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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 09122017I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY 2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 4 5 CALL TO ORDER. 6 7 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 8 9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 10 1 I Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. 12 13 ROLL CALL. 14 15 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Jenson, and Stille. 16 Absent: Councilmember Gray. 17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey, City Engineer Todd Hubmer, and Finance Director Shelly 18 Rueckert. 19 20 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING 21 ITEMS. 22 23 1. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. 24 25 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City 26 Council Meeting Agenda of September 12, 2017 as presented. 27 28 Motion carried 3 -0. 29 30 1I. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. 31 32 A. Presentation by Mike Kurchlina, St. Anthony Kiwanis 33 34 Mr. Mike Kurchling, President -Elect St. Anthony Kiwanis Club announced the 46`h annual St. 35 Anthony Kiwanis Peanut Day. He noted this is the main fundraising event for the Club. He 36 reviewed some of their involvement with the St. Anthony schools. 37 38 B. Proclamation for St. Anthony Peanut Day, Friday, September 22 2017 39 40 Councilmember Jenson read the Proclamation proclaiming Friday, September 22, 2017 as St. 41 Anthony Kiwanis Peanut Day. 42 43 C. Proclamation for 30 Year Sister City Relationship with Salo Finland 44 45 Ms. Ruthann Marks, President of Sister City Association. She announced the President of 46 Finland will be coming to Minnesota in coordination with FinFest International and concerts at 47 Orchestra Hall. A reception will be held next Friday. 48 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 2 Councilmember Stille read the Proclamation recognizing the over 30 Sister City relationship between the cities of St. Anthony, Minnesota, USA and Salo, Finland. The Proclamation also honors and offers congratulations to President of Finland Sauli Niinistoo and the people of Finland on their 100th year of independence. D. Presentation from Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire 8 Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire shared what is happening in Ramsey County. 9 She asked Council if there were any issues they would like her to take back to the County. She 10 presented a PowerPoint presentation for Council review. Ms. McGuire reviewed the services and 11 programs provided to Ramsey County residents. She addressed Silver Lake Road Flooding, and 12 County Road C Rebuild. 13 14 Councilmember Stille asked on the County Road C project if the design would change the 15 bikeability /walkability of the intersection. Ms. McGuire stated she will highlight that with the 16 County public works staff. 17 18 Mayor Faust requested Ms. McGuire and Mr. Hubmer also look at traffic on Hwy. 88 from the 19 south to the north where the speed changes. Something could be done to slow the traffic down 20 from highway speed to county road speed. 21 22 Councilmember Stille mentioned the Silver Lake Road flooding is the Ramsey County portion of 23 the street. 24 25 Mayor Faust stated he appreciates Ms. McGuire mentioning the roads as the interconnectivity 26 needs to work with both Ramsey and Hennepin Counties. 27 28 III. CONSENT AGENDA. 29 30 A. Approval of August 22, 2017, City Council Meeting Minutes. 31 B. Licenses and Permits. 32 C. Claims. 33 34 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve the Consent 35 Agenda items. 36 37 Motion carried 3 -0. 38 39 IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS 40 41 A. Resolution 17 -062; a Resolution Setting the Proposed 2018 Tax Levy and General 42 Operating Budget for the City of St. Anthony Village. 43 44 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. 45 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 3 1 Finance Director Shelly Rueckert stated at the August 22th City Council meeting, the City Staff 2 presented the proposed 2018 General Fund Operating Budget and the 2018 Overall levy. 3 Additionally, a public hearing was held May 9`h for public input on the budget process. City Staff 4 is reaffirming the proposed 2018 overall levy of $6,850,011. The 2018 proposal represents an 5 increase of $399,226 or a 6.19% increase from 2017. 