The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About03-08-05 Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order /Pledge of Allegiance /Approval of Agenda: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Beaudet. Present: Councilmembers Abrahamson, Doerr, McComber and Swenson. Staff present: Administrator Johnson, Police Chief Swanson, City Attorney Vierling, City Engineer Erickson, and City Planner Richards. Absent: None. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 5 — 0. II. Deuartment/Council Liaison Reports: A. Planning Commission: City Planner Richards reported that the Planning Commission will meet March 10 at 7:00 p.m. The Agenda includes a request for a lighting variance and a townhome proposal. B. Parks Commission: Councilmember Abrahamson reported that the Parks • Commission will meet on March 28 at 6:30 p.m. A worksession was held prior to the last meeting to discuss the Moelter park site. Further discussions will be delayed due to frontage road and Club Tara parking issues. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Doerr stated that there is nothing to report. D. Water Management Orzanizations/Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Middle St. Croix will meet on March 10 at 7:00 p.m. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Councilmember McComber reported that subgroups are still meeting on the St. Croix River Crossing project. Councilmember McComber also reported that the Federal Transportation Bill has been released and it contains funds for Highway 36 reconstruction. III. Visitors /Public Comment: Recvcling Award. Administrative Secretary Johnson reported that William Challberg of 14663 Upper 56 Street North was chosen to receive the recycling award. • City Council Meeting Minutes March 8, 2005 Page 2 of 5 • IV. Consent Agenda: A. Approve Bills & Investments B. Approve City Council Minutes — February 22, 2005 C. Adopt Resolution Granting the Application of Ducks Unlimited to Conduct a One -Day Raffle at the VFW Club on May 5, 2005 D. Approve Dates for 2005 Clean-Up Events E. Approve RT Minneapolis Franchise, LLC dba Ruby Tuesday's On -Sale and On -Sale Sunday Liquor License Change in Start Date F. Approve Snyder's Drug #5075 — Steven Douglas Wahlquist License to Sell Consumer Fireworks May 1, 2005 through August 31, 2005 G. Approve McKean Square Utility & Street Improvements Payment Request #9 from Burschville Construction Inc. H. Approve Kern Center Pond Expansion Payment Request #3 from Park Construction Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 — 0. V. Public Hearin • None. VI. New Business: A. Appoint Patrick Estes to the Parks Commission Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to appoint Pat Estes to the Parks Commission. Carried 5 — 0. B. Reauest for Assistance with Water Monitoring in the MSCWMO Mayor Beaudet explained that the Middle St. Croix water management organization is requesting financial assistance for water monitoring. The Middle St. Croix WMO will perform the installation and monitoring and is asking that Oak Park Heights, Bayport and Baytown split the cost of purchasing the equipment to monitor Perro Creek. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the request with funds from the General Fund Contingency. Carried 5 — 0. VII. Old Business. City Council Meeting Minutes March 8, 2005 Page 3 of 5 A. Wal -Mart Approvals (Amended CUPS, Subdivision, Variances, Site Review) City Planner Richards reported that staff has been working with the applicant to address issues. Richards noted changes made to the original site plan and stated that the gas station would be a separate application at a future date. Richards also discussed fencing and screening of the loading docks and trash area. Dave Selligren spoke on behalf of Walmart. Mr. Selligren explained that Walmart did not have a lighting expert available but may want to request a lighting variance at a later date. Mr. Selligren also stated a concern that it may be difficult to keep the doors of the auto repair area closed on very warm days or when the weather is nice and the employees would like fresh air. City Planner Richards reported that condition 6 requiring dimming of the parking lot lights at night could be difficult for the applicant to comply with because the store is in operation 24 hours per day. Councilmembers agreed that lighting in the parking lot is necessary for safety and security purposes during operating hours. Councilmember Doerr, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to strike condition 6 in its entirety. Carried 5 — 0. • Discussion was held concerning noise associated with operation of the trash compactor. Councilmembers discussed limiting the hours of operation of the trash compactor and pickup of the trash containers. Erik Miller of MFRA Architects reported on his research concerning the trash compactor and stated that the unit chosen complies with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency noise standards. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to restrict hours of operation of the trash compactor and trash pick -up to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and reserve the City's right to review and/or modify the trash compactor operation in the future. Carried 5 — 0. Mayor Beaudet welcomed brief comments from the public. Scott Bol presented petitions signed by 27 people concerned about the proposed expansion of the Walmart store. Jake Baxter of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union also presented concerns in opposition of the Walmart expansion and noted reasons other cities have tabled similar requests from Walmart. City Attorney Vierling reminded the public that the Council's duty in this case is to enforce land use related ordinances, not to address labor issues. Councilmember Doerr, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to adopt the Resolution as amended approving the requests from Walmart. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 — 0. City Council Meeting Minutes March 8, 2005 Page 4 of 5 B. Stop Sijzns at 58 Street and Norell Avenue Intersection Councilmember McComber asked that the Council reconsider installing stop signs at the intersection of 58 Street and Norell Avenue. Councilmember McComber suggested signs similar to those installed on Vine Street in Hudson with blinking lights around the perimeter of the sign. Discussion was held concerning driver behavior and potential drawbacks to having stop signs at that intersection. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to direct the City Engineer to conduct a study to assess warrants at the intersection of 58 Street and Norell Avenue. Carried 5 — 0. C. Response to MnDOT 1/6/05 Correspondence — St. Croix River CrossinWSTH 36 Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Resolution. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to amend the Resolution to add a request for MnDOT to express support to Congress for the Federal T -21 Bill for $500 million for design study for Highway 36. Carried 5 — 0. Roll call vote taken on the primary motion. Carried 5 — 0. D. Formal Citv Positions on Bridle /STH 36 City Administrator Johnson stated that the City position document was drafted as a result of discussions held at the February 22, 2005 Worksession. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve the City Position document. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to add "Oak Park Heights" to the document title. Carried 5 — 0. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to delete the words "however, to date" from the second sentence in the second paragraph. Carried 5 — 0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to delete the word "bankrupt" in paragraph 3 and replace it with "create a severe financial hardship to the City ". Carried 5 — 0. City Council Meeting Minutes March 8, 2005 Page 5 of 5 Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to add "estimated" after the word "reconstruction" and strike the last sentence in the first paragraph. Carried 5 — 0. Vote taken on the primary motion to approve the handout as amended. Carried 5 —0. VIII. Adiournment. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to adjourn at 8:17 p.m. Carried 5 — 0. Respectfully submitted, A r ontent and Fo , 1 � � lie Jo son David Beaudet Administrative Secretary Mayor