HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 030820221
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 8, 2022
CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Stille called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Stille invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL.
Present: Mayor Stille, Councilmembers Jenson, Randle, Walker and Webster.
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Charlie Yunker, Public Works Director Jeremy Gumke, and City
Planner Stephen Grittman
Guests:
CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
ITEMS.
I. APPROVAL OF MARCH 8, 2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
Council Meeting Agenda of March 8, 2022.
Motion carried 5-0.
It. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS — NONE.
III. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Approve February 22, 2022, Council meeting minutes.
B. Licenses and permits.
C. Claims.
Motion by Councilmember Walker, seconded by Councilmember Webster, to approve the
Consent Agenda items.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING — NONE.
V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF — NONE.
VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
Motion carried 5-0.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2022
Page 2
1 A. Public Works Annual Report.
2
3 Public Works Director Jeremy Gumke presented the 2022 Public Works Annual Report, noting
4 St. Anthony hired two new employees in 2021, one to the Public Work Department and one to
5 the Parks Department. The Streets Division was also busy in 2021 with 20 tons of asphalt repair
6 and 4 yards of concrete repair. Parks Maintenance Division now has 6 City parks with
7 maintenance, adding Salo Park in December 2021. The tennis courts were also reconstructed in
8 2021 and the addition of many trees to the parks and City right-of-way in 2021. In 2021 the
9 water/sewer division completed repairs on five water main breaks. The vehicle maintenance
10 division purchased 6 new pieces of equipment in 2021 as well.
11
12 Public Works Director Gumke reviewed the 2021 Engineering Division projects noting the street
13 and utility improvement project on Skycroft Drive and Croft Drive, Mill and Overlay pavement
14 resurfacing on 3 1 " Avenue and Croft Drive and Reclamite Pavement Rejuvenation on multiple
15 roadways in St. Anthony. He also reviewed the 2021 Sustainability Initiatives and 2022
16 upcoming events.
17
18 Councilmember Webster thanked Mr. Gumke for providing the Public Works overview. She
19 thought it was important to remind residents how to receive updates for upcoming projects.
20
21 Public Works Director Gumke reviewed the different ways residents can receive updates and
22 information.
23
24 Councilmember Jensen appreciated the quick response by the employees when there was an
25 issue.
26
27 Councilmember Walker asked if the City received any complaints from residents about
28 notifications. Public Works Director Gumke indicated staff has received complaints from
29 residents.
30
31 Mayor Stille asked for clarification on the five watermain breaks that occurred in 2021. Public
32 Works Director Gumke explained all of the watermain breaks that occurred were on old streets
33 that were not reconstructed.
34
35 Mayor Stille thought the street reconstruction program was working and with continuation, there
36 will be fewer watermain breaks each year.
37
38 B. Resolution 22-025 — Supporting Housing and Local Decision -Making Authority.
39
40 Mayor Stille explained one of the main roles of the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) is to
41 advocate at the State Capitol on behalf of cities and, at times, encourages cities to support those
42 efforts directly. An issue the LMC is asking city councils to take action on is in response to
43 proposed legislation that preempts local planning, zoning, and land use authorities.
44
45 Mayor Stille reviewed the draft resolution, noting the LMC provided a model resolution
46 supporting the authority of local elected officials and city staff to make land use decisions in
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2022
Page 3
I their communities. This draft resolution follows that memo and is intended to be shared with the
2 City's legislators to communicate the importance of retaining local control on planning, zoning,
3 and land use.
4
5 Mayor Stille noted the attendance of Daniel Lightfoot and Irene Kao, representatives from the
6 LMC, who can expand on their continual work at the Capitol, speak to this issue specifically in
7 more detail, how the Council's actions can assist, and answer questions.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Councilmember Webster thanked Mr. Lightfoot and Ms. Kao for the presentation. She thought
the response to the Zoning Reform Legislation was from some of the publicity last year. She
noted it was hard for houses to be market rate affordable due to the cities charging exorbitant
fees. She understood the reform language was in response to the publicity brought about from
some of the fees in 2021.
