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1988-11-15 Council minutesPage No. 2423 November 15, 1988 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, November 15, 1988 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Mayor Mertensotto called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers Blesener, Cummins, Hartmann and Witt. AGENDA ADOPTION Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CORNICK WATERMAIN Councilmember Hartmann moved adoption of the agenda for the meeting, as amended to move item 4c, fire station street light request, to item 8b, and including additional items contained in the add -on agenda. Councilmember Blesener seconded the motion. Councilmember Blesener moved approval of the consent calendar for the meeting, as amended to remove City Hall contractor payments. a. Acknowledgment of the Treasurer's monthly report for October. b. Adoption of Resolution No. 88 -89, "RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOT DIVISION IN THE VICTORIA HIGHLANDS 2ND ADDITION." c. Approval of the list of licenses dated November 15, 1988 and attached hereto. d. Approval November $440,223. Councilmember of the List of Claims dated 15, 1988 and totalling 49. Witt seconded the motion. The Council acknowledged receipt of a tabulation of bids received for construction of the proposed watermain and storm sewer extension to serve the Cornick Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 EAGAN DEVELOPMENT Page No. 2424 November 15, 1988 residence at 1176 Sibley Memorial Highway and adjacent areas. Councilmember Blesener asked whether the CDBG funding for the project is in place. Public Works Director Danielson responded that the existing funding nearly covers the project and that he is working on getting additional funds from the City's 1989 CDBG allotment. Councilmember Blesener moved adoption of Resolution No. 88 -90, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WATER AND STORM SEWER EXTENSION TO SERVE 1176 SIBLEY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY AND ADJACENT AREAS (IMPROVEMENT NO. 87, PROJECT NO. 6)," awarding the contract to F.M. Frattalone Excavating and Grading for its low bid of $53,666.00. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Mr. John Shardlow, from Dahlgren, Shardlow and Uban, a consultant for Northwest Airlines, was present to review plans for the proposed development of the Laukka Beck properties on T.H. 149 at I -494 in Eagan. Mr. Shardlow stated that Laukka Beck recently sold 113 acres of land to Northwest, making the total Northwest ownership 190 acres of land in this area. He informed Council that Laukka also sold a very large parcel to Wacovia Bank who in turn sold some of its parcel to Cray Research, which plans to build a 60,000 square foot structure southeast of I -494 at Dodd on Lone Oak Road. He stated that Northwest plans to construct two 250,000 square foot buildings on its site (in addition to its existing building). Mr. Shardlow informed Council that there is the need to accommodate nearly one million more square footage on the Laukka Beck site than what was originally authorized by the City of Eagan in the planned unit development for the property, and that the master plan for Northwest includes a major computer center, hotel and additional training facility. Page No. 2425 November 15, 1988 Mr. Shardlow showed Council slides depicting the site and the proposed development. He informed Council that the PUD was approved by Eagan in 1985 and a full environmental impact statement was completed at that time which anticipated that up to one million square feet of additional development could be put on the site but indicated there could be traffic problems with the site. He stated that the firm BRW has completed a traffic study which focused on solving the traffic problems caused by the Northwest site and that Dakota County and the City of Eagan have hired Short-Elliot-Hendrickson to prepare a major traffic study throughout the County and also throughout Eagan. He reviewed the proposals from BRW which include adding turn lanes throughout the Lone Oak PUD area and acceleration lanes, and stated that 1-494 is a key area of restriction. He stated that the key ingredients of the traffic plan that really are a catalyst to being able to accommodate the PUD amendment have an affect on Mendota Heights. These proposals include a high occupancy vehicle lane only, which could have access into Mendota Heights if desired, and a proposed direct on-ramp from T.H.49 over to 1-35E, which would take a great deal of land from Visitation Convent. Mr. Shardlow informed Council that the City of Eagan is considering doing a very large development district and to amend its comprehensive plan. Mayor Mertensotto expressed his concern about the alternate solution as it impacts Mendota Heights, in particular the potential link that would take some of the Visitation property and also some residential properties. He asked how much land would be taken under such a proposal. sMr. Shardlow responded that he is in the process of fine tuning the details and does not have exact figures, but that the BRW plan indicates that a great deal of land would be taken. Responding to a question from Councilmember Blesener over why a full cloverleaf is not proposed, Mr. Shardlow stated that such a Page No. 2426 November 15, 1988 solution would take more Visitation property. Councilmember Blesener stated that what is proposed would force everyone to make a left turn to get onto 35E, and she asked whether there is anything in the study that would discourage traffic from turning north on Dodd, some road design that would make it more undesirable to turn north. Mr. Shardlow responded that Eagan has required Northwest to agree to a very stringent traffic management plan including staggered work hours, van pooling, etc. Mayor Mertensotto asked whether consideration had been given to bringing some of the traffic back to T.H. 55 to get to I-35E, creating an access point to T.H. 55 for Northwest. He informed Mr. Shardlow that the Council would never want to entertain bringing the traffic from the Laukka-Beck site over to Mendota Heights Road. Mr. Shardlow stated that the idea of an access point at T.H. 55 has not been brought up but that it is a good idea. Mayor Mertensotto informed Mr. Shardlow that the Council wants to be kept abreast of proposals while they are in the preliminary stage so that Council is not limited in its ability to comment. Regarding a question from Administrator Frazell on the timing of public hearings for the EIS or tax increment plan, Mr. Shardlow stated that it will be January or February before the specific tax increment district is formed and probably March before the PUD is approved. He indicated that he will report back to Council as soon as he can. STREET LIGHT REQUESTS Council acknowledged a letter from Centex Homes requesting approval to install NSP street lights in the Kensington plat and a request from Fire Chief Maczko for installation of an NSP street light at the north entrance to the fire station. Page No. 2427 November 15, 1988 Mr. Kevin Clark, from Centex, stated that the Kensington project is more dense than most developments in the City, there will be people waiting for buses, more traffic and people coming to use the park facilities, and it made sense to his firm to request street lights for security and safety purposes. Mayor Mertensotto pointed out that United Properties asked for lights for the industrial park that would beautify the area and expressed concern that Council should adopt a residential light standard to provide uniformity in the community before approving any street lights. Councilmember Blesener agreed and felt that Council should establish a policy and then look at what types of lights are available. She stated that the Council needs to establish a light standard but not the overhead NSP light. Mayor Mertensotto responded that what might be lost in terms of aesthetics (NSP lights), might result in a gain in terms of the City not having to maintain the lights. Councilmember Cummins stated that he does not wish to have the city lose its semi- rural character and suggested that Council should approach the issue in a more organized way. Councilmember Blesener suggested that the requests be tabled until Council adopts a policy and further, that Council should set a higher priority on developing a policy. Administrator Frazell stated that staff can start to frame the issue and make a presentation on what types of lights are available. He asked whether it is Council's feeling that the costs for maintenance be paid by the residents and further that Council must decide what percentage of a neighborhood must petition for lights. Mayor Mertensotto suggested that residential lights installation be assessed. Councilmember Blesener pointed out that there should be a different light AIRPORT ADEQUACY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Page No. 2428 November 15, 1988 standard for arterial streets and neighborhoods. • Action on the Centex and Fire Department requests was tabled for further review. Metropolitan Council Representative Mary Martin gave the Council a presentation on the report and recommendations of the Metropolitan Council's Airport Adequacy Task Force regarding the future of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Mayor Mertensotto stated that Ms. Martin has indicated that the far parallel runway was not recommended by the Task Force. He felt that if this is not intended to be recommended, it should have been so noted in the report. Councilmember Cummins, a member of the Task Force, stated that he believes the committee came up with a very practical and palatable solution. He stated that if traffic projections are not as high as the studies indicate it may not be enough to justify a new airport, but it may be enough that the airport will need to go beyond the north/south runway. He pointed out that the recommendation is just short of building a new airport. He stated that it would be 15 years before construction could begin on a new airport if the decision to build were made today. Mayor Mertensotto informed Ms. Martin that the Council has no basic objection to the approach being taken but does have many questions as to how improvements on the airport would affect conditions in Mendota Heights. Council acknowledged a proposed Affirmative Action Plan prepared by the City Administrator. Councilmember Witt moved approval of the draft Affirmative Action Plan dated December 1, 1988 and authorization for its submission to the Department of Human Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 WORKSHOP Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CITY HALL PAYMENTS COUNCIL COMMENTS Page No. 2429 November 15, 1988 Rights. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Council acknowledged a memo from Adminis- trator Frazell regarding the Administrative Assistant selection process. Councilmember Cummins moved that Councilmember Witt be designated to serve as the Council's participant on the Administrative Assistant interview panel.. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Councilmember Blesener moved that Council meet at 6:45 P.M. on December 6th to conduct the City Administrator's performance evaluation and salary discussion. Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. It was noted that these items, 4f and 4g of the consent calendar, applications for payment from the City Hall mechanical and general contractors, had been removed by Council for discussion. Mayor Mertensotto noted that there are several outstanding corrections to be made in the City Hall structure and that it is his preference that action on the payment requests be tabled. It was Council consensus that the payment consideration be tabled to the next meeting and that summary report as to the condition of the structure be submitted to Council. Councilmember Blesener asked how much it would cost to remove the old fire station and what alternative uses there might be. Staff was directed to prepare a response, for the December 6th meeting if possible. Councilmember Blesener suggested that Council address the issue of whether a developer is in a position to petition for street lights for people who will ultimately live in the neighborhoods. ADJOURN Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page No. 2430 November 15, 1988 Councilmember Cummins asked that staff prepare a policy on use of the Council Chambers by neighborhood groups. There being no further business to come before Council, Councilmember Hartmann moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:01 P.M. rn athleen M. Swanson City Clerk ATTEST: Charles E. Mertensotto Mayor LIST OF CONTRACTORS TO BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 15, 1988 Asphalt License: Dakota Blacktopping Excavating License: S.R. Stevens Excavating Gas Piping License: Red Wing Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. General Contractor Licenses: Axel Ohman, Inc. Brian L. Thorson Homes, Inc. D.J. Kranz Construction, Inc. Northern Fire Protection, Inc. Twin City Design