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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 08-19-1996 . . MINUTES .. CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION AUGUST 19, 1996 4:30 P.M. - PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING LUNCHROOM I CALL TO ORDERlROLL CALL . Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Acting Mayor Aplikowski called to order the City Council worksession at 4:35 pm. Present: Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, Dale Hicks and Paul Malone, with Councilmember Susan Keim arriving at 5:10 p.m.; City Administrator, Brian . Fritsinger; Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford; Community Development Director, Kevin Ringwald; Parks and Recreation Director, Cindy Walsh; City AccoW1tant, Terry Post; Recording Seeretary, Sheila Stowell, with Consulting Engineer, Greg Stonehouse, arriving at . 4:55 p.m. Mayor Probst was unable to attend the meeting. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION . a. Committee Reports No Committee Reports were presented or received by the COW1cil. . b. Department Head Renorts Department Heads provided the Council with a brief review of their respective departments. Ie Public Works Supervisor, Dwayne Stafford, brought an item to the COW1cil's attention regarding a property owner in the Valentine AvenueNalentine Crest area who had almost I completed the installation of a retaining wall, which encroaches on the City's street right- of-way easement. The wall has the potential for utility and snowplowing problems in the I future. The retaining wall is in violation of Minnesota State Statute and MW1icipal Code, but as addressed by City Administrator Fritsinger, due to the layout of the property and existing trees and landscaping, the property owner didn't have many options in the . placement of the retaining wall. It was noted by Mr. Fritsinger and Mr. Stafford that future improvements by the City or . future owners of this partieular property could eause major expense for the City and/or property owner. Historically, the City hasn't been very aggressive in monitoring encroachments into the City's rights-of-way. . It was the consensus of the Council that the retaining wall be left as constructed. However, staff was directed to notify the property owner that the retaining wall was I illegal, and that the property owner may be required to remove or maintain the area in the future as the City dietates. This is so the City does not incur additional expense to I taxpayers due to the wall's installation. Council directed that copies of the letter be provided to the Aecounting Department for assessment and filing purposes and the Public Works Departments for future reference regarding street improvements in that area. " I ------ I . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION -AUGUST 19. 1996 2 .. c. Administrator Reports . City Administrator Fritsinger advised the COW1cil that the grievance filed by Local #49 regarding lunch schedules would be going to mediation. I Mr. Fritsinger also advised the Couneil that another location or reseheduling would be required for the September 9, 1996 COW1cil meeting. Council directed staff to find another location for the September 9th meeting as scheduled. I Mr. Fritsinger advised the Council that the Quad Ice Arena proposed for location in . Blaine was still pending, and that a joint meeting of all four City Councils was scheduled for August 28, 1996, with formal action by the Arden Hills City COW1cil to be considered at their September 9th regular meeting. The majority of the Councilmembers were I unable to commit to the August 28th meeting due to prior commitments. COW1cilmember Hicks requested a status report on the Gene Schmidt assessment, and . City AecoW1tant Post advised that a formal resolution would be available for COW1cil consideration at the August 26th regular meeting. Mr. Post advised that one outstanding appeal remained from a single Oak Avenue residence. .. d. Councilmember Reports Upon arrival of Councilmember Keirn, discussion took place regarding the Lake Joharma I Fire Department's recent parking lot renovations. Ms. Keim advised COW1cilmembers and staff that she had reviewed the site, and the Fire Department had made vast improvements in drainage of the existing lot. She stated that a miscommunication . problem seemed to have developed between the Fire Department and their Consultant (MSA) regarding permit requirements. . Community Development Director, Kevin Ringwald, advised Councilmembers that this issue was an agenda item for the Planning Commission at their meeting of September 4, I 1996. He stated that neighbors were concerned regarding the proposed proximity of the parking lot to their properties on the northeast side, and potential devaluation of extra lots owned by some residents. The normal setback requirement of 75 feet for the parking lot I would have provided for placement of a landseaping buffer. Councilmembers questioned the nwnber of parking spaces actually required for the Fire I Department, considering the frequency of use by the full Department, and Mr. Ringwald reminded COW1cilmembers that the Fire Department's Special Use Permit permitted Fire Department-related activities only to occur at Fire Station No. I. I EDUCATION UPDATE ,. Councilmembers expressed appreciation in being kept updated on pending legislation and other items, through staff providing copies of the League of Minnesota Cities Bulletin. I . I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 19. 