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Home My WebLink About1974/03/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularMINUTES CtTY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA Maruh 15, 1974 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Fleetham at 8:03 p. M. 12. ROLL CALL The following Councilmen were present 4'. roll call.: Seymour Druskin Rose -Mary Griak. Lyle Hanks Keith Meland Frank Fleetham Also present were the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Director of Public Works, City Assessor, and Secretary. Councilman Graves arrived at 8:50 and Co-,,r►cilxnan Thiel at 8:04 p.m. Councilman Meland left the meet -Ing at 10:45 p.m. - 3. AGENDA On motion of Councilman Meland, seconded by Councilman Griak, the agenda of March 13, 1974, -was approved by a six yea vote with the following additions: 5(b) Proclaiming Week. of April 21 -27 League of Women Voters Week, 5(c) Sidewalk Shady, and 5(d) S-_,bcommit.tees 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS (a) IMPROVEMENT NO. 73-40, MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT, ON NORTH SIDE OF EXCELSIOR BOt?LEVARD, LYING BETWEEN ALABAMA AVENUE AND BROOKSIDE AVENUE EXTENDED NORTHERLY FROM EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD, AS DESCRIBED IN NOTICE OF HEARING PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 28 AND MARCH 7, I974. Mayor Fleetham opened the hearing. The Director. of Public Wor�.> de,;c:ribed the proposed project with Slides depicting the area as it. no,?�. exists. The City Assessor explained the assessment policy as it pertains to this particular Improvement. Mr. Henry Carney, owner of 6006 Excelsior Boulevard, spoke in favor 53 Council Minutes, March 13, 1974 4.a) of the proposed improvement and suggested extending the sidewalk up ( to the corner of Brookside and the alley behind the buildings be repaired and/or paved. He expressed concern about an old cesspool discovered behind his store and feared there might be more and asked that this be investigated. He also requested fifteen -minute parking for a forty foot -space in front of his store. The City Manager explained that the sidewalk will be extended and that alleys are improved by petition. The Mayor stated that concerning the parking time limitation, it is preferred to have a larger space than forty feet. Mr. Robert Hill, 3990 Alabama Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed improvement. He expressed concern about the amount of parking, especially when parking is prohibited on Excelsior Boulevard. He suggested that adjacent lots be included and developed for parking. The City Manager said that the lots referred to are state owned and in order for the City to take control of these they must be purchased from the state. The City would have to petition for an appraisal and then would have an opportunity to purchase them at that value. He said that once Council has an appraisal it would probably want it referred to the Planning Commission. Mr. Nathan Goldstone, Brookside Drug, expressed concern about the amount that might be assessed. He was told that the method of assessment had not yet been determined and would be decided when benefit is ascertained. Ms. Marion Hume, 3950 Brunswick Avenue, was concerned that the place of ingress/egress would create a traffic hazard. The Mayor explained that places of ingress/egress would be 150 feet and 300 feet from the intersection. There being no one else wishing to speak, the Mayor declared the hearing closed subject to action by Council to continue to a future date. It was moved by Councilman Hanks, seconded by Councilman Griak, to order in the improvement. The motion carried 6 - 0. (Councilman Graves was not present). (b) IMPROVEMENT NO, 74-01, PAVING, CURB AND GUTTER, WOODDAI-E AVENUE FROM WEST 36TH STREET TO CAMBRIDGE AVENUE; XENWOOD AVENUE FROM 157 FEET NORTH OF WEST 39TH STREET TO EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD; YOSEMITE AVENUE FROM GOODRICH AVENUE TO EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD; ZARTHAN AVENUE FROM OXFORD STREET TO EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD; ALABAMA AVENUE FROM WEST 37TH STREET TO EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD; BRUNSWICK 54 Council Minutes, March 13, 1974 4. (b) AVENUE FROM WEST 37TH STREET TO EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD; COLORADO AVENUE FROM 157 FEET NORTH OF OXFORD STREET TO 157 FEET SOUTH OF OXFORD STREET; OXFORD STREET FROM DAKOTA AVENUE TO WOODDALE AVENUE; GOODRICH AVENUE FROM MN&S RAILROAD TO WOODDALE AVENUE; CAMBRIDGE AVENUE FROM MN&S RAILROAD TO WOODDALE AVENUE; WEST 39TH STREET FROM BRUNSWICK AVENUE TO WEBSTER AVENUE; BROOKVIEW STREET FROM BRUNSWICK AVENUE TO ALABAMA AVENUE, AS DESCRIBED IN NOTICE OF HEARING PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 28 AND MARCH 7, 1974. Mayor Fleetham opened the hearing. The Direct.or of Public Works described the proposed project as it relates to the Capital Improvements Program, showing