2019-09-03 Council MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
Held Tuesday, September 3, 2019
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. Councilors Duggan, Paper, and Petschel were also
present. Councilor Miller was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council, the audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADOPTION
Mayor Garlock presented the agenda for adoption. Councilor Petschel moved to move item 5j. from the
Consent Agenda to Items for Discussion; and to remove from the agenda the consideration of Ordinance
543 Regarding Gambling, to be heard at a future meeting date.
Mayor Garlock seconded the motion.
Ayes: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 1 (Miller)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Garlock presented the consent calendar and explained the procedure for discussion and approval.
Councilor Petschel moved approval of the consent calendar as presented.
a. Approval of August 20, 2019 City Council Minutes
b. Approval of August 20, 2019 Council Work Session Minutes -Budget
c. Acknowledge the July 23, 2019 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
d. Acknowledge the July 17, 2019 Airport Relations Commission Meeting Minutes
e. Authorize Purchase Order for Public Works Back Gate
f. Approve Resolution 2019-59 Approve Disposal of Unclaimed Property
g. Approve RMF Escrow (Village Lots)
h. Approve the Purchase of Turnout Gear
i. Acknowledge July 2019 Fire Synopsis
j. Item moved to the New and Unfinished Business portion of the meeting
k. Approve Resolution 2019-63 Accepting Soccer Goal Donation
1. Approval of July 2019 Treasurer's Report
in. Approval of Claims List
Councilor Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 1 (Miller)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No one from the public wished to be heard.
No items were scheduled.
PUBLIC HEARING
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A) APPROVE RESOLUTION 2019-62 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR OUTDOOR SALES
LOT AT 2440 ENTERPRISE DR. (PLANNING CASE NO. 2019-23)
Community Development Director Tim Benetti explained Garland's Inc. was purchasing the former
Manna Freight property located at 2440 Enterprise Drive. Garland's Inc. is a nationally known
distributor of pre -made casters, wheels, shelving units, hand -carts and a wide variety of material
handling products. They are relocating their headquarters and their main distribution center to this site.
They were requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a fenced -in outdoor sales lot in the I -
Industrial Zone. This outdoor sales lot would be used for the storage and display of new job -site trailers.
The property is located off of Pilot Knob Road with Mendota Heights Road to the south. It is just over
3.3 acres in size. The building is two stories and just over 31,000 square feet. The front area contains
two levels of offices equating to approximately 1,500 square feet. The back warehouse has 18,000
square feet. Garland's intends to use the front first level as their main office area with the second story
being used as a showcase area for materials and products.
The parking located on the east and rear sides of the lot consists of 62 parking spaces. The rear also has
seven loading bays with one at -grade level. The plan submitted by Garland's shows that they want to
store the job -site trailers on back of the lot within a fenced area. Mr. Benetti shared an image of the
types of trailers they would be storing on the site. These are new trailers. Most of their business is
completed through on-line sales or over the phone, but they want to have a few trailers on-site to show
their customers. Garland's does not take trade-ins or sell used trailers.
September 3, 2019 Mendota Heights City Council Page 2 of 6
Mr. Benetti explained the need for the CUP since Open Sales Lots are considered a conditional use in
the Industrial Zone. This would only apply to the trailers. They have no intention of having any of their
shelving units or equipment stored outside.
The applicant has indicated that they would provide a black vinyl -coated chain -linked fence with a
sliding cantilever gate in the front. They will also provide decorative inserts to provide 90% opacity. The
entire rear area of the site will be fenced off with a six-foot high chain -linked fence.
As for parking, 15 of the 62 spaces will be used for the trailer storage. The office space use requires at
least 15 parking spaces and at least 10 spaces for the warehousing area. The remaining spaces would be
sufficient for customers.
Councilor Petschel asked if any part of the fence would be wooden. Mr. Benetti replied that the
applicant initially proposed to have a solid wood fence along the front. Staff suggested that they make
the front the cantilevered gate and black vinyl -coated chain -linked fence with the decorative slats.
Councilor Duggan asked for the hours of operation. Mr. Benetti deferred to the applicant.
Councilor Paper asked if there would be a limit to the number of trailers allowed to be stored on-site.
Mr. Benetti replied that the applicant proposed having 18 trailers. The number of trailers could be
limited under the CUP.
Councilor Duggan asked for confirmation that only new trailers would be stored on-site. Mr. Benetti
confirmed and stated that there would not be any camping trailers or RV trailers of any kind.
Mr. Bob Smith, owner of Garlands, addressed the Council. He noted that their business hours would be
from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with no weekend hours. The number of trailers to
be stored on site would be approximately 20. The smaller trailers would be inside.
Mr. Jerry Smith, owner of Garlands, noted that the largest trailer they would sell would be the 20 -foot
contractor's trailer; no fifth -wheels. When fully staffed, they would have approximately 30 employees.
Councilor Petschel welcomed the company to Mendota Heights.
Councilor Duggan moved to adopt RESOLUTION 2019-62 APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT FOR AN OUTDOOR SALES LOT IN THE I -INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 2440 ENTERPRISE DRIVE (PLANNING CASE NO. 2019-23).
Councilor Petschel seconded the motion.
Ayes: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 1 (Miller)
September 3, 2019 Mendota Heights City Council Page 3 of 6
B) RESOLUTION 2019-61 ACCEPT BIDS AND AWARD CONTRACT FOR THE TOWN
CENTER/VILLAGE OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS BOULDER RETAINING WALL
IMPROVEMENTS
Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek updated the Council on the boulder retaining wall at the Town
CenterNillage site. Staff met with the residential homeowner's association before the bid opening as
they were concerned with how the new wall was going to look. The consultant put together a graphic to
show the homeowners, to give them a better understanding of how the fence would look.
This project would reconstruct the boulder wall and be a maximum of 9 -feet in height at its highest
point. The project would be a single tiered wall, having decorative fencing and plantings along the top.
The bid opening was held on August 29, 2019 and the city received four bids, ranging from $324,883.00
to a high of $636,803.25. The Engineer's estimate on the project was $346,809.
It is recommended that the low bidder, Rosti Construction Company of Minnesota, Inc., Jordan, MN, be
awarded the bid in the amount of $324,883.00. The city's consultant, Stonebrook Engineering, reviewed
this company's references and received positive recommendations on the previous work they have
completed.
Councilor Duggan asked for confirmation that the boulder wall was going to be approximately 9 -feet tall
at its highest point. Mr. Ruzek confirmed that was correct and it would be at this height for
approximately 150 feet. He stated that the size of the boulders being used to support this wall would be
sufficient; they would also install proper backfill and drainage behind the wall. Mr. Ruzek stated that the
wall has a completion date of November 5, 2019, this year. The landscaping is scheduled to be
completed by the end of May 2020.
Councilor Paper asked what will be done with the existing boulders. Mr. Ruzek replied that the bid
included the transfer of the current boulders to the city's transfer site on Bourn Lane for storage and use
on a future project. Councilor Paper asked who would be responsible for maintenance of the plantings.
Mr. Ruzek replied that the maintenance would be the responsibility of the homeowners' HOA. The
plantings along the top of the boulder wall are included in the project costs.
Councilor Paper asked if the city had worked with this contractor previously. Mr. Ruzek replied that he
was unaware of any projects completed in Mendota Heights by this company.
Councilor Duggan moved to adopt RESOLUTION 2091-61 ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING
CONTRACT FOR THE TOWN CENTER/VILLAGE OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS BOULDER
RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mayor Garlock seconded the motion.
Ayes: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 1 (Miller)
September 3, 2019 Mendota Heights City Council Page 4 of 6
C) ORDINANCE NO. 543 ADDING CITY CODE SECTION 4-B RELATING TO GAMBLING
This item was removed from the meeting agenda and will be considered at a future meeting.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Administrator Mark McNeill made the following announcements:
• The Par 3 was closed today for aeration and should be open again tomorrow
• The fall rates at the Par 3 will be implemented; $8 per round of golf and $6 per round of foot -golf
• "The Goonies" movie will be shown at Mendakota Park on September 7 starting at 7:30 p.m
• The League of Minnesota Cities has recognized 34 State Legislators as 2019 Legislators of
Distinction — including Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL -South St. Paul, District 52A
• The city staff also expressed appreciation to Rep. Ruth Richardson and Senator Matt Klein
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilor Petschel recognized State Representative Rick Hansen for all of his assistance, going back as
far as before the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) existed. Mendota Heights represented itself and went
numerous times to the state legislature about airport noise issues. Rep. Hansen was very supportive and
very present.
Councilor Paper encouraged residents to attend the Henry Sibley Boys Soccer game on September 5th at
4:30 p.m. which will be held at the new Warrior Stadium at Henry Sibley High School. A community-
wide Warrior Rally would be held on September 6th at 5:00 p.m., to be followed by the first home football
game at the stadium.
Councilor Duggan noted an article in the Star Tribune newspaper last weekend about Ayd Mill Road in
St. Paul. He stated he did not believe the plan to reconstruct this road was a smart plan. He feels that the
City of St. Paul should be providing the City of Mendota Heights with information on what is being
proposed. He believes they are planning to cut down one lane of traffic and move all of the traffic both
ways on the western side and the other lane will be a bike/walk/run trail. He suggested the City of Mendota
Heights draft a resolution, or at least a letter, to the St. Paul City Council expressing concerns and ask for
more discussion on this.
The other Councilors expressed their uneasiness about weighing in on this project that is not located in
our city.
September 3, 2019 Mendota Heights City Council Page 5 of 6
Councilor Petschel moved to adjourn.
Councilor Duggan seconded the motion.
Ayes: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 1 (Miller)
Mayor Garlock adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
j Li
Neil Garlock
Mayor
ATTEST:
Lorri Smith
City Clerk
September 3, 2019 Mendota Heights City Council Page 6 of 6