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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP April 12, 1988 ~ /", " " CITY of ANDOVER Æ ,,,- CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION- AGENDA APRIL 12, 1988 7:30 P.M. l. Call to Orde r 2. Natalie Steffen/Coon Creek Watershed Appointees 3 . Revised Storm Sewer 4 . Staff Goals/Directions/Priorities 5. Growth & Future Staff Needs; Equipment Needs 6. Overlay City Streets 7. Oil to Gas Conversion 8. Adjournment - ~' (' » CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304' (612) 755-5100 ;;, c' "'t~~7..-~,J:·,i;~'i" SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 12, 1988 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jerry Wlndschitl on Apri I 12, 1988, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover Ci ty Hall. 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmen present: Apel, Elling, Knight, Orttel Councilmen absent: None Also present: Building Official, Dave Almgren; Public Works Supervisor, Frank Stone; CIty Administrator/ Engineer, James Schrantz; and others AGENDA APPROVAL Mayor Windschitl proposed adding Item 8, Stop Sign and Handicapped Child Slgn/141st and Flora. MOTION by Elling, Seconded by Apel, that we accept the Agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. NATALIE HAAS-STEFFEN/COON CREEK WATERSHED APPOINTEES County CommIssioner NatalIe Haas-Steffen acknowledged the six nominees submitted by the Andover Council to be considered for appointment to the Coon Creek Watershed Board. She first asked the concerns and problems the City has with the Coon Creek Watershed. Counc i I discussion with Commissioner Haas-Steffen noted that most of the issues regarding the City's lawsuit against the Board on the Ditch 57 proJect have been either resolved or are still being discussed. There was some discussion on the laws governing watershed boards, with the Counc i I expressing frustration over the lack of accountability by the watershed board. Commissioner Haas-Steffen explained the county has been in the forefront to having the legislators make those types of changes. She is also serving on a State committee which is addressIng the functions and administratIons of watershed boards in the State. The conflIct Is the existIng regulatIons work very well in the rural agricultural areas but not in the urbanizing areas. The Counci I also raised the concern over the inbalance in adminis- trative costs compared to the other costs of a proJect. WInslow Holasek stated it is not unusual for the administrative costs ot the Coon Creek Watershed Board to be as much as 60 percent of a project. He saId they were cleaning the branch dItches by hIrIng a backhoe, which costs one-fourth of the other proJect costs. Karen Peterson found it disturbing that the Watershed Board does not seem concerned about the high administrative costs. Special City Council Meeting Minutes - ApLi J 12, 1988 Page 2 (Commissioner Haas-Steffen/Coon Creek Watershed Appointees, Continued) Russ McGlynn feJt the Board has not shown any Imagination In trying to cut costs or keep the costs down. The Board has no budget or ] imI t as to what they can spent. He felt they couJd find ways to maintain the ditches for less cost. If they had maIntained the ditches on an on-goIng basis, he felt there wouldn't be a problem. Commissioner Haas-Steffen felt It mal' be difficult for the Board to cut their administrative costs because of the Jegal requirements that must be met before the public hearIngs. The Counc 11 thought they could operate on a slmiJiar system as the City or County wherebY general costs are determined wIthout incurring a lot of expense. Commissioner Haas-Steffen stated perhaps some of those types of changes can be made with the City's support through the Board of Water and Soi I Environmental Resources. She then asked if the Counc I ] wanted to reconsider their recommendation of the six candidates for the Coon Creek Watershed Board to reduce the number to three or possibly rank them. If not, she stated she will select a committee to Interview all the applicants and will pick one. Mayor WI ndsch i t I fel tall six candidates were equally qualified and that it would be appropriate for her to interview all of them. CounciJman Orttel also felt It would be Inappropriate for the Council to rank the six candidates. He felt that decision should be made at the county leve] . Councilman KnIght stated he voted against the motion because he was in favo~ of three candidates, but he didn't care to rank those candidates. CouncIlman Apel understood there are those who do not want to see the Incumbent reappointed, but he personaJly felt the Incumbent should be given as much a chance as the others. M.. McGlynn felt the City Council passed the buck by not selecting three candIdates. He dId not want to see the incumbent back on the Board, thinking new Board members need to be appoInted that wi I I work to reduce the exorbitant spending. M.. Holasek a]so felt it was the Council's responsIbIlity to select only three candidates or at least the candidates should have been ranked. CommIssioner Haas-Steffen stated she will conduct the Interviews and select one candidate; however, In the future, she asked to be included in any Interviews conducted by the CouncIl to avoid this dup]icatlon. She also noted a map of the Coon Creek Watershed regIon with the acreage and population of the cities withIn that region. The law talks about the possIbIlity of changing representation when signifIcant changes occur within a region. She thought Andover mIght gIve this further thought, considering its significant growth in the past few years. Special Ci ty Counci I Meeting Minutes - Apri I 12, 1988 Page 3 (Commissioner Haas-Steffen/Coon Creek Watershed Appointees, Continued) Counc i I felt it would be beneficial to have another Andover representative on the Board, asking if i t Is possible to increase the size of the Board to seven. Commissioner Haas-Steffen did not know but agreed to have that researched. Counc i I asked if it is possible to have the Coon Creek Watershed changed to a water management organization. CommissIoner Haas-Steffen didn't think so. Another concern of the Council was on the appropri- ateness of a Board member to engage his own firm as an admInistrative consultant to the Board. CommIssioner Haas-Steffen stated they are also lookIng at that on the State level Finally, Mayor Wlndschitl noted apparently there has been some difficulty getting publIc documents from the Watershed Board, askIng that It be looked into. Commissioner Haas-Steffen stated she will notify the Council of who will be on the interview committee. REVISED STORM SEWER/87-11B John Rodeberg, TKDA, reviewed the supplement to the feasibility report for ProJect 87-11, noting it is less than proposed at the AprIl 7 meeting. Much of the costs depends on the Coon Creek Watershed building the regional pond south of Andover Bouelvard. Counc i I asked that there be an agreement with the Watershed Board prior to awarding the bid on the proJect. AI Hammel, developer, stated he looked at the report and was agreeable to the estimated costs. Mayor Windschitl asked If Mr. Hammel and Mr. Cook are willing to give the waIver of trespass for the sewer line through the plats. Both Mr. Hammel and Mr. Cook stated yes, and agreed to meet with the City's attorney tomorrow to sign those agreements. There was general agreement wIth the revised storm sewer report. Mr. Schrantz stated the Council will have a copy of the resolution for consideration at the April 19 meetIng. STAFF GOALS/DIRECTIONS/PRIORITIES MOTION by Knight, Seconded by Apel, that we reclassifY Todd Haas to Assistant CIty Engineer. DISCUSSION: Mr. Schrantz stated there is no salary Increase assocIated with this change in title. He already considered Mr. Haas an Assistant City Engineer when presenting the salary proposals last year. Motion carried unanimously. Special Ci ty Counci I Meeting Minutes - Apri I 12, 1988 Page 4 (Staff Goals/Directions/Priorities, Continued) Discussion was then on the enforcement of the ordinance regardIng Junk cars on residential properties in the City. Mayor Windschilt briefly explained the procedure beIng used by Coon Rapids to deal wi th the junk car problem which results in the abIlity of the City to clean up the property and assess the costs if the owner does not remove the Junk hImself. Counc i I agreed that procedure should be looked into. Counc i I also agreed if, durIng its travels around the CIty, staff finds a blatant violation of Junk cars, they should start the proceedings to get the cars removed. It was also felt some guidelines should be drawn up regarding the staff's proactive enforcement of Junk cars. There was also a brief discussion on the zoning enforcement responsl- b i ii ties. Counc i I felt the City should be more aggressive in resolving the code violations. It was suggested an artIcle be placed In the newsletter stating the City's intention to enforce the ordinances regarding businesses In the home, Junk cars and outsIde storage. Counc i I also dIrected staff to prepare a monthly statement as to what actions have been taken regarding zoning enforcement. Counc 1 I also agreed to act on all Non-Discussion Items on the Agenda with one motion to save tIme at the regular meetings. M.. Schrantz explained those televising the City Council meetIngs are willing to work with the Council and to instali a better PA system. The first few meetings wiil be taped on a trial basis. Counc i I agreed and asked that the podium be turned such that both the audIence and the Counc i I can see those who are addressing the Councii. GROWTH AND FUTURE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS Counc i I agreed the Personnel Committee should address these items first and make a recommendation. OVERLAY CITY STREETS MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Apel, that the Counc 1 ] dI rected Staff to prepare a teasiblllty report for the overlaying of the following street proJect areas: Rum River Forest area: the Lakeridge area; 175th Avenue east of County State Aid 7; and 178th Lane east of Tulip Street. (See Resolution R054-88) Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Apel, that the Counc 11 direct Staff to obtain bids for the upgrading of Prairie Road to a 9-ton road. Mot! on carried unanimously. Special City Council Meeting Minutes - AprIl 12, 1988 Page 5 STOP SIGN/HANDICAPPED CHILD SIGN/141ST AND FLORA Mayor Wlndschltl reported on the speeding problem on 141st coming out of Green Acres. He felt the most practIcal solutIon to slow down or stop the speeding is to place a stop sign on 141st on both sides of Flora. MOTION by EllIng, Seconded by Knight, that we Install stop signs on Flora and 141st and authorize stlplng for a crosswalk. DISCUSSION: The parents of a handicapped chIld on that IntersectIon asked not to have a "HandIcapped ChIld" sign instal led at this time, though they mal' want it In the future as the chIld gets older. Residents present also suggested the crosswalk should be striped on the west side of Flora. Dan Raduns - explained many of the children who live there are from MinneapolIs and are not aware of the precautIons needed to playing on or near the street. He noted several IncIdents where 'cars speedIng down the street have narrowly mIssed hIttIng a chlJd, includIng hIs own daughte.. He likes where he is JIving; and once the sign Is up, he asked for the CouncIl's support to keep It up. Others present expressIng their support for the stop sIgn were Cliff and Nancy Reeder, Pam Raduns, and Ms. Mevissen. Counc IJ discussIon with the residents was on the speeding problem, events that have taken place, and other possIble solutions. Counc I I suggested the neIghbors consider establishing a Neighborhood Crime Watch. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Windschitl also noted a problem with the back yards of some lots in Smith's Green Acres. He thought it would take about a half hour of gradIng with a cat to slope It so the lots to drain to the low area. Mr. Schrantz has been asked to get Smith's contractor back in to do It or have it done by Public Works with the funds to come out of the escrow account. Counc i I agreed. OIL TO GAS CONVERSION MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Apel, to authorize the Building Inspector to get bids for the conversIon of all CIty facIlitIes to natural gas. MotIon carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF CLAIM MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Apel, to approve Check Number 14438 for $800. Motion carried unanImously. Special City CouncIl Meeting Minutes - Apri I 12, 1988 Page 6 STREET SWEEPING/CHANGE OF COMPANIES Frank Stone. Public Wo~ks Supervisor, reported Allied Blacktop was awarded the bId for sweeping the City streets: however, they have not been able to begin and have backed out of the deal. He asked for authority to offer the proJect to either of the other two bIdders, Knutson Clean Sweep or Gorecki Company, for $50 an hour, which is what All ied had bid. MOTION by Apel, that we allow Frank to pick the fellows, at $50 an hour, In place of Allied to sweep the streets. Motion carried unanimously. PERSONNEL Mr. Schrantz asked the Council's preference of determIning union representation by the employees by card check or an election. Counc I I didn't have a preference but thought typically it Is done by an election. Mr. Stone stated a PubJic Works II position is needed. He asked if Dale Mashuga, who was demoted to a Public Works III position last December, Is eligible to apply fo~ the PW II at this time. Counc i I thought he could apply for any posted position, as there was no time limit placed on his disciplinary action. AJso, the wage decision should be based on the position, not on the basis of those appJying for the position. HIRE RECORDING SECRETARY MOTION by Apel, Seconded by Orttel, that we authorize Mr. Schrantz to hire Ginny Asmussen as the Recording Secretary for the Park Board and Planning and Zoning CommissIon at a wage the same as the former secretary was getting. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Orttel, Seconded by Apel, to adJourn. Motion carried unanImously. Meeting adJourned at 9:50 p.m. RespectfuJly submitted, \\~~,,~ -cc~~::\7~L Marcella A. Peach RecordIng Secretary