Loading...
10-23-95 Regular CITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING October Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Michael Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg; MEMBERS PRESENT: Russ Susag; and Don Priebe. James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Administrative STAFF PRESENT: Services Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Byron Wallace, Community Development Director; Donald Fondrick, Community Services Director; Jack Erskine, Public Safety Director; and Corrine Thomson, Acting City Attorney. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m. PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Kirsch led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Meetina of the minutes of the Special October 9. 1995: and the minutes of the Regular City Council Meetina of October 9. 1995. ItemOPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY ITEM NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. No one wished to address the Council. ItemCOUNCIL APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Kirsch announced the addition of the following item to the agenda: 6A. Purchase in excess of $5,000 for the construction of a small parking lot in the northeast corner of 77th Street and Lyndale Avenue. October 1995 the aaenda as amended. Motion carried 5-Q. Item CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Sandahl requested that consent calendar Item 3D. be placed on the regular agenda for discussion. APPROVED REQUEST FOR AMENDED OFF-STREET PARKING PERMIT TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF PARKING SPACES FROM THE LOTS OF CENTURY COURTS NORTH AND SOUTH C.L. 279 APPROVED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR CAPITAL FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL LOCKER ROOM SPACE FOR ARENA C.L. 280 RESOLUTION NO. 8290 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR CAPITAL FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL LOCKER ROOM SPACE FOR THE SPORTS OF ICE HOCKEY AND BROOMBALL AT THE APPROVED PURCHASE IN EXCESS OF $5,000 AND CONTRACT FROM SERVICE FOR INTERIOR LIGHTING REPLACEMENTS/MODIFICATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORES IN AMOUNT OF C.L. 281 Removed from the consent calendar and placed on the regular agenda for consideration as Item 6B. APPROVED PURCHASE ORDER TO ST. JOSEPH’S EQUIPMENT, INC. FOR BRADCO BACKHOE IN AMOUNT OF C.L. 283 APPROVED APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL KENNEL LICENSE RENEWAL FOR ACC DOG & CAT GROOMING, 6521 CEDAR AVENUE C.L. 284 APPROVED ESTIMATE PAYMENT FOR PAINTING LOGAN WATER TOWER; DELOUGHERY PAINTING COMPANY; Council Meeting Minutes H.APPROVED FINAL PAYMENT FOR 1995 CONCRETE STREET AND ALLEY REPAIR; CONSTRUCTION CO.; approve the consent calendar as amended. ItemCONSIDERATION OF REQUEST BY NAEGELE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING FOR APPROVAL OF HIGH OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN AT 7200 CEDAR AVENUE. C.L. NO. 285 CityManager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 285 recommending denial of a request by Naegele Outdoor Advertising for approval of locating an outdoor advertising sign on a vacant lot at 7200 Cedar Avenue. Michael Cronin, Michael Cronin Associates, representing Naegele Outdoor Advertising, stated that Naegele is of the following opinion regarding concerns expressed by City staff: Thesign will not be visible from the street where it faces or it will be effectively screened from view by other structures and trees. That it does not directly abut Highway 77 but rather abuts Cedar Avenue, therefore the 660 foot setback requirement does not apply. subject to the same year amortization schedule that exists on the Lyndale Avenue and l-494 sign. Mr. Cronin stated that this use on the property would provide income and time to the property owner until the market decides the future use for the property. Mr. Cronin requested that the City Council increase the allowable height for this sign from 27 feet to 34 feet as provided for under City ordinance section 416.09(i). stated this increase in height was necessary to insure the visibility of the sign to northbound traffic on Highway 77 due to the “glare paddles” on top of the concrete median. Council Member Rosenberg asked if Naegele can control the advertising content on signs to avoid offensive materials. Mr. Cronin stated that Naegele responded to any concerns on a case by case basis and is sensitive to local community standards, often voluntarily restricting the type of advertising at certain locations. City Manager Prosser stated he had received four calls from residents Council Member Priebe stated he had received a call from a business advertisers who would be interested to close the public hearing. It cannot be located so as to be visible from the abutting street where it faces or the visibility would be obstructed; It would be unlikely to have an adverse or detrimental impact upon traffic safety, pedestrian safety, aesthetics, or value of other properties in the 3. The ordinance requires that outdoor advertising displays not be closer than 660 feet from the right of way of freeways including Highway 77. There was an exception for signs that existed in October 1987. The Council may approve a new location for an existing sign (which this is) if the new location lessens adverse impacts on traffic safety and aesthetics. The replacement location would not lessen any adverse impact of the sign upon traffic safety and aesthetics. The previous location was in a commercial area with considerable distance to the nearest residential district. October 1995 The application has not met the requirements for the proposed increase in height. One, a sign 27 feet in height would be visible from the abutting street. The applicant is proposing a taller sign for visibility from TH77, which is not the abutting street. Two, the increased height would likely have an adverse impact on the aesthetics and value of other properties within the area. within 10 years of the adoption of the ordinance, which was October 1987. The sign at l-494 and Lyndale is subject to that provision. The City Attorney suggests and recommends that, should the Council approve this permit, that the permit (sign) should be removed in October 1997 since this is simply a continuation of the original permit at l-494 and Lyndale. Mr. Cronin stated his disagreement with the non-conformity issue. He discussed and answered questions regarding the visibility factors related to the sign. City Attorney Thomson, at the request of the Council, read and answered questions about the applicable sections of Section 416.09 of the City Ordinance Code. to deny the application of Naegele Outdoor Advertising to allow 34 foot high outdoor sign to be located on at 7700 Cedar Avenue. Council Member Susag stated that he was not satisfied that the sign would not be visible from the neighborhood nor was there a lessening of adverse impacts on traffic or aesthetics to allow the sign closer than 660 feet to the highway. He also stated concern thatordinance only addressed the visibility of the face of the sign indicating the back of the the sign could be just as bad. ItemCONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION ORDERING MAINTENANCE WORK FOR PERIOD JANUARY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER PROPOSED CITY PROJECT NO. 912. C.L. NO. 286 City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 286 regarding the proposed assessment of the LHN area for current maintenance services for the period of January 1 through December 31, 1996, City Project No. 912. to close the public hearinq. that the resolution be that it be in NO, UNDERTAKING OF RESOLUTION ORDERING CURRENT SERVICE PROJECT (LHN) MAINTENANCE JANUARY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER CITY PROJECT NO. 912 Motion carried 5-Q. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8291 in Resolution Book No. 65. ItemCONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO EXPAND BOUNDARIES OF 77TH STREET PROJECT AREA TO CEDAR AVENUE, SPECIALLY ASSESS FOR COSTS OF CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED WITHIN 77TH STREET PROJECT AREA FOR PERIOD JANUARY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER AND SETTING PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR NOVEMBER C.L. NO. 287 City Manger Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 287 regarding a proposed resolution to set a public hearing date for November 27, 1995 for consideration of specially assessing the costs of current maintenance services provided within the 77th Street Project area for the period of January 1 through December 31, 1996. He stated the proposed assessment for 1996 would apply to commercial properties only, the same as in the LHN. S/Rosenberg that the followina resolution be adopted. that it be spread in the resolution book and that it be made of these minutes: RESOLUTION NO, 8292 RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO SPECIALLY ASSESS FOR THE COSTS OF CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED WITHIN THE 77TH STREET PROJECT AREA FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1996 THROUGH DECEMBER CITY PROJECT NO. 911 Motion carried 4-l. (Susag opposed) This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8292 in Resolution Book No. 65. Council Member Susag stated that he proposes that the general taxpayer be He requested that consideration of the policy for responsible for a portion of these costs. the 1997 assessments to these districts be scheduled prior to setting of the 1997 preliminary tax levy. October City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 288 regarding the proposed purchase in the amount of $8,971 from Minnesota Asphalt, Inc. for the construction of a the northeast corner of 77th Street and Lyndale Avenue. parking lot in to approve the purchase in the amount of from Minnesota Asphalt. Inc. For theconstructron of a lot in the northeast corner of 77th City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 282 regarding the proposed award of contract to ABM Equipment Supply for a 1995 model trash compactor unit mounted on a heavy duty one ton truck in the amount of Council Member Sandahl asked if the trash compactor truck had been included in the capital budget. City Manager Prosser stated that it had not been included in the capital budget but was being presented to the City Council as a long term cost saving opportunity. He stated the Council could wait and look at such a purchase next year as an option. Council Member Priebe asked if private trash haulers had been contacted about contracting for the services to the parks. City Manager Prosser stated three private haulers had been contacted and none of the three were interested in providing that service. Council Member Rosenberg asked if this vehicle could be used to help address the trash problem in the 66th Street and Penn Avenue area. City Manager Prosser stated that the staff could look at that possibility and also encourage the private businesses to address the problem. ARM award a contract to for the Motion carried 5-Q. AIRPORT STATUS REPORT Item City Manager Prosser discussed the status of the following airport related issues: Joint efforts related to the extension of runway 4-22. ¦ The multi-jurisdictional survey initiated through the process is being ¦ prepared by a consultant. Council Member Priebe stated that if the City supports such legislation, it should be made clear that this in no way weakens the City’s opposition to the proposed new north/south runway. It was the consensus of the Council that the City Manager discuss with local legislators the possibility of initiating such legislation and that it be presented in the City’s legislative initiatives package. Item77TH STREET PROJECT STATUS REPORT Community Services Director reviewed and answered questions regarding the status of the following 77th Street Project issues: 77th Street east of Portland Avenue will open to traffic on October 24. ¦ Humboldt Avenue Storm Sewer Project construction has been delayed until the ¦ first week of November. The Richfield Lake Storm Sewer Outlet construction is now in progress. ¦ The regular speed limit on 77th Street has been posted now that construction is ¦ complete. The Phase II landscaping will be bid next spring. 77th Street is open. stated the semaphores would remain at Community Services Director least until a study of 76th Street alternatives for the future is completed. Item LEGISLATIVE REPORT No report. Item COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS Council Member Susag complimented City staff and the City commission volunteers for making the October 14 Richfield Rediscovered Open House such a spectacular event. City Manager Prosser acknowledged and thanked City employees Cheryl Krumholz, Judy Kunz, and Linda Vukelich for their work in planning the Open House. The City Council acknowledged the work of City employees and commission volunteers for their efforts on the Open House. Discussion followed regarding scheduling of future open house events. Council Member Rosenberg asked about the status of the sign inventory initiated by the Public Safety Department and stated concerns about the condition of some signs in the City, especially near the 66th Street and Penn Avenue area. Public Safety Director Erskine stated that a report on this issue would be presented to the City Council at a future study session. Council Member Rosenberg stated that she has observed increased litter problems in the Hub area. City Manager Prosser stated that the City would contact the management company of the Hub. Council Member Priebe stated he had requested that the City Manager obtain data on the CSM project being constructed in Minnetonka so a comparison can be made regarding the Tax Increment Financing assistance provided for the CSM project in Richfield. Council Meeting Minutes ADJOURNMENT