HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 01102012I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 JANUARY 10, 2012
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5 CALL TO ORDER.
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7 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
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9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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11 Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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13 ROLL CALL.
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15 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Jenson, Roth, and Stille.
16 Absent: None.
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey and City Clerk Barb Suciu.
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19 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
20 ITEMS.
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22 1. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 10, 2012, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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24 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
25 Council Meeting Agenda of January 10, 2012.
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27 Motion carried unanimously.
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29 lI. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
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31 A. Swearing -In of Mayor Jerry Faust.
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33 City Clerk Suciu performed the swearing -in of Mayor Jerry Faust.
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35 B. Swearing -In of Councilmember Hal Gray.
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37 City Clerk Suciu performed the swearing -in of Councilmember Hal Gray.
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39 C. Swearing -In of Councilmember Jim Roth.
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41 City Clerk Suciu performed the swearing -in of Councilmember Jim Roth.
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43 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
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45 A. Consider December 13, 2011, Council meeting minutes-,
46 B. Consider licenses and permits,•
47 C. Consider payment of claims:
48 D. Consider Housekeeping Resolutions:
49 12 -001: Designating Mayor Pro Tem for the Calendar Year 2012•
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2012
Page 2
1 Consider Resolution 12 -002; Specifying Persons Authorized to Make Certain Financial
2 Transactions Regarding City Financial Accounts-,
3 Consider Resolution 12 -003: Designating the Official Depository for City Funds;
4 Consider Resolution 12 -004; Designating the Legal Newspaper for the City of St
5 Anthony for the calendar year 2012;
6 Consider Resolution 12 -005; Designating Mayor Faust as a participant in Outside
7 Organizations;
8 Consider Resolution 12 -006; Designating Councilmember Stille as a participant in
9 Outside Organizations;
10 Consider Resolution 12 -007• Designating Councilmember Gray as a participant in
I 1 Outside Organizations:
12 Consider Resolution 12 -008; Designating Councilmember Roth as a participant in
13 Outside Or anizations•
14 Consider Resolution 12 -009: Designating Councilmember Jenson as a participant in
15 Outside Organizations;
16 Consider Resolution 12 -010• Adopting Standing Rules of Conduct for City Council
17 Meetings for 2012;
18 Consider Resolution 12 -011 • Adopting Elected Official Travel Policy for 2012•
19 E. Consider Resolution 12 -012• Accepting a Grant from the Minnesota Department of
20 Public Safety for Public Safety Officer's Disability Benefits for the period of July 1 2012
21 to June 30.2011;
22 F. Consider Resolution 12 -013• Accepting and Approving the Grant Reimbursement Funds
23 from the Metropolitan Council of Environmental Services for the Improvement of
24 Publicly Owned Infrastructure Made on the 2010 Street and Utility Improvement Project
25 and
26 G. Consider Resolution 12 -014• Accepting and Approving the Funds from the Minnesota
27 Local Road Research Board Local Operational Research Assistance (OPERA) Program
28 for the In Pavement LED Pedestrian Crossing and Effectiveness Project
29
30 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the Consent
31 Agenda items.
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33 Motion carried unanimouslv.
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35 IV. PUBLIC HEARING.
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37 None.
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39 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF.
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41 A. Resolution 12 -015; Approving a Variance for an Additional Sign at Hennepin County
42 Medical Clinic at 2712 Highway 88.
43
44 Planning Commissioner Crone presented the request for a sign variance at 2714 Highway 88 and
45 stated the design at this location gives the appearance of two businesses and the clinic owners
46 want to eliminate confusion and clearly mark the entrance area. She advised that the Planning
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2012
Page 3
1 Commission felt that the additional sign would lend clarity to the architecture, would clearly
2 mark the location of the entrance, and the combined square footage of the existing sign and the
3 proposed additional sign is under the maximum allowed by the City Code of 150 square feet.
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5 Mayor Faust felt that the building makes it look like two distinct businesses. He asked whether
6 the existing and proposed signage would exceed the maximum signage allowed if this were in
7 fact two businesses.
9 Planning Commissioner Crone replied that it would not exceed the maximum of 150 square feet.
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11 Councilmember Jenson requested further information regarding the Planning Commission's
12 analysis and reasons for recommending approval of the variance when the staff report indicates
13 that the architect's design does not justify a hardship.
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15 Planning Commissioner Crone explained the Planning Commission concluded that the additional
16 sign represented a reasonable use and recognized the clinic's interest to clearly have its patients
17 understand the location of the entrance to the clinic.
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19 Councilmember Jenson felt that the word "entrance" should be rather intuitive for people
20 entering the clinic.
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22 Planning Commissioner Crone agreed but the clinic is interested in something more
23 architecturally complementary to its existing sign.
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25 Councilmember Jenson asked if the Planning Commission felt that was sufficient justification for
26 determining a hardship.
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28 Planning Commissioner Crone reiterated that the existing signage and proposed sign do not
29 exceed the maximum allowed and the Planning Commission felt this was an appropriate use.
30
31 Mr. Richard Lang, Visual Communications, appeared before the City Council and presented a
32 rendering of the proposed sign. He stated that patients coming to the clinic are under stress, ill,
33 elderly, etc., and the front of the building does not clearly tell you where the entrance is located.
34 He noted that the architecture has a large commanding brick area which naturally brings you to
35 the center, away from the entrance location. He explained that the clinic's large existing sign
36 needs to be readable from Highway 88 to create attention; however, the clinic is aware that this
37 sign could mislead people at to the entrance. He stated the clinic wants to have a clear
38 identification of its entrance and the non - illuminated entrance letters do not stand out well. He
39 indicated the proposed sign is gray toned, is not overly illuminated, is functional, and has down
40 lighting to light up the entrance letters and canopy below to clearly mark the entrance area.
