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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-20 MINUTES Cottage J Grove �here Pride ar►d PrOSperity Meet MINUTES COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBER 12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH January 20, 2016 REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER — Mayor The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a regular meeting on January 20, 2016, at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience, stafF, and 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. Also present were: Charlene Stevens, City Administrator; Korine Land, City Attorney- LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA; Brian Bluhm, MIS Coordinator; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk; Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer; John McCool, City Planner; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director OPEN FORUM Mayor Bailey asked if anyone in the audience wished to address the Council on any item that was not on the agenda. As no one wished to address the Council, Mayor Bailey closed the Open Forum. Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. 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 Cottage Grove CityrCouncil �January,20, 2016 Page 2 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion by Council Member Thiede, second by Council Member Peterson, to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried: 5-0. 2. PRESENTATIONS A. "Good Kidney Health" presentation by Cottage Grove resident Jim Gorbunow, a volunteer for the National Kidney Foundation. Mr. Gorbunow stated that, secondary to Type 1 diabetes, just before his 30th birthday his kidneys failed; he subsequently underwent a kidney transplant. After 13 years, he found that the transplanted kidney was failing and he underwent a second kidney transplant as well as two separate pancreas transplants. He stated he now volunteers for the National Kidney Foundations and wanted to enlighten individuals about kidney disease. He recommended everyone have their kidneys tested by their doctor and gave some statistics: • One in three adults is at risk for kidney disease; • One in nine adults are at risk as they have kidney disease but don't know it; • Early detection and treatment can slow or stop kidney disease, which is the ninth leading cause of death so it ranks right up there with cancer and heart disease. He reviewed what the kidneys do, why kidneys are important for your health, what kidney disease is, who is at risk, and actions that can be taken to protect your kidneys. People with questions about kidney disease can contact the National Kidney Foundation; they have a website and are also on Facebook. Council Member Peterson stated she had gone through the process to be a potential kidney donor and she encouraged people to look at being a donor. Mr. Gorbunow also encouraged people to become a donor when they renew their driver's licenses. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 6, 2016 City Council Regular Meeting minutes. Mayor Bailey and the Council Members approved the minutes as presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR ,Cottage Grove City Council January20, 2016 Page 3 The following items were pulled for discussion: Council Member Thiede wished to pull Item C; Council Member Olsen wished to pull Item F; Council Member Dennis wished to pull Item G. Council Member Thiede wished to have a discussion about the replacement of the current fuel system software and wanted to let people know the City was trying to work a little smarter with technology, which would allow the City to better monitor fuel usage, be more efficient, and do scientific analysis on equipment maintenance. He asked MIS Coordinator Brian Bluhm to speak to the Council about the technology. MIS Coordinator Bluhm spoke to the Council about the fuel management system; he gave a brief overview about the two systems currently in place and what they were asking to purchase. The Fuel Master System helps the City track fuel; however, updates are no longer available for that system. OPW is used by many local and state agencies; the company the City will be using for installation and support is Minnesota Petroleum and that company is already used for the tanks. OPW will integrate with the City's current tank system so there would be only one piece of software to watch instead of multiple pieces. The management system with OPW will actually push into the City's new fleet system at the same time so service can be tracked better. They will have the ability in late 2016 or in 2017 to actually put a little computer module onto the vehicles themselves; currently, individuals enter the mileage data manually, which isn't always accurate. The new system would actually read the mileage when the vehicle pulled up and any service errors would automatically go into the system and subsequently report that to the mechanics. Council Member Olsen acknowledged donations received in the second half of 2015 from residents, non-residents, and businesses: • $1,200 from Heidi Morgan for a park bench; • $100 from William and Lois Check for the Police Department; • $1,200 from Ed Jelinek for a park bench (the money donated for the park bench was donated in memory of Danielle Jelinek); • $100 donation from S. Opseth for the inclusive playground; • $10,000 from Northern Tier Energy for the Fire Department; • $100 from Susan Levasseur for the inclusive playground; • $50 donation from Michael Utell for the inclusive playground; • $1,749 donation from the Cottage Grove Athletic Association for field improvements in the parks; • $3,500 from the 3M Foundation for the Fire Department. Council Member Dennis spoke about adopting additions to the purchase policy. He stated they had been asking residents to shop locally and the City will also do ;Cottage Grove City Council �lanuary 20, 2016 Page 4 the same. Whenever possible, environmentally-preferable purchasing, including Energy Star certified equipment and appliances, paper, and other supplies that are at least 30% post-consumer recycled content, will occur. A. Accept and Place on File the Following Minutes: None submitted. B. Accept the Pay Equity Report. C. Approve the replacement of the current fuel system software with OPW for a purchase price of$19,078. D. Adopt Resolution 2016-012 supporting the grant application to the MN DNR for the Federal Recreational Trail Program grant in the amount of$150,000 to be used for improvements at the Cottage Grove Bike Park. E. Approve the 2015 South Washington County Athletic Facilities Study. F. Adopt Resolution 2016-013 accepting donations received in the second half of 2015. G. Adopt Resolution 2016-014 adopting additions to the purchasing policy. H. Adopt Resolution 2016-015 authorizing issuance of a Premises Permit to the Cottage Grove Athletic Association for lawful purpose gambling operations at Carbone's Pizzeria, 7155 Jorgensen Lane South. I. Adopt Resolution 2016-016 authorizing the preparation of a feasibility report for the Summers Landing 1 st Addition Street & Utility Improvements. J. Adopt Resolution 2016-017 authorizing the preparation of a feasibility report for the Hadley Avenue and 95th Street Improvements Project. K. Approve a new site lease agreement with AT&T at the Pinehill Water Tower. Motion by Council Member Thiede, 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. 1. Hold the public hearing to vacate and discontinue all existing drainage and utility easements located within Outlot B in Glengrove Industrial Park 4th Addition. 2. Consider adopting a resolution vacating the easements and authorize the City Clerk to notify Washington County of the vacations. 3. Consider adopting a resolution approving the preliminary plat for Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition, which subdivides a 63.442-acre parcel of land located south of 97th Street, east of Hemingway Avenue, and approximately a half mile west of Jamaica Avenue into one lot and two outlots. 4. Consider adopting a resolution approving the Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition final plat, subject to the conditions listed in the resolution. Planner McCool spoke about vacating and discontinuing all drainage and utility easements on Outlot B of Glengrove Industrial Park 4th Addition, adopting a preliminary plat, and approving a final plat. The reason for the final ;Cottage Grove City Council �lanuary 20, 2016 Page 5 plat was to rededicate the easements for the plats and parcels that would be created in the new subdivision plat, Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition. The preliminary plat and final plat would create one buildable parcel of nine acres; it would also create two outlots, one 3.8 acres and the other about 51 acres in size. The larger parcel, Outlot B, would most likely be re-subdivided sometime in the future. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the plat. Council Member Thiede asked why they needed to have the public hearing and what the negative factors might be. Planner McCool stated it was basically about the easements and the public utilities; there currently are no private easements but is public drainage and utility easements. Mayor Bailey opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, Mayor Bailey closed the public hearing. Motion by Council Member Thiede to adopt Resolution 2016-018 vacating the easements and authorizing the City Clerk to notify Washington County of the vacations, second by Council Member Olsen. Motion carried: 5-0. Motion by Council Member Olsen to adopt Resolution 2016-019 approving the preliminary plat for Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition, which subdivides a 63.442-acre parcel of land located south of 97th Street, east of Hemingway Avenue, and approximately a half mile west of Jamaica Avenue into one lot and two outlots, second by Council Member Thiede. Motion carried: 5-0. Motion by Council Member Olsen to adopt Resolution 2016-020 approving Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition final plat subject to the conditions listed in the resolution, second by Council Member Peterson. Motion carried: 5-0. 7. BID AWARDS — None. 8. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. Consider adopting a resolution approving Appro Development's site plan and conditional use permit applications for the proposed Gardenworld, Inc. project, which consists of constructing a 38,400 square-foot warehouse/office, 43,560 square-foot greenhouse, 43,560 square-foot future greenhouse, 49 off-street parking spaces (Phase I), and outdoor plant garden plots on a 9.08- acre site located at the southeast corner of 97th Street and Hemingway Avenue. Planner McCool stated this project is the 9-acre parcel, Lot 1, Block 1, of the Glengrove Industrial Park 6th Addition. Gardenworld is a client of the Applicant, Appro Development, and their project consists of warehouse/office ;Cottage Gro�e City Gouncil, ;January 20, 2016 Page 6. and greenhouses on the property. He reviewed the proposed developments, which are in accordance with the requirements of the City Ordinances, and a future greenhouse expansion located to the east side of the proposed greenhouse. He reviewed future landscaping plans by the Applicant. Mayor