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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 05-19 CC MINUTESCITY OF GEM LAKE, MN City Hall - 4200 Otter Lake Road. Gem Lake, MN 55110-3763 Telephone 651-747-2790 E-mail City(a�gemlakeMN.org Minutes of Gem Lake City Council Meeting 19 May 2009 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gem Lake was called to order by Mayor Uzpen on Tuesday, May, 19, 2009 at 7:02 p.rrm,in the Gem Lake City Hall meeting room. The following members were present: Mayor Bob Uzpen, Council members Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Chuck Watson, and Jim Lindner. Tom Rasmusen was absent. Also present was Trevor Oliver, Lawyer for the City of Gem Lake. 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 April 21, 2009: Upon motion by Artig- Swomley, seconded by Lindner, the council approved the April 21, 2009 minutes pending corrections. Ayes — 4, Nays — 0. City Council Agenda: Upon motion by Artig-Swomley, seconded by Watson, the May 19, 2009 City Council agenda was approved. Ayes -- 4, Nays— 0 Planning Commission Minutes: There are no Planning Committee reports for this evening and also no public hearings for this meeting. Look for us on the World. Wide Web at gernlakemn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting May 19, 2009 Page Two OLD BUSINESS June Newsletter: Lindner stated that .tune 30, 2009 represents the 50th Anniversary of the vote to incorporate Gem Lake into a City. The vote was 105 to two (2). Discussion on what topics for the City news was an update on the Gateway Ordinance, the Scheuneman Road discussion and the City clean-up date. Also Artig-Swomley suggested doing a business profile on the Trike Shop and a profile on Bill Short, Clerk for White Bear Township. Also a profile on a historical group of the older residents of Gem Lake. Goose Lake Road — Mayor Uzpen called the county regarding reducing the speed and getting blinking lights for the crossings by the golf course for Goose Lake Road. The County went back and checked three (3) years worth of records and found that there were no accidents down there, so a decision by the County was made to not put blinking lights for the crossing and also not to reduce the speed limit. If we want the blinking lights, we would have to request that the golf course do it. Printing — The May issue was printed by Minute Print at a lower cost to the city, but it took six (6) days to print the newsletter, which made the residents receive the newsletter at a later date. Artig-Swomley requested that we go back to. Kinkos and the City Council agreed. A resident asked about the price difference between the weight of the paper and Artig-Swomley stated that it was the same price for printing and also the postage was the same whether it was a heavier weight paper versus a slightly lighter weight paper. The newsletter is printed on 11" by 17" paper, which already brings the newsletter weight to one and a half ounces per copy. Surface Water Project — Mayor Uzpen asked Watson where we were on the timeline of the project. Mayor Uzpen has received some calls from the citizens of Gem Lake complaining about some residents raking their leaves and putting them into the street which they are not suppose to do. Watson stated that a city wide meeting on surface water issues will be scheduled for August, 2009. NEW BUSINESS Gateway Zoning Code - Mayor Uzpen stated that the council has been working on the Gateway Zoning and also regarding Schuneman Road. They are working on a "form based code" rather than a "traditional code" where you would have one house per quarter acre or one house per acre. They want to make the Look for us on the World Wide Web at gernIakemn.org Gem Lake. City Council Meeting. May 19, 2009 Page Three code easier for U.S. business owners to look at the code and know exactly what they can and cannot do. The Planning Commission has had two (2) meetings an the Gateway Zoning Code and also Workshops regarding this zoning code. Mayor Uzpen gave each council member five (5) minutes to discuss the zoning ordinance. The Planning Commission/City Council feels that interest in the business district will increase as the economy continues to recover. Artig- Swomley requested to add a sentence to the zoning code, page two (2), 9.1.1, and Number four (4) of the Neighborhood Center. Artig-Swomley requested that a sentence be added at the end of the paragraph to read "Neighborhood center land that abuts other sub -zones on the western and northern sides will be carefully planned to ensure that the lowest density of the building goes up along that edge." Also page 16 should read 200' minimum instead of 150" minimum for the lot width. By bringing in a professional planner, Gem Lake riow has a plan to develop or redevelop their property that a developer can work with. All in all Council members felt it was a great plan. Mayor Uzpen said he had some mixed emotions on the plan, but in general feels its good for the city, good for land owners and could be good for the residents along side the border of the Gateway District. it was agreed that when defining Neighborhood Center, the dark brown area on the map, this sub -area could riot be within 450 feet of any north or west lines of the Gateway District. The language needs to define the neighborhood center. Also a dense natural screening has to occur to screen existing homes in the area. Upon motion by Artig-Swomley for the few language changes, seconded by Lindner. Ayes 4, Nays — 0. Motion passed 4 to 0. Mapping: The mapping has to have an adjustment of 200 feet instead of the 150 feet in language on page 16. Upon motion by Lindner, seconded by Artig- Swomley. Ayes _ 4, Nays 6. All opposed for it 4 to 0. Neighborhood Edge: There should be specific language for dense vegetation, natural screening towards the back of the Neighborhood Edge area. The language that Mayor Uzpen suggested was "The back end of the neighborhood edge should include significant natural screening with mature trees and bushes." The