41
42 Councilmember Jenson asked if consideration was given to illuminating the current entrance
43 sign. He also asked if any of the clinic's customers have been confused about the entrance
44 location.
45
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2012
Page 4
I Mr. Lang replied that when the clinic applied for the variance, they were told they could not
2 illuminate those letters because they are directional and used for way finding. He stated he did
3 not know if any of the clinic's customers have been confused about the entrance location.
Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve Resolution
12 -015; To Deny a Variance to the Sign Ordinance to Allow a Second Identification Sign for
Hennepin County Medical Clinic at the Market Place Shopping Center.
9 Councilmember Gray acknowledged that there may be confusion, but felt that the existing
10 entrance sign was sufficient. He did not feel the request met the requirements for approving a
11 variance based on the facts, even based on a most liberal reading of the requirements.
12
13 Councilmember Stille stated that this shopping center made great use of the property to the
14 extent that there is no place for monument signs. He felt that the property is unique, there is not
15 a typical ability to have a monument sign on the site, and this is a unique situation where a large
16 tenant occupies space designed for two or three businesses. He understood how a patient who is
17 impaired, sick, or elderly could be confused about the entrance location and felt it may be
18 beneficial to have more clarity regarding the sign. He stated that if there were two distinct
19 businesses at this location there would be two signs in place. He added that this situation is more
20 unique than originally thought and he would not support the motion on the table.
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22 Councilmember Roth stated he would not support the motion on the table.
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24 Mayor Faust stated this happens to be one business with two visually distinct frontages. He
25 stated that the hardship was not created by the owner because they did not construct the building.
26 He did not feel the essential character of the locality would be altered if the variance were
27 granted, noting that if this were two businesses the variance would not be required. He stated
28 that economic considerations alone are not the basis of the practical difficulties. He felt that the
29 circumstances causing the practical difficulty are unique to the individual lot. He also felt that
30 the granting of the variance would be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Zoning Code
31 and Comprehensive Land Use Plan. He stated he did not know if the property could be put to a
32 reasonable use without the variance, adding that in order to organize the clinic's space, they
33 needed the entrance to be located on one side, hence the other entrance which looks normal to
34 the eye would not appear to be reasonable. He advised that he would not support the motion on
35 the table.
36
37 Councilmember Gray stated he was not sure that the additional sign will make it any clearer
38 where the entrance is located. He added it would be helpful to know whether the clinic has had
39 any problems or complaints from customers.
40
41 _Motion failed 2 -3 (Roth Stille and Faust opposed)
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43 Motion by Councilmember Roth, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve Resolution 12-
44 015; To Approve a Variance to the Sign Ordinance to Allow a Second Identification Sign for
45 Hennepin County Medical Clinic at the Market Place Shopping Center.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2012
Page 5
Motion carried 3 -2 (Grav and Jenson opposed).
VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
None.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
9 City Manager Casey — No report.
10
1 l Councilmember Roth reported on his attendance at the January 5th Cable Commission meeting in
12 which the contract negotiations with Comcast were discussed. He noted that consultants are
13 currently reviewing the technical aspects and an audit of Comcast is being done to make sure all
14 participating cities are being compensated properly. He stated that Comcast funds a scholarship
15 for residents each year; application forms and information can found on the CTV 15 website.
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17 Councilmember Stille — No report.
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19 Councilmember Gray —No report.
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21 Councilmember Jenson — No report.
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23 Mayor Faust reported on his attendance at the following:
24 • January 91h Regional Council of Mayors meeting.
25 • January 10th MWMO Board meeting.
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27 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
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29 Mayor Faust invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
30 are not on the regular agenda.
31
32 Ms. Myrna Doran, Mirror Lake Condominiums, appeared before the City Council and stated it
33 has been over six months since the flooding and asked that the City Council not forget about the
34 residents at Mirror Lake. She indicated they have not heard from the City regarding the
35 investigation and ongoing testing and wanted to make sure the City Council knows that they are
36 still concerned and would appreciate any information as soon as possible. She stated the last
37 update they received was in November where City Engineer Hubmer indicated a complete report
38 would be available this winter.
39
40 Mayor Faust assured the residents of Mirror Lake Condominiums that the City Council has not
41 forgotten about them and asked City Manager Casey to contact the City Engineer to see if any
42 information is available at this time. He advised that the City Council has not received any
43 finrther information since the last update in November.
44
45 Ms. Deb Larson, Mirror Lake Condominiums, appeared before the City Council and stated that
46 during the 2009 Foss Road reconstruction project, two paths were installed for the bus stop along
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2012
Page 6
1 the east side of Foss Road. She indicated this was her third request to the City to install a bench
2 on one or both of the paths and possibly a shelter. She stated that Public Works Director
3 Hartman previously indicated he would contact MTC about the request. She added that their
4 maintenance crew would be happy to assist in keeping the area clear if necessary. She requested
5 that the City provide a response to their request.
6
7 Mayor Faust asked City Manager Casey to investigate the request and respond to Ms. Larson.
9 IX.
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17 X.
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INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Mayor Faust stated that Village Notes has been sent to residents. He advised that MWMO
publishes a newsletter called The Drift which is available at www.mwmo.org; copies are also
available at City Hall. He complimented the St. Anthony New Brighton School District on their
newsletter and indicated the newsletter contains information regarding students as well as
community services information.
I:�IZ119RII a 111CY N.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Hughes
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
27 ATTEST:
28
i
��uk4a ALL
Clerk City
Mayor