October 19, 2015, Council Minutes
CITY OF SPRING PARK
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 19, 2015 – 7:30 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
Attendance: Students of civic government class, Commissioner Callison.
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL – Pavot, Hughes, Bren, Horton, Williamson
3. INTRODUCTIONS – Williamson introduced the council and staff to the public. Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, Planner Brixius, Commissioner Mason
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -
5. ADOPT AGENDA – Hughes makes a motion and Bren seconds to adopt the agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA – Bren makes a motion and Pavot seconds to adopt the consent agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
a. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from October 5, 2015
b. Administration Committee Meeting Minutes from October 13, 2015
c. Draft Planning Commission Minutes from October 14, 2013
7. PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
8. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS –
a. Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison
Williamson said he appreciates Callison coming tonight.
• Callison said she has 16 cities and she tries to visit each annually. She said it’s budget season and she's going to address service demands in Hennepin County. She said for 2010-2014 the number of clients increased by 42%. She said it relates more to programs and eligibility. Callison said Spring Park’s numbers during the same period are small but the percentages can look deceiving. She said the number of clients being served grew by 30% 218-281, cash assistance decreased by 45%, food stamps grew by 12%, and health care by 34%. She said this is less about economy and more about programs that have changed. She said Hennepin County provides social services for the state.
• She said regarding property tax an increase being requested is 4.5%.
• She said child protection has new state standards so there are more cases and more service providers.
• She said some of the state revenues are declining.
• She said there are youth sports grants and applications available and there are three sets of criteria, small equipment grants, capital and a new category is playgrounds.
Williamson asked about Medicaid and because of Pres Homes, he wondered if some of those dollars flow to Pres Homes. Callison said Medicaid is individual and not facilities. Hughes would like to discuss something with Callison at a later date.
9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS
10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
a. Resolution 15-19: Conditional Use Permit Extension Request –
Williamson said this could set some precedent. He said this is an extension request. He said the short version is policy states for conditional use, if granted, the applicant will act within one year. He said this stays with the property. He said sometimes the time runs out and an extension can be granted. Williamson said this is a business within the city and the intent was to go forward with the CUP but there was a lease involved and the lease didn’t continue so the CUP expired. He said they are now interested in reviving this. Williamson said extensions shouldn’t be fulfilled other than for positive intent and practicality. He said if a new application was required for this, it would be very costly when in fact they are asking for the same thing as the original granted CUP.
Brixius said this was originally approved in 2011. He said conditions were fencing, landscaping, retaining wall and designated sales and parking areas. He said they are all enhancements. Brixius said there was an extension granted previously and now they are asking for a further extension. Brixius said as indicated, they don’t want this to go on forever so therefore a deadline of May 30, 2016 has been added. He said it meets all ordinances and the comprehensive plan.
Williamson asked Hughes about this and whether this is good proposition since he lives directly across the street. Hughes said when he first moved to Spring Park, the building was a rundown car wash. He said it’s really improved and he’s happy with it. Pavot is curious if there were any citizen concerns at the original public hearing and Brixius said no one was in attendance. Williamson said originally there were some concerns about the unknowns so a lot of time was spent analyzing this proposal. He said screening and landscaping were well discussed. Pavot asked about the signage and Brixius said he doesn’t think the proposal was a dynamic sign but there are specifications that would have to be followed if this is requested. Horton likes the addition of the trees on the west end but she wonders about the last tree and if the sign could be positioned slightly different due to visibility for the neighbors and the steep grade. Brixius said he will be signing off on the sign placement so he will make sure this is properly placed. Hughes moves approval of the resolution. Horton seconds. Tolsma wants Brixius to weigh in on potential displays in the area. Brixius said they are delineating the sales area. Brixius said he’s not sure it will be vintage boats but by defining the specific area it won’t grow or become larger. Hughes said in the past there has been some equipment for sale and Hughes prefers this approach where there is designated area for sales display. Williamson thinks this could turn out to be a good standard for sales display. All votes ayes, motion carries.
11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
a. Mayor and Council –
• Hughes said from the LMCD because the attorney is retiring they are going through a formal process requesting various firms to submit proposals. He said they are scheduled to interview two. Williamson wonders if they hire the attorney or the firm and Hughes said typically the firm. He said three firms applied and they chose two to interview. Hughes said in November they will not be meeting twice, only once and the same for December due to the holidays.
b. City Administrator –
Tolsma said the street project contractor has reached substantial completion. He said there are a few loose ends to be tied up by the end of next week. He said the project is in good shape, it looks good and residents are happy.
c. Landscaping Proposal –
Tolsma said there are landscape renderings in the packet. He said this area has been heavily disturbed. He said it’s now ready for restoral. Tolsma said the pricing is really good because of timing and Norling has surplus inventory. What’s being proposed is what he has in surplus. Tolsma said this will bring back the screening that was lost due to the construction of the retention pond and this is proposed to be going in this week or next. He said a typical warranty is two years so it’s a standard landscaping proposal. Williamson said this price is about one third of the cost expected to be spent. He said if the representations are correct, this will be superb. He said about three projects will be covered and this has to be done now in order to take advantage of the pricing. Hughes said when driving down the new road, he wonders about the steep bank with the rocks. He thought they might go up a little higher and he wonders if only one spot will be done. Tolsma said only one spot is called out in the proposal and that’s where a lot of vegetation was removed. Hughes wonders if more can be done down that street. Tolsma said a lot more vegetation was kept on the slope, more than they thought. They will watch this to make sure it survives after being disturbed. Williamson is looking for a motion to take advantage of this proposal. Horton makes a motion to approve and Bren seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.
d. City Engineer
e. City Planner
f. City Attorney
g. Public Works Superintendent
12. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. October 26 – City Council Work Session – 7:00 PM
b. October 28 – LMCD – 7:00 PM – Hughes said this is at 7:30 PM and this will be the aforementioned attorney interviews.
c. November 2 – Regular City Council Meeting – 7:30 PM
Williamson said when looking at the calendar, the study sessions for the next two months are problematic due to following holidays. He said the meetings could be kept brief and he thinks at the October work session this can be discussed further.
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
14. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
a. Bills & Payroll –
Williamson said this is the first payment on the construction project and it looks like engineer fees are in one lump sum. Williamson moves and Hughes seconds to pay the bills. All votes ayes, motion carries.
15. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)
a. Mound Fire Department Press Release
b. Mound Fire Department September Report –
Williamson said about 20% of fire calls could be avoidable. He said the majority are to the apartment buildings and some call outs are due to smoke detector low batteries. He said these calls are a component in the cost formula and causes the cost to go up. He said other fire call responses report nothing found. He urges everyone to be more cognizant about these call outs. Horton said there are free 9 volt batteries available at Mound Fire Department in conjunction with daylight savings time "Change your clock, Change your batteries." Hughes said smoke detectors also should be replaced and this comes around the ten year age point.
c. Centerpoint Energy Rate Increase Request Notice –
Williamson said this happens with regularity and increases are instituted before they are approved.
16. ADJOURNMENT – Pavot makes a motion and Horton seconds to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.
___________________________________
Wendy Lewin, City Clerk
____________________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 19, 2015 – 7:30 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
Attendance: Students of civic government class, Commissioner Callison.
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL – Pavot, Hughes, Bren, Horton, Williamson
3. INTRODUCTIONS – Williamson introduced the council and staff to the public. Administrator Tolsma, Clerk Lewin, Planner Brixius, Commissioner Mason
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -
5. ADOPT AGENDA – Hughes makes a motion and Bren seconds to adopt the agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
6. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA – Bren makes a motion and Pavot seconds to adopt the consent agenda. All votes ayes, motion carries.
a. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from October 5, 2015
b. Administration Committee Meeting Minutes from October 13, 2015
c. Draft Planning Commission Minutes from October 14, 2013
7. PUBLIC FORUM – No one.
8. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS –
a. Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison
Williamson said he appreciates Callison coming tonight.
• Callison said she has 16 cities and she tries to visit each annually. She said it’s budget season and she's going to address service demands in Hennepin County. She said for 2010-2014 the number of clients increased by 42%. She said it relates more to programs and eligibility. Callison said Spring Park’s numbers during the same period are small but the percentages can look deceiving. She said the number of clients being served grew by 30% 218-281, cash assistance decreased by 45%, food stamps grew by 12%, and health care by 34%. She said this is less about economy and more about programs that have changed. She said Hennepin County provides social services for the state.
• She said regarding property tax an increase being requested is 4.5%.
• She said child protection has new state standards so there are more cases and more service providers.
• She said some of the state revenues are declining.
• She said there are youth sports grants and applications available and there are three sets of criteria, small equipment grants, capital and a new category is playgrounds.
Williamson asked about Medicaid and because of Pres Homes, he wondered if some of those dollars flow to Pres Homes. Callison said Medicaid is individual and not facilities. Hughes would like to discuss something with Callison at a later date.
9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & APPLICATIONS
10. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
a. Resolution 15-19: Conditional Use Permit Extension Request –
Williamson said this could set some precedent. He said this is an extension request. He said the short version is policy states for conditional use, if granted, the applicant will act within one year. He said this stays with the property. He said sometimes the time runs out and an extension can be granted. Williamson said this is a business within the city and the intent was to go forward with the CUP but there was a lease involved and the lease didn’t continue so the CUP expired. He said they are now interested in reviving this. Williamson said extensions shouldn’t be fulfilled other than for positive intent and practicality. He said if a new application was required for this, it would be very costly when in fact they are asking for the same thing as the original granted CUP.
