Loading...
1981-11-17 Council minutesPage No. 1569 November 17, 1981 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA • Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, November 17, 1981 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the rggular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M., at the City Hal1,750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Hartmann, Losleben and Mertensotto. Councilwoman Witt had notified the Council that she would be out of town. CONSENT CALENDAR Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 AMESBURY EAST, PRELIMINARY PLAT It was the concensus of the Council that Item 3A, List of. Claims be removed from the Consent Calendar. Councilman Losleben moved approval of the following consent calendar items, submitted and recommended for approval as part of the regular agenda, along with authorization for execution of all necessary documents contained therein: 1. The granting of licenses to the following: P.M. Gagnon, Inc. Ken Anderson Construction Panelcraft of Minnesota Rooms by Gordon, Inc. Concrete License General Contractor General Contractor General Contractor 2. Acknowledgement of the Fire Department Monthly Report for October, the Police Department Monthly Reports for August and September, and the Financial Report for October. 3. Letter from Russell Wahl regarding Bonfire expenses. Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion. Mr. Jim McNulty and other representatives of McNulty Construction Company were present to request approval of the preliminary plat for the Amesbury East Addition. Mr. McNulty advised the Council that with the exception of some new easements required by City Engineer Kishel, there have been no changes from the preliminary plat last presented to the Council. Councilman Mertensotto asked what the significance of Lot 71 is, and Mr. McNulty responded that that lot is the common area to be deeded to the Homeowner's Association. Public Works Director Danielson briefly reviewed his memo relative to the preliminary plat and advised the Council that the City has received written easement descriptions from the developer to be acquired from the King property and Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION Page No.1570 November 17, 1981 indicated that the descriptions appear to be in proper order. Councilman Losleben expressed concern over the easement locations as shown on the preliminary plat being consistent with only one scheme for utility construction in the plat. He asked what would happen if the City chooses a different utility scheme and needs different easement locations. Councilman Mertensotto pointed out that the easement locations can be resolved in the final plat, and Public Works Director Danielson stated that the easements are very wide and there should be no problems. Mr. McNulty stated that staff has indicated a desire for easements for Delaware Avenue from the front of the Owens and Kings properties, and stated that he would like to have the City negotiate for acquisition of those easements. After a brief discussion, Councilman Mertensotto moved approval of the preliminary plat for Amesbury East subject to the conditions stated in the Public Works Director's memo which was included in the agenda packet. Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. Mayor Lockwood expressed concern that there should be some resolution over the wetlands setbacks. Administrator Johnson acknowledged that variances will be required but that the variance application should be considered at the time building permits are applied for and not as part of the platting process. Will Wachtler and several members of the Volunteer Fire Department were present relative to a discussion on proposed Fire Relief Association by-laws revisions relating primarily to pension benefits. He stated that the last communication with the Council on the matter was on March 20th, and that the department is interested in coming to some resolution over the pension provisions. Councilman Mertensotto reported to the Council members and reviewed the history of the negotiations relative to pension changes proposed by the Volunteer Firemen and the present status of the matter. After a considerable amount of discussion relative to the -\ financial position of the Relief Association and the ,} pros and cons of reducing the years of service from 20 to 10 years for pension purposes, along with the apparent need for an actuarial study, the Council directed that the City Administrator establish a meeting at which represen- tatives of the Fire Department, Council, and staff could further discuss the matter. LILYDALE HI RISE Mr. Tony Danna, of Gopher Properties, was present regarding discussions on the requested Lilydale Hi-rise utility VICTORIA ROAD 1980 AUDIT AMESBURY EAST FEASIBILITY STUDY Page No. 1571 November 17, 1981 connection. Mr. Danna asked that the matter be tabled to the next Council meeting so that the developers could meet with staff to discuss several matters of concern to the City. In accordance with the request, the matter was tabled to the December 1st meeting. Public Works Director Danielson briefly reviewed a letter from the Dakota County Engineering office relative to the City's request for investigation of possible ways to improve the intersection of Victoria Road at TH 13. Mr. Larry Robertson and Mr. Steve Laible, from Peat, Marwick and Mitchell, were present to review the 1980 audit for the City. Mr. Robertson and Mr. Laible reviewed the audit process, the financial reporting procedures and the various financial statements. Mr. Robertson also explained the various differences between the audit report and the City prepared financial statement for the year. City Engineer Kishel reviewed the feasibility study for proposed public improvements to serve the Amesbury East property. Mr. Kishel reviewed both the basic scheme which involves the extension of utilities through the King property to the Amesbury area along with the largest possible scheme which included completion of the MSA streets, Huber Drive and Mendota Heights Road, along with a water line extension along Mendota Heights Road to the water tank. Administrator Johnson suggested that perhaps the staging of Mendota Heights Road, such as was done on Huber Drive, rather than full MSA construction would be more appropriate until there is further development along the Mendota Heights Road alignment. Councilman Mertensotto felt that the staging would be most appropriate, using a 24 foot wide surface at the present time and completion to MSA standards when 1494 is completed. He also felt that staging of the street would stabilize the street for future upgrading. Councilman Losleben felt that Mendota Heights Road should be completed now to MSA standards as part of the project. Mr. Jim McNulty, developer of the Amesbury plat, stated that he does not want the buyers of the property to bear any future assessments, particulary if'those assessments are not escrowed, nor did he believe the additional access provided by Mendota Heights Road would be necessary. He did express the opinion that the future property owners should be advised as to whether there would be future assessments for construc- tion of Mendota Heights Road. In response to a question from Councilman Mertensotto relative to the status of assessment collection and staging of the project, Mr. McNulty stated that the first stage is set to begin construction next spring, and that assessments will be payable from the Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 FINAL PAYMENT Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 LIST OF CLAIMS Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Page No. 1572 November 17, 1981 purchasers at the time of closing. Administrator Johnson pointed out that if the staging of Mendota Heights Road is done, the City would assess equivalent cost for a city street and complete the street to MSA standards at a later date, using MSA funds. City Engineer Kishel then explained the basic scheme for surface water management. As the result of the discussion, Councilman Mertensotto , moved the adoption of Resolution No. 81-85, "RESOLUTION -) ACCEPTING REPORT AND CALLING FOR HEARING ON SANITARY SEWER, WATER, STREET AND STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVE AMESBURY EAST AND ADJACENT AREAS", (IMPROVEMENT NO. 81, PROJECT NO. 8), the hearing to be conducted at 8 P.M. on January 5th. Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion. Councilman Losleben moved the adoption of Resolution No. 81-86, "RESOLUTION ACCEPTING WORK AND AUTHORIZING FINAL PAYMENT FOR WATER TANK IMPROVEMENTS", awarding final payment of $46,505.67 to Pittsburgh Des-Moines Steel Company for work completed on the water tank project. Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. The Council directed that staff express to Pittsburgh Des-Moines the Council's appreciation for its cooperation in correcting the deficiencies. Mayor Lockwood moved approval of the List of Claims dated November 17, 1981, and totalling $466,328.90. Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS The discussion on the Capital Improvements Program was PROGRAM tabled to the December 1st meeting. MISCELLANEOUS Administrator Johnson advised the Council of a letter from the County Planning Department inviting the Council to a meeting to be held December 2, at the Dakota County VoTec. I-35E The Council briefly discussed recent Metropolitan Council i) recommendations on I-35E, particularly as it relates to a parkway through St. Paul with a direct connection to 1-94. No action was taken on the matter. TELEPHONE SYSTEM Assistant City Attorney Tom Hart explained that in the process of the engineering transition, the City needs for telephone service were determined, and the Executone System, at a charge of $11,136, was selected to be the most appropriate system available. He indicated that informal bids were solicited both from Executone and Northwestern Bell Telephone. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 KRAJNIAK/WAHL PERSONNEL Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Page No. 1573 November 17, 1981 Mr. Bart stated that purchase of the system is proposed to be done via a financing lease/purchase agreement which should be executed by the City Administrator at the direction and authority of the City Council. On the reconlinendation of Assistant City Attorney Hart, Councilman Mertensotto moved to authorize and direct the City Administrator to execute a lease/purchase agreement between the City and Executone Corporation for the acquisition of the telephone system. Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. Attorney Hart advised the Council that while the City has given conditional approval for a wetlands permit for the Krajniak property, the approval is conditioned upon acquisitioi of a drainage easement from the Krajniak's. Mr. Hart stated that there has still been no meeting between the legal representative of the Krajniak's and the City Attorney's office relative to acquisition of the easement. On the recommendation of the Public Works Director, Council- man Mertensotto moved that Mrs. Diane Ward be appointed as the engineering clerk, effective November 9, 1981, at a probationary salary of $875 per month. Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion. Councilman Losleben moved that Guy Kullander be appointed as Engineering Aide III, at a salary of $1400 per month for the probationary period. Councilman Mertensotto seconded the motion. ADVANCE LEVY Councilman Losleben moved the adoption of Resolution No. PAYMENT 81-84, "RESOLUTION REQUESTING ADVANCE LEVY PAYMENT", requesting early payment of $100,000 of the City's levy due on December 15th. Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 ASSESSMENT The Council acknowledged and discussed a memo from the City CORRECTION Clerk relative to the re-assessment of incorrectly deleted trunk sewer and overflow assessments against two parcels of Mendakota Country Club properties. Clerk Swanson advised that the Country Club officials have executed a waiver of hearing, authorizing the City to certify the outstanding assessment balances. She recommended that the Council waive past due interest on the prindipal payments outstanding since 1976, since the error originated at the County and City and was not caused by the property owners. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 ADJOURN Ayes: Nays: ATTEST: # 9 Robert G. Lockwood Mayor Page No. 1574 November 17, 1981 Councilman Losleben moved the adoption of Resolution No. 81 -87, ''RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND CONFIRMING ASSESSMENTS,' waiving the remittance of uncollected interest and directing the recertification of the assessment balances detailed in, the waiver of hearing. Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion. There being. further business to come before the Council, Councilman Hartmann moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 12:27 O'clock A.M. athleen M. Swanson City.Clerk