CCM 02/27/2017
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
FEBRUARY 27, 2017
______________________________________________________________________________
The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:06 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
Deb Skogen, City Clerk
Jon Lennander, Assistant City Engineer
PROCLAMATION:
A Day of Action to End Domestic Violence
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
City Council Meeting of February 13, 2017.
APPROVED.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Receive the Minutes from the Planning Commission Meeting of February 15, 2017.
APPROVED.
2. Preliminary Plat Request, PS #17-01, by Allina Health System, to Replat Lot 3 of
Block 1, Unity Addition, to Create Three Lots that will Further Define and Legally
Describe the Parking Lot Areas, Generally Located at 550 Osborne Road N.E.
(Ward 1).
APPROVED.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2017 PAGE 2
3. Approve Change Order No. 4 (Final) for 2015 Street Rehabilitation Project
ST2015-01.
APPROVED.
4. Claims (175743-175844)
APPROVED.
5. License.
Wally Wysopal
, City Manager, stated this is for a temporary liquor license for the Springbrook
Foundation on March 10.
APPROVED.
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA:
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to adopt the proposed consent agenda. Seconded by
Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
OPEN FORUM, VISITORS:
No one from the audience spoke.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve the agenda. Seconded by Councilmember
Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
PUBLIC HEARING/NEW BUSINESS:
6. Consideration of a Vacation Request, SAV #17-01, by E&T Properties, LL, to
Vacate an Unimproved Portion of 77th Avenue NE that Exists Along the North
Property Line of 220 - 77th Avenue NE;
and
Resolution Vacating a Portion of 77th Avenue NE, Generally Located North of 220 -
77th Avenue NE, Petitioner E&T Fridley Property LLC (Ward 3).
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2017 PAGE 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
7:11 P.M.
Scott Hickok
, Community Development Director, stated the petitioner is Tom Ajax on behalf of
E&T Fridley Properties LLC. He owns EJ Ajax & Sons and a lot of north 7787 Ranchers Road.
They also recently purchased the property at 220 - 77th Avenue NE. He said the land to be
vacated is a small portion of the right-of-way.
Mr. Hickok
stated there was never a completed right-of-way going any distance, and it was only
half the width of the roadway. They had an access easement shared by a neighbor which was
recently given back to them, so they have full control of this area. They own the property north
of this area and just purchased the building to the south. Vacating this piece of land allows them
some flexibility and opportunity to move back and forth between their two buildings.
Mr. Hickok
stated vacating this portion of 77th Avenue right-of-way and merging it with
220 - 77th Avenue NE will help solve long-standing confusion over grounds maintenance in the
area as well. The resolution serves to vacate and preserve the easement for utility access. Staff
recommends approval as does the Planning Commission.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked is the City had heard from any of the surrounding businesses.
Mr. Hickok
replied just support from Bob's Produce.
Councilmember Bolkcom
stated there was not a public street there, and if the City is going to
maintain that area for the utilities, as far as from the City perspective, it makes sense and it is
good.
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to close 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 CLOSED AT
7:14 P.M.
MOTION
by Councilmember Bolkcom to adopt Resolution No. 2017-06. Seconded by
Councilmember Saefke.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2017 PAGE 4
NEW BUSINESS:
7. First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Fridley City Charter, Chapter 2, City
Council Organization.
Deb Skogen,
City Clerk, stated Fridley Home Rule Charter is the fundamental law defining the
powers the citizens agree to give to the City. The Charter Commission has reviewed Chapter 2
for over a year and presented their report and recommendation to the City Council in January to
amend Chapter 2 by ordinance.
Ms. Skogen
stated Minn. Stat. § 410.12, Subd. 7, does allow for Charter amendments by
ordinance upon recommendation of the Charter Commission. It does require a notice of public
hearing and publication of the full text amendment at least two weeks prior to the public
hearing. The proposed public hearing notice and ordinance were published on January 20, and a
public hearing was held on February 13. The proposed amendments are non-substantive and
were made to clarify the language, and to make it easier for the public to understand.
Ms. Skogen
stated the official adoption of the ordinance requires a unanimous vote of the City
Council. If the vote is unanimous, the ordinance is published and becomes effective 90 days
after publication which is about June 23. As to Section 2 of the Amendment, the language has
been rearranged, separating the first order of business of the new year and when a
councilmember’s term ends. There was no change in the language; it was just rearranged.
Ms. Skogen
stated Section 2.03 states a councilmember-at-large shall serve as mayor pro tem,
that that person is also elected citywide. Section 2.04, the councilmember-at-large, was created
to make it uniform and consistent with the definitions of the mayor and ward councilmembers.
This addition required renumbering the remaining sections.
Ms. Skogen
stated in Section 2.05, the word "redetermined" was changed to "redirected" so that
it is consistent with State law.
Ms. Skogen
stated as to Section 2.07, that was put into bullet form so it was easier to
understand. Section 2.08, that was separated into two paragraphs.
Ms. Skogen
stated staff recommends the first reading of this ordinance.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if this passes tonight, they no longer have an agenda item that
says the mayor pro tem is the councilmember because it is in the ordinance.
Ms. Skogen
replied correct.
MOTION
by Councilmember Saefke to waive the reading of the ordinance and adopt the
ordinance first reading. Seconded by Councilmember Barnette.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2017 PAGE 5
8. Informal Status Reports.
Mr. Wysopal
provided a report on the Beech Street flooding and said the City’s Engineering
department continues to work on this issue.
Mr. Wysopal
stated there were some new employees appointed within the last few months.
Korrie Johnson is the City's Assistant Finance Director; and James Lange is the new Fire
Captain.
Mr. Wysopal
stated the City has something new that will also be sent out after interactions the
City has with residents. It is a card that says on the front, "How Did We Do?" On the back of
the card there is an evaluation on the service provided by the City. There is a postage paid return
envelope that goes with the card. The City wants to get feedback from residents so that it can
make any necessary changes to improve its service.
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
7:25 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by,
Denise M. Johnson Scott J. Lund
Recording Secretary Mayor