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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-08 Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS • 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008 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, Swenson and McComber. Staff present: Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling and City Engineer Postler. Absent: City Planner Richards Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Agenda. Carried 5 -0. II. Department /Council Liaison Reports: A. Planning Commission: Councilmember Abrahamson reported that the Planning Commission failed to have a quorum for the last meeting. He stated that the Public Hearing for the Comprehensive Plan will take place at the next meeting. • B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the Parks Commission met on March 10. She reported that the commission appointed Chuck Dougherty as Chair and Beth Nelson as Vice Chair. McComber reported that the next meeting will be on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Doerr reported that the next scheduled commission meeting is April 16 He stated that it will commence with the annual meeting with the regular meeting following. D. Water Management Orsanizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Middle St. Croix WMO's next meeting is on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Councilmember McComber reported that she attended the CVB meeting on that date and that they worked on a strategic plan for timelines. She stated that she will provide a copy to be placed in weekly notes for the council to review. Councilmember Doerr reported that a resident wanted him to pass on to the Parks Commission and the Public Works Department that they have done a great job on the parks and the ice rinks. • i � 1 City Council Meeting Minutes March 25, 2008 Page 2 of 5 • III. Visitors/Public Comment: Pamela Wicklund of 5643 O'Brien came forward and read a letter she sent to the City opposing an expansion of City Hall and the parking lot. Her main concerns were the possibilities of losing the green space and access to the trail system. A. Recvclina Award: Administrative Secretary Thoen reported that Jim and Char Bonse of 14775 Upper 55 Street North were chosen as the recycling award winners. B. Foreclosure Prevention/Counseling — Presentation by HRA Deputv Director Rich Mallov: Mr. Malloy provided a PowerPoint presentation. He stated that their program is designed to help people before the foreclosure sign goes on the door. He stated that they received grants which allowed them to hire two certified mortgage counselors to assist people who are going into foreclosure. Councilmember McComber suggested that the HRA phone number be placed on the City's website. City Administrator Johnson reported that Mr. Malloy prepared an insert for the City newsletter that will be mailed to each residence in Oak Park Heights. • IV. Consent Aizenda: A. Approve Bills & Investments B. Approve City Council Minutes — February 26, 2008 C. Wal -Mart Donation to Police Dept. D. G O Improvement Bonds of 1998 — 1. Approve Source for Retirement of Bonds; 2. Approve closing of Bond Fund; 3. Approve Transfer of Assessment Roll from Bond Fund to Capital Revolving Fund E. Schedule Worksession for April 22, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. to review the 2007 Annual Financial Report F. Approve New /Transfer of On -Sale and On -Sale Sunday Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for Applebee's Restaurants North LLC dba Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar G. 2008 Board of Review Meeting — Televising Status H. Appoint Mr. Eric Eaton to the Oak Park Heights Internship Program 1. Purchase 2008 Ford Focus — New Building Inspection Vehicle Councilmember McComber requested that Item E be pulled for discussion. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0. • City Council Meeting Minutes March 25, 2008 Page 3 of 5 • Councilmember McComber stated that she will not be able to attend the worksession on April 22. She requested that the worksession be rescheduled to another date. Mayor Beaudet stated that staff can check with Dave Mol to see if he can appear prior to the first council meeting in May, and if not, the worksession will stay on April 22. V. Public Hearings: None VI. Old Business: A. Citv Hall Facilitv — Discuss /Set Worksession with the Citv Hall Citizen's Advisory Committee: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to schedule a worksession with the City Hall Citizen's Advisory Committee and the City Council for 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2008. Carried 5 -0. The worksession will be televised. B. STH 36 Frontage Roads: City Administrator Johnson stated that he received a draft agreement from MnDOT regarding the frontage road. Councilmember McComber requested that MnDOT expand on the • agreement to provide more of a description of "minor" and to clarify what maintenance is expected to be done by the City. Mayor Beaudet stated that he would like more information on how Stillwater and Oak Park Heights would work together on snow plowing the frontage roads. Beaudet also stated that he would like to see an end date on the agreement. Councilmember Abrahamson stated that he was confused on why the City should have to enter into any agreement to maintain a road that is owned by the state. City Administrator Johnson confirmed that the council essentially will only agree to take over sanding and snow plowing. Mayor Beaudet stated that the City Administrator should have continued conversations with MnDOT. C. 5502 Osgood Ave Property: City Administrator Johnson stated that he provided draft RFPs in the City Council packet for that evening. Councilmember McComber stated that a 90 -day timeline on the RFP is reasonable in order for the home to be removed prior to next winter. City Administrator Johnson reported that he spoke with an asbestos investigator and he stated it would be approximately $1,650 to do an asbestos site review on the property. City Administrator Johnson stated that he also provided the council with a rough estimate on what a vacant lot would sell for in Oak Park Heights should the council decide to sell a parcel of the property. He stated that a . vacant 1/3 — 1/4 acre lot would sell for approximately $100,000 to City Council Meeting Minutes March 25, 2008 Page 4 of 5 $150,000 based on comparison to vacant lots in Stillwater and Bayport and a vacant lot within the City of Oak Park Heights. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the RFP for removal, the RFP for demolition if necessary, and to approve up to $2,000 for an asbestos investigation. Carried 5 -0. Councilmember Abrahamson questioned whether the funds would come out of the park fund. Councilmember McComber questioned whether the cost for demolition would come out of the park fund as well. City Administrator Johnson stated that they both would come from the park fund. D. Rental Registration and Inspection Proeram: City Administrator Johnson stated that staff was not seeking approval of the documents that evening; rather they wanted council to review them. He stated that staff will be seeking written comments from landlords who may be affected by the program. VII. New Business: A. Discuss and Potentially Respond to Rep. Michelle Bachmann's 3/11/08 Correspondence: Councilmember Doerr stated that he placed this item on • the agenda to see what council thought about applying for the grants stated in the letter. He said that he has since learned from Mayor Beaudet that there is a good chance that Rep. Bachmann will be attending a City Council meeting in May. Mayor Beaudet stated that Bachmann will confirm whether she will attend by the next City Council meeting. Councilmember Doerr, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to postpone this agenda item to the April 8 meeting. Carried 5 -0. B. Discussion of Park & Trail Improvements Park Recommendations: Councilmember McComber stated that the Parks Commission requested feedback on why the council did not follow the commission's recommendation. Beth Nelson, Parks Commission Council Representative, came forward and stated that they based their recommendations on a survey that was sent out. She stated that the survey results showed that the tennis courts were a low priority. Councilmember Swenson stated that he felt the tennis courts would get more use if they were in better shape. Mayor Beaudet stated that the list of projects could come back to the Parks Commission for further review and recommendation once the bids come back. He stated that there is approximately $300,000 for budgeted projects so the projects would not come out of park funds. • City Council Meeting Minutes March 25, 2008 Page 5 of 5 C. Authorize City Participation in the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Aareement: City Administrator Johnson stated that the agreement outlines various targets and policies that a city should consider as it reviews purchases, land use and other typical issues faced by local governments. Councilmember Abrahamson questioned whether there would be any costs to the City to participate. City Administrator Johnson stated that there is no fee to join. Councilmember Abrahamson noted that there may be costs associated with meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets suggested in the agreement. Councilmember McComber suggested that the City would strive to meet the targets; however it is not a requirement. City Administrator Johnson noted that the City already follows many of the items in the agreement. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved that the City participate in the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Carried 5 -0. D. OPH — Washinaton County Aareement on Road Limits and Reconstruction of 62 Street and Oxboro Ave.: City Administrator Johnson stated that an agreement has been drafted that allows the County to exceed the road limits on 62 Street and Oxboro Avenue in exchange • for the County's commitment to reconstruct those streets not later than December 31, 2011. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to authorize the City Administrator and the City Attorney to negotiate an acceptable agreement between the City and Washington County and to authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute such document once negotiations are finalized. Carried 5 -0. VIII. Adiournment: Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, App o a on nt and Fo Jennifer Thoen David Beaudet Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor •