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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 01-02-1992 " .""\ e e . MINUI'ES OF '!HE ARDEN HILlS SPEx::IAL OOUNCIL MEEI'ING 'IUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 19~ 5:00 P.M. - CITY HALL CALL 'IO ORDER Pursuant to due call a:cd notice thereof, May= Sather called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL '!he roll being called the follCMing members were present: May= 'Ihanas Sather, eouncilInembers Paul Malone, JoAnn Growe, a:cd Thomas Mahowald. eouncillllember Dale Hicks arrived at 5:05 p.m.. Also present: Treasurer Frank Green, Clerk Administrator Gary Berger a:cd Deputy Clerk Catherine Iago. ADOPl' AGENDA Malone roved, seconded by Growe, to adopt the January 2 Agenda, as amerrled. Motion carried unan:i1rously. (4-0) Mayor Sather administered the Oath of Office to Clerk Administrator Gary Berger a:cd Treasurer Frank Green. CA'lH OF OFFICE <XlNSENr CALENDAR Malone moved, seconded by Mahowald, to approve the Consent Calendar a:cd authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein: a. Adopt Resolution No. 92-01, Designating Depositories a:cd Corporation Authorization. b. Adopt Resolution No. 92-02, Designating Additional Depositories f= InvestJnent Purposes. c. Adopt Resolution No. 92-03, Designating Brokerage Finns for InvestJnent in Federal Goverrnnent Instruments. d. Adopt Resolution No. 92-04, Transfer of Funds by Telephonic Instructions. e. Designate 1992 Official Newspaper. Motion carried unanimously. (4-0) COlmcilmernber Hicks arrived at 5:05 p.m. PUBLIC a:MmNTS Jean lemberg, 1401 Skiles lane, appeared before Council to discuss the proposed median closing from Trunk Highway 51 onto Old Snelling Avenue. Lemberg expressed her displeasure that no attempt was made to notify area residents of the closure of the median a:cd that the only notification was the installation of a sign in this area. Ianberg reviewed infonnation she received from MnDOI' relating to traffic counts a:cd a=idents at this intersection. She expressed concern that the closure will in=ease traffic along County Road E a:cd questioned if the bridge located at the County Road E exit is sufficient to handle the increased traffic. Lemberg also questioned if closure of the intersection will han1per emergency vehicles a:cd delay Police a:cd Fire service to residents in this area. Lemberg suggested signalization of this intersection would be a more effective methcrl of controling traffic a:cd a=idents at this location. She distrihlted a map of the area which outlined existing conditions at this intersection a:cd along County Road E. phil Fable, 2634 Glenarden court, briefly explained the intersection was reviewed in 1972 a:cd MnDot determined the intersection should not be changed. He noted that in 1984, MnDOI' again studied the intersection a:cd altered the intersection to its current configuration. He advised there have been three fatalities at this location since the alteration of the intersection. I I e Minutes of the Arden Hills Regular Council Meeting, 1-2-92 Page 2 Fable stated he does not believe closing this median is the best solution; suggested the entire intersection be closed for traffic traveling in both directions. Fable referred to correspondence he received fran Skip Humphrey which endorses closing the entire median to traffic. MEDIAN (Cont'd) Councilmerober Hicks questioned the rationale for closing the median only f= northbound traffic. Mary Bieringer, MnOOl' District Traffic Engineer, advised that MnOOl' would prefer to utilize the least restrictive method to control traffic at this time; indicated further review of the intersection may determine full closure at a later date. eouncilmerober Mahowald remirrled residents that the roadways being discussed are not urrler City jurisdiction, one is a state highway and the other a Ramsey County roadway. He noted that Council must rely on the judgement of the state traffic engineers to determine what method will be most effective to control traffic at this intersection. Mahowald also noted that the letter from Skip Humphrey, suhnitted by Mr. Fable, does not actually contain language which endorses closure of the median. Mayor Sather suggested further review of the median closing should be conducted in the Spring, after the median closure has been in place for a few months and pri= to any pennanent closure being installed at this location. '!here was discussion relating to the bridge overpass at County Road E. Mayor Sather indicated that the City has on several occasions re:;[Uested the bridge be considered by Ramsey County in their Capital Inprovement Plan. Brad Lemberg, 1401 Skiles Lane, stated his displeasure