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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 06-15 CC MINUTESCITY OF GEM LAKE, MN 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110-3227 Telephone 651-747-2790 E-mail City{7a RenlakeMN.ora Minutes of Gem Lake City Council Meeting 15 June 2010 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gem Lake was called to order by Mayor Uzpen on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the Gem Lake City Hall meeting room. The following members were present: Mayor Robert Uzpen, Councilmembers James Lindner, Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Richard Bosak and Thomas. Rasmussen. Other members of the public attended per the sign in sheet sent around the room. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MEETING MINUTES City Council Agenda: Mayor Uzpen called for additions, deletions and corrections to the agenda. Upon motion by Councilmember Bosak, and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, the agenda was approved for June 15, 2010. Ayes — 5, Nays— 0. City Council April Meeting Minutes: The May, 2010 minutes were presented and corrections were needed. Upon motion by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, and seconded by Councilmember Bosak, the minutes of May 2010 were accepted with corrections being made. Ayes — 5, Nays — 0. Planning Commission May Meeting Minutes: The May, 2010 minutes were. presented and corrections were needed. Upon motion by Councilmember Artig-. Swomley, and seconded by Councilmember Lindner, the Planning Commission minutes of May, 2010 were accepted with corrections being made. Ayes — 5, Nays — 0. Planning Commission Report: Commissioner Maier was not at the Planning Commission meeting in May, so discussion was tabled. OLD BUSINESS. Newsletter: It was determined to combine the June and July issue. Topics of discussion to put in the newsletter were to write a feature of volunteers of past years and a feature on Claire. Nielson - a past City Council member. Also suggested was the results of the public hearing on the tobacco, liquor, and Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page.2 of 6 gambling license changes. In addition, a feature on the storm water public hearing. Another article on the citywide effort on getting the original number of the Gem Lake residents. Mayor Uzpen attended the 2010 White Bear Lake graduation and presented the scholarship to the Gem Lake resident Senior for secondary schooling. NEW BUSINESS Ordinance 118 Renewal of the Xcel Gas Franchise: Gem Lake has the option to charge a' franchise fee under a separate ordinance. The City Council was not in favor of that decision. Upon motion by Councilmember Artig-Swomley and seconded by Councilmember Bosak, Ordinance 118 was accepted. Ayes — 5, Nays — 0. Upon motion by Councilmember Bosak and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, motion was made to accept the summary of Ordinance 118 to be published in the White Bear Press. Ayes — 5, Nays — 0. Ordinance 119 Renewal of the Xcel Electric Franchise: The. Council member looked over the information and upon motion by Councilmember Lindner and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, Ordinance 119 was accepted. Ayes 5, Nays — 0. Upon motion by Councilmember Rasmussen and seconded by Councilmember Artig-Swomley, motion was made to accept the summary of Ordinance 119 to be published in the White Bear Press. Ayes - 5, Nays — 0. Wind Energy Towers Discussion: Tom Riedesel sent a memo to Gem Lake discussing the steps that need to be made. Mayor Uzpen suggested sending this to the Planning Commission to write up an ordinance and then send it back to the City Council so a vote can be taken on it. The wind tower needs to do a test first that can take six months to a year to test and report the data. The tower needs to be 80 feet high. When it is referred to the Planning Commission to change the ordinance, then a public hearing can take place and notify the surrounding neighbors. With the testing phase, Councilmember Artig-Swomley apply for a conditional use permit. There will be provisions and will need to work with Attorney Trevor Oliver to discuss the legal issues. The. Planning Commission already has been in discussion of having a green ordinance. Councilmember Rasmussen feels that the Council needs more education on the subject and needs to be explored. Planning Commission Request for Additional Alternate: Mayor Uzpen explained to the City Council that there are two candidates for the position. The City Council had some questions about the process of adding an alternate and do we need another alternate. Mayor Uzpen stated that the Planning Commission requires three people to make up the committee. The city ordinance states there can be three or more Planning Commission members. Councilmember Rasmussen has heard from the residents that they want fresh new ideas for the Planning Commission. The first. Resolution 2010-08 is Paul Emeott. Upon motion by Councilmember Bosak and seconded by Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakerrin.org Gem Lake City Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 Councilmember Artig-Swomley, the motion was made to accept Resolution 2010- 08. A voice vote was taken: Mayor Uzpen — no, Councilmember Bosak — yes, Councilmember Artrrrg-Swomley — no, Councilmember Lindner — yes, and Councilmember Rasmussen — no. Resolution 2010-08 does not pass. Ayes — 2, Nays — 3. Resolution 201.0-0.9 Arthur Pratt, upon motion by Councilmember Artig-Swomley and seconded by Councilmember Bosak to discuss Resolution 2010-09. Councilmember Artig-Swomley feels it is very important to listen to the residents and bring new ideas and new blood to serve on the Planning Commission. A. voice vote was taken: Mayor Uzpen — yes, Councilmember Bosak — yes, Councilmember Artig-Swomley — yes, Councilmember Lindner - • no, and Councilmember Rasmussen — yes. Resolution 2010-09 passes. Ayes — 4, Nays — 1. Claims for June: The. bills for June were discussed and authorized to pay. Upon motion by Councilmember Artig-Swomley and seconded. by Councilmember Bosak, motion passes. Ayes.