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1988-10-18 Council minutesPage No. 2405 October 18, 1988 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, October 18, 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, 750 South Plaza Drive, 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 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CONSENT CALENDAR Councilmember Hartmann moved approval of the revised agenda for the meeting. Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. Councilmember Cummins moved approval of the minutes of the September 20th meeting with correction. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Councilmember Cummins moved approval of the consent agenda along with authorization for execution of any necessary items contained therein. a. Approval of partial payment no. 11 to Joseph Construction, for $79,741.81, for City Hall construction. b. Approval of partial payment no. 9, for $14,308.90, to Doody Mechanical for City Hall construction. c. Approval of a partial payment of $15,960 to Thomas Electric for City Hall construction. d. Acknowledgment of the Treasurer's monthly report for September. e. Acknowledgment of a letter of resignation from Miles Bredvold as the City's representative on the Gun Club Page No. 2406 October 18, 1988 Lake WMO and appointment of Klayton Eckles as his replacement. f. Adoption of Resolution No. 88 -81, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING WORK AND APPROVING FINAL PAYMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT NO. 86, PROJECT NO. 13," in the amount of $2,050.71 to Orfei Contracting, Inc. for work completed on the Stratford Woods Addition. g. Adoption of Resolution No. 88 -82, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING WORK AND APPROVING FINAL PAYMENT FOR IMPROVEMENT NO. 86, PROJECT NO. 5 AND IMPROVEMENT NO. 87, PROJECT NO. 1," in the amount of $3,843.06, to Orfei Contacting, Inc., for work completed on Valley Curve Estates and Spring Creek Acres. h. Adoption of Resolution No. 88 -83, "RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLAT FOR VAL °S ADDITION." i. Adoption of Resolution No. 88 -83, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING ENGINEER'S REPORT, ORDERING IMPROVEMENT AND PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SANITARY SEWERS, WATER, STORM SEWERS AND STREET CONSTRUCTION TO SERVE VAL'S ADDITION AND ADJACENT AREAS (IMPROVEMENT NO. 88, PROJECT NO. 4)." Approval of the expenditure of tax increment funding to support the $612.73 street lighting assessment against Parcel No. 27- 03400 - 011 -75, owned by Mn /DOT, and direction to staff to work with Mn /DOT on returning the site to the tax rolls. J. • k. Adoption of Ordinance No. 258, "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1113," to include stop streets in the Copperfield area. 1. Approval of a wetlands variance for 1892 South Lane to allow construction of a home on Lot 8, Block 1, "The Ponds of Mendota Heights" within 100 feet of the wetlands area. m. Awarding the service of moving City offices to LaBelle Movers of Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PUBLIC COMMENTS BIKE TRAIL CURLEY PROPERTY Page No. 2407 October 18, 1988 Minneapolis with a price range of $1,748 to $1,948. n. Approval of the list of contractor licenses dated October 18, 1988 and attached hereto. o. Approval of the list of claims dated October 18, 1988 and totalling $372,383.75. Councilmember Blesener seconded the motion. Mayor Mertensotto asked Sun Newspaper reporter Peter Anderson to correct his recent article on the Council's discussion over negotiations with the Rogers Road property owners. Mr. Peter Solberg, 1062 Chippewa Avenue, asked for Council clarification on the Sun Newspapers article relating to the impact of the 1989 budget on residential properties in the City. Administrator Frazell responded that the City tax will increase from 2 to 5% depending on the values of the properties. Council acknowledged letters from Mr. & Mrs. Henry Pabst, 980 Wagon Wheel Trail, and letters from five other families on Wagon Wheel and Rogers Court, requesting the installation of a bike/pedestrian trail along Wagon Wheel. The Council indicated that they would be supportive of the trail construction request and directed that staff prepare a background report for the November 1st agenda. Council also directed that copies of the report be sent to each of the property owners who requested the trail. Mr. Lee Maxfield, of Maxfield Research Group, was present to review his study of the proposed Lexington/T.H. 110 shopping center. He informed the audience that his firm had been commissioned by the Council to evaluate the type of tenants that would be appropriate for location, the Curley and SOS properties and the undeveloped land behind the gas station, which is proposed Page No. 2408 October 18, 1988 to develop as a 30,000 to 50,000 square foot convenience center. Mr. Maxfield reviewed the study conclusions for Council. He felt that the location is very appropriate for the proposed use given its high visibility and traffic volume and because traffic can easily get into and out of the site without driving through residential neighborhoods. He went on to describe retail trends and indicated that virtually every center in his inventory was anchored by a convenience store or convenience store with gas pumps. He felt that without a convenience store with gas pumps the proposed center would not have a draw. Mr. Maxfield described the prototype (located on Highway 36 in Stillwater), of the Super America proposed for the center. Councilmember Blesener expressed concern over whether the types of tenants she has heard talked about for locating in the center will have the interaction Mr. Maxfield has indicated is necessary to make the center work. Mr. Maxfield responded that it will be necessary to attract traffic on a regular basis, the furniture store has been at its present location for years and has established trade, and that the uses suggested by the developers are all strong uses (take-out foods, restaurant, etc.). Councilmember Cummins asked Mr. Maxfield for his opinion on what kind of total local population would be necessary to support this type of center. Mr. Maxfield stated that he believes there should be a base of 5,000 people, 3,000 households. Councilmember Cummins guessed that the population in the area would be about 1,500 with no substantial number of units projected for the future. He wondered whether, with the Mendota Plaza only a mile away, there realistically is a population base to support the proposed center. Mr. Maxfield responded that one must consider traffic counts and who is using T.H. 110 and pointed out that the industrial area is also in close proximity to the site. He stated that the developer has done a traffic analysis and that the counts at Lexington and T.H. 110 are more Page No. 2409 October 18, 1988 than one would generally see for this type of facility. Mayor Mertensotto pointed out that if this were a privately financed development he thinks Council would be less reluctant, but that the developer is asking the City to provide tax increment financing of approximately $300,000 to $400,000. He stated that the center must generate $85,000 to $90,000 more tax revenue than what the property generates now in order to pay off the tax increment bonds that would be necessary. Mayor Mertensotto stated that Council is concerned over whether the type of facility proposed has the capability of generating the tax difference. Mr. Maxfield stated that he was surprised that so much, nearly half, of the space in the proposed center is committed, and that he type of uses committed plus the other logical uses would create a viable center. He felt that the center would be successful and that it would be an expensive enough facility to generate the necessary taxes. Responding to a question from Councilmember Blesener, he stated that a free-standing convenience store on the corner of the site would create more exposure for other stores in the center and would provide for traffic which would not conflict with traffic going into the center. Councilmember Blesener asked how the City could protect its interests in terms of selection of tenants, and what might be expected in terms of stability and turn over in tenancy. Mr. Maxfield responded that much depends on the screening of the tenants (how long the business has been in existence, bank references, etc.), and suggested that in the worst case scenario,there would still be a shopping center that could be re- leased if there was a default. Responding to a question from Councilmember Cummins, Mr. Maxfield stated that he has not reviewed the proposed financing for the project. CORNICK WATERMAIN Page No. 2410 October 18, 1988 Councilmember Blesener expressed concern over the potential impact of a convenience store/gas station on the corner, in particular in terms of aesthetics. Mr. Maxfield stated that without a convenience/gas facility, the center might work, but with the convenience/gas facility other tenants will readily want to be in the center because of the draw of the convenience facility. Representatives of Croix Oil Company present for the discussion showed Council pictures and models of a Super America facility which would be proposed for the site and answered questions. Administrator Frazell pointed out that the developers have not yet submitted planning applications and that application submission and hearings on a rezoning to B- 4 must occur before consideration of the convenience/gas station matter. It was the consensus that a joint Council/Planning Commission meeting should be held to discuss the matter and that Treasurer Shaughnessy should prepare a report on finance issues. Council acknowledged a report from the Public Works Director regarding HUD approval of the use of community development block grant assistance for the proposed watermain extension to the Cornick residence, 1176 Sibley Memorial Highway. Councilmember Witt informed Council that she has met with County HRA representatives and they are in the process of preparing an amendment to the City's CDBG program. She stated that the City had a substantial amount of money left in its CDBG account •and felt that this project seems appropriate for CDBG funding. Councilmember Cummins asked whether the City would be jeopardizing its future eligibility for CDBG funds if it failed to use the money available in its account for the past two years. Councilmember Witt stated that it would not. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page No. 2411 October 18, 1988 Councilmember Hartmann moved adoption of Resolution No. 88 -85, "RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE DAKOTA COUNTY BOARD AMEND THE CITY'S CDBG PROGRAM." Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. Councilmember Hartmann moved adoption of Resolution No. 88 -86, "RESOLUTION APPROVING FINAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR WATERMAIN EXTENSION TO SERVE 1132, 1140, 1150, 1160, 1176 SIBLEY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY AND ONE VACANT LOT ON SIBLEY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY (IMPROVEMENT NO. 87, PROJECT NO. 6)." Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 RECYCLING Administrator Frazell reviewed his report regarding preparation of a recycling grant application and requesting authorization to submit the application for grant monies to Dakota County. Councilmember Hartmann moved adoption of Resolution No. 88 -87, "RESOLUTION SEEKING FUNDING FROM DAKOTA COUNTY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A SOLID WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM." Councilmember Cummins seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PERSONNEL Council acknowledged a memo from Police Chief Delmont regarding the hiring process for a new police officer, and requesting authority to participate in the Minnesota Police Recruitment System. Mayor Mertensotto felt that the past hiring procedure has been very effective and should be continued. Councilmember Cummins felt that it makes a good deal of sense to utilize the recruitment system proposed, that the cost is reasonable and will save the time and effort involved in processing the large number of applications that would be received if the City advertised the position. After brief discussion, Councilmember Cummins moved adoption of Resolution No. Page No. 2412 October 18, 1988 88-88, "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE MINNESOTA POLICE RECRUITMENT SYSTEM," for screening candidates for the 1989 police officer position, along with authorization for execution of the associated Joint and Cooperative Agreement. Councilmember Witt seconded the motion. Councilmember Blesener informed Council that, as the Council's Association of Metropolitan Municipalities representative, she would attend the November 3rd AMM meeting on legislative policy adoption. Gene Lange was present to inform Council on the status of City Hall construction and to discuss the need for sod and blinds. He showed Council a drawing of proposed areas to be sodded and felt that sodding of the slope areas is critical. Mayor Mertensotto asked whether there would be any guarantee against the sod dying because it is so late in the season. He also indicated that he does not agree that sod should be installed. Responding to a question from Councilmember Cummins regarding using seed in burlap rather than sod, Mr. Lange stated that this alternative would be more expensive. He informed Council that he does not know if the sod would be guaranteed, and stated that the cost for sodding would be $1.24 per yard, or a total of $4,000. He also indicated that erosion is the primary reason for recommending sod. Councilmember Cummins moved to authorize an expenditure of up to $4,000 for sodding, providing that the sod is guaranteed. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Mr. Lange informed Council that he believes window blinds are necessary for the south and west sides on the upper level of City Hall and in the Council Chambers. He informed Council that he has received a bid of $2,730.25 for the office blinds, and Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 MISCELLANEOUS ADJOURN Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page No. 2413 October 18, 1988 estimated that Council Chamber blinds would cost about $300. It was the consensus that vertical blinds should be used in the Council Chambers and that staff should work with the interior design consultant on this matter. Councilmember Witt moved to approve the purchase of mini-blinds for the south and west upper level City Hall windows from Window Warehouse for $2,730.25. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Council reviewed proposed new City stationery. Council acknowledged a letter from Mr. Jerome Schouveller declining to sell his home on Rogers Road at the appraised price and indicating a desire to sell his two vacant lots at the Davis and Lagerman appraised value of $40,000. Council indicated that it is not interested in acquiring vacant land. Councilmember Witt stated that it appears that Harry Kirchner is parking cars on the Perkegwin property and asked staff to look into the matter. Councilmember Blesener gave Council an update on the park subcommittee discussions. She suggested that a committee of representatives from the Council, Planning and Park Commissions and citizens prepare for a referendum. It was the consensus that Council suggest names to the City Administrator for development of a committee list for future Council consideration. There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilmember Cummins moved to adjourn to the October 20th meeting with the Fire Department. Councilmember Hartmann seconded the motion. Page No. 2414 October 18, 1988 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:05 o'clock P.M. Kathleen M. Swanson City Clerk ATTEST: Charles E. Mertensotto Mayor