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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-07-07 Minutes • CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 7:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order /Pledue of Alleziance /Approval of Agenda: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Beaudet. Present: Councilmembers Abrahamson, McComber and Swenson. Staff present: City Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling and City Engineer Postler. Absent: Councilmember Doerr and City Planner Richards. Mayor Beaudet added "Sale of Surplus Property — Picnic Tables" as New Business Item A. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 4 -0. II. Department /Council Liaison Reports: A. Planning Commission: Councilmember Abrahamson reported that the next meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on November 8, 2007. • He reported that there is one public hearing regarding the WCL Associates, Inc. development proposal and rezoning request. He reported that there will not be a Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting on that date. B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the next meeting of the Parks Commission is November 19, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. She also reported that there will be a joint worksession with the City Council and Parks Commissioners on November 27, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. regarding the newly acquired property on Osgood Avenue. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Swenson stated that there was nothing to report. D. Water Management Organizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Middle St. Croix WMO's next meeting is November 8, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Nothing reported. III. Visitors/Public Comment: • City Council Meeting Minutes November 7, 2007 Page 2 of 5 • Recvclin4 Award: Administrative Secretary Thoen reported that Richard and Karla Keller of 14140 Upper 54 Street North were chosen as the recycling award winners. IV. Consent Agenda: A. Approve of Bills & Investments B. Approve of City Council Minutes — October 23, 2007 Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -0. V. Public Hearines: Mayor Beaudet opened the continued public hearing regarding the possibility of issuing bonds to fund a rehabilitated or new municipal facility. Randy Engel from Buetow and Associates reviewed the space needs and options that were reached as part of the study completed in early 2007. He provided a presentation including drawings of four options for a rehabilitated or new facility. He noted that cost estimates ranged from 1.5 million for a rehabilitated facility to • 6.5 million for a new facility on the same campus as the existing facility. Jeremy Warno of 14843 60 Street North came forward and stated that he does a lot of walking in the area. He questioned whether sidewalks would be installed around the new facility. Mayor Beaudet stated that there would be sidewalks for sufficient public access to the facility, but that the City is not at that point in the design process. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4 -0. VI. Old Business: A. Citv Hall Facilitv: Mayor Beaudet stated that the next step would be to approve the Capital Improvement Plan. He stated that the City Council has not chosen a design option at this time, but that approving the Capital Improvement Plan is simply a step toward that direction. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve the Resolution regarding the Capital Improvement Plan. Mayor Beaudet stated that the public may view the facilities statement at City Hall. Councilmember McComber requested that the facilities statement be placed on the website if possible. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -0. City Council Meeting Minutes November 7, 2007 Page 3 of 5 • Mayor Beaudet stated that the next step in the process would be to direct staff to prepare an appropriate resolution allowing the City to sell bonds up to 7.5 million to fund the possible construction. Mayor Beaudet stated that the Resolution will be drafted to be presented at the next council meeting because the council felt it was important to have all councilmembers present to vote on the resolution. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to authorize staff to draft the necessary paperwork for a 7.5 million bond sale. Carried 4 -0. B. CVB and Lodaina Tax: City Administrator Johnson reported that the City of Stillwater adopted a three percent lodging tax proposed by the Chamber of Commerce. He reported that the collection of the tax is done by the municipality, not the state. He stated that the City of Stillwater also adopted an administrative fee of up to five percent for collection of the tax. He stated that if the lodging tax is approved by the City Council, it will need to be done by ordinance. Jennifer Severson of the Chamber of Commerce came forward and stated • that the lodging tax provides businesses with promotional ability to bring more people to the area. She requested that a three percent lodging tax be approved commencing January 1, 2008 under a three year operating agreement. Severson stated that the first step in developing the Convention and Visitor's Bureau is to develop a Board of Directors and create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Tiki Oswald of AmericInn came forward and stated that AmericInn does not have a lot of funds in the budget for marketing. She stated that AmericInn supports the lodging tax because it would provide them the opportunity to supplement their small advertising budget. Chuck Dougherty of 15330 58 Street North, Cover Park Manor, came forward and stated that he supports the proposal of a lodging tax. He stated that if Oak Park Heights does not go along with the lodging tax and CVB, the City would be left behind because the City of Stillwater has approved it. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to direct staff to prepare an ordinance for the CVB tax for the next council meeting. Carried 4 -0. . C. Highway 36 Frontage Roads: City Administrator Johnson stated that he received correspondence from Nick Thompson of MnDOT wherein he City Council Meeting Minutes November 7, 2007 Page 4 of 5 • contends that MnDOT will do the mill and overlay in 2008 of the south frontage road as a precondition to the City considering a maintenance agreement for the road. He also stated the MnDOT will install `No Parking' signs on the north side of the south frontage road as requested by the City Council. City Administrator Johnson stated that staff has not had a discussion with MnDOT about the possibility of the City accepting certain portions of the maintenance agreement. Councilmember McComber stated she would like staff to continue discussions with MnDOT and the City of Stillwater in an attempt to work things out before the end of the year so that something could be scheduled for spring of 2008 for the south frontage road. Mayor Beaudet stated that he would be willing to take on snowplowing, but he questioned the liability issues should someone get into an accident because of icy road conditions. City Attorney Vierling stated that the liability is the same as on all municipal streets. He stated that the City Council should focus on which elements of the proposed maintenance agreement they would be willing to accept and which ones they would not accept. Councilmember McComber stated that she does not want the City to take back the financial responsibility of the frontage roads because the roads are part of the St. Croix River Crossing Project. She stated that she would not have an objection to entering into a joint powers agreement with the City of Stillwater for snowplowing, but she would like the roads to remain in MnDOT ownership. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to offer to take over snowplowing if MnDOT does a mill and overlay. Carried 3- 1, Councilmember Abrahamson opposed. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to word the agreement so that the City can opt out of the agreement if the roads are in worse condition that they are currently after MnDOT does a mill and overlay. Carried 3 -1, Councilmember Abrahamson opposed. VII. New Business: A. Sale of Sumlus Pronertv — Picnic Tables: City Administrator Johnson reported that the City has several picnic tables stored behind City Hall that • have exceeded their useful life from a public standpoint but may have a secondary life if they are sold to the general public for private use. He City Council Meeting Minutes November 7, 2007 Page 5 of 5 stated that staff recommends the picnic tables be sold "as is" by advertisement for up to $25.00 per table. Mayor Beaudet suggested the tables be sold by envelope auction with bids starting at $25.00. The highest bidder then would be notified by staff once the bidding closes. Councilmember Swenson questioned whether this process would take up too much of staff time. Mayor Beaudet felt it would not take much staff time to open envelopes and contact the winners. Councilmember McComber disagreed. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to sell the tables by silent auction with a minimum bid of $25.00 with the close date being three weeks after staff commences the auction. Councilmember Swenson stated that if there are any tables left after the auction close, the remaining tables may go to the highest bidder. Carried 3 -1, Councilmember McComber opposed. VIII. Closed Session: A. Labor Negotiations: City Attorney Vierling stated that at this point in the meeting the council would adjourn to a closed session at the advice of the City Attorney to discuss matters of labor negotiations. He stated that pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 13.D. the closed session would be tape recorded, and that the recording will be maintained for two years. City Attorney Vierling stated that during the closed session, the council reviewed the proposals exchanged between the AFSCME labor union and the City Council regarding the labor contract. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the AFSCME labor contract subject to review by the City Attorney. Carried 4 -0. VIII. Adiournment: Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Respectfully submitted, Ap ved Content and , Jennifer Thoen David Beaudet Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor