CCM 01/04/2016
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
JANUARY 4, 2016
The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Lund
Councilmember Barnette
Councilmember Saefke
Councilmember Varichak
Councilmember Bolkcom
OTHERS PRESENT:
Wally Wysopal, City Manager
Darcy Erickson, City Attorney
Scott Hickok, Community Development Director
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA:
OLD BUSINESS:
1.Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 206 of the Fridley City Code,
Adopting all Current Amendments to the State Building Code, and Allowing for
Perpetual Future Adoption of Amendments as they Occur.
WAIVED THE READING OF THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO.
ON SECOND READING AND ORDERED PUBLICATION.
NEW BUSINESS:
2.Approve Comprehensive Sign Plan for North Park Business Center Located at 350 –
rd
73 Avenue N.E. (Ward 1).
APPROVED.
3. Resolution Designating Official Depositories for the City of Fridley.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2016-01.
4.Resolution Designating the Fridley Sun Focus as the Official Newspaper of the City of
Fridley for the Year 2016.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2016-02.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2016 PAGE 2
5.Approve 2016 City Council and Staff Appointments.
APPROVED.
6.Appointments (City Employees).
APPROVED.
7.Claims: 171023 – 171097.
APPROVED.
8.Licenses.
APPROVED LICENSES AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE.
9.Estimate:
Kuechle Underground, Inc.
PO Box 509
Kimball, MN 56302
2015 Street Rehabilitation Project No. ST2015-01
Estimate No. 5………………………………………………………..$77,717.57
APPROVED.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked on page 28 of the claims if a new tractor was bought for Parks
and Recreation for $42,000.
Wally Wysopal
, City Manager, said he would check on that claim and get back to Council.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked on page 24 of the claims what a curb runner was for $844 and
on the bottom of page 23 if the expense was for high school dinner theater or senior center
transportation.
Mr. Wysopal
said he would check on those and get back to Council.
Councilmember Saefke
said a curb runner goes on the end of plow to plow against the curb line
so the plow does not jump the curb.
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to approve the proposed Consent Agenda. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2016 PAGE 3
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
OPEN FORUM:
No one from the audience spoke.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA:
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to adopt the agenda. Seconded by Councilmember
Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW BUSINESS:
10.Resolution in Support of the 2015 Statewide Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Infrastructure Grant Application
Scott Hickok,
Community Development Director, stated that this is a request for a Statewide
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Grant Application that is due January 8. This grant
thst
would fund a multi-use trail and walk expansion on the east side of 7 Street from 61 Avenue to
Medtronic Parkway; plus planning for future SRTS for the City and Schools.
Mr. Hickok
said that MnDOT has $500,000 available statewide to fund SRTS planning. There
is no local match required for this Planning Grant and it is very competitive. Education,
Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation all play a role. We participate
through City and school staff time to support plan development. The Planning Grant increases
the City’s ability to obtain future walk and trail infrastructure grants. The primary goals are:
Improve safety for walking/biking students on busy roads
Provide safer access to after school programs for all students
Reduce a.m. and p.m. parent traffic congestion near schools with fewer parent cars
Increase opportunities for physical activity for students, the elderly, and the community at
large
th
Mr. Hickok
noted that the 7 Street project request was unfunded in 2014. SRTS infrastructure
dollars can only be used for construction costs. Preliminary engineering, right-of-way work,
administrative and construction engineering will be completed in-house. City Council resolution
is required to certify support of the project, and indicate intention to provide maintenance of
walks, trails and bike lanes of the proposed infrastructure project for its useful life. Awards will
be announced in March. The construction will be completed in 2017. The SRTS Infrastructure
Grant Request is for $262,400 with a 20% local match from the City of Fridley for engineering.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2016 PAGE 4
Mr. Hickok
stated that both grants are supported by school administrators, school transportation
staff and have letters of support from Anoka County Multi-Modal Transportation Planning.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if the budget sheet needed to be in the packet.
Mr. Hickok
replied that he highlighted the most important numbers in his presentation.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked staff to explain the process.
Mr. Hickok
replied that this is something done jointly with staff and the school district. These
funds cannot be applied for independently and the school needs the City to assist. The City
makes the grant application with the support of the school. This will support the health and
wellness and help kids get to school safely. This connection is an important one to make.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked when residents would become part of the process.
Mr. Hickok
replied here would be neighborhood meetings once the project is designed and there
is something to talk about to citizens, similar to what they do for street projects.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked how the residents would be notified.
Mr. Hickok
replied if this project gets funded, there will be a number of meetings with the
citizens, showing drawings and to talk specifics about the project. Staff doesn’t want to raise the
hopes up of the citizens until it is confirmed the City will get the funds for the project.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked how high the red dotted area would be.
Mr. Hickok
replied that it would be like a curb, less than 6”, but would clearly be a separate
surface. People would feel safer because of this elevation.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if this would be plowed by City staff.
Mr. Hickok
replied yes.
Mayor Lund
asked if the aerial photo that showed a connection with Moore Lake and
Community Park was included in this project or a future project.
Mr. Hickok
replied that he is presenting this on behalf of Mr. Kosluchar. He does not believe
this is part of the infrastructure for tonight and it is pointing out another segment that has been
funded.
Councilmember Saefke
said plans will already been drawn up for the neighborhood meetings.
He asked if citizens wanted to input change if it would be possible.
Mr. Hickok
replied that if it was a radical change it would have to go back to the funding source
with a request for an amendment. Typically staff will put the best approach forward as a good
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2016 PAGE 5
design that is safe and worthy of funding. If the design is changed, it may get taken out of the
competition and may not be funded.
Councilmember Saefke
asked if it would be better to have a meeting before the funding is
available so if there are changes the City does not risk losing the funding.
Mr. Hickok
replied there has been notification to the neighbors to some extent. We do not want
them to believe there is a project with funding realities.
Councilmember Saefke
noted that the objective is to create the best possible design. If that is
the case, the citizens should be shown the design before the City is obligated to do it.
Mr. Hickok
replied that he has only supervised this project and staff has been working with Mr.
Kosluchar. There has been a great deal of discussion on this and some input has been taken from
those citizens who would be affected by the project. If we modify too much, we may lose the
ability to install the project.
Wally Wysopal
, City Manager, added that if Council approves this request tonight there will be
a future meeting before Council and neighborhood meetings to share the detailed plans. There
would be a neighborhood meeting prior to Council approval. Tonight’s action is more
preliminary. This is the second attempt to get this funding and there is only $500,000 available
for the entire state. The goal is to try to get this funding to supplement our pedestrian walkways
and bikeways. There will be future opportunities for public input.
Mr. Hickok
said that the plan would be submitted with the application and that is what the score
is based on. If the City is awarded a grant, money comes back like a street project for Council to
approve and then meetings will be held with citizens.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if some changes could take place by input from neighborhood
meetings and Council even though the plan was submitted.
Mr. Hickok
replied yes.
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to adopt Resolution No. 2016-03. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
11.Informal Status Reports.
Mayor Lund
announced that the Annual Raise the Roof Fundraiser to benefit the Lee Carlson
Center is coming up January 8 from 5 to 8 pm with a chili contest. Come sample some chili and
make a donation for this organization that relies heavily on donations. The event is at the
Bridgeview, 7920 University Avenue N.E.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2016 PAGE 6
ADJOURN:
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to adjourn. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:33
P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Krista Peterson Scott J. Lund
Recording Secretary Mayor