- 5, Nays -- 0. Monthly Financial Reports: The City Council received and reviewed the handout. As a discussion item, Mayor Uzpen advised that the Met Council sent out the sewer .bill projections for 2011 and. there will be a three percent increase for the cities. in the area except for White Bear Township and Gerry Lake. White Bear Township and Gem Lake is a thirteen percent increase. Jessie Hart will be calling the Met Council to get an explanation. OPEN ITEMS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Met Council Number of People Living in Gem Lake: The city wants to challenge the Met Council of the actual number of people living in Gem Lake. Mayor Uzpen stated that the average household members that he calculated is 2.5 individuals per house. There are 149 homes in the City of Gem Lake. Mayor Uzpen and Councilmember Artig-Swomley will merge their numbers, report this to the Met Council and create an article for the newsletter, Speed Signs in Gem Lake: Councilmember Bosak brought up the subject of placing speed signs to let drivers know how fast they are going. That has been addressed with Ramsey County and not a priority at this time. Lake Area Transit Bus Company: They have merged with MTC, so Gem Lake cannot give the $500 that was allotted last month. There was discussion about giving it to the Lyons Club or the White Bear. Lake Food Shelf. Alternatively, it can be put away and add to the scholarship fund. It was suggested to invite a representative from the Lyons Club to explain what they do with driving the residents of Gem Lake around. Will place on hold and do more research. Look for us on the World Wide Web at gemlakemn.org: Gem Lake City. Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC Tessier Lane Repairs: Commissioner Herzog is working on the drainage project on Tessier Lane to pave the road and clear some trees. Bids are starting to come in and the bids are high. The average bid is over $7,000. Commissioner Herzog does not want to wait to repave, as the cost does not justify the curb repairs. The curb repairs will be taken out of the bid and will be addressed when the road needs to be replaced. Mayor Uzpen will talk to the residents and explain the situation. Underground Wiring: Resident Paul Emeott asked the question of putting the overhead wires buried underground versus overhead. The question was asked if it was going to go through Gem Lake anytime soon. By the power company's position, there is some savings by not putting the wiring in the ground. Taylor Falls had it done and the electric company paid it, but it was the type of line that required it to be buried. The City Council Members did not feel that this was a priority at this time. Beach Property: The City Council had a discussion on this subJect last fall with Terry Tangwell. Attorney Trevor Oliver reviewed his notes and stated that from pictures he saw it is hard to determine if vegetation was lost and he believes that aerial views from 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2009 that no trees were cleared. There is a six-inch layer of beach sand up to fifty feet wide on the property. Attorney Oliver made the suggestion that the Tangwell's and the Larkins apply for a retroactive permit for the work performed since there was no written authorization from the city to perform the work and the ordinance clearly states that written permission must be obtained from the. Planning and Zoning Administrator: Councilmember Lindner was not in favor of this approach. Last fall a discussion took place with Mr. Tangwell that he must bring a restoration plan to the City Council by April 2010. Mr. Tangwell did not do this, instead he went to VLAMO and asked them to create a restoration plan and applied for a grant. The. Mayor spoke to Mr. Larkin who stated that he would do whatever the Council wants to be done. At the request of Councilrmember Rasmussen, the Mayor tabled this discussion and the Council will discuss at the next Workshop and vote at the July meeting. Mayor Uzpen advised Mr. Tangwell that it was stated in the fall that he must work with the. City. Council, not the City Attorney and once again a discussion took place between Mayor Uzpen and Mr. Tangwell that he must work with the City Council. Mr. Tangwell acknowledged the conversation. FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS Workshop Meeting: July 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. City Council Meeting: July 20, 2010.at 7:00 p.m. Look for us on the World Wide. Web at gemlakernn.org Gem Lake City Council. Meeting Page 5 of 6 ADJOURN The June 15, 2010 regular meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 8:42 p.m. Upon motion by Councilmember Bosak, and seconded by Councilmember Lindner, the City. Council meeting was adjourned. Ayes -- 5, Nays — O. APPROVED: ATTEST: Julie Newkirk Recording Secretary ATTEST: Robert Uzpen Mayor Look for us on the World Wide•Web at.gemlake}nn,org Gem Lake City Council Meeting . Page 6 of.6 SIGN UP SHEET: Dan Mailer Beth Herzog Paul Emeott John & Faith Kuny Terry Tangwell Look for us on the World Wide Web at:geinlakernn.org