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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-02 CC MINtiter IMF NINTMFER CE OF MINNENOfR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES July 2, 2013 REGULAR MEETING Mayor Harycki called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m. 4:30 P.M. Present: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Absent: None Staff present: City Administrator Hansen City Attorney Magnuson Fire Chief Glaser Police Chief Gannaway Public Works Director Sanders Finance Director Harrison Community Development Director Turnblad City Clerk Ward STAFF REPORTS Police Chief Gannaway provided an update on the upcoming Fourth of July activities. Fire Chief Glaser indicated that the Fire Department will working with the pyrotechnics vendor on the Fourth of July fireworks. Community Development Director Turnblad reported that the Met Council's 2012 population estimate is 18,638 residents which have increased by a couple hundred. Councilmember Polehna asked if the Park Commission can update the plan for the Barge Terminal area, and Community Development Director Turnblad replied he will bring it to the Park Commission this fall. The Council consensus was to proceed with updating the plan. Public Works Director Sanders informed the Council that the Corps of Engineers starts next week on the Lowell Park project and should finish by the end of August. Parking lot reconstruction will begin after Labor Day starting on the south end. He plans to bring the award of the bid for parking lot reconstruction to the Council the second week in August. City Attorney Magnuson updated the Council on the tax rebalancing for Terra Springs, Building 1, which has been completed and recorded. He commended Washington County for their cooperation. City Council Meeting OTHER BUSINESS DNR - Brown's Creek Trail Project Update July 2, 2013 Kent Skaar, Senior Project Manager for the Acquisition and Development Section of the Parks and Trails Division of the DNR, and Rachel Hintzman, Area Supervisor, provided an update on the Brown's Creek Trail. Funding for completion of the trail has been secured through legislative allocation of Legacy Funds. The development will be staged starting with the Oak Glen Golf Course Bridge, where construction was started yesterday with completion probably before August 30, 2013. The Highway 95 bridge reconstruction will be done in August with completion by late September 2013. The Manning Avenue Bridge will be constructed during September and October 2013, with completion in May /June 2014. He presented two options for bridge design: bowstring and truss. Council consensus was the bowstring design. Trail development is continuing. Completion of the six mile trail is expected in the shortest time possible. The DNR expects the trail to be open by July /August 2014. Mayor Harycki thanked legislators for their help with funding and suggested perhaps there could be a low -key groundbreaking ceremony with legislators. Councilmember Polehna acknowledged Assistant Commissioner Dave Schad for his work on the project. Supervisor Hintzman informed the Council the DNR is in the process of meeting with neighbors to identify any issues and is working on interpretive resources for the trail. The area is closed for use while under construction. She asked what winter uses the City would want to consider, and Councilmembers agreed to ask the Park Commission. Fire Department staffing request Fire Chief Glaser reviewed the department's staffing requests and explained that the department is nine short on the paid on -call roster. This situation is causing considerable operational difficulties, adding considerable expense, and affecting emergency response. He recommended hiring two full -time personnel. Councilmember Menikheim stated the staffing problem goes back for years and the Council needs to do something about it. Councilmember Weidner asked about the community expectations of the Fire Department. Chief Glaser noted the Department has one of the cheapest or lowest budgets in the area. He has studied many different staffing options to try to resolve the staffing problem. City Administrator Hansen added that he has been mostly against full time fire departments, but he believes the current model is broken and he reluctantly supports the request and that the Chief s recommendation appears to be the least expensive way to correct the problem. Chief Glaser stated with budget adjustments, his recommendation would cost the City an approximately $89,000 increase for 2014, approximately six percent. Councilmember Menikheim stated he would like to discuss setting community expectations of the Fire Department. Councilmember Weidner asked if a committee should be put together to develop a community standard for the Fire Department operations. Page 2 of 6 City Council Meeting July 2, 2013 City Administrator Hansen stated he could discuss this with Chief Glaser and bring it up at a future meeting. Motion by Councilmember Menikheim, seconded by Councilmember Kozlowski, authorizing the hiring of two full -time staff as recommended by Chief Glaser. All in favor. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was recessed at 6:05 p.m. RECESSED MEETING Mayor Harycki called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 7:00 P.M. Present: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Staff present: City Administrator Hansen City Attorney Magnuson Fire Chief Glaser Police Chief Gannaway Public Works Director Sanders Finance Director Harrison Community Development Director Turnblad City Clerk Ward PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Harycki led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Councilmember Kozlowski, seconded by Councilmember Polehna, to approve the June 18, 2013 regular meeting minutes. All in favor. PETITIONS, INDIVIDUALS, DELEGATIONS & COMMENDATIONS Certificate of Appreciation & Presentation of Retirement Plaque - Bob Kroening Mayor Harycki read the proclamation commending Bob Kroening for his service to the City. Motion by Councilmember Polehna, seconded by Councilmember Kozlowski, to adopt Resolution 2013 -105, Certificate of Appreciation — Bob Kroening. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None Proclamation - Stillwater High School Track Team Mayor Harycki read the proclamation designating July 3, 2013 as Stillwater Area High School Boys Track and Field Team Day. Page 3 of 6 City Council Meeting July 2, 2013 Coach Steve Christensen thanked the residents of Stillwater and noted that the team ranks 4th in the USA out of 22,000 high schools. He introduced Eli Krahn who set the American record for the mile for ninth graders, and team member Bailey Hesse - Withbroe. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Resolution 2013 -106, directing the Payment of Bills Resolution 2013 -107, accepting bid and awarding contract for County Road Improvement Project (Project 2013 -04) Resolution 2013 -108, approval of Cooperative Agreement with Washington County for Construction Costs for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 23 and 24 Purchase of 2 laptops for Police Department Motion by Councilmember Kozlowski, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, to adopt the Consent Agenda. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. 2013 -08. A public hearing to consider a request from Cornerstone Land Surveying Inc. representing Tom Garley, for an annexation final plat for Cottonwood Trail Addition and zoning map amendment for the property located at 13295 Boutwell Road North in the Transitional Zoning District and any variances related thereto. Community Development Director Turnblad stated that the applicant has requested that the hearing be tabled until July 16. Mayor Harycki opened and continued the public hearing to the next Council meeting. Motion by Councilmember Weidner, seconded by Councilmember Polehna, to table Case No. 2013- 08 to the July 18, 2013 meeting. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS Possible approval of second reading of Ordinance 1061 an Ordinance amending the Stillwater City Code Section 31 -300 entitled Establishment of Districts by rezoning six acres to TR Traditional Residential. Motion by Councilmember Polehna, seconded by Councilmember Weidner, to adopt Ordinance 1061, an Ordinance amending the Stillwater City Code, Section 31 -300, entitled Establishment of Districts, by Rezoning 6 Acres to TR, Traditional Residential. Page 4 of 6 City Council Meeting July 2, 2013 Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None Possible approval of Resolution formalizing the process of pre - approving credentialed historians and prices for reports associated with the demolition of potentially historic structures Community Development Director Turnblad explained the recommended procedure to pre - approve historians and set prices, in order to reduce the time needed for an historian to do a report for demolition of a potentially historic structure. Motion by Councilmember Menikheim, seconded by Councilmember Weidner, to adopt Resolution 2013 -109, a resolution establishing procedures for pre- approving historian services related to demolition requests. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None Review of position description and salary for Event Coordinator Community Development Director Turnblad summarized the possible responsibilities of an Event Coordinator. With the cost of a half time position approximately $20,000- 30,000 annually, an Event Coordinator position cannot be funded solely by permit application fees at their current rates. Councilmember Weidner commented that he does not want to increase the fees for smaller events such as Veterans Day Ceremonies or the Easter Egg Hunt. Councilmember Polehna suggested asking staff to come up with creative ways to fund the position. He stated he receives a lot of criticism for not proactively facilitating a community festival. Mayor Harycki stated as the Council goes through the budget process, it may need to squeeze the position into the general fund and identify some sources of funding. He doubts it can be funded solely by event fees. He suggested directing staff to look for RFP ideas from other communities and bring a sample RFP to the next meeting for discussion. Continuation of the discussion on extending the Orderly Annexation Agreement Mayor Harycki presented the Joint Board's recommended revisions. He noted that there was disagreement on the board over extending the Agreement. Councilmember Weidner noted if the agreement is left to sunset, it does not require the City to annex the rest of the township property by January 1, 2015, but it leaves the option to do so. He believes the agreement was beneficial at the time it was entered, but he does not see the benefit to the City of extending the agreement. Councilmember Menikheim noted all the changes that have occurred since the agreement was entered 25 years ago. He feels there is now a need for the City to be able to annex the property for development. Councilmember Kozlowski commented unless there is a hardship to residents, he sees no good reason for extending the agreement. Page 5 of 6 City Council Meeting July 2, 2013 City Attorney Magnuson pointed out that even if the City annexed the rest of the property on January 1, 2015; there are aspects of the agreement that remain in effect until 2020. Property tax protections extend for five years beyond annexation. Councilmember Polehna agreed that extending the agreement does not benefit the City. Motion by Councilmember Polehna, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, not to extend the Orderly Annexation Agreement. Ayes: Councilmembers Menikheim, Kozlowski, Weidner, Polehna, and Mayor Harycki Nays: None NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. COUNCIL REQUEST ITEMS Mayor Harycki mentioned receiving a thank you from Senator Housley for accommodating parking for student athletes for the Let's Go Fishing Special Olympics event. Councilmember Polehna encouraged residents to watch the fireworks on July 4th, which will be simulcast on 1220 AM radio. Mayor Harycki thanked the City of Oak Park Heights and the Margaret Rivers Fund for their generous contributions. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Kozlowski, seconded by Councilmember Menikheim, to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. All in favor. Michael Polehna, Vice Mayor ATTEST: Diane F. Ward, City Clerk Resolution 2013 -105, Certificate of Appreciation — Bob Kroening Resolution 2013 -106, directing the Payment of Bills Resolution 2013 -107, accepting bid and awarding contract for County Road Improvement Project (Project 2013 -04) Resolution 2013 -108, approval of Cooperative Agreement with Washington County for Construction Costs for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 23 and 24 Resolution 2013 -109, a resolution establishing procedures for pre- approving historian services related to demolition requests Ordinance 1061, an ordinance amending the Stillwater City Code, Section 31 -300, Entitled Establishment of Districts, by Rezoning 6 Acres to TR, Traditional Residential Page 6 of 6