slides of the area as it now exists with problems of deteriorated surface, poor base, no roadway outline, poor drainage, dust and noise and poor pedestrian safety. City Assessor explained the assessment policy, especially as it pertains to land used as residential in a commercial zone. Mr. A. C. O'Connor, 3965 Zarthan Avenue, read a statement which he presented to Council with a petition requesting that this improvement on Zarthan Avenue from 39th Street to Excelsior Boulevard not be made at this time. He felt it to be a nicety rather than a necessity. Mr. Edward Prbylzski, 3971 Br,inswick Avenue, spoke in favor of the improvement, but expressed concern about parking on corner of Brunswick Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard and suggested a stop sign one block down from:Excelsior Boulevard. Mr. Lewis Flag, 4257 Toledo Avenue, representing Union Congregational Church, spoke in favor of the improvement and also sidewalks where none exist. Mr. Earl Strev, 3923 Brunswick Avenue, had questions concerning apron depth which were prope dy answered by the Director of Public Works. Mr. Bob Matzke, 3870 Alabama Avenue, had questions concerning the width of Alabama Avenne, fearing damage by snow plows if boulevard ie too narrow. Mr. William Howard, 3920 Yosemite Avenue, spoke in favor of the project and s-oggested that. Council ensure that gas and water mains are inspected prior to the paving. 55 W1 Council Minutes, March 13, 1974 4. (b) Mr. Alexander McLeod, 3946 Alabama Avenue, spoke in favor of the improvement. He explained that his property, in error some years ago, is not square with the street and asked if this would be corrected at the time of the paving. He said if this is done he would need a retaining wall and questioned the assessment of such a wall. The Mayor told him he would be contacted by staff concerning his problem. Mr. Malcolm Liepke, 3901 Alabama Avenue, expressed concern about widening of Alabama. The Director of Public Works explained that the distance between the proposed curb and sidewalk would be five feet with a 36 -ft. wide street Mrs. J. Newburg, 3977 Zarthan Avenue, requested that something be done to prohibit truck traffic on these streets. Councilman Hanks said he would propose load limits if this project is approved. Mr. Peter Gallus, 3961 Zarthan Avenue, expressed concern about truck traffic and questioned cost of sidewalk repairs. Mrs. D. D. Wadsworth 3980 Zarthan Avenue, also expressed concern about truck traffic and their use of private property. She also complained about run-off from the Phillips 66 Station. Councilman Hanks said he had no solution at this time but would be meeting with these people. Mr. Clarence Maier, 3961 Yosemite Avenue, was concerned that if load limits are placed they will not be enforced. There being no one else wishing to speak, the Mayor declared the hearing closed subject to action by Council to continue to a future date. RESOLUTION NO. 5016 It was moved by Councilman Thiel, seconded by Councilman Meland, to waive reading and adopt Resolution No. 5016 entitled, "Resolution Ordering Improvement, Ordering Preparation of Plans, and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids, Improvement Nos. 73-40 and 74-01. " The motion carried 7 - 0. Councilman Thiel moved that staff within the next week meet with residents on Alabama Avenue regarding questions on street and boulevard widths. Councilman Meland seconded and the motion carried 7 - 0. Councilman Hanks moved that when stop signs are installed on Louisiana Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard load limits be established in this area. Councilman Griak seconded and the motion carried 7 - 0. 5. MISCELLANEOUS 56 Council Minutes, March 13, 1974 5. (a) RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY UPON DEATH OF GEORGE LEVINE RESOLUTION NO. 5017 It was moved by Councilman Thiel, seconded by Councilman Griak, to waive reading and adopt Resolution No. 5017 entitled, "Resolution of Sympathy. " The motion carried 6 - 0 (Councilman Meland was not present). (b) PROCLAMATION - LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WEEK It was moved by Councilman Druskin, seconded by Councilman Graves, to authorize Mayor to execute proclamation. The motion carried 6 - 0. (c) SIDEWALK STUDY This matter was deferred to Council study session. (d) SUBCOMMITTEES Councilman Hanks said that if there are Councilmen that feel that sub- committees are not good he is not opposed to going to whole Council. Councilman Druskin said he preferred to meet as a committee of the whole to discuss these matters and then decide on subcommittees on some. Councilmen Griak and Graves agreed they preferred to meet as a whole. Councilman Hanks suggested that this matter be decided at a study session. 6. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Councilman Graves, seconded by Councilman Griak, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. by a six yea vote. rank Fleetham, Mayor Attest: _ Alice M. Carlson, Secretary 57