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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 02-20 CC MINUTESMinutes of City Council Meeting 20 February 2007 The February, 2007 regularmeeting of :the. City Council of the City of Gem Lakewas called to order by Mayor Emeott on Tuesday,. February 20, 2007 at 7:09.p.m. in the first floor meeting room of Tousley Ford. Mayor Emeott, Councilors Watson, Schilling; and Artig-Swomley were present. Also present were. Bonding Financial Advisor, Todd Hagen of Ehlers & Associates, .Inc.; Mark Sweet, Construction Manager; Justin. Gese; City Engineer; and City Attorney Trevor Oliver. Other :members of the public werealso in. attendance per the sign -in sheet sentaround the room. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MEETING. MINUTES Mayor Emeottthen called for additions, deletionsand corrections to the Agenda. Mayor Emeott added New Business Item E; Financial (Treasurer's) Report. No other changes to the agenda were. noted. The following actions were taken 1) Motion by Watson, Second by Schilling to acceptthe change to the agenda was unanimously approved; 2) Motion by Schilling, Second by Watson to approve the Minutes of the January 16, 2007 City Council Meeting was unanimously approved. Public. Hearing: Todd Hagen of Ehlers & Associations, Inc. explained that tonight's Public Hearing was for consideration to approve a resolution giving preliminary approval for the issuance of the City's. General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan bonds in an amount notto exceed $850,000.00; and adopting the City of Gem Lake Minnesota Capital Improvement Plan of 2007 through 2011. therefore. The bond willhave a 20. year pay back period. There will be a debt service the first 10 years of $45,000; and then$70,000 over each of the. remaining 10 years. The total amountof expenditures proposed under the Capital Improvement Plan is approximately $1,129,463, including approximately $376,488 to be provided by White Bear. Township, and the sale by the City of Gem Lake of approximately $785,000 in bonds be paid for over a twenty year period. In response to a question why that particular amount is proposed to be bonded, Todd Hagen explainedthat enough. needs to be bonded for to cover all costs.. The bond is foran amount "not to exceed" $850,000,00. A question was asked, if the building is only 3.,500 square feet, the $1.2 million cost seems high. Todd Hagen explained that because it will be a commercial building certain codes need to be met, such as fire spiinklers,handicap accessibility, and mechanicals. The building will be used as Gem Lake's City Hall. White Bear Township will have two meetings thereeach month and will use thefacility as a polling place for precinct 4. It will also include an office to serve as a substation for the Ramsey County Sheriff Department. The Town will provide the buildable site and extend utilities. to the building. Watson noted that Gem Lake is creating a city asset with this building. A question was asked if the project requires 10%.:or 20% for contingencies. Mayor Emeott noted that 10% has been. allowed. for contingencies. 1 A Gem Lake land owner noted that the currentcity administration of Gem Lake is most talented and does not need to be recognized by building a city hall and asked if the money could be spent on something else. He noted that the school district is in dire straights and the money could be used forchildhood education. He also questioned about the location of the proposed building noting that it would be better to have it around Hoffman Road and Highway 61. This would provide for marketability :if necessary. Artig-Swomleyasked about the plans for the building's driveways. Mark Sweet explained that one-half of the Goose Lake Road right-of-way is still intact and that the other one-half has been vacated to the Town. She asked what soft costs would be involved. It was noted that soft costs will include architectural fees; legal fees; furniture; tight fixtures, etc: The Township's current video equipment for recording and cablecasting meetings will be moved to the Town/City Hall facility. Mayor Emeott closed the . Public Hearing. Public Notices: Mayor Eineott reported thatthere are no public notices. COMMITTEES. REPORTS: RESOLVED: Motion by Watson, Second by Schilling to accept the Planning Commission Report was unanimously approved. RESOLVED: Motion by •Artig-Swomley, Second by Schilling to accept the City Treasurer's Report was unanimously approved. City Hall ./ Town Hall Construction Data: Mark Sweet, Gem. Lake. residentlConstruction. Manager, reviewed and described the cooperative. effort between the. City ofGem Lake and White Bear Township for this new building. He