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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-07 Minutes • CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2007 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order /Pledge of Allegiance /Approval of Agenda: The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by Mayor Beaudet. Present: Councilmembers Abrahamson, Doerr, McComber and Swenson. Staff present: Administrator Johnson, Finance Director Holst, City Attorney Nodes, City Engineer Postler, and City Planner Richards. Absent: None. Mayor Beaudet moved New Business Item C to Consent Agenda as Item E. "Park Lighting" was added as Old Business Item D, "5502 Osgood Avenue Property" was added as Old Business Item D, and "SWAT Use of Osgood Property" was added to New Business. 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 November 8, 2007. He reported that there was one public hearing on the Best Buy /Brackey plan. He reported that the next meeting will be on December 13, 2007. He stated that no new applications have come in and that the Comprehensive Planning Committee will be meeting on that date prior to the Planning Commission meeting. B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the Parks Commission met prior to the City Council meeting and that the next meeting will be held on December 17, 2007. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Doerr reported that the next meeting of the Cable Commission will be on December 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. D. Water Management Organizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Middle St. Croix WMO's next meeting will be on December 13, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Councilmember McComber reported that she received a lot of material while at the National League of Cities Conference and had some information for the Police Department and City Council Meeting Minutes November 27, 2007 Page 2 of 6 • Public Works. She also reported that she was elected to the Board of Directors for Women in Municipal Government. III. Visitors/Public Comment: Recvclina Award: Administrative Secretary Thoen reported that Butch and Mindy Clayton of 5636 Perkins Avenue N. were chosen as the recycling award winners. IV. Consent Agenda: A. Approval of Bills & Investments B. Approval of City Council Minutes — November 7, 2007 C. Approve Wage Step Increase and 2008 Salary Adjustments D. Approve a $500.00 Payment to Mr. Larry Dauffenbach for his Services Related to the Chief of Police Employment Process E. Approve 10 (and Final) Pay Request - $15,269..18 and Accept the Project as Complete from Contractor Burschville Construction for the Nova Scotia and Norwich Ave. Street and Utility Improvement Project Councilmember Doerr pulled Item B from the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the • remainder of Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to approve the November 7, 2007 Minutes. Carried 4 -0 -1, Doerr abstained. V. Public Hearings: The City Council held a public hearing regarding a proposed increase in off -sale and on -sale liquor license fees. Finance Director Holst recommended that off -sale license fees be increased from $100 to $240 and that on -sale license fees increase 10.7 percent. Jim Wright, Quartermaster for the VFW in Oak Park Heights came forward and stated that he objects to the proposed increase in on -sale license fees. He stated that the VFW has notices a loss in sales since the smoking ban took effect on October 1, 2007. He reported that the City did not allow the VFW to obtain a club license. None of the councilmembers recalled a request for a club license by the VFW. Councilmember Abrahamson requested staff include a summary on club licenses in weekly notes. VI. Old Business: • A. Increase in Off -Sale and On -Sale Liquor License Fees: Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to increase off- City Council Meeting Minutes November 27, 2007 Page 3 of 6 sale license fees to $240 and to increase on -sale license fees by five percent as opposed to the 10.7 percent proposed. Carried 5 -0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to direct Finance Director Holst to revise the budget for revenues and to adjust the levy accordingly. Carried 5 -0. B. Citv Hall Facilitv — Resolution Giving Preliminary Ammroval for Issuance of um to $7.5 Million in Camital Immrovement Plan Bonds Consistent with the Adomted 2008 -2012 Camital Immrovement Plan: Mayor Beaudet reported that the Resolution allows the bond counsel to prepare documentation to issue bonds but that the amount will be determined at a later date. City Administrator Johnson reviewed the vital issues of the current city hall that need attention. Ann and Kevin Simpson came forward and stated that they canvassed the neighborhood and a lot of people in the area object to having their taxes raised for this purpose and were unaware that the City was considering the idea. Mr. Simpson stated that they would like the residents to be able to vote on the issue. They stated that they do not disagree that a renovation may be necessary but would like to see the bond issue capped at $2 • million. Mayor Beaudet explained that the amount of the bond issue will be determined at a later date, most likely one of the council meetings in January. Councilmember Swenson noted that the building has several issues that need to be addressed now or in the near future and it came down to whether the council wanted to renovate an old building or build a new building that will last for many years. Mayor Beaudet stated that the proposed Resolution in the council's packet should be revised to state that the council authorizes the bond counsel to prepare paperwork for a bond issue and obtain a credit rating for the City. He stated that the idea has been around for almost a year and that the issue was in the fall newsletter and every residence was sent a postcard inviting them to a public hearing. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to approve the Resolution. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to amend the Resolution to state that the City Council authorizes the bond counsel to prepare paperwork and obtain a credit rating for up to a 7.5 million bond • issue. Attorney Nodes added that the paperwork and credit rating be prepared for the City Council to review, not bonding agencies. Mayor City Council Meeting Minutes November 27, 2007 Page 4 of 6 Beaudet and Councilmember Swenson accepted that addition to the motion. Carried 4 -1, McComber opposed. On the main motion, roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -1, McComber opposed. Councilmember Abrahamson stated that he would like to see that less money is spent and that he has pushed for other options to be considered. Councilmember McComber stated she was concerned that the city hall project would end up taking longer than expected and that somehow more money than anticipated would be spent. Councilmember Doerr requested that residents read the mail they receive from the City. Mayor Beaudet requested that staff obtain an estimate for soil boring. City Engineer Postler stated that it would cost roughly $5,000 to $6,000. C. Ordinance Re2ardin2 CVB and Lod2in2 Tax: City Administrator Johnson stated that the council was provided with a copy of the City of Stillwater's ordinance relating to the CVB and Lodging Tax. He stated that he had • hoped the council would receive the ordinance prior to that evening's meeting so that they had a chance to review it. Mayor Beaudet stated that the issue will be addressed at the December 3, 2007 TNT Hearing. D. Park Liahtiniz: Councilmember McComber reported that this issue came before the Council in October and that the council had requested that the Parks Commission come up with a recommendation on park lighting. She stated that the Parks Commission had requested that Public Works Director Ozzello obtain pricing on installing motion sensor lights for four of the parks. McComber reported that Public Works Director Ozzello provided the Parks Commission with a proposal of $2,500 for lights at the four parks. Councilmember Abrahamson requested that Public Works Director Ozzello provide the council with a memo on the issue. Councilmember Doerr, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to postpone this issue to the next council meeting. Carried 5 -0. E. 5502 Osgood Avenue Pronertv: City Administrator Johnson reported that the Parks Commission had recommended trails be installed in two phases: the first phase would meander through the property and end on the north side of the property parallel to 55 Street, and the second phase would connect to the Valley View Park entrance by way of tunnel under Osgood • Avenue. He stated that the Parks Commission also recommended the council implement Arborist Widin's recommendations for completion of a City Council Meeting Minutes November 27, 2007 Page 5 of 6 tree inventory, tree thinning and pruning, and buckthorn removal. City Administrator Johnson also reported that the Parks Commission made a recommendation that the City keep the property but sell or remove the home from the property. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to accept the Parks Commission's recommendations. Carried 5 -0. Councilmember Swenson requested that the City Administrator meet with the homeowner to the north to inform them of what is going on. VII. New Business: A. Lucy Winton Ball Fields — Financial Request: Colleen Danford, Director of the Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields came forward and gave a presentation. She requested that the City of Oak Park Heights donate $5,032.00 per year for the next five years to the Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields program. Councilmember McComber stated she would be inclined to hold off on approving the request until after budget discussions take place. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Swenson, moved to have Financial Director Holst adjust the budget up to $5,032.00 in the levy and add a line in the Parks Commission budget for a grant to Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields. Carried 3 -2, Councilmembers Doerr and Abrahamson opposed. B. Apnrove Financial Accountine Policies & Procedures: Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to approve the Financial Accounting Policies and Procedures. Carried 5 -0. C. WCL Associates, Inc., Planned Unit Development, Concert and General; Conditional Use Permit: Subdivision: Site Plan and Design Review; and Rezoning of the Sub iect Property from O. Open Snace District to B -2, General Business District to Construct a Retail Development Including Best Buy: City Planner Richards reported that the applicant requested that this issue be postponed because Best Buy has not given its final approval. He reported that WCL Associates, Inc. submitted a letter extending the 120 -day review period another 35 days. Richards reported that Bob Brackey and Jim McGovern requested that the City Council not take action at this time. Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to table the issue to the February 13, 2008 City Council meeting City Council Meeting Minutes November 27, 2007 Page 6 of 6 with provision that the applicant can request this matter be placed on an earlier agenda if desired. Carried 5 -0. Jim McGovern came forward and stated that there is a possibility that the issue can come before council sooner than February 13, 2008. Mayor Beaudet requested that they provide a written summary on the opposition to the trail. D. Issue Revenue Oblijaation Bonds — Boutwells Landine: City Administrator Johnson reported that the current proposal is to issue two separate $10 million notes. Councilmember Doerr, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve the Resolution and to authorize the City Administrator and the Mayor to sign. Roll call vote taken. Carried 5 -0. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to reduce the fee to 0.1 percent. Carried 5 -0. Allen Black of VSSA came forward and thanked the council. E. SWAT Use of Osp-ood Pronertv: Councilmember Swenson, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to allow the SWAT use of the house at 5502 Osgood Avenue for drills. Carried 5 -0. Councilmember Abrahamson requested that the neighbors be notified of what is going on. VIII. Adiournment: Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to adjourn at 8:42 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, Ap e tent and rm, ifer Davi eaudet Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk Mayor