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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-08 Minutes • CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY, MAY 13, 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, McComber and Swenson. Staff present: Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling, City Engineer Erickson, Finance Director Holst, and Deputy Police Chief DeRosier. Absent: City Planner Richards. Mayor Beaudet added "Presentation by City Auditor Dave Mol" to the Visitors /Public Comment section, and changed the time for Party in the Park to 5:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. on Consent Agenda Item E. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 5 -0. II. Department /Council Liaison Reports: A. Planning Commission: Councilmember Abrahamson stated there were • three public hearings at the last Planning Commission meeting which will come up at the May 27 City Council meeting: revision to Oakgreen Village, VSSA tunnel and historic village, and screening at Stagecoach bus property. B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the next meeting of the Parks Commission will be on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Doerr reported that the next meeting of the cable commission will be the third Wednesday in June. D. Water Management Organizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Middle St. Croix WMO's next meeting is on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Mayor Beaudet thanked all those who worked at the Spring Clean -Up, and stated that there will be report on tonnage and loads at the next council meeting. Councilmember McComber stated that for fall it should be added to the notices that lawnmowers need to have all fluids drained prior to being • brought to the clean -up. She also stated that notices should include that residents should enter off of Osgood for the event. City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 2 of 7 • III. Visitors/Public Comment: Recvclina Award: Administrative Secretary Thoen reported that Beth and Buddy Yantz of 14088 53` Street N. were chosen as the recycling award winners. Presentation by City Auditor Dave Mol: Dave Mol of Tautges Redpath stated that they prepared three financial reports. He reported a clean opinion on financial statements; he reported that there were no compliance findings; and he stated there were three items noted on the internal control report: audit adjustments, financial statement preparation, and segregation of duties on utility billing. Mol reported that overall the results for 2007 were good. IV. Consent Aizenda: A. Approve Bills & Investments B. Approve City Council Minutes — April 22, 2008 C. Authorize Asbestos Abatement at 5502 Osgood Ave. Property D. Accept Trail Easement from Washington County HRA E. Set Date for City's Annual Party in the Park from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. F. Authorizing Hiring of Park Attendants G. Approve License to Sell Consumer Fireworks at Menards • Councilmember McComber pulled Item B from the Consent Agenda. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson moved to approve Item B of the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -0 -1, Councilmember McComber abstained. V. Public Hearines: Public Hearing on City Hall Facility: Randy Engel from Buetow & Associates provided a presentation on the findings of the space needs study and building functionality. Steve Mattson of Northland Securities provided a presentation on the financial impact of the bond issuance. He stated that the estimated bond rates are 2.6 to 4.3 percent over the next 20 years. He reported that the estimated annual increase for taxpayers with a $200,000 home would be $77.86. City Administrator Johnson reviewed the findings of the City Hall Citizen's Advisory Committee. • i City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 3 of 7 • No public comments were made. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to close the Public Hearing. Carried 5 -0. VI. Old Business: A. City Hall Facility — Proposed Resolutions: Councilmember Abrahamson stated that this is something he has struggled with more than any other vote that has come before the council. He reported that a number of potential sites were discussed including the Montanari building and the former Herberger's site. He stated that costs were examined and the group decided that it would not be prudent to go with the other sites. Abrahamson noted that the current building is deteriorating, it is not the greatest set -up for police, and it is not secure. Councilmember Swenson stated that to bring the current building up to code would be too costly. He stated that employee safety is an issue because the public has complete access to all areas of City Hall with no accountability. Councilmember Doerr stated that he agrees that putting money into the current building is not a wise investment of taxpayer dollars. He agreed • that the bond market is favorable and the cost of construction is low at this time. He stated that he thinks that building a new facility would be a wise investment of taxpayer dollars, but if the council cannot vote 5 -0 on the Resolution, he does not think the council should move forward on it. He stated that the only people to lose out if this does not move forward are the taxpayers because the economy is not going to stay down forever. He said that if the council waits until a future date to replace the building, the cost of construction will be higher and the cost of bonds will be higher. Councilmember McComber stated that she too struggled with this item. She said that she has never disagreed that something needs to be done, she is just not 100 percent convinced that right now is the time to do it. She stated that it could be a struggle for those on fixed incomes and those who are unemployed. Mayor Beaudet stated that residents pay approximately $0.25 on every tax dollar levied, and that commercial and industrial entities pay the other $0.75 on the dollar. He reported that 40 percent of a commercial or industrial entity's tax capacity is in what is called the Fiscal Disparities of the Twin Cities which is considerably higher than the City's rate, and the other 60 percent is taxed at the City's rate just like the homeowners. He estimated that commercial and industrial entities would pay about $150 for every $200,000 of their value because of the difference in tax capacity • I City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 4 of 7 • whereas a resident would pay approximately $78 on the same $200,000 value. Mayor Beaudet also stated that the new building would be energy efficient. He stated that the current building does not meet the state energy efficiency standard. He stated that energy efficiency of the new building could save the City 80 to 90 percent on energy costs for lighting and air conditioning. He stated that the estimated increase for a $200,000 home would be $78 the first year but that there will be adjustments that come from the energy efficiency savings. He stated that he supports moving forward with a new building. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the Resolution authorizing construction of a new City Hall Facility. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -1, Councilmember McComber opposed. Mayor Beaudet stated that he would like to reconstitute the Citizens Committee to bring back to the council a plan to which then the architect can move forward to create the documents needed to build and bid the . new City Hall, and that there be at least two or three joint worksessions with the council. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to reauthorize the Citizens Committee to be the schematic design committee for City Hall and campus. Carried 4 -1, Councilmember McComber opposed. B. 2008 Park and Trail Improvements: City Engineer Erickson stated that the low bid was from Miller Excavating for the base bid. She stated that the City is working with the County for a crossing on Osgood Avenue. She reported that if they do not approve the crossing, it could take approximately $6,000 from the base bid. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to make all improvements in the base bid and alternates 2, 3, 4A, and 4B. City Engineer stated that the Xcel Energy lines run above where the tennis court lighting would be at Swager Park so the maximum height the lighting could go would be 25 feet high and Xcel Energy does not want anyone to go up to change the light. She stated that would mean that when the light needed to be replaced, the City would basically need to take the poles down. City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 5 of 7 • Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to amend to delete alternate 2. Carried 5 -0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved that all funds, including engineering fees, come from budgeted projects fund. Carried 5- 0. City Administrator Johnson stated that staff has communicated with Washington County on several occasions related to a trail connection at the right -of -way line and about a pedestrian crossing, and the County has not expressed an interest in allowing that connection. Johnson stated the County has safety concerns. Johnson stated that instead of crossing Osgood Avenue, the council could decide to bend the trail around to the southeast and make a connection where the current driveway is or bend it down to the south and request the County include support for a tunnel in their CIP. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to amend to have trail on Osgood property stop ten feet from property line with a turn around. Motion withdrawn. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to amend to recommend that the Parks Commission review where the trail should end away from the county road, and make a recommendation to the City Council. Carried 5 -0. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to authorize that City Administrator start process to have tunnel placed on county CIP, and include that City is requesting the county pay half since they have the City's municipal aid funds and that the City would be willing to construct the tunnel with the tunnel being a 10'x10' culvert on the right -of -way depending on how the sections of the tunnel fit together, and indicate that the City has their half of their funds ready to go so the City would like to do this sooner rather than later, and that other trail connections north and south on Osgood should be included in CIP. Carried 5 -0. Main motion carried 5 -0. C. Authorize Tree Removal as Part of 2008 Trail Improvements,: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve the expenditures as presented from the budgeted projects fund for tree removal carried 5 -0. City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 6 of 7 D. Discuss Letter to Stillwater Area School District — Panama Ave. Slope Corrections — Oak Park Elementary: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the letter as presented. Carried 5 -0. E. STH 36 Frontage Roads: City Administrator Johnson stated that the council had in their packet the most recent and final agreement from Nick Thompson of MnDOT. Motion to reject agreement. Carried 5 -0. VII. New Business: A. Accept and ADDrove the 2007 Annual Financial Report from City Auditing Firm Tautaes- Redpath: Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the report. Carried 5 -0. B. Alcohol Compliance Violation — Super America 14493 60 Street No.: Deputy Police Chief DeRosier stated that Super America failed the compliance check and sold to an individual who was under 21. He requested sanctions be placed. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to impose a $500.00 sanction and include an opportunity for Super America to request a hearing to be set for the June 24. Carried 5 -0. C. Purchase ADDroval — Police Radar Trailer: Deputy Police Chief DeRosier stated that the current unit no longer works. He requested approval to purchase a new trailer. Mayor Beaudet noted that the specifications do not include a memory feature. Deputy Police Chief DeRosier stated that he received an unofficial quote of $1,200 to add that feature. DeRosier stated that the memory feature provides information on how many vehicles go through a certain area, gives the speeds of each vehicle individually, and gives an average speed of vehicles going through that area. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the expenditure of $5,500 from the DWI forfeiture fund for the radar trailer, and up to $2,000 from the council contingency fund for a monitoring device. Carried 5 -0. D. Consider 1.65% Rate Increase on Waste /Recvclina Services: City Administrator Johnson stated that Veolia made a request to the City for two fee increases. He stated that one was a 1.65 percent inflationary rate increase. He reported that staff has no objection. He reported that a diesel fuel surcharge increase was also requested. He reported that staff has an City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008 Page 7 of 7 objection due to the complexity and time consuming nature of their request. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the 1.65% rate increase. Carried 5 -0. E. Demolition / Site Restoration of 5502 Osv-ood Ave. Property: City Administrator Johnson stated that he received two quotes. He reported that Miller Excavating had the low bid at $10,775. Councilmember Swenson stated that he would like to direct staff to see what it would take to allow the Fire Department to do a practice burn at the property. Councilmember Doerr mentioned that it was his recollection that this was discussed before and there was some concern about the trees and the proximity of the neighbors. Councilmember McComber suggested that Arborist Widin review the idea at the upcoming Parks Commission meeting. Councilmember Swenson requested that the City Administrator talk to the neighbor to the north of the property to see if they have a problem with it. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the demo of building, and if it can be used for fire training without seriously damaging too many trees that it go forward after it is reviewed by the Parks Commission. Carried 5 -0. F. Stagecoach Trail and Intersections with City Streets: Councilmember McComber reported that there are long wait times to get onto Stagecoach Trail from intersecting city streets. She stated that she called the county and they suggested a traffic study be conducted. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to send a letter to the county to initiate traffic study. Carried 5 -0. VIII. Adiournment: Councilmember McComber, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, ZDaviaudet Content and , ennifer Thoen Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor I