2023 02-21 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes February 21, 2023 2 | Page The near term strategies for this project are fostering a sense of place and purpose: 1. Form a coalition among the three cities (similar to the Rice Larpenteur Alliance) to pursue these recommendations 2. Initiate a working group to build out programmed events and activities that give character or personality to the County Road E corridor 3. Work with developers to incorporate privately owned public spaces into larger project sites 4. Coordinate streetscape elements (e.g., trees, banners, street light designs, flower planters or baskets, etc.) to signify connectivity and individuality among the cities 5. Create family-friendly programing and events in each of the three cities along County Road E corridor 6. Align zoning regulations in each community to match their comprehensive plans and accomplish these recommendations 7. Continue to engage community members to inform and strengthen the County Road E Corridor action plan (especially those who were not able to participate in this series of workshops) The neat term – long term strategies include: 1. Safety – Coordination with Ramsey County and/or MnDOT to study and address potential safety issues along the corridor and consider the traffic calming tool kit options 2. Connectivity – Strengthen and promote convenient, comfortable and safe walking, rolling and biking along, across and near the corridor 3. Activate development sites Resident Rick Bosak shared some of his takeaways from the action plan. Mr. Bosak feels that there are conflicts between what contractors would like to do and what the residents would like to see. He also stated that at this time there is no safe way for pedestrians to safely get around. He would like to see a cohesive look and feel and some street lights and sidewalks. Mr. Bosak feels that there is a lot of opportunity. Resident Don Cummings shared some of his takeaways from the action plan. He agrees with what Mr. Bosak had to say. Mr. Cummings also feels that when the time does come that the concept of a corridor needs to be thought of when doing construction and it needs to be designed in a way that gives people the opportunity to stop. He would like to see a common approach. Mayor Artig-Swomley shared that the exercise with building blocks was a fun way to help realize what could and could not work. The Mayor would like to invite the developer panel to do another block exercise to help envision what could happen in Gem Lake. The Mayor suggested holding a workshop. Consent Agenda Resolution #2023-002 February 2023 Donation to White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf Master Agreement for Professional Services – Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. Monthly Financial Report(s) Claims All items on the consent agenda were reviewed by the Council. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to approve all the items listed on the consent agenda as is, seconded by Councilmember Johnson. Voice vote taken, all voted yes, motion passes, consent agenda is approved. Committee Reports Planning Commission Commission Chair Joshua Patrick shared with the Council that the Commission has begun reviewing the Nuisance Ordinance and will continue to work on it over the next couple of months. There are many Ordinances to use as examples and will be enlisting the help of City Attorney Kevin Beck and City Planner Evan Monson.