1996 3 .. CITY ISSUES - SHORT TERM . a. Review Permit/License Fees City Administrator Fritsinger reviewed eurrent City Permit and License Fees as previously adopted by the Council, and briefly discussed proposed additions and . revisions for 1997. Discussion of new fees not currently addressed by the Municipal Code included Courtesy Benches, Sign Ordinance, Impound, Christmas Tree Sales, Beauty Shops, and armual vs. quarterly Liquor License fees. Mr. Fritsinger stated that . staff would continue reviewing the fee schedule, and have clarifications and additions prepared for formal Couneil adoption by resolution. . A specific area of concern was the Courtesy Benches which do not meet the City's signage regulations and their proliferation in the City. Mr. Ringwald suggested requiring . an annual fee (higher than business signs) with locational requirements, if the City wished to allow courtesy benches at all. . Diseussion was held regarding impound fees for illegal signs. Mr. Ringwald suggested that first-time violators receive a warning, with impoW1d fees being invoked for any further violations. The COW1eil concurred with this suggestion. Ie Some discussion took place regarding Christmas tree sales and beauty shops and the rationale behind permitting requirements, or lack thereof. Staff was directed to I incorporate fees for the above-referenced business enterprises into the City's Retail Sales Permit requirements. . Diseussion took place regarding changing the current quarterly fees to an armual fee for the City's Liquor licenses. Discussions included preferenee of COW1cilmembers and staff in pursuing armual fees to save staff time, but alluded to the difficulties some . business establishments might have in coming up with the larger, one-time fees. COW1cil directed staffto continue according to current practice for now, but to provide notice to . the affected businesses that beginning in 1998, the fees would become annual. Councilmember Hicks suggested that staff might consider a discoW1t for up-front payment, and charge a fee for installment payments being made. City Administrator . Fritsinger advised the Council that notiees would be going out within the next month for the 1997 Liquor Licenses. . b. 1997 Street Improvcments In implementing the COW1eil's previously expressed stance of a more pro-active street maintenance schedule, Consulting Engineer, Greg Stonehouse, presented a five-year . projected street maintenance cost/revenue analysis which provided a street maintenanee history, five-year Pavement Management Program, and a map highlighting the proposed " program. I I I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 19. 1996 4 I- In focusing on 1997/1998, Mr. Stonehouse advised the Council that the streets were I normally evaluated on a three-year basis. Mr. Stonehouse suggested preparation of a11 AutoCAD map, with a copy provided to City Hall and included in a future City Newsletter publication to inform the public informed of scheduled road maintenance. I Couneilmember Aplikowski asked that the Public Works Committee - at their September 19, 1996 meeting - have an opportW1ity to review the schedule as prepared by Mr. I Stonehouse, and present their comments prior to formal Council action scheduled for the September 30, 1996 regular meeting. I c. 1997 Budget City AccoW1tant, Terry Post, reviewed the 1997 Proposed Budget with Council, I following further refinement after previous Council discussions. The 1997 projected Levy increase is 1.95%. Mr. Post provided an overview of Payable 1997 Market Valuations, 1997 CIP considerations, projeeted personnel and salary assumptions, I General Fund revenues and expenditures, along with PIR and Enterprise Fund proposals. Mr. Ringwald advised thc Council that the 1996 cost for Protective Inspections was .. estimated at $104,000, and the added full-time staff position would substantially reduce this alillual cost to the City. I Mr. Post advised the COW1cil that further review of the Budget would be available at their August 26, 1996 regular meeting, and formal Preliminary Levy adoption necessary at the September 9, 1996 meeting. Councilmembers expressed their consensus of satisfaction I with the budget as prepared by staff. Mr. Post advised that he would be correlating the current report presented by Mr. Stonehouse on 1997 road improvements, with proposed 1997 budget amounts. I City Administrator Fritsinger recommended withholding any formal action on adopting I the Preliminary Levy until the September 9th meeting, to allow for further fine-tuning of the budget, and also noted the deletion of funding for any Human Rights Committee activities. Couneil agreed to these items. I d. Sheehy Tennis Court - Lease Agreement Park and Recreation Direetor, Cindy Walsh, presented a draft lease agreement with Arden I Hills #3 Association for the Association's proposed upgrading, maintena11ce, and use of the old tennis court located on the Sheehy property. I Staff was directed to prepare the Lease Agreement, with no public funds utilized for improvements for this private use, at an annual fee of $1 0.00 for processing. ,. I . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 19. 1996 5 .- CITY ISSUES - LONG TERM I Consultant Reviews/Evaluations City Administrator Fritsinger provided the Council with performanee review forms for use in their annual evaluation of existing consultants, and briefly reviewed the intentions I of the evaluation process. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS . Cormcilmember Malone requested an update from City Administrator Fritsinger regarding the re- striping of Lexington A venue. Mr. Fritsinger responded that, to his knowledge, Ramsey COW1ty had not scheduled a meeting with the residents. . ADJOURN . The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. . .. . . . . I . . , .