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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 09-16 CC MinutesMinutes of Gem Lake City Council meeting, September 16, 2014 Mayor Uzpen called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM Present: Mayor Uzpen, Council members Lindner, Artig-Swomley, Kuny, and Bosak. Others in attendance were Sheriff Matt Bostrom, Randy Gustafson, Justin Gese, Tom Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Angie Calderon, Alejandro Lopez, Alejandro Ruiz, Ron Leaf, and Planning Commission chair Ben Johnson. September agenda Mayor Uzpen asked for additions to the September agenda. Motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Bosak the agenda was approved 5-0. August City Council minutes Upon motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Lindner the August minutes were approved, 5-0. Committee reports – none Old business City newsletter for October-November, 2014. Several topics including a possible profile of White Bear Montessori school, the sheriff’s report from tonight’s meeting, highlights of the 2015 draft budget, the Phase II investigation of contaminated soil in the Hoffman’s Corner potential redevelopment area, and tonight’s MS4 public hearing and presentation were discussed as possible features in the next city newsletter edition. Public Hearings Sheriff Matt Bostrom presentation. Sheriff Bostrom spoke to the council regarding activities currently happening within the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office. Specifically, he encourages people to use 9-1-1 more often than when the system was first implemented. New technology allows the sheriff’s office to handle multiple 9-1-1 calls simultaneously. Next he discussed the department’s hiring requirements and updated the council on current hiring trends to fill various vacancies in the corrections and patrol divisions. Bostrom then explained how heroin use is increasing across the Twin Cities metro area with heroin approaching 92% pure. He next introduced Randy Gustafson as the public crime prevention coordinator. The sheriff’s office also uses a system known as Code Red to relay information to those members of the public who voluntarily subscribe to this service. He concluded with a discussion of the department’s Fright Farm fund raising event that runs on weekends through October with proceeds going towards youth programs and the purchase of safety equipment. MS4 presentation/public hearing. Ron Leaf of SEH presented on the 2013 Gem Lake MS4 report. He touched on the key points of the 2013 report then discussed how the renewed 2014 permit requires ordinance and policy/procedure review and updates. He explained how the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) classifies ponds vs wetlands, with ponds serving in the role of storm water treatment devices and wetlands being naturally occurring. Upon a motion by Artig-Swomley seconded by Bosak and a unanimous council vote of 5-0, Mayor Uzpen opened the MS4 public hearing at 7:42. Mr. Leaf went on to explain the ordinance and procedure review will have a timetable running throughout the remainder of 2014 with a goal of full completion by April 3, 2015, the one year date from when Gem Lake’s permit was reissued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Council member Lindner stated that since the ordinances are land use-based, that all such work related to updating ordinances should be conducted with the Planning Commission. Upon a motion by Artig- Swomley which was seconded by Bosak, the council voted 5-0 to close the public hearing at 7:45. Draft 2015 budget. Upon a motion by Bosak seconded by Artig-Swomley the council voted 5-0 to open the draft 2015 budget public hearing at 7:46. Tom Kelly provided an overview of the 2015 draft budget. The budget is balanced, will not utilize reserve money to buy down debt, provides for a full-time employee, and funds the water extension project into Hoffman’s Corner. At 7:55 Bosak moved and Artig-Swomley seconded and the council voted 5-0 to close the public hearing. Resolution 2014-15. Upon a motion by Lindner seconded by Artig-Swomley, the council voted by voice vote (Uzpen-yes, Bosak-yes, Lindner-yes, Kuny-yes, Artig-Swomley-yes) 5-0 to approved the 2015 draft budget. New Business Resolution 2014-11. Upon a motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Bosak, the council voted 5-0 to approved resolution 2014-11 authorizing SEH to proceed with the Phase II environmental investigation to review certain properties that may contain contaminated soil identified in the Phase I study by utilizing soil borings and analysis methods. Justin Gese next reviewed a flow chart SEH created to illustrate the several processes and scenarios for Gem Lake to provide city water to the potential Hoffman’s Corner redevelopment area. The flow chart outlines the components of the city water project, including deadlines for submittals, the timing that reflects different scenarios based on the city’s priorities, and helps illustrate the many possible outcomes of all that is necessary for this project to reach completion. Next was a general discussion on obtaining an agreement with White Bear Lake to provide Gem Lake with city water given all the variables presently at play inside White Bear Lake. September claims. Upon motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Bosak the council voted to approve the claims for September 5-0. Mayor Uzpen presented the September financial report and general discussion followed. Presentations from the public Angie Calderon asked where the process was concerning High Tech Auto’s application for a conditional use permit. She was instructed to file all applications and pay all fees and that the application would be on the agenda at the October Planning Commission meeting. The application’s approval is contingent upon the Planning Commission recommending for City Council approval of ordinance 107B. Planning Commission chair Ben Johnson (who arrived to tonight’s meeting after the specified time for committee reports) talked very briefly about the upcoming October 7 Planning Commission meeting agenda with hearings on amending ordinance 69 and 107 (which will become version “B”). Presentations from the council – None. Adjourn There being no further business upon motion by Artig-Swomley and seconded by Bosak, Mayor Uzpen adjourned the meeting at 8:50PM after a council vote of 5-0.