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1990-11-06 Council minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, November 6, 1990 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 8:30 o'clock P.M. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Mayor Mertensotto called the meeting to order at 8:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers Blesener, Cummins, Hartmann and Anderson. AGENDA ADOPTION: Councilmember Hartmann moved adoption of the revised agenda for the meeting. Councilmember Blesener seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Blesener moved approval of the minutes of the October 30th meeting with no changes. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilmember Cummins moved approval of the consent calendar for the meeting. a. Acknowledgment of the Building Activity report for October. b. Acknowledgment of September Fire Department Report. c. Approval of a Fence Permit Application for 1938 Dodd Road. d. Approval of the Batesville Casket Building Permit. Page 2 November 6, 1990 e. Approval of a one half foot (0.51) rear yard setback and a three foot (31) side yard abutting a street variance for 1096 Avanti Drive (CASE NO. 90-40: Kueppers). f., Approval of Personnel Classification Adjustments. g. Approval of the Updated Election Judge Resolution - RESOLUTION NO. 90- 78. H. Approval of the List of Contractors. i. Approval of the List of Claims j. Approval of Designation of Fixed Holiday - Christmas Eve, 1990. Councilmember Blesener seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 Councilmember Blesener stated that the Fire Department Truck Rodeo should be advertised so that the community can see it as an organized event. RECOGNITION OF DEPARTING REPORTER RON BROWN Mayor Mertensotto formally recognized Ron Browne for his service with the Sun Current and their coverage of the City of Mendota Heights. The Mayor thanked Ron for his fine efforts with the newspaper. Mayor Mertensotto extended the best wishes of the City and congratulated Ron on his success. Mayor Mertensotto stated that he felt Ron had done a admirable job of covering both sides of some very difficult issues. Mayor Mertensotto stated that this was very important because the Sun Current is a basic media outlet for informing our community and he felt that they had done a good job through Ron as a reporter in our Page 3 November 6, 1990 community. Mayor Mertensotto wished Ron Browne well in his future endeavors. Ron Browne stated that he enjoyed covering the City of Mendota Heights and he has felt that our government and staff has always been open and available, even on thorny and controversial issues. Mr. Browne stated that it has been nothing but a pleasure in dealing with the City of Mendota Heights and that he felt that Mendota Heights was an example of how local government should be operated on an open basis. The Council as a whole wished Ron good luck in the future. HEARING: CASE NO. 90-38 STRUB CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT Mayor Mertensotto introduced this item and stated it was the second time it had appeared on the Council agenda. John Curran stated that Council had requested a redesign of the site plan to be consistent with the existing building next door. He stated that architects had come up with a new design for the exterior building materials in order to match the existing building. Mr. Curran showed Council, on a new site plan drawing, the changes in design. Mr. Curran stated that the building would be mostly cedar and brick and that it would blend with the other building, however, the building was taller to accommodate the magnetic resonance imaging machinery. Mr. Curran explained that the site plan Council was viewing had been changed slightly to allow better access to the rear of the site in order to better accommodate trucks and turning ratios. Mr. Curran stated that Buell Landscaping would be doing the design and that it would be similar to the existing building including rock gardens, trees, low shrubbery and berms. Mayor Mertensotto felt that the canopy on the entrance to the building was higher than necessary. Mr. Curran responded AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA BALLFIELD Page 4. November 6, 1990 that the height requirements for vehicle clearance dictates the height of the canopy. Councilmember Blesener inquired why the curb cut off Highway 13 was 35 feet wide. She felt this was slightly excessive. Mr. Curran responded that MN DOT sets the requirements for curb cuts. Public Works Director Jim Danielson stated that the applicants need a permit from MN DOT and that if MN DOT requires a 35 foot curb cut then that is what the applicant must provide. Mayor Mertensotto asked the Engineering Department to follow up and find out from MN DOT if 35 feet is required. The Council felt that 30 feet or less would be better for the curb cut. Mayor Mertensotto stated that he felt the resolution adopting the approval of the Conditional Use Permit amendment should state that the applicants shall apply for replat within four months. Councilmember Cummins moved that the City Council adapt RESOLUTION NO. 90-79, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MINOR AMENDMENT TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND PLAN APPROVAL FOR RIVERWOOD PLACE." Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Mayor Mertensotto explained that at the previous Parks and Rec Commission Meeting the Commission recommended that the City pursue acquiring the Mendakota site with the last offer to C. G. Rein based on the City appraisal. Mayor Mertensotto described the site as being approximately 10 acres, flat, a good site for ballfields and excellent proximity to the road system and the middle of the City. Mayor Mertensotto explained that the City appraisal was for the amount of $583,000 and that C. G. Rein had countered with an Page 5 November 6, 1990 appraisal of $754,000. Mayor Mertensotto stated that negotiations have worked out a proposed purchase agreement that has been signed by the landholder. Mayor Mertensotto stated that this was for Outlot A of Mendakota Estates and that the purchase agreement was for the amount of $525,000 plus the City assessments which amounted to $83,000. Mayor Mertensotto stated that he had a letter from John Huber, Chairperson of the Parks and Rec Commission, stating that the Parks and Rec Commission's desire for the acquisition of this land as a ballfield site to fulfill the referendum for parks. Mayor Mertensotto stated that he and John both felt that the City is probably in as good of a position as we will ever be and that this land purchase would acquire 10 acres adjacent to a nine acre dedication that the City already holds. Mayor Mertensotto explained that the City would pay for this with $525,000 from the Parks Bond Referendum issue and that the $83,000 for the assessments would be paid incrementally on an annual basis. Councilmember Hartmann inquired if it was possible to pay for the $83,000 in assessment costs from interest on the additional referendum funds. City Treasurer Shaughnessy stated that intereste earnings would come close to covering the annual assessment cost and could be allocated for that purpose. Mayor Mertensotto stated that the closing would occur on December 20 and that what the Council was approving tonight was to enter into the purchase agreement and then move forward to the December 20 closing. Councilmember Blesener felt that this was an excellent acquisition to fulfill the referendum and moved to adopt a motion ,YAV461 AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 Page 6 November 6, 1990 approving the purchase agreement. Councilmember Cummins seconded the motion. The Mayor and City Clerk should be authorized to sign the purchase agreement on behalf of the City.Mayor Mertensotto stated that the purchase agreement also included a requirement that an updated abstract and a title insurance binder be provided as part of the transaction. City Administrator Tom Lawell stated that the Parks and Rec Commission has asked to be given direction about whether this site should be developed in 1991 or be held for development at a later date. Councilmember Blesener responded that the intended use of this is a four field softball complex and that this is the direction that should be given to the consultant. Councilmember Blesener moved to direct the Parks and Rec Commission to proceed with plans on developing the Mendakota Ballfield site for 1991 construction. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Councilmember Blesener inquired of Guy Kullander, Parks Project Manager about the final costs on the Comfort Station at the Sibley site. Mr. Kullander responded that the site costs were coming in under the $50,000 ceiling. Mayor Mertensotto stated that the building looks good from Delaware Avenue and that it's nice to see the site coming along and that everything was seeded and graded. Mayor Mertensotto asked Public Works Director Jim Danielson if the City Engineering staff was satisfied with the drainage situation along Marie Avenue. Public Works Director Jim Danielson responded that "yes" the drainage system appears more than adequate. Mayor Mertensotto Page 7 November 6, 1990 requested that the Engineering Department monitor it in the spring as the people in the area north of Marie Avenue are concerned about the newly graded fields. POLICE DEPARTMENT DONATION FUNDS City Administrator Tom Lawell explained that Chief Delmont is requesting Council to approve expenditures of donations to the Police Department. Lawell stated that the police officers in the department had desired to use donation money to reimburse officers for the conversion of their firearms to a more modern type of firearm. City Administrator Tom Lawell stated that a number of officers voluntarily converted to the more modern firearm at their own cost of approximately $400 to $500. In each instance the conversion was to a department approved firearm and each Officer was required to train and be certified on the new weapon. City Administrator Lawell stated that Police Chief Delmont recommend that each officer who converts or has converted to the recommended, approved models of firearm be reimbursed $350 out of the donation fund. Lawell stated that Chief Delmont's recommendation states that this reimbursement will be limited to officers who purchase firearms that comply with the Department's policy. Mayor Mertensotto stated that there should be a clear understanding that money gifted to the Police Department is donated to the City of Mendota Heights. Mayor Mertensotto stated that these are not Police or Fire funds and that the City Council must authorize all purchases. Mayor Mertensotto stated that there in lies the control of City donation funds. Mayor Mertensotto stated we can approve this request with the understanding that this is a gift to the City and that any donation must be approved by the Council and that City Council must authorize funds to be Page 8 November 6, 1990 expen . ded as part of the claims list. Councilmember Jan Blesener stated that the City Council should authorize any donation and any expenditure. She felt that the donor should have some control over these expenditures. Councilmember Anderson stated that the VFW gave this money to the Police Department. Anderson stated that this item should not wait for inclusion in a future budget, that the Police Chief has made his recommendation and that he believes the City Council should approve his recommendation. Councilmember Cummins moved to authorize to recommend expenditure for reimbursement of firearms with donations to the Police Department. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Cummins stated that he wished to commend the Fire Department on an excellent job with the traffic control in the second precinct during the vote on November 6. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the council, Councilmember Cummins moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:22 P.M. Kathleen M. Swanson City Clerk ATTEST: Charles E. Mertensotto Mayor