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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 07-27-1998 . . . MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 27, 1998 7:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Dennis Probst called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Dennis Probst, Councilmembers Susan Keirn, Gregg Larson, and Paul Malone. Absent: Councilmember Beverly Aplikowski. Also present were City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; City Accountant, Terry Post; Assistant to the City Administrator, Kevin Ringwald; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; Community Development Director, Cindy Walsh; and Recording Secretary, Marie Tischer. ADOPT AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember Keim moved and Councilmember Malone seconded a motion to adopt the agenda for the July 27, 1998, Regular City Council meeting as submitted. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. July 13, 1998, Regular Council Meeting Councilmember Malone requested the following revisions: Page 4, paragraph 2: The word "otherwise" should be stricken and the last line should indicate Roseville would probably invite their residents to the meeting. Councilmember Keim referred to page 3, the third paragraph from the bottom, and stated it should indicate what her question was. She asked staff to review the tape and include the correct inquiry. Councilmember Keirn stated that she had asked whether the property owners who have easements would be advised of the hearing. Mr. Costello had said that those 25 property owners have one membership as a group in the Lake Josephine Improvement Association. MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Keirn seconded a motion to approve the July 13, 1998, Regular Council Meeting as clarified above. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 27, 1998 2 . CONSENT CALENDAR A. Claims and Payroll B. Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department, Grass Rig Replacement C. Council Liaison Appointments Councilmember Malone referred to Consent Calender Item B, Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department equipment replacement and said it is indicated that this equipment would not be funded by general tax dollars but instead funded through the use of proceeds received from the Fire Department's Capital Reserve Fund. He added that all the dollars that are spent by the Fire Department are taxpayer dollars obtained one way or another. MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as listed above and authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Probst invited those present to come forward and address the Council on any items not already on the agenda. There were no public comments. . UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Planning Cases 1. Planning Case #98-18, Dorsey & Whitney, 1200 & 1210 W. County Road E, SUP (Revocation) Mr. Kevin Ringwald, Assistant to the City Administrator, advised that the applicants, Dorsey & Whitney, on behalf of the owners of the buildings at 1200 and 1210 West County Road E, request that an existing Special Use Permit be revoked. Mr. Ringwald said this special permit applied to an antenna which had been installed on top of the building. Since a former tenant who was accommodated by this installation is no longer on the premises and it is of no further use, the request is made to revoke the Special Use Permit. He said the Planning Commission recommended this revocation action. There was a brief discussion about a possible need for the antenna by another tenant and Mr. Ringwald eXplained that there are newer and better technologies available now. Mayor Probst asked for confirmation that there was no reason why this permit should not be revoked and Mr. Ringwald said there was none. MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Keirn seconded a motion to approve Planning Case #98-18, Dorsey & Whitney, 1200 & 12010 W. County Road E, for Special Use Permit revocation. The motion carried unanimously (4- 0). . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 27, 1998 3 _ ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS . . Mr. Fritsinger introduced Nancy Randall as the new Associate Planner. Mr. Fritsinger said there would be a joint meeting of the Arden Hills, North Oaks and Shoreview City Councils on August 19 at 5 p.m. The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss renewal of the fire contract with the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Malone commented on the fire protection services Joint Powers Agreement as it is set up. He understood it would be in the same form for all the cities with some customization. He noted that the objective measures of the Fire Department in the old contract took up a great deal of space. Hc referred to a five-year threshold. Since under a Joint Powers Agreement, all the cities are members; he believed the budget should be presented as the entire budget for the Fire Department. Councilmember Malone also recalled that the Council formerly received the budget for only the Arden Hills' portion. It was his belief that the Councilmembers should see all of the budget. Councilmember Malone also noted there were references to obtaining city approval on capital