HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-2011 Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
• TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
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, McComber, Runk, and Swenson. Staff present:
City Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling, Public Works Director
Kegley, City Planner Richards, and Arborist Kathy Widin. Absent: City Engineer
Long.
Mayor Beaudet moved New Business Item C. to Public Hearings as Item A;
added "Liability Coverage — LMCIT Waiver of Statutory Tort Limits" to Consent
Agenda as Item F.; added "St. Croix River Crossing — Update on Bridge
Legislation & Discussion on Recent Unveiled `Alternative' Bridge Plan" as Old
Business Item F.; and moved Consent Agenda Item D to Old Business as Item G.
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to
approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 5 -0.
II. Department /Council Liaison Reports:
• A. Planning Commission: City Planner Richards reported that the last
meeting of the Planning Commission was held on July 26, and the
commission discussed the Applebee's design guidelines review and the B-
2 zoning district building height issue. He reported the next meeting of
the Planning Commission was scheduled for August 11 at 7:00 p.m.
B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the next
meeting was set for August 15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
C. Water Management Organizations/Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet
reported that the next meeting was scheduled for August 11, 2011 at 7:00
p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office.
D. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Mayor Beaudet reported that Party in the
Park was scheduled for August 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Brekke
Park.
III. Visitors/Public Comment:
A. Mr. Todd Streetar — Update from Chamber of Commerce — Economic
Symposium: Todd Streetar, executive director for the Greater Stillwater
Chamber of Commerce presented information about an upcoming
• symposium for residents and business owners in Oak Park Heights, Lake
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July 26, 2011
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• Elmo, Bayport, and Stillwater. Mayor Beaudet reported that the
symposium would be meeting in Oak Park Heights at Boutwells Landing
on August 22 for residents and on August 24 for businesses.
Councilmember McComber reported that community members may also
visit the symposium website to provide feedback if they cannot attend the
meetings.
B. Recycling Award: Deputy Clerk Pinski reported that David Fedie of 5531
Oakgreen Place N., and Nick & Kelly Wojtowicz of 14372 Upper 56
Street N. were chosen as the recycling award winners for the month of
July.
IV. Consent Agenda:
A. Approve Bills & Investments
B. Approve City Council Minutes — June 28, 2011
C. Award Project — Tree Work Quotes — St. Croix Tree Service
D. MOVED TO OLD BUSINESS
E. Approve Change Order #2 to Water Tower #2 Rehabilitation Project —
Time Extension/Weather Delays
F. Liability Coverage — LMCIT Waiver of Statutory Tort Limits
• Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved to
approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0.
V. Public Hearings:
A. The Partnership Plan — 5K Run/Race — 2011: Christine Tubbs and Carey
Dubbs from the Partnership Plan were present at the meeting and reported
that the race was open to anyone. They stated they were expecting 200 —
300 participants and that there was a health fair at the Stillwater Area High
School scheduled that day after the race.
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson,
moved to approve and to waive the $500 fee. Carried 5 -0.
VI. Old Business:
A. Consier Placing a NO PARKING ZONE — Peller Ave. N.:
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson,
moved to approve the Resolution. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0.
Mayor Beaudet noted that some of the `No Parking' signs currently placed
were in poor shape. Public Works Director Kegley reported that
• replacement was on the list of projects for that department.
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July 26, 2011
Page 3 of 6
•
B. August 3, 2011 Worksession — Possible Agenda and Time Updates: The
City Council discussed the agenda items and decided to set the
worksession start time for 4:45 p.m. on August 3.
Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to
continue with current agenda and add Randy Engel and Washington
County lawsuit to the agenda with important items with the attorney being
first, and if at the end of the worksession action needs to be taken, the City
Administrator can set a short council meeting.
Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to
amend the agenda to add St. Croix River Crossing discussion. Carried 5-
0.
Main motion carried 5 -0.
C. Contract for Assessment Services: City Administrator Johnson reminded
the City Council that the City had asked Washington County for additional
language in the contract, but the County was hesitant to add that language
to the contract. Johnson reported that there was a provision for a 90 -day
• written notice by the City to remove itself from the contract without
penalty. He stated it may be possible for the City to have its own assessor,
but more research was needed on that possibility.
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved
to approve the contract. Carried 5 -0.
D. Worksession with Lake Elmo City Council: Councilmember McComber,
seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to direct staff to send a
letter to Bruce Messelt suggesting a meeting date of either September 13
or September 27 at 6:00 p.m., set the meeting for whichever date works
for them, and notify the Council of date. Carried 5 -0.