that residents did not receive sufficient notice of the closing of the median. He advised the traffic counts provided by MnOOl' were taken prior to the upgrade of Iex~ Avenue and the construction of the new Target store in Sh=eview. He reviewed infonnation relating to a=idents which have occurred in the north bound lane of Highway 51 and at the ramp on County Road E. Lemberg noted that the three semaJ:tlores along County Road E are not effectively CXlClrdinated. Lemberg noted that Arden Hills previously refused signalization at the Old Snelling intersection and the state then installed the semaphore at Lydia Avenue. He suggested MnOOl' install a coordinated flashing warning light along the north bound lane of Highway 51 to reduce traffic speed, and realign and install signalization at this intersection. He further suggested an up-to-date study of traffic conditions be completed prior to closing the intersection. George Roscoe, 3445 Glenarden Court, stated he initially favored closing the intersection. He indicated his preference would be the installation of a barricade to close the Snelling access onto Highway 51, thus =eating a dead-end street. I - - Minutes of the Arden Hills Regular Council Meeting, 1-2-92 Page 3 MEDIAN (Cont'd) Jean I.e.mberg advised that during her discussion with representatives fram Bethel College she found that Bethel was not informed of the closure of the median. She advise:i that Bethel representatives expresse:i a preference for the installation of a semaphore at this location. George :Roscoe irrlicated he would not favor the expenditure of funds for the installation of a semaFDore at this location. Mayor Sather stated the expenditure for signalization of the intersection would utilize all existing MSA funds, ani CXJSts may excee::1 the existing funds. He suggested the installation of the teItiJorary barricade would provide an opporhmity for MnOOI' to review traffic issues relating to this intersection, prior to the installation of a permanent structure at this location. Counci1lnember Hicks stated that discussion of the intersection ani public safety COncenJS was held in September 1991 and a request fram the city was foJ:Warded to MnOOI' to review the a=ident situation at this intersection. He noted that normally the state does not act this quickly on a traffic study. Hicks noted that Council was advise:i of the closure in early December ani did not have ample ~tunity to advise residents. He explained it does not appear that closing the median is a sufficient method of resolving the problem, although the closure will provide additional time for the state to review the situation. There was further discussion relating to MnOOI' review of this intersection based on the number of severe a=idents, optional methods studied to reduce the number of a=idents at this location ani statistics provided by the District Traffic Engineer. Mary Bieringer advise:i the state reviewed signalization of this intersection as part of the study, however, the traffic volumes did not warrant signalization. Brad I.e.mberg expresse:i concern relating to the increased traffic on the County Road E bridge which may =eate public safety hazards. Mayor Sather agreed ani noted that Council has ili="lSsed the matter with Ramsey County traffic engineers several times in the past. Council co=ed that the tenporary closure of the median will provide additional time for MnOOI' to review this matter, while providing a reasonable solution to the problem as a teItiJorary measure. No formal Council action was taken on this matter. RES. #91-73; ADOPl'ING 1992 BUDGEI' Mayor Sather advised this matter was tabled fram the 12/20/91 Council meeting, due to questions posed by Council1nembers relating to the document. Clerk Administrator Berger advise:i he related the questions to the City Accountant ani she has requested this matter be tabled to a future meeting. He irrlicated the Accountant is assembling the information for presentation to Council. lhere was discussion regarding the presentation of the depreciation schedule in the b1dget document. Council noted that the previous b1dget documents have not presented the information in this matter. It was suggested that the City Accountant notify Council when proposing a change of this nature. Malone moved, seconded by Hicks, to table this matter to the January 13, Regular Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. (5-0) , e e Minutes of the Arden Hills Regular Council Meeting, 1-2-92 Page 4 1992 CITY APfMI'S i EMPlDYEFS, CDUNCIL LIAISONS, & CITIZEN a:to1MI'ITEES Mayor Sather referred to the 12/24/91 memorandum from the Clerk Administrator regarding Council =nsideration of the 1992 City Appointments ani reconunendations f= citizen canunittee member appointments. Clerk Administrator Berger advised Jean Ietnberg should be added to the Public SafetyfWorks Canmittee. He stated the other canunittees have been up:iated to include interested residents. Hicks lOClVed, seconded by GrcMe, to approve the 1992 City Appointments as proposed, adding resident Jean Ietnberg to the Public Safety/Wm-ks Committee. Motion =ied unan:i1oously. (5-0) Council =ncurred to direct staff to notify all canunittee members of their awointment/reappointment to the various citizen canunittees. Councillnember Hicks requested a letter of thanks to those members not seeking reappointment ani suggested a special letter of thanks be sent to Dorothy Zehm, Planning Commission member, for her length of service ani dedication. APPOINT 1992 ACl'ING MAYOR Mayor Sather recamnended the awointment of eouncillnember Mahowald to serve as 1992 Acting Mayor. Malone lOClVed, seconded by Hicks, to ratify the recanmendation of Mayor Sather to appoint 'Ihanas Mahowald as 1992 Acting Mayor. Motion =ied unan:i1oously. (5-0) APPOINT 1992 CDUNCIL LIAISONS Mayor Sather recamnerxied the following appointments f= 1992 Council Liaisons to citizen canunittees: Planning Commission - Mahowald Public Works/Safety - GrcMe Park ani Recreation - Hicks Finance Canmittee - Malone Fhman Rights - GrcMe LJVFD Pension Board - Malone (Alternate - Berger) Ran1sey County Cities - Berger RCLLG - Hicks Cable - Sather NYSB - Hicks Mayor Sather advised the Newsletter appoinbnent will not be made at this time. eouncillnember Malone noted the appointment of Dave Winkel as Tree Inspector ani that the employee had expressed dissatisfaction regarding this appointment. He noted this appointment is not optional. Hicks moved, seconded by Growe, to ratify the reconunendations of Mayor Sather for appointments as outlined. Motion =ied unanilrously. (5-0) CDUNCIL a:x.lMENl'S RFP'Si ARCHITECI'S Clerk Administrator Berger reported that he has received infomation from several architectural firms, in response to the RFP's for the new City Hall facility. He offered to draft selection =iteria for Council utilization in reviewing the proposals ani requested direction as to Council preference for processing the proposals. . " .' ~ -. Minutes of the Arden Hills Regular Council Meeting, 1-2-92 Page 5 ' RFP'S (Cont'd) After discussion, Council concurred to direct the Clerk Administrator to develop selection criteria for approval at the next Council meeting. staff was further directed to review the proposals and select eight (8) proposals for suJ:mission to Council for review. Council determined four or five finalists W'OUld be selected fram the eight proposals suJ:mitted by staff for the purpose of scheduling interviews to r!i.......1SS the architect proposals. ZEDS SIGN Councilmember Malone advised the Zeos Sign is not in compliance with Sign Ordinance regulations; suggested the company be cited for operating without a bJsiness license, since no license should be issued prior to the sign operating in compliance with the Ordinance. Mayor Sather advised that the retail manager of Zeos notified the Building Official the sign is COI'Iplter driven and when the c:onprt:er is not :functioning, the sign may not be altered to comply with the regulations. Council concurred to direct the Building Official to enforce the sign regulations. MISCEUANIDUS Councilmember Hicks reported on various meeting dates. He noted an invitation fram Roseville area schools to attend a meeting on Thursday, January 30, to develop a directory of youth related groups and activities. MEDIAN CWSING Councilmember Hicks noted that it may be beneficial to request the MnJ:XJr Traffic Engineer to attend a future Council meeting to discuss the median closing and bring updated infonnation on traffic =unts. Mayor Sather agreed it may be awropriate to schedule an infonnal meeting with residents regarding this matter. Council ooncurred to direct the Clerk Administrator to =ntact Mary Bieringer fram MnJ:XJr to appear in April, prior to the permanent construction of a barrier in the median, to r!i.......lSS this matter. SOlID. WKSESSION Malone moved, seconded by Hicks, to schedule a Council Worksession meeting on Tuesday, January 21, at 4:30 p.m., to discuss goals and objectives with Department Heads Gary Berger, John Buckley and Dan winkel. Motion carried unanim.:lusly. (5-0) ADJOURN Hicks moved, seconded by Malone, that the meeting be Mjam>rl * "" p.m:;z~/€Y. (~I _R.ft Mayor _ ~..!.!"'r' Clerk Administrator NOI'ICE OF MEEl'INGS 'Ihe next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Morxlay, January 13, 1992, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.