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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 03-27-2006 . . . ~ ~~ILLS Approved: April 10, 2006 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 27, 2006; 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Beverly Aplikowski called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Beverly Aplikowski, Councilmembers David Grant, Gregg Larson, and Brenda Holden. Absent: Councilmembcr Vincent Pellegrin (Excused). Also present were City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Finance Director/Treasurer, Murtuza Siddiqui; Building Official, Dave Scherbe1; City Planner, James Lehnhoff; and Recording Secretary, Kathleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Mayor Aplikowski added items 7C and 7D to the Agenda. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 13, 2006 City Council Meeting Councilmember Holden requested the following changes: Page 2, item 4, she noted she did not vote on the motion and therefore she abstained, changing the vote 1-3 with one abstention. Councilmember Grant requested the following changes: Page 11, first full paragraph, first sentence, strike "but now they did not have the funds". . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27, 2006 2 Councilmember Larson requested the following changes: Page 10, third paragraph from the bottom, second to the last sentence, strike "they" and add "we". MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the March 13, 2006 City Council Meeting Minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll b. Motion to Amend the City's Tobacco Use Section of the City's Personnel Policy c. Motion to approve the Purchase and Installation of Security Cameras and Card Readers at City Hall MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 4. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS None. 5. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Proposed City Code Enforcement Changes Mr. Lehnhoff stated in order to clarify two parts of the Zoning Ordinance and one part of the City Code for code enforcement issues, two amendments and one addition are proposed. The two amendments relate to garbage container storage, and the addition relates to accessory structure aesthetics. The proposed amendments are not changes in policy; instead, these changes will help make the Zoning Ordinance and City Code more consistent, clearer, and easier to enforce. Mayor Aplikowski opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. There were no comments made. . Mayor Aplikowski closed the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27, 2006 3 Councilmember Holden inquired about the accessory structures and them being compatible with the existing structure. She asked if people were allowed to have steel sheds, plastic sheds, membrane structures, etc. Mr. Scherbel stated this had been discussed and were addressed in the Ordinance. He noted any accessory structure less than 120 square feet did not require a permit. Councilmember Grant asked if staff was actively enforcing the membrane structures. Mr. Scherbel responded to be pro active took a lot of time and effort and when this was discussed with Council a few years ago, staff was given direction to enforce actions on a complaint basis. Councilmember Grant stated he would like to see more active enforcement in order to maintain the quality of the housing stock in the City. Mayor Aplikowski stated it was her personal opinion that either they allowed the membrane structure or they did not allow them, but if they did allow them, it had to be reasonable and clearly set out. She agreed the wording was ambiguous with saying the structure had to be compatible to the main structure. She asked if the membrane structure should be part of this also. Councilmember Larson stated he did not see compatible as meaning the same, just that it was compatible with the main structure. He believed in some ways this gave the inspections department some flexibility in trying to enforce this. He did not believe a tool shed in a back yard made it incompatible. Mr. Scherbel noted he had never received a complaint with respect to a metal shed, but he had received complaints with respect to the membrane structures. He believed the reason he received complaints on the membrane structures was because they werc silver in color and stuck out in the area. He also noted the membrane structures tended to be quite a bit larger than a tool shed. Mayor Aplikowski asked if they should have more authority as to what went up and what was not allowed to go up. She asked if membrane structures of a certain size should be permitted. Councilmember Larson stated he believed the membrane structure was obviously temporary and he would not like one put up on the property next to him. He stated he was comfortable with the way this was written now with them being not allowed. Councilmember Grant asked if they were going to remain on a complaint only policy? He indicated this was a pressing issue. He requested this be put on a work session discussion. Councilmember Holden stated she would be more comfortable with this having the wording "a membrane covered frame". Mr. Scherbel said that the City currently follows the International Building Code (rnC) which covers all membrane structures. . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27,2006 4 Mayor Aplikowski asked if the Council needed more time for discussion regarding this or were they comfortable with these changes. She suggested staff specifically state that a structure less than 120 square feet was not subj ect to this Ordinance. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the addition to Chapter 6.A of the Zoning Ordinance to add the language regarding the requirement that the exterior of accessory structures be compatible with the principal structure and banning membrane structures as recommended by staff and to publish the addition in the City's official newspaper. The motion carried (3-1 Mayor Aplikowski opposed). MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve amendment to Chapter 6.G.2.a ofthe Zoning Ordinance and the last sentence of Section 620.04, Subd. 4 of the City Code regarding the storage of garbage containers as recommended by Staff and to publish tbe amendments in the City's official newspaper. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve Ordinance 374 amending Section 6.G.2.a relating to the containment of refuse and refuse containers. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Mounds View School District - Operating Levy Information Noreen Thompson, Mounds View School Board Member, reviewed the proposed operating budget levy referendum tentatively scheduled for the November 7, 2006 general election. B. Single Sort Recycling - Waste Management Mr. Lehnhoff stated in 2005, Waste Management purchased E-Z Recycling, which was the company providing residential recycling service to Arden Hills. The contract that Arden Hills had with E-Z remains in effect illlder Waste Management. The current contract provides weekly recycling pickup for two-stream commingled materials at a cost of $2.05 per household per month until February 28, 2008. A two-stream commingled material requires residents to place recyclables into two separate bags or containers. All paper products, which are commonly called mixed-fibers and includes newspaper, mixed mail, phone books, and cardboard boxes, are placed into one container or bag. The second container or bag is for glass, metals, and plastics, which are commonly called mixed-rigids. . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27, 2006 5 He indicated Waste Management has submitted a proposal to switch from the current two stream commingled system to a single sort system. Under the single sort system, all recyclable materials are placed into one 64-gallon container that is picked np every two weeks instead of each week under the cnrrent system. The container would be provided by Waste Management as part of the contract. Under the single sort system, the cost per household per month would be $2.26; however, due to rising fuel costs, thc new contract would also include a fuel surcharge. The fuel surcharge is based on the cost of fuel and, according to Waste Management, averaged eigbt percent in 2005. To offset the costs ofthe containers, Waste Management would request a five- year contract with the single sort system. Staff recommended requesting a formal proposal and a sample contract for the single sort recycling program. From brief discussions with staff in other communities that have implemented the single sort system, we had only heard very positive comments regarding the single sort system. The single sort system tends to be easier for residents, has increased the amount of materials recycled, and, with fewer pickups each month, has resulted in less truck traffic on residential streets. Jennefer Klennert, Waste Management, summarized the Waste Management Single Sort Recycling program. Councilmember Holden stated she did not understand if they switched to every other week recycling, why they were being charged a fuel surcharge. Ms. Klennert stated their fuel costs have doubled and the way the contract was written now, the contract could not increase. It was their intent to charge a fuel surcharge so they did not have to foot the entire cost of fuel. Councilmember Grant inquired about a five-year contract. He stated it seemed to make sense that if they were going to award a five-year contract, they should look at the competition to see what they were offering also. Ms. Klennert stated they were bringing this to the City as an option, but they were willing to continue the contract, which has two years remaining. She noted the five-year contract request would not be on top of the existing contract. She stated they were requesting five-years from the date of the new contract. Councilmember Grant stated he was concerned about the cost of the program. Councilmember Larson agreed and stated he was not comfortable going fOlWard with this without putting it out to bid. He noted it appeared they would be doing double sort until 2008 when the current contract expired. Ms. K1ennert stated they would not want to lose the contract, so if Council wanted to wait to obtain bids in 2008, they will be a bidder. Mayor Aplikowski requested staff continue to research this and come back to Council at a future work session. Councilmember Larson stated he was comfortable not going fOlWard at this time if they did not have a competitive bidding process. He recommended they wait until the end of the current contract and go out for bids. Mayor Aplikowski stated this would not preclude staff from collecting information. . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27, 2006 6 c. Sign Moratorium Mr. Lehnoff stated at the March 13, 2006 Council meeting, Council approved a one-year sign moratorium. However, it was not in effect until it was published in the City's official newspaper. He asked Council to direct staff to publish the summary of the one-year sign moratorium in the City's official newspaper. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to direct staff to publish the summary of the one-year sign moratorium in the City's official newspaper. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). D. Discussion Celebrating Arden Hills Ms. Wolfe stated that Celebrating Arden Hills Day was approaching and letters have gone out to businesses for donations. She noted they had received 12 donations totaling $4,550.00. She indicated the business list was 128 names. She stated they have begun to discuss follow-up with these businesses in an effort to increase donations to Celebrating Arden Hills. Mr. Siddiqui stated this event cost the City approximately $40,000. Mayor Aplikowski stated last year Councilmember Holden did a great job calling businesses. This year, she suggested all oftbe Councilmembers make phone calls requesting a donation. She asked Council ifthey were willing to do this. Councilmember Holden stated this was a good idea and she would like to see everyone on board. Councilmembers Larson and Grant also agreed this was a good idea. Mayor Aplikowski presented both a business and personal check for a total of $1,100.00 as a donation for the Celebrating Arden Hills Day. Councilmember Grant asked if there was a way they could estimate how many people attended this event. Ms. Wolfe responded that would be difficult because of all of the access points, but staff would look at various options. Councilmember Larson asked if they were offering businesses anything for their donations. Mayor Aplikowski stated there was a sign put up with the donors name and that they also received a thank you letter from the City. Other items for promoting the event, such as fliers and brochures, also include the names of the donors. . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 27, 2006 7 . 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. TCAAP Update Ms. Wolfe updated the Council on recent TCAAP developments. She stated the Council would be adjourning to go into a Closed Work Session immediately following this meeting to discuss the TCAAP Land Sale Negotiations. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Aplikowski adjourned thc Regular City Council Meeting meeting at ~A~' MichelleA.Wolfe Mayor City Administrator NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next Council Meeting will be held Monday, April 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arden Hills Council Chambers.