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Home My WebLink About12-27-07 Minutes • CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS 3:00 P.M. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 2007 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order/Pledu of Alleeiance /Approval of Agenda: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Beaudet. Present: Councilmembers Abrahamson, Doerr and McComber. Staff present: Administrator Johnson, City Attorney Vierling and Finance Director Holst. Absent: Councilmember Swenson, City Planner Richards and City Engineer Postler. Mayor Beaudet added "Request for Information on King Plant Valuation" as New Business Item E. Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, 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 January 17, 2008. • B. Parks Commission: Councilmember McComber reported that the last meeting of the Parks Commission was December 17, 2007, and the next meeting is on January 28, 2008. C. Cable Commission: Councilmember Doerr reported that the next meeting of the Cable Commission is on February 20, 2008. He stated that Qwest is dropping their request for television over the phone lines. D. Water Management Organizations /Middle St. Croix: Mayor Beaudet reported that next meeting of the Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization is on January 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Conservation District Office. E. Other Liaison/Staff Reports: Councilmember McComber reported that the Experienced Elected Officials conference is scheduled for January 18 — 19, 2008. III. Visitors/Public Comment: Recvcling Award: Administrative Secretary Thoen reported that Scott Anderson of 14250 55 Street North was chosen as the recycling award winner. • IV. Consent Agenda: City Council Meeting Minutes December 27, 2007 Page 2 of 5 • A. Approve of Bills & Investments B. Approve of City Council Minutes — December 11 2007 Pp Y C. Approve 2008 Cab Licenses for F.D.S Enterprises d.b.a. A Taxi /Stillwater Taxi D. Approve Resolution for Donation to Police Department E. Approve Annual Transfers F. Approve Tower Asphalt, Inc. 4 th Payment for 2007 Trail & Parking Lot Improvements G. Approve City Ordinance Amendment to Cc 203 — Related to Employee Contributions to Charitable Organizations H. Set Date and Time for Board of Appeal and Equalization I. Approve 2008 Engineering Rates J. Approve Area Charge Increases for Connection to Water, Sewer and Storm Sewer Systems K. Approve Final Pay Request - $180,420.00 Leadcon 250,000 Gallon Water Tower Tank Rehabilitation L. Approve Disposal (Tipping) Fee for Veolia Env. Services M. Approve City Payment of 100% Basic Residential Sanitation Collection Fees for 2008 • Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -0. Mayor Beaudet stated that the City will now be covering solid waste charges for Oak Park Heights residents. He added that residents will not be receiving a bill for those charges in 2008. V. Public Hearings: None VI. Old Business: A. Capital Improvement Proiects — Parks 2008: City Administrator Johnson reported that the Parks Commission compiled a list of projects that they would like to see moved forward. He stated that the list was contained in that evening's council packet. Councilmember Doerr stated that tennis courts should be a higher priority on the list. He also noted that the skateboard park at the teen center is closing. Mayor Beaudet stated that he also felt the rehabilitation of the tennis courts should be higher on the priorities list. He thought that the • trail by Raymie Johnson should be second on the list, then concrete at Brekke Park. Councilmember McComber added that there are removable City Council Meeting Minutes December 27, 2007 Page 3 of 5 • items that could be placed on the concrete at Brekke Park to create a skateboard park in the summer, and the items could be stored during the winter. Mayor Beaudet stated that the top three items he would like the engineer to begin work on would be the tennis courts, the trail connection from 58 to Valley View, and the concrete at Brekke Park. Councilmember Abrahamson stated that he agreed that those three items should be top priority. Mayor Beaudet stated that he would rather leave Brekke Park as a place for rollerbladers so they can play hockey in the summer at the rinks than to set it up as a skateboard park. Councilmember McComber stated that the retaining wall at Valley View Park should also be a top priority because it is crumbling pretty badly and the steps need some work. Mayor Beaudet discussed creating a flat area and a trail down instead of having a stairway because the steps are not handicapped accessible. He suggested adding that to the Valley View Park trail design that the engineer will create. City Administrator Johnson requested clarification on trail connection at 58 Street. He stated that the Parks Commission request was to have the grass area paved to connect to the Xcel Energy site. Mayor Beaudet stated that the trail extension should • connect to both sites. Councilmember McComber mentioned that the slope is very steep in that area so the connection would need to be designed with that in mind. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to direct the engineer to design for the following three projects: (a) concreting of the hockey rink at Brekke Park with an alternate to pave some of the recreational skating area; (b) redo the tennis courts at Swager Park with an alternate to put lighting in; (c) do the Valley View Park trail from 58 Street over to Valley View Park with alternates being a trail to connect to the existing Xcel Energy trail and removal of the wood retaining steps, and another alternate being a bridge over the ravine going to Valley View versus filling in. Councilmember McComber questioned whether the lights at Cover Park would be on a timer versus coin operated. Mayor Beaudet confirmed that they would be on a timer. Motion carried 4 -0. B. Options for Used Picnic Tables and Bid Award:, City Administrator Johnson reported that the City received one bid. He stated that the Parks Commission recommended that the remaining picnic tables be donated to the vet camp on Big Marine Lake. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to accept Mr. Diethert's bid for a picnic table but to reduce the bid to $25.00 per table, and that any resident can purchase a table at $25 on a first -come L - City Council Meeting Minutes December 27, 2007 Page 4 of 5 first -serve basis until January 11, 2008 and that any remaining tables be donated to the vet camp on Big Marine. Carried 4 -0. C. City Hall Facility: Citizen Committee/Undate on Financial Documents /Soil Borings: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to create a citizen's committee with three citizens, two councilmembers, one Planning Commissioner, and one Parks Commissioner, and that citizens have until January 11, 2008 to submit a request to serve on the committee. Carried 4 -0. Councilmember McComber expressed interest in serving on the committee. Mayor Beaudet stated that will be taken into consideration at the time the nominations are made to the council. City Administrator Johnson reported that Steve Mattson's office is in the process of preparing the financial documents. He stated they will be prepared to proceed when the council is ready. Mayor Beaudet requested that the City Administrator ask Steve Mattson what the cost would be for a second issuance if the City were to need more than the original bond issuance. • Mayor Beaudet stated that the City would need soil boring information whether the building is rehabilitated or a new building is built. Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to approve going out for soil borings based on the administrator doing a final analysis and selecting a contractor not to exceed $2,900.00. Carried 4 -0. VII. New Business: A. 2007 Fund Balances & Transfers Out: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the transfers out as presented by the City Finance Director. Councilmember Abrahamson, seconded by Mayor Beaudet, moved to amend to allocate the funds to budgeted projects — undesignated. Carried 4 -0. Main motion carried 4 -0. B. 2008 Water and Sewer Rate Study: Finance Director Holst recommended a 10% increase in rates and recommended increasing the minimum usage slightly. Mayor Beaudet suggested reviewing dropping the minimum usage amount this summer. Finance Director Holst not recommending a change in sewer rates. She recommended looking at it next year. City Council Meeting Minutes December 27, 2007 Page 5 of 5 Councilmember McComber, seconded by Councilmember Doerr, moved to approve the Resolution. Roll call vote taken. Carried 4 -0. C. 2008 Citv Council Meeting Dates: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to approve the 2008 meeting list with the following changes: February 12 meeting rescheduled to February 11 at 7:00 p.m.; cancel first meetings in March, June, and November; move September 9 meeting to September 10 at 5:00 p.m.; schedule special meeting to canvass elections results on November 5 at 5:00 p.m. Motion carried 4 -0. D. Plavful Citv USA — Possible Annlication: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember McComber, moved to have staff review the application for Playful City USA and to try to determine the costs of participating. Carried 4 -0. E. Request for Information on Kiniz Plant Valuation: Mayor Beaudet, seconded by Councilmember Abrahamson, moved to have the City Administrator submit a letter to obtain the valuation of the King Plant. Carried 4 -0. VIII. Adiournment: Councilmember McComber, seconded by Council Doerr, moved to adjourn at 3:55 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Respectfully qubmitted, AWeaudet ontent and Fo , Jemaifer Th D Administrative Secretary/Deputy Clerk Mayor I r