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2017-04-18 Council MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, April 18, 2017 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota was held at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Miller, Petschel, and Paper were also present. Councilmember Duggan was absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, the audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA ADOPTION Mayor Garlock presented the agenda for adoption. Councilmember Petschel moved adoption of the agenda. Councilmember Miller seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Garlock presented the consent calendar and explained the procedure for discussion and approval. Councilmember Petschel moved approval of the consent calendar as presented and authorization for execution of any necessary documents contained therein a. Approval of March 28, 2017 City Council Minutes b. Approve Temporary 3.2 Malt Liquor License for Mendota Elementary PTA for Apr 22, 2017 c. Approve Temporary Liquor License for St. Thomas Academy for Apri129, 2017 d. Approve Resolution 2017-30 Accept Bids-Award Contract for 2017 Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Televising Project — Pipe Services Corporation e. Approve 2017 Workers Compensation Insurance Renewal f. Approve Resolution 2017-29 Designating ICMA-RC Plan Coordinator, Assistant City Administrator g. Approve Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) With Dakota County for Pictometry h. Approve Mold Remediation Contractor - ShelterTech i. Acknowledge March 2017 Fire Synopsis j. Approval of Claims List Apr•il 18, 2017 Mendota Heights City Council Page 1 of 12 Councilmember Miller seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Duggan) PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. PRESENTATIONS A) RECOGNITION OF GAROLD "JERRY" MURPHY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT Councilmember Petschel explained that she served on the Jerry Murphy Award Committee and she introduced Mr. Brian Convery and Ms. Jenny Fordham to assist with the presentation of this award. Councilmember Petschel shared the background of Jerry Murphy and the contributions he made to the City. She noted the criteria nominees should have to be considered for this award. Sergeant Brian Convery shared his thoughts and memories from working with Jerry. Ms. Jenny Fordham, who nominated Mr. Kronschnabel for this award, explained her reasons for nominating him. Councilmember Petschel then presented Mr. Kronschnabel with his award plaque. A permanent display has been created in the Mendota Heights City Hall lobby. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ms. Megan Ramirez, 668 lst Avenue, addressed the issue of cars speeding on lst Avenue. This street is considered a cut-through between Highway 149 and Interstate 35E. She mentioned there are 19 children living on this street and no sidewalks. She addressed this issue with the City Administrator in 2015 and the Police Department's speed cart was placed on this street which deterred speeding for a short time. She stated this issue is on the agenda for the next Traffic Safety Committee meeting, a date which is yet to be determined. She was also directed to speak to the Dakota County Highway Department, who informed her that they want to hear from the City on this. Neighbors from the area were in attendance to support the concerns raised. Ms. Gayra Ostgaard-Eliou, 651 1 St Avenue, is home during the day and has seen semi-trucks using 1 St Avenue as a cut-through. These trucks travel fast making their cargo hauls dangerous. April I8, 2017 Mendota Heights Ciry Council Page 2 of 12 Mr. Bernard Miller, 2371 Rogers Avenue, greatly appreciates the environment to be had in their neighborhood, wonderful neighbors with young families; however, they also appreciate the need for good group homes and hospice care and the kind of services they provide. He feels the neighbors do not have information necessary to make an informed and intelligent decision. Ms. Sarah Herschbach, 2344 Kressin Avenue, asked what the formality is for this business to be located in a residential district. City Attorney Tom Lehmann replied that the state legislature has specifically set out in the zoning code, which this Council is bound to follow, just like any other municipality, an exception to this type of business that says `to the extent that they meet the requirements — which sets out what sort of business it is — a group home that deals with elderly or deals with other things (other than sex offenders or juveniles that have issues) it is a permitted use in an R-1 zoning district. There are no requirements that require a notice to the public and there are no requirements that talk about this being a business. Unfortunately, those are questions that should be directed to the legislature that designed this law. There are requirements for other types of businesses, such as a hair salon, etc., however, this specific business — residential care facility for the elderly — is a permitted use in the R-1 zoning district. There are limitations as to how many elderly residents can reside in a group home (up to 6), but there are no limitations in how many facilities can be located in a particular area. The matter that the Council is facing is that they are obligated to follow the state law and the law allows this as an exception to businesses operating in a residential area. Ms. Herschbach noted concerns about other group homes in the area. City Planner Tim Benetti replied that there are a number of different levels of group homes throughout the community and they do provide different residential services for elderly, for people with mental issues, for recovering addiction services. To qualify, they are all licensed by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Once