6 7 Ms. Rueckert reviewed the 2018 Budget Calendar and components of the 2018 proposed 8 preliminary levy and the standard parameters for preparing the General Fund Budget and Levy. 9 The General Fund Budget and Levy Cost drivers were reviewed with specific descriptions. They 10 include: 11 12 - Personnel costs — 71 % of expenditures, overall costs are down $220,202 or 4.34 %. 13 - Contracted services — 8% of expenditures, overall decrease of $31,135 14 - Other Insurance costs — 3.5% of expenditures, overall costs lower by $18,858 or 7.38% 15 - Pass through costs — 5.5% of expenditures, up $11,905 or 3.37% in turn certain revenues 16 increase. 17 - Remaining budget line items — 12% of expenditures or $855,216, net cost up $1,442 or 18 0.17 %. 19 - Transfer of Liquor operating profits reduced by $50,000 in 2018 to maintain sufficient 20 working capital within the Liquor fund. 21 - Reduction in Charges for Services of $653,772 substantially represented by the 22 termination of the police services contract with the City of Falcon Heights. 23 - For the 2017 levy process the future costs associated with the officer involved shooting 24 were not included into the levy. 25 26 Ms. Rueckert reviewed the HRA Budget and Levy siting the cost driver is substantially due to 27 personnel costs. Therefore, the proposed Levy increase for the HRA is 3.00% or $4,734. The 28 2018 Debt Related Levies are proposed to decrease by $7,549 over the 2017 combined levies. 29 Graphs showing the overall levy by Fund Type, the 2018 General Fund Revenues, and the 2018 30 General Fund Expenditures were provided for Council review. 31 32 Ms. Rueckert reviewed the Issuance of 2017A G.O. Bonds and Issuance of Debt/Levy Impact 33 along with the Impact of Debt Levy Relief and summary of the 2018 budget. Ms. Rueckert stated 34 the General Fund Levy Supports the following City Services: Administration, Police, Fire, 35 Public Works, Finance, and Parks. In 2017 the average homeowner paid $948.84 for a home 36 valued at $260,000 which included $79.07 per month for City Services. The City has received 37 $31,663,880 in grants and donations since 1999. This calculates to $3,532 per resident based on 38 population of 8,965. 39 40 Ms. Rueckert stated the final presentation of the 2018 Budget and Property Tax Levy is 41 scheduled for the December 12, 2017 Council Meeting. At that meeting, Staff will present a 42 recap of the 2018 Budget and the impact of the 2018 Property Tax Levy. 43 44 Councilmember Stille noted not included is the risk evaluation of the loss of contract with Falcon 45 Heights. 46 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 4 There were no requests for public input. Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. 5 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to adopt Resolution 17- 6 062; a Resolution Setting the Proposed 2018 Tax Levy and General Operating Budget for the 7 City of St. Anthony Village. 8 9 Motion carried 3 -0. 10 11 B. Mirror Lake Temporary Drawdown. 12 13 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:41 p.m. 14 15 City Engineer Todd Hubmer stated due to the warm weather last winter, the Contractor was 16 unable to finish the lake excavation. Therefore, the lake excavation will be completed this 17 winter. The procedure will be similar to last year. He provided the status of the work completed 18 and the work to be completed. The anticipated construction schedule was reviewed. The details 19 of the Mirror Lake Partnership Structure of the Cooperative Agreement were provided. 20 21 Councilmember Jenson asked where the water goes during the temporary draw down. Mr. 22 Hubmer stated the outlet is at the very bottom of the lake. The outlet is opened up and the water 23 is drained down. Some areas may need to be pumped and the piping from the system will be 24 reduced as to not send as much water downstream. The water will now be contained in Mirror 25 Lake. 26 27 Councilmember Stille asked if the winter is similar to last year, will it be completed this year. 28 Mr. Hubmer stated there are only two weeks of excavation work to be done. 29 30 Mayor Faust asked if a meeting has been held with the residents. Mr. Hubmer stated no meeting 31 was held but communication is done through the City's website and an individual mailing was 32 sent. Mayor Faust stated in 1998 they were discussing 100 -year floods and now Atlas 14 is being 33 used and creates a 30% increase in storm water handling. 34 35 Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. 