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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 09-28-1998 MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING . SEPTEMBER 28,1998 7:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDF:R/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Dennis Probst called to order the regular City COlillcil meeting at 7:30 p,m, Present: Mayor Dennis Probst, Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, Susan Keirn, Gregg Larson and Paul Malone. Absent: None, Also present were City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; Assistant to the City Administrator, Kevin Ringwald; City Accountant, Terrance Post; and Recording Secretary, Lori Rolfson, ADOPT AGF:NDA MOTION: Councilmember Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Keirn seconded a motion to adopt the agenda for the September 28, 1998, regular City Council meeting, . The motion carried unanimously (5-0), A PPROVR MINUTES Councilmember Malone noted two changes in the August 31, 1998 minutes, Page two, second paragraph, last line, the word "contingency" should be changed to "operating revenue," Page seventeen, first paragraph after the list of conditions, the first sentence should state "Mayor Probst asked," not "Councilmember Malone," Mayor Probst noted three changes to the September 14, 1998 minutes. Page six, paragraph seven, starting with "Mr. Brown asked," and paragraph eight, starting with "Mayor Probst stated," should be deleted because they are unnecessary. Page seven, paragraph seven, in the first sentence the words "last half' should be changed to "north half." Page twelve, the last paragraph which continues to page thirteen, should be deleted due to redundancy, MOTION: Councilmemher Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Keirn seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes ofthe August 31, and September 14, 1998 regular City Council meetings, and the September 21, 1998 Council Worksession, as corrected. The motion carried unanimously (5-0), CONSENT CALENDAR . A. Claims and Payroll B, Appointment of Election Judges to Serve at the General Election, November 3,1998 C, Finance Committee Appointment, Lois Rem ----- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 2 . MOTION: Councilmember Keirn moved and Councilmember Aplikowski seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar and authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). P11B1,lC COMMENTS Mayor Probst invited those present to come forward and address the Council on any items not already on the agenda, Mr. Peter Hansen Roess, President of the Minnesota Museum Metropolis, asked the Council if copies are available of the Environmental Impact and Land Use Studies for the TCAAP site. Mayor Probst stated the environmental impact study was conducted by the Army and referred Mr. Roess to Mr. Mike Fix for copies ofthe documentation. Regarding, the land use study, there has been work performed by the City of Arden Hills to update the City's Comprehensive Plan, The Plan should be completed in a couple of months and a copy will be available at that time, UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Northern States Power, TCAAP Overhead Update Mr. Kevin Ringwald, Assistant to the City Administrator, noted the City Council had requested . NSP to come and speak with the City Council regarding constructing overhead power lines along the Highway 96, Lexington Avenue and County Road I corridor. Currently, there is an underground facility going up the extension of Ham line Avenue through the Arsenal. NSP would like to replace this underground line with an overhead, He asked Mr. John Wertish, NSP Community Services Manager, to make his presentation, Mr, Wertish presented a visual aide and eXplained the underground line was damaged a few years ago by lightning and needs to be replaced, The proposal is to tie into the overhead portion, prior to where it goes underground. The line would continue overhead, east to Lexington A venue and north to County Road 1. Councilmember Malone asked ifthe overhead line being proposed would be similar to the line along Hamline Avenue, Mr. Wertish stated no, the line along Hamline Avenue is a transmission line, not distribution. Councilmember Malone asked ifthe distribution line is lower voltage than the transmission line, Mr. Wertish stated the transmission line is 115,000 volts, the proposed main line distribution feeder is 35,000 volts, Councilmember Malone asked when the underground line was put in, Mr. Wertish's assistant, Mr. Spike Johnson, stated it was constructed twenty years ago, He noted, because it is three and one half miles long, there have been problems finding fault locations, In the time since the line . was constructed, NSP has learned that lines of this length are not a good option for lmderground installation, Councilmember Malone wondered why the decision was made to put the line underground in the first place, Mr. Johnson noted the line was installed in the beginning of the 1970's during the ------------- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 3 . early stages of underground technology, At the time, underground installation was thought to be a cure-all for most distribution and transmission lines, The underground technology was not as advanced as it is today and, with the current understanding ofthe technology, there are still times when underground installation won't work, Councilmember Malone asked if the line being replaced is currently in service. Mr. Wertish stated it is, however it is just limping along, They have repaired what they can and are hoping it will last until