HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 09262017I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
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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, and Stille.
16 Absent: None
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey, St. Anthony Fire Department Representatives Mark Sitarz
18 and Mattie Jaros.
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20 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
21 ITEMS.
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23 1. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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25 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
26 Council Meeting Agenda of September 26, 2017 as presented.
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28 Motion carried 4 -0.
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30 11. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS - NONE.
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32 Ill. CONSENT AGENDA.
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34 A. Approval of September 12, 2017, City Council Meeting Minutes
35 B. Licenses and Permits.
36 C. Claims.
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38 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the Consent
39 Agenda items.
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41 Motion carried 4 -0.
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43 IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS.
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45 A. Ordinance 2017 -03 an ordinance Approving the Comcast Cable Television Franchise
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47 Mayor Faust opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2017
Page 2
1 Councilmember Gray introduced the ordinance for Comcast Cable Television Franchise.
2 Council is requested to approve the first of three readings of an ordinance to adopt the renewal of
3 the Comcast cable television franchise. A memorandum from Mike Bradley, Attorney for the
4 North Suburban Cable Commission (NSCC) was provided for Council review summarizing the
5 Franchise Renewal. The second reading will be on October 10, 2017 and the third and final
6 reading will be on October 24, 2017. Following the adoption of the ordinance, the ordinance
7 goes into effect upon publication in the St. Anthony Bulletin. Councilmember Gray serves as the
8 liaison to the North Suburban Cable Commission and North Suburban Access Corporation. For
9 the past four years this agreement has been worked on. Before Council is a very favorable
10 franchise agreement. He reviewed some of the highlights of the agreement. The agreement has
11 a ten -year term. There will still be a 5% franchise fee paid to each City in the NSCC (9 cities).
12 That may be at risk as in many states there is a State Franchise Agreement or it may be
13 eliminated completely by the FCC. The franchise fee is for the right -of -way. The current PEG
14 funding continues until the end of the year. After 2018 the PEG funding is cut 40% by the new
15 franchise agreement. PEG fees are on each subscriber's bill. This is for Public, Educational and
16 Government programming. With these cuts the way CTV is run will need to be changed.
17 Councilmember Gray stated a budget is being done for next year currently. The Executive
18 Director intends to retire at some point so a new Director will be needed. A point of concern is
19 the number of people going to the internet to get their information. A consultant will be assisting
20 the Commission in looking at the future of the NSCC. The old franchise agreement included
21 universal service. This has been eliminated in the new franchise agreement.
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23 Councilmember Stille thanked Councilmember Gray for serving on the Commission and
24 clarified the use of "we" refers to the North Suburban Cable Commission. He asked how this
25 content can be delivered to the public in the best way. Councilmember Gray stated this is a good
26 deal compared to what other States are paying across the nation.
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28 Mayor Faust pointed out this is a user fee and no funds come out of taxpayer dollars. It is paid by
29 the subscribers to Comcast and CenturyLink. The City is not at risk for any liability or funding.
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31 Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:12 p.m.
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33 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve First Reading
34 of Ordinance 2017 -03; an Ordinance Approving the Comcast Cable Television Franchise.
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36 Motion carried 4 -0.
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38 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE
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40 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
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42 A. Fire Prevention Presentation
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44 Fire Department Representatives Chief Mark Sitarz and Firefighter Mattie Jaros provided the
45 Fire Prevention Presentation to Council. The Department provides education to all residents. The
46 Open Houses over the last few years has been a great success thanks to Mattie Jaros. Ms. Jaros
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2017
Page 3
1 stated this year's Fire Prevention Week is October 8 -14, 2017. The Fire Department Open House
2 will be held Saturday, October 7 from 1 -4 p.m. This is a free event open to all ages. Some
3 photographs were shown of last year's Open House. The Village Big Rigs will also be present.
4 She reviewed the Home Safety Surveys Program and residents are invited to call the Fire
5 Department to schedule their survey.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
9 City Manager Casey provided updates on some projects. The 37 1h Avenue sidewalk between
10 Highcrest and Stinson is substantially completed with just a few punch list items remaining.
11 Signal work being done includes ped ramps which are ADA compliant and countdown timers.
12 The 2017 street project is substantially completed with just a few punch list items and some
13 landscaping left to be completed. Weekly updates were sent to residents on the projects. The
14 final wear course will be going on Stinson next week. This project is substantially done and the
15 landscaping will be done next year. Mirror Lake is being drained to be able to continue work on
16 the project.
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18 Councilmember Sfille reported on September 22, he attended a reception for Fin Fest and
19 presented the proclamation from the City Council. The Sister City organization is always looking
20 for members. He attended the Planning Commission Meeting on September 25. There was a
21 comp plan meeting prior to the Planning Commission Meeting.
