CCM 05/06/2013
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
MAY 6, 2013
The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Lund
Councilmember Barnette
Councilmember Saefke
Councilmember Varichak
Councilmember Bolkcom
OTHERS PRESENT:
Darin Nelson, Interim City Manager
Scott Hickok, Community Development Director
James Kosluchar, Public Works Director
Darcy Erickson, City Attorney
Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director
Jim Casserly, Development Consultant
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Al Rosendahl, 31 - 70 Way N.E.
Joan Zmuda, 6051 Fourth Street NE
Pam Reynolds, 1241 Norton Avenue NE
Donald Anderson, Jr., 7304 West Circle NE
PROCLAMATIONS:
Poppy Days (May 10-11, 2013)
National Police Week (May 12-18, 2013)
Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15, 2013)
Public Works Week (May 19-25, 2013)
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Board of Appeal and Equalization Meeting of April 22, 2013
APPROVED.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 2
City Council Meeting of April 22, 2013
APPROVED.
NEW BUSINESS:
1.Receive the Minutes from the Planning Commission Meeting of April 17, 2013.
RECEIVED.
2.Approve the School Resource Officer Program Agreement between the City of
Fridley and Independent School District #14.
Darin Nelson
, Interim City Manager, stated this agreement covers the 2013-14 and 2014-15
school years. The school district will continue to fund a portion of the salary and benefits for
two licensed police officers assigned as School Resource Officers. The funding shall be set at
$94,660 per year for both school years. Funding in the previous agreement specifies different
amounts for each school. The reason for the difference is that the first two months of the prior
first term includes only one assigned officer. The City or the School District may exercise a 30-
day cancellation clause at any time. This agreement has been reviewed by the School District’s
Superintendent and will be presented to the School Board for their approval. Staff recommends
Council’s approval.
APPROVED.
3. Approve the Stewardship Fund Mini Grant Agreement between the City of Fridley
and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.
Darin Nelson,
Interim City Manager,stated as part of our 2009 Street Reconstruction Project, a
multi-leg angular intersection of Jupiter/Mercury/Rainbow Drives was reconfigured. As part of
the reconfiguration, two rain gardens were installed on the east and west side of the intersection.
These infiltration features were added to provide a water quality benefit and reduce costs related
to reconfiguration of the storm sewer system in the intersection.
Mr. Nelson
stated while the eastern rain garden performed well, the western rain garden has not
met anticipated performance. This past December, the City applied for and was awarded a Mini
Grant through the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) Stewardship
Fund Program for retrofit of the rain garden in accordance with the plans prepared by the Anoka
County Conservation District.
Mr. Nelson
stated the total project cost is estimated at $7,724.05. The match will be funded
through in-kind staff time and materials purchased through the Storm Water Division.
Construction is anticipated to occur this year. Staff recommends Council’s approval.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 3
THIS ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON
THE REGULAR AGENDA.
4. Claims (159334-159485).
THIS ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACED ON
THE REGULAR AGENDA.
5. Licenses.
APPROVED THE LICENSES AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked to remove Item Nos. 3 and 4 and place them on the regular
agenda.
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to approve the proposed consent agenda with the
removal of Item Nos. 3 and 4. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA:
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve the agenda with the addition of Item Nos. 3
and 4. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
OPEN FORUM:
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Al Rosendahl
, 31 - 70 Way N.E., asked Council why the StarTribune is allowed to dump its ad
newspapers in every driveway of the City.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated this was brought up to her during Night to Unite, and basically
she was told individual people could call. She asked if there is any way to stop it.
Councilmember Barnette
stated he called, but it still continues.
Scott Hickok
, Community Development Director, stated he has called the StarTribune to
express the City’s concern; and it has fallen on deaf ears. They apparently continue to have no
interest in rectifying the problem. It becomes litter and people who do not want it, leave it out.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 4
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated a question was whether there really is no code enforcement
issue because now it is on your property. It is junkie looking and is also an advertisement
showing no one is home when they pile up. Is there anything the City can do relating to a Code
enforcement issue?
Mr. Hickok
replied there is a freedom of press issue here as well. They are free to distribute the
paper to people. Location is still something that can be governed. That is the point he was
trying to make when calling in, that this could be done in a way where it is not blown around.
Mr. Rosendahl
stated he would like to know why First Amendment rights trump private
property rights.
Mayor Lund
asked Mr. Rosendahl whether he has tried to contact the StarTribune.
Mr. Rosendahl
replied, yes.
Councilmember Varichak
asked what the StarTribune told him.
Mr. Rosendahl
replied, they discontinued it for a while and then they started dumping it again.
Darcy Erickson,
City Attorney, stated there is the ability to regulate time, manner, and place.
There are some things the City can take a look at and see how they can address this matter with
theStarTribune.
Mr. Rosendahl
stated why could it not go into the plastic mailboxes? The Fridley Focus goes in
there.
Councilmember Saefke
stated he gets the StarTribune regularly, and they still throw it in his
driveway periodically. Across from him is multi-housing and all they do there is take an armful
and throw it by the mailboxes. Some of the papers not only end up on private property but also
on boulevards which is semi-private property and which he considers littering. He has seen lawn
services ride right over the things and then you end up with a big mess.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated when she called, they told her they only deliver to people who
do not receive the paper and their whole thing of course is that it increases their circulation.
Mayor Lund
stated they will look at it.
Mr. Rosendahl
stated the neighbor in the house next to him has been evicted. He asked what
happens as summer comes along and the grass grows, etc. It is a bank-owned property.
Mayor Lund
stated if the bank is the owner, they would have to perform to the standards of the
City Code. Mr. Rosendahl can call the City about any violations. The City would have to
contact the bank by letter, do an inspection, and give them a reasonable amount of time to take
care of the issue.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 5
Catherine Velsey,
Board of Directors member for the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts,
introduced their new director, Bethany Whitehead.
Pam Reynolds
, 1241 Norton, stated regarding the StarTribune ad papers, when the snow melted,
the catch basins were full of them. One city managed to get the StarTribune to agree to pick up
the old newspaper before they placed the new one. There is a number and a website and you
really have to work with them and they finally quit delivering them. Some research she did
showed that if you are in a townhouse or a homeowners association, the homeowner’s
association board can say they do not want them there anymore because they are responsible for
the maintenance. It is littering which is against the law. They have the right to print what they
wish. Throwing it in her front yard without her permission, does not have anything to do with
the First Amendment rights.
Donald Anderson, Jr
., 7304 West Circle NE, stated while he is driving his motor scooter, there
are passing motorists who are swearing at him, etc.
Mayor Lund
asked Mr. Anderson is the scooter street legal?
Mr. Anderson
replied, yes. People tell him to get off the road or drive on the sidewalk because
it is going to slow for them. Sometimes the cars go around him real fast and flip him off. He
asked if there is anything he can do about that?
Mayor Lund
asked Mr. Anderson to speak with the Police Department about it.
PUBLIC HEARING:
6. Consideration of the Creation of TIF District #22 (Northstar Transit Station TIF
District) (Ward 3).
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to open the public hearing. Seconded by
Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE HEARING WAS OPENED AT 8:08
P.M.
Paul Bolin,
HRA Assistant Executive Director, stated they have been talking about creating this
particular TIF district since the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions gave the City and HRA the
ability to create a special Northstar transit TIF district. The purpose of the district is to pay for
public improvements, assist redevelopment efforts, and increase transit options in the area
around the Northstar station. Those particular parcels included in the district are actually listed
in the legislation itself. The parcels are dictated by the legislation that was approved. The
st
district itself goes roughly from 694 to 61 Avenue and from the Mississippi River to Main
Street.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 6
Mr. Bolin
stated in 2009, they took a look at creating the district. At that time, the economic
conditions were not right. There was no new development happening. John Allen has purchased
the “JLT” site and made an application for land use approvals needed to build on the site. Now
that he has plans to redevelop that site, there will be quite a bit of increment.
Mr. Bolin
stated in the Council’s packet they have a rather lengthy resolution and copy of the
TIF plan that was put together for this district. It was required by statute. In the TIF plan, they
go through four different scenarios for development and identify what could potentially be
generated by increment and what some of those costs or uses of that increment could be in the
district.
Mr. Bolin
stated in the best case scenario, if all four phases of development happen throughout
the district, they would take the value of those sites which currently sits at about $169 million
and increase that value up to about $208 million. There is a potential to see some increase in
value in this area.
Mr. Bolin
stated Fridley has one redevelopment plan and one redevelopment project area in
which it can spend the tax increment financing. Any time the City goes through and adds a new
district, they also amend the existing redevelopment TIF plan. In this case, they are also slightly
adjusting the boundary which includes three parcels the legislature approved that was in the
existing TIF plan. They are also amending the TIF plans for 21 TIF districts to account for this
new district and then, finally, they are creating a new TIF District No. 22.
Mr. Bolin
stated with the slight change in boundary, the legislature allowed the City to include
what they have labeled on the map as Parcel Nos. 2, 3, and 4. Parcel No. 2 is a vacant parcel the
HRA owns. Parcel Nos. 3 and 4 are two-level apartment buildings. The existing boundary for
that TIF project dates back to the mid-1980s. That boundary just misses those three parcels.
Since the Legislature authorized the HRA to add those three parcels to our Northstar Transit
Station District, staff would like to get those included in the City’s overall redevelopment plan.
There is a provision for this in the lengthy resolution in the Council’s packet. This legislation
was approved in 2007, and then went back to the legislature in 2008 for a couple of minor
changes. The actual legislation page itself, is showing the differences between the original 2007
version the 2008 version.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if the changes on page 42 are from 2007 to 2008.
Mr. Bolin
replied those are the changes that happened in 2008.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if there were any other changes.
Mr. Bolin
replied those three parcels were included in the 2007 language, and it was approved in
the spring of 2007. In 2008, they made the changes they see highlighted and underlined. No
changes have been made since 2008.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked him to explain about increased tax value and the potential
options.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 7
Mr. Bolin
replied, at this point in time the only definitive thing is the one project by John Allen
for the 27 acres on the corner of East River Road and 694. He is planning a rather large
industrial office showroom/warehouse type of building built closer to the railroad tracks. It
would have a higher end finish, and is proposed to be just under 140,000 square feet. In the
southwest corner of the site, he is proposing 200,000 square feet of office space--a corporate
headquarters type of building. Finally, in the northwest corner (the third phase) there would be a
number of units of housing.
Mr. Bolin
stated the TIF plan is their best guesses at what is likely to happen down the road.
They need to have all of it in the TIF plan, as it is turned into the State Auditor. They want you
to try and figure out what you could do in the tax increment district. If the City does not dream
big enough and identify all the different types of scenarios, the TIF projections in the plan are
real low, and the numbers are real low, and we end up with a better project that eventually hits
development, we lose out on a lot of increment.
Mayor Lund
said he does not see a lot of green space. With the size of the warehouse, he is
concerned about the truck traffic coming from there with it being right adjacent to a multi-
housing facility. He asked if there was some restriction on the truck traffic, so there is no traffic
going in and out of there at all hours of the day.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked how much bigger is the warehouse compared to the one Mr.
Allen has on Main Street.
Scott Hickok
, Community Development Director, replied it is about twice the size. The first
building will be very much like his building on Main Street. This one is a bit longer but
essentially is the same. These are the types of things that will come back in the planning analysis
with the master plan. Mr. Allen does believe that the uses can co-exist. He sees this as a nice
higher-end residential complex, complimentary to a world headquarters type building on the
corner, made with masonry stone and brick. It will capitalize on the fact it is near transit, both
th
bus and train. It will be near the 57 Avenue extension when that happens, and it will have easy
access to a number of different places. As far as the internal activities, they will want those
things to work well together. Much of it is going to be felt in terms of leasing and in terms of the
restrictions Mr. Allen puts on it. He does see the first phase as being an impediment to the other
two phases, but a nice neighbor. He wants them to all be good neighbors.
Councilmember Barnette
asked which building on Main Street does John Allen own.
Mr. Hickok
replied, just north of Murphy, 5110 Main Street.
Pam Reynolds,
1241 Norton Avenue N.E., stated in the first part of the resolution, it talks about
using monies from other districts. At the HRA meeting, there was discussion that something had
changed.
James Casserly
, Attorney for the Fridley HRA, said the Tax Increment Act puts restrictions on
the movement of tax increment. All this does is try and work within the existing tax increment
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 8
act and the existing development program. If there were some excess increment that could be
legitimately moved and you had an eligible expense, you would be able to spend it in this area.
Ms. Reynolds
asked regarding Subsection 24-3, just above Subsection 24-18, it states, “At this
time the Authority anticipates there will be no impact on City services due to the creation of the
TIF district.” Looking at the phases and what is intended to be built in each phase, she is not
sure they can make the statement that there will be no impact on City services. Are they talking
police, fire, sewer, water, and plowing?
Councilmember Bolkcom
replied they would have to do all their plowing and put in their own
systems. She asked if they would have to add an extra sewer/water person because of the
building development.
