Loading...
CCM 01/23/2017 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF FRIDLEY JANUARY 23, 2017 The City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: 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 Shelly Peterson, Finance Director James Kosluchar, Public Works Director Kay Qualley, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting of January 9, 2017. APPROVED. NEW BUSINESS: 1.Receive the Minutes from the Planning Commission Meeting of January 18, 2017. RECEIVED. 2.Special Use Permit Request, SP #17-01, by Kinghorn Company, to Allow the Construction of a Front Entry Addition to the Existing Church Building, which is Located in a R-3, Multi-Family Zoning District, Generally Located at 6875 University Avenue N.E.; And Resolution Approving Special Use Permit, SP #17-01, to Allow the Construction of a Building Addition to the Woodcrest Baptist Church Building, Generally Located at 6875 University Avenue N.E. (Ward 1) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2017-04. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 2 3.Approve Seventh Amendment to Joint Powers Agreement for Street Maintenance Services. APPROVED. 4.Receive Bids and Award Commons WTP Valve Actuator Replacement Project No. 17- 498. APPROVED. 5.Claims: 175338 – 175496. APPROVED. 6.Estimates: Keys Well Drilling 1156 Homer Street St. Paul, MN 55116-3232 2016 Well Rehabilitation Project No. 448 Estimate No. 7………………………………………………$58,453.00 Northwest Asphalt, Inc. 1451 Stagecoach Road Shakopee, MN 55479 2016 Street Rehabilitation Project No. ST. 2016-01 FINAL ESTIMATE (ESTIMATE NO. 7)………………..$65,501.13 APPROVED. ADOPTION OF PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Bolkcom asked on page 43 of the claims what Main Street Data Collection was. Jim Kosluchar, Public Works Director, replied that was a survey that was done for the Main Street pedestrian bridge and trail. Councilmember Bolkcom asked on page 48 what the broom repairs were. Mr. Kosluchar replied that was for the mechanical/street sweepers. Councilmember Bolkcom asked on page 50 what the tough book computers were. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 3 Wally Wysopal, City Manager, replied those were computers used in the squad cars. Mayor Lund asked what the dimensions were for the front entry in Item 2. Scott Hickok , Community Development Director, replied 20’ x 80’ and the car port is about the same size and runs perpendicular to the addition. This does not generate a lot of space for people but will create offices for staff and provide an elevator and coat/waiting rooms. Mayor Lund noted this would remove 7 to 8 parking spaces. Mr. Hickok replied there are no issues with parking demand on this site. Mayor Lund asked if there was any discussion from neighboring properties. Mr. Hickok replied there was a question asking what the addition was going to include. 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, VISITORS: Jennifer Nelson, 5801 Sixth Street N.E., was concerned with the pedestrian safety as there was another fatal pedestrian accident a week ago. Research online shows that a study was done in thst 2011 for the bike/pedestrian walkways and 57, 61 and Mississippi were all identified as concerns for safety. Not much has changed from then until now. Since there is now more development in that area, she suggests updating the demographic information from that study. This is safety issue. She would be glad to meet with staff or Council to talk about this more. Mayor Lund replied that prior to this meeting, Council discussed bikeway and walkway safety throughout the City. Improvements have been made, but the project is not complete. It comes down to funds available for this project. They did talk about plowing, and are now plowing several more miles of bikeways and walkways than in the past. Further discussion will be held. He asked Ms. Nelson to work with Mr. Kosluchar to get a better overview of what has been done and what is in the works for the future. Staff can also discuss these issues with MnDOT and try to communicate these concerns. Ms. Nelson said she appreciated the improvements that have been made, but the rate of improvement is lagging behind the rate of development. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 4 ADOPTION OF 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. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7.Preliminary Assessment Hearing on 2017 Street Rehabilitation Project No. ST2017-01 MOTION by Councilmember Varichak to open the public hearing. Seconded by Councilmember Bolkcom. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:22 P.M. Jim Kosluchar, Public Works Director, stated each year, the City performs major rehabilitation of selected streets in a planned neighborhood according to its pavement management plan. The project proposed for 2017 is in the Parkview and North Park neighborhood. On August 22, 2016, the City Council authorized initiation of this project. Mr. Kosluchar said staff has developed a feasibility report that evaluated streets in the area and considered conditions, utility improvements, and other typical elements that may be incorporated into the project. A list of candidate streets was developed for the project. Work elements for the project would include gas main and service replacement to precede work by CenterPoint, removal of pavement, reclaim or milling, water main replacement in certain locations of the project, curb replacement/repaving streets and restoration. The tentative schedule is as follows: Open Bids and Award February 2017 Advanced Utility Work March/April 2017 Construction May-Sept. 2017 Final Hearing October 2017 Notice of Assessment October 2017 Assessments Begin January 2018 Mr. Kosluchar said a project open house was held on November 1 and preliminary information was presented to property owners and residents affected by the construction. 