HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 07-17 CC MINUTESCITY OF GEM LAKE
4707 Hwy 61. # 253.
White Bear Lake, MN 55110-3227
&neat, Macaw
Minutes of Gem Lake City Council Meeting
17 July 2007
The. July 2007 regular meeting of the City. Council of the City of Gem Lake was called toorder by. Mayor
Emeott on Tuesday,. July 17, 2007 at 7:05 pm in the first floor meeting room ofTousley Ford. Mayor Emeott,
Councilors Artig-Swomley, Shilling, Rasmusssen, and. Watson were present. Also present was. City Attorney Trevor
Oliver. Other members of the: public were.. also in attendance per the sign in sheet sent around the room.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of City Council meeting of May 2007; Minutes from the May 2007 City Council meeting were
discussed. There were two changes made. Motion by Rasmussen, Second by Watson to approve May 2007 minutes
was unanimously approved with these changes.
Minutes of City Council meeting of June 2007: Minutes from the June 2007 City Council meeting were
discussed. On page 3 of minutes, New Business 2007-12, change motion by Rasmussen as they were incorrectly
attributed to Watson. Also under New Business, the agendaitem related to VLAWMO and. Storm Water Utility
(SWU) for funding: of Operations will remain a statement of support and is not a Resolution. Motion by Rasmussen,
Second by Shilling to approve June 2007 minutes with corrections discussed was unanimously approved.
City Council Agenda for this .meeting: Mayor Ellicott called for additions, deletions and corrections to the
agenda, Changes were made to the agenda as follows; I) Under. New Business, Discussion about City policy
regarding donation of Public Lands. Motion by Watson, Second by Shillingto approve agenda with additions was
unanimously approved.
PUBLIC NOTICES..
There were no public notices discussed.
PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Bob Uzpen stated that the paving of Big Fox road at a level higher than his driveway has created arunaff
problem into his property and was there anything the council could do about this. The council discussed getting
Schifsky's to consult on thisissue and at the same time look atanother driveway. problem Haven Lane.
Secondly, Uzpen commented that he felt Gem Lake residents should be able to participate in workshops, they
should not be. closed. He checked with someadjacent cities regardingworkshops and all had some citizen input.
Mayor Emeott stated that thecityonly has three meetings with the planner. and needs enough time to get work done;.
Uzpen indicated that the Planner also indicated that they generallygetinput from the Council, residents, and
residents close to the development area. Without residentinput at the workshop, two ofthe :entities are not included.
Council member Artig-Swomley agreed that.. residentinput was important with settime constraints: She. suggested 15
minutes be put at the end of the workshop for resident comments so that they could reflect upon what they heard
during the workshopand voice ideasor concerns. Mayor Emeott indicated he felt that the 15 minutes should goat
the beginning of theworkshop agenda so thatideas and concerns could be discussed during the workshop. Councilor
Rasmussenagreed with.Artig-Swomley but re-emphasized the importance of residents getting their comments to. the
Councilprior toworkshops so that the Planner could better respond to. them. Uzpen. indicated that he has
communicated with people on his street and asked them to give their input. Motion by Artig-Swomley to. add 15
minutes to theend oftivorkshops for Presentations from the Floor, Seconded by Watson. Discussion continued about
when in the agenda to add Presentations from the Floor. Watson discussed the fact that the Planner would not be able
to incorporate ideas generated from the floor at the meeting during the current meeting and that resident comments
prior to the workshops is essential. Motion by Artig-Swomley revised to read Written comments are encouraged
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prior to the City planning workshops and 15 minutes is proposed at the end of the workshop for Presentations from
the Floor, Seconded by Watson.. Motion passes with one Nay.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Planning Commission report: No report
Building: Committee (City Hall) report: Mayor Emeott reported thatwork progresses on the new City Hall.
Installation of the water main is behind schedule by three days. The floor should be ready to pour next week. Work is
currently about 1 weekbehind schedule with completion date of October 15, 2007. A question was raised concerning
theft insurance for .materials on: the worksite..Mayor .Emeott indicated that the Cityhas already applied for builders
risk insurance.
