December 17, 2018 Council Minutes

CITY OF SPRING PARK
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 2018 – 7:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL

1. CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rockvam at 7:00 p.m.

Council Members Present: Jerome P. Rockvam, Mayor; Gary Hughes; Pamela Horton; Catherine Kane Palen; and Megan Pavot

Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; Bob Kirmis, Acting City Planner; and Mary Tietjen, City Attorney

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Rockvam led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ADOPT MEETING AGENDA

M/Hughes, S/Horton to adopt the meeting agenda.

Motion carried 5-0.

4. ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA
a. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from December 3, 2018

M/Kane Palen, S/Pavot to adopt the Consent Agenda.

Motion carried 5-0.

5. PUBLIC FORUM – None.

6. PRESENTATIONS & GUEST SPEAKERS – None.

7. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.

8. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, & APPLICATIONS – None.

9. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
a. Resolution 18-26: Variance Request for Head-In Parking on Warren Avenue

Acting City Planner Kirmis reviewed Land Use Application No. 18-04 VAR requesting a parking variance to allow parking stalls having direct access from a public street for their industrial property located along 4164 Shoreline Drive. The application notes that the 28,000 square foot tenant bay in the Tonka Ventures West building has limited parking spaces. He detailed the current conditions of the area, traffic patterns, and proposed plan.

Phil Johnson, architect for the proposed Tonka Ventures project, was available for questions.

Mayor Rockvam stated the entire site appears to have adequate parking.

City Administrator Tolsma responded that the entire site has adequate parking; however, the tenant on the northwest corner of the building has limited parking in their direct proximity.

Acting City Planner Kirmis discussed the proposed recommendations for approval from staff and the Planning Commission including:

1. Site grading and drainage plan. The applicant must show the proposed parking lot grading and drainage patterns. The plan must identify the total hard cover area and percentage of hard cover for the entire industrial site. Plan must address the drainage patterns, retention, and treatment for the new hard surface. Said plan shall be subject to the review of the City Engineer.
2. Lighting Plan: The applicant shall provide a lighting and photometric plan for any new exterior lighting proposed for the new parking areas. Any new lighting must be 90 degree cutoff light fixtures with a shielded light source.
3. The compact parking stalls shall be signed “Compact Cars Only”.
4. The Applicant shall provide a snow removal and storage plan for the new parking area and loading dock area.
5. Subject to the comments of other City Staff.

The City Council discussed the loss of greenspace, drainage plan, traffic sight lines including the area that is often impeded during the winter due to snow piles, and congestion near a major intersection.

Council Member Pavot stated her main concern was the additional compact car parking on Interlachen Road since it is so close to a busy intersection.

City Administrator Tolsma discussed the recent discussion at the Planning Commission meeting including the concern about having head-in parking on both sides of a busy street.

Mayor Rockvam stated he wanted additional time to consider the request so that he could do a site visit and observe the area. He added that he does realize the value of off-street parking for commercial businesses but wants to investigate further before making a decision.

Council Member Hughes states he is in support of the 12 spots on Warren Avenue but his main concern is safety and traffic in allowing additional head-in parking on Interlachen Road.

Shirley Bren, resident and former employee of a business located in the Tonka Ventures Building, stated she supports additional parking in the area for the safety of the employees who are forced to walk along Warren Avenue and Interlachen Road where there are no sidewalks or safety features in order to gain access to the northwest entrance of the building.

Mayor Rockvam stated he is in support of the 12 spaces on Warren Avenue.

Council Member Kane Palen also stated she is in support of the 12 spaces on Warren Avenue.

M/Hughes, S/Horton to table the item for a future meeting so that Council can conduct site visits and further investigate the impact of the requested application.

Motion carried 5-0.

b. Ordinance 18-05: Amending Fence Standards

Acting City Planner Kirmis provided a summary of the proposed fence ordinance amendment. He discussed the recent change in the State building code allowing fences up to seven feet without a building permit.

City Administrator Tolsma discussed the history of the ordinance and the reality of current fencing options that are widely available at local lumber and retail stores. He added that the Planning Commission recommendation was not entirely in agreement with staff’s recommendation of a minimum of four inches of open clearance from the ground to control water. The Planning Commission recommendation was for a minimum clearance of one inch to allow the passage of water but still be able contain small animals.

M/Hughes, S/Pavot to approve Ordinance No. 18-05 as recommended by the Planning Commission, amending Spring Park City Code Section 42-64 related to fence regulations within the City of Spring Park, that it be published in the official newspaper, and that it be made part of these minutes.

Motion carried 5-0.

10. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
a. Mayor & Council

Mayor Rockvam asked staff to send recognition letters to Minnetonka Edgewater Apartments, Lake Minnetonka Shores, Dock & Lift and Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge for the nice decorations they installed that enhanced the City’s appearance during the holiday season.

Council Member Hughes provided informational brochures to the Council from Mound Fire Department about carbon monoxide detectors. These brochures are now available in the lobby at Spring Park City Hall.

Council Member Hughes announced that Mound Fire Department received a significant grant from the State Fire Marshall for a washer-extractor and gear dryer.

Council Member Pavot provided an update from the most recent Police Commission meeting including response times, medication drop-off sites, and upcoming bridge closures with significant detours in the next year.

b. City Staff – None.

c. Contract Staff – None.

11. NEW BUSINESS & COMMUNICATIONS – None.

12. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
a. December 17, 2018 Claims

M/Hughes, S/Kane Palen to approve all claims for payment.

Motion carried 5-0.

13. UPCOMING MEETINGS & TRAINING
a. January 7 – Regular City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM

14. MISCELLANEOUS (INFORMATION ONLY)
a. Mound FD November Report
b. LMCD 2018 Update

Shirley Bren, Spring Park resident and Council appointed representative to the Gillespie Center, presented a report from most recent board meeting. She announced several upcoming events including the Gillespie Center’s participation in the Polar Bear Plunge in mid-January to benefit Minnesota Special Olympics.

15. ADJOURNMENT

M/Pavot, S/Horton to adjourn the City Council Meeting at 8:00 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.

Date Approved: January 7, 2019

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Dan Tolsma, City Administrator

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Theresa Schyma, City Clerk