a permanent solution is found. Councilmember Malone asked what the overhead line would look like, Mr. Wertish stated the poles will be "Too shaped with wires on either side, similar to the lines on the south side of Highway 96, Mayor Probst requested further explanation on why the line cannot be run underground, Mr, Johnson stated, although it can be underground, more money would have to be invested in the maintenance and repair of the line and the cost of replacing it underground is much higher than the overhead option. He noted NSP is obligated to provide the most cost effective, reliable service possible, When it comes to main line feeders, overhead is a better operational advantage because it feeds the distribution network, not individual customers, When overhead lines are struck by lightning, they are easier and quicker to repair, Mayor Probst stated it is difficult to accept the reliability, repair and maintenance argument and . he is generally not in favor of the overhead line, He is dismayed by the fact that the Army and City had both been approached with this option and turned it down, NSP then went to Ramsey County and they gave them the go ahead, He noted communities have spent the last two to three decades trying to avoid overhead power lines and, with all the work accomplished on the proposed site, he is frustrated that NSP is coming back to the City with this proposal. Mr, Wertish expressed his understanding that this is an aesthetic issue, Mayor Probst stated during this past summer there have been storms during which many overhead lines were taken down by trees, This would seem to make underground lines more advantageous. Mr, Wertish pointed out that during the winter months, the frost and snow can make finding and repairing underground lines more difficult, Overhead lines are above ground and easier to repair. Mayor Probst noted the only problem with the current line is it was damaged by lightning, If it had been properly repaired or replaced at the time, there would not be a problem with it today, Mr, Wertish indicated if the line were new, it would still be susceptible to damage from lightning at any time, Mr. Johnson noted, during the last ten to fifteen years, the main feeder lines have been installed above ground due to reliability, He pointed out when the line went out in 1996 there was only one other feeder which came from Lexington A venue, All available persOlmel . worked on the splice area for a week to avoid losing this other feeder. Councilmember Aplikowski stated she is also in favor of an underground line, She asked if tbe line must be on Highway 96 or could it be installed behind the buildings, Mr. Wertish stated NSP had requested to use this area but the National Guard turned them down, The Guard -- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 4 . indicated the area will be used for training and NSP would have to secure an easement to cross the site. Councilmember Keirn expressed her concern for there being a line on each side of Lexington Avenue, Councilmember Aplikowski asked ifNSP would be open to a compromise of installing the portion of line which runs along Highway 96 underground to connect with the other underground line, Mr. Wertish indicated this would be possible, but NSP would have to ask the City to pay the difference in cost, approximately $85,000, Councilmember Larson asked ifthere are any other substations north of the site. Mr. Johnson stated the Lexington substation is the last one going north, Councilmember Larson asked how power was provided when the current line was out of service, Mr. Johnson stated the power was put onto the other main feeder and small feeder taps which break down to other sources, This effort tripped out the main feeder at 600 Amps, the cable is only rated to 550 Amps, If the line had not worked, the entire area would have been out of service, NSP has tried to install another substation but the communities to the north will not allow it. Councilmember Larson asked why a line should be run through Arden Hills which feeds power . to the communities north of Arden Hills who have said "no" to a substation. Mr. Johnson stated the power lines serve everybody and they all have to be tied together. The State Statute allows utilities to be installed on road right-of-ways and, although the line doesn't serve much of Arden Hills, this is the only place available for it. Councilmember Larson asked, since the line was put in, has technology improved which would make underground lines a better option, Mr. Johnson stated the only improvement in underground technology has been the level of insulation which adds approximately five to ten years to the life of the line, This insulation does not protect the line from lightning, Councilmember Larson asked ifNSP moves forward with their plan, will the underground line be removed. Mr. Johnson stated the line would be left in place and abandoned, Councilmember Larson asked ifNSP has considered the future land uses for the eastern portion of the TCAAP site, Mr, Wertish indicated the Guard plans to use it as a training site, Councilmember Larson stated he believes the square mile area is planned to be used for a future park and doesn't like the fact that the line would run right across it. Mayor Probst asked why the City would have to pay the extra cost for an underground line, Mr. Wertish restated NSP's obligation to provide the most cost effective, reliable source of power and in this case, it would be overhead. Mayor Probst stated, based on this logic, all lines would . be overhead and asked why some newer communities have underground lines. Mr. Johnson stated in cases of new residential and commercial development, the standard is greenfield installation so they do go underground, These are not main line feeders but local distribution lines. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 5 . Mr. Wertish noted the main issue is the cost of underground installation. The overhead line can be constructed for one-fourth the cost ofthe underground, Council member Malone indicated he is frustrated by the fact that a line, already underground, would be replaced to above ground, He asked if this work is in conjunction with work done last year on Lexington Avenue to Femwood Road. Mr. Johnson stated NSP replaced a couple of lines which were heating up beyond capacity and confirmed this project is in conjunction with the underground line replacement. Councilmember Larson asked if the Army has said no to running overhead lines over the entire area, Mr. Johnson indicated the Army only said no to the lines over the training area and the remaining area has been purchased from the Army and will remain overhead. Councilmember Larson pointed out, in the TCAAP Land Reuse Plan, most of the development is on the west and south sides ofthe property, He asked ifNSP could go through the area which will be developed so the development could use the power, rather than running the line along Lexington Avenue, Mr. Johnson stated moving the existing system and replacing the lines would take an extra two weeks, Councilmember Larson asked if this option would be less expensive than underground lines. Mr. Johnson stated it would, but it would still be a lot more expensive than the current proposal, possibly one-half to two-thirds more, . Mr. Fritsinger asked if the extra load needed is to power the new development proposal in Shoreview or ifit's based on the current needs of the community, Mr, Johnson stated the line serves the current populations of Shore view, Lino Lakes, CentervilJe, and Blaine and he is not familiar with any development proposals in Shoreview, Councilmember Keirn stated since none of the underground line serves the City of Arden Hills, why should the City pay the extra cost while other communities reap the benefits. Mr, Johnson gave an example of a road being put in to allow for through traffic and the local residents have to pay for it even though they may not use the road as much as the commuters, He indicated this is not an unusual situation, Councilmember Keirn pointed out that the line would not be used at all by Arden Hills, Mayor Probst stated this is not a technology issue, it's a cost issue with NSP trying to get the City to pick up some of the cost. He asked ifthere is someone at NSP the City could talk to about this issue or if it's a Public Utility Commission (PUC) issue, He restated his concern that NSP had been denied this option in the past and the are still trying to push the issue. Mr. Wertish noted the City would be asked to pay a portion of the cost only if an underground line is installed and that it is a PUC issue, He understands the City has taken the position of not wanting overhead lines and feels NSP was asked to come back to explain their point of view. Because oftheir obligations, it would not be cost effective to install an underground line, nor . would it be fair to charge the communities using the line the extra cost for Arden Hill's aesthetic preferences, ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28,1998 6 . Councilmember Malone referred to the previous suggestion of running the lines along others through the Arsenal, Even if the line would be longer, the poles are already in place and there should be some cost reduction for this, Mr. Johnson stated the line was built during World War II, Most of it isn't up to current standards and would have to be replaced in order to install a main line feeder. While the feeder could be put on the poles, the poles are not tall enough and there is not sufficient separation between the poles, Mayor Probst asked if most of the lines have been abandoned, Mr, Johnson stated they are still being used by a few sites, Mayor Probst restated his view that the City is not happy with running overhead lines and feels there are other options, He asked if there is a schedule set for the job and, if so, who controls it. Mr. Johnson stated they hope to have it completed by the end of the year, or before the ground freezes, they just have to present the required permits to begin working, Mayor Probst asked ifNSP has the permits from the County, Mr. Johnson indicated they have been drawn up and Mr. Wertish stated he believes they have received the permit. Mayor Probst voiced his concern for the idea that NSP could show up at any time and begin work on the line, . Mr, Wertish held to his beliefthat NSP has exhausted all of their practical options, He stated he will bring the plans back to NSP for further review but it is not always possible to satisfy every City when it comes to aesthetic issues. Mayor Probst reconfirmed the Council's concern that the line is already underground and should not be too difficult to replace, but NSP is choosing not to because of financial reasons, He noted if the line must go overhead, the City may want to suggest better routes so as not to spread lines out over the entire area, He stated the City will work further with Staff to gain a better understanding of the issue and asked Mr, Wertish to express the City's concerns to NSP. B. 1369 Forest Lane, Code Enforcement Update Mr. Ringwald stated Mr, Nixon has had several deadlines to supply information regarding building permits. The contractor chosen by Mr, Nixon does not have a valid State Contractors License, Staff