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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/04/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARR, MINNESOTA April 4, 1994 1 . Call to order Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 7 :30 p.m. 2 . Presentations Mayor Hanks presented proclamations to the winners of the City' s recent Remodeling Fair. 3 . Roll call The following Councilmembers were present at roll call : Jeff Jacobs, George Haun, Allen Friedman, Ron Latz, Robert Young, Gail Dorfman and Lyle Hanks. Also present were the Acting City Manager (Mr. Wysopal) ; City Attorney (Mr. Sheehy) ; Director of Public Works (Mr . Grube) ; Director of Community Development (Mr. Hagen) ; Director of Parks and Recreation (Mr. Gears) ; Finance Director (Ms. McBride) ; and Assistant to the City Manager (Mr. Larson) . III 4 . Approval of minutes It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to approve the minutes of the March 21, 1994 study session. The motion passed 6-0-1 (Mayor Hanks abstained) . It was moved by Councilmember Dorfman, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve the minutes of the March 21, 1994 meeting. The motion passed 6-0-1 (Mayor Hanks abstained) . 5 . Approval of agenda It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to approve the consent agenda for April 4 , 1994 . The motion passed 7-0 . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to approve the agenda for April 4 , 1994 with the addition of item lie . City Unity Day. The motion passed 7-0 . PUBLIC HEARINGS 6a. Community Development Block Grant Year XX allocations Resolution 94-40 The following individuals spoke to this item: Sharon Johnson, Community Action; Bruce Larson, West Hennepin Human Services 57 Council meeting minutes April 4, 1994 Planning Board; Judy Halpern, Jewish Family & Children Services; Dave Dooley, Principal , Aquila School ; Adele Meta , Senior Community Services; Lori Possein, Greater Minneapolis Daycare; Debbie Okerlund, STEP; and Dorothy Moga, Monterey Cohousing. Mayor Hanks wanted all present to be aware of the dilemma facing Council in allocating CDBG funds . Of requests for $619 , 000 funding, less than half of that is available through CDBG. There being no one further wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it to a future date . Councilmember Dorfman reiterated that there were many applicants for funding, most of whom were qualified under the terms of CDBG. The City is also limited by Hennepin County in terms of the kinds of programs that can be funded. The City is limited to 15% on direct program costs . It was moved by Councilmember Dorfman, seconded by Councilmember Friedman, to fund as follows : Private Home Rehabilitation $100, 000 Emergency Home Repair 25, 000 Day Care - Greater Minneapolis 20, 000 Day Care - Community Education 20, 000 Jewish Family Services ACT Program 20, 000 Homeline Program 5, 000 ADA compliance 112, 187 and to adopt Resolution 94-40 entitled "Resolution approving projected use of funds for 1994 Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant Program. " She noted this brought direct program funding to 20% . The County mandates it can be 20% across the board and it was her thought that when theyfactor in all the other cities making CDBG requests , it will still come under the 20% County-wide requirement . The figures can be amended. Mayor Hanks asked about the $112 , 187 tentatively slated for ADA at Brookside . It was his understanding that before anything would be appropriated, the Council would want guarantee that the Brookside Community Center operation was going to continue its function; and if not, this would be reallocated to Rec Center ADA improvements . He wanted this made clear so that everyone understands it is contingent . Councilmembers Haun and Jacobs concurred stating that the City ,needed help beyond what it was able to do and that there must be assurances of that. III 58 City Council meeting minutes April 4, 1994 Councilmember Young , speaking in support of_pTEP and the Brookside Center , commented if there were/ good faith negotiation with Minneapolis Public Schools to lease out the space that the CDBG allocation stay with the Rec Center. From his perspective a good faith negotiation for a lease would not include unnecessary provisions such as restriction who would attend and so forth. Also he would want any lease provisions to allow STEP to remain and the facility used as a community facility at night . The motion passed 7-0 . Councilmember Dorfman suggested agencies not funded by CDBG through the City contact other sources for funds and that staff could inform them what those sources might be. PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, REQUESTS None . RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 8a. Minneapolis trail system thru Cedar Lake corridor Cris Gears, Director of Parks and Recreation, showed an overhead of the proposed trail and explained the request . Mayor Hanks asked if the trail was to be lighted and if there were any restrictions as to when it would be used. Mr. Gears was not able to answer those questions . He felt what Minneapolis was looking for at this point was approval for the termination point as shown on the map. Councilmember Friedman asked how this plan related to the City' s request for ISTEA funding. Mr. Gears said that request was for funds to bring a trail system from the west which would meet up with the system under discussion. Councilmember Friedman asked if the Lake Forest neighborhood had discussed this . Mr . Gears believed the neighborhood had a representative on the planning group for this plan. Councilmember Friedman asked who owned the ped bridge and who was liable in case of accident . Mr. Gears said the City owned it and he assumed it would be the City' s liability. Councilmember Friedman was concerned about the City' s exposure . He approved the ISTEA grant but was not inclined to give approval of this request tonight with so many unanswered questions. Mayor Hanks felt if the resolution were to be passed, details of 59 City Council meeting minutes April 4, 1994 how the trail would end should be withheld until all options have been discussed. II Councilmember Dorfman acknowledged that the Lake Forest neighborhood was aware of a plan, but she did not know if this was the plan of which they approved. She would like to have that confirmation before the resolution is approved. It was moved by Councilmember Friedman, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to defer any action to April 18 and that Lake Forest and any other neighborhoods in that area be contacted and consulted. The motion passed 7-0 . 8b. Easement reduction 3966 Dakota Ordinance 94-1944 It was moved by Councilmember Friedman, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs , to adopt Ordinance 94 - 1944 entitled "An ordinance vacating a portion of the utility easement on Lots 9 and 10 , Block 1, Brooklawn' s Addition (3966 Dakota Ave. ) . " The motion passed 7-0 . 8c. Curb cuts Amendment to Zoning Ordinance It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Young, to retain the existing ordinance language. The motion passed 7-0 . 8d. Feeding of deer/racoons Ordinance prohibiting Mayor Hanks wished to defer the item to a study session. It was moved by Councilmember Friedman, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to defer to the April 11 study session. Mayor Hanks said he felt it should be discussed thoroughly by Council . He was aware it was one of the recommendations coming out of the deer management study, but felt it important to discuss its implementation, what was to be gained. The motion passed 7-0 . 8e. Payment of MWCC rate increase Resolution 94-41 It was moved by Councilmember Friedman, seconded by Councilmember Latz, to adopt Resolution 94-41 entitled "Resolution authorizing full payment to the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission. " II 60 City Council meeting minutes April 4 , 1994 Councilmember Friedman felt the benefit derived from postponing payment was that the City got a response from the MWCC, something it had not been able to do previously. Ms . McBride said she would be doing further research into the cost allocation methods of other major metropolitan utility systems . Councilmember Latz noted the metropolitan Toronto area has had a rather successful metro-wide planning system wherein there is not as much suburban expansion as there is here . He encouraged the Finance Director to include that city in her research. The motion passed 7-0 . REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES 9a. Community Education Advisory Council by-laws It was moved by Councilmember Latz , seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to receive for filing. 9b. Traffic study 475 : Permit parking, 3333 Dakota Ave. Resolution 94-42 By consent , adopt Resolution 94 -42 entitled "Resolution II authorizing parking restrictions along Dakota Ave. at 3333 . " 9c. City Engineer' s report Lead water service replacement Resolution 94-43 In answer to a question from Mayor Hanks as to the number of homes involved, Mr. Grube said staff ' s study showed 14 homes having lead service lines from the watermain to the water meter. There could be a random one here and there. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to adopt Resolution 94-43 entitled "Resolution accepting the City Engineer' s report, establishing Improvement Project 93- 30, ordering improvement, approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids. " The motion passed 7-0 . 9d. Human Rights Commission minutes March 16 9e. Cable TV Advisory Commission minutes March 24 9f . Neighborhood Revitalization Commission minutes March 9 By consent, minutes received for filing 61 City Council meeting minutes April 4, 1994 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 10a. Boards and commissionsIII Mayor Hanks asked that interviews be held on Monday, April 11 . NEW BUSINESS lla. Gambling exemption Rise, Inc. , to hold raffle It was moved by Councilmember Haun, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve the application. The motion passed 7-0 . lib. Bid tabulation Tower Place street improvements Resolution 94-44 Councilmember Friedman had a question about the discrepancy between the cost estimates given to Council and the bids received. Mr. Grube stated there were a number of issues that emerged during final development of the design plans/specs . The initial project scope failed to recognize the need for a temporary traffic control system at the Excelsior Blvd. east ramp Wooddale intersection and secondly, a requirement of Hennepin Council and MnDOT that was not specifically addressed, i . e . the pavement structure on Excelsior Blvd. and the ramps to and from Hwy. 100 match the pavement structure that is in place. In response to Councilmember Friedman ' s question, Mr . Grube provided the cost differential between the project cost estimates given to Council and the low bid received, approximately $400 , 000 . Mr . Grube reviewed the six areas where major discrepancies between estimates and bid received existed. Dick Koppy, RLK Associates, consultant on the project addressed Council . He said the original estimate goes back to June 1993 , was presented to Council in July 1993 . It was his opinion that since the time his firm developed cost estimates and signed an agreement with Park Nicollet , the project ' s scope has changed considerably. He felt the estimates as developed in 1993 were not on the mark and in large measure contributed to the discrepancy. He said his firm' s analysis of recent projects in the area show numbers considerably higher than the bid schedules that were available to him in 1993 . Councilmember Friedman remained concerned by an overage of this extent . He asked that the City Engineer provide the Council with what the estimates were in 1993 . 62 City Council meeting minutes April 4, 1994 Councilmember Haun felt that in the future when dealing with other agencies a clause in any agreement be added stating any information disseminated be based on the bid not on an estimate . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Friedman , to adopt Resolution 94 -44 entitled "Resolution accepting bid and authorizing execution of a contract with Hardrives, Inc. for the construction of public improvements along Excelsior Blvd. , T.H. 100 and Park Center Blvd. in the vicinity of Tower Place under Improvement Project 93-23 and authorizing amendments to consultant services contracts 3056 and 3057 for professional services related thereto" with the addition that the consultant provide to the Council as quickly as possible any changes which would affect the design resulting in increased costs. Councilmember Latz asked for an explanation of the increase in the design engineering and inspection costs. Mr. Grube referred to page 3 of staff ' s report and the section "Financial Considerations" and analyzed the figures . Basically the increases reflected Council action in expanding the project scope, i .e. widening of Park Center Blvd. north of Auto Club Way. The motion passed 7-0 . lic. Ventilation improvements: MSC Bid tabulation Resolution 94-45 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to adopt Resolution 94-45 entitled "Resolution accepting bid and authorizing execution of a contract with Northern Air Corp. for the replacement of the air handling system in equipment storage Bay No . 2 at the Municipal Service Center under Improvement Project 90-23" with correction of a typo in the body of the resolution. The motion passed 7-0 . lid. Board of Equalization By consent, Board of Equalization will meet on Monday, April 18 at 7 : 25 p.m. to set its schedule of hearings . lie. League of Minnesota Cities City Unity Day Resolution 94-46 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun , to adopt Resolution 94 -46 entitled "City Unity Day Resolution. " Councilmember Latz suggested deletion of initiative No . 6 , "Support the other legislative initiatives of the League of 63 Council meeting minutes April 4 , 1994 Minnesota Cities" be deleted. The motion passed 7-0 . MISCELLANEOUS 11/ 12a. Damage claims David Hilgendorf By consent, claim referred to City Clerk and City Manager. 12b. Communications from Mayor Mayor Hanks asked that Paragon Cable' s request to change control from Nortel to Paragon be placed on the April 11 study session. 12c. Communications from the City Manager - None CLAIMS, APPROPRIATIONS, CONTRACT PAYMENTS 13a. Verified Claims By consent, approve the claims list prepared by the Director of Finance , dated April 4 , 1994 and authorize distribution of checks in the following amounts : Vendor claims : $649, 291 . 54 and payroll claims: $19, 275 . 19 . 13b. Contract payments 1. Partial : Midwest Asphalt, Cedar Lake Rd. /Texas Ave. Amount : $7, 501.69 2 . Partial : Automatic Systems, utility control panel . Amount : $21, 850 . 00 3 . Partial : Morcon Construction, remodeling of Rec Center. Amount : $38, 190 . By consent, contract payments approved and payment authorized. 14 . Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9 :00 p.m. §a.-74x. May./ ecording Secretary 64