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CCM 02/23/2015 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF FRIDLEY FEBRUARY 23, 2015 The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Lund Councilmember Barnette Councilmember Saefke Councilmember Varichak MEMBER ABSENT: Councilmember Bolkcom OTHERS PRESENT: Wally Wysopal, City Manager Darcy Erickson, City Attorney Scott Hickok, Community Development Director Sergeant Jim Mork,Fridley Police Department Chris Lord, Anoka Conservation District PRESENTATION: Outstanding Conservationist Certificate from Anoka Conservation District Chris Lord , Anoka Conservation District, stated he is the District Manager for the Anoka Conservation District. They really rely on conservation partners and cooperators throughout the County to help them do their work. They do not have levy authority, so they need people who are willing to help generate matching funds to get grants. They are kind of the coordinator behind that. Mr. Lord stated partners like the City of Fridley emerge kind of rarely and stand out. Their relationship with Fridley goes back probably before he started. When he started, he was out in the field with John Flora, the City Engineer then. They were doing riverbank stabilization projects along Rice Creek and helping landowners deal with big erosion issues. They worked with Julie Jones on the Springbrook Nature Center project and the MPCA grant. They have worked with Kay Qualley, James Kosluchar, and Layne Otteson. The staffing of people at the City of Fridley interested in helping the public manage the river corridors is really outstanding. They wanted to recognize the City as outstanding conservationists for 2014. Technically, it embodies a year, but to the Anoka Conservation District, it embodies decades of a partnership with the City. Mr. Lord stated they just wrapped up the Oak Glen Creek corridor stabilization project which goes between East River Road and the Mississippi River, along the backyards of 21 properties. Jim Kosluchar and Mayor Lund were calling landowners and helping, along with FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015 PAGE 2 Councilmember Bolkcom. That was really a project that started 40 years ago, then dwindled, and came back to life. Mr. Lord stated they wanted to thank the City. They talk about the Springbrook Nature Center quite a bit because it is amazing to have that kind of a resource supported by a city of this size. Typically it is done by county government. They worked with Siah St. Clair for decades and reached so many kids during that time. Mayor Lund stated this must be the year for Fridley as it also had some very nice publicity a couple of weeks ago in the Star Tribune for which he has heard very many good comments from people. This also is a reminder of some of the successes that have been occurring in Fridley. It was a very nice project to do the creek down there on East River Road to the Mississippi River. Mayor Lund stated if they think Springbrook Nature Center is a worthwhile park now, just give them a few months. They will see some very recognizable significant improvements and changes taking place there. He said he was very proud to have something like that in their midst. Some of the ideas for the project are geothermal heating and solar and other things that are green technology so perhaps it could be something for others to follow. They like to think they are on the cusp of the next generation of technology. Mr. Wysopal stated he wanted to recognize James Kosluchar and Kay Qualley, who have done a great job in working with the various groups. They certainly deserve this award. SERVICE REPORT – CITIZENS’ ACADEMY: Sergeant Jim Mork, Fridley Police Department, stated he was very excited to tell them about the Citizen’s Academy program. After having been on hiatus for a few years, it is coming back this fall. Oftentimes people wonder why they have the program. The Police Department's offices are locked, they have bulletproof glass. Sometimes it is tough for the public to interact. The Citizens' Academy program is going to give them an opportunity to have a lot of discussions; and to educate members of the public regarding the interworkings of the Police Department and how the officers are going about their job and what they are doing to serve the community. Sergeant Mork stated one of the key phrases in the Police Department's mission statement is, “partnering with the community.” They want to be able to have the citizens obtain a greater insight into police practices, their services, and also the personnel who are on the Police Department. Also, the officers are going to be able to develop relationships with members of the community; and they are going to better provide services to their particular needs. Sergeant Mork stated the Academy is going to meet every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., from September 2 through October 21 in the meeting rooms downstairs. Participants are probably going to meet more than half of the members of their Police Department. It is going to be an opportunity to encourage people who are in the program to ask any questions they want to ask, so nothing is off limits. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015 PAGE 3 Sergeant Mork stated some of the topics they are going to cover include constitutional law, police history, and fire safety. They plan on bringing in one of their K9 handlers and his K9 partner. They will get a chance to interact with and see how those dogs are trained, how the dogs provide a tremendous service for the City; and how they save the City countless hours on building searches, apprehensions, and other searches—including lost people. They plan on having one of the local towing companies donate a used car to the program and will break it apart to show how some of their tools are used. Sergeant Mork stated the program is very interactive and hands on. They will look at videos, have guest speakers, and have demonstrations. People will have a chance to feel the equipment, touch the equipment, drive a squad car, and shoot in shoot/don't shoot scenarios. They will even get the participants out to the gun range. It is really an opportunity for people to see what it is like to walk a mile in their shoes. One of the things they will make sure is that no one is pushed into doing something they are not comfortable doing. If they would rather watch and not participant in something that is fine. Sergeant Mork stated they are looking for people who are 18 years of age or older and who live, work, or play in Fridley. People will have to submit to a criminal background check. There is no cost to participate. To apply people can pick up applications in the lobby, contact the Police Department, or look it up on the City's website. Space is limited to 24 participants, and it does fill up quickly. APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting of February 9, 2015. APPROVED. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Appointments to Commissions Wally Wysopal , City Manager, stated the City Council advertised for these openings and interviews were conducted on January 5 and 9 with the candidates. They are looking at appointing Dave Ostwald to the Planning Commission with a term expiring April 1, 2017; Vangyee Yang to the Appeals Commission with a term expiring April 1, 2017; Jeffrey Phillips to the Appeals Commission with a term expiring April 1, 2018; Justin Foell to the Environmental Quality & Energy Commission with a term expiring April 1, 2016; and Mark Hansen to the Environmental Quality & Energy Commission with a term expiring April 1, 2018. Mayor Lund asked whether all of these persons have agreed to accept their appointment. Mr. Wysopal replied, yes. APPROVED. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015 PAGE 4 2. Claims (1502-ACH PCard; 167238-167404). APPROVED. 3. Licenses. APPROVED THE LICENSES AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE. OPEN FORUM: No one from the audience spoke. ADOPTION OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to approve the proposed consent agenda. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Councilmember Saefke to approve the agenda. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC HEARING: 4. Consider a Rezoning Request, ZOA #13-02, by the City of Fridley, to Consider Rezoning Property, Legally Described as Auditor's Subdivision 39, from C-2, General Business, to M-2, Heavy Industrial, Generally Located at 3720 East River Road N.E. (Ward 3) (Continued December 22, 2014). MOTION by Councilmember Varichak to open the public hearing. Seconded by Councilmember Barnette. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, AND THE HEARING WAS OPENED AT 7:21 P.M. Scott Hickok, Community Development Director, stated this is a rezoning to take the property from C-2, General Business, back to M-2, Heavy Industrial. Staff initiated this sometime ago, and the bank that owns the property asked for some time to market it as a commercial site. They were successful in marketing it as a commercial site and a funeral home is purchasing the FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2015 PAGE 5 property from them. The closing was supposed to happen today, and this was on the agenda so staff could then withdraw the rezoning request officially. Staff has not heard anything. The funeral home and the bank both confirmed the closing would happen today. Staff wants to make certain the closing happened. He asked Council to continue the public hearing to the first meeting in March. Staff does feel that confirmation is very important, as they do not want to start over with the rezoning request, if the closing did not happen. MOTION by Councilmember Varichak to continue the public hearing until March 9, 2015. Seconded by Councilmember Barnette. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE HEARING WAS CONTINUED AT 7:28 P.M. 5. Informal Status Reports: None. ADJOURN: MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to adjourn the City Council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:30 P.M . Respectfully submitted by, Denise M. Johnson Scott J. Lund Recording Secretary Mayor