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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-17 MINUTES MINUTES COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBER 12800 RAVINE PARKWAY JUNE 17, 2015 OPEN FORUM – 7:15 P.M. The following were present: Council Member Steve Dennis, Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Dave Thiede. Also present were: Craig Woolery, Interim City Administrator; Korine Land, City Attorney- . LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA Council Member Olsen asked if anyone in the audience wished to address the City Council on any topic not on the regular City Council agenda. David Blumeof the Southeast Metro Amateur Radio Club invited the Mayor and City Council, as well as the citizens of Cottage Grove, to participate in a 24-hour drill about saving lives while using only battery, generator, and solar power sources. They are located at Zion Lutheran Church, 8500 Hillside Trail, and it will take place on Saturday, June 27. 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 June 17, 2015, at the 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. 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. 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  June 17, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 2 Also present were: Craig Woolery, Interim City Administrator; Joe Fischbach, HR Director/City Clerk; Korine Land, City Attorney- LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Danette Parr, Economic Development Director; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; John McCool, Senior Planner; Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Officer. Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion by Council Member Olsen, second by Council Member Peterson, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. 2. PRESENTATIONS A. Code Enforcement Update Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Officer, outlined common code enforcement issues, including boat, recreational vehicle, and motor vehicle parking; outside storage; weeds; and vacant property maintenance. Council Member Olsen asked about the process for commercial or residential property violations and at what point the City corrects those violations. Ms. Schmitz explained the steps and deadlines. Mayor Bailey asked about addressing potholes in commercial parking lots. Ms. Schmitz said lot maintenance is encouraged with commercial properties but that the City Code is a somewhat limited in this regard. Mayor Bailey asked whether the City Code could be strengthened. City Attorney Korine Land advised that was possible. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. June 3, 2015 Special Meeting B. June 3, 2015 Regular Meeting Mayor Bailey and members of the City Council approved the minutes as presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Olsen requested to pull Item D (Cooperative Agreement with Washington County for design and construction of County State Aid Highway 22 and Jamaica Avenue South). He noted that Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham was present if there were any questions. Mayor Bailey requested that the City June 17, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 3 have input on the landscaping of the roundabout. Commissioner Bigham replied they would continue to have conversations on how to beautify the project. Council Member Olsen requested that any help the City could get alleviating the Almar Village traffic problem at 70th Street, near the roundabout, would be appreciated. Commissioner Bigham replied that the business owners and residents in that area had also expressed concerns and she was working on that issue. A. Accept and Place on File the Following Minutes: None Submitted. B. 1. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-074 approving the final plat named Eastridge Woods 4th Addition. 2. Adopt Resolution No. 2015-075 approving the final construction plans and specifications dated May 26, 2015 for Eastridge Woods 4th Addition. 3. Approve the proposed Development Agreement with D.R. Horton for the development of the Eastridge Woods 4th Addition project. C. Authorize Public Works to advertise and sell surplus property on eBay. D. Approve the Cooperative Agreement with Washington County for the design and construction of County State Aid Highway 22 and Jamaica Avenue South. E. Approve the Building Inspection Services Agreements that include fee increases with Denmark Township and the City of St. Paul Park. F. Approve the assessment appeal waiver agreement for the property located at 8235 97th Street for a developmental project. Motion by Council Member Peterson, second by Council Member Dennis, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. 5. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED OPEN FORUM ISSUES – None. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Continue the public hearing from May 6, 2015 and consider authorizing issuance of on-sale intoxicating and special Sunday liquor licenses to A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc. at 6940 Keats Avenue South contingent upon Cedarhurst, Inc. relinquishing their liquor licenses, and authorizing a prorated refund of 2015 liquor license fees to Cedarhurst, Inc. City Clerk Joe Fischbach stated that A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc. was taking over food and liquor operations at Cedarhurst Mansion and that investigations by the Police Department and the Finance Department revealed nothing that would constitute a basis for denial of the liquor license application. June 17, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 4 Mayor Bailey asked if the application was going to start having a dinner service or food at Cedarhurst. Seth Brittain, owner of A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc., replied that was correct and they would be serving food to the general public on Thursdays. Council Member Olsen asked whether there had been an ownership change or were they were working with the current owners. Mr. Brittain replied that the Cedarhurst owners had contracted with them to take over all operations, including tours, food service, etc. He added that they are also catering at Hope Glen Farm and there was another venue opening in August that they would be catering for as well. Council Member Thiede asked if the liquor license fees paid by A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc. and the refund to Cedarhurst, Inc. equaled each other. City Clerk Fischbach stated that since the fees are prorated it would result in a net zero transaction. Mayor Bailey opened the Public Hearing. As no one wished to speak, Mayor Bailey closed the Public Hearing. Motion by Council Member Thiede, second by Council Member Dennis, to authorize issuance of on-sale intoxicating and special Sunday liquor licenses to A This Little Piggy Catering, Inc. at 6940 Keats Avenue South contingent upon Cedarhurst, Inc. relinquishing their liquor licenses, and authorize a prorated refund of 2015 liquor license fees to Cedarhurst, Inc. Motion carried 5-0. 7. BID AWARDS – None. 8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS – None. 9. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS – None. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Council Member Dennis gave an update on the Cottage Grove Police Department’s Citizens Academy. Council Member Olsen said the Southeast Metro Radio Club had attended Open Forum and that their 24-hour drill would take place at Zion Lutheran Church on June 27. Council Member Olsen said on June 18 the Cottage Grove Fire Relief Association would have a fundraiser at American Motorsports Bar & Grill. June 17, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 5 Council Member Peterson announced that the Fourth of July celebration would take place at Kingston Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. Council Member Thiede said Strawberry Fest begins at Kingston Park on June 18 and encouraged citizens to visit their website. Council Member Thiede said the Business Enterprise Center (former City Hall) will host an open house on July 28 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Mayor Bailey commented that there was a groundbreaking ceremony at Renewal by Andersen yesterday, and that the expansion will add more than 200 jobs to the community. Mayor Bailey announced that today the official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place for the LeafLine Labs facility. Mayor Bailey stated that on June 16 he had the opportunity to speak with some of the members of the Executive Board of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, adding that Council Member Dennis had been very active in pursuing the “shop local” idea and the Chamber would like to be involved in that discussion. He asked if we could give staff direction to reach out to the Chamber to arrange some dates that the Council, staff, and the marketing arm of the Chamber could meet to discuss what the City could do to support them. Mayor Bailey was looking for approval so the City Council could move in that direction. Motion by Council Member Dennis, seconded by Council Member Olsen, to initiate local business marketing strategy discussions with the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Bailey commented that the construction of the LeafLine Labs facility would not have occurred in Cottage Grove without the support of the legislative contingent, specifically Representative Schoen and Senator Sieben, and he thanked them for their efforts. Council Member Olsen also stated that they were both instrumental in working with Minnesota DEED to obtain grant money for Renewal by Andersen to get their expansion underway. 11. PAY BILLS A. Motion by Council Member Peterson, second by Council Member Thiede, to approve payment of check numbers 191502 through 191698 in the amount of $682,999.00 and EFT Payment of $44,252.73. Motion carried 5-0. 12. WORKSHOP SESSION – OPEN TO PUBLIC- None. June 17, 2015 Cottage Grove City Council Page 6 13. WORKSHOP SESSION – CLOSED TO PUBLIC – None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Council Member Dennis, second by Council Member Peterson, to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:20 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes prepared by: Judy Graf, Reviewed by Deputy City Clerk Neil Belscamper.