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1974-12-17 Council minutesPage 463 December 17, 1974 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held Tuesday, December 17, 1974 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 8:00 o'clock P.M. at the City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Acting Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 8:05 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Acting Mayor Lockwood, Councilmen Gutzmer, and Losleben. Mayor Huber and Councilman Wahl had notified the Council that they would be late. APPROVE MINUTES Ayes: 3 Nays: 0 TRANSIT BENCHES Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 MISCELLANEOUS Acting Mayor Lockwood moved approval of the minutes of the December 3 meeting. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. Mayor Huber and Councilman Wahl arrived at 8:12 o'clock P.M. Acting Mayor Lockwood retained chairmanship of the meeting. The Council acknowledged receipt of a letter from the U.S. Bench Corporation regarding the installation of transit benches at the various bus stops within Mendota Heights. Mayor Huber moved that the matter be tabled indefinitely. Acting Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. The Council acknowledged receipt of the agenda for the December 18 Planning Commission work meeting and briefly discussed the agenda. DEPARTMENT REPORTS The Council acknowledged receipt of the Police and Fire Department monthly reports for November, 1974. DAKOTA LAND AND DEVELOPMENT Mr. Robert Laddusaw, of Dakota Land and Development, was present to request approval of the preliminary plat of property located on Wachtler Avenue. He pointed out that at the November 5 Council meeting the Council had several questions about engineering details, including drainage and the extension of a cul-de-sac. He stated that the proposed cul-de-sac in the western portion of the plat has been extended and will be temporary. He also proposes to give the City a twenty-foot strip of property along the western edge of the plat as a park contribution. Administrator Johnson stated that the park contribution matter had been discussed at both the Planning Commission and Park Commission meetings and that neither of the Commissions could determine any good public use for the 20 foot strip of property. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 PETITIONS -- FURLONG ADDITION Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 FURLONG ADDITION PETITION FOR PUBLIC IMPROVE- MENTS Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page 464 December 17, 1974 Engineer Kishel explained the engineering problems involved in serving the property with sewer and water. He stated that he has been in contact with NSP in this regard and that the physical layout and cost still must be determined. Administrator Johnson pointed out that the noise level problem is still totally unresolved, and that it is the responsibility of the City officials to determine how suitable this property is for development. He stated that the NSP noise readings are just on the tolerable level. He encouraged Mr. Laddusaw to engage the services of a consultant with expertise in acoustics and noise levels to determine whether the present noise level is tolerable and what type of buffer would be most effective. Mayor Huber pointed out that the Council recognizes the problems in developing this property, but stated that the park donation and a solution to the noise problem must be determined prior to approval of the preliminary plat. Mayor Huber moved that the general concept be approved, that the Council and staff members continue to cooperate with the developer to resolve the several problems, and that the City Administrator be directed to find an acoustical expert. Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. The Council acknowledged receipt of three petitions from residents of the Furlong Addition. Mayor Huber moved that a petition from the Furlong Addition area residents withdrawing their original petition for acquisition by the Metropolitan Airports Commission be accepted. Councilman Wahl seconded the motion. Councilman Gutzmer moved that a petition from the Furlong Addition residents requesting the City to purchase property on Furlong Avenue for park and playground purposes be accepted and referred to the Park Commission for study. Councilman Wahl seconded the motion. Councilman Gutzmer moved that a petition for sewer and water improvements in the Furlong Addition (on the east side of TH 55) be received and acknowledged. Acting Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. Several of the Furlong Area residents expressed a desire to have a feasibility study initiated. Many of the residents stated that the need for sewer improvements is especially necessary since many of the present private sewer facilities are no longer adequate. Mayor Huber stated that the initiation of a feasibility study hinges on completion of plans for TH 55 construction and Page 465 December 17, 1974 TH 110 upgrading, since the alignment of TH 55 will affect the location of the water and sewer lines. The Council cautioned the residents that when public facilities are extended to this area the construction cost will be extremely high. The Council also explained the 120 day moratorium on building in this area. Mayor Huber commended the residents for bringing their request to the Council and asked the residents to be patient and try to understand the necessity for final plans and specifications on TH 55 before a feasibility study is ordered. RECESS Acting Mayor Lockwood called for a recess at 9:55 o'clock P.M. The meeting readjourned at 10:15 o'clock P.M. FIRE DEPARTMENT A7RTING SYSTEM Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Administrator Johnson outlined his memo on the proposed purchase of a pocket-pager radio alerting system for the fire department. Captain Gene Lange explained several of the benefits of this type of alerting system, and both he and the City Administrator recommended that the Council authorize advertising for bids for pocket-pagers. Mayor Huber moved that the specifications for the pocket--! • pagers be approved and to authorize advertisement for bids, the bids to be received on January 16. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. TEMPCO Mr. Jeff Holley and Mr. Pete Kronan of Tempco Manufacturing were present to request approval of a building permit to construct a 44 by 208 foot addition on the Tempco property for storage of materials. Mr. Holley stated that a basket weave fence would be constructed on the TH 55 side of the property, and 'a five foot fence would also be constructed around i a surfaced parking lot. Screening at the back of the property would be a fence and shrubbery. He also pointed out that there would be a fenced-in storage area between the addition and the present building. Administrator Johnson pointed out that the setback from the property line to the fence around the parking lot should b e 20 feet. Mr. Holley stated that the present plan would be changed to confoLm with the 20 foot requirement. Administrator Johnson further pointed out that a detailed landscape plan, initialed by a landscape architect, must be provided. After a brief discussion, Acting Mayor Lockwood moved that the building permit application be approved, conditioned upon receipt of satisfactory detailed landscaping plans and the required bonds and subject to conformance of the plans to the setback requirements. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 0 COMMUNICATIONS SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page 466 December 17, 1974 The Council acknowledged receipt of an excerpt from the November 30 "Citizens League News" regarding the proposed 1975 Minnesota Highway Department budget. Councilman Wahl moved the adoption of Resolution Number 74-106, "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY; DIRECTING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT; AND DESIGNATING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY AS ITS MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF THE SUBURBAN RATE AUTHORITY," designating City Administrator Johnson as the Mendota Heights representative. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. PROBATIONARY On the recommendation of the City Administrator, Acting EMPLOYEE Mayor Lockwood moved that Mrs. Betty Anderson be given permanent employment status, as receptionist/typist, effective January 1, 1975. Mayor Huber seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 ABATEMENTS Administrator Johnson stated that the County Assessor had requested the approval of two tax abatements. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 1975 SALARY ADJUSTMENTS Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Mayor Huber moved that an abatement be granted to Glenn Mulvihill for Parcel No. 27-71250-010-01, reducing assessed value from 665 to nil for taxes payable in 1971; 2200 to nil for taxes payable in 1972; 2300 to nil for taxes payable in 1973, and for Parcel No. 27-71250-160-01, reducing the assessed value from 665 to nil for taxes payable in 1971 and from 2200 to nil for taxes payable in 1972. Councilman Wahl seconded the motion. Mayor Huber moved that the following 1975 salaries for non-union employees be approved as follows: Clerk-Treasurer $1,145.00/mo. Public Works Inspector 1,250.00/mo. Accounting Clerk 735.00/mo. Admin. Secretary 700.00/mo. Receptionist/Clerk 515.00/mo. Police Clerk 2.97/hr. Public Works General Foreman 1,175.00/mo. Police Chief 1,500.00/mo. and that a tenth holiday, Good Friday, be granted. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. MENDOTA WATER City Attorney Winthrop suggested to the Council that a public COMPANY RATE hearing be held to discuss the Mendota Water Company request for INCREASE a rate increase based on the St. Paul Water Department 1975 • rates for suburban users. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 OVERLOOK CONDOMINIUMS Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 ORCHARD/HUNTER LANE IMPROVEMENTS STREET NAME. CHANGES Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Page 467 December 17, 1974 Mayor Huber moved that a hearing to discuss the proposed Mendota Water Company rate increase be held on Tuesday, January 21, 1975 at 8:00 o'clock P.M. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. City Attorney Winthrop stated that the Inland Construction Corporation has requested certification from the City that the Overlook Condominiums are constructed in confoLmance with the terms of the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, dated July 17, 1973, between the City of Lilydale and the City of Mendota Heights. Administrator Johnson pointed out that the Douglas Road entrance at the back of the property is still being used, there is no siltation pond on the northerly side of the building, although this was indicated on the building plans, and the park contribution for the Inland Industrial Park has not yet been received. Councilman Wahl moved the adoption of Resolution Number 74-107, "RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO INLAND CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION DEVELOPMENT," execution of the Resolution by the Mayor and Clerk to be contingent upon a satisfactory resolution of the problems pointed out by the City Administrator. Acting Mayor Lockwood seconded the motion. City Engineer Kishel pointed out potential problems in the construction of the Orchard/Hunter Lane sewer improvement project, suggesting a proposed new alignment of the sewer lines on Hunter Lane so that several trees in the present right-of-way would not have to be removed. It was the concensus of the Council that the City Administrator and Public Works Inspector should hold an informal meeting with the residents living south of the center line of Culligan Lane to discuss the problems involved in the project. Public Works Inspector Pearson outlined his memo to the Council on two street name changes, and recommended that the cul-de-sac at the west end of Douglas Road be changed to Douglas Court and that the section of James Road from Lexington Avenue to Douglas Road be changed to Douglas Road. Acting Mayor Lockwood moved that the City Attorney be directed to prepare an Ordinance to change the name of the cul-de-sac at the west end of Douglas Road to Douglas Court, and the section of James Road from Lexington Avenue east to Douglas Road. Mayor Huber seconded the motion. Page 468 December 17, 1974 LIST OF CLAIMS Councilman Wahl moved the adoption of the following motion: Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 LICENSES Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 RESOLVED that the claims submitted to the City Council for payment, a summary of which is set forth on the list attached hereto and identified as List of Claims submitted for payment, December 17, 1974, having been audited by the City Council, be and are hereby allowed and the Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer are hereby authorized and directed to issue City checks in payment of said claims. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. Acting Mayor Lockwood moved approval of the list of licenses, granting licenses to: Bob's Rubbish Action Disposal System, Inc. Choban Realty Rubbish Hauler License Rubbish Hauler License General Contractor License Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. SALARY Councilman Gutzmer moved that the 1975 salary for the City ADJUSTMENT Administrator be established at $24,300 and that the auto allowance be established at $130 per month. Councilman Losleben seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilman Losleben moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Gutzmer seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 1:05 o' clock A .M. ATTEST: Robert G. Lockwood Acting Mayor dabaugh, C -Treasurer