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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 08-09-2004 . . . ~ ~ILLS Approved: September 13, 2004 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 9,2004,6:30 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CAI,L TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Beverly Aplikowski called to order the Regular City Council Meeting at 6:30 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 Operations & Maintenance, Thomas Moore; Finance Director/Treasurer, Murtuza Siddiqui; Community Development Director, Scott Clark; City Engineer, Greg Brown; and Recording Secretary, Kathleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Ms. Wolfc stated staff was adding Item 6A: Diseased Tree Outbreak MOTION: Councilmcmbcr Holden moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. July 19,2004 Council Work Session Minutes B. July 26, 2004 Council Minutes Councilmember Holden requested the following changes: None Councilmember Grant requested the following changes: None Councilmember Rem requested the following changes: July 26, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes, Page 6, fifth paragraph, starting with Mr. Filla, second sentence should read: "He stated right now one of the things that did not discourage people from submitting applications before they are ready to develop..." \\EallhlAdmin\Collnci1\M inutes\Reglllar\2 004\08-09-04. doc . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 9, 2004 2 Councilmember Larson requested the following changes: July 19, 2004 City Council Work Session, page I, under absent: He requested the word "excused" be added after his namc. Mayor Aplikowski requested the following changes: None Ms. Wolfe requested the following changes: None MOTION: Councilmember Grant movcd and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to approvc the July 26, 2004 City Council Meeting Minutes and the July 19, 2004 Council Work Session Minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll b. Resolution No. 04-45: A Resolution Appointing the 2004 Primary Election Judges c. Payment #6: 2003 PMP -Ingerson d. Payment #1: 2004 PMP - Edgewater e. Paymcnt #4: Liftstation #7 & Karth Lake MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve thc Consent Calendar and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 4. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL None. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Diseased Tree Outbreak Mr. Moore stated the City of Ardcn Hills as well as the entire metro area was currently cxpcriencing a diseased tree epidemic. The trees that are impacted are American Elms, Rcd & White Oaks and Aspcns. City owned trees had bcen cspccially hit hard. CUlTently 62 City owned trees have been marked for removal. 0 & M staff had also marked trees for removal on private propcrty. An issue that has come up repeatedly from residcnts is that the City is telling them that they must remove thcir trces, but the City has not been removing those trees that are on . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 9, 2004 3 City property. 0 & M Staff is experiencmg some enforcement Issues as a result of not addressing diseased trees on City property. Mr. Moore noted the diseased tree removal budget for 2004 is $2,500. That money has already been spent. It is estimated that an additional $15,000 will be required to remove diseased trees from City prope11y. The $15,000 will come from the 2003 General Fund balance. Mr. Moore stated staff was requesting the Council to authorize an amendment to the 2004 Park Maintenance Budget in the amount of $15,000 for the removal of diseased trees on City property. Mayor Aplikowski asked about the number of private trees versus City owned trees that were diseased. Mr. Moore replied the City had 62 trees that were diseased and the count of residential diseased trees outnumbered the City owned trees by quite a bit. Mr. Moore explained how the trees could be treated if the disease was caught early, but noted it was difficult to catch the disease early unless a person had training. Mayor Aplikowski asked what the average cost was for tree removal. Mr. Moore replied the cost was between $900 and $ I ,500. Councilmembcr Holden asked how long a resident had to remove a diseased tree once they were notified. Mr. Moore replied that for an elm tree, a resident had 10 days and for an oak tree, a resident had 30 days, but noted if a tree service could not remove the tree within that period of time, the resident should contact the City and inform them of the date the tree service would be removing the tree. He indicated the City would work with the residents. Councilmember Larson asked if $15,000 would cover the cost of the tree removal for the City trees. Mr. Moore replied that amount would cover the removal cost of approximately 40 trees and staff would remove 22 trees. Councilmember Larson noted this was a serious problem and he recommended City staff take a couple of days to do a thorough tree inspection. He also suggested staff contact the Army National Guard about the trees on the TCAAP property. Mr. Moore replied he did have a meeting scheduled with the Anny National Guard to discuss the trees on the TCAAP property for the near future. He stated there was cunently one 0 & M staff member who was working 40 hours a week on tree inspection and that should be sufficient for right now. Councilmembcr Holden inquired as to how many trees staff would be removing. Mr. Moore replied staff would remove 22 trees. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant scconded a motion to authorize an Amendment to the 2004 Park Maintenance Budget in the amount of $15,000 for the removal of diseased trees on City property with the funding coming from the . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 9, 2004 4 2003 General Fund balance. The motion carried unanimously (5- 0). 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Ms. Wolfe - None. Councilmember Holden - Stated the newsletter would be going out on August 20. She requested the Council discuss devoting more funds to the newspaper budget for next year when they had their budget discussions. Councilmember Grant - None. Councilmember Rem - None. Councilmember Larson - Noted the prairie behind City Hall was looking very nice. Mayor Aplikowski - Thanked everyone for organizing and attending the National Night Out celebration. Mr. Clark - Reminded the Council that there was a TCAAP Development Team Meeting on Thursday. Mayor Aplikowski adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:02 p.m. ~~1~' Mayor NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next Council Meeting will be beld Monday, September 13, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the Arden Hills Council Chambers.