has not received verification of his financing source and, although Mr. Nixon has made some progress, there are major issues needing to be solved, He also pointed out, in the event the financing cannot be secured, Mr, Nixon would like the opportunity to tear the home down himself. If the Council allows this option, Staff would recommend placing a time limit for the demolition, Mr. Nixon explained his contractor gave him his employers' license number and he was not . aware this would not be sufficient. He does not understand why he is required to hire a licensed contractor. Mr. Ringwald indicated the Code states once you lose your occupancy permit, you must use a State Licensed Contractor for the repairs, Typically a home owner is looking at minor additions and corrections to bring the home up to Code compliance, ---- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 7 . Mr. Nixon restated he was not aware of this requirement unti1last Friday, He noted he is still working on the funding and is not sure when he will hear about his application, Councilmember Aplikowski asked what banks he has applied to, Mr. Nixon gave the name of the mortgage company he has contacted, Mayor Probst noted work has begun at the site and asked Mr. Nixon what his intentions are at this point. Mr. Nixon indicated he is leaving it np to the Council. If they are willing to allow him more time, he will continue to move forward with his plans for reconstruction, He noted, if the City requires him to demolish the building he asks to be allowed to do this work himself. Mayor Probst stated it is not the City's desire to demolish the home or obtain the property, but there may be health and safety concerns, He noted the City must decide if the house can be put back in proper order, or if demolition is a better option, He asked Mr. Nixon if there is a timeline the City could count on, Mr. Nixon indicated the progress is being held up while he waits to hear if his loan has been approved. He may have someone who is willing to put up the money and he was to meet this individual last evening but hasn't heard back from him, Councilmember Aplikowski pointed out he should be conducting business during business hours and that loan applicants normally get their results within 24 to 36 hours of applying, She noted . he may be relying too much on personal associates and asked ifhe considered using a professional. Mr. Nixon stated it is a cost issue for him. He has applied for $30,000 which is all he can afford at this time, He has tried other mortgage companies and the one he is currently working with has stated it takes three to four weeks to receive the money, Councilmember Aplikowski asked Mr. Nixon if he is aware of anything which will prevent him from getting the money, or ifhe felt confident he will be approved. Mr. Nixon stated he's not one hundred percent sure he will be approved for the loan and the mortgage company has indicated there is a special program he may be able to qualify for. Councilmember Aplikowski restated he should be utilizing a professional consultant and that there is money available to assist people in his situation, Councilmember Larson noted, at a previous meeting, Mr. Nixon stated he was planning to use the help of a friend for carpentry and asked ifhe was planning to pay him, Mr. Nixon stated he was, Councilmember Larson asked ifMr. Nixon will be able to afford to hire a licensed contractor and if the entire $30,000 will be spent on the house, Mr. Nixon explained this is a new issue he needs to look into. The house will require a new roof, wall replacement, plumbing, wiring and . new plaster. He was counting on his friend who has been a contractor for over 20 years being able to do the work. Councilmember Larson noted he would have to go out for bids on the project. Mr. Nixon stated the insurance company gave him a bid of $1 00,000 to redo the entire house, but he plans on ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 8 . doing most of the work himself. Councilmember Larson reiterated the fact that he should no longer be relying on friends and should seek out some professional assistance, Mayor Probst stated the basic issue is that deadlines have been extended and the Council must decide if they should be extended again. He noted the City does have an obligation to update the court of the status of this property, The City has had a previous experience where deadlines were continuously extended through out the course of two years and the work was never accomplished, The building could have been demolished right from the start. He stated the City is trying to understand Mr. Nixon's situation to be able to make an appropriate decision in everyone's best interest. Councilmember Ap1ikowski stated she would be willing to agree to another week to ten days if Mr, Nixon is willing to obtain professional assistance. She gave Mr. Nixon the phone number of a local contractor who specializes in home reconstruction. Councilmember Malone noted the next Council meeting is October 13, 1998 which would give him two weeks and one day, He stated if the extension is granted, Mr, Nixon will need to present proof of financing and the required permits prior to the date ofthis meeting. If the paperwork is not in order, the Council may have to require demolition of the property. Mr. Nixon asked ifthe Council will allow him to perform the demolition, Mr. Fritsinger stated if Mr, Nixon presents a very specific time frame ofless than 30 days for the demolition it should be . allowable. Councilmember Larson asked if the premises are currently uninhabited, Mr. Nixon stated they are and he is living with friends, MOTION: Councilmember Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Malone seconded a motion to extend the deadline for Mr. Nixon, 1369 Forest Lane, until the next City Council meeting on October 13, 1998 at which time the financing and program plan must be established to the satisfaction of the Council. If the requirements are not met by the deadline, the Council will consider the option of demolition, The motion carried unanimously (5-0), Mayor Probst requested that during this time Staff verify with the courts what the City's obligations are in this matter. C. New City Hall, Audio and Visual Design Consultation Services Selection Mr. Fritsinger noted Staff recently solicited proposals for audio, visual and acoustical consultation, design, and specification services for the proposed new City Hall. The City received two proposals, one from Jamieson and Associates, Inc" the other from Electronic Interiors, rnc, Staff conducted interviews with both firms on Friday, September 25, 1998, and performed reference checks the following Monday, As a result ofthe interviews and reference . checks, Staff is recommending the Council consider selecting Electronic Interiors, Inc, to provide the services outlined in the proposal and direct the Mayor and City Administrator to execute the any necessary documentation for the agreement with this firm, ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 9 . Councilmember Malone stated he is willing to defer to Staff on this decision, although he would lean towards the lower bid. Mr. Fritsinger noted, after further review of the scope of the project, Electronic Interiors, Inc, reduced their bid by $2,000, MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Aplikowski seconded a motion to authorize selection of Electronic Interiors, Inc. as the audio and visual design consultant for City Hall and direct the Mayor and City Administrator to execute the agreement with this firm, Councilmember Larson asked if Electronic Interiors, Inc. lowered their fee after finding out the competitors' bid, Mr. Fritsinger stated they were not aware of the other bid and had reduced theirs due to the scope of the project. The motion carried unanimously (5-0), D. Vaughan Park Dedication Property Exchange Mr. Fritsinger noted Mr. Dan Vaughan has dedicated a ] ,78 acre area, east of his property, to fulfill his park dedication requirement but the property title was never transferred to the City, Former Parks Director, Ms. Cindy Walsh, has discussed with Mr. Vaughan the possibility of exchanging the previously agreed upon land for an area that could be used as a trail corridor. The property originally agreed upon was intended to be used for a park near Round Lake, . As Staff discussed the proposed park development, it seemed to make more sense to acquire the property to complete the Round Lake trail corridor rather than create a small park. Staff is proposing the original property be given back to Mr. Vaughan, In return the City would receive a thirty foot strip of property along the south side of Round Lake, A ten foot trail would be constructed to connect with the existing trail east of Phase IV in the Gateway Business District. The area needed to construct the trail is approximately 33,330 square feet which is close to 44,200 square feet less than the previously agreed upon park area, Staff would recommend that the additional benefit and enhancement to the trail system is worth an even exchange of property, Mr. Vaughan has indicated he is agreeable to this transfer. Staff recommends the City Council direct Staff and the City Attorney to negotiate an agreement for the exchange of the previously agreed upon park property for fee title to a thirty foot wide, 1,111 foot long trail corridor located on the Vaughan property, Mayor Probst asked if 30 feet is required for the trail, or could it be reduced to 20 feet, Mr. Fritsinger stated one ofthe reasons Ms, Walsh identified for the rational ofthe 30 foot strip is it allows greater flexibility to deal with any necessary encroachment, as the trail will wind through tree and wetland areas, Additionally, the wide trail will allow for snow storage in the winter. Mayor Probst noted it may be worthwhile looking into the purchase of the property and keeping the dedicated park property as it is difficult for the City to secure land for park dedication. Since . there are no time constraints he recommends the Council defer action on this issue to a later date, This will allow Staff to inquire on Mr, Vaughan's willingness to sell the property and the cost of such a purchase. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 10 . Councilmember Malone stated he agrees with pursuing the possibility of purchasing the land rather than the proposed exchange. Councilmember Larson asked what other land is owned by Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Ringwald stated he owns the two parcels south of the proposed exchange area, approximately 25 acres, Councilmember Larson asked ifhe owns the land east toward Old Highway 10, Mr, Ringwald indicated the land is owned by other individuals, Councilmember Malone asked for clarification on why the City should swap a larger area for a smaller one, Mr. Fritsinger stated the previously negotiated land has not been formally deeded to the City and this issue prompted further talks with Mr. Vaughan, These discussions led to Staffs decision that the property exchange would be beneficial and easier to deal with since the property title has not been transferred, Mayor Probst asked what would happen ifMr. Vaughan became less amiable and the property exchange did not take place. Would this reopen