Bailey questioned which trees would be removed; Planner McCool stated they'd be removing dead trees and brush, including buckthorn. Dave Van Der Sman, the Applicant and owner of Gardenworld, thanked the City Council and City Staff for their help with the entire process; he stated they were looking forward to becoming a member of the Cottage Grove community. He indicated they are a horticulture wholesaler and produce perennial products, which are sold to larger retailers, who then resell those to the consumer. They would be relocating from their current location in St. Paul to Cottage Grove and would be bringing employment opportunities to Cottage Grove. Council Member Olsen stated there were concerns raised by the public about the greenhouse structures being located so close to LeafLine Labs; he stated these greenhouse structures had nothing to do with LeafLine Labs and were Gardenworld greenhouse structures. Motion by Council Member Olsen to adopt Resolution 2016-021 approving the site plan and conditional use permit applications for the proposed Gardenworld, Inc. Project, second by Council Member Thiede. Motion carried: 5-0. B. Consider adopting a resolution approving a community solar garden on approximately 80 acres of land located approximately one quarter of a mile south of 70th Street, one quarter of a mile north of 77th Street, and east of the Old Cottage Grove neighborhood. Planner McCool stated Ecoplexus, Inc. has filed a conditional use permit for a community solar garden on property currently owned by Steven and Kathleen Geis, who would continue to own the property but would lease it to Ecoplexus. Ecoplexus would like to erect an array of solar panels on the property; the parcel is approximately 80 acres in size, but the proposed solar collector system would only occupy about 37 acres. At the Planning Commission meeting on December 21, 2015, there were a number of citizens who had numerous concerns regarding the community solar garden. The Planning Commission found the Applicant was in compliance with City Ordinance and recommended approval of the application for consideration by the City Council. The Applicant agreed to all conditions that were discussed at that meeting. ;Cottage Grove City Council, January;20, 2016 Page 7 Council Member Olsen asked Planner McCool to explain the zoning of the area. Planner McCool advised the property was zoned agricultural; it had to be at least five acres and outside of the urban service area and not in the transitional planning areas of the community. Most of the area that would allow for large utility operations would be located to the east of Kimbro Avenue. Council Member Dennis asked the City Attorney what liabilities the City could be facing if they denied an application that was in compliance with the Ordinance. Attorney Land stated if someone was in complete compliance with the City Ordinance requirements and if the City Council chose not to approve the application, then that would be considered acting arbitrarily and capriciously. The City would then be subject to litigation and any detrimental damages that the Applicant would have incurred. A Court would likely order the City to approve the application anyway. Council Member Thiede asked what kind of limitations this would put on neighboring properties for development. Planner McCool stated the Solar System Collector Ordinance, because it was zoned agricultural, required specific yard setbacks and described those. Any houses built near the site would also have specific setbacks. He also advised there was a 25-to-30 year lease being considered for that land. Mayor Bailey asked about the taxes on the property. Finance Director Roland stated there was a State tax on facilities that generate more than 4 megawatts of electricity; the tax is paid to the State off of the generation of the amount of electricity. That tax is then sent back to the County (80%) and the City (20%) because the property that's underlying the solar garden has property tax of regular agricultural property. The improvements themselves are personal property and are not considered as part of the property tax system. Council Member Olsen stated the Planning Commission took two of the applications under advisement; one was for a property that was in the future development area. One of the residents who would be impacted by that asked if the solar garden project could have a detrimental effect on property value; Planning Commissioner Fox answered in the affirmative. However, because of the location of this specific property, Commissioner Fox stated that this would not have a detrimental effect on neighboring property values because of the distance. He felt that should be noted. The Applicant, Nathan Rogers, Project Development Manager with Ecoplexus, 650 Townsend Street, Suite 315, San Francisco, California, addressed the City Council and asked if they had any questions. Council ;Cottage Grove City Council. January 20, 2016 Page $ Member Thiede asked if issues arose and they had to contact him in California and who actually maintained the area. Mr. Rogers stated they're in California but usually once things are operational there aren't usually things that go wrong; if there are issues, he can be reached by phone or E-mail to get things resolved. , Motion by Council Member Olsen to adopt Resolution 2016-022 approving a conditional use permit for the community solar garden, second by Council Member Peterson. Motion carried: 5-0. C. Consider adopting a resolution denying SunShare's solar collection system ordinance amendment to Exhibit A in Ordinance No. 948. Mayor Bailey stated that right before the meeting tonight the Applicant had asked