11-24-97 Regular
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Meeting
NOVEMBER 24, 1997
CALL TO ORDER
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.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Michael Sandahl; Russ
Susag; and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present :James Prosser, City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Bruce
Palmborg, Community Development Director; Mike Eastling, Public
Works Director; Betsy Christensen, Health Administrator; Dan Scott,
Public Safety Director; Steve Sutter, Fire Marshall/Assistant Chief;
and Corrine Thomson, City Attorney.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M/Susag, S/Rosenberg to approve the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
of November 10, 1997; and the minutes of the Special Joint City Council/HRA/Planning
Commission and Community Services Commission Meeting November 17, 1997.
Motion carried 5-0.
Council Meeting Minutes-2-November 24, 1997
Item #1OATH OF OFFICE TO PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR DAN SCOTT
City Manager Prosser reviewed the Public Safety Director recruitment process and
the qualifications of Dan Scott who was appointed to the position.
City Clerk Ferber administered the oath of office to Public Safety Director Dan
Scott.
Item #2PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO FORMER CITY
ATTORNEY JOHN B. DEAN
Council Member Sandahl read and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to
former City Attorney John Brooks Dean acknowledging his service to the City as Assistant
City Attorney from 1973-1987 and City Attorney from 1988-1997.
Item #3ACCEPTANCE OF AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR RICHFIELD
REDISCOVERED PROGRAM. C.L. NO. 285
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed Council Letter No. 285
regarding receipt of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
(NAHRO) National Award of Excellence in recognition of the Richfield Rediscovered
Program for program innovation in community revitalization.
Mayor Kirsch accepted the award on behalf of the City and acknowledged the work
of staff for the development and implementation of the program.
Item #4OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON
ANY ITEM NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
No one wished to address the Council.
Item #5 COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AGENDA
M/Susag, S/Stokes to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 5-0.
Council Meeting Minutes-3-November 24, 1997
Item #6 CONSENT CALENDAR
A.APPROVED NOMINATION OF RONALD BAUMBACH AS MINNEHAHA CREEK
WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER C.L. 286
B.APPROVED DECEMBER 8, 1997 FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON RENEWAL OF
ON-SALE LIQUOR LICENSES FOR CHI CHI’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT, THE
GROUND ROUND, KHAN’S MONGOLIAN BARBEQUE, AMERICAN LEGION
POST NO. 435, VFW POST NO. 5555, DON PABLO’S AND CHAMPPS OF
RICHFIELD C.L. 287
C.APPROVED DECEMBER 8, 1997 FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR RENEWAL OF
WINE LICENSES FOR THOMPSON’S FIRESIDE PIZZA, SILVER SPOON
RESTAURANT, RED PEPPER CHINESE RESTAURANT AND THE
FRENCHMANS C.L. 288
D.APPROVED AWARD OF TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO REHBEIN, INC. FOR
DISPOSAL OF LIME BY-PRODUCT IN AMOUNT OF $91,620 C.L. 289
E.APPROVED MASTER PURCHASE ORDER FOR ROCK SALT FOR USE IN ICE
CONTROL DURING 1997/98 WINTER SEASON FROM NORTH AMERICAN
SALT COMPANY FOR ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $47,073 C.L. 290
M/Rosenberg, S/Susag to approve the consent calendar.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #7PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE
AMENDMENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 526, INCREASING
PRINCIPAL BUILDING HEIGHT TO 100 FEET IN THE C-2 (GENERAL
COMMERCIAL) ZONING DISTRICT FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED EAST
OF I-35W, WEST OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 77 AND SOUTH OF 77TH
STREET C. L. NO. 291
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 291 regarding a proposed
ordinance amendment to increase the allowable principal building height to 100 feet in the
C-2 (General Commercial) zoning district for properties located east of I-35W, west of
Trunk Highway 77 and south of 77th Street.
M/Susag, S/Sandahl to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 5-0.
M/Sandahl, S/Stokes that this constitute the Second Reading of Bill No. 1997-18
amending Section 526, that it be published in the official newspaper and that it be made
part of these minutes.
Motion carried 5-0.
Council Meeting Minutes-4-November 24, 1997
Item #8PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE
AMENDMENT REZONING LAND AT 300 WEST 78TH STREET FROM C-3
(HIGH DENSITY COMMERCIAL) TO C-2 (GENERAL COMMERCIAL)
C.L. NO. 292
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 292 regarding a proposed
ordinance amendment to rezone the land at 300 West 78th Street from C-3 (high density
commercial to C-2 (general commercial).
Lawrence Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated that hotels are a permitted
use in a C-3 district but require a conditional use permit in a C-2 district. He questioned
the purpose for rezoning the property since the proposed use for the site is a hotel.
Community Development Director Palmborg stated that the reason for rezoning is
that the required floor area ratio for the C-3 requires a much higher level of density than
what the market interest has indicated for this property.
City Manager Prosser reviewed the differences in setback requirements for C-2 and
C-3 districts.