OLD BUSINESS
Gem Lake 2006 SWPP and MS4 report Chuck Watson: Watson reported thata public notice will be
placed in the next White Bear Press addition about a public comment period on. the. SWPP and MS4 report at the
next City Council Meeting. These public comments would be incorporated into the report. City resident Jack
Hoeschler asked if the public would have anything to review prior to this meeting regarding this. Watson responded
that the city hasnever received public comment on this report before. Councilor Artig-Swornley volunteered to do. a
Question and Answer interview Watson about this topic and postthe response on. the City Web site. Watson also
stated that he was planning to review a public training programdeveloped by Stillwater onhow residents could
contribute to waterquality and howthey can making things better. Watson stated that the SWPP report was primarily
interested in the flow of waters out of the city andthe quality of that water when it leaves, not about the quality or
flow of water within the city. Mayor Emeott reported that he had found records onwater testingthat was performed
in the 1980's and that information could be compared against water testing if it were performed today. It was also
stated thata lake level gauge is currently in Gem Lake. Hoeschler stated that a settlement pond could be constructed
behind Tousley Ford to contain and filter their overflow water. Mayor Emeott indicated this is on the 2009 VLAMO
water plan project Iist.
SEII feasibility study for water, sewer and roads for land parcels in city: SEH recommended a water flow
study be conducted because, while Vadnais Heights water system would be able to provide. adequate for residential
or commercial use o the. two 18 acre properties available for development, there is a question about fire fighting
flow and pressure. A study wouldanswer this question. Mayor Emeott provided the Councilors with educational.
information about what services SEH can provide to the City. He also stated that the Council decided a couple of
meetings ago that the city could not afford a SEH feasibility study at a cost of $16,000-$20,000 this year,.
Should Gem Lake join the Ramsey -Washington Cable Commission? The city was finally able to snake
contact with the Ramsey -Washington Cable. Commission. . It was reported that technology is currently unable to..
televise City Council meetings to the residents of Gem Lake. If the City wants to televise meetings, they would have
to tape them,bring the tape to Vadnais Heights and White Bear, and ask for them to play these meetings when time
was available. No action will be taken on joining this commission until they are able to televise directly to the
residents of Gem Lake.
NEW BUSINESS
City prosecutor expenses: Mayor Emeott explained that the City is currently prosecuting a drunk driver and
will be required to pay for prosecuting expenses. Because of this unexpected expense, it is expectedthat the
budgeted amount for the City Prosecutors of $2500 willbe exceeded. Attorney Oliver: stated that because of the level
of the offense, the city has to prosecute it and isnot eligible for restitution of the costs.
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Approval of payment of claims for June -July 2007: Mayor Emeott noted a $2000 expense for two issues of
the City newsletter as budgeted. The deadline for inclusion in the next newsletter is August 3, 2007. Motion by
Artig-Swonaley, Seconded by Schilling forapproval of payment of claims for June -July 2007 was unanimously
approved by voice vote.
2' Quarter treasurers report: Councilor Artig-Swomley statedthat she has foundthetreasurer's report very
helpful. Councilor Watson stated it is very straightforward. Motion by Schilling, Seconded by Artig-Swomley to
approve. the 2' Quarter treasurersreport was unanimously approved. Mayor Emeott announced the resignation of
White Bear Township Financial Officer and Gem Lake City Treastuer, Tom Kelly, Councilor should expect to see a
job posting including the duties of Gem Lake City. Treasurer listed soon.
Discussion about City policy regarding donation of Public Lands -Hutch Schilling Councilor Schilling
stated that he felt that the City should have a formal policy regarding the donation of public lands. The. Council.
discussed ensuringthat the city has an environmental report on the property,that the Iand is not land locked but had
public access, ensuring that theproperty fit into the. City plan, and considering the tax loss potentialon the property,
Motion by Schilling: that states "The City of Gem Lake welcomes proposals and would be interested in reviewing any
offer in land. by the property owners in Gent Lake or surrounding. communities", Seconded by Artig-Swomley was
unanimouslyapproved by voice vote.
Secretarial duties: The previous recording Secretary, Joan Clemens, has indicated she will no longer be
available to attend meetings and take minutes. Fill -In Secretary, Teresa. Tice, indicated her interest in this position
and the Council agreed to the appointment.
FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS:
Next City Council Workshop — Monday, August 6,.2007 at 7:00 p.m in the first floor meeting room of Tousley Ford.
Next City Council Meeting — Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the first floor meeting room of Tousley Ford,
ADJOURN: The July 2007.regular meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
AUTHORIZED: July 18, 2007
APPROVED: August 3t1gC, 2007
ATTEST: ATTEST:
Teresa Tice, Recording Secretary
Paul R. Emeott, Mayor
Certified Copy.
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Attendance List for Gem Lake: City Council Meeting: July 17, 2007
Dale Swomley
Teresa Tice
Bob Uzpen
Kim Anderson-Uzpen
Sue Narayau
Trevor Oliver
Kathleen Lobens
Jack Hoeschler
Brian Hanson
Goose Lake Road
Secretary
Big Fox Road
City Attorney
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