to continue this item until date certain February 3, 2016 City Council meeting. Council Member Olsen asked if they were obligated to grant the extension; Attorney Land stated she contemplated that when the request was made. The extension could certainly be denied; however, Attorney Land suggested that they be offered one additional continuance and then take affirmative action at the next meeting to either approve or deny it. Council Member Dennis asked if this was the second time they'd asked for a continuance on one of their matters; Attorney Land advised she believed it was their second request for a continuance. Council Member Dennis asked if we knew their reason for requesting the additional extension; Attorney Land stated that the reason was not stated in the request. Mayor Bailey asked Attorney Land if they had to abide by the 60-day rule; Attorney Land stated the 60-day rule is from the date that the application is deemed complete. They did allow an additional time so they asked that the 60-day rule be extended; that date expires on February 14, so it must be approved or denied before that date. Although it's a courtesy at this point to allow them one additional extension, Attorney Land thought it was reasonable. Mayor Bailey felt it was in the City's best interests to grant the extension. Motion by Council Member Thiede to continue this matter to date certain February 3, 2016, second by Council Member Peterson. Motion carried: 3-2. (Nay by Council Member Olsen and Council Member Dennis). 9. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS — None. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS ;Cottage Groue City Gouncil, �January,;20, 2016 Page 9 Council Member Dennis stated there is a Cottage Grove family, the Maaskes, in need of help; their five-year-old son, Caleb, is challenged with Chiari Malformation, which results in structural defects in part of the brain that controls balance. Caleb subsequently suffers seizures, constant pain, etc., which a child should not have to face. There is a spaghetti dinner benefit for the family, "Four Paws for Caleb," on Sunday, February 21, at the VFW Red Barn; proceeds will be used to acquire a service dog for Caleb that will help with his movements and also provide the loyalty and companionship that only a dog can provide. Council Member Dennis wanted to reach out to the community to ask others to consider helping this family if they can. Rachel, Caleb's mother, can be reached at 651- 329-4657, or contact Council Member Dennis. Council Member Olsen stated the Cottage Grove Fire Department had their annual awards banquet, and he wanted to recognize and congratulate the 2015 Firefighter of the Year, Tony Rich. He also wanted to thank Paramedic Blake Denherder, who was given the Run Hog Award for all of the medical runs he made in 2015, as well as Firefighter-EMT Mike Gabrielli for the work that he did for the citizens of Cottage Grove. He thanked all of the part-time and full-time Firefighters, Director Woolery, Fire Chief Redenius, and the Deputy Chiefs for the excellent work they do for the citizens. Council Member Peterson stated the next Fare For All discount grocery-buying opportunity, open to the public, will be on Thursday, February 11, at All Saints Lutheran Church; any purchases support the local food shelves. The Stone Soup "Souper Bowl" will take place on Saturday, April 23, at Park Grove Bowl in St. Paul Park. She encouraged everyone to attend. Mayor Bailey stated on Friday, January 29, there will be a Skate Night at Highlands Park pond; he encouraged everyone to attend. Mayor Bailey stated on Fridays, from February 5 through March 25, there will be a Fish Fry at River Oaks Golf Course. Mayor Bailey stated on Saturday, February 6, there will be an open house for the new park building at Woodridge Park; he stated there would be diagrams for the inclusive playground there so encouraged everyone to attend. Mayor Bailey stated he received a letter from the ROTC Minnesota 871 Reserve Officer Training Corps, based out of Park High School; there is a rule that if they drop below 100 cadets in their system, they can be considered unable to move forward and keep that title, which means their unit could be closed down. They are working on recruiting initiatives so if anyone has children who want to be involved in the Junior ROTC at Park High School, Mayor Bailey encouraged them to contact him. They are looking for the City to write a letter on behalf of our ;Cottage Grove City Council January'20;2016 ;Page 1 Q Junior ROTC stating why this program is so important to our community and they would like to continue moving forward even if they drop below 100 cadets. If anyone has questions, please contact Kathy Roby at 651-425-5704 or send an E-mail to kroby�sowashco.orq. He asked if the City could put this out on Facebook and asked for a motion to approve from the Council showing support for the Junior ROTC at Park High School. Motion by Council Member Olsen to show support for the Junior ROTC at Park High School, second by Council Member Peterson. Motion carried: 5-0. 11. PAY BILLS Motion by Council Member Olsen, second by Council Member Thiede, to approve payment of check numbers 194642 to 194782 in the amount of $397,923.15 and EFT Payment of$23,478.46. Motion carried: 5-0. 12. WORKSHOP SESSION — OPEN TO PUBLIC — None. 13. WORKSHOP SESSION — CLOSED TO PUBLIC — None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Council Member Dennis, second by Council Member Thiede, to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried: 5-0. Minutes prepared by Judy Graf and reviewed by Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City Clerk.