Attorney Casserly
replied this is really a redevelopment project, so all of the services are
generally being provided now. Oftentimes in these areas, if you put in new infrastructure, it may
actually help decrease the overall maintenance costs because it is all replaced and new. What
this tries to get is some unusual kind of cost that would not be taken into account with the
development. They did not see anything that was unusual. Generally, the commercial/industrial
property owners are obligated to maintain their properties.
Ms. Reynolds
asked if they were talking about public works type of services. There are four
phases that stretch out over a period of time. There must be some needs for something.
Ms. Reynolds
stated in the title on Exhibit XXIV-E, it says District No. 20. Is this for No. 22?
Attorney Casserly
replied it should be No. 22.
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to move into record Exhibit XXIV-E and Exhibit 1-C,
with correction in title referring to No. 22 and not No. 20. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Reynolds
said regarding page 47, Subsection XXIV, estimated amount of bonded
indebtedness, they discussed this at the HRA meeting. A lot of this is based on assumption. The
phases for John Allen’s project goes on to 2022. That is an estimated amount of bonded
indebtedness. How do people in the community know if they are going to end up footing the bill
for part of this? Who does the bonding?
Attorney Casserly
replied, it is formula-driven. No debt can be issued without specific HRA
approval, and there can never be binding by the City without City Council approval. All tax
increment plans require a maximum amount that would be allowable. This prevents you from
having to go back in and continuing to amend the plan every time you wanted to do a bond.
Bonding is very rare. The City rarely does this kind of bonding in its tax increment districts. It
has done some in the past, but it has not done it for many years. Medtronic may have been the
last project.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 9
Mayor Lund
asked Attorney Casserly to explain about the risk or exposure the City would have.
Attorney Casserly
said he is not aware of any time where you would never want to authorize
debt that could not be supported by the revenues. They have not done it previously, and he
cannot imagine them doing it in the future.
MOTION
by Councilmember Saefke to close the public hearing. Seconded by Councilmember
Bolkcom.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, AND THE HEARING WAS CLOSED AT 8:40
P.M.
NEW BUSINESS:
7. Resolution Creating TIF District #22 (Northstar Transit Station TIF District)
(Ward 3).
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to adopt Resolution No. 2013-26. Seconded by
Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. Resolution for a Final Plat, PS #12-01, by Carlson McCain, for William Fogerty to
Subdivide the Existing Large Lot into Three Separate Lots to Allow for Potential
Future Development Opportunities on the Site, Generally Located at 7011
University Avenue (Ward 1).
Mr. Hickok
stated this is the final plat. There was a discovery that LLC was incorrectly named
on the plat mylar by the developer. The mistake needs to be corrected. Council is being asked to
extend the time frame until September 9. The developer has waived State Statute 15.99 and any
deadline requirements related to the platting process. The developer anticipated they would be
ready by the Council meeting on May 20. Since that was cancelled, staff suggested the Council
meeting on June 10. The developer thinks he will be ready with the corrected Mylar by June 10.
MOTION
by Councilmember Saefke entering into the record a waiver signed by Mr. William
Fogerty dated May 6, 2013. Seconded by Councilmember Bolkcom.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION
by Councilmember Saefke to continue consideration of the Resolution for a Final
Plat, PS #12-01, by Carlson McCain, for William Fogerty to Subdivide the Existing Large Lot
into Three Separate Lots to Allow for Potential Future Development Opportunities on the Site,
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 10
Generally Located at 7011 University Avenue, to June 10, 2013. Seconded by Councilmember
Bolkcom.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Receive Bids and Award the 2013 Street Improvement Project No. ST. 2013-01, to
Northwest Asphalt, Inc.
James Kosluchar
, Public Works Director, stated this project is in the northeast area of Fridley.
It is mainly in the Meadowmoor and Flanery Park areas with one street in Melody Manor. The
project is 3.9 miles in length and includes 334 properties subject to assessment.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated the project budget in the 2013 CIP is $1,080,000, including five funding
areas which include street CIP, stormwater, water, and storm sewer. The most recent
construction cost estimate performed by the engineering staff was $999,735. Bids were opened
on April 30 for a combined project. There were 15 bid sets purchased. The City received five
responsive bids, and the low bid was received from Northwest Asphalt, Inc., of Shakopee,
Minnesota, in the amount of $964,248.98, which was within the budget and 3.5 percent below
the final estimate.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated presuming the work, staff went out and projected the special assessments
based on the feasibility report and the items that were bid; and it does come in just under the
$2,150 they estimated.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated the City of Fridley has had two big projects with Northwest Asphalt. In
st
2009 they did the 61 Avenue and Moore Lake Drive repaving. In 2011, they did a street
rehabilitation project. They have also done several mill and overlay projects. Staff has found
their workmanship and attention to schedule to be acceptable and responsive. Staff recommends
Council receive the bids and award 2013 Street Improvement Project No. ST. 2013-01, to
Northwest Asphalt, Inc., of Shakopee, Minnesota, in the amount of $964,248.98.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated if Council approves this tonight, they will have a preconstruction meeting.
This contractor will pursue the work early in the season. Notice of the schedule will go out to
the affected property owners once they have the preconstruction meeting. CenterPoint Energy
and CenturyLink have started their utility work in that area.
Councilmember Saefke
asked if the sewers that needed to be televised have been finished.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied, they are close. There are some storm sewer repairs and catch basin
repairs. They have done a lot of lining up in that area. Actually last year’s lining project
covered some of what they needed to do.
Councilmember Saefke
asked if they have had residential televising.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied they have had a lot of residential. Anywhere from 50 to 60 residents.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 11
Councilmember Saefke
stated people in that area should be aware that if they need work done
on their private lines, now would be the opportune time to do it.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied they always inform them especially if they see if there is an issue or they
are considering doing preventative work, because they basically save on the cost of pavement if
they get in and need to excavate. They can excavate in the roadway, and the City will repave it.
Likewise they can do driveways as well.
Councilmember Saefke
asked how old are the utilities were in that area.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied the streets are from the mid 1960s. They do offer to televise for free in
the project areas.
Councilmember Varichak
stated if they do it earlier in the spring, it is less likely they will have
roads like last year with the excessive heat they had.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked would they actually begin the work.
Mr. Kosluchar
indicated the contractor would like to begin the week after Memorial Day
Weekend.
Mayor Lund
asked if this was the same asphalt company who did the work up in Ward 2 a
couple of years back and they had to come back the following year because there were a number
of streets with really sloppy workmanship.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied this is not the same contractor.
MOTION
by Councilmember by Varichak to receive bids and award the 2013 Street
Improvement Project No. ST. 2013-01 to Northwest Asphalt, Inc. Seconded by Councilmember
Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Approve the Stewardship Fund Mini Grant Agreement between the City of Fridley
and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.
Councilmember Bolkcom
referred to page 8, second paragraph. She has an issue with rain
gardens. They are lovely and a great idea, but she is not sure they are always being maintained
and people are very happy with them. In the second paragraph it states, “The western rain
garden has not met anticipated performance. This is mainly due to 1) no pretreatment. . . .“
What is “pretreatment”?
Mr. Kosluchar
replied a pretreatment base is sometimes recommended when you have three
large areas draining, so you can catch the initial grit and silt that comes off the roadway. Those
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 12
basins can be cleaned out. It can block the soil pores so you do not get the infiltration desired in
a raingarden.
Councilmember Bolkcom
referred to page 9. Under 3.4, it says “NOTE: 10% may be withheld
for education activities not completed, even if there is no corresponding line item in the budget.
No more than 90% of the amount due under this Agreement may be paid until all deliverables
and activities have been completed. . . .”
Mr. Kosluchar
replied, it would be at their discretion. If there was something that was
supposed to be presented or provided as an education piece to this. The City does not have an
education piece to this project.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated she thought that was part of the whole thing. She asked what
the City needs to do to make it successful and the neighborhood aware of it.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated the neighborhood is aware of it. It is at the intersection. Councilmember
Saefke was there. They had a meeting prior to the project being installed and several residents
attended. By and large there was some skepticism about the area being arranged in the
intersection.
Councilmember Bolkcom
said on page 14 it mentions creating and distributing information
flyers on the project to the residents, posting information on the City’s website, and writing
articles to be included in the City newsletters. What do they do as far as the education part?
Mr. Kosluchar
replied there are a couple of things. This is a standard MWMO agreement. A
lot of times these grants are involved in an education piece. For Fridley, they know it will
provide information on this whether it is in the newsletter, on the website, or something in the
neighborhood. However, the City will not really line item any education cost per se. It is just
incidental to what the City does to the storm water mission.
