HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 05092023I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 MAY 9, 2023
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5 CALL TO ORDER.
6 Mayor Stille called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
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8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
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10 Mayor Stille invited the Council and audience to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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12 ROLL CALL.
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14 Present: Mayor Stille, Councilmembers Jenson, Randle, Walker and Webster.
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16 Absent: None
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18 Also Present: City Manager Charlie Yunker and City Planner Steve Grittman.
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21 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
22 ITEMS.
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24 I. APPROVAL OF MAY 9, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
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26 Motion by Councilmember Webster, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City
27 Council Meeting Agenda of May 9, 2023 as amended adding the Students in Government
28 Presentation.
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30 Motion carried 5-0.
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32 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITION.
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34 A. Students in Government Presentation — Kayla Perkins.
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36 Ms. Kayla Perkins participated in the Students in Government Program. She thanked all who
37 participated in the program. She reviewed some of the experiences.
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39 Councilmember Randle thanked Kayla for sharing this evening.
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41 Councilmember Webster thanked Kayla for her time and for sharing the impact of the event.
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43 Mayor Stille thanked Kayla for participating in the program.
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45 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
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47 A. Approval of April 25 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
48 B. Licenses and Permits.
49 C. Claims.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2023
Page 2
2 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to approve the Consent
3 Agenda items.
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5 Motion carried 5-0.
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7 IV. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE.
9 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE.
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11 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
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13 A. Resolution 23-029 — Denying a Request for a Vacation of An Easement and Easement
14 Agreement in the C Commercial District
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16 City Planner Stephen Grittman reviewed the applicants are seeking vacation of an Easement
17 Agreement originally held by the HRA, but since assigned to the City of St. Anthony Village.
18 The easement encumbers the northwest area of Hannay's commercial property at 2550 Highway
19 88.
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21 At the April 25 City Council Meeting a public hearing was held on the proposed easement
22 vacation, history discussed, current conditions and future prospects for the site were reviewed.
23 The Council voted 4-1 to direct staff to prepare a resolution denying the vacation, based on a
24 number of factors, including findings that the easement was purchased, rather than given to the
25 City, that the easement could still be integral in promoting its original purpose, which include
26 facilitating redevelopment and preservation of a public open space or access to the area; and that
27 losing access to the easement area at this time could preclude the objectives raised by the City's
28 long-term plans, even if those plans may change when fully implemented.
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30 The vote in opposition to the motion was based in support of the idea that enough time had
31 passed to believe that the easement was no longer necessary, and favored returning the use of the
32 property to the private owner.
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34 Staff has prepared the resolution and provided it to Council for review and adoption. The
35 resolution lays out the background and findings for the City's retention of the easement rights,
36 and denying the request for vacation.
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38 Councilmember Jenson stated when he first read this prior to learning the City had purchased the
39 easement, his mind was changed to support the resolution.
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41 Councilmember Walker stated from the last meeting, the fact that this was purchased, it should
42 not be deemed as unfair. It is in the best interest of the City if the ownership is retained by the
43 City.
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45 Councilmember Randle stated he disagrees, he feels the applicant's reasons for the request are
46 justified and we should support the request.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2023
Page 3
Councilmember Webster stated she appreciates Councilmember Randle's perspective. This
highlights some of the complex decisions the Council must make.
Mayor Stille stated that during a bus tour Council was encouraged to keep the corridor. He does
not feel a storage facility at that location is appropriate.
8 Motion by Councilmember Webster, seconded by Councilmember Walker, to approve
9 Resolution 23-029 a Resolution Denying a Request for a Vacation of an Easement and Easement
10 Agreement in the C, Commercial District.
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12 Motion carried 4-1 (Randle).
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14 B. Resolution 23-030 — Approving a Contract with the City Planner.
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16 City Manager Yunker reviewed for the past 5 years, Steve Grittman has served as the contract
17 City Planner for the City of Saint Anthony Village, through a contractual relationship with
18 Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. (NAC). NAC is re -ordering its work and company
19 arrangements, to become effective on June 1, 2023. NAC will continue as a company handling
20 the majority of the company's current clients, but under new ownership.
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22 Mr. Grittman will be transferring his ownership share to a senior staff member with the except
23 that he will retain the contracts of four current clients, one of which is Saint Anthony Village.
24 The others being Monticello, Buffalo and currently Montrose.
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26 The change will allow relinquishing some of the other client and supervisory responsibilities, a
27 significant amount of company administration, allow him to be responsive to his retained clients
28 and shed some of the current overhead, which allows for cost efficiencies that can be passed onto
29 the City.
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31 The contract that is attached for Council's review, serves as Mr. Grittman's proposal to retain
32 Saint Anthony as a client. Essentially, it creates 3 categories of work:
33 1. City -initiated routine/daily work, research, and correspondence as part of a retainer;
34 2. Privately initiated work assignable to development applications and escrows;
35 3. Non -retainer City work, which would be jointly budgeted due to the uniqueness and
36 scope of each project.
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38 For the work under the retainer, items such as meetings, routine City correspondence and
39 ordinance/planning work that is generated and initiated by the City itself (as currently done with
40 NAC), would be covered for all related City -initiated costs. The proposed retainer level in the
41 attached contract draft is set to reflect the pattern of the last few years of City -initiated invoicing.
42 Looking back to see NAC's City -initiated invoices to the City, they have averaged slightly more
43 than the proposed amount on an annual basis.
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45 The second category is the work that is generated/initiated by private property
46 owners/developers, etc. who usually will have established an escrow for their inquiries and
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2023
Page 4
applications with the City. Mr. Grittman would continue to invoice for this work on a detailed
basis so the City could assign his costs to the applicant's escrow account.
The third category is a separately budgeted set of City projects, but outside of the routine
correspondence, research, and inquiries. These would be projects that the City may ask him to
work on under either an hourly or fixed -fee amount. These are relatively rare, usually larger
projects, and would be negotiated as they come up.
Staff recommends approval, as Mr. Grittman has served the City very well to date, and little
would change from the form and substance in service to the City. To effect this change, the City
would cancel the agreement with NAC as of May 31, 2023, and approve a new contract with
Grittman Consulting, LLC effective June 1, 2023.
Councilmember Walker asked for an example of the 3'd category. Mr. Yunker stated items
outside the normal day-to-day duties. It would be very rare.
Councilmember Jenson asked how long the contract will last. Mr. Yunker stated it can be
cancelled by either party with 30 days' notice. Mr. Grittman stated the fee structure would be
evaluated annually.
Councilmember Webster stated she appreciates the thoughtfulness of putting together this
contract.
Mayor Stille stated Mr. Grittman's expertise is valuable to the City. St. Anthony is too small to
have a full time City Planner.
Motion by Councilmember Walker, seconded by Councilmember Webster, to approve
Resolution 23-030 a Resolution Approving a Contract with the City Planner.
Motion carried 5-0.
VIL REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
City Manager Yunker reminded residents of branch chipping will be done May 15-17, 2023.
Residents are requested to register on-line. Mayor Stille stated another option is to take branches
to Ramsey County.
Councilmember Walker stated he attended cleanup day last Saturday.
Councilmember Jenson stated on April 27, he attended the Northeast Youth and Family Services
Board Meeting. On April 28, he attended the Ramsey County Local League of Governments
Meeting. On May 4, he attended the Northeast Youth and Family Services Open House and
Open House for Ramsey County Local League of Governments. He also attended cleanup day.
Councilmember Randle stated he attended the cleanup day.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2023
Page 5
Councilmember Webster stated she attended a zoom meeting on May 1 with Ramsey County
Commissioner McGuire.
Mayor Stille stated on May 3, he and Mr. Yunker attended a Mayor's Luncheon and the
retirement for Dave Unmacht from League of Minnesota Cities. On May 8, Luke Fischer was
named the new President of League of Minnesota Cities. On May 6, he attended cleanup day,
and this year Aspen handled the day. On May 8, he had coffee with Commissioner McGuire. He
attended the Regional Council of Mayors meeting on May 8. He attended the Mississippi
Management Organization Board Meeting earlier today.
VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
No one appeared to address the City Council.
IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS - NONE.
17 X. ADJOURNMENT.
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Mayor Stille adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Wolfe
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
ATTES
City Clerk
Mayor