E. Single Sort Recycling: City Administrator Johnson provided a comparison
on what could be recycling under the current system and what could be
recycled with a single -sort system. He also stated that Veolia estimated a
five percent residual loss from single -sort recycling.
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Runk, moved
to direct the City Administrator to start working on a contract and bring it
back to the City Council. Carried 5 -0.
Councilmember McComber suggested providing information to residents
• at Party in the Park and suggested contacting Veolia for a sample cart.
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July 26, 2011
Page 4 of 6
• Councilmember Abrahamson suggested a comment card box for residents
at Party in the Park. McComber also suggested information be placed in
the upcoming newsletter and on the website. Mayor Beaudet requested
clarification on what the rate would be if the City chose to go back to the
current system.
F. St. Croix River Crossing — Update on Bridge Legislation & Discussion on
Recent Unveiled `Alternative' Bridge Plan: Councilmember Runk
reported that the group that proposed the alternate river crossing plan
would be testifying on Klobuchar's bill. He questioned if the City Council
wanted to request information on how that plan would affect the City of
Oak Park Heights. Mayor Beaudet suggested waiting until after the
September 30 Congress deadline to obtain information.
G. Receive Guidance from the City Attorney Regarding the August 30
Meeting Regarding the St. Croix River Crossing Project: Councilmember
McComber reported that she wanted the meeting to be a general
discussion as opposed to a decision making meeting. Councilmember
Abrahamson stated he would like an outline for the meeting.
Councilmember McComber stated she thought a facilitator would be
beneficial and recommended that the City contact Washington County for
that.
Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to
direct the City Attorney to draft advice, and Councilmembers were to
direct any concerns to the City Attorney. Carried 5 -0.
Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson,
moved to direct staff to contact Washington County regarding utilizing
their facilitator. Carried 5 -0. Councilmember Abrahamson questioned
where the funds would come from for payment of the facilitator.
Councilmember McComber suggested obtaining that information.
VII. New Business:
A. Presentation — Dr. Kathy Widin — Emerald Ash Borer Presentation and
Summary of Tree Clearances 2010 -2011: Arborist Widin provided a
presentation on the Emerald Ash Borer preparation plan. She reported that
she conducted a tree inventory and concluded that the City had about 700
ash trees. She reported that the City chose a structured removal
management method of the ash trees, and that they received a grant from
the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to remove and replace 60 ash
trees. Widin reported that the City provided funds to remove 40 more
trees. Widin reported that the City would continue the structured removal
• and replacement, and that she would continue to monitor the movement of
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July 26, 2011
Page 5 of 6
Emerald Ash Borer in the Twin Cities area. Widin requested that
residents contact her if they believed they had Emerald Ash Borer.
Mayor Beaudet questioned what it might cost to remove ash trees for
private residents if added to the City's diseased tree removal policy.
Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to
direct the City Arborist, within the framework of her budget, to give an
estimate of what it might cost to add ash trees to current removal plan of
diseased trees. Carried 5 -0.
Mayor Beaudet requested the estimate be provided to the City Council by
September 1, 2011.
B. Hot Patch Quotes: Public Works Director Kegley reported that he received
two quotes for hot patching. He recommended the City Council award the
work to Paragon Company. Mayor Beaudet suggested excess funds come
from the general fund reserve.
Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to
accept Paragon Company to do the work with funds up to $50,000 from
the general fund reserve, and City Administrator and Public Works
• Director to negotiate to have the additional patching done. Carried 5 -0.
C. MOVED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS
D. Applebee's — Design Standards Review - Remodel: City Planner Richards
reported that a request was made by Apple Minnesota for a design
guidelines review for a tower, new signs and awnings, and an interior
upgrade. Richards reviewed his planning report which was included in the
packet for that evening. Randy Carr, Director of Operations, was present
at the meeting and addressed the Planning Commission's concern
regarding the sign. He stated that if the sign was lowered to 20 feet,
visibility of the sign would decrease.
Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to
accept the Resolution as recommended by the Planning Commission. Roll
call vote taken. Carried 5 -0.
E. TIGER Grant Funding Availability: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by
Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to have the City Administrator
contact Baytown to see if they would like to work together to have two
tunnels. Carried 3 -2, Swenson and McComber opposed.
• VIII. Adjournment
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July 26, 2011
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•
Adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, tJ tent and ; orm,
Jennifer Pinski ► o'
Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor
•