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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-16 CC MIN 216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 www.ci.stillwater.mn.us CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 16, 2021 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Mayor Kozlowski called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:02 p.m. Present: Mayor Kozlowski, Councilmembers Collins, Junker, Odebrecht, Polehna Absent: None Staff present: City Attorney Land City Clerk Wolf Community Development Director Turnblad Finance Director Provos Fire Chief Glaser Police Chief Mueller Public Works Director/Interim City Administrator Sanders Assistant Engineer Abdullah PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Kozlowski led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. RECOGNITIONS OR PRESENTATIONS City Council Service Award for Bryan Ring On behalf of the Human Rights Commission, Mayor Kozlowski and Councilmember Polehna presented a service award to Bryan Ring for his efforts assembling, transporting, and handing out weekly donations to 10-15 homeless camps in Minneapolis. Mr. Ring reminded the Council that there are many average citizens doing crucial community work every day. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. STAFF REPORTS Public Works Director Sanders stated that the flooding risk is predicted to be low this year. Jason Grode, Parks Superintendent, will start February 22. The Water Board transition team continues to meet. The Sport Court at the Armory should be open this summer. He congratulated City Planner Wittman for obtaining a $50,000 DNR grant for a canoe launch at the Aiple Property. Police Chief Mueller reported on assistance provided to homeless individuals over the past couple weeks. There are openings for Reserve Officers. Since the last Council meeting there have been three suspected opioid overdoses, a disturbing trend. Alcohol and tobacco compliance checks are going well. City Council Meeting February 16, 2021 Fire Chief Glaser stated that Firefighter Jon Bell is retiring after 35 years of service. COVID testing continues at the Armory; and a blood drive is set for March 30. Community Development Director Turnblad stated the temporary outdoor sales permit program will be brought back to the Council for consideration next month. City Clerk Wolf noted that the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) invited the City of Stillwater to participate as a member of the newly formed Lake Elmo Airport Advisory Commission. A Council representative will be appointed at the March 2 meeting. CONSENT AGENDA February 2, 2020 regular, recessed and closed session meeting minutes Payment of Bills Brix Music Café New On-Sale Liquor License Farmers Market Event Contract Resolution 2021-025, resolution amending Resolution 2021-002 adopting 2021 Fee Schedule Resolution 2021-026, approving the 2021-2022 Labor Agreement between the City of Stillwater and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 257 Police Patrol Officers Resolution 2021-027, approving 2021-2022 Compensation Adjustments for City of Stillwater Nonrepresented Employees Motion by Councilmember Junker, seconded by Councilmember Collins, to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2021 Street Improvement Project (Project 2021-02). Assistant Engineer Abdullah explained the project. 4.66 miles of streets are proposed for improvements; 3.4 miles of mill and overlay; 0.51 miles of partial pavement reconstruction; and 0.75 miles of full pavement reconstruction. The total estimated cost is $2,137,189, including design, surveying, inspection, administration, and contingencies. Funding is through two sources: assessments and permanent improvement bonds. He explained the City’s assessment policy. Appraisals were done at random to compare the estimated assessment to the appraised benefit. Construction is to take place May through October 2021, with the assessment hearing in October 2021. Staff recommends that the Council order the improvement and authorize the preparation of plans and specifications. Councilmember Polehna thought he recalled extending the assessment period past 10 years; and Mr. Abdullah responded that the Council discussed that, but took no action. Public Works Director Sanders added that past discussion of longer assessment terms focused on assessments larger than $10,000. None of the assessments this year are over $10,000. Mayor Kozlowski opened the public hearing. Tony Johnson, Maryknoll Drive, stated he is excited about getting the street updated, but has concerns about speeding, especially by cut-through traffic. He asked if speed bumps, a median, a camera, or stop signs could be incorporated into the project to slow down traffic. Additionally, he asked the Council to consider a No U-Turn sign or median at Bayberry/Maryknoll to prevent the many near-accidents he witnesses there. Page 2 of 5 City Council Meeting February 16, 2021 Page 3 of 5 Noting that speed bumps are not used in Stillwater, Mayor Kozlowski asked if the Police Chief or Mr. Sanders could place a speed indicator trailer in the area. Councilmember Polehna commented that the speed indicator helps for a while, but speeding returns after the trailer is gone. Police Chief Mueller responded that he will get officers out there for more enforcement. Jim Berg, Autumn Way, voiced support for the mill and overlay, but he feels the sidewalk is not warranted as it would not be used much. Mr. Abdullah responded that it is not a sidewalk; it will be a trail on the west side as part of the Safe Routes to School. There are not many kids there now because there is no walkway there. The trail will not go all the way to Hwy 5, it will stop midway and connect to the existing trail that goes to the school. Rob Peltier, Bayberry Avenue, spoke about cut-through traffic a nd close calls resulting from U-turns on 75th and Maryknoll. He suggested adding stop signs to control speeding on Maryknoll. He appreciates the new sidewalks south of Interlachen. Councilmember Odebrecht commented