a home has been established or wants to be established, an applicant will submit an application to DHS, and they then go through a strict vetting process. Once the state issues a license, they typically notify the city. Mr. Benetti stated that Heart to Home has not been issued a license for this location yet. Currently, they are only applying for a building permit. After the house is built, if they choose to go through the application process, they have every right to do that. The state will inspect and issue a license if they so choose. Councilmember Miller asked if DHS takes into consideration the number of facilities in an area when reviewing an application. Mr. Benetti replied that he is not sure, although they typically do not view that as a factor in their determination for issuing a license. He also noted that the application process for these licenses is very arduous. The typicai home is usually not equipped to be a home with services because they have to be fully ADA compliant and brought up to a high standard for code and energy requirements. In this case, Heart to Home is going to build a six bedroom house with the intent of providing elderly care services. Ms. Patty Mathews, 2357 Rogers Avenue, requested that the City be very thorough when dealing with this decision. She also asked that they review the presentation information from the neighbors. It is very possible that Mendota Heights would be the one to take the lead on changing this legislation. There is good reason to believe that this legislation or the understanding of it has not been exactly the way it seems to be at first. Ap�•il 18, 2017�1Iendota Heights City Council Page 4 of 12 Ms. Rhonda Simonson, 1399 Clement Street (corner of lst & Clement), her husband came before the Council in early 1980's to address this issue. She recommended a public service campaign advocating good manners when traveling through neighborhoods. City Administrator Mark McNeill stated that he would work with Mr. Ruzek to get a Traffic Safety Committee meeting scheduled by the middle of May. Mr. Jack Koegel, Swan Drive, noted that on Wagon Wheel there are people that fish on each side of the road. There were seven people there last night at 9:30 p.m., and the kids run back and forth across the street. The previous City Engineer stated he was going to post 20 mph signs there. The residents put up fencing last year, which was torn down. The local residents are worried about the kids. The situation has gone from bad to worse. Mr. Michael Toth, 849 Cheri Lane, also a member of the Park-Rec Commission, stated that Rogers Lake Association members have many concerns about people fishing at Rogers Lake. One of them is the traffic on Wagon Wheel, between the north and south culvert. They have all seen children playing, running across the traffic, and this is a safety concern for all. The Association installed fencing and plantings, part of which was to preserve the soil from erosion. Right now that area is being polluted by garbage, beverage cans, water bottles, and food wrappers. A trash can was requested a number of times but has been unsuccessful. He suggested that the fencing and a barrier be installed at the `fishing spot' on Wagon Wheel and another pier be installed on Rogers Lake as the current pier gets overcrowded. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS A) PRESENTATION BY ROGERS AVENUE RESIDENTS RE: SENIOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY City Administrator Mark McNeill explained that several months ago the City received a building permit application for a senior residential facility to be located near the intersection of Rogers Avenue and Lake Drive. The residents of that area asked for this item to be put on the agenda tonight. Ms. Annie Broos, 2360 Rogers Avenue, summarized the neighbors' concerns. She made it clear that everyone supports the mission of this service. The concept has their full support. Their concern is that this is not the right location for this type of place because it is a business operating in a residential district. The neighbors are concerned about an increase in traffic and the safety of the children. They would like to have more discussions with the City on this issue. They are concerned about the lack of transparency. Mr. Patrick Mathews, 2357 Rogers Avenue, noted the business purpose bothers him but most concerning to him was that there was no notice given to the neighbors. Most of them were unaware that something like this could be built in their neighborhood. There are concerns about parking, children who play in the area being exposed to an increase in traffic levels, and they would like to maintain the residential feel of the neighborhood. April I8, 2017 Mendota Heights City Council Page 3 of 12 Mr. Don Sullivan, Bluebill Drive, recalls a time when the code stated no one could operate a business out of their home; this facility goes way beyond that. He believes that considerations need to be made for Visitation and St. Thomas — schools that are near this business — and Rogers Lake, a preserved natural entity. Mr. Sullivan questioned why the interchange at Dodd Road and I-494 was built so inadequately. They basically left the entrance onto Condon Court because homes were already there before they put the freeway through. With the advent of the Vikings headquarters, this will make traffic very severe. The decision-makers in the legislature really need to take a step back and review the ramifications of their decisions on the residents. Having raised his own children in the area, he completely empathizes with the families that live there. Ms. Lisa Johnson, 2371 Kressin Avenue, stated when they purchased their home, they had the intention of raising a family there. However, with this proposal, they are considering moving out of