Council members okayed the Language taking the word "mature" out of it. Upon motion by Lindner, seconded by Artig-Swomley. Ayes — 4, Nays -- 0. Eastern Mixed Use Building: City Council members requested that the Neighborhood Edge wording be put in the Eastern Mixed Use Building language.. Trevor discussed the difference in language between Mixed Use Building and. residential building. Upon motion by Lindner to motion to amend the earlier Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakemn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting May 19, 2009 Page Four motion to put it into a separate sub -paragraph on page 32. Seconded by Artig- Swomley. Ayes — 4, Nays — 0 The motion was passed 4 to 0. Mayor Uzpen requested a motion to pass the Ordinance with the amendments. Artig-Swomley introduced the motion to accept the Gateway Zoning Ordinance with its amendments. Seconded by Lindner. Ayes --- 4, Nays — 0. The motion was passed 4 to 0. Trevor explained that the City Council members needed to vote on the a Summary of the Ordinance for the White Bear Press, which he had prepared for the councils review. He stated the Council members would be voting that the summary accurately reflects the spirit of the new ordinance, and that this required four (4) votes. Upon motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Watson. Ayes -- 4, Nays 0. Scheuneman Road: Mayor Uzpen wanted to discuss the business district where there are problems stemming from water and road conditions. The water doesn't make it to the culverts and the road is in poor shape. Mayor Uzpen told the Council members that he received four (4) proposals for the project. Proposal #1: Overlay of the road. Put tar/rock down and smooth out, lasting for a few years. May reduce potholes and the water issues would not be touched. Cost of project was $54 000. Proposal #2: Remove the pavement. Install new culverts on east side and new culverts under the road; clean the culverts on the west side with no curbing. This would address moving the water to the culverts. Cost of project is $314,000. Proposal #3: Remove pavement, remove existing storm sewers on the east side. Install new storm sewers; remove ditch and a pond on west side. Put down new pavement with curb, repair the manholes. Cost of project is $872,000. Proposal #4: Demolish everything, putting in new sewers, new culvers, new pavement and run piping in for city water. Put new curbs on, adding a pond, making it look good. Cost of project is $1,0.87,000. Mayor Uzpen stated that he had sent out a letter to the owners of Scheuneman Road businesses and asked them to attend the meeting to discuss what the business owners wanted to be done. Justin Gese from SEH attended the City Council Look forus on. the World Wide Web at gemlakennn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting May 19, 2009 Page Five meeting to give some options and to answer any questions. The businesses that were present included Summit Storage, The Trike Shop, and the Barnett Chrysler dealership. The Council members asked some questions about how the water is affecting these businesses and what type of maintenance would need to be done to improve conditions. One property owner suggested cleaning the culvert on the west side, which could costs only about $2,000 and would improve the standing water situation. Other issues were discussed, such as a problem area coming from County Road E onto property owned by Al Drummond. The council requested that Justin Gese determine a proper weight limit for the road. Artig-Swomley said she would put a summary of the options in the June newsletter. June 6, 2009 Road Clean Up. Day: Gem Lake will hold a street clean up day on June 6 and is seeking volunteer. Safety vests will be provided for volunteers to wear. Also, Artig-Swomley will purchase hotdogs, buns and potato chips for a weenie roast following the clean up. Paul Emeott will donate the garbage bags. Mayor Uzpen will be putting the notice on the board to inform the Gem Lake residents about the clean-up. The event will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by the hot dog lunch. The areas cleaned up will be determined by the. number of volunteers available. Ramsey County Geographic Users Group: The cost of joining this group is. $42 dollars a year. The city can obtain GPS maps from them. Upon motion by Lindner, seconded by Artig-Swomley. Ayes - 4, Nays - 0. Passed by 4 to 0. Claims for May: Claims for May were reviewed. Upon motion by Artig- Swomley, seconded by Lindner. Ayes - 4, Nays 0. Passed 4 to 0. OPEN ITEMS: Comprehensive Plan: Lindner stated that the comprehensive plan is still unfinished and reviewed the comments and corrections from the Met Council that need to be dealt with. Water Plan: SEH needs to begin work on the City's water plan, as mandated by the Met Council to be part of the Comprehensive Plan. There is money in the budget for the development of the water plan, but no money in the budget for projects that may be suggested in the plan. Mayor Uzpen said he could send a letter to SEH requesting that they start drafting the plan. Webs.ite: Justin from SEH stated that our website.stated that the meetings were. Look for us oti the World Wide. Web at gerlakemn.org Gem Lake. City Council Meeting May 19, 2009 Sign -In Sheet Paul Emeatt Justin Gese Beth Hansen. Jack Myerson — Burnett Properties Allen & Edi Drummond David Pavetz Paul Biloth - Bonestroo Dough Lindholm Craig Rafferty Beth Herzog Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakemn.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting May 19, 2009 Page Six listed at being held at Tousley Ford. Mayor Uzpen made a note to notify the IT person to change the meeting place on the website. ADJOURN The May 19, 2009 regular meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 9 95. p.m. Upon motion by Lindner to adjourn, seconded by Mayor Uzpen. Ayes -- 4, Nays — D. APPROVED: ATTEST: Julie Newkirk Recording Secretary ATTEST: Bob Uzpen Mayor Look for us on the World Wide Web at.gemlakemn.org