Ms. Kao indicated there was a lot of needed conversation done in the media and the community
about what is going on when it comes to single family zoning and what happens with zoning of
large lots. She noted the StarTribune study that was done which was reviewed by the LMC
regarding zoning. She reviewed with the Council the report done by StarTribune.
Councilmember Jenson asked how the Met Council weighed into this when they have given
some direction for housing.
Ms. Kao explained being from the League of Minnesota Cities, they do not actually follow the
Met Council. She indicated that they are aware that every city in the Metro Area does have to
provide a Comprehensive Plan and ensure the city's zoning ordinances are in accordance with
the Met Council. In terms of the Met Council, this does complicate it a lot. She noted the bill has
twelve articles and about half of them are Metro specific. Dealing with a number of different
issues, Metro Cities does a really good job of representing everyone at the Capital. She indicated
the Met Council did testify on the bill and they were concerned about how this would get in the
way of regional planning, particularly as it comes to growth and housing and affordable housing
within the region. There is a complexity there that she did not think the bill contemplates as fully
as it could.
Ms. Kao reviewed some of the issues brought up during review of the bill, noting the House
author is going to continue to work on some of the issues contained in the bill.
Mayor Stille thanked the presenters for coming to the meeting and discussing the item.
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Walker, to approve Resolution
22-025 — Resolution Supporting Housing and Local Decision -Making Authority.
Motion carried 5-0.
C. Resolution 22-026 — Resolution Denying a Proposed Amendment to the 2040
Comprehensive Plan for St. Anthony Village.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2022
Page 4
City Planner Grittman stated staff is requesting City Council consideration of a request to amend
the 2040 Comprehensive Plan by reguiding the east I 1 acres+ of 2501 Lowry Avenue NE from
High Density Residential to Low Density Residential.
Councilmember Jenson summarized the proposed amendment for residents to understand better.
He asked if the area is zoned and assessed at R-I would there be a need to change the
Comprehensive Plan.
City Planner Grittman indicated one of the concerns raised by the applicant is the land use
classification of high density and the concern that property taxes may be assessed at a different
level. He clarified that the County's tax classification for this property is Manufactured Home
Park. Regardless of the City's Zoning or the Comp Plan Land Use designation, the County has
assessed the property as the land use as indicated. He believed the applicant is concerned that the
County would have some discretion to change their tax classification based on the City's land
use classification. He thought that was one of the reasons driving this application. He noted the
property is currently being taxed as it is being used. He noted this change would be a lengthy and
expensive process.
Councilmember Webster indicated she watched the Planning Commission meeting and
appreciated Mr. Grittman's time spent on helping educate Planning Commission Members on
what the changes mean to the Comprehensive Plan.
Mayor Stille indicated the property in question is being taxed appropriately and accordingly. He
thought if the owner has a problem with the way the property is being taxed, he needs to discuss
that with the tax assessor.
Motion by Councilmember Walker, seconded by Councilmember Webster, to approve
Resolution 22-026 — Resolution Denying a Proposed Amendment to the 2040 Comprehensive
Plan for St. Anthony Village.
Motion carried 5-0.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
City Manager Yunker reported on the Parks and Environmental Commission meeting.
Councilmember Jenson stated he attended the March 41^ Ramsey County Local League of
Governments Exec Board Meeting and discussed the March 11 m program meeting agenda on
Maplewood and Roseville imbedding a social worker in their Police Departments and thought
eventually could be something the City of St. Anthony could incorporate into their Police
Department.
Councilmember Randle stated he attended on March 3rd the Family Service Collaborative
meeting via Zoom. He reviewed the meeting discussion.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2022
Page 5
Mayor Stille stated he attended the March 3)" Mississippi Watershed Organization meeting. The
Council also had a work session before the Council meeting to discuss next steps on the City's
garbage contract.
VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
Mayor Stille invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
are not on the regular agenda.
Hearing none, Mayor Stille moved forward with the agenda.
IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
A. Future Agenda Items.
Mayor Stille discussed the Ukrainian/Russian war and noted he reached out to the City's sister
city, Salo, in Finland. He noted Finland has discontinued their affiliation with their sister city in
Russia and the City has also discontinued the sale of Russian liquor.
X. ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Stille adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Osbeck
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
ATTEST:
Cify Clerk