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2002-01-03 City Council minutesPage No. 1 January 3, 2002 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Thursday, January 3, 2002 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular 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. The following members were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers Krebsbach, Schneeman and Vitelli. Councilmember Dwyer had notified Council that he would be late and arrived at 7:38 p.m. AGENDA ADOPTION Councilmember Krebsbach moved adoption of the revised agenda for the meeting. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilmember Vitelli moved approval of the amended minutes of the regular meeting held on December 18, 2001. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR Councilmember Schneeman moved approval of the consent calendar for the meeting, along with authorization for execution of any necessary documents contained therein. a. Acknowledgment of the minutes of the December 12, 2001 Airport Relations Commission meeting. b. Acknowledgment of the Building Activity Report for December, 2001. c. Acknowledgment of a memo from Treasurer Shaughnessy regarding insurance refunds and dividends for 2001. d. Acknowledgment the completion of the City Administrator's probationary period and scheduling of a closed session to conduct a performance evaluation following the January 15 regular meeting. Page No. 2 January 3, 2002 e. Adoption of Resolution No. 02-01, "RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING 2002 CITY DEPOSITORIES OF FUNDS." f. Adoption of Resolution No. 02-02, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING PLEDGED SECURITIES FOR 2002." g. Approval of the list of contractor licenses dated January 3, 2002. h. Approval of the List of Claims dated January 3, 2002 and totaling $132,676-20. Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Mertensotto presented plaques to the following city employees in recognition of their years of service and dedication to the community: Marcus Connolly and Tom Weinzettel, 30 years; Tom Knuth, Guy Kullander, John Lapakko, Mario Reyes, 20 years; Jeff Piotraschke, 15 years; Patrick Hollister and Bobby Lambert, 5 years. Although they were not in attendance, the following employees were also recognized: Terry Blum and George Noack, Jr., 25 years; Tom Knuth, 20 years; John Boland, Gerald Nelson, Jr., Ken Weisenberger, 10 years; Rich Burrows, Amy Griffin, and John Larrive, 5 years. ACTING MAYOR Council acknowledged a memo from Administrator Lindberg regarding appointment of an Acting Mayor. Mayor Mertensotto recommended that Councilmember Dwyer be appointed as Acting Mayor for 2002. Councilmember Vitelli moved to appoint Councilmember Dwyer to serve as the Acting Mayor during any absences of the Mayor in the year 2002. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER Council acknowledged a memo from the City Administrator regarding designation of an official city newspaper for 2002. Council acknowledged letters of request from Lillie Suburban News (Southwest Review) and Sun Newspapers. Page No. 3 January 3, 2002 Councilmember Dwyer moved to designate the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Sun Current as the city's official newspaper for the year 2002. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CDBG BOARD Council acknowledged a memo from Administrator Lindberg regarding the annual appointment of a city representative on the Dakota County HRA's CDBG Review Board. Mayor Mertensotto recommended that Councilmember Dwyer be reappointed. Councilmember Schneeman moved to reappointment Councilmember Dwyer to serve as the city's representative of the CDBG Review Board for 2002. Ayes: 5 Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion. Nays: 0 TOWN CENTER CONCEPT Council acknowledged a memo from Assistant Hollister regarding the PUD concept plan for Town Center. Ms. Carolyn Krall and Mr. Ross Feffercorn were present for the discussion. Ms. Krall explained that the concept plan presentation is the first step in the PUD process. The concept plan was discussed by the Planning Commission in December and she has also met with the Parks and Recreation Commission. She has received input from the Fire Chief with respect to the traffic study. Ms. Krall stated that the design guidelines require substantion additional work, and she will not request approval of the PUD or design guidelines until after the public hearings have been conducted. The presentation this evening is for Council information. She stated that the number of single family units have not changed, although the commercial areas are subject to refinement. She reviewed changes to the street layout and frontage road connection, including a "right -in" from T.H. 110, which will take pressure off of the Dodd Road intersection. Also, several driveways have been eliminated along Dodd. Most of the Planning Commission discussion was over the number of parking spaces required — the commission determined that more spaces are required than are planned. She stated that over the next few weeks she will be working with architects to develop additional parking, including in Page No. 4 January 3, 2002 the underground parking areas. She stated that she will try to keep the additional parking spaces under existing parking areas and buildings. Mayor Mertensotto suggested that there should be parking under the mall area. He also