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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 05-06-1991 MINUI'ES OF THE ARDEN HILlS COUNCIL IDRKSFSSION MONDAY, MAY 6, 1991, 4:30 P.M. - CITY HALL . CALL 'IO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, May= Sather called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. ROLL CALL '!he roll being called the follClW'ing members were present: May= Thanas Sather, eouncil1nembers Paul Malone, JoAnn Growe and '!horoas Mahowald. eouncil1nember Hansen arrived at 4:40 p.m. Also present: Parks Director John Buckley, Public Works SUperintendent Dan Winkel, Clerk Administrat= Gary Berger and Deputy Clerk Catherine Iago. REl;;lUFS:r; PURaIASE Council was referred to a report from the Public Works 'lW) TRUCKS SUperintendent dated 5-2-91, requesting authorization to purchase two half ton pickup trucks as replacement vehicles for the 1985 Ford pickup and the 1984 Dodge Diplomat. '!he Public Works SUperintendent explained the two vehicles =iginally scheduled for replacement were the 1986 Ford Ran;Jer and the 1985 Ford pickup. In discussions with the Parks Direct=, it was detennined that it would be wiser to sell the 1984 Dodge Diplomat, as the 1986 Ford Ran;Jer is in better condition and has less mileage. winkel stated the =iginal quotes for the vehicles were received in December, and due to h.1dget uncertainties it appeared best to wait to order the vehicles. He explained the factory will be preparing for assembly of the 1992 models and the vehicles should be ordered within the next week to ten days. . Winkel reviewed the updated quotes received f= the vehicles and noted that Midway F=d and Minar Ford were lower bids, rot did not meet mi.n:i1num specifications. He recmmended the trucks be purchased from Roseclale Chevrolet at a total cost of $25,560.40 and noted these trucks will meet mi.n:i1num specifications. Winkel further explained the quotes received were less than the h.1dgeted amount f= purchase of the vehicles. eounci1member GrClW'e questioned if the revenue from the sale of vehicles was estimated. Winkel explained $17,000.00 was estimated as revenue from the sale of equipnent in 1991. He suggested the vehicles scheduled for sale are a half ton pickup, a Dodge Diplomat, the 1986 Ford Ran;Jer, in the fall of the year, and two one ton vehicles. Winkel estimated sale of the vehicles listed should net approximately $17,000.00 and noted that the bids appear to be lower than the h.1dgeted amounts, 1Nhich should provide additional monies. eounci1member Malone noted that the sales tax on vehicles is not listed in the report and requested that future purchase requests include the sales tax to more clearly reflect the exact expenditure. . Malone questioned if the vehicles will be tan in color, as discussed at the Team Building Session, to coincide with new City logo color scheme. He indicated all new vehicles should be specified in the bid as the tan = sand standard col=. Winkel explained he did not recall the discussion; advised that if the trucks are special ordered, the cost rray increase and the delivery rray be delayed. He stated he will contact the dealer to determine if there is a standard tan color for the trucks . . . . Minutes of the Arden Hills Council W=ksession, 5/6/91 Page 2 TRUCKS (Cent'd) Malone moved, seconded by Growe, to authorize the Public W=ks SUperintendent to purchase two 1991 pickup trucks from Rosedale Olevrolet as quoted in the memorandum dated May 2, 1991, and to pr=eed with the sale of the 1984 Dcxlge Diplomat and 1985 Ford pickup truck. Motion carried unanimously. (4-0) Council1nember Hansen arrived at 4:40 p.m. AWARD BID; 1991 PARK & BIKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENl'S Council was referred to a memorandum frctll the Parks Director dated 5-2-91, relative to the reconunendation for the 1991 park and bike trail improvements. Mayor Sather noted this item was =ntinued from the 4-29-91 Regular Meeting f= discussion of the improvements and presentation of materials. Parks Director Buckley reviewed the revised memorandum and the three options for park/bike bnprovements. He recormnen:led eouncil approve Option #3, deleting the path proposed at Valentine Hills School and award the bid to Midwest Asphalt, as the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $75,541.50. Council1nember Malone expressed dissatisfaction with the presentation of information from the Parks Director. Malone stated the materials presented by the Parks Director are not cohesive nor clearly defined. He offered suggestions f= clarifying the information presented; such as, including more descriptive narratives and calculations. Malone advised he supports the improverrents listed in Option #3, with the inclusion of the Valentine Hills pathway. He suggested the possible deletion of one paving project planned f= next year to maintain the park fund balance or utilizing only $30,000.00 f= the next two years f= maintenance of the park system. Buckley explained it is difficult to silTlplify the information and identify the options; expressed his appreciation f= suggestions offered by Malone. There was discussion relating to the Council policy change which no longer provides f= charitable gambling donations to be designated to the park fund. It was noted that the change was not a policy change by Council. 'Ihe donations from charitable organizations to the park fund were reduced when the city adopted the O1aritable Gambling Ordinance which requires the organizations operating in the city to pay a 10 percent tax. eouncil1nember Growe agreed that the Parks Director needs to work on camnunication skills; llrlicated she had difficulty deciphering information. She supported the park improvements outlined in Option #3, with the inclusion of the Valentine pathway. eouncil1nember Hansen also supported Option #3, with the pathway at Valentine included. eouncil1nember MahcMald supported Option #3 and all pathways; llrlicated the improvements f= the interior paths at the parks will provide for interconnection of all parks by a pathway system in the future. He questioned if a formal policy should be adopted to maintain the park fund balance at $500,000.00. . . . Minutes of the Arden Hills Council Worksession, 5/6/91 Page 3 PARKS (Cont'd) Buckley stated the amount of the fund balance has been maintained at the =ent figure to aCX.;ull.,uJate maintenance of the park system, which normally has been est:iJnated at $50,000.00 per year; the amount to be maintained was never formally adopted as policy. Councillnember Malone canunented that the long tenn funding printout information, conpiled by the city Accountant, did not include any canmentary frem the Park Direct= or reconunendation for action. He requested the Park Director develop an annuity plan and detailed long-range plan, with a reconunendation for Council =nsideration, and sul:IIIit the plans to Council in June or July 1991. Malone stated it is the responsibility of the department manager to provide such information, with reconunendation f= Council review. Mayor Sather agreed with all Council camments. He recommended the long range plan include the Arsenal property develq:ment and ather issues, such as, drainage problems at Perry park and the need f= grading = an irrigation system to correct the problem. He advised he strongly supports the park program, and agreed that the Parks Director needs ilrprovernent on camnunication skills and should provide an organized long-range plan. He also supported Option #3 for ilrprovernents, including the Valentine path. 'lhe Parks Director thanked Councilmernbers for their instructional information and support of the park ilrprovements. Malone moved, seconded by Mahowald, to awrove Resolution No. 91-31, ACCEPl'ING BID AND AUl'HORIZING EXECIJI'ION OF CON'I'RAcr IN THE MA'ITER OF THE 1991 PARK AND BIKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENT, excluding the Tennis Court f= Ingerson Park and the pathways connecting parks, and award bid to Midwest Asphalt Corporation, as the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $75,541.50. Motion carried unaninously. (5-0) Council was referred to a memorandum fram the Community Service Officer dated 5-6-91, regarding a survey of parking problems in residential areas of the City. May= Sather explained this matter was brought to his attention by a resident of Lake Johanna Boulevard; the resident is unable to aC<.;ul..uJate off-street parking for two vehicles on her property and requested a special permit to park on the street. PARKING SURVEY Council discnss;t;d the possibility of issuing a parking permit to the resident, f= a period of t:i1ne to allow the resident t:i1ne to resolve the situation. It was suggested that Council may need to review the existing six-hour parking restriction and snowplowing ordinance = allow variances for residents in areas where property will not accommodate off-street parking. 'lhe Administrat= explained that Lake Johanna Boulevard is a County Road and the City may not have the auth=ity to allow parking on the road. Council concurred to direct staff to determine if the city has the authority to allow parking on a County Road by issuing a permit, to identify the extent of the parking problem in this area and other areas of the city, to refer the information to the Planning Commission and Public Safety fW=ks Cornmittee for their review and reconunendation to Council at the first Regular Council Meeting in June. ., Minutes of the Arden Hills Council Worksession, 5/6/91 Page 4 . MISCELUINEDUS KEI'I'HSON POND Public Works SUperintendent Winkel reported that the pond level is high, due to recent rain, and requested Courlcil direction relative to pumping the pond. Courlcil =ncurred to direct the Public Works SUperintendent to pump the pond to an acceptable level and =ntact George Reiling to detennine