Councilmember Bolkcom
referred to page 13, in the third paragraph from the bottom. It states:
“Provide for successful implementation and long term maintenance of the rain garden by
developing a maintenance agreement and maintenance plan with adjacent property owner.” Are
they talking about asking adjacent property owners to take care of this rain garden?
Mr. Kosluchar
replied this was kind of the agreement when the initial rain garden was put in.
The adjacent property owner would now maintain it and they would have some kind of
maintenance arrangement with them. Right now, the City is going to be maintaining the two as
they do right now.
Councilmember Bolkcom
said this includes watering plants during initial establishment,
weeding the garden, and replacing mulch. These are all things the City is doing even, though in
this agreement it states “adjacent” owner?
Mr. Kosluchar
stated it is alluding to the fact the City can have a maintenance agreement.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 13
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated, it does not say it “can” it says it “will.”
Mr. Kosluchar
replied, they know it is the City’s maintenance responsibility.
Councilmember Bolkcom
referred to page 17, she asked what is a “slumped” soil?
Mr. Kosluchar
replied it has been basically saturated for a long time.
Councilmember Bolkcom
referred to page 16, what is the “Capitol Equipment” for $900?
Mr. Kosluchar
replied that is for the pretreatment structure.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked what it looked like.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied it looks like a small catch basin with a grid on it.
Mayor Lund
stated he recalls when this was built and the adjacent property owner was not very
happy. That is one of the reasons why the City is maintaining this. However, he did hear this
was a much cheaper alternative than redoing the stormwater runoff in that area. His first
thought, $7,700, even with the $2,000 grant as a portion of that, it seems like an awful lot of
money to spend and then have to maintain just for one rain garden.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated at one point they estimated just over $20,000 to reconfigure the storm
water system. It could potentially be effective the first time around but it has not been.
Mr. Kosluchar
stated the east side has been.
Mayor Lund
asked the west side was so different when the proximity was so close.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied they do not know. They think it may be because of deeper soil.
Mayor Lund
asked if they should cut their losses and do the $20,000 fix rather than the $7,700
fix with some risk of failure again.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied, as an engineer he would like nothing more than to pipe it in.
Mayor Lund
asked why did he not recommend that.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied because this is still cost-effective.
Mayor Lund
stated but the City will have to maintain it perpetually or until they make an
agreement with another property owner.
Councilmember Bolkcom
said they are increasing the water quality by not putting a pipe in
place.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied correct.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 14
Mayor Lund
replied he understands Councilmember Bolkcom is in favor of it; however, on the
other hand, he believes she is very critical of these rain gardens because a number of them are
not kept up. They look like eyesores.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated part of the problem is they are put in but no plants are ever put
in them. They have to have some sort of agreement with the property owners to maintain them.
Mayor Lund
stated the City does have agreements with them.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated it is something new. If you look on the website for Rice Creek
Watershed there are some incredible, beautiful raingardens all over the metro area. It is a matter
of getting the right plants and knowing what to do with them.
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve the Stewardship Fund Mini Grant
Agreement between the City of Fridley and the Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, COUNCILMEMBERS BARNETTE, SAEFKE, VARICHAK,
AND BOLKCOM VOTING AYE, AND MAYOR LUND VOTING NAY, MAYOR LUND
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED ON A 4-1 VOTE.
4. Claims (159334-159485).
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked regarding page 52, Cub Foods store, New Brighton, Zone
supplies, why do they not use our own Cub Foods store.
Darin Nelson,
Interim City Manager,said he believed that store and the Northtown store are the
only ones where the City is able to charge supplies.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked regarding page 24, dredging to the landfill, what were we
dredging? It says, Waste Management-Blaine.
Mr. Kosluchar
replied, that was from the Danube storm water pond.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked, on page 27, Emergency Automotive Technology, rescue
vehicle spotlight, $780. Is that a huge spotlight?
Mr. Nelson
replied he would check into that.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if it was something that was broken. It seems like there are a
lot of things that kind of just die on those fire trucks.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked, on page 32, U.S.A. Bluebook, for hydrant marking pens,
$386.29. What is that?
Councilmember Saefke
replied hydrant flags for winter for snowplowing.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 6, 2013 PAGE 15
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve Claim Nos. 159334-159485. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
14. Informal Status Report.
There were no informal status reports.
ADJOURN:
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette, seconded by Councilmember Varichak, to adjourn.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
9:18 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by,
Denise M. Johnson Scott J. Lund
Recording Secretary Mayor