadrant Redevelopment. He
21 said it brought a lot of positive attention to what is going on in the City.
22
0 Mayor Hodson pointed out all of the developments going on in the City.
25 Mayor Hodson said May 1, 2003 will be the State of the City. He said recognition of volunteers
26 will follow the State of the City.
27
28 Mayor Hodson indicated that excellent ideas came from Coffee with the Mayor.
29
30 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
31 None.
32
33 X. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTS.
34 None.
35
36 XI. ADJOURNMENT.
37 Motion by Councilmember Thuesen to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
38
39 Motion carried unanimously.
40
41 Respectfully submitted,
42
43
44 Rebecca Roehl
6 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
47 ayor �, �
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 9
March 11, 2003
Page 7 ,
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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