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23 Councilmember Gray had nothing to report.
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25 Councilmember Jenson attended the comp plan meeting last night as a replacement for former
26 Councilmember Brever.
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28 Mayor Faust stated on September 21, he attended a focus group at the League of Minnesota
29 Cities office to review issues and items regarding last year's conference and next year's
30 conference.
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32 Mayor Faust noted a comprehensive plan amendment was to come before Council but the
33 Applicant has requested to come before Council on October 10. He added he would not support a
34 comp plan amendment that would increase density to 48 units per acre. Mayor Faust hopes the
35 amendment has a significant reduction in density.
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37 Councilmember Gray stated one good thing about these meetings is that it gives the public an
38 opportunity to address Council during Community Forum, noting not every City has this option.
39 The Council does not normally respond to those addressing Council. Councilmember Gray stated
40 he watched the meeting when he was absent and wanted to note the City has not lost power in
41 this process. One of the things that has been brought up a couple of times is that the City didn't
42 lift a finger to help the residents of Lowry Grove even though it says so in the comp plan. He
43 noted the comp plan does not say we were going to assist the residents of Lowry Grove, it says
44 we will ensure they are taken care of per State law. This will be a long process which he does
45 not think will end on October 10 as there are many things still up in the air. He stated the Council
46 has not met with the developer behind closed doors.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2017
Page 4
2 Councilmember Stille elaborated regarding Council's stance on this and legal counsel advised
3 Council on what should be done and how it should be handled. He noted residents are concerned
4 about tax increment financing (TIF), which is not discussed until after the project is approved.
5 There has been no discussion about TIF as there is nothing to talk about at this time.
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7 Councilmember Jenson stated on August 28, he attended the Planning Commission Meeting
8 where the development was proposed. It was not compliant to the comp plan. He read excerpts
9 from the comp plan.
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11 Mayor Faust stated the Council /City is not here to design their project for them. They are to
12 present something for Council consideration as it is presented and whether or not it should go
13 forward.
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15 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
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17 Ms. Ginny Lahti, 2601 Kenzie Terrace, stated she is in favor of the redevelopment but opposed
18 to the size and scope of the project. She believed that 832 units is too high density for this area
19 and would like to see a number closer to 425 and building heights of 3 -4 stories. She would like
20 to see a map of the topography. She commented on Building C and would like to see that
21 building lower with a smaller footprint. She would also like a larger setback for that building.
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23 Ms. Joanne Youngren, 2601 Kenzie Terrace, thanked the Council for explaining things to them
24 as they did. She asked about the original "plan" of assisted living, noting now they are called
25 Senior Buildings and asked what that meant. There is an assisted living building right across the
26 street that is not filled.
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28 Mr. Jesse Piktunia, 2616 27`h Avenue, thanked Council for their comments on the Lowry Grove
29 redevelopment. He stated he has a lot of concerns about the project, noting if the site is rezoned,
30 the bottom of the density range would be desired. He does not believe the project will put less
31 demand on schools and thinks stakeholders outside of St. Anthony have no risk yet the City's
32 residents will need to deal with increased traffic and the need for new schools. He is concerned
33 about storm water, public safety, traffic, etc., and thinks these issues need to be addressed before
34 any project can move forward.
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36 Ms. Christine Lizdas, 3013 Townview Avenue, stated she was before Council a year ago to
37 discuss racial bias. She feels the CRIT program was not a good response to the killing of
38 Philando Castille and that an assessment of community policing practices was not a good choice.
39 She stated she researched this, talking to everyone she could about the work, and now
40 understands how the program can repair relations between the police and the community. Ms.
41 Lizdas stated the CRIT program has been discontinued and requested the Council bring the table
42 for continued discussions back.
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44 Mayor Faust read his statement again concerning The Village LLC proposal.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2017
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X.
Mr. Thomas Issacson, 2604 Pahl Avenue, stated he attended the Planning Commission Meeting
and the City Planner stated there would not be a new plan presented on October 3, 2017. City
Manager Casey stated there will not be a new staff report. For the October 10 meeting, Council
will be presented with the proposal that came before the Planning Commission, the Staff Report
that was presented, and any new materials provided by the Applicant. This will be available
October 3 and placed on the website as soon as practical.
Mayor Faust stated there was a variance for a deck and it would be possible for the Applicant to
revise their plans before coming before Council.
Mr. Issacson asked for the public to have an opportunity to voice their comments on the "new"
proposal on October 10, 2017.
Mayor Faust encouraged residents to sign up for the push notifications regarding the project.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
There will be a Tech Dump on October 7 at City Hall from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Wolfe
TimeSaver off Site Secretarial, Inc.
32 ATTEST:
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34
Ci Clerk
'Mayor