reviewed: the site plan for the proposed building. reporting. that the building. has. been placed •to maximize. natural lighting, accessibility and expansion.. The driveway will be off of Otter Lake . and Goose. Lake.Road. The :clusters of trees will be retained with only a few trees and some scrub which need to be removed for the building pad. The building will be slab on grade: It will be handicapped accessible..Storm Water drainage and water Ireatment will be done by use of a rain garden; which utilizes natural plantings to..absorb the water. and remove: sediment. The exterior elevations of the. building were reviewed, The: building will .be built utilizing LED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) guidelines.. He reviewed the niain.level floor plan of the proposed building,. He noted that there will be a large lobby which can • serve. as an assembly area for people waiting to:.go into or coming out of the large Meeting. morn. .This .large meeting room will serve as the City Council's meeting hall. White Bear Township will also use • the building for their Town Board .meetings from November 2007 to. April 2008, during the time that their •Old Town Hall. is .moved •and restored. The. new building will also serve as the permanent location for the polling place for the Town's 41-"precinct. A City of Gem Lake administration office and a reception desk will be off the lobby. A smaller Meeting room for smaller group meetings is also planned on the NW end. of the building. The Ramsey County Sheriffs Department will .have an office/sub-station in the• building. This substation will have access off the lobby with a separate entrance, Will be soundproofed, and will be available on a 24 hours, basis: The. building will utilise vaulted ceilings. There will be two heating zones to provide control for heating either unused or iirLuse portions of the building. A kitchenette, bulletin board. and display area •will. be off the lobby. .A restroom area is also planned off the lobby. The restroom Will be larger than • norrnal•due to. codes. for public. use facilities and Will be handicapped accessible. RESOLVED: Motion by. Artig-Swoniley and Second. by Schilling to approve continued work on the City Hall / Townhall construction was unanimously approved. New Business RESOLVED: Acceptance of Resolution 2007-05:. Motion by Schilling: and Second by Watson to approve Resolution 2007-05 to authorize the sale of a General Obligation Capital Improvement PIan Bond in the maximum .amount. of $850,000.00 was unanimously approved. The sale of these bonds wi[1 be approved at the April 17111, 2007 City Council Meeting. Joint Meeting with Vadnais Heights City Council - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 6:00 p.m:: Mayor Emeott, Coucilurs Watson and Schilling will attendthe meeting. RESOLVED: Approval of Contract with Animal Control:. A citizen asked if patrol by Animal Control was. needed. She asked if services could be on an as -needed basis in responseto complaints and that there be a set charge rather than an estimate. Motion by Schilling, Second. by Artig-Swomley that. Animal Control patrol as requested in response to complaints was unanimously approved. RESOLVED: Approval of Payment Claims for January — February, 2007: Motion by Watson, Second by Schilling. for payment of claims for. January — February, 2007,.noting that all are okay within. this time frame was unanimously approved. RESOLVED: Financial Treasurer's. Report: Motion by Schilling and Second by Watson. to approve the February 2007 Treasurer's Report was unanimously approved. A copy is attached to these minutes. Old Business: RESOLVED: Review and approval of January Consent Agenda: Motion by Watson and Second by Artig-Swomley to approve January Consent Agenda was unanimously approved. This agenda was not supplied for approval to the City Councilat the January 2007 meeting. Tax Anticipation Bond: This matter was tabled. Hoffman Corner Oil Tobacco. License Public Hearing: Thismatter was tabled to next month. It was noted that HCO did not pass the last two compliance checksand a Public hearing was suggested. Presentations from the Floor:. There were no presentations. Future. City Council Meetings: I. Joint meeting with Vadnais Heights — March 6, 2007 at 6:00 — p.m. at VH City Hall 2. Next Council Meeting —Tuesday, March 20. at 7:00. The City Attorney announced that there will be.:an Attorney -Client meeting following. the adjournment of this. meeting. • ADJOURN: Motion by Schilling. and Second. by Watson to adjourn thepublic portion of this meeting at 8:54 pm. was unanimously approved. AUTHORIZED: APPROVED: ATTEST: ATTEST: 41t L401' Joan J. Clemens Paul Emeott Recording Secretary Mayor Certified Copy