if the water may be ptI11lled onto his property, south of the pending area. Council also directed the Clerk Administrator to proceed with the appraisal of the property nee:ied for an easement, to =ntact the property owner with an offer to p.rrchase the easement area and, if the offer is not accepted, to instruct the city Attorney to begin =ndemnation proceedings. It was further directed that staff schedule a meeting with Engineer Maurer, Attorney Filla, Public Works SUperintendent Winkel, Clerk Administrator Berger and Marcel Eibensteiner to discuss resolution of this matter . . REQUEST; HIRE Council was referred to a memorandLnn from city Accountant PARIWI'IME EMPIDYEE T.J. Wolfe-SWanson, requesting the hire of a part-time enployee for approxiroately 20 hours per week, for a four week span of time, at $7.00 per hour. nIe Administrator advised one enployee is utilizing time-off due to a family emergency situation and another enployee was granted a vacation leave prior to notification of the emergency. Malone moved, seconded by Growe, to auth=ize hiring a tenp::>rary enployee for the finance duties outlined in the 5-6-91 memorandLnn from the city Accountant, at $7.00 per hour, 20 hours per week, for a four week period of time, at a cost not to exceed $500.00. Motion carried. (Malone, Growe, Mahowald and Sather voting in favor; Hansen opposed) (4-1) LEAGUE <XlNFERENCE Council was referred to information on the league of cities Conference, which will be held in June. Councilmember Malone referred Council to state statute 349.217 (d) , which explains the definition of the "trade area" for donations of charitable gambling funds. CHARITABLE GAMBLING Malone suggested an amendment to the ordinance, under the section relating to "trade area", which specifies that any underlying goverrnnent body, such as Ramsey Cormty or state agencies, be included in the language defining Arden Hills trade area. The Clerk Administrator advised the legislators are proposing amendments to the Charitable Gambling laws and the city Accountant is reviewing the Ordinance and may have some suggestions f= amendments. - Council =ncurred to direct the Attorney to prepare a draft Ordinance amendment which :incorporates the language specifying the "trade area", as previously discussed and defer adoption rmtil the legislative session ends in the event further amendments are neceS'S'ary. ., . . . Minutes of the Arden Hills council Worksession, 5/6/91 Page 5 councilmember Malone expressed concern that the proposed ilrprovement of North Snelling Avenue was defeated at the public hearing on April 29. Mayor Sather and councilmember Hansen agreed that the road is in extremely poor condition and the city may be liable for damage to vehicles due to the condition of the road. It was also noted that the road has been scheduled for reconstruction for several years and only recently received the MSA designation necessary to fund the project. SNELLINGAVEi IMPOOVEMENI' Mayor Sather advised the inprovement may be returned for council consideration by one of the opposing councilmembers or if a petition is received with thirty-five percent of the residents requesting reconsideration of the inprovement. councilmember Growe expressed a willin::Jness to return the matter to the table for consideration at the next re:JUlar council meeting. councilmember Maho:Nald cammented that the residents appeared to be strongly apposed to the road inprovement. He suggested in the future it may be more appropriate to hold the illIprovement hearing and defer a decision until Council has had time to review the citizen input expressed at the hearing. Maho:Nald advised he would not be willing to reconsider the matter unless fifty percent of the residents expressed SUWOrt of the project. Maho:Nald stated it would be helpful to review traffic counts on North Snelling Avenue and the number and location of accidents on the street. Mayor Sather suggested Council detennine the extent of the road ilrprovement and amenities which would be acx:eptable to the residents prior to reconsideration of the matter. councilmember Hansen suggested a neighborhood meeting with residents to discuss issues that were raised at the public hearing. Mayor Sather requested the Clerk Administrator contact Attorney Filla to detennine the council action necessary to reconsider the inprovement of Snelling. NWYSB i OPEN HOUSE councilmember Hansen reported on the Open House sponsored by the Northwest Youth Services Bureau, between the hours of 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., on May 7, at the new facilities. ADJOURN Malone moved, seconded by Growe, that the meeting be adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Motion carried unaniInously. (5-0) !:1.12. g~ Gary . Berger Clerk Administrator ~P- Mayor NOTICE OF MEETINGS 'lhe next Regular council meeting will be held on Monday, May 13, 1991, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.