that some of the cut-through traffic might be due to a GPS routing through the area. Dorothy Herman, Maryknoll Drive, voiced concern about high traffic volume. Multiple remedies have been tried, including signs and electronic speed signs, which work for a while but then drivers go back to speeding. Lots of drivers ignore the stop sign. There are no sidewalks on Maryknoll making it unsafe for walking. A traffic assessment should be done on Maryknoll, especially since Maryknoll was extended, resulting in a big increase in traffic. Relying on the Police Department to babysit the street is not a long term solution. Rob Peltier added that as long as new developments are built to the north on Neal, the traffic will continue to get worse. Brick Street is not getting used as much as was predicted 8-9 years ago when Deerpath was redone. Gerald Nelson, Walnut Creek Drive, reminded the Council about the low curbing and pooling water; and Mr. Abdullah replied that any sections that are damaged or collecting water will be redone. Bob Thompson, Maryknoll Drive, agreed a traffic study is needed. He feels the speed should be reduced to 20 mph. Right now at 30 mph drivers are going 40-45 mph. Mike Robertson, Edgewood Avenue, stated his street has been dug up many times to repair water main breaks. He asked if the original water lines have been replaced, or if there is a chance that the street will be dug up again in the near future; and Mr. Abdullah replied that before starting street projects, the City contacts the Water Department to ask if there is water work to be done. He will talk with Utilities Superintendent Benson again to see if there is a need to replace any water main. Mayor Kozlowski closed the public hearing. Councilmember Polehna asked if there are any new engineering techniques for traffic calming; and Mr. Sanders answered that there are three aspects of slowing traffic: education, enforcement and engineering with traffic calming. Portable speed signs work for a few weeks, but after they are moved, drivers return to their old habits. Some people like bump- City Council Meeting February 16, 2021 Page 4 of 5 outs and some do not. Using bump-outs on a street like Maryknoll would be difficult due to the location of driveways and affecting parking. Stop signs should only be used to establish right-of-way, not to slow traffic. Drivers end up speeding between stop signs. At Interlachen and Maryknoll, there is not a lot of traffic that warrants that 4-way stop that was put in years ago. If there is not enough traffic, drivers roll through the stop signs and disobey them. Traffic calming needs careful planning. Staff will look at the suggested measures and see what can be done. There would not be enough time to do a traffic study if Maryknoll is to remain in the project. Councilmember Junker noted traffic on Maryknoll has definitely increased. He doubts there is room to use bump-outs. There are options for education such as a sign that blinks constantly. He stated some of the speeders are neighborhood residents, in addition to the cut-through traffic. The City should do everything in its power to curtail speed. Mr. Sanders explained that in-street pedestrian signs are only allowed where there are crosswalks. Staff can take a look at a more permanent speed display sign, but he cautioned the Council that there may be requests for those all over town. Councilmember Polehna suggested someone ask Google to redirect the suggested GPS routes. Motion by Councilmember Junker, seconded by Councilmember Polehna, to adopt Resolution 2021‐028, ordering improvement and preparing of plans and specifications for the 2021 Street Improvement Project (Project 2021-02). All in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS City Code Updates on Assessment Deferrals and Tobacco Sales – 1st Reading City Clerk Wolf stated that the Stillwater City Code needs to be updated to reflect changes made last year in the Council’s policy on assessment deferrals, and also to reflect revisions to the State language on tobacco sales. Motion by Councilmember Collins, seconded by Councilmember Junker, to adopt first reading of an Ordinance repealing Stillwater City Code Section 56-2, Deferral of Special Assessments for Senior Citizens, and an Ordinance amending Stillwater City Code Section 41-2, Licensing of Tobacco Sales, Possession and Use. All in favor. St. Croix Riverbank Stabilization and Riverwalk Project Bid Award for Tree Removal Public Work Director Sanders informed the Council that construction of the St. Croix Riverbank Stabilization and Riverwalk Project is planned for later this year. With the presence of endangered species, tree removals in the project area would have to be completed either before March 15 or after November 1. Trees from south of the Dock Café to the Shoddy Mill buildings, and near the two overlooks would be removed. Helke’s Tree Service submitted the low bid in the amount of $53,075. Staff recommends that the Council award the work and enter into an agreement with Helke’s Tree. City Council Meeting February 16, 2021 Page 5 of 5 Motion by Councilmember Odebrecht, seconded by Councilmember Polehna, to award the contract to Helke’s Tree Service for tree removal associated with the Riverbank Stabilization and Riverwalk Project (Project 2016-06). All in favor. COUNCIL REQUEST ITEMS There were no Council request items. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Junker, seconded by Councilmember Collins, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Ted Kozlowski, Mayor ATTEST: Beth Wolf, City Clerk Resolution 2021-025, Resolution Amending Resolution 2021-002 Adopting 2021 Fee Schedule Resolution 2021-026, Approving the 2021-2022 Labor Agreement between the City of Stillwater and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 257 Police Patrol Officers Resolution 2021-027, Approving 2021-2022 Compensation Adjustments for City of Stillwater Nonrepresented Employees Resolution 2021-028, Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans & Specifications for the 2021 Street Improvement Project (Project 2021-02)