HomeMy Public PortalAbout10/15/96 CCM155
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15, 1996
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on October 15, 1996, at
7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Acting Mayor Ann Thies presided.
Members present: John Ferris, Jim Johnson, Ann Thies, and Phil Zietlow.
Members absent: Anne E. Theis.
Also present: Public Works Director Jim Dillman, Police Chief Rick Rabenort, City
Engineer Shawn Gustafson, Zoning Administrator Loren Kohnen, Attorney Daniel
Greensweig, and City Clerk -Treasurer Paul Robinson.
1. Adoption of the Agenda
Moved by Zietlow, seconded by Johnson, to adopt the published agenda with the
following additions: Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Motion passed unanimously.
2. Minutes
Moved by Ferris, seconded by Zietlow, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of
October 15,1996, with the following addition: add the word to to Phil Zietlow's
comments in the second paragraph under item number 11. Motion passed
unanimously.
3. Consent Agenda
Moved by Johnson, seconded by Zietlow, to approve the consent agenda, as follows:
A. Resolution Granting A Permit to U.S. West for the Installation of Buried
Cable On Pioneer Trail.
B. Resolution Granting A Permit to U.S. West for the Installation of Buried
Cable On Foxberry Farms Road.
D. Resolution Granting An Amended Permit to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District.
E. Resolution Granting A Conditional Use Permit To Gladys Schlosser.
F. Resolution Granting A Variance To Dawn Crawford and Ross Lewis.
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Request for approval of a gambling license for the NRA Foundation and
waiving of the 30 waitinq period.
The City Council discussed the application. The City Council raised several concerns
about this application: there was no local representation from the sponsor of the event,
the signature on the application was from 1994, and the City Council was not certain of
the exact affiliation of the organization.
Moved by Zietlow, seconded by Thies not to waive the 30 day waiting requirement.
Motion passed unanimously.
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4. Pool Ordinance Amendment.
Phil Zietlow asked for clarification about what constituted a wall or fence around a pool.
There was some additional discussion on this issues by the City Council.
Loren Kohnen responded that a fence would have to be 5' feet in height around the
pool. If the fence was directly around the wall of the pool it would need to be five feet
above the pool. In the case of an above ground pool a fence directly on the pool wall
could be 8 to 10 feet above the ground.
Motion by Zietlow, seconded by Ferris to approve the amendments to section 800.01 et
seq. of the City's code ordinance pertaining to private swimming pools. Motion passed
unanimously.
5. Park Commission Comments - No park commissioners were in attendance.
There was some discussion about the snowmobile trails. Phil Zietlow mentioned that
this issue would be on the next Park Commission agenda.
Rick Rabenort asked if Officer Priem could attend the meeting. The City Council
approved.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Livable Communities Act Action Plan
Loren Kohnen stated that last year the City Council decided to participate in the
Metropolitan Livable Communities Act. The letter that he was submitting reaffirms the
city's intention to continue its commitment to do its best to comply with this act.
Ann Thies asked if this letter was the same as last year.
Loren Kohnen stated that each city he works with have different letters based on their
unique situations. The letter submitted for approval this year was very similar to last
year's letter but it has additional language to highlight Medina's problems providing
affordable housing.
Moved by Thies, seconded by Ferris to approve the draft of the Livable Communities
Action Plan. Motion passed unanimously.
7. City Hall Expansion
John Ferris began the discussion stating that this proposed expansion was to create a
good meeting space, a building that was up to code and more importantly one that took
care of safety issues not taken care of in the current facility. Ferris stated that this
expansion is a long term fix that should last the department for the next five to fifteen
years.
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Ann Thies asked what the area in the middle of the proposed expansion was.
Rick Rabenort explained that this was a vestibule that served a number of purposes. It
provides a place where people could wait for prisoners and be out of the weather. It
also provides a place inside yet locked from the police department where the public
could call 911 in an emergency after regular business hours.
There was some discussion about the original cost estimate vs. the current estimate
Rick Rabenort stated that the current cost estimate of the expansion was $ 205,000.
Ann Thies asked if a second story was considered on the addition.
John Ferris stated that this option was considered but that it would considerably
increase the cost of the project and since the space was not needed they did not
pursue this option.
Phil Zietlow asked if this plan would make the Medina department as safe as the
surrounding communities.
John Ferris stated that this would be comparable to most, better than some, but not
nearly as elaborate as the City of Plymouth, which would be nice but is way out of
reach.
Jim Johnson asked if this plan would solve the problems with the heating and air
conditioning.
Rick Rabenort stated that this was the most expensive part of the addition and it will
take care of the current problems.
There was a question about how the addition was to be financed
John Ferris stated that the funding would come out of the revolving fund. He also
stated that the key right now is for the City Council to be solid on the plan as presented
so that costs are not added to the process after creating the plans and specifications.
Ann Thies asked if there were any accessibility issues based on the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
Rick Rabenort stated that he was told that the current plan would take care of those
issues.
There was some discussion about access to each floor and whether or not some type
of lift was needed. The consensus was that based on the potential cost of this it would
be better to wait on the construction of a lift.
Phil Zietlow stated that the next step would cost $ 14,950.
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There was some discussion about what exactly this next step included. It was
determined that the next step was to have the architect create the plans and
specifications for the addition so that the City Council can put out bids for the
construction of the addition.
Moved by Ferris, seconded by Zietlow to approve the preparation of the plans and
specifications for the City Hall addition based on the plan presented. Motion passed
unanimously.
8. Randy Mayer - Letter of Credit Reduction
Paul Robinson stated that Randy Mayer wrote a letter to Phil Zietlow. Phil Zietlow
passed this letter on to Ann Thies, the current Planning and Zoning liaison, who asked
the City Clerk to review the charges and to get back to Randy Mayer.
After reviewing the information from the City Engineer, talking with the Zoning
Administrator and Randy Mayer, there seemed to be one main issue. Was it possible to
decrease the number of hours it takes reduce a letter of credit while continuing to
assure the City the same amount of financial protection.
From these discussions came two suggestions for modifications to the letter of credit
reduction process that could save the applicant and the city money. One, the City
Council could delegate to the City Engineer the authority to reduce letters of credit
without requiring the matter to be brought before the City Council. Two, when
possible(i.e. landscaping or concrete work) the City's Building Inspector could make
on -site inspections, limiting the amount of inspections the engineering firm would have
to make.
There was some discussion about the letter of credit process. Shawn Gustafson then
stated that the process could be streamlined. He could bring the final letter of credit
approval to the City Council and have the City Council give him the authority to reduce
the others without City Council approval.
Loren Kohnen stated that he and Mr. Gustafson have worked on projects together
before where they have shared some of the inspection duties.
Phil Zietlow raised a concern that the process not get so streamlined that the letter is
reduced too fast and limits the City's ability to ensure the job is done right.
John Ferris stated that whether or not the City Council actually reduced the letter of
credit the City Council in either case bases its decision on the recommendation of the
City Engineer.
There was discussion on how the letter is reduced typically and what amount of money
is remaining in escrow at the end of a project.
159
Randy Mayer stated that it was difficult to see how the letter of credit could cost so
much. He stated that his main concern, however, was not the total cost of the bill but
that he was billed 10 months after the fact.
Ann Thies agreed that it would be annoying to receive a bill after such a long time
period.
Shawn Gustafson stated that the City could send a copy of the engineering fees to
applicants before work on a particular project began.
Ann Thies stated that the two suggested changes seemed logical.
Moved by Ferris, seconded by Zietlow to, authorize, direct the City Engineer to reduce
letters of credit administratively up to the final letter where City Council approval will still
be required. Motion passed unanimously.
9. Discussion on Wireless Telephone Antennas
Jim Dillman stated that he received another request for an antenna/tower in the City.
This is the fifth company to contact the City so far. However, the latest company is the
best so far. They would like to build a 150' foot tower. This tower would have the
potential to hold five different companies on it. If the City were to require co -location it
could get rent from the tower plus 50% from other companies located on it.
Ann Thies asked what the length of the lease would be. Loren Kohnen answered five
years.
Daniel Greensweig stated that there could be potential anti-trust problem if the City
requires different companies to co -locate on one tower.
There was a lot of discussion about the number of towers going up in Media and in the
surrounding communities and how the City may not be adequately prepared to deal
with them.
Loren Kohnen stated that soon three more licenses would be given in this area.
Daniel Greensweig stated that nearly half of the cities in the Metropolitan Area have
moratoriums on wireless transmission and reception facilities within their City. A
moratorium could give the City Council the time to research the regulation of such
towers and transmissions.
Moved by Zietlow, seconded by Ferris to direct Daniel Greensweig to prepare a
resolution declaring a moratorium on the transmission and reception facilities of
commercial wireless telecommunications services. Motion passed unanimously.
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10. Inflow & Infiltration(I&l) Study Grant
Jim Dillman stated that the City's application for a $ 10,000 matching grant for an I&I
Study was approved by the Metropolitan Council. Dillman asked the City Council
approve the a $10,000 matching.
Moved by Zietlow, seconded by Johnson to approve the agreement between the
Metropolitan Council and the City for a $ 10,000 I/I matching grant. Motion passed
unanimously
11. Impacts of Residential Development in Smaller Communities - An Update from
the Northwest League of Municipalities.
Ann Thies updated the City Council about a study that the U of M extension service
was conducting on the impacts of development on cities. They will be conducting this
study in the City of Independence and it may be of value to the City of Medina. This
will be discussed at the upcoming Northwest Hennepin League of Municipalities
meeting.
12. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Rick Rabenort stated that due to the increase in carbon monoxide alarms there has
been an increasing frequency in the required responses. Currently a level one
response requires the police to respond when alerted. A level three response requires
the City to respond when there is a life threatening problem. If on a level three
response there is no answer from the occupants, the officer will respond as if it was a
level one response.
Motion by Thies, seconded by Zietlow to approve the police department to use a level
three response when responding to carbon monoxide alarms. Motion passed
unanimously.
13. Adjourn
Moved by Zietlow, seconded by Thies, to adjourn the meeting at approximately
9:58 p.m.. Motion passed unanimously.
Ann C. Thies Actin Mayo
yo
Paul Robinson, Clerk -Treasurer
ORDER CHECKS - OCTOBER 15, 1996
16371 Air Touch Cellular $ 149.34
16372 American Express 671.07
16373 American Linen supply 42.72
16374 B & B Products 100.00
16375 Bayside Floral 58.58
16376 Biff's Inc 198.78
16377 A.J. Book 22.95
16378 Bryan Rock Products 31,914.40
16379 Budget Printing 126.86
16380 Buffalo Bituminous 33,478.60
16381 Casara Computer Systems 220.00
16382 Commissioner of Revenue 838.34
if16383 Culligan 60.60
16384 James Dillman 75.00
16385 Robert Dressel 75.00
16386 Egan oil Co. 234.80
16387 Farmers State Bank of Hamel 3,522.49
16388 Feed Rite Controls 125.77
16389 Fortin Hardware 39.42
16390 Genuine Parts 344.15
16391 Glenwood Inglewood
Great West Life
75.50
16392 Goodin Co. 1.92
16393 Grainger 180.14
I 16394 1,720.00
6 16395 Hamel Building Center 69.81
16396 Jim Hatch Sales 69.97
16397 Hennepin County Support 565.00
16398 Holiday 30.15
16399 Kennedy & Graven 5,502.88
16400 Lakeshore weekly .News 28.75
16401 Law Enforcement Labor Services 132.00
16402 Lawson Products 75.85
16403 Long Lake Glass 650.16
16404 Lucent Technologies 13.30
16405 MCFOA 30.00
IP
16406 Metro West Inspection6,852.31
16407Midwest Asphalt515.78
16408Midwest Automotive235.18
16409 Minn Comm 55.41
16410 Minnesota Mutual 236.00
16411 Minnesota State Treasurer 942.53
16412 Minnesota State Retirement 164.00
16413 National Fire Prot. Assn 455.00
16414 Northern States Power 782.62
16415 P.E.R.A. 2,310.87
16416 Pioneer -Sarah Creek 690.50
16417 Reynolds Welding 57.74
16418 Rockler Industries 6,634.10-
Steven Scherer 75.00
113.15
538.89.
12.74
�64.23 Tallen & Baertschi 2,503.34
6422 Thorpe Distributing 22,092.51
16425 Twin City Water Clinic 20.00
16426 U.S. West Communications 34.60
16427 Uniforms unlimited 67.45
16428 Warning Lites 412.16
16429 Westside Wholesale Tire 2,908.51
16430 Wright -Hennepin Security 52.18
16420 St. Joseph's Equipment
16421 Streicher's
16422 Superior Ford
$130,206.87
162
PAYROLL CHECKS - OCTOBER 15, 1996
14970 Paul A. Robinson $ 773.34
14971 Steven T. Scherer 880.85
14972 Richard R. Rabenort 1,191.60
14973 Michael J. Rouillard 520.56
14974 James D. Dillman 1,141.28
14975 Robert P. Dressel 1,145.86
14976 Edgar J. Belland 1,200.78
14977 Cecilia M. Vieau 644.94
14978 Laura L. Sulander 885.78
14979 Sandra L. Larson 749.47
14980 Joseph R. Heyman 861.95
14981 Jon D. Priem 799.66
$10,796.07