Brixius said this was originally approved in 2011. He said conditions were fencing, landscaping, retaining wall and designated sales and parking areas. He said they are all enhancements. Brixius said there was an extension granted previously and now they are asking for a further extension. Brixius said as indicated, they don’t want this to go on forever so therefore a deadline of May 30, 2016 has been added. He said it meets all ordinances and the comprehensive plan.
Williamson asked Hughes about this and whether this is good proposition since he lives directly across the street. Hughes said when he first moved to Spring Park, the building was a rundown car wash. He said it’s really improved and he’s happy with it. Pavot is curious if there were any citizen concerns at the original public hearing and Brixius said no one was in attendance. Williamson said originally there were some concerns about the unknowns so a lot of time was spent analyzing this proposal. He said screening and landscaping were well discussed. Pavot asked about the signage and Brixius said he doesn’t think the proposal was a dynamic sign but there are specifications that would have to be followed if this is requested. Horton likes the addition of the trees on the west end but she wonders about the last tree and if the sign could be positioned slightly different due to visibility for the neighbors and the steep grade. Brixius said he will be signing off on the sign placement so he will make sure this is properly placed. Hughes moves approval of the resolution. Horton seconds. Tolsma wants Brixius to weigh in on potential displays in the area. Brixius said they are delineating the sales area. Brixius said he’s not sure it will be vintage boats but by defining the specific area it won’t grow or become larger. Hughes said in the past there has been some equipment for sale and Hughes prefers this approach where there is designated area for sales display. Williamson thinks this could turn out to be a good standard for sales display. All votes ayes, motion carries.
11. REPORTS OF OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
a. Mayor and Council –
• Hughes said from the LMCD because the attorney is retiring they are going through a formal process requesting various firms to submit proposals. He said they are scheduled to interview two. Williamson wonders if they hire the attorney or the firm and Hughes said typically the firm. He said three firms applied and they chose two to interview. Hughes said in November they will not be meeting twice, only once and the same for December due to the holidays.
b. City Administrator –
Tolsma said the street project contractor has reached substantial completion. He said there are a few loose ends to be tied up by the end of next week. He said the project is in good shape, it looks good and residents are happy.
c. Landscaping Proposal –
Tolsma said there are landscape renderings in the packet. He said this area has been heavily disturbed. He said it’s now ready for restoral. Tolsma said the pricing is really good because of timing and Norling has surplus inventory. What’s being proposed is what he has in surplus. Tolsma said this will bring back the screening that was lost due to the construction of the retention pond and this is proposed to be going in this week or next. He said a typical warranty is two years so it’s a standard landscaping proposal. Williamson said this price is about one third of the cost expected to be spent. He said if the representations are correct, this will be superb. He said about three projects will be covered and this has to be done now in order to take advantage of the pricing. Hughes said when driving down the new road, he wonders about the steep bank with the rocks. He thought they might go up a little higher and he wonders if only one spot will be done. Tolsma said only one spot is called out in the proposal and that’s where a lot of vegetation was removed. Hughes wonders if more can be done down that street. Tolsma said a lot more vegetation was kept on the slope, more than they thought. They will watch this to make sure it survives after being disturbed. Williamson is looking for a motion to take advantage of this proposal. Horton makes a motion to approve and Bren seconds. All votes ayes, motion carries.
d. City Engineer
e. City Planner
f. City Attorney
g. Public Works Superintendent
12. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. October 26 – City Council Work Session – 7:00 PM
b. October 28 – LMCD – 7:00 PM – Hughes said this is at 7:30 PM and this will be the aforementioned attorney interviews.
c. November 2 – Regular City Council Meeting – 7:30 PM
Williamson said when looking at the calendar, the study sessions for the next two months are problematic due to following holidays. He said the meetings could be kept brief and he thinks at the October work session this can be discussed further.
13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
14. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATION
a. Bills & Payroll –
Williamson said this is the first payment on the construction project and it looks like engineer fees are in one lump sum. Williamson moves and Hughes seconds to pay the bills. All votes ayes, motion carries.
15. MISCELLANEOUS (Information Only)
a. Mound Fire Department Press Release
b. Mound Fire Department September Report –
Williamson said about 20% of fire calls could be avoidable. He said the majority are to the apartment buildings and some call outs are due to smoke detector low batteries. He said these calls are a component in the cost formula and causes the cost to go up. He said other fire call responses report nothing found. He urges everyone to be more cognizant about these call outs. Horton said there are free 9 volt batteries available at Mound Fire Department in conjunction with daylight savings time "Change your clock, Change your batteries." Hughes said smoke detectors also should be replaced and this comes around the ten year age point.
c. Centerpoint Energy Rate Increase Request Notice –
Williamson said this happens with regularity and increases are instituted before they are approved.
16. ADJOURNMENT – Pavot makes a motion and Horton seconds to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. All votes ayes, motion carries.
___________________________________
Wendy Lewin, City Clerk
____________________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator