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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 01-12-2004 . . . ~ ~~HILLS APPROVED January 26, 2004 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 12, 2004, 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 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 7:04 p.m. Present: Mayor Beverly Aplikowski, Councilmembers David Grant, Gregg Larson, Lois Rem, and Brenda Holden. Absent: None. Also present were City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Director of Community Development and Assistant City Administrator, Aaron Parrish; Deputy Clerk/Human Resources Director, Cynthia Young; Operations and Maintenance Director, Thomas J. Moorc; City Planner, Peter Hellegers; City Engineer, Greg Brown; and Recording Secretary, Katbleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Councilmember Holden requested itcm 3C be pulled from the Consent Calendar and added as item 5B. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Larson scconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. December 8, 2003 Council Meeting B. December 15, 2003 Council Work Session Councilmember Grant requested the following changcs: December 15, 2003 Council Work Session, page 3, second paragraph, remove "come to the table and". . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12,2004 2 Councilmember Larson requested the following changes: December 15, 2003 Council Work Session, page 2, under 2D, fourth paragraph, removed "and questioned the validity of the City's current membership in the St. Paul Chamber", Councilmember Holden requested the following changes: None. Councilmember Rem requested the following changes: None. Mayor Aplikowski requested the following changes: None, Ms. Wolfe requested the following changes: None. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the December 8, 2003 City Council Meeting Minutes as presented and the December 15, 2003 Council Work Session Minutes as amended, The motion carried unanimously (5-0), SPECIAL Appointment of Finance Director/Treasurer Ms. Wolfe stated staff was recommending the appointment of Murtuza Siddiqui to the open Finance Director position. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the appointment of Murtuza Siddiqui to the Finance Director position. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll b. Planning Commission 2004 Work Plan e. AlItllorize EKeelltioR of NelsoR Prol3crty Gateway Sign and Utility Easement d. Payment No.1: Booster Station e, Payment No.1: Karth Lake and Lift Station 7 f. Payment: Partial- Perry Park Projects g, 2004: Appointments/Designations: Resolution No. 04-01: Appointing Mayor Pro-Tern Resolution No. 04-02: Designating Depositories and Corporate Authorization Resolution No. 04-03: Designating Additional Money Market Depositories Resolution No. 04-04: Designating Brokerage Finns . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12,2004 3 Resolution No. 04-05: Telephonic Transferring of Funds Resolution No. 04-06: Appointing Engineering Consultant Resolution No. 04-07: Appointing Civil and Criminal Attorney Resolution No. 04-08: Appointing Legal Newspaper Resolution No. 04-09: Appointing Auditor Resolution No. 04-10: Appointing Planning Commission and Liaisons Resolution No. 04-11: Appointing Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee & Liaisons Resolution No. 04-12: Appointing Communications Committee & Liaisons Resolution No. 04-13: Appointing Council Liaison to Lake Johmma Fire Department Resolution No. 04-14: Adopting the 2004 City Council Meeting Schedule. Ms. Wolfe noted the June I, 2004 meeting would be moved to May 24, 2004. Resolution No. 04-15: Approving Charitable Gambling License for North Suburban Youth Foundation at Big Ten h. Resolution No. 04-17: Noticing the Assessment Hearing for the 2004 PMP Edgewater Neighborhood Streets 1. Resolution No. 04-16: Approving a Capital Asset Policy J. I-35W Corridor Coalition Membership: Withdraw Membership k. 2004 Score Grant Agreement: Approve MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 4. PUBLIC INOUlRIES/INFORMATIONAL . Students from Irondale High School were in attendance to observe Council. . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2004 4 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Minnesota Investment Fund Grant: Resolution No. 04-19 Mr. Parrish stated staff had been talking with Guidant and the Department of Employmcnt and Economic Development (DEED) regarding a Minnesota Investment Fund Grant application. He noted generally, the program provided a low interest loan to a company with half of the loan repayments going back to capitalize the local revolving loan fund and half of the funds going back to DEED. In this particular instance, DEED and Guidant have requested the City waive its portion and make it forgivable to Guidant. This has been done in other jurisdictions. Mayor Aplikowski opened the public hearing at7:17 p.m. There were no comments made. Mayor Aplikowski closed the public hearing at7:18 p.m. Councilmember Larson stated this appeared as a business subsidy. He askcd if this met the business subsidy criteria. Mr. Parrish replied it was consistent with those critcria. He noted it would require a hearing under the Business Subsidy Statutes, which would be held after it was approved. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to approvc Resolution No. 04-19: Minnesota Investment Fund Grant in the amount of $250,000 for Guidant Corporation. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). B. Authorize Execution of Nelson Propertv Gatewav Sign and Utilitv Easements Councilmember Holden inquired about the sizc of the sign. She expressed concern about not having criteria set up for gateway signs. Mr. Parrish stated the applicant had expressed concern that a sign not be put up in the future that would visually obstruct his building. Mr. Hellegers replied the sign would not be over 4 feet 6 inches. Mayor Aplikowski stated thc Gateway signs were an issue that they needed to look at again. Councilmember Larson stated he did not want to slow down the applicant's construction plans and he understood the applicant's conccrns regarding the hcight of the sign. He further stated he was comfortable with the height as stated in the Resolution. . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETlNG MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2004 5 Councilmember Grant noted the City's park signs were larger than 4 feet 6 inches and that was not very large. He expressed concern that a height of 4 feet 6 inches was too restrictive, but he did not have any objection to the 20 feet width. Councilmember Larson stated he could not see thc City putting up a larger sign on that corner. Mayor Aplikowski stated 4 feet 6 inches was large enough for the City logo and she was comfortable with this request. Councilmember Holden stated she was not comfortable with this. Mayor Aplikowski asked if this should be tabled to the next meeting and instructed staff to come back with further information. Mr. Hellegers showed Council some sample drawings of possible monument signs. Councilmember Grant stated he would prefer to table this to a work session for further discussion. He requested staff gather sample materials, design, etc. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to table this request to the next Council Work Session to obtain further information. The motion canied unanimously (5-0). 6. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT A. Resolution No. 04-18: ReQuestinl! the Nuclear Rel!ulatorv Commission provide information on radionuclide cleanup at the TCAAP Mr. Parrish stated Alliant Tech, at one point, malmfactured medium caliber ammunition at the TCAAP property using depleted uranium. Hc indicated this type of work falls under the regulatory authority of the Nuclcar Regulatory Commission. He stated Alliant Tech has indicated that the site has been cleaned up and they are waiting to ship the material to an approved waste site in the spring. Once the waste is removed, it will be necessary for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to "decommission" the license that Alliant Tech operates under for the handling of nuclear material. This will be done once the necessary clean up is completed. Mr. Parrish noted given the fact that this is a significant issue that needs to be clarified and addressed prior to allY future reuse of the property, staff was requesting that Council approve the resolution directing staff to obtain as much information as possible through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission directly or through working with the congressional delegation. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 04-18: Requesting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Provide information on radionuclide cleanup at the TCAAP. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12,2004 6 . 7. OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE A. Final Payment - 2003 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Proiect. Jay Bros.. Inc. Mr. Brown stated the City awarded Jay Bros., Inc. the 2003 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project on May 27,2003 for a total contract amount of$284,788. He indicated all work for lift station numbers 2 and 5 had been completed and staff was recommending the Council approve pay estimate number 4, final payment to Jay Bros., Inc. in the amount of $22,785.33 once the contractor provides to the City all lien waivers and the Withholding Affidavit for contractors. Councilmember Rem asked what the City was going to do if the landscaping did not survive. Mr. Brown stated he believed the sod was put down at the appropriate time of year and he was not concerned that it would be a problem. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to approve Final Payment for the 2003 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project to Jay Bros., Inc. in the amount of $22,785.33 once Jay Bros., Inc. provides to the City all lien waivers and the Withholding Affidavit for contractors. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). . 8. FINANCE None. 9. ADMINISTRATION A. Approvinl! 2004 Lawn Maintenance & Snow Removal Al!reement with Ramsey Countv Ms. Wolfe stated the Arden Hills branch of the Ramsey County Suburban Library was asking for assistance to the library in the form of snow plowing and removal, which would lower their operating costs. She noted a cost estimate had been prepared. Summer mowing and trimming was estimated to require two seasonal employees, one time per week for 1.5 hours. With a 20- week season, the total cost was estimated at $600. Winter plowing and sanding was estimated at one time per 2" snowfall with the work to be performed by a full time employee for approximately two hours. She noted with each season vastly different, it was difficult to estimate how many times this work would occur during the winter, but the estimate was $39.62 per event. After reviewing the estimates, staff was recommending proceeding with preparations to provide thi s service for the ycar 2004. . MOTION: Councilmember Rem moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve providing mowing/trimming, and snow removal/sanding to the Arden Hills branch of the Ramsey County Suburban Library for 2004 from January 1,2004 through December 31, 2004. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12,2004 7 . CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Ms. Wolfe - Stated there was a meeting with the Govemor's office on Wednesday, January 14th to discuss TCAAP and the early transfer process. She reminded people that there was the Council and staff retreat next Friday and Saturday, January nrd & 24th She stated if Council had any changes to the retreat agenda, to let her know. Councilmember Larson - Stated Lake Johanna Fire Department Relief Association had met recently. He noted they were approximately 75 percent funded in the pension fund, but the fund frequently moves from being under funded to over funded, depending upon the market. However, the fund was well managed. He stated he believed the City had an interest in the pedestrian underpass at Tony Schmidt Park, but it did not appear it was going forward as it should. He stated the railroad had indicated they would need to move the track at this location in order to build the underpass. The other issue was the overpass on Snelling Avenue. He asked if a ramp could be put on either side of the track. He requested that staff set up a meeting with Soo Line Railroad to discuss these two issues. He stated there was an article in today's Minneapolis paper regarding roundabouts and stated this could be a benefit at Snelling and County Road E and County Road D and New Brighton Road. He asked staff to explore the County Road D intersection as a roundabout with the County. . Councilmember Holden - Asked when they could expect further information on the County Road E pedestrian bridge. Mr. Brown replied they were working on it and it would be presented to Council in the near future. Mr. Moore clarified that a new bridge would not be built, but instead "handrails" would be installed with a sidewalk. Councilmember Grant - Agreed with Councilmember Holden and Councilmember Larson's comments regarding the pedestrian bridge and the roundabouts. He expressed his appreciation and thanks to the PTRC and noted he was no longer the Council Liaison for that committee. Councilmember Rem - The Executive Planning Committee of the Northwest Youth and Family Services was having a meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13th. She reminded everyone that there was a North Heights workgroup meeting in the evening on Wednesday, January 14th. Mayor Aplikowski - Noted Councilmembers were being transferred around in the various committees this year. The PTRC Council liaison would be Councilmember Holden with Councilmember Grant being the altemate. Tbe Planning Commission liaison would be Councilmember Rem. She noted she had received a request from Mounds View High School asking if the Council would get involved in Human Rights Commission. She asked if the Council should be involved in the Human Rights efforts at the school. . Councilmember Larson asked if the actions of one person would make it necessary to have a re-establish the City Human Rights Commission. . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12,2004 8 Councilmember Rem stated she was willing to attend a meeting because she believed even if it was one person, this affected a lot of people. Councilmember Larson noted he believed they should be involved in some way, but he did not believe they should restart the Commission at this time. He stated if Councilmember Rem wanted to attend a meeting, he believed this was a good idea. Mayor Aplikowski adjourned the regular City Council meeting at 8:35 p.m. ~~~. Beverly A iko ki Mayor . "., ." 'i/L'/,(~ '- L t.. \_,_.!,)'-,i__'....-)'~ ",ie' > Ll_,'L~ ~ Michelle Wolfe City Administrator i.' V NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next regular City Council meeting will be held Monday, January 26,2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Arden Hills Council Chambers.