expenditures of $10,000 or more. He understood, as the contract was written, it requires City approval of capital expenditures of $1 0,000 or more per City. He wanted that to be known. Mayor Probst expected this would be discussed at the meeting on August 19. Mayor Probst asked why the contract wasn't with the Joint Powers Board. Mr. Fritsinger said the Fire Department was not part of the Joint Powers Agreement; it is set up with each individual city. The Joint Powers Agreement is among the three cities who work on fire protection with the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department. Mayor Probst noted it was unlike the 1-35W Corridor Coalition which enters into agreements rather than the individual cities. Mr. Fritsinger said that option wasn't pursued but staff could research it. The contract was the same for all communities except for one paragraph. Mayor Probst expressed curiosity about why the Joint Powers Agreement was inclusive of all cities, but the contract was city-specific. Mr. Fritsinger explained that the Joint Powers Agreement addressed corporate issues, and included the Fire Department as part ofthe process and allowed them to be able to make recommendations to the various cities. The Joint Powers Agreement, unlike the 1-35W Corridor Coalition Joint Powers Agreement, doesn't have approval or denial power. Mr. Fritsinger explained that this type of Joint Powers Agreement and individual contract allow the Fire Department and each City the most flexibility for a long-term contract. Councilmember Malone agreed with the Mayor's point of view and indicated, ideally, that is how it should be set up but that would give the Fire Board the jurisdictional power to approve the budget, which the member cities may not agree with since it will interfere with the Council's ability to exert budgetary control. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 27, 1998 4 . There was a brief discussion of how other cities deal with the issue of fire protection. Councilperson Larson initiated discussion about the length of the agreement; that it is five years and then automatically renews for up to fifteen years, in five year increments. Mr. Fritsinger said it was previously ten years. Under the new contract, there is an ability to get in or out with a one year notice. Council member Larson further questioned the advisability of extending a contract so long into the future because of the uncertainties ahead. Mr. Fritsinger did not disagree with that issue, however, he explained the other cities did not agree and he did not think he would have much success convincing them that it should be a shorter term. In further consideration of the contract, Mr. Fritsinger said it was brought more in line with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department contract where it is opened at certain times to everyone and notice is provided which protects other cities by advanced notification. Mayor Probst said the matter would be open for discussion on August 19. Councilmember Malone commented on the willingness of Shoreview to spend more money on fire equipment and support of an additional fire station site, which lead to the breakup of the previous agreement. . Mayor Probst reviewed the Department Reports and expressed his disappointment and surprise over the reported acts of vandalism in the park areas. He invited residents who might have seen any of this to notify the City or County. Mr. Fritsinger reported on an officer who has been patrolling the park property while riding a bicycle to monitor activities and talk to people. Ms. Walsh has been working with the Ramsey County Sheriff to try to solve tile vandalism problems. Mayor Probst acknowledged Bethel College's action in addressing the odor problem reported earlier. He suggested their effort be acknowledged. Mayor Probst congratulated Ms. Walsh on obtaining a DNR grant and noted the City has two years to use these funds. Mayor Probst noted increased cost of producing quarterly program catalogs, which is higher than anticipated. Mr. Fritsinger said this had been discussed before and will be considered in the budget. RECESS Mayor Probst declared a recess at 7:57 p.m. . . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - JULY 27, 1998 5 RECONVENE Mayor Dennis Probst reconvened the regular City Council meeting at 8:05 p.m. for the purpose of interviewing four candidates for the Plarming Commission vacancy created by the appointment of Gregg Larson to the City Council. Present: Mayor Dennis Probst, Councilmembers Susan Keim, Gregg Larson, and Paul Malone. PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY INTERVIEWS Those interviewed were Stephen L. Baker, Clayton Larson, LoAnn Crepeau, and Jay Schrankler, respectively. MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Keim seconded a motion to ratity Mayor Probst's appointment of Stephen L. Baker to serve on the City's Planning Commission for the remainder of the 1998 calendar year. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Keim seconded a motion to djourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). Bd City Administrator NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next regular City Council meeting will be held Monday, August 10,1998, at 7:30 p.m. at the Arden Hills Council Chambers.