258 notices were mailed for the open house. 13 persons attended, and feedback was gathered and incorporated into the feasibility report and is being presented to the City Council this evening. The project was generally well received, and there were some valuable suggestions on project details and construction methods that will provide for a better project and reduce construction impact. A survey has also been mailed to all affected properties. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 5 Mr. Kosluchar stated the feasibility report outlined the project, budget and schedule, and provided some detail on the extent of construction. The feasibly report concluded the project is cost effective, necessary and feasible. The project draft budget is as follows: Estimated Project Cost = $1,175,000 $290,000 City of Fridley (Municipal State Aid) $340,000 assessment to adjacent properties $460,000 from Water Utility Fund $85,000 from Storm Water Utility Fund Mr. Kosluchar noted there are two different assessable parcels--low density residential (LDR) and non-low density residential (NLDR). The LDR assessment calculation assesses properties with driveways connecting to the project. Corner lots are assessed on one side only. Assessment is based on dividing the proportional street improvement costs for the project area by the number of residential properties. Assessment is calculated on the paving cost of the middle 30 feet of the streets less the intersections. Multiple unit residential properties up to four units pay the lower of the commercial rate or the residential rate reduced by 50% for each unit over one. He outlined recent LDR property assessment costs: 2013-01 $2,074 per unit 2014-01 $2,135 per unit 2015-01 $2,080 per unit 2016-01 $2,126 per unit 2017-01 $2,150 (estimated) Mr. Kosluchar stated the Non-LDR includes all other properties including commercial, industrial, high-density residential, etc. Assessment frontage is measured. The non-LDR assessment is calculated by dividing total cost by the length of property frontage to determine the cost per foot. Each side of the street pays 50% of the cost per centerline foot to resurface the street, thus the estimated assessment is $33 per lineal foot. Mr. Kosluchar reviewed the payment options. Payment Option 1 is to pay the lump sum within 30 days of the final assessment hearing (September/November 2017). Option 2 is to add the assessment to the property taxes that are paid over 10 years with an interest rate to be determined (typically 5.5-6.5%). In Option 3, senior citizens meeting certain criteria may request to have the assessment deferred until the future sale of the property. Interest accrues until the property is sold. Staff requests Council move to adopt the resolution after the preliminary assessment hearing. Councilmember Bolkcom asked why they did not do sanitary sewer repairs. Mr. Kosluchar replied there are no segments that need to be lined. Councilmember Bolkcom asked about parking on one side of the street. Mr. Kosluchar replied that no parking changes are being proposed now. If changes need to be made staff will notify residents and Council. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 6 Councilmember Bolkcom asked about the empty lot and the parking issues. Mr. Kosluchar replied that the neighbor owns that and the vacant house next door. Julie Jones is following up on this. Tom Foley representing North Park Elementary School, said the school gets out June 9 and starts up again on September 5. He asked if there would be an issue getting kids in and out of school. He also asked if there were any thoughts about trying to make changes to the hill as it gets very icy. Mr. Kosluchar asked Mr. Foley to contact staff to let them know about the school schedule. It would be helpful. Mr. Foley asked if there was any talk about adding any sidewalks in that area. Mr. Kosluchar replied there have been conversations internally. Staff did reach out to members of the school district. Nga Nguyen, 5651 Regis Drive, said she received the letter to reshape Regis Drive. She appreciates how the City takes care of the streets but is worried about the money. She is on a limited income and struggles to pay her bills. She asked why the street work was not paid from the taxes residents pay every year. The payment plan is an option but the interest rate is more than her mortgage interest rate. Mayor Lund replied she is not alone, but the streets do need to get done. Many are beyond the life expectancy of the road. Some streets get new water mains as well as sewer repairs when the streets are reconstructed. If you lived in New Brighton, the assessment for the street construction would be much higher. If you lived in Edina with higher property taxes, you would pay less. Residents only pay a portion of the project to ease the burden of the cost. Residents have an option to pay for the assessment upfront, pay over 10 years with a reasonable interest rate, or if elderly or low income there is the option to defer the bill including interest until the home is sold. This street has not been done in 30 years and is due for repair. If it is not done now, it would be delayed for a while. Councilmember Bolkcom added that residents have the option to get their own financing. Mayor Lund said there will be an assessment hearing in the fall to establish the price based on the actual cost and then residents have 30 days to pay in full. Martin Howard, 5526 Fillmore Street NE, said he has lived in the area for 20 years. He understands the concerns people have expressed about the sidewalk and that it is not feasible to construct economically. Mayor Lund replied the school usually took care of this and this recently came to the City’s attention. Last year, the City did some sidewalk improvements at both elementary schools. North Park will be in the mix as funding becomes available in the near future. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 7 Mr. Howard said he lives on a corner unit and his estimated assessment is $619. Mr. Kosluchar replied he would not be assessed for the water main. It is for the street project only. Mr. Howard asked if the construction would impede on his driveway. He just had it resurfaced. Mr. Kosluchar replied if they did impact any driveway, it would be reconstructed so there would be minimum interference. Mr. Howard asked when the project would be completed. Mr. Kosluchar replied they will try to economize the project to allow a schedule window for the contractor-- 4 weeks on each street segment. Residents may have to park down the street one night. Natividad Seefeld, 1106 Onondaga N.E.,said this street construction would be the best thing that has ever happened. Her neighborhood just got done with a project. The interruption was painful but they managed together to get around and park on the street. It was worth it. Juel Bagaason, 1191 Hathaway Lane, asked how long she would need to park on the street and asked for a timeline of the project. Mr. Kosluchar replied staff would send out notifications when parking access will be limited. Accommodations will be made so people can get where they need to go. Notices will be sent out 48 hours in advance when certain areas are paved. If Mother Nature does not play along, the schedule can change. Ms. Bagaason said she has a fence on her property line. She asked if they put things back together again or if she was looking at additional expenses. Mr. Kosluchar replied that the City would repair or replace the disturbance. The only exception would be if someone encroached on the property line. Ms. Bagaason asked if contractors could be hired to replace driveways. Mr. Kosluchar answered they will know more when a contract is in place. The general schedule would be available before they start. He was not sure if the contractor would be interested in replacing driveways. He would have the contractor connect with her. Mayor Lund added larger contractors that do streets are not in the residential driveway business. If residents use the same contractor to do their driveway, they should understand the difference in grades and different types of asphalt. Father John Cavan , 1201 Hathaway Lane N.E., said he was concerned about the driveway at the church. He said he also has two properties and had questions on the assessments. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 8 Mr. Kosluchar asked Mr. Cavan to connect with staff to discuss his concerns. MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to close the public hearing. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 8:10 P.M. NEW BUSINESS: 8.Resolution Ordering Final Plans, Specifications, and Calling for Bids: 2017 Street Rehabilitation Project No. ST2017-01. MOTION by Councilmember Varichak to adopt Resolution No. 2017-05. Seconded by Councilmember Bolkcom. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 9.Approve 2017 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program between the City of Fridley and the County of Anoka. Kay Qualley, Environmental Planner, stated in 1989, the Minnesota Legislature adopted comprehensive waste reduction and recycling legislation based on the recommendations of the Governor's Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE). This legislation provided counties with a funding source to develop waste reduction, recycling, organics and solid waste management programs. Each year, Anoka County reviews tonnage, expenditures, programming and recycling goals to formulate the following year’s grant program for cities. Ms. Qualley said in 2016, the full base and enhancement funds requested were utilized by the City and reimbursement of those expenses is forthcoming in the next few weeks, after review by the County on January 18. For 2017, the Anoka County Residential Recycling program offers the City of Fridley $67,650.00 in regular State SCORE funds to subsidize the cost of our residential recycling program expenses. This main grant is derived again from a base of $10,000.00 with additional funding of $5.00 per household for recycling activities, based on 11,530 households (from Metropolitan Council 2015 estimates). This amount increased modestly based on adding 104 additional households this year, but the base and per household amounts are unchanged. Ms. Qualley stated Fridley is eligible for supplementary enhancement funding in other grant categories in the SCORE program. These funding opportunities are based on additional work in areas of special emphasis. Park and