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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 05-12-2003 . ~ ~~HILLS MEETING MINUTES APPROVED: 5/27/03 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 12, 2003, 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 7:03 p.m. Present: Mayor Beverly Aplikowski, Councilmembers David Grant, Brenda Holden, and Gregg Larson. . Absent: Councilmember Lois Rem. Also present were Interim City Administrator/Director of Community Services, Aaron Parrish; City Attorney, Jerry Filla; Deputy Clerk/Human Resources Director, Cynthia Young; Operations and Maintenance Director, Thomas J. Moore; City Engineer, Greg Brown, and Recording Secretary, Kathleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 23, 2003, Council Meeting CounciImember Larson requested the following changes: Page 5, second . paragraph, last sentence, delete the word at. . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12,2003 2 MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the April 28, 2003, City Council Meeting Minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Larson 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. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Pam Olson, 4439 Arden View Court, President of South Association, expressed concerns regarding the Highway 96 reconstruction project, with respect to the left turn lanes going onto Hamline Avenue. She noted, with the traffic coming from Highway 96, it was extremely difficult to turn left onto Hamline Avenue. She stated when Hamline Avenue is reduced to just one lane, it would bottle neck their area, making it impossible for them exit onto Hamline Avenue. She indicated the reconstruction of Highway 96 would not be a traffic related improvement for their neighborhood. She asked that a traffic report be done to determine how this would affect their neighborhood, or to determine if there were other alternatives for traffic control in their area. Jim Otto, 4352 Arden View Court, stated he had talked to City Staff about their concerns regarding traffic on Hamline Avenue. He further stated this did not concern just the townhouse association, but it concerned all of the residents in the area because Hamline was the only exit out of the neighborhood. He asked the Council if it would be possible to hold a Town Hall meeting regarding their concerns. . Loren Lawyer, townhome resident, also expressed concern regarding the traffic on Hamline Avenue. ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12, 2003 3 . Mr. Parrish stated staff would help facilitate a neighborhood meeting, but noted that Ramsey County needed to be involved in this process as well. He stated he would update the Council at a future meeting. Mr. Brown stated they would need to contact Ramsey County to determine if a signal light may be justified in that area. Councilmember Larson stated he did not believe a red arrow signal light would solve the problem and noted he believed there might be other solutions. He indicated the majority of the traffic that caused the inconvenience for the residents was due to commuters traveling through the City. Councilmember Grant stated he believed a stop light on Hamline A venue would help break up the traffic. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS . None. 6. COMMUNITY SERVICES A. PLANNING None. B. TCAAP None. 7. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE A. Josephine Hills Lake Association Easement . Mr. Brown stated the Council had directed staff to negotiate a no-cost easement with the association. In response, the Association Task Force had indicated that they would expect compensation of $4,125. He requested the Council provide staff with direction on the association easement issue. ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12, 2003 4 . Councilmember Larson stated he could not find any justification for the City to offer money for this easement. He noted he did not believe the City should pay for an easement when the City was trying to improve the quality of Lake Josephine that in turn benefited the residents of the association. Councilmember Grant stated he did not believe the dollar amount the association was proposing was fair and equitable. Mayor Aplikowski stated she was not in favor of paying for an easement. She stated the City was doing a lot for the benefit of the association, rather than taking away a benefit. . Doug Hartford, 1292 Ingerson, stated he is a member of the Association Task Force. He noted the City approached the association with this proposal and it was not the association that approached the City. He indicated as far as the benefits, if the City was not doing the project, there would be no need for a bridge. He stated the association has not requested for a bridge. He further stated if this project were approved, the Association would lose some of its land. He expressed concern that the City was tying this easement in with the road assessments. He indicated he did not believe it was appropriate for the City to not pay for an easement on their land. He indicated they would like to see the issue resolved in a timely fashion. Councilmember Larson stated it was not important who proposed what and when, but what was important was the improvement to this property and the water quality. He noted it was a choice between whether or not the association wanted the improvement that the City was willing to pay for, or they go forward with a grit chamber. Doug Hartford replied it was their understanding that the assocIatIOn was responsible for the maintenance once the bridge was installed and the excavation of the channel was a one-time excavation. He stated it was the association's position that they wanted this be "put to rest" one way or another. He indicated he did not know how the association would vote for this proposal, but the Task Force wanted to be in a position to be able to argue correctly. . Councilmember Larson asked if it was the City's responsibility to maintain the area after improvements were made. . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12,2003 5 Mr. Brown responded the City would be responsible for cleaning out the basin to remove silt and sediment. The City would not be responsible for downstream, but he noted most of the silt and sediment should be caught in the basin. He indicated the City would not maintain the bridge. However, since the area had been redesigned, it was not necessary that a bridge be installed since the association's bridges would remain intact. Councilmember Grant encouraged the Task Force discuss the possible benefit of a pond versus a grit chamber. Mr. Brown noted the Watershed District supported this and had requested the City attempt to enlarge the pond area. Council member Larson stated this improvement would benefit everyone in the City with better water quality. Councilmember Holden asked if the proposed benefit was worth paying for. Councilmember Larson stated they needed to make a decision tonight and then it was up to the association as to whether or not they wanted those improvements. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Mayor Aplikowski seconded a motion to offer to make the improvements to the association if the association was willing to give an easement at no cost and if not, then they proceed with the installation of a grit chamber. Council member Holden stated she did not believe they should proceed with a grit chamber. Councilmember Grant stated he would support some cost for the easement. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to amend the previous motion to strike "no cost" and insert the amount of $2,104. ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12, 2003 6 . Councilmember Larson stated he could not support the motion as presented. He believed the association should be voluntarily offering the City the easement for this improvement. Councilmember Larson stated he would be in favor of paying $2, I 04 for the easement, if the City did not put in the bridge. The amended motion failed (2-2). (Councilmembers Grant and Holden - Aye.) (Councilmember Larson and Mayor Aplikowski - Nay). The original motion failed (2-2). (Councilmembers Larson and Mayor Aplikowski - Aye.) Councilmembers Grant and Holden - Nay). . MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to offer the association $4,125 to purchase the easement and eliminate the cost of the bridge for $12,000. Mayor Aplikowski stated she could not support this motion because she did not believe the City should pay for an easement, with or without the bridge. The motion carried (3-1). (Councilmembers Larson, Grant, and Holden - Aye.) (Mayor Aplikowski - Nay). B. Approval of Operations & Maintenance Video Televising Equipment: CIP . Mr. Moore stated the City did not own a Portable Televising System for sanitary and storm water lines. In the past, televising work that could be scheduled has been contracted out and in emergency situations, where televising is needed, a system was rented. He noted in the past 29 months, the City had spent $57,000 for the use of a Portable Televising System. He indicated this item was approved by the Council as a 2003 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) purchase at a cost not to exceed $50,000. Staffreceived three bids and selected the low bid of $49,948.50 including sales tax, from Flexible Pipe Tool Company in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The total cost of $49,948.50 would be allocated from Fund #602; Sanitary Sewer. ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12, 2003 7 . He stated staff recommended approval of the purchase of the Portable Televising System from the Flexible Pipe Tool Company in St. Cloud, Minnesota at a cost not to exceed $49,948.50. Council member Holden asked what the maintenance cost per year was for this equipment. Mr. Moore replied the estimated life of the television was 10-15 years. He noted the only other piece of equipment that would need repair or replacement would be the VCR. Councilmember Grant asked where the equipment would be stored. Mr. Moore replied it would be stored in a heated maintenance bay. Councilmember Grant asked if there was a neighboring city that would be . interested in co-owning this piece of equipment. Mr. Moore replied all of the cities around Arden Hills already had this piece of equipment and those cities were not in the market of replacing their equipment at this time. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the purchase of a Portable Televising System from the Flexible Pipe Tool Company in St. Cloud, Minnesota at a cost not to exceed $49,948.50. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 8. ADMINISTRATION None. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS . Councilmember Grant stated he had attended a Little League baseball game, threw out the first pitch, and thanked Mayor Aplikowski for the opportunity. He commended staff for the change of the nameplates. He stated the Ramsey County League of Local Government met recently and had requested comments from the . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12,2003 8 Council regarding the City's participation with the organization. He noted he believed there was a value with this organization. The Council agreed they were comfortable with the present level. He indicated the PTRC would meet May 22, 2003. He stated the Maintenance Task Force meeting would be held Wednesday, May 14, 2003. Councilmember Holden stated the May newsletter was completed and would be distributed shortly. She indicated the Newsletter Committee had the opportunity to review the TCAAP Newsletter No.2 and had given their comments to Mr. Parrish to relay to the developer. She stated the Flower Garden Planting was at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17,2003. Councilmember Larson stated he believed they needed to move forward with a housing code which indicate certain exterior and interior standards be met by Arden Hills residents. Mayor Aplikowski read an appreciation letter to Operations and Maintenance Employee Fred Bell for his 27 years of service to the City. She stated she had received a letter from Frattallone Hardware regarding placement of phosphorus fertilizer in their store. She asked the Council what they wanted to do regarding the letter. The Council directed staff to respond to the letter indicating they would proceed under the normal code enforcement efforts. She congratulated Mr. Parrish on the birth of his new baby boy. She stated there was an Arden Hills Business Appreciation Breakfast Meeting at City Hall beginning at 7:30 a.rn. on May 28, 2003. Mr. Parrish - Stated staff had forwarded the Newsletter Committee's comments on the TCAAP Newsletter to the developer. He noted they would be following up with the developer tomorrow regarding this. He noted the Planning Commission would be addressing a housing code this year. Mayor Aplikowski adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:58 p.rn. L~~' &verly A ko ski Mayor /, /7 l/tr.;;----z-cr--) ..-:lA>,-~?"r;!/:--:;J.~/c..-\ Aaron Parrish Interim City Administrator . . . ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12,2003 9 NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next Council Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 27,2003, at 7:00 p.rn. in the Arden Hills Council Chambers.