the neighborhood because of the facility across the street. In regards to transparency, they received no notice even though they share a lot line with the property. Having a group home within the neighborhood detracts new families from wanting to move in. Mr. Eddy Drieman, 2356 Swan Drive, stated the fact that Heart to Home does not have a license yet but are being allowed to build this six bedroom facility that really cannot be used as a single-family residence in the future, has to be an eye-opener for the community. He questioned the quantity of these senior places and group homes. The city leaders need to address this with our legislators. It is wrong to take the attitude that this is legislative driven. An unidentified person asked if these group home facilities pay taxes. City Administrator Mark McNeill replied that they are taxed just like any other residential property. Mr. Doug Hennes, 2351 Swan Drive, a member of the Planning Commission, stated he understands the concerns raised by his neighbors; however, he is in support of this proposal. He lived near a group home and never had a problem. When his sister was in a similar setting, his family came and went, they were very quiet and respectful, and they did not see a lot of traffic issues. The proponents of this proposal would like to see the same kind of setting so people in the final stages of their lives can be dealt with dignity and in the right kind of setting. He encouraged the Council to abide by the state law on this request and move forward. Josh CesaraMoxley and Paulette Vrem, owners of Heart to Home, noted that they are very proud of being a part of Mendota Heights for the last ten years. They built their first house on South Bailey Road. Their goal was to help serve a population of seniors that fall through the cracks at big facilities. Their mission is not to become the biggest provider but the best provider. They have accomplished that by good staff to resident ratios, allowing normalcy for seniors. Their other homes in Mendota Heights have been welcomed. At their newest facility on Highway 110, they have asked staff to park completely off the street and out of site because Heart to Home likes to hold themselves to a higher standard. The staff consists of certified nursing assistants or nurses. They do not use temporary workers or independent contractors. Hospice services are allowed on-site if the resident so choses. Ap�°iZ 18, 2017 Mendota Heiglzts City Cou�zcil Page S of 12 Concerning property values, Mr. Cesaro-Moxley referenced the home on South Bailey Road, where they were the first people to build a house in that neighborhood since the mid-1980's. They built that house ten years ago and since that time, there have been five new houses built in the vicinity. Heart to Home sent a letter to the Rogers Avenue residents because they wanted to introduce themselves. They have become a resource to neighbors when they have someone in need of placement. The majority of their residents are from Mendota Heights and their children live in Mendota Heights. Heart to Home owners clarified they are not a`group home', they are a`residential care facility'. This setting works very well for a lot of people. They do not plan on having more than four facilities in Mendota Heights because they are a family-run business. Mr. Jeff Parker, 692 South Freeway Road, noted that he lives near another facility and sees people pushing their elderly family members down the street in a wheelchair. He believes that putting this facility on a very busy street would be detrimental and would discourage family members from taking their loved ones outside to enjoy the weather. They are a business but the facility is actually a large house. They have been very good neighbors to him. Mr. Nathan Herschbach, 2344 Kressin Avenue, noted there is a lot of traffic from St. Thomas, and now adding this facility would increase it. He would like to see Mendota Heights put a limit on the number of these facilities that can be located here. Councilmember Petschel commented that she received a call from former Councilmember Jack Vitelli. His parents have lived in a similar facility and the facility looks just like a regular home. Mr. Vitelli said that his parents have been taken care of with immense dignity. Many of the employees have graduated from St. Thomas Academy, Visitation, or Henry Sibley high schools. Mr. Vitelli asked that a statement be made on his behalf that he believes this would be an asset to the neighborhood and an asset to the City. Mayor Garlock stated that Mr. Vitelli called him noting that he has enjoyed the convenience of being able to drive a short distance to spend time with his parents. He was very complimentary of the service that his parents have received. City Attorney Tom Lehmann clarified that, although he is not an expert on DHS regulations for these licenses, he would think that they would have certain requirements as to how many licenses they could issue in a specific area. This is something the City could look at. This is a legislative decision and specific to the extent that it talks about how it is a permitted use in an R-1 zone. It is something that the Council — and any resident — can address with their locallegislator. Currently, owners of facilities are not required to give notice to the residents when they are proposing a new facility. The City is obligated to follow state statutes as they are currently written. The facility will be required to follow all of the requirements of an R-1 zone, just like any other neighbor. If they meet all of the requirements for the zoning, the City cannot deny the request. Administrator McNeill asked for clarification that implementing a density cap has to go through the state, not the local municipality. Attorney Lehmann confirmed. Api^il I8, 2017 Me�2dota Heights City