01-24 Regular CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
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January 24, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Howard at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Council Members Michael Howard, Mayor Pro Tempore; Edwina Garcia; Pat Elliott; and
Present: Maria Regan Gonzalez.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; Jay
Henthorne, Public Safety Director/Police Chief; James Topitzhofer,
Recreation Services Director; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant City Manager/HR
Manager; Jeff Pearson, City Engineer; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; and '
Jared Voto, Executive Aide/Analyst.
OPEN FORUM
None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Ternpore Howard led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item #1 PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE FROM THE NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY
MANAGING OFFICER PROGRAM TO FIRE CAPTAIN MARK ARMSTRONG
Council Member Elliott presented the Certificate of Completion of the Managing Officer
Program to Fire Captain Mark Armstrong.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Garcia, S/Elliott to approve the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January
10, 2017.
Motion carried 4-0.
Council Meeting Minutes -2- January 24,2017
Item #2 COUNCIL DISCUSSION
• Hats Off to Hometown Hits
Council Member Regan Gonzalez highlighted a Richfield STEM School fundraiser at
Houlihan's on Thursday, January 26. She also discussed appreciation for those who applied for the
advisory boards and commissions and stated the Council would be reaching out to those who were
not appointed.
Council Member Elliott echoed Council Member Regan Gonzalez's thoughts on the
applicants to advisory boards and commissions.
Council Member Garcia highlighted the upcoming ice fishing tournament held on Taft Lake
on February 4 from 10 a.m. — 1 p.m. She also discussed the Richfield Chamber of Commerce's
spotlight of Richfield-Bloomington Mitsubishi and echoed Council Member Regan Gonzalez's
thoughts on the commission interviews.
Mayor Pro Tempore Howard mentioned the 66th Street Reconstruction Public Information
Plan Work Session and highlighted Hennepin County's website (www.hennepin.us/66street),
hotline (612-444-3186), and e-mail (66street @hennepin.us). He also mentioned the HRA citizen
commissioner application is online and echoed the Council's thoughts on the commission
interviews.
Item #3 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Elliott, S/Regan Gonzalez to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #4 CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Consideration of the approval of a resolution authorizing acceptance of a donation received
by Richfield Recreation Services Department from Marlene Glaus for Wood Lake Nature
Center in the amount of$50,000 and to authorize the Recreation Services Director to apply
the funds for Wood Lake. (S.R. No. 12)
RESOLUTION NO. 11326
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A DONATION RECEIVED BY THE
RICHFIELD RECREATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT FROM
MARLENE GLAUS FOR WOOD LAKE NATURE CENTER IN THE AMOUNT
OF $50,000, AND AUTHORIZING THE RECREATION SERVICES DIRECTOR
TO EXECUTE THE ASSOCIATED GRANT
This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11326.
The Council unanimously approved the Consent Calendar.
Council Meeting Minutes -3- January 24,2017
Item #5 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS, IF ANY, REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
CALENDAR
None.
Item #6 PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTIN ODERING PLANS
AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED 2017 ALLEY PAVING PROJECT
(S.R. NO. 13)
Council Member Garcia presented Staff Report No. 13.
Jeff Pearson, City Engineer, presented information on the project, locations, and
informational open house. He also provided two comments received from impacted property
owners. Linda and Jim Meissen, 6300 Irving Ave S, stated their opposition to the project, and Heidi
Ormond, 7333 5th Ave S, sent questions regarding the project.
Mayor Pro Tempore Member Howard questioned if any other impacted residents had
provided feedback.
Pearson responded that most were questions about the project, drainage, and the
assessment process.
Council Member Garcia asked if City Engineer Pearson would be visiting the alley in
response to the questions submitted by Ms. Ormond.
Pearson responded he had visited the alley and would alleviate the drainage issues as
much as possible with the project.
Cathy Van Houten, 7345 5th Ave S, asked about the start and duration of the project.
Pearson responded explaining the expected project schedule and stated notifications would
take place after the contractor is hired.
Heidi Ormond, 7333 5th Ave S, discussed the flooding issue of her driveway and asked the
City consider this drainage issue.
Kristin Asher, Public Works Director, responded the City could look into adding a storm
drainage pipe in that alley.
Ormond asked if the assessment goes on the property taxes.
Mary Tietjen, City Attorney, responded the assessment is levied against the property similar
to property taxes.
Ormond asked when the assessment would begin on their property taxes.
Asher responded the assessment hearing would take place in the fall of 2017.
Council Meeting Minutes -4- January 24,2017
John Holm, 6301 James Ave S, stated he is opposed and five of six homes on their alley
are opposed to paving their alley.
Pearson provided additional information on this alley and its usage.
Mayor Pro Tempore Howard questioned reducing costs for residents who do not use the
alley.
Tietjen responded the matter before Council is whether to order the project and the decision
on assessments can come later in the process.
Mayor Pro Tempore Howard asked the other Council Member's thoughts and stated it
makes sense to pave all the alleys, but look into defraying costs to those that do not use the alley.
Council Member Elliott questioned vacating the alley.
Pearson responded vacating the alley would affect one resident whose garage faces the
alley and discussed the vacant lot potentially using the alley.
City Manager Steve Devich discussed the possibilities of the HRA-owned vacant lot and
possible future use of the alley by adjacent properties.
Council Members questioned if the homeowner using the alley had commented about the
paving project.
Pearson responded the resident has not commented on the project.
Boyd Tate, 6315 James Ave S, stated he opposes the project as he does not use his alley.
Tom Dallman, 6309 James Ave S, stated he opposes the project and would like to vacate
or close the alley.
Mayor Pro Tempore Howard discussed removing the alley from the project.
Council Member Garcia questioned if that was the only alley that presented opposition
based on use.
Asher responded that the other alleys are used by a majority of the adjacent property
owners.
City Manager Devich discussed the HRA-owned lot.
Council Members stated their concern if the alley is not maintained.
Pearson responded that the alley would still be maintained by the City and the alley could
be paved in the future if residents submitted a petition requesting paving.
Ormond commented regarding public use of the alley and asked if the City could pay for a
portion of the project for residents who do not use the alley.
City Manager Devich responded that has not been the City's policy.
M/Elliott, S/Howard to close the public hearing.
Council Meeting Minutes -5- January 24,2017
Motion carried 4-0.
M/Garcia, S/Elliott to approve the resolution ordering plans and specification for the 2017
alley paving project, removing 63rd Street between James Avenue and Irving Avenue.
RESOLUTION NO. 11327
RESOLUTION ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE 2017 ALLEY PAVING PROJECT
Motion carried 4-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 11327.
Item #7 CONSIDERATION OF THE APPIONTMENTS TO CITY ADVISORY
COMMISSIONS (S.R. NO. 14)
Council Member Regan Gonzalez presented Staff Report No. 14.
M/Elliott, S/Garcia to appoint persons to fill expiring or vacant terms on the City advisory
commissions.
Motion carried 4-0.
Item #8 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Devich discussed being awarded $7 million for the 77th Street Underpass
project from the Metropolitan Council.
Item #9 CLAIMS AND PAYROLLS
M/Garcia, S/Elliott that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
U.S. Bank 01/24/17
A/P Checks: 256058 - 256467 $ 1,410,365.35
Payroll: 124791 - 125105 590,394.61
TOTAL $ 2,000,759.96
Motion carried 4-0.
OPEN FORUM
None.
Item #11 ADJOURNMENT
The City Council Meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:05 p.m.
Council Meeting Minutes -6- January 24,2017
Date Approved: February 14, 2017
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Micha:I Howard
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Jar d Voto -ren L. Devich
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager