HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-14 CC Meeting Minutes Excerpt --
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Page 2 - City Cot cil Minutes 10/14/97
Councilmember Robert then asked Kaiser why the City has received
only one bid for the five-year tree-pruning plan. Kaiser said
that other companies have told him they cannot compete with St .
Croix Tree ' s prices . Councilmember Robert requested that this
issue be tabled until the October 28 meeting so that
Administrator Robertson could solicit other quotes . The Police
Department was also directed to make a note of the trees around
the community that are in need of pruning and report back to the
Council at the next meeting.
Cindy Weckworth, Senior Environmental Health Specialist ,
Washington County - Overview of Groundwater - Councilmember
Beaudet said that Ms . Weckworth was not able to be present today,
but that she would return to present her report at the next
Council meeting on October 28 .
Petition from Valley View Garden Homes Association - Doug
Bergmann, 14913 57th Street North and president of the
association, was present to bring some issues before the Council .
The first three issues involved water drainage problems .
Bergmann outlined the concerns of the association: raising up
some storm sewers and putting grates on them, the maintenance of
a rock bed in an overflow parking lot, and the sod problems after
a heavy rain. Bergmann also requested that a vacant lot be mowed
and that rubble be removed from another empty lot . City Engineer
Anderlik said that he would need to go out to the site before he
would be able to make any recommendations . Council directed
Anderlik to have a report ready at the next Council meeting.
Council then asked Jack Krongard, the developer, for his input on
the issues . Krongard noted that there have been some problems in
the past but that he has spent some of his own money to fix
problems that he did not cause . Krongard said that he is willing
to install new storm sewer grates free of charge if that would
solve the drainage problem. Krongard then said that he would mow
the vacant lot . He also said that the rubble would be removed
because he would be using it in the construction of a berm, which
he expected to start work on within the week.
There were some other residents of the association that shared
concerns with the Council . Clyde Theets, 14935 57th Street
North, said that he would like a street sign to designate his
road between 57th and 58th Streets . Council directed staff to
order a half-and-half sign for the street indicating which
direction is 57th Street and which direction is 58th Street .
William Kaine , Objection to the Granting of Mary Stenfors ' O(j, '
Special Home Occupation License - Kaine appeared before the
Council with a petition from some of the neighbors adjacent to
Mary Stenfors, objecting to the Home Occupation Permit that was
granted to Stenfors . He said he felt that the Council acted
covertly when they reconsidered the permit application without
another public notice to the neighbors .
Page 3 - City Cc ...il Minutes 10/14/97
City Attorney Vierling told Kaine that the procedural action that
the Council took is perfectly legal and appropriate. Kaine then
indicated his displeasure with the Council because he had been
present at the initial public hearing to oppose the permit, yet
the Council ultimately granted Stenfors the permit .
There was some discussion about the conditions placed on the
permit and the fact that the Council reserves the right to revoke
the permit at any time should there be violations of the
conditions . Vierling noted that the permit is subject to annual
review.
Councilmember Robert asked Vierling if people could make
anonymous complaints . Vierling noted that any complaint could
only remain anonymous until a decision was made whether or not to
charge someone . Once that decision was made, either to charge,
or, to not charge someone with a crime, then the complainant ' s
name would become public .
Department Reports:
Police - Chief Swanson acknowledged the receipt of a $50 . 00
donation from Wal-Mart . He said the Police Department worked
with Wal-Mart in a child fingerprinting project and that the
$50 . 00 was to be used for future materials .
Swanson then requested Council authorization to proceed with
drafting an updated dog ordinance to address problems with
potentially dangerous dogs . Councilmember Robert, seconded by
Swenson, moved to set a public hearing for Tuesday, October 28 at
7 : 30 p.m. to discuss a new dog ordinance. Carried 5-0 .
Chief Swanson requested that the City consider establishing a on-
street parking ban in the winter months to help with the street
plowing. Councilmember Turnquist, seconded by Schaaf, moved to
set a public hearing for Tuesday, October 28 at 7 :30 p.m. to
discuss an ordinance establishing possible seasonal parking
restrictions . Carried 5-0 .
Parks -Councilmember Robert asked if the street lights at the
MN/DOT bridge area will remain lighted, because several of them
are burned out . Administrator Robertson said that the area
should remain lighted in order to deter vandalism, but they do
want to block off some of the streets that are not needed for
access .
Police Chief Swanson said that if the City wants Valley View Park
to be plowed this winter, they will have to remove the posts
which lock the gates . In that case, the park will have open
access throughout the winter. Councilmember Robert said that
issue would be put on the Parks Commission agenda for the meeting
on October 21 .
Councilmember Robert suggested flyers be distributed informing
neighborhood residents of the Park Commission' s proposed plans