36 37 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE 38 39 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 40 41 A. City Council Vacancy Replacement Options 42 43 City Manager Casey reviewed on August 18, 2017, Councilmember Bonnie Brever submitted a 44 letter of resignation to the City Manager. On August 22, 2017, the Council adopted Resolution 45 17 -061 accepting the resignation and declaring a vacancy. Since the vacancy occurred after the 46 first day to file affidavits of candidacy an election for a replacement Councilmember may not be City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 5 on the November 7, 2017 election ballot. The Council has two options for filling the vacant seat. First, the Council may appoint for the remainder of the term (which ends on December 31, 2019). Second, the Council may schedule a special election. To do so, the Council must adopt an ordinance that specifies under what circumstances a special election will occur. There are two options for this type of ordinance, one that will apply to all future special elections and the other, is to pass an ordinance that applies only to one particular special election. Staff can prepare sample ordinances for Council consideration as directed. A special election, following the adoption of an ordinance, would be coordinated through Ramsey County. Ramsey County estimated a $4,000 cost and they need a minimum of seventy -four (74) day advance notification. r 11 It was noted that a new law was adopted for special elections effective January 1, 2018 that 12 establishes uniform election dates. Special elections held in 2018 may occur on February 13, 13 April 10, or May 8. The special election could also be held in conjunction with the State primary 14 on August 14, 2018 or the general election on November 6, 2018. 15 16 Mayor Faust stated this was an informational report and no decision will be made until the full 17 Council is present. 18 19 VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 20 21 City Manager Casey reported since the last meeting, the Fire Department answered a call to a 22 woman in labor. The Fire Chief and a Fireman delivered the baby on the front lawn. Baby and 23 mother are doing well. Mayor Faust thanked the Fire Department for their dedication to the 24 residents. 25 26 Councilmember Jenson stated on August 23, he attended a GARE Meeting. 27 28 Councilmember Stille stated he also attended a portion of the GARE Meeting on August 23. On 29 August 28, he attended the Planning Commission Meeting to discuss Lowry Grove. Council will 30 be acting on that at the next Council Meeting. On September 12, he attended a listening session 31 put on by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Minnesota Housing Partnership and Family 32 Housing Fund to discuss tax exempt bonds. 33 34 Mayor Faust reported on September 11, he and the City Manager attended the Regional Council 35 of Mayors Meeting where a roundtable discussion on affordable housing was held. On 36 September 12, the City hosted the attorney that represented the U.S. Army on the oxidation 37 plant. He had the opportunity to thank him for his cooperation to get this building put up in 38 record time. Today, Mayor Faust attended the Mississippi Water Management Organization 39 Meeting and the Village Cooperative Agreement was approved. 40 41 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM. 42 43 Ms. Youngren stated she attended the August 28 meeting of the Planning Commission and one 44 of the most pressing concerns was traffic. The representatives from the developer said 1,000 45 more cars would not cause traffic problems. She believed the higher density of the project will 46 create more traffic and heights of the buildings were of concern. She felt the design of the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 6 1 buildings is very dark and more likely to be similar to buildings in downtown Minneapolis not in 2 St. Anthony. She urged Council to consider the guidelines when considering the project. She is 3 not against developing the land but how it will be done is important. She would like shorter 4 buildings, more trees and greenspace. She stated St. Anthony could become a model to the 5 Country on how problems are addressed. 7 Ms. Susan Cox, 27`h Avenue NE, stated her yard backs up to the Kenzington. She is not opposed 8 to the higher density. She pointed out Lowry Grove is currently zoned single family which is 20- 9 25 units per acre. She has concerns with the water management aspect of the developer's plan 10 and believes the City needs to plan for more than the typical rainfall. The developer said the 11 traffic will not be impacted. She urged the Council to reject the developer's request for Tax 12 Increment Financing, thinking they should not need financial assistance. She stated she wants 13 any development in that area to include affordable housing and does not think the current 14 proposal is the only option to be considered. 15 16 Ms. Andrea Boss, 31" Avenue NE, read a letter from Mary Jackson of 3605 37`h Avenue NE. 17 She asked that a special election be held to fill the vacant Council seat. She does not want the 18 Council to use the appointment option. Ms. Boss agreed a special election would be the most 19 transparent way to fill the seat. 20 21 Mr. Perry Thorvig, 3112 Townview, agreed two years is too long to have an interim 22 appointment. He also agreed a special election should be held. Mr. Thorvig asked if the 23 developer would be making a presentation and would the public be given the same amount of 24 time for feedback and comments. Mr. Thorvig commented on the Planning Commission 25 Meeting, feeling that residents missed a couple of components of the Lowry Grove plan, i.e., 26 Letter of Proposed Development requiring the City to approve and provide for the settlement. He 27 noted the letter references Tax Increment Financing and he saw the preliminary request for Tax 28 Increment Financing from the developer for $20.5 million. He stated the developer stated the 29 project would not proceed without Tax Increment Financing but this was not included in the staff 30 report. He referenced another letter dated August 15` stating the terms of the settlement were 31 confidential. It did not give the details of the global resolution. He does not feel this is a fair and 32 open process, noting the City of St. Anthony was not part of the settlement negotiations until 33 now when the Council is told they must approve. He stated it is time for the Council to take 34 control of this project. He requested Council follow the Planning Commission's recommendation 35 for denial of the proposal. 36 37 Ms. Susan Guthrie, 2616 Pahl Avenue, expressed her concern on flooding. They were present at 38 the 1998 flooding mitigation project and flooding continues on the streets with high rainfalls. 39 She described the flooding in the past, thinking the numbers used do not reflect the current 40 rainfall patterns as many residents have had water in their basement. She noted the developer 41 cannot add water to the already flooding problems and she does not believe Lowry Grove can 42 manage their own water. She stated she had called the Mississippi Watershed and asked if they 43 were involved in this project and was told they are not, were willing to help, but have not been 44 asked. She noted that Ms. Rothstein and Mr. Hubmer are not City employees. They are contract 45 employees from WSB. She stated she does not know how many hours they work on St. Anthony 46 business and suggested more resources be put on the project on behalf of the City. She requested City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 7 1 the City also request a review from the Mississippi Watershed of the project and their viewpoint 2 be taken into consideration and available to residents. She also requested a review by the DNR 3 regarding the perch water on the site. Ms. Guthrie requested a Citizens Board be assembled to 4 help guide the City with the developer. She stated she has a vision and would like her views and 5 the views of other residents to help guide the process. She asked Council to deny the project as 6 proposed, thinking the developer's seem like they are in the driver's seat and the City is not 7 being proactive. 9 Mr. Thomas Isaacson, 2604 Pahl Avenue, stated he attended the Planning Commission Meeting 10 and reviewed who spoke on behalf of the developer. He stated he appreciated the time given to 11 the developers and the citizens who spoke and thanked all who spoke during the meeting. He 12 stated he wants more information on density relating to affordable housing as this does not feel 13 like a fair process because we do not have all the information. He stated the financial impact 14 should be considered before approving the project such as school impact. He noted the private 15 settlement details are not known and asked how can a decision be made, thinking the settlement 16 should be resolved before pulling in the public. He felt it was not fair to make the settlement for 17 Lowry Grove residents contingent upon Council approval and that more needs to be done to help 18 the Lowry Grove residents. He stated the City Council needs to make a level playing field 19 between all parties involved. 20 21 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS — NONE. 22 23 X. ADJOURNMENT. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debbie Wolfe TimeSaver off Site Secretarial, Inc. 35 ATTEST: 36 37 Cit Clerk �4ayor q- �4ayor