Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 08-26-1996 I I {t I I I I I I Ie I I I I I I I , I MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 26, 1996 7:30 P.M. - NEW BRIGHTON COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDERlROLL 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 Beverly Aplikowski, Dale Hicks, Susan Keirn, and Paul Malone. Absent: None Also present were: City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; City Accountant, Terry Post; Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford; Community Development Director, Kevin Ringwald; Parks & Recreation Director, Cindy Walsh; Administrative Secretary Sheila Stowell; and Recording Secretary, Debbie Wolfe. ADOPT AGENDA MOTION: Keirn moved and Malone seconded a motion to adopt the agenda for the August 26, 1996, Regular City Council meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 12, 1996, Regular Council Meeting Aplikowski noted a correction on page 5 of the minutes in the last paragraph. She noted the first sentence should be corrected to read "Councilmember Aplikowski asked ifthe Sobriety School in the Arden Plaza complex has been denied". MOTION: Hicks moved and Keirn seconded a motion to approve the August 12, 1996, Regular Council Meeting minutes as corrected. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). I I f' I I I I I I Ie I I I I I I I , I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 26. 1996 2 August 12, 1996, Council Worksession Meeting No corrections. MOTION: Hicks moved and Keirn seconded a motion to approve the August 12, 1996, Council Worksession Meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). August 19, 1996, Council Worksession Meeting It was noted the date of the minutes should be corrected to read on pages two through five as August 19, 1996 (instead of August 12, 1996). Aplikowski also noted on page four, paragraph six, the minutes should be corrected to read Human Rights Committee (instead of Commission). MOTION: Hicks moved and Keirn seconded a motion to approve the August 19, 1996, Council Worksession Meeting minutes as corrected. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). CONSENT CALENDAR A. Resolution #96-49, Revising Resolution #96-34(a), Final Assessment Roll Resulting from Settlement (Gene Schmidt Appeal) B. Claims and Payroll MOTION: Hicks moved and Aplikowski seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented and authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Probst invited the audience to address the Council on any issue not already on the agenda. Mr. Tom Steele, 3570 Ridgewood Road, stated he has lived in the City for 14 years and wished to address the matter of the City Hall facility. Mr. Steele stated he is a member of the Finance Committee and TCAAP Task Force and noted his comments do not reflect the feelings of the other committee members. Mr. Steele stated the City is in desperate need of another City office facility. He does not believe much has happened to move forward in that direction. He stated the City has been waiting to find out the disposition of the arsenal property by the Federal Government and he fears that will take a long time. Mr. Steele believes the City should forget the arsenal property and go forward with plans to build, purchase or lease a building to accommodate the City's needs. He is aware staff has looked at some other possibilities but he encourages staff and Council take an objective look at that option. I I f' I I I I I I Ie I I I I I I I , I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 26. 1996 3 Mr. Steele also addressed the Council regarding the Quad Arena. He stated the Hockey Association does not have the money to finance the facility and the cities are asked to pay for facilities that will only benefit a small percentage of the residents. He feels if the idea for the Quad Arena was feasible, it would have been privately financed. He does not believe it is right for all residents to pay for a facility that will only benefit 144 kids. He does not think the government should be in the entertainment business. Mayor Probst stated the Council is on track to make a decision regarding the City Hall this fall. Hopefully the status of the arsenal property would be known at that time. The Council will consider all options. Mayor Probst continued, regarding the Quad Arena, the Council has received more information and discussed it during a worksession. He noted it will be on the Council agenda for further discussion on September 9,1996. Mayor Probst stated the City of Arden Hills has been requested to guarantee use of2000 hours to be shared with three other cities. Mr. Chuck Mertensotto, representing the Finance Committee, presented the results of their meeting held last Thursday, regarding City Hall. He noted the two new members of the Committee were concerned at the office conditions for City Staff. The Committee believes the City should look at some leased space for the staff while considering the construction of a more permanent space. Mr. Mertensotto believes dealing with the TCAAP property will be a long process. The Finance Committee recommends that City employees be moved into a different facility as soon as possible. Mayor Probst noted the Public Works Department is not part ofthe current City facility discussion due to the possibility of a joint facility with the National Guard and Ramsey County. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution #96-48, Supporting Cooperative Livable Cities Demonstration Grant Application to Metropolitan Council for 1-35 W Corridor Coalition Planning Activities Brian Fritsinger, City Administrator, advised the Council is asked to adopt a resolution supporting the Cooperative Liveable Cities Demonstration Grant to the Metropolitan Council for the I-35W Corridor Coalition planning activities. He explained the final grant amount being requested is estimated to be $350,000 for 1997 which would be used to assist with a variety of activities including a traffic study ofI-35W, GIS, and other planning needs. This is ajoint application between the coalition cities and should not involve any matching funds, if awarded. I I i' I I I I I I Ie I I I I I I I , I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 26. 