Council Page 6 of 12 Administrator McNeill noted that he served on a legislative policy committee for cities. This is certainly not the first neighborhood that has expressed concerns about a residential care facility. Discussion has been had at the legislature, and for better or worse, they have determined that group facilities and residential care facilities are something that are beneficial to society and, therefore, have said to cities that these are permitted uses. Mr. Tom Novetsky, Attorney, came forward and stated that he has given his time on a pro bono basis to the neighborhood group. He offered his time to the City to assist City Attorney Tom Lehmann and each of the Councilmembers with this issue. He stated he likes to read the fine print. He continued by sharing a chart referenced by Ms. Broos in her presentation on the number of anticipated visits to the proposed group home; approximately 10,000 visits per year conservatively. Unfamiliar people coming and going in this small neighborhood with five houses on each side of the street would be a problem. He recognized the need for these services; however, the location is in question. This will cause irreversible impacts to the neighborhood because once the facility is built, most likely, it will not revert back to a single family home. He also shared Minnesota Statute 462.357 — Official Controls: Zoning Ordinances and explained what it meant; that cities can regulate the use of the buildings, the structures, and purposes. He pointed out that the statute that governs this has 140 words in the subdivision; however, only 14 of those words deal with `housing with services'. These fourteen words can turn a neighborhood's life upside down. This statute then refers the reader to statute 144B and he dared anyone to explain it. There are all kinds of inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. He ended by stating that the City does have the authority to control what comes into the City and he would offer 40 hours of pro bono work to assist. City Administrator Mark McNeill noted that, at this point, there is no application for the Council to take action on. City Attorney Tom Lehmann explained that this was a presentation at the request of the neighbors. He did hear from Heart to Home that they are willing to sit down with the affected neighbors for further discussion. B) AUTHORIZED THE VILLAGE LOTS PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT City Administrator Mark McNeill explained that this was a request to approve a Purchase and Sales Agreement (PSA) for property owned by the City, which would provide for the site of an apartment building proposed by Trammel Crow Chicago Development, Inc. This would comprise of three undeveloped lots in The Village, plus the adjacent outlot, and a portion of Maple Street to be vacated. The developer, Trammel Crow, is proposing to construct a five-level apartment building having between 150 and 164 units. The development would be for active seniors at least 55 years of age who are at a point in their life where they want to downsize. They anticipate the average age of residents to be 72. April 18, 20171�7endota Heiglzts Ciry Couricil Page 7 of 12 Administrator McNeill shared an image of what the site would look like after development with all of the lots being consolidated and the vacation of Maple Street. The development would contain two levels of underground parking. He further explained that the action before the Council was a follow-up from the Letter of Intent that was approved at the March 21, 2017 Council meeting. The City is the property owner and this action would approve the Purchase and Sales Agreement and would give the developer some assurances that they can continue to have studies completed and obtain the necessary information so the City can make an informed decision. From the City's standpoint, the drawback would be that the City would not be able to market the property for the duration of this application process, which would be approximately six months. Administrator McNeill shared a rendering of what the developer proposes with a view from Dodd Road. The City has had an appraisal completed on the property and the value was determined to be $813,200. That appraisal has been accepted by the developer. The developer has also indicated that a traffic study is being completed and would be available on May 4, 2017. A community meeting, being hosted by the developer, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 15, 2017 at the St. Paul's United Methodist Church. This proposal would then move on to the Planning Commission for their consideration at their regular Tuesday, May 23, 2017 meeting. Councilmember Miller stated the Council is destined to have many opportunities to debate the differences between its vision of what this City can become. He sought the expertise of a local real estate developer. He came to understand that this deal falls far short of what they should expect. Mendota Heights is an exceptional city and this is an exceptionally bad business deal. He listed the following facts for consideration: • The average unit cost for a developer in the Twin Cities is between $10,000 and $20,000 per unit, with larger projects like this one falling into the upper ends of that range. This PSA with Trammel Crow comes in at less than $9,500 per unit. That is approximately half of what the City could get for this property. � As the economy continues to strengthen, compared with the Viking's facility development, the interest in this lot is only going to increase. He believes it is the Council's duty to seek out the best deal for Mendota Heights. At this point he is confident that this deal is not it. Councilmember Paper stated that he has received feedback concerning the height of the building and the traffic on Dodd Road. He understands