community event recycling funding is $3,000 for the year for labor to collect recycling. Curbside and multi-unit recycling programming, inspections and educational signage production and distribution is funded at $6,000. There is also a general enhancement funding category to augment existing or new recycling programs which was cut in half—from $11,426 in 2016 to $5,765 for all cities in 2017. The final ongoing enhancement FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 9 funding category is for promotion of residential and community event organics collection at $1.00 per household (as in 2016). That funding is intended to aid in launching the new opt-in residential curbside organics collection program for single family through four-plex units. The $11,530 organics enhancement grant also helps to promote organics education and collection at City events, like Fridley Fest and at Springbrook Nature Center as well as municipal properties. Ms. Qualley noted new this year for Fridley, Anoka County’s enhancement grant of $15,000 for monthly or quarterly drop-off events. While not enough to run 12 full service events, it would permit 10 to 12 paper shredding events which would create monthly recycling for at least one stream of recyclable materials. These proposed free shredding events and/or fee-based mattress collection days would take place at the Community Center, Fridley Fest and other gathering locations from February through December in 2017. Ms. Qualley said the 2017 goal is to remove 205 pounds of recyclable materials per person from the solid waste stream for all single family through four-plex units; an increase of 10 pounds per person over 2016. Multi-unit buildings of five or more apartments in size are expected to remove 160 pounds of recyclables per person, a reduction of 10 pounds per person over 2016, based on Fridley discussions with the County about realistic expectations for multi-unit recycling. Our total goal is 2,723 tons for 2017, an increase of 110 tons from the 2016 goal, which was an increase of 44 tons over our 2015 goal. These goals are increasing because state requirements for the removal of recycling and recyclable products (organics) from the waste stream is moving toward achievement of a rate of 70% of the solid waste stream by 2030--only thirteen years from now. Ms. Qualley noted Fridley has not met the goal the last few years because multi-unit residents are recycling less than one-half per person of the County-mandated tonnage. Progress is being made through collaboration with City staff in rental inspections, code enforcement and with increased numbers of meetings with multi-unit owners and property managers. The cities in Anoka County with the highest numbers of multi-unit housing typically face an uphill battle to achieve the required tonnage, which is why Fridley is now part of a multi-County task force working with cities in Ramsey County and elsewhere to accelerate improvements. Ms. Qualley said staff has reviewed the 2017 SCORE Recycling Grant opportunities from Anoka County. Staff is requesting approval for the base SCORE amount of $67,650.00. In addition, staff is recommending that additional funding in the following enhancement categories be accepted: $3,000 in Park & Event Recycling funds and $6,000 in Multi-Unit & Curbside Recycling funds. Also remaining the same is the organics enhancement category of the grant at a rate of $1.00 per household ($11,530), which, as explained above, is necessary for residential organics programming. Unlike 2016, Anoka Count has reduced the 2017 general enhancement grant category from $1.00 per household to $.50 per household or $5,765. General enhancement funding helped with expenses relating to drop-off events, printing costs and other expenditures. Ms. Qualley said staff recommends the City Council approve the attached 2017 Anoka County Contract along with Attachment B, the 2017 Municipal Funding Request form, for a total grant request of $108,945. Staff asks that the Mayor and Council authorize and execute all three copies of the 2017 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program through Anoka County. FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2017 PAGE 10 Mayor Lund said some cities are doing drop-offs in their own communities rather than bringing organics to Anoka County. Curbside is an option for organics. Ms. Qualley replied that the Public Works reconstruction may make it difficult to provide a safe location where the community container can be placed. We could use Anoka County as a temporary drop-off and move forward at a later date. Fridley would be the first curbside organic collection in Anoka County. She also noted that there is no fee for a larger recycling bin. Councilmember Bolkcom said she would like to see recycling pick-up weekly and organics at curbside. MOTION by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve the 2017 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program between the City of Fridley and the County of Anoka. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 10.Informal Status Reports Mayor Lund announced the Fridley Lions Annual Wine Tasting will be Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance. ADJOURN: MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to adjourn. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:45 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Krista Peterson Scott J. Lund Recording Secretary Mayor