1996 4 Mr. Fritsinger distributed the application prepared for the Met Council. He stated two months ago a meeting was held to further discuss the formal process of placing the coalition on a work schedule. At that time, Staff was directed to work on a potential joint powers agreement. The grant application to the Met Council is due on Friday, August 30, 1996, for the Livable Communities Act. Mayor Probst noted he and Mr. Fritsinger participated in discussions with members of the Coalition, and the next meeting is scheduled for August 27. He stated he supports the resolution and plans to state his desire for emphasis on transportation at the upcoming meeting. Councilmember Malone stated he agreed with Mayor Probst. Councilmember Aplikowski stated she also supported the resolution and agreed transportation should be an emphasis. She added she believes all communities will benefit. Councilmember Hicks stated he concurs with the comments made. MOTION: Hicks moved and Keim seconded a motion to approve Resolution #96-48, Supporting Cooperative Livable Cities Demonstration Grant Application to Metropolitan Council for 1-35 W Corridor Coalition Planning Activities. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). B. 1997 Budget Process - Integration of City & County Road Improvement Projects Mr. Fritsinger commented that this issue relates to the last discussion held at the most recent worksession. At that meeting, City Engineer Stonehouse provided a detailed 1997 Pavement Management Plan (PMP). The question arose as to whether this scope of work could be funded based upon the City's planned $48,000 involvement in the Ramsey County Cleveland Avenue Bridge Project, and the $35,000 in additional PMP funding from the 1.95% Net Levy increase. Mr. Fritsinger stated that the Engineer's 1997 PMP Plan could be accomplished if Colleen Avenue would be added to the State Aid system. Mr. Fritsinger pointed out that the City's participating in County Projects will increase during the next five-year period, and result in significantly higher costs to Arden Hills. Terry Post, City Accountant, stated that funding for City participation in these County projects may require both a component from the Assessment Policy of the City, aud from the use of fixed MSA Construction Funds. Mr. Post stated in the past, MSA Construction Funds have been used mainly for internal PMP projects, but now the use of these funds will also have to compete with participation in County projects. Mayor Probst asked if MSA funds could be used on County projects. Mr. Post stated they can. Mayor Probst asked if the Federal Government could be assessed and Mr. Post stated he does not believe so. Councilmember Malone stated this is an example of "delayed pain" based on a decision of the State with the burden falling on the cities. I I ~ I I I I I I .. I I I I I I I , I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 26. 1996 5 Councilmember Keirn asked if the City had ever assessed residents to pay for City-incmred costs on County projects. Mr. Fritsinger stated the City has not done that. No action was required by the Council. ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS Mr. Fritsinger stated it is necessary for the Council to meet after the Primary Election to canvass the election results. MOTION: Malone moved and Hicks seconded a motion to schedule a meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, September II, 1996, at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of canvassing the primary election. The meeting will be held in the public works lunchroom. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). Councilmember Hicks noted he would not be in attendance. Mr. Fritsinger noted filings for office open August 27 and runs through September 10. Mayor Probst noted there are two Council positions open. Mr. Fritsinger stated he has received the first five chapters of the revised Municipal Code from the League of Minnesota Cities. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Malone stated the City may receive $5,000 as a result of the work prepared by the AMM Subcommittee for the updating of the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Aplikowski stated she was dismayed about the work that was done on Pascal Avenue and requested Council re-evaluate on what should be done. She stated the road is much too narrow and it will be difficult for service and emergency vehicles. Councilmember Keirn agreed and stated she believes the road could have been one foot wider without making a difference. Mayor Probst stated this street only serves four residents and he believes appropriate efforts were made to save trees in the area. Mayor Probst suggested the Monday, September 16 worksession serve as the annual meeting with the committees and staff. The worksession will be outside if the weather permits. Councilmember Aplikowski reported on the meeting with Congressman Vento and discussions regarding the Arsenal project. I I ,. I I I I I I -. I I I I I I I , I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - AUGUST 26. 1996 6 Mayor Probst stated the City received a request from the Suburban Rate Authority and asked if staff was familiar with this organization. Mr. Fritsinger stated he was not. Mayor Probst suggested an October worksession be held with an agenda item to discuss creating an EDA, organizational meetings, and budget issues. Mayor Probst noted October 6-12 is Cities Week. In the past, the City has sent thank you notes to the Committee members. He suggested some Town Hall meetings be held during this week to provide residents with an opportunity to raise issues with the Council. ADJOURN MOTION: Aplikowski moved and Hicks seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 I .m. The otion carried unanimously (5-0). :7 Brian Fritsinger City Administra or NOTICE OF MEETINGS The next regular City Council meeting will be held September 9, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. at New Brighton Family Service Center.