2020-01-02 Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Held January 2, 2020
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the City Council, City of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was held at the City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Councilmembers Duggan, Paper and
Petschel were also present. Councilor Miller arrived at 4:05 pm.
City staff present included Mark McNeill, City Administrator; Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City
Administrator; Tim Benetti, Community Development Director; Ryan Ruzek, Public Works
Director; Michael Andrejka, Building Official; and Lorri Smith, City Clerk.
BUILDING CONTRACTORS
Michael Andrejka, the City's Building Official, met with the Council to discuss the current
licensing of contractors in the City. He explained which contractors already need to be licensed
by the State of Minnesota, and that state licenses ensure a higher level of professionalism. When
a contractor pulls a permit with the City, their credentials with the State of Minnesota would still
be checked by city staff. By having the City also license contractors, it could be a liability for
the city. City staff is proposing an ordinance which would delete the requirement of contractor
licenses in the City.
Councilor Duggan asked how many complaints City Hall receives from residents in regards to
contractors they have hired. Mr. Andrejka stated the City does not receive many, and that most
of those are related to the quality of the work performed.
Councilor Paper asked what the Building Official is looking for when they inspect a property.
Mr. Andrejka stated he is only looking for State Code violations.
The Council was in agreement to bring forward an Ordinance to delete the requirement of
licensing contractors working in Mendota Heights.
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
City Administrator McNeill discussed with the Council the term limits that are set for the
Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission, which is three consecutive
terms. He stated there are no term limits set for the Airport Relations Commission (ARC) due to
the complexity of the issues the Commission discusses.
Councilor Petschel discussed the history of the Airport Relations Commission and how this
commission used to be the City's only voice to the Metropolitan Airport Commission. When the
Noise Oversight Committee was developed, things changed. The responsibilities of the ARC
now are to review the operational statistics at the airport, help residents understand the workings
of the airport, and to host guest speakers on airport related topics. She recommended that the
ARC set goals and objectives, engage the public more in their discussions, and televise their
meetings for the public. It was noted that the ARC recently started to televise their meetings on
NDC4.
The Council was in agreement to amend City Code Section 2.4.2, to include term limits for the
ARC, similar to the term limits that are in place for the other two city commissions, and to
implement the term limits starting in one year.
The Council was also in agreement to continue to reappoint Commissioners who have an interest
in continuing to serve on their respective Commission.
Councilor Duggan left the meeting at 4:40 pm.
COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Councilors each stated their top three goals for the Council.
#I— Garlock —to develop the Bourn property for mixed/commercial use.
Petschel — to continue to develop the Natural Resources Group, not necessarily a
commission.
Paper — develop the Bourn property into a park or public use area.
Miller — to allocate the remaining money needed to complete the preparation of the
Natural Resources Plan.
#2 = Garlock — purchase additional property, attach to Pilot Knob property, develop the area
Petschel — develop a cohesive plan for Pilot Knob property, work with Dakota County to
include the entire bluff area.
Paper — obtain a new estimate and construct dugouts at Mendakota fields.
Miller — update the trail system signing, include mile markers, update the maps, etc.
#3 - Garlock — work with MnDOT to obtain the section of Old Sibley Memorial Highway
being abandoned, to keep it open to through traffic.
Petschel — develop a cohesive plan for The Village and The Plaza, new name for the area,
beautify it, possible new monument signing.
Paper — develop a plan for regulating small cell tower wireless in the public right of way.
Miller — identify the challenges for traffic on Dodd Road, identify changes that may be
needed, and to include bike lanes.
The Council discussed the need for a regional traffic study, working with Dakota County and
abutting cities to accomplish this.
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OTHER
The Council members discussed how ordinances are brought forward to the Council for action.
The members were in agreement that all ordinance changes should be discussed at a Council
Work Session before they are brought forward to a regular meeting of the Council for official
action.
RENTAL LICENSING
City Administrator McNeill discussed the current language in the City Code that requires all
rental housing units to be licensed with the City. This was started in 2006 to ensure that rental
housing units in the City do not deteriorate the parcel or the neighborhood. At that time, there
was an issue with parking of too many cars at a rental house in the City.
The Council reviewed a sample ordinance from the City of Bayport which licenses short term
rentals.
The Council members were in agreement to further discuss a rental registration system so the
city has contact information on the owners and the tenants.
The Council was also in agreement to further discuss short term rental ordinances.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 5:35 pm.
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Lorri Smith, City Clerk
Neil Garlock, Mayor
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