Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-06 MINUTES MINUTES COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBER 12800 RAVINE PARKWAY May 6, 2015 OPEN FORUM – 7:00 P.M. During Open Forum, a person may address the City Council on any topic not on the regular meeting agenda. The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Steve Dennis, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Korine Land, City Attorney- LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Jennifer Levitt, CD Director/City Engineer; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk. Mayor Bailey asked if anyone in the audience wished to address the City Council on any topic not on the agenda. There being none, Mayor Bailey closed Open Forum. REGULAR MEETING – 7:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a regular meeting on May 6, 2015, at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience, staff, and the Mayor and City Council members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE 12800 Ravine Parkway Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016  www.cottage-grove.org 651-458-2800 Fax 651-458-2897 Equal Opportunity Employer  May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 2 ROLL CALL – City Clerk The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Steve Dennis, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Korine Land, City Attorney- LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Jennifer Levitt, CD Director/City Engineer; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk. Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion by Council Member Olsen, seconded by Council Member Thiede, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. 2. PRESENTATIONS A. 2015 Historic Preservationist of the Year – Herb Reckinger Mayor Bailey, along with the Council Members, presented Herb Reckinger with a plaque acknowledging him as the 2015 Historic Preservationist of the Year and acknowledged the work and knowledge that he’s shared with the community over the years, and that he is the newest member of the Advisory Commission on Historic Preservation. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 15, 2015 Regular Meeting B. April 22, 2015 Special Meeting Mayor Bailey and members of the City Council approved the minutes as presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Olsen wished to pull Items C and D, Council Member Thiede wished to pull Items G and H, and Council Member Peterson wished to pull Item L from the Consent Calendar for discussion. Mayor Bailey wished to pull Item O for a separate vote. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 3 Council Member Olsen stated that there will be two services on May 15 to commemorate Police Officers’ Memorial Day—one at the Washington County Historic Courthouse in Stillwater and the other at the Peace Officers’ Memorial at the State Capitol. The week of May 10 – 16 is National Police Week. Council Member Olsen read the Proclamation. Council Member Olsen recognized the City staff members who sought out the grant opportunity to receive money from the MN Department of Natural Resources, which will allow the citizens to enjoy the 22 acres of Hidden Valley Park. Council Member Thiede recommended that Brandon Smith be appointed as Chair of the Environmental Commission, as he’s been serving in that position for the last number of months. Council Member Thiede recommended that May 2015 be proclaimed as Historic Preservation Month in the City of Cottage Grove and read the Proclamation. Council Member Peterson recommended that National Emergency Medical Services Week May 17 – 23, 2015 be proclaimed in the City and she read the Proclamation. Mayor Bailey requested a separate vote on Item O and spoke about Renaissance Fireworks’ conditional use permit allowing the sale of fireworks 20 days prior to July 4 with site restoration completed by nine days after for a three-year period in the parking lot of Grove Plaza, 7282 East Point Douglas Road. After discussions with staff, he wanted to change that from three years to one year, as there might be some redevelopment happening on that site and he didn’t want to have issues or concerns with that going forward. Motion by Council Member Olsen, seconded by Council Member Peterson, to approve the consent calendar without Item 4.O. A. Accept and Place on File the Following Minutes: i. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from March 23, 2015. ii. Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission Meeting Minutes from March 24, 2015. B. Authorize issuance of a single-occasion gambling permit to The Phoenix Residence for a raffle at River Oaks Golf Course on June 8, 2015. C. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-050 proclaiming Tuesday, May 15 as Police Officers’ Memorial Day and the week of May 10 – 16 as National Police Week. D. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-051 authorizing acceptance of $51,500 from the MN Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program to restore 22 acres of Hidden Valley Park to native prairie and wetland. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 4 E. Approve the sale by public auction of one 1989 GMC 4x4 Crew Cab grass truck. F. Item moved to Presentations 2.A. G. Proclaim May as Historic Preservation Month in the City of Cottage Grove. H. Appoint Brandon Smith as Chair of the Environmental Commission. I. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-052 accepting the assigned obligation for building escrows from NNP-Jamaica, LLC to U.S. Home Corporation d/b/a Lennar for the Cayden Glen Development. J. Approve the South Washington Watershed District agreements for the Renewal by Andersen Regional Pond project, the 7210 and 7300 East Point Douglas Road Site Stormwater project, and the 2015 Stormwater Pond Improvements project. K. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-053 authorizing entrance into a contract with Springsted to conduct the City Administrator search. L. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-054 proclaiming National EMS Week—May 17-23, 2015. M. Authorize a letter to be sent to the Metropolitan Council regarding housing projections. th N. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-055 changing the street name for a segment of 66 th Street Court South to 66 Street South and authorize filing the change with the Washington County Surveyor’s Office. P. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-057 approving Walmart’s interim conditional use permit to conduct outdoor seasonal sales of landscaping materials and plants in the northwest corner of their parking lot at 9300 East Point Douglas Road South. Q. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-058 approving a conditional use permit to allow for the expansion of an existing 1,008 square-foot legal non-conforming use detached accessory structure to 2,000 square feet at the property located at 11645 Point Douglas Road South. R. Authorize issuance of a temporary intoxicating liquor license to the St. Paul Park/Newport Lions for June 19 - 20, 2015 in conjunction with Strawberry Fest. S. Authorize donation of used fire jackets, pants, boots, gloves, and helmets to africafiremission.org. T. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-059 approving a variance to Title 11-3-9(D), General Parking Provisions, to reduce the ten-foot minimum side yard setback for off-street parking along the common boundary line between Lot 1 and Lot 2, th Block 2 and the preliminary plat for Glengrove Industrial Park 5 Addition to re- subdivide four existing parcels into three lots and one outlot. Motion Carried 5-0. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 5 Item 4.O. Motion by Council Member Olsen, seconded by Council Member Thiede, to amend Item 4.O., changing the interim conditional use permit approval from a three-year period to a one-year period. 4.O. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-056 approving Renaissance Fireworks interim conditional use permit application allowing the setup and temporary outdoor sale of fireworks 20 days before July 4 (with site restoration completed by 9 days after) for a one-year period in the parking lot at Grove Plaza, 7282 East Point Douglas Road. Motion carried 5-0. 5. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED OPEN FORUM ISSUES A. Mayor Bailey confirmed that a letter had been sent to a resident in response to an open forum inquiry regarding maintenance of trees on private property. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Continue the Public Hearing to consider authorizing issuance of on-sale intoxicating and special Sunday liquor licenses to A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc. at 6940 Keats Avenue South (Cedarhurst Mansion) to the June 17, 2015 Regular City Council Meeting. Motion by Council Member Dennis, seconded by Council Member Peterson, to continue the Public Hearing to the June 17, 2015, Regular City Council Meeting. Motion carried 5-0. 7. BID AWARDS A. Consider awarding the bid for the 2015 Seal Coat Project, which includes the Cities of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, and Denmark Township, to Pearson Brothers, Inc. who was the lowest bidder in the amount of $278,117.55. Director Levitt stated that the City had a favorable bid on the 2015 Seal Coat Project and staff recommended awarding the bid to Pearson Brothers, Inc. as stated in the resolution. Motion by Council Member Peterson, seconded by Council Member Thiede, to adopt Resolution No. 2015-060, awarding the bid for the 2015 Seal Coat Project to Pearson Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $278,117.55. Motion carried 5-0. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 6 8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the sale of $6,000,000 General Obligation (G.O.) Improvement Bonds 2015A. Director Roland indicated the bonds would reimburse the City for the 2014 Pavement Management Project and fund the expenses of the 2015 Pavement Management Project. Bids were taken by Ehlers & Associates on May 6, 2015. Shelly Eldridge of Ehlers & Associates noted that Standard & Poor’s had affirmed the City’s rating of AA+ based on strong management, liquidity, and budgeting compared to like cities in the United States. Eleven bids were received from underwriters across the United States, which indicated national interest in investing in the City of Cottage Grove. The winning bid came in at 2.2969%and Ehlers & Associates had estimated 2.5%. The winning bidder was Piper Jaffray out of Minneapolis. There will be an interest savings of approximately $139,000 over the life of the bond or about $8,000 per year compared to the original estimate. Finance Director Roland asked that the Council affirm the sale of the bonds today by approving the resolution. Because of a premium bid, the amount of the bond issue was reduced by $300,000 to $5.7 million. Motion by Council Member Olsen, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to adopt Resolution No. 2015-061 authorizing the sale of $5,700,000 General Obligation (G.O.) Improvement Bonds 2015A. Motion carried 5-0. 9. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS – None. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Council Member Dennis stated that this is National Small Business Week and he wanted to put out a reminder to shop Cottage Grove first to build a vibrant local business economy right at home. Council Member Dennis warned that this is the time of year when there is a rise in crimes of opportunity. He reminded residents to keep garage doors down and vehicles locked. Council Member Olsen announced it was National Teachers’ Week and thanked all the teachers in the community for what they do every day. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 7 Council Member Olsen said May 6, 2015 is Nurses’ Appreciation Day and wanted to thank all of the caregivers who serve in a nursing capacity in our community. Council Member Peterson thanked the City Council members and the community for their recent support of Stone Soup at the Stone Soup’r Bowl on April 18, 2015, which brought in approximately $37,000, enough to pay for about three months of operating costs. Council Member Peterson stated that on May 12, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Chipotle would be supporting the Park High School girls’ soccer booster club. Council Member Peterson said May 14 is the next “Fare for All” in Cottage Grove, a once-a-month discount grocery-buying opportunity at All Saints Lutheran Church, and that it’s open to the general public. Council Member Peterson indicated the Standing Strong 5K Run & Walk will take place on May 16 at Hamlet Park, a fundraising effort by the Cottage Grove Lions Club to benefit learning efforts at Oltman Middle School and Cottage Grove Middle School. Council Member Peterson announced the annual Memorial Day ceremony at City Hall will take place May 25 at 1:30 and she encouraged everyone to take part. Council Member Thiede indicated it was only six weeks until Strawberry Fest and the deadline to enter the Minnesota Sings singing contest is June 1. He referred people to the Strawberry Fest website and said the singing contest is June 17, 2015 at Kingston Park. Mayor Bailey said on May 9 there will be a Bike Park Build Day at the Cottage Grove Bike Park. On that same day, Wag Farms Dog Park is having a spring cleanup day and they’re looking for volunteers to help. Mayor Bailey stated the Cottage Grove Shop Local Survey closes May 15 and he and Danette Parr will bring the information from the survey to the Las Vegas convention the following week. Mayor Bailey indicated that prior to the next City Council Meeting on May 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. there will be an open house for City Administrator Ryan Schroeder, who will be leaving at the end of May. He encouraged everyone to stop in and join the Council in thanking Ryan for his many years of service to Cottage Grove. Mayor Bailey spoke about the upcoming Relay for Life events on June 5 & 6. He will be competing against the other Mayors in the area in a 100-yard dash and encouraged everyone to come out and support the American Cancer Society. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 8 Mayor Bailey said the Night to Unite Informational Picnic is May 21 at Kingston Park, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. 11. PAY BILLS A. Approve payment of check numbers 190756 through 191087 in the amount of $925,914.78 and EFT Payment of $156,033.08. Motion by Council Member Thiede, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to approve payment of check numbers 190756 through 191087 in the amount of $925,914.78 and EFT Payment of $156,033.08. Motion carried 5-0. 12. WORKSHOP SESSION – OPEN TO PUBLIC A. Off-premises sign policy. The workshop was held in the Conference Room. The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Steve Dennis, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Jennifer Levitt, CD Director/City Engineer; Korine Land, City Attorney-LeVander, Gillen & Miller; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk. Director Levitt stated that they are looking for feedback from the Mayor and City Council Members regarding the off-premises signs being seen throughout the City. She wanted to make sure the objectives of the Council were being met and also ensure that the policy and code were in line with their thoughts, objectives, and ideas. The Mayor and Council Members discussed various options for allowing temporary signage while controlling the location, size and number of signs. City Attorney Land advised that the content of messages cannot be regulated, nor can the City discriminate between for-profit and nonprofit organizations in our regulations. The Mayor, Council Members, and staff discussed various methods of registering and policing signs, along with the associated logistics issues. They further discussed temporary signage on private property, and allowing nonprofits to post temporary signs at event sites only. City Attorney Land reiterated that regulations could not be written into the ordinance discriminating between for-profit and nonprofit businesses. The reader boards at the Ice Arena and River Oaks Golf Course were also discussed as possible advertising sites for area nonprofits. May 6, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 9 Mayor Bailey felt they should hold firm on the current ordinance, but requested some feedback from other cities on how they deal with the issue. He also wanted to look at what options were available for the utilization of City signs at the Ice Arena and River Oaks Golf Course for nonprofits. Director Levitt advised she had obtained the information she needed and they would revisit the issue. 13. WORKSHOP SESSION – CLOSED TO PUBLIC – None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Council Member Thiede, seconded by Council Member Dennis to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:05 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes prepared by Judy Graf and reviewed by Deputy City Clerk Neil Belscamper