the City needs to progress forward to get accurate information to make informed decisions. Councilmember Paper stated that the project fits a need, but the scale and scope of it is what is concerning. If these studies do not move forward then questions cannot be answered and discussions cannot continue. Administrator McNeill stated that staff is very interested in seeing the results of the traffic study as it is a major concern of many residents and others involved. Having the study would determine if this proposed project would work — or not; and having the results would enable the Council to make an informed decision. If it is determined that the project would not work, then the Purchase and Sales Agreement would be terminated. Ap�•il 18, 2017 Mendota Heights City Council Page 8 of 12 Councilmember Miller asked for confirmation that if the City were to pass on this request and another company came around and said they wanted to put up a smaller unit complex, three stores maximum, etc., the City could negotiate a traffic study with that developer. Administrator McNeill replied in the affirmative. Councilmember Petschel commented that regardless of this project, the traffic on Dodd Road has been a discussion and a problem for a long time. She believes there are a number of things that can be done about it. This Council needs to take some leadership to go to MnDOT and to get something done. She would not want to lose track of the traffic issue whether or not this project moves forward. It is not the project that would cause a problem on Dodd Road; that problem already exists and needs to be addressed with MnDOT. She continued by stating that if the discussion is regarding what would belong on the site, with a facility that is aimed more at seniors there would be some people who do not drive, some who do not have cars, people would not be going to nine-to-five jobs, etc. With this type of facility, as long as Dodd Road continues to be an issue, it would put less impact on Dodd Road. Councilmember Petschel continued by stating there is a need for this housing and the City needs to find a way to meet it. There is also a need for something resembling a walkable community. Hopefully with the underpass being installed the City can finally make that happen. Councilmember Miller agreed that the City has a need; however, it is because of that need that the Council needs to proceed cautiously because it needs to be the right fit not only from a housing standpoint, but it needs to be a right fit from an economic standpoint and an aesthetic standpoint. Mayor Garlock stated that he also has received many phone calls from concerned citizens. The study shows that the City needs this type of development. He agreed that the City did not need to jump at the first plan and they need to be diligent in making decisions. Councilmember Petschel added that she has an issue with the City asking the developer to expend money if there is not a consensus to support their plans, or a conviction to move forward with it. The City has owned this property for a long time and has had proposals for development and the City has always said no or they walked away to another community before the City could finalize anything. That is also something that the City is going to have to be very careful of going forward. Anything done here is going to be a change and people are going to be uncomfortable. Councilmember Miller concurred that asking someone to spend money may be unreasonable. He would argue; however, the developer did not seem willing to negotiate on the development plans — like the height of the building, changing the fa�ade to make it more in-line with what is already there. The City needs to take ownership to be able to negotiate those types of things. Councilmember Petschel noted that the question was asked of the developer as to why they could not take off a story from their proposed plan. They replied that they would be employing a lot of extra staff in this building because of the a-la-cart living-to-servicing years and they needed that for that income to support the staf£ There needs to be careful thought put into this. April 18, 2017 A7endota Heights City Council Page 9 of 12 Councilmember Petschel moved to not authorize the Purchase and Sales Agreement with Trammell Crow for Lots A, B, C, and Outlot D of Mendota Heights Town Center, and a portion of Maple Street. Councilmember Miller seconded the motion. Mr. Greg Konat, 715 Linden Street, presented comments from the homeowners association. They asked the Council to approve the motion on the table, to not enter into a purchase agreement. He stated he felt that the City does not have a shared vision for what to do with this property. The residents would be happy to participate in trying to create a vision. He suggested that the City take a proactive leadership role in determining what they would like to see there. The association is not opposed to the project being proposed by Tran�mel Crow; it is the mass of the project. Mr. Konat read prepared comments. The three areas of concern include: 1. The need for transparency and community involvement (they would have liked to have had an earlier notice of this large project; it is an aggressive project schedule; asked that the city post a sign on the property to notify the public of the rezoning; does the city have a conflict of interest when negotiating a purchase agreement with one developer and considering the rezoning to meet their needs) 2. The traffic impact (they feel that a traffic study should look at the impact in the general area, and would like the city to hire an independent traffic consultant to review the traffic study report completed by the developer), 3. The scale and density of the proposed development (they feel that the proposed project would drastically change The Village concept and quality of life). Mr. Konat asked additional questions from the homeowners association: What is the rationale from going from 19 townhome units to 160 apartments? Where else in the city are there comparable projects that allow similar building mass and density on residentially zoned property? What is the percentage of site coverage as it relates to the current zoning and land use requirements? They asked that the Council not enter into a purchase agreement until the homeowners association can receive more information on this project. They asked if they could help the Council come up with a vision for this property. Mr. John Maczko, 751 Cheyenne Lane, echoed the concerns already expressed. He encouraged the Council to include the public in the discussions. He likes the direction of the vision because it was how it was created in the first place. As a resident, he supports the motion to deny. Mr. Mitch Berg, 715 Linden Street, commented that he appreciated the Council saying that The Village is a jewel of the City and it needs to be something that the citizens can be proud of. He feels the residents should be involved in helping to form the vision. He then commented on the traffic study. Counciltnember Petschel mentioned that the traffic study had not been done yet. Mr. Berg noted that the residents count on the City Council and administrators to protect them. 160 units may be too high of density. Mr. Jake Jacobson, 706 Linden Street, requested that the focus be on what the City's vision is and not on the developer's vision. This is a massive project and way out of scope. Hopefully the developer would be willing to work with the City to size it down and make it work. The Village is a great place for a senior housing project, just not one of this size and scale. Mayor Garlock called for the vote. April 18, 2017 Mendota Heiglzts City Cou��cil Page 10 of 12 Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Duggan) Councilmember Petschel observed that it would be a mistake to not pursue a solution to Dodd Road traffic with MnDOT and it needs to go right to the top of the Council's work plan. She also commented that the Council has been made aware and they are struggling to provide for the needs of the seniors in the City. In talking about visioning for these lots going forward, they need to address senior housing and provide a walkable community. C) CITY HALL SOLAR PANEL LOCATIONS City Administrator Mark McNeill explained that the City received two grants from the Made in Minnesota Solar Program to fund the installation of solar energy panels — one at City Hall and the other at Public Works. This would allow the City to place solar arrays, which would generate up to 40 kilowatts of electricity, and each location. The City also has an opportunity to be in the Xcel Energy program to add another 20 kilowatts at City Hall and Public Works, and 20 kilowatts at the fire hall and at the Par 3 golf course. The action requested of Council was to decide on the locations of the array at City Hall. He then shared the pros and cons of three ground-location options: • Location 1— an angled site, west of City Hall • Location 2— front yard near the intersection of Victoria Curve and Lexington Avenue • Location 3— behind City Hall, north of the Police driveway Another option would be a roof-mounted system. This system would face due south and would be the most effective as far as generating power. He also talked to Ideal Energy about the problems the City has had in the past with the roof leaking. He discovered that the only place they would put holes in the roof would be to the trusses and they would do all of the due diligences as far as making sure these were as waterproof as possible. Councilmember Paper stated that if this was going to be done, then it should be done as efficiently as possible and he would recommend the roof mounted system. Having it on the roof would enable the City to not take up any additional green space. Councilmember Miller, Petschel, and Mayor Garlock concurred with Councilmember Paper's comments. No motion was needed on this item. D) SET DATE/TIME FOR JOlNT CITY COUNCIL / PARKS & REC COMMISSION MEETING City Administrator Mark McNeill proposed setting a Joint City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to ensure their visions for the future of the parks systems are in line with each April I8, 2017 Mendota Heights City Council Page 11 of 12 other. Topics include items for funding, capital improvements, Dog Park, Pilot Knob discussions, organized sports, joint facilities, and other topics. He recommended the evening of the Parks & Recreation Commission's regular meeting, which is Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. The Councilmembers concurred. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no community announcements. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Paper noted the shredding event on Apri122, 2017 at West St. Paul City Hall. Councilmember Miller apologized for his swearing during the Village Lots discussion. He also noted that Saturday, April 22, 2017 is Earth Day. We all live here and stewardship of our natural resources is not only the responsible thing to do but it is also a patriotic thing to do. The Miller family will be cleaning up their back woods and planting 14 trees. He encouraged everyone to do something to make their space a bit greener. Mayor Garlock commented on the controlled practice burn that occurred three weeks ago by the fire department. It was valuable training for the firefighters. ADJOURN Councilmember Petschel moved to adjourn. Councilmember Paper seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Duggan) Mayor Garlock adjourned the meeting at 10:03 p.m. �� � W Neil Garlock Mayor ATTES : Lorri Smith City Clerk April 18, 2017 Mendota Heights Ciry Cou�acil Page 12 of 12