Mr. Wozniczka suggested that it would be simpler to grant a variance for the lesser
density rather than rezoning the property.
City Manager Prosser stated that the City Attorney had recommended that the
property be rezoned.
M/Sandahl, S/Susag to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 5-0.
M/Sandahl, S/Susag that this constitute Second Reading of Bill No. 1997-19
rezoning land at 300 West 78th Street, that it be published in the official newspaper and
that it be made part of these minutes.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #9PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF TRANSITORY
ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AT 300
WEST 78TH (FORMER LAMBERT LUMBER SITE) FOR
REDEVELOPMENT AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION
DESIGNATING USE OF SALE PROCEEDS FOR NEW CITY
MAINTENANCE FACILITY. C.L. NO. 293
Council Meeting Minutes-5-November 24, 1997
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 293 regarding a proposed
transitory ordinance to authorize the sale of City owned property at 300 West 78th Street
for redevelopment and a proposed resolution designating use of the sale proceed for the
new City maintenance facility.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked what fund the profits from the
sale of the property would go to since $450,000 in Capital Project Funds were used for the
original purchase.
City Manager Prosser stated it is proposed that the proceeds from the sale of the
property be designated to help pay for the construction of a new City garage facility to be
located on Portland Avenue.
Mr. Wozniczka stated concerns regarding the timing for the relocation of City
garage operations from the Lampert Lumber site and potential costs to taxpayers for a
temporary site until the new garage is built. He stated he was particularly concerned
about the possible acquisition of the Gleason Mortuary.
City Manager Prosser stated staff had discussions with Mr. Gleason regarding
acquisition of the Gleason Mortuary as part of the redevelopment of the City garage site
for townhomes. He stated that if the site were acquired early, it would be possible to use
the building temporarily; however, the relocated City garage operations will probably use
the water plant, the Pillsbury Avenue garage, store some equipment outside, or possibly
rent an officer trailer to operate until the new garage facility is ready.
Floyd Sandell, 6737 Third Avenue, stated concerns about Mr. Gleason, notification
of the public, the Richfield Lake Area Planning process, and Richfield Sun-Current
newspaper articles.
City Manager Prosser stated that staff had spoken to Mr. Gleason twice about the
potential for acquisition of the mortuary property. Mr. Prosser reviewed the Richfield Lake
Area Planning process used to encourage public input on potential redevelopment and
related issues.
M/Susag, S/Stokes to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 5-0.
M/Sandahl, S/Stokes that this constitute Second Reading of Bill No. 1997-20,
Transitory Ordinance No. 17.77 authorizing sale of 300 West 78th Street; that it be
published in the official newspaper and that it be made part of these minutes.
Motion carried 5-0.
M/Sandahl, S/Stokes that the following resolution be adopted, that it be spread in
the resolution book and that it be made part of these minutes:
Council Meeting Minutes-6-November 24, 1997
RESOLUTION NO. 8523
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING USE OF PROCEEDS FROM
SALE OF LAMPERT LUMBER SITE AT 300 WEST 78TH STREET
FOR NEW CITY GARAGE FACILITY ON PORTLAND AVENUE
Motion carried 5-0. This resolution appears as Resolution No. 8523 in Resolution
Book No. 67.
Item #10CONSIDERATION OF CONDUCTING CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1997. C.L. NO. 294
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 294 regarding whether to
conduct the regularly scheduled December 1 City Council Study Session meeting. He
stated that a Special City Council Meeting with legislators is scheduled for December 3 at
6:00 p.m. followed by the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
M/Sandahl, S/Susag to cancel the December 1, 1997 City Council Study Session
Meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #11AIRPORT STATUS REPORT
City Manager Prosser reviewed the status of the following airport issues:
x
North-South Runway
The Planning Commission will review the mitigation plan which is being
prepared by Sandy Fidell and Don Brauer.
x
Runway 4-22 Litigation
Steve Pflaum was granted a two week extension for submittance of briefs to the
courts. It is likely he will be challenging assumptions by the FAA’s Record of
Decision of no need for sound insulation in multi-family dwellings of southeast
Richfield.
x
Noise Mitigation Plan
Additional noise testing for data collection was contacted last week. A meeting
between Richfield staff, consultants, RASG, and Metropolitan Council will be
held on November 21 for preparation of Richfield’s Noise Mitigation Plan.
Council Meeting Minutes-7-November 24, 1997
Item #12LEGISLATIVE REPORT
City Manager Prosser stated at the City Council is scheduled to discuss legislative
initiatives and policies with the City’s legislators at a Special Meeting on December 3 at
6:00 p.m.
Item #13COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS
None.
Item #14CLAIMS AND PAYROLL
M/Sandahl, S/Stokes that the following claims and payrolls be approved:
RICHFIELD BANK & TRUST CO.
Checks: 71609-71623, 72249-72253$38,244.06
H/C:72302-72606$860,838.07
FIRSTAR BANK
Payroll: 108974-109278$450,350.32
Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:45 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser
City ClerkCity Manager