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2005-11-01 City Council MinutesPage No. I November 1, 2005 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota was held at 7:30 o'clock p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Huber called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The following members were present: Mayor Huber, Councilmembers Duggan, Krebsbach, Schneeman and Vitelli. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE W"Aalu: : � 6 19MI Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Council, the audience and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmeraber Schneeman moved adoption of the revised agenda for the meeting. Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion. Councilmember Duggan moved approval of the consent for the meeting, revised to move item 6d, Pilot Knob site resolutions, to the regular agenda, along with authorization for execution of any necessary documents contained therein. a. Acknowledgement of the unapproved minutes of the October 25, 2005 Planning Commission Minutes b. Acknowledgement of the October, 2005 Building Activity Report. c. Approval of insurance renewal for 2006. d. Approval of the list of contractor licenses. e. Approval of the list of claims dated November 1, 2005 and totaling $343,599.56. Councilmeraber Vitelli seconded the motion. PILOT KNOB ACQUISITION Council acknowledged a memo from Engineer McDen-nott regarding the acquisition of the Pilot Knob site. Administrator Danielson and Mayor Huber reviewed revisions that have been made to the proposed resolutions. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page No. 2 November 1, 2005 Councilmember Krebsbach stated that at the last meeting she had asked staff to be sure that in all the different grant awards there be no language that precludes development on the Acacia property. Attorney Schleck agreed and stated that there also is no reference to the Acacia property in the resolutions. Responding to a question from Councilmember Duggan, Attorney Schleck stated that the proposed grant agreements were included in the Council information for information only and not for approval this evening. Councilmember Duggan moved adoption of Resolution No. 05 -105, "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THREE GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR THE PILOT KNOB ACQUISITION," Resolution No. 05 -106, "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH DAKOTA COUNTY FOR THE PILOT KNOB ACQUISITION," and Resolution No. 05 -107, "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PILOT KNOB ACQUISITION." Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion. Councilmember Duggan stated that Council should consider sending a letter of appreciation to Dakota County for everything they did on the Pilot Knob acquisition. Staff was directed to draft a letter of appreciation. COUNCIL COMMENTS Mayor Huber stated that the city has received several calls over the last few weeks on when the work will finally be done on the I -35E bridge. He informed Council and the audience that MnDOT told Engineer McDermott today that all the work on the bridge is done so there should not be any more ramp closures, but there is some miscellaneous work remaining that will cause minor lane closures during the day. Councilmember Duggan asked if there was an indication in the Metropolitan Council planning about widening I -35E from the bridge to T.H. 110. Engineer McDermott responded that she does not know if it is in MnDOT's plans. Page No. 3 November 1, 2005 Councilmember Schneeman commented about the building at the north entrance to the bridge that holds the de -icing solution that will be put on the bridge. Case No. 05 -55, REICH Council acknowledged an application from Keenan & Sveiven, Inc.on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Reich for a wetlands permit to allow construction of a fence on at 625 Hidden Creek Trail. Council also acknowledged associated staff reports. Assistant Hollister informed Council that the Reichs are new home owners in Hillside Creek Estates and they have installed a swimming pool and need to build a fence around it. The proposed fence would be within the wetlands buffer, which requires a wetlands pen-nit. Both the Planning Commission and city planner recommended approval. He stated that the City Engineer has reviewed the drawings and has determined that the fence would be 30 feet from the wetlands, as opposed to 38 feet reflected in the original resolution. Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05 -108, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A WETLANDS PERMIT FOR A FIVE -FOOT HIGH ORNAMENTAL ALUMINUM FENCE AT A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 30 FEET FROM THE WETLAND AT 625 HIDDEN CREEK TRAIL." Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 05 -56, POLOME Council acknowledged an application from Elizabeth and Reid PoLome for a conditional use permit to allow construction of a second accessory structure at1861 Victoria Road South. Council also acknowledged associated staff reports. Assistant Hollister stated that it was brought to the attention of the code enforcement officer that the PoLomes had built two sheds without a conditional use permit. What triggers the need for a conditional use permit for accessory structures is the cumulative square footage of sheds on the lot. When the PoLomes built the second structure, that triggered the requirement. Both the Planning Commission and city planner have recommended approval of the application. Councilmember Duggan Resolution No. 05 -109, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SECOND Page No. 4 November 1, 2005 120 SQUARE FOOT ACCESSORY STRUCTURE FOR A TOTAL OF 240 SQUARE FEET AT 1861 VICTORIA ROAD SOUTH ". Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 DELAWARE AVENUE Council acknowledged a feasibility report for proposed IMPROVEMENTS Delaware Avenue street reconstruction improvements. Engineer McDermott stated that this a joint project with the City of West St. Paul for the portion of Delaware Avenue between Dodd Road and Annapolis. The improvements include reconstruction of the road, watermain replacement and repairs to the sanitary sewer and the addition of storm sewer. She reviewed the projected costs and the cost sharing. She informed Council that there are two issues and both concern the proposed assessment method. Because West St. Paul uses a front foot assessment rater every year, she is proposing that Mendota Heights use a front footage rate just for this project and use the same rate as West St. Paul. She stated that she does not think it would be good to have different rates for the two sides of the street. Also, there are many varying lot widths and she feels the front footage method is more fair for this project. Mayor Huber stated that the project will not widen Delaware and that it will remain the same width as it is now. Engineer McDermott responded that staff wants to take all measures possible to save the boulevard trees. Councilmember Vitelli stated that West St. Paul will pay a higher share of the cost and asked if West St. Paul is agreeable to that. Engineer MCDenmott responded that West St. Paul is in agreement because they have more storm water going into the system. Responding to a question from Councilmember Duggan, she stated that each city will hold a public hearing. Councilmember Duggan stated that some of the residents have concerns about parking and asked if staff can work with neighboring churches and parks in advance so people can park there. Engineer McDermott responded that she will look into it. Councilmember Vitelli moved adoption of Resolution No. 05 -110, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING FEASIBILITY REPORT AND Page No. 5 November 1, 2005 CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON DELAWARE AVENUE STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT." Councilmember Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 COUNCIII, COMMENTS Mayor Huber commented that Town Center is coming along well. The Wine Market will open this week. Councilmember Duggan stated that the Halloween Bonfire was very well received, with about 2,200 people in attendance. Councilmember Krebsbach stated that residents are hopeful that the RV ordinance will be enforced and she feels that the city should look at the number of RV's being parked along side of homes. She would like to take another look at the ordinance. Responding to a comment from Councilmember Krebsbach about a call from a resident regarding truckloads of brush deposited at the bonfire, Administrator Danielson stated that he suspects it was done by commercial haulers. Two of them were caught and were required to remove the large tree trunks they had dumped at the site. Councilmember Krebsbach responded that the resident told her that he would be wiling to volunteer to monitor the bonfire site so the problem does not continue and residents can bring their brush. She suggested asking for volunteers to monitor the site in the future. Councilmember Krebsbach informed Council about a presentation that will be given in Eagan on Thursday about hydrogen fuel cells and alternative energy sources. Councilmember Schneeman informed Council that 500 geese were rounded up at Rogers lake. She also stated that she received a call from a lady who is a seasoned politician who lives in Lilydale who called her to say that she is proud of Council because she thought Council did a wonderful job with Pilot Knob. Councilmember Vitelli informed Council that he and Councilmember Schneeman talked to the third grade class at St. Joseph's School today. Councilmember Krebsbach stated that there are neighborhoods that would like to get together for neighborhood meetings to discuss particular issues with no more than two members of Council. Page No. 6 November 1, 2005 Councilmember Schneeman responded that she feels the whole Council should meet if there are to be meetings with neighborhoods on issues — all of the Council members should hear about those issues. Councilmember Krebsbach responded that sometimes the neighborhoods would just like to have a chance to talk about issues in a preliminary way. Councilmember Schneeman stated that she spoke with Eagan's Administrator, Tom Hedges, about that and he said it should not be done that way if it is a neighborhood issue unless Councilmember Krebsbach wants to have it at her house and have a neighborhood gathering. Mr. Hedges felt it is better for the whole Council to hear issues if neighborhoods have there. Mayor Huber stated that neighborhood meetings involving one or two Council members would take staff time and he would have concerns. Councilmember Duggan stated that he would not discourage a Councilmember from having a meeting with people. He stated that some time during the year, Council will hear from Chief Aschenbrener and Officer Brian Convery about neighborhood watch groups in the city. Councihnember Krebsbach stated two Council people can meet and she is available if people would like to meet with her. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before Council, Councilmember Duggan moved that the meeting be adjourned. Ayes: 5 Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion. Nays: 0 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:58 p.m. Kadhleen M. Swanson, City Clerk ATTEST: Jo e ayor