asked if there can be additional parking under the senior facility. Ms. Krall responded that she intends to provide the parking that the project will require. The ordinance requires seven spaces per 1,000 square feet, which is a significant requirement and results in more parking that is normally required for such a project. She stated that she can provide additional spaces for parking for staff vehicles Linder the senior facility and those spaces can be shared by others when the offices are not open. She informed Council that she will continue to work on the parking issue in more detail. The Park and Recreation Commission was very pleased with the concept plan. Ms. Krall stated that the density is about 10.5 units per acre. Each of the neighborhoods has a density of about 8 units per acre, but the senior component drives the total density to 10.5. Responding to a question from Councilmember Schneeman about the tot lot, Ms. Krall stated that it will depend on how the area around it develops. If the area becomes more family, the tot lot will be where it is proposed. If not, the area will develop differently but there will be some active recreation in that area. Responding to a question from Councilmember Schneeman about the possibility of using the ponding area for ice skating, Ms. Krall stated that the parks staff have indicated it would be very easy to maintain the pond for skating but the Park Commission did not express a great deal of interest. Ms. Krall stated that the fire department argued for all of the buildings to be sprinkled, but she had not anticipated that the townhouses would be sprinkled. Ms. Krall stated that she will work with the developer on more detailed plan refinements on roadway widths, pond size, wetland buffers, etc., and hopes to bring a submission to the Planning Commission in February or march. That would take Studio Works and this part of the project to conclusion. After that, the developer would pick it up. The Dakota County CDA is very encouraged by the progress on site acquisition and seems to be inclined to move the Page No. 5 January 3, 2002 city up in its priorities. The senior facility will be one of the first elements of the project. She stated that she submitted an application for the Livable Communities Grant for the common elements, and while the project was very high on the list, there was not enough funding and the city did not get the grant. Mayor Mertensotto asked about the Fire Department's concern over street widths. He stated that on- street parking is always a concern and that SEH must be informed on the street widths when they do their studies. Responding to a question from Councilmember Schneeman regarding a tunnel under Dodd Road for pedestrian access, Ms. Krall stated that the grant that the city applies for could include a tunnel. As soon as the grant process opens up, she will help the city make application. Councilmember Vitelli stated that the memo from SEH on December 13 stated that the reduction in density will reduce the trips per day by 20 %, which is encouraging. SEH anticipates 3,600 trips per day versus 2,500 when both Tom Thumb and the veterinary clinic were operating. He complimented Ms. Krall on doing an excellent job of listening to Council and the neighbors, and stated that the concept plan is excellent. Responding to a question from Councilmember Krebsbach regarding signage, Ms. Krall stated that she has not defined the criteria yet but that the Planning Commission suggested repeating what the ordinance states. She stated that backlit signs will not be permitted. When she appears before the Planning Commission at the hearing, the commission will hopefiilly approve the concept plan and the design guidelines which will become part of the zoning code. Couuncilmember Krebsbach stated that this is a very good plan. Responding to a question from Mayor Mertensotto about building heights, Ms. Krall stated that no building except the senior facility will be allowed to be more than two stories and because of the topography of the land, the senior facility and the two story structures will be about the same height. There will not be a sense of looking over roofs. Ms. Krall stated that the CDA would like to start on the facility in July and is willing to hire an architect and begin drawings now. The footprint of the building will actually be smaller than what is shown Page No. 6 January 3, 2002 on the concept plan. She informed Council that the CDA also seems to be amenable to housing a historical center in the building. Mr. Jeff Wilkie stated that he likes the idea of using the pond for ice skating but is concerned about safety crossing Dodd Road from Ridge Place to get to the pond. He stated that the plan is good but he is concerned about traffic safety. Ms. Krall responded to questions from Mr. Wilkie regarding site ingress and egress. She also discussed how the traffic plan will discourage students from the high school from cutting down Freeway Road through the development to get to Dodd. Councilmember Vitelli asked if there will be a semaphore at Ridge. Ms. Krall responded that at this point, the traffic engineers have indicated that there will not be, but they suggested that the situation needs to be monitored. A tunnel under Dodd would provide the best safety for children crossing into the development. Mr. Sten Gerfast stated that he is concerned about traffic, specifically at Ridge Place and that closing the Hilltop entrance is a positive. He stated that this is a much better plan than the original, partly because of the input from the neighbors. He asked what will happen if the businesses fail. Ms. Krall responded that it will be up to the developer of the project to keep the spaces leased and he will bear the burden. The city will have no burden. Mayor Mertensotto commented that he has received at least four inquiries about the project from specialty businesses. Ms. Krall stated that all inquiries should be sent to RMF Entities. Mrs. Betty Schuster stated that she has seen cars backed almost to Ridge when the signal on T.H. 110 is green. She asked how people will tam left from the development onto Dodd. Ms. Krall responded that she has talked with MnDOT about making improvements and she hopes they will be part of a cooperative agreement with MnDOT. Ms. Betty Moyna asked about the time frame for the senior facility and the townhouses and also about the pricing. Page No. 7 January 3, 2002 Mayor Mertensotto stated that the senior housing will not be subsidized to the extent of the facility on South Plaza Drive and that it is the intent that the units be market rate. Ms. Krall stated that all of the senior units will be treated identically and she understood that they would be subsidized. She stated that the project is not at the point where she knows pricing on the townhouses. It is impossible to build townhouses for less than $200,000 to $250,000, and underground parking will add about $25,000 per unit. She doubted there will be a price under $300,000. Regarding timing, she stated that she hopes the senior facility will start this summer and be ready for occupancy the following spring. The townhouses may start soon after the senior facility and would be available at the earliest in the fall of 2003. Councilmember Krebsbach stated that a goal was to have the price point match the median home price in Mendota Heights. Mayor Mertensotto stated that his discussion with Mark Ulfers from the CDA was that some of the senior units may have to be subsidized. He also stated that the CDA cannot close the building off to anyone but Mendota Heights residents. Administrator Lindberg stated that she will get a clarification from the CDA regarding whether the units will be subsidized. A gentleman whose parents live on Freeway Road stated that the new alignment makes it very difficult for them to get in and out on Dodd and that this is the first time he heard about an entrance coming off of T.H. 110. Ms. Krall responded that until recently, the plan was to remove Freeway Road. Now half of it has been retained. Councilmember Krebsbach stated that one of the major accommodations for the neighbors was to move the senior facility into the center of the site, so the plan was reconfigured based on the neighbors' concerns. The right turn from T.H. 110 will actually reduce the impact on Freeway Road. Mr. Feffercorn stated that he feels the plan has had some very good refinements and that he is planning on meeting with Council in a workshop on January 10 to discuss refinements. There is a lot of consideration being given to adaptive re -use for the commercial Page No. 8 January 3, 2002 components. He informed Council that ESG Architects have worked with the CDA often and they have always worked with his firm on townhouses and condominiums. He introduced Architect Dennis Suttland, and stated that he does not know if the county is working with ESG on this senior project. Mayor Mertensotto stated that he thinks it is the CDA's intent that the same architectural firm be used for the senior facility as is used for the townhouses. He stated that Council needs to know that up front. XCEL HEARING Council acknowledged a memo from Administrator Lindberg recommending the scheduling of a public hearing for the January 22, 2002 Planning Commission meeting on applications from Xcel Energy for conditional use permit, wetlands pen-nit and critical area permit for construction of improvements to its 115 kV transmission lines. Councilmember Dwyer moved to schedule a public hearing for Xcel Energy's applications for conditional use permit, wetlands permit and critical area permit for the January 22, 2002 Planning Commission meeting. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CLOSED SESSION Council acknowledged memos from Administrator Lindberg recommending closed sessions following this evening's meeting for discussion on the Teamsters' contract for 2002 and for discussion on the Xcel Energy litigation with legal counsel. ADJOURN TO CLOSED Council adjourned to closed session for discussion on the SESSION proposed Teamsters' contract for 2002 and for discussion on the Xcel Energy litigation. City Attorney Schleck was present for the full session and attorney Pete Regnier was present for the Xcel discussion. Councilmember Vitelli excused himself from discussion on the proposed labor agreement. After discussion, Councilmember Dwyer moved to approve the labor agreement as presented. Councilmember Schneeman seconded the motion. Ayes: 3 Page No. 9 January 3, 2002 Nays: 1 Mertensotto ' Abstain: 1 Vitelli Councilmember Dwyer moved that the meeting be adjourned to closed session for discussion on the proposed Teamsters' contract for 2002 and for discussion on the Xcel Energy litigation. Councilmember Vitelli seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 11:00 p.m. K/athleen Swanson City Clerk ATTEST: Charles E. Mertensotto Mayor