the issue of park dedication at today's value for the property, Mr. Ringwald stated this would be a possibility, Mayor Probst noted this may give the City some leverage in obtaining an agreement for the purchase. ADMINISTRATIVR COMMRNTS Mr. Fritsinger noted the City had a second surprise inspection from OSHA this year. He was . told it was just the luck-of-the-draw that the City was hit with this inspection again and he doesn't expect it to be a large issue. One of the concerns is the maintenance garage mezzanine stairwell slope not meeting OSHA requirements, The City has been granted an exemption in the past because of the future move to a new facility, but time may be running out. conNCll, COMMRNTS Councilmember Larson noted he met with the Newsletter Committee and feels that progress will continue providing they have enough volunteers, He also stated there will be a Public Safety meeting to deal with the problem of traffic cutting through neighborhood streets to avoid stopping at County Road F, Councilmember Malone informed the Council that the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMM) has a new Executive Director. He stated one of the current issues within AMM is the discussion of the Metropolitan Council having elected commissioners as opposed to appointed, AMM is against the idea of an election process and feels they should continue appointing with added accountability, He believes the policy will become clearer as the legislative process continues. Councilmember Aplikowski noted the Healthy Youth Coalition town meeting held in Shoreview, Thursday, September 24, 1998 was very successful. The City has been challenged to find out what is going on with the youth in the community and bring back suggestions, She feels the City . cannot sit back and state there are no problems, Councilmember Aplikowski indicated the Business Development Committee is looking at the Red/Grey Fox Feasibility Plan and is discussing the use ofTIF funds, ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 11 . Mayor Probst commented regarding the Healthy Youth Coalition, the Roseville School District is hosting a similar meeting on October 20, 1998. He stated he agrees with Councilmember Aplikowski that there have been some positive things going on, but the situation is frustrating. Councilmember Aplikowski noted there are good ideas but they are not getting down to where the needs are, The City needs to get out on the streets and figure out the needs ofthe youtb, There has been an increase in vandalism and she is concerned about the possibility of it , . mcreasmg. Mayor Probst indicated part of the problem may be due to the School District covering sevcn different communities, He feels this may be causing a communication problem and it will be a challenge for the Coalition to become more effective, Councilmember Aplikowski noted there is a need for volunteers to read to children as the ability to read is a large self-esteem issue. Councilmember Keirn reminded the Council there is a Northwest Youth and Family Services open house on October I, 1998 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.rn. She will try to attend a portion of the program, Councilmember Keirn noted she received a call from a citizen wanting to know if the City will be communicating with the community regarding the Bethel parcel. The caller indicated the . citizens want their voices heard and Councilmember Keirn informed her there will be an open forum, Mayor Probst wondered if there has been other feedback since he has not heard any, Councilmember Keim noted there has been a few other inquiries and she would like to be able to tell them there will be a public hearing before any decisions are made. Mr. Fritsinger felt it may not make sense to try to communicate with the citizens until the Council decides whether or not a project is feasible, He noted the Newsletter article made it clear that the City will be in contact with the residents before any decisions on the project design are made. Councilmember Keirn restated her desire to have some sort of communication with the residents, Mayor Probst stated he is not sure what would be communicated to the people, He feels the City has done a good job of updating the community on the status of this issue and suggested flyers could be distributed to the residents, Additionally, the City should encourage other newspapers to run an article when there is information available. Mayor Probst asked for an update on the Round Lake Road project. There had been discussion of trying to combine projects and the options of traffic controL . Mr. Ringwald stated Staff has had conversations with the developer and they have agreed with the City about the need for traffic control and it would initially be the developer's responsibility. The project will move forward with the items that can be started, Ifthe project goes beyond the spring deadline it will become the City's liability. Mayor Probst asked if Staff is still waiting for the timeline of the project release, Mr. Ringwald stated this is correct. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 28, 1998 12 . Mayor Probst expressed his appreciation to Stafffor participating in last week's event at Fire Station No.1. He noted there was good attendance in spite of the cool weather. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Keirn seconded a motion to .::aoctmg " "'0 p.m. ThcmOtinnn Dennis Probst Brian Fritsinger Mayor City Administrator NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next regular City Council meeting will be held Monday, October 13, 1998 at 7:30 p.m, at the Arden Hills Council Chambers. . .