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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 11-13-2006 . ~ --AI~~~}-IILLS Approvcd: CITY OF ARDEN HILLS. l\JI:\'NESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL lVIEETING NOVEMBER 13. 2006~ 7:00 P.l\l. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and noticc thereof, Mayor Bevcrly Aplikowski callcd to ordcr the rcgular City Councilmccting at 7:02 p.m. Present: Mayor Bevcrly Aplikowski, Councilmembers David Grant, Grcgg Larson, . Brcnda Holdcn, and Vincent Pellegrin. Abscnt: None. Also prcscnt werc City Administrator, Michelle Wolt\::; City Attorney, Jerry Filla; Public Works Director, Grcgory Hoag; Community Developmcnt Dircctor, Karcn Barton; City Enginecr, Kris Giga; Assistant City Administrator, Schawn Johnson; City Planner, James Lehnhoff; Parks and Recrcation Manager Miche11c Olson; and Recording Secretary, Kathleen Altman. 1. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Councilmcmber Larson moved and Councilmcmber Holden seconded a motion to approve the meeting agcnda as revised. The motion carricd unanimollsly (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF ;\UNUTES A. October 30, 2006 City Counci1 Ylccting 1\'10TION: Councilmcmbcr Holden movcd and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve the October 30, 2006 City Council Mccting Minutes as . presentcd. The motion carried unanimously (5-0), ------ ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 13,2006 2 . 3. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Claims and Payroll b, Motion to Approve Payment #3 to Margolis Company in the Amount of $1,591.93 for the CSAH 96 Landscape and In"igation Improvement Project MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 4. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS Nonc. 5. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. . 7. NE\V BUSINESS A. Resolution 06-52: CertifviU1?: the 2006 City of Arden Hills Municipal Election Canvass Results Mr. Johnson stated members of the City Council are required by State Statute to certify the results of the Municipal Election to the Ramsey County Auditor within seven (7) days of the General Election. He recommended Council approve the Resolution. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Pellegrin seconded a motion to approve Resolution 06-52: Certifying the 2006 Arden Hills Municipal Election Canvass Results. The motion ccmied unanimously (5- 0). B. Motion to Approve Staffs Recommendation Re2ardin1! the 2007 Celebratin1! Arden Hills Event Ms. Olson stated at the September 14,2006 Council Work Session, staff presented a recap of the 2006 Celebrating Arden Hills Event with a budget summary. At that time, staff asked for direction for the upcoming 2007 event. The City Council consensus at that meeting was for staif . to plan a condensed version of the event for 2007 in order for the future of the event to be ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 13, 2006 " -' . evaluated further. She reviewed staffs recommcndations on how to procced for this year's event. Mayor Aplikowski stated she would be voting no on this because this was not the purpose of the Arden Hills Event. MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Pellegrin seconded a motion to approve stairs recommendation regarding the 2007 Celebrating Arden Hills Event. The motion failed (2-3 Councilmembers Grant, Holden, and Mayor Aplikowski opposed). C. Motion to Approve Ordinance #381 to U pdate and Re-codifv the Zonin2 Re2ulations into Chapter 13: Zonin2 Code of the Official City Code of Ordinances Mr. Lehnhoff requested Council consider a motion to approve Ordinance #381 to update and re- codi fy the zoning regulations into Chapter 13: Zoning Code of the official City Code of Ordinances. He reviewed the changes being requested. Council member Larson requcsted staff add a definition for noxious weeds. Councilmember Holden stated she had a concel11 regarding the 4/5 vote. She stated that was . the only part she would not support. Councilmember Grant stated he believed the pun process should require a 4/5 vote. Councilmembcr Holden stated she was opposed to all three 4/5 vote. Councilmember Larson asked staff for an explanation as to why this made sense. Mr. Lehnhoff responded staff was not specifically recommending this, but this was one of the cases where the City currently deviates from State Statutes and that was the reason this was being proposed as an option. Mayor Aplikowski stated she believed this was a good move for the City and when the full Council was not in attendance it made it extremely difficult to get the entire Council thinking the same, She stated she did not have a problem with this. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to remove Section 1355 itcms 20, 21, and 22 from Planning Casc 06-034. City Attorney Filla stated most cities had a 4/51h vote, but it was not required and if they chose to keep the 3/5111 vote they could. The motion carried (4-1 Mayor Aplikowski opposed). . ARDEN HILLS CIT'{ COUNCIL- NOVEMBER 13,2006 4 . l\'lOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Larson seconded a motion to approve Ordinance #381 to Update and Re-codify the Zoning Regulations into Chapter 13: Zoning Code of the Official City Code of Ordinances with the 26 changes with the exception of 20-22. The motion c::mied unanimously (5-0). MOTION: Councilmember Larson moved and Councilmember Pellegrin seconded a motion to adopt the Ordinance summary with the 26 changes with the exception of 20-22. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). D. J\'lotion to Authorize City Staff to Apply for a Grant throu2:h the J\linnesota DNR Local Trail Connection Pro2:ram and Authorize City Staff to Hud2:et from the Park Fund in 2007 $38.500 in Expenditures and $16.750 in Revenue Ms. Olson stated the Tony Schmidt Underpass trail project was recently completed by Ramsey County Parks and Recreation. The Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee (PTRC) has requested staff apply for a grant through the Minnesota DNR Local Trail Connection Program to connect this underpass trail to Perry Parle The grade up to Perry Park is a challenge and the location indicated is the only feasible area for ADA compliance. Staff has figured a preliminary cost estimate for this trail segment at 538,500. There is a fifty percent cash match for this program for eligible expenses. Therefore. if awarded the grant, the City must complete the . project and fully pay for it, produce documentation that shows actual expenditures and the City will receive half of what was spent up to their grant award. Engincering fees are not eligible for reimbursement (estimated at 55,000). The PTRC did tentatively add this trail location to their strategies at their October 17, 2006 meeting. The Committee will be bringing back revised strategies, including this trail segment at the November 27, 2006, Regular City Council Meeting for approval. The grant has a deadline of February 28, 2007, and the awards will be announced sometime in July 2007. Staff does plan on bringing forward an official resolution to the City Council supporting the completed grant application sometime in February 2007. Councilmember Grant asked if staff intends to proceed with this project whether or not they receive the grant. Ms. Olsol1 responded they would proceed if they did not receive the grant. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to authorize city staff to budget from the Park Fund in 2007 538,500 in Expenditures and 516,750 in Revenue. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). l\lOTION: Councilmember Pellegrin moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a motion to authorize city staff to apply for a Grant through the Minnesota DNR Local Trail Connection Program and Authorize city staff to budget from the Park Fund in 2007 538,500 in Expenditures and 516,750 in Revenue, The motion carried unanimously (5-0). . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 13, 2006 5 . D. Motion to Approve the Criteria for Placing Planning Commission Cases on the Consent Calendar at Future City Council Meetings Mr. Lehnhoff statcd at the Scptcmbcr 18, 2006 Council work session, the Council requested staff prepare a set of evaluation criteria for dctennining if a planning case can be placed on thc City Council's consent calendar. Since many planning cases arc not controversial and have a unanimous recommcndation from the Planning Commission, this step would increase the cfficiency of revicwing certain non-controversial planning cases at City Council meetings. Mayor Aplikowski stated she was not in favor of this. She noted there have been times in the past when thc City Council did not agree with the Planning Commissions recommcndation. Councilmember Larson statcd it might be nice to move the Conscnt Calendar to follow thc public infol111ational pOliion of the meeting, which would give Council the opportunity to take the itcm off of the Consent Calcndar if there was someonc in attendancc who wanted to speak on an item. He stated he did not agrcc with thc criteria that the City Council liaison's rccommendation is required for placing a planning case on the conscnt calendar or not. Councilmember Grant stated it might be a good idea to table this item until after thc first of the year when the ncw Counci I was in attendancc. He noted thc new Council might want to make ceJiain changes. . Mayor Aplikowski recommended they vote this down and let staff bring it to thc Council after the first of the ycar. Councilmember I.arson believed they should vote on this now and just because there wcre new people coming onto the Council should not be a reason to stop doing City business. MOTION: Councilmcmber Grant moved and Councilmembcr Holdcn seconded a motion to deny the Critcria [or Placing Planning Commission Cases on the Consent Calendar at Future City Council Meetings. Thc motion cmTied (4-1 Councilmember Larson opposed). 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Citv Staff Response to Resident Concerns Regarding the 2006 PMP Proiect Ms. Giga statcd at thc October 30, 2006 Council Meeting, sevcral residents presented some concems rcgarding thc 2006 PMP Improvcment Project. The first concem brought to the Council meeting involvcs the intersection of Siems Court and Lake Johanna Boulevard. Rcsidents have indicated that there is difficulty in turning into Siems Court offofLake Johanna Boulcvard, completing thc tUI11 without encroaching into opposing traffic, and passing cars that are at the interscction waiting to turn out. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 13,2006 6 . She indicatcd the other two concerns rcgard trcc rcmoval and rcplacement throughout the neighborhood. First, the residcnts are requesting that at least an cquivalent amount oftrccs are replaced throughout the ncighborhood as were removed. The othcr concern about trees was the stability ofthc slope along the wcst side of Siems Coul1 on the 1600 Lake Johanna Boulcvard propcrty. The residents are requesting that a landscaping plan is prepared and thc hi llside is revegetatcd. She reviewed her analysis and recommcnded the intersection of Sicms Court and Lakc Johanna Boulevard remain as constructed, with thc possible addition of striping and a stop bar to delineate thc lanes. She rccommended that additional trccs and shrubs be added, but suggcstcd that staff rcceivc additional quotes in an effort to gct lowcr prices. Councilmember Larson stated he believed thc width ofthc intersection slowed people down. Hc statcd he was not sure they