CCM 03/23/2015
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
MARCH 23, 2015
The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:01 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
Jim Kosluchar, Public Works Director
RECOGNITION:
Al-Amal School – Winner of Best School Award at the Minnesota Central Regional Science Fair
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
City Council Meeting of March 9, 2015
Wally Wysopal,
City Manager, replaced page 13/14 with a corrected page--“Mr. Kosluchar
no, it is a City Street
replied yes .”
Councilmember Saefke Knollwood
noted spelling correction on page 22 toward the bottom.
Norwood
Square should be Square.
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015 PAGE 2
NEW BUSINESS:
1.Approve Award for 2015 Cooperative Street Maintenance Contract, Project No.
ST2015-10.
APPROVED.
2.2015 Reappointments to Fridley Commissions.
APPROVED 2015 REAPPOINTMENTS.
3.Appointment – City Employee.
APPROVED.
4.Claims 1503 (ACH PCard) 167560-167734.
APPROVED.
5.Licenses.
APPROVED THE LICENSES AS SUBMITTED AND AS ON FILE.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to approve the proposed Consent Agenda. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
OPEN FORUM:
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.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015 PAGE 3
NEW BUSINESS:
6.First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the City Code of the City of Fridley,
Minnesota, by Making a Change in Zoning Districts (Rezoning Request, ZOA #15-01,
by Alliant Engineering, Inc., on Behalf of the Property Owners of 5300 and 5400
Central Avenue N.E., to Rezone the Properties from C-3, General Shopping, to C-2,
General Business, Generally Located at 5300 and 5400 Central Avenue N.E.) (Ward 1).
Scott Hickok,
Community Development Director, said this is a request to rezone the properties
at 5300 Central Avenue and 5400 Central Avenue from C-3, General Shopping, to C-2, General
Business. It will allow the redevelopment of the property at 5300 Central Avenue. The current
zoning of C-3 imposes several requirements that make redevelopment of the site difficult. The
minimum lot size for a C-3 property is 35,000 square feet, and the minimum lot size for a C-2
property is 20,000 square feet. The Stop Save lot is 29,441 square feet, and the Embers lot is
31,423 sq. ft. Both parcels are more suitable for the C-2, General Business, zoning than their
current non-conforming zoning of C-3, General Shopping. The existing gas station, fuel pumps,
canopies and underground tanks will be removed, per MPCA regulations.
Mr. Hickok
stated at the February 18, 2015, Planning Commission meeting, a public hearing
was held for ZOA #15-01. After some discussion, the Planning Commission recommended
approval, as it is an overall better fit for the size and location of the properties. The Planning
Commission’s approval recognized that the access issue still needed to be resolved before staff
would bring the land sale to the City Council.
Mr. Hickok
said staff recommends concurrence with the Planning Commission. Rezoning
brings both lots in compliance with lot size requirements and will allow redevelopment of the
gas station site.
Mr. Hickok
noted the second reading will address the access issue. An agreement will come
forward to allow improvement of the public piece of right-of-way.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if an agreement would be made on the 80’ piece of land before
the second reading as well as an access plan. If so, she felt comfortable passing the first reading
as the details would be worked out before the second reading.
Mr. Hickok
replied staff is comfortable making the recommendation on the rezoning in spite of
the access issue. The rezoning is a separate entity. The redevelopment and permit for this site
will require that the agreement be in place. Agreements are already in place and being reviewed
by legal staff.
Councilmember Saefke
said the action tonight will take two non-conforming uses and make
them conforming by changing the zoning.
Councilmember Bolkcom
added it is also a better use for the property.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015 PAGE 4
Mayor Lund
noted both owners said they still want the zoning changed, so he is okay with this
action. There will be another action relating to not selling the property and access to that
development.
Mr. Hickok
replied correct. The action left is the agreement that they can improve the 80-foot
piece of land the City owns according to plan and according to the agreement. It would be
signed by the property owner and the City.
Mayor Lund
asked if the City would still maintain the 80-foot right-of-way or access road, such
as plowing and sealcoating the road.
Mr. Hickok
replied the agreement would define that information.
Mayor Lund
said he hopes they will find a way to improve that intersection. There is potential
for improvement and now is the time to engineer a better solution for traffic so it does not impact
these businesses.
rd
Mr. Hickok
replied Jim Kosluchar is already working with consultants. At some point, 53
rd
Avenue will need to be improved. It is important to make the distinction that there is a 53
Avenue issue yet to be resolved along with a development that wants to move forward.
Mayor Lund
added that geographically it is a tight sight.
Mr. Hickok
said he is confident there will be a good result for this site.
MOTION
by Councilmember Saefke to waive the reading of this ordinance and adopt the
ordinance on first reading. Seconded by Councilmember Bolkcom.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
7.Resolution Encouraging an Anoka County Application for State Health Improvement
Program (SHIP) Grant Funds.
Scott Hickok,
Community Development Director, stated staff would like Council’s
encouragement to the Anoka County Board of Commissioners to support SHIP funds that came
from the Tobacco Settlement. Fridley benefited in several projects from SHIP funds. Staff is
asking Council to support a letter to the County Board for these funds.
Mayor Lund
asked when the next round of funding would be up.
Mr. Hickok
replied 2016.
Mayor Lund
asked if other cities were supporting this effort.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015 PAGE 5
Mr. Hickok
replied that some of our neighboring communities are involved with SHIP funds.
School districts have expressed their frustration that the County is not moving along with this
funding that is available. They may launch their own initiative or resolution.
Councilmember Barnette
is a member of the School Wellness Committee and this was
discussed at the last meeting. The question is why the County Board is not going ahead with this
funding when everyone else is.
Mr. Hickok
replied staff does not know, but hopes it changes.
MOTION
by Councilmember Barnette to adopt Resolution No. 2015-19. Seconded by
Councilmember Varichak.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
8.Informal Status Reports:
a.Spring Clean-Up:
Saturday, March 28; paper shredding fundraiser from 10a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rain Gardens and Landscaping for Clean Water - April 16 at the Community Center from
6-7:30 p.m., fee $10. Call 763-572-3594 to register.
Saturday, May 2 is the Spring Recycling Drop Off event. Information flyers will be
mailed or can be found on the City’s website.
b.Fire Recruitment Fair:
April 18 at Fridley Training Tower 763-767-4003
c. Annual Block Captains Meeting:
Tuesday, April 7
d. Parks & Recreation:
Available and ready for people to sign up for programs.
e. Highway 65 Update:
rd
Paving to complete resurfacing project between 53 and Medtronic Parkway will be done
May 2-3 and May 16-17. Travel zones will be open but restricted. The first set of dates
is primary choice. If the weather does not cooperate, the resurfacing will take place
during the second set of dates.
f. Citizens’ Academy.
g. Seasonal Hiring:
Maintenance and labor positions are open for the summer. The deadline has been
extended to April 6. Great jobs for those 18+. See the website for details.
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 23, 2015 PAGE 6
Mayor Lund
announced the Springbrook Nature Center will be doing an electronics recycling
event fundraiser for old cell phones and laptops. There will be a small fee for televisions and
monitors.
Councilmember Bolkcom
asked if this was a fundraiser.
Mayor Lund
replied some items will be reused again, so there is value.
Mr. Hickok
added people can call (763) 432-3117 for questions on fees.
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 7:50
P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Krista Peterson Scott J. Lund
Recording Secretary Mayor