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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.02.20 CC MinutesMINUTES FOR THE HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 20.2007 Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. PRESENT: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron City Administrator Mike Ericson, CD Director Bryan Bear, City Attorney Dave Snyder, Finance Director Ron Otkin, Fire Chief Jim Compton, and City Clerk Mary Ann Creager CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 18.2007 (I-35 W/E COALITION) Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the January 18, 2007 I-35 W/E Coalition meeting as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION JOINT MEETING OF FEBRUARY 1, 2007 (RURAL & OPEN SPACE PRESERVTION ORDINANCE) Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the February 1, 2007 joint meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss the rural & open space preservation ordinance as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 5, 2007 Haas made motion, Granger seconded, to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of February 5, 2007 as presented. All aye. Motion Carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Add I.3 — Appointment of Adam Moore as New Planning Commissioner Add L.2 — Appointment of Chuck Haas to Washington County Parks and Open Space Commission Miron made motion, Haas seconded, to approve the agenda for February 20, 2007 as amended. All aye. Motion Carried. GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING PLAOUE PRESENTED TO FINANCE DIRECTOR RON OTKIN Finance Director Ron Otkin was informed by the Government Finance Officers Association that he had earned his 130' Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2005 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This award is presented to a very small percentage of cities of our size. This is the 130' award earned by our Finance Director, which is very significant considering the amount of work generated by a community with 10,000 in population. Mayor Miron presented the GFOA plaque to Ron and publicly thanked him for his excellent work and public service to the City of Hugo and its citizens. City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 2 PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO DAVE SCHUMANN FOR YEARS OF SERVICE ON RCWD ADVISORY BOARD Dave Schumann served as a City representative on the RCWD Advisory Board for the past 15 years. This volunteer position is an opportunity for residents to provide input and recommendations on water quality issues to the RCWD Board. Dave's service to the Board was noted by outgoing Manager Jim Leroux, who thanked Dave for his commitment to improving water quality and preserving wetlands in the district. The City of Hugo is appreciative of the volunteer efforts of Dave, and on behalf of the citizens of Hugo, Mayor Fran Miron and the City Council presented Dave with a Certificate of Appreciation for his 15 years of dedicated service on the RCWD Advisory Board. APPROVE RETIREMENT AND AWARD PLAQUES AND CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FOR GREG BURMEISTER, PAUL FLADEBOE, AND JIM CHRISTIANSON FOR YEARS OF SERVICE ON HUGO FIRE DEPARTMENT The City received letters of resignation from Greg Burmeister, Paul Fladeboe, and Jim Christianson indicating their desire to retire from the HFD as they move on to other interests in their professional and personal lives. Although Greg retired in 2006, the City did not have a formal employee recognition and retirement program at the time. In January 2007, Council approved the new employee recognition and retirement program, which outlines how the City will recognize retiring employees. Mayor Fran Miron and the City Council approved the retirements for the three firefighters with a presentation and award of plaques to Greg Burmeister for 16 years of dedicated service to the HFD; Paul Fladeboe for his 25 years of dedicated service to the HFD; and Jim Christianson, a Certificate of Appreciation for eight years of dedicated service to the HFD. AWARD CERTIFICATES FOR COMPLETION OF FIREFIGHTER 2 AND HAZMAT OPERATIONS Fire Chief Jim Compton received notification from the MN Fire Service Certification Board that the following firefighters successfully completed training in Haz-Mat operations and Firefighter 2 training: Tim Lorinser, Jim Compton Jr., Nick Johnson, and Donald Sames. Fire Chief Jim Compton and Mayor Fran Miron presented a certificate to each of the firefighters for successfully completing this training. CONSENT AGENDA Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, approve the following Consent Agenda: Approval of Claims Approve Lease Agreement with Loffler Company for City Hall Copier Approve Final Everton Avenue Updated AUAR All aye. Motion Carried. City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 3 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the claims roster for February 20, 2007 as presented. APPROVE LEASE AGREEMENT W/LOFFLER COMPANY FOR CITY HALL COPIER The lease for the Cannon copier located in the City Hall workroom will expire this March. Staff has thoroughly researched several different copier models and found the Cannon ImageRunner Digital Copier would best suit the City's needs. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved a 60 -month lease for the Cannon ImageRunner with Lotiler Companies. APPROVE FINAL EVERTON AVENUE AUAR The Everton Avenue AUAR was updated as required by Minnesota Rules and directed by City Council. The AUAR Update was distributed for a 10 -day comment period, which ended February 2, 2007. Comments were received from the Washington Conservation District, Metropolitan Council, and Rice Creek Watershed District. A draft memo has been prepared responding to these comments and minor revisions were made to three of the mitigation measures to address the comments. Adoption of the Consent Agenda adopted Resolution 2007-7 adopting the AUAR update for the Everton Avenue area. DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO REVIEW CITY ORDINANCE ON STORAGE OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Over the past three months, a subcommittee made up of Council members, Planning Commissioners, and City staff has been meeting to review the public nuisance ordinance under which visions were suggested regarding the storage of recreational vehicles. Council member Frank Puleo and members of the subcommittee felt it was important to have citizen involvement on the subcommittee since the issue relates directly to homeowners who have recreational vehicles. CD Director Bryan Bear requested that Council hold a public workshop and invite the public to attend. The proposed City ordinance would regulate the storage of recreational vehicles on private property in the urbanized area of the City. Petryk made motion, Haas seconded, to schedule a public workshop for Monday, March 26, 2007, Hugo City Hall, at 7:00 pm, to review the public nuisance ordinance regarding the storage of recreational vehicles. All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON 2007 CITY FOCUS GOALS AND RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL On January 15, 2007, Council held its annual goal setting session with the chairs from the Planning and Parks and Recreation Commissions. After a very successful goal setting session, Council directed staff to prepare a final draft for 2007 Focus Goals and suggested completion dates for the respective goals. City staff worked to develop a list of completion dates for the respective goals after which formal approval by Council is necessary. Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to approve the 2007 Focus Goals and formally adopt them as the City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 4 City Focus Goals for 2007, along with target dates for completion. All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON JANUARY 25, 2007 MEETING WITH SEPTIC HAULERS AND MCES OFFICIALS At its January 18, 2007 I-35 WE Coalition meeting, Council discussed with Coalition members the issues related to the proposed closing of the four septic dumping sites currently maintained by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES). Council directed staff to schedule a meeting with the septic haulers in order to better understand their issues and impact of the closings of the four dumping sites, including the one located in Forest Lake. City staff held a meeting with officials from MCES and the area septic haulers and shared the results of the meeting with Council. The City cannot do anything at this time to prevent the closing of the Forest Lake site, but did feel that the City should encourage the new Fridley site to provide extended hours to allow haulers an opportunity to minimize traffic issues encountered at peak hours. Miron made motion, Haas seconded, directing staff to send a letter to the MCES encouraging them to coordinate the closing/opening of the dumping sites to assure continued hauling service and request extended dumping hours. All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON ONEKA LAKE DEVELOPMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY AND RULING BY MN COURT OF APPEALS On February 6, 2007, the City was informed by City Attorney Dave Snyder and LMCIT attorney Jim Thompson that the MN State Court of Appeals had ruled in the City's favor in regard to the lawsuit filed against the City by developer Terry Miller. The 13 -page ruling highlighted a number of reasons that the court affirmed the lower court's ruling that the City had, in fact, provided the developer with a copy of the Findings of Fact, and the City, on its Consent Agenda, had approved the recommendation from the Planning Commission that his request for a comp plan amendment be denied. Mr. Miller has 30 days in which to appeal the ruling, which would be a formal appeal to the State of Minnesota Supreme Court. City Attorney Dave Snyder provided additional comment and information to Council. No formal Council was taken. DISCUSSION ON RURAL AND OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE On January 25, 2007, Council held a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss the City's current rural and open space preservation ordinance. Council directed staff to review with the Planning Commission the current ordinance, as well as to discuss the topic of transfer of development rights, which had been discussed previously by the original Task Force. Council agreed to a density of 12 lots per 40 acres. Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, that the Planning Commission narrow their discussion focusing on the five issues previously outlined by Council: 1) density bonuses; 2) well and septic; 3) buildable acres; City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 5 4) conservation easements; and 5) ordinance title. Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to amend the motion that the revised draft ordinance be submitted to Council by its meeting on May 7, 2007. VOTE ON AMENDMENT: All aye. Motion Carried. VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION: All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR ONEKA SQUARE AT TH61/120TH STREET At its December 8, 2006 meeting, Council listened to a presentation from developers looking to construct a retail building on the southeast corner of TH61 and 12e Street. A concept plan, which had been presented to Council, highlighted a rectangular building, in front of which would be a large parking lot designed to provide for necessary onsite parking. The developers solicited comments from Council and would like another opportunity to present their concept plan for further discussion by Council. CD Director Bryan Bear provided a PowerPoint presentation outlining the background of the project, focusing on concerns with TH61 right-of-way and serving the property with sanitary sewer. Council asked developers Jason Brown and Terry Thompson a number of questions and addressed issues. Miron made motion, Haas seconded, directing staff to continue to work with the developer, with the following directives: 1) protect 40' right-of-way for TH61; and 2) develop an agreement to allow sanitary sewer hookup from White Bear Township but at the time of City of Hugo sewer extension, share in the cost of improvement. All aye. Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON CONCEPT PLAN FOR GUSSETT DESIGN AT 15587 FOREST BLVD. (RICK BURR) Rick Burr requested a concept plan review for an addition to an existing building located at 15587 Forest Boulevard North, zoned General Business (C-2). The current use is an industrial legal non -conforming use. In order to build the addition, the applicant will have to apply for a conditional use permit to expand the legal non -conforming use during the site plan review and must comply with the related performance standards. Associate Planner Rachel Simone provided a detailed PowerPoint presentation outlining the concept plan, as well as visuals of the property. The current building totals 5,740 square feet and is used for office, manufacturing, and warehousing on a lot that is 50,483 square feet. The building addition totals 12,060 square feet and will be used for warehousing equipment utilized by the business and will provide space inside of the building to store materials that are currently outdoors. The applicant is also applying for two variances: 1) variance from the side yard set back requirements to allow the addition of the building to be one foot from the property line where thirty feet is required; and 2) variance from the commercial/industrial construction standards to build an addition with metal panels, which is prohibited by the ordinance. Council discussed the request and agreed to allow a one foot setback and the new addition may be constructed of metal panels, including a minimum 20% coverage of brick columns matching the existing building. City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 6 Miron made motion, Granger seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION 2007-8 APPROVING FINDINGS OF FACT FOR APPROVAL OF TWO VARIANCES (BUILDING MATERIAUSIDE YARD SETBACK) FOR GUSSET DESIGN LOCATED AT 15587 FOREST BOULEVARD. VOTING AYE: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron Motion Carried. DISCUSSION ON SNOW REMOVAL FROM CITY SIDEWALKS The City receives a few complaints each year regarding removal of snow on City sidewalks and trails. As Council is aware, discussions take place from time -to -time regarding removal of snow on City sidewalks, and more recently, City trails. Council has not developed a formal City policy regarding the removal of snow as it is a public policy issue that involves City staff and equipment. After one of the significant snowfalls, staff received another inquiry from a resident questioning why City sidewalks and trails are not plowed. Miron made motion, Granger seconded, directing staff to prepare information regarding cost and which sidewalks/trail require snow removal, for Council review. All aye. Motion Carried. APPOINT NEW PLANNING COMMISSIONER Council met on February 16, 2007 to interview candidate Adam Moore for the vacancy on the Planning Commission. Miron made motion, Haas seconded, to appoint Adam Moore to the Hugo Planning Commission for a four-year term. All aye. Motion Carried. NORTH METRO HISTORICAL COMMISSIONS' MEETING ON FEBRUARY 20.2007 IN HUGO The Hugo Historical Commission was created by Council more than three years ago. The Commission's activities have included both verbal and video recordings of Hugo's history, as well as the annual historical display at Hugo Good Neighbor Days. Commission members are pleased to announce that the City of Hugo was selected as the site for the North Metro Historical Commissions' meeting, which is being held Tuesday, February 20, 2007. Mayor Miron, on behalf of Council, recognized the work of the Commission members, their volunteer efforts to preserve the City's history, as well as to share the history with area historical commissions. APPOINTMENT OF CHUCK HAAS TO WASHINGTON COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMMISSION Effective February 6, 2007, City Council member Chuck Haas was appointed as a representative of City Council meeting of February 20, 2007 Page 7 District I on the Washington County Parks and Open Space Commission. ADJOURNMENT Granger made motion, Haas seconded, to adjourn at 9:45 pm. All aye. Motion Carried. Mary Ann" reager City C