should add yellow striping to the street becausc this was a residcntial street. Councilmember Holden noted she had driven this street and it was intimidating to drive this prior to thc bituminous being brought up to the curb. Councilmember Grant statcd hc also did not think striping should bc added. He believcd it would destroy the look and fccl of the neighborhood. He stated hc was in favor of adding . additional trees because the loss ofthe trees changes the character of the neighborhood. Kathy ~elson, 3475 Siems Court, rcad from a prcpared statcmcnt outlining hcr opposition to the intcrscction. She noted the road would bc cven nalTowcr in the wintcr whcn there was snow on thc ground. She statcd her replaced driveway was not what they had previously. Shc indicated thcy had an electrical cord cut which had not been fix cd. She stated shc prcviously had an aggregatc sidcwalk, which she did not havc now. She requcsted that Council approve thc staff recommcndation of additional trccs. She asked thc City to considcr putting in additional trees as wcll. Bill Thornton, 3510 Siems Court, statcd hc has lived on Sicms Court for 20 years. Hc stated thc problem was not two parkcd vehicles approaching each other from opposite direction, but rather the traffic movcd fast in this area. He noted thcy had to slow down fairly dramatically now to make the turn. He suggcstcd thcy widen the intersection so they did not have to makc such dramatic tums. He stated he would not bc in favor of striping the road and did not believe it would improve the condition ofthc road. Hc statcd they did need more trees added also. He stated the ncighborhood wanted to sce as much replanting done as possible. He statcd he want cd a nice mix and variety of trees put in. He stated from his personal perspective he would rathcr see additional trees added than the road widened. He requested staff review the re- forestation for the hillside. He did not believe six trees wcre sufficient. Steve Erickson, 3442 Siems Court, statcd hc shared thc same conccrns. He asked Council to . consider the gcomctry of this intersection and that they tried to make thc 90 degree connection in ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER] 3,2006 7 . too Sh0l1 of a length. He stated he also wanted the trees replaced. He stated he wanted the hillside maintained also. 'Viii 'Vood~ 3470 Siems Court~ stated he had submitted an emai] to the City Engineer. He stated the intersection was a safety issue. He stated it was difficult to see up the hi]1. He stated moving the road a ]itt]e bit wou]d make it easier to see up the hill. Mayor Aplikowski agrced it was a shock to the ncighborhood at the devastation of the loss of the trees. Councilmember Grant askcd if the 520,000 figure was for one side or both sides of the road. Ms. Giga rcsponded it was for both sidcs of the road. Councilmember Grant statcd he was in supp0l1 of widening the strcets because this was a safety issue. He stated in the winter thc road would be narrO\ver and it was on a slope. He believed Council needed to send this back to staff to comc up with a solution to the intersection Issue. l\layor Aplikowski asked if they would have to go back vcry far to get the slope wider. Ms. Giga responded a typical car length was 20 feet, so they may have to go back as much as ] 00 feet. . Councilmember Larson asked i[the opening was widened, \voldd they have to do both sides of the road. Ms. Giga responded they could look at widening one side of the road only. Council member Pellegrin stated he could see a problem with safety in the winter. He stated he was also concerned about the rcsidents having to slow down too much to make the turn and this was a safety issue. Councilmember Pellegrin also stated that making it wider and allowing f~lster traftic could be a safety issue as well. l\'10TION: Councilmembcr Larson moved and Councilmember Pellegrin seconded a motion to request staff take a look at widening the entrance by widening the curb on the cast side of the road and come back to Council with plans and cost. Councilmember Grant made an amendment to instruct staff to look at both sides of the intersection. Councilmember Larson accepted Councilmember Grant's amendment. :\Is. Giga noted with the seasonal change, no change to the intersection would be made until spn ng. Ms. 'Volfe recommended staff come up with two or three options, with one being what could be done for $20,000. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - NOVEMBER 13, 2006 8 . Councilmember Larson suggcstcd they hold off making any decision until spring after the residents went through a winter with the intersection as long as thcy could not do the work until thc spring anyway. The motion carricd unanimously (5-0). l\10TION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmembcr Larson scconded a motion to approve additional landscaping as described in staffs November 9,2006 report to Council. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). B. TCAAP - Verbal Update l\Is. Barton updated on thc Council on recent TCAAP developments. 9. COUNCIL REQUESTS None. MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Co unci I member Holden second cd a motion to approve the rcgular City Council mceting adjournmcnt and the Council procced to a closed session to discuss pcnding issucs with the City . Hall Arbitration pursuant to MN Statute and to discuss the 2006 PMP asscssmcnt appeal. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). Mayor Aplikowski adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting meeting a ~---;fx ~' /tft' Beverly pli ow SkI MIchelle Wolfe Mayor City Administrator NOTICE OF MEETINGS Thc next Council Meeting will be held Monday, November 27, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at thc Ardcn Hills Council Chambers. .