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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 24, 1976OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MAY 24, 1976 -218- The Meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Hentges, Nawrocki--present STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OF MEETING Mayor Nawrocki stated the purpose of this meeting as being a public hearing to discuss the possibility of extending MTC Route 18 on 4Oth Avenue from Reservoir Boulevard to Stinson Boulevard to create a more direct route to Apache Plaza. He noted that the proposal is basically to provide additional service to the citizens of Columbia Heights. He went on to say that this matter has gone through the Traffic Commission and it was decided at the Regular Meeting of the City Council on May lO that this public hearing would be held to hear comments, questions,and concerns relating to the extension of this bus line. Mayor Nawrocki then introduced Mr. Isaacs of the Metropolitan Transit Commission Operating Division. Mr. Isaacs and Mayor Nawrocki pointed out that the MTC tries very hard to get additional transit service, particularly in suburban areas, to meet the needs of the people. It was also noted that there have been many requests for this type of service. At this time, Mr. Isaacs presented a map to show the proposed service. He noted that the busses would run from approximately 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. He also stressed the point that this proposed service is primarily designed to give riders direct service to Apache Plaza. Mayor Nawrocki asked if there were any questions on the proposed service. A gentleman in the audience noted that he would be in favor of the proposed service, because in order to go to Apache Plaza, he must ride a bus downtown and transfer. A question was raised as to whether or not this proposed service would have any effect on the Hilltop bus line. Mr. Isaacs answered that it would not. -219- May 24, 1976 Another person asked if the Hilltop bus line could be altered to go to Apache Plaza. Mr. Isaacs answered that the bus would then have to travel to two destinations and people would have to ride on the bus for a longer period of time to get to where they want to go. He noted that altering the bus line in Hilltop to go to Apache Plaza would be giving the people a lower level of service. Someone asked if 37th Avenue is a state aid road and Mayor Nawrocki answered that it is. It was further asked if 37th Avenue could be used for this bus service. Mr. Isaacs answered that one of the advantages of the bus service as proposed is that it makes use of lay-over time so well. The run as proposed is much more economical than one that would go up 37th Avenue. A route that would go up 37th Avenue would cost anywhere from $5500 to $10,8OO more annually. He also noted that a separate service is being planned for 37th Avenue. Someone in the audience was concerned about the increase of traffic along 40th Avenue, expecially near Silver Lake School and Ostrander Park. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the busses would consist of a very small percent of the traffic that travels 40th Avenue daily. The actual traffic count was noted as being approximately 4960 vehicles per day with the hour between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. having the heaviest traffic; approximately 528 vehicles. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the idea of bus service is to try to get some people out of their cars and try to decrease the level of trips made in automobiles. Someone asked if the bus route would give the City a reason to widen 40th Avenue. Mayor Nawrocki answered that having busses running along 40th Avenue would not justify widening the road. Discussion was held about the possible damage to 40th Avenue from the busses. George Brown, City Engineer, noted that the road might possibly become rippled from the busses stopping at the bottom of hills, but the road had been designed for heavy traffic and damage was not anticipated. Concerns about noise and air pollution were also voiced. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the number of trips the bus would add to the 40th Avenue traffic count would be very minimal. Concerning the noise factor, he noted that the sound of a bus under full acceleration is lower than that of the average motorcycle. He further stated that busses have deisel engines, which are much cleaner than gasoline engines. He noted that today's bus is much cleaner than the automobile. He also stated that the comments on noise and air pollution were overstated. May 24, 1976 -220- Mayor Nawrocki noted that in the event of another "energy crunch" bus lines like this will be needed. He also noted that people should depend more upon public transit. Someone stated that they thought having a bus line in their area would depreciate the value of their homes. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the contrary is true, saying that many times homes are ad- vertised as being on bus lines when they are put up for sale because it attracts potential buyers and is not considered a deterrant. Councilman Norberg asked about the alternate route to the proposed 40th Avenue extension. He wanted to know if it would be possible to modify the alternate route and drop the proposed extension or condition the continuance of the 40th Avenue extension on the success of the alternate route. Mr. Isaacs answered that there were two different reasons for these two routes; that is, serving Columbia Heights and serving Minneapolis. He also noted that any revision of the proposed extension would not be giving the citizens of Columbia Heights as good a level of service, and it would be more expensive to operate. Mr. Isaacs pointed out that there was a chance that the 37th Avenue route would not survive because of failure to attract reasonable ridership. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the 37th Avenue route was not the one under discussion at this meeting. Mr. Isaacs stated that MTC routes are reviewed after six and twelve months-and if the level of usage does not justify the service, the service is either modified or dropped. He noted that sometimes bus lines are eliminated because of low ridership. Councilman Hentges noted that the League of Women Voters supported this proposed bus route. Motion by Hentges, Seconded by Logacz to concur with the Traffic Commission, the Housing Authority and the League of Women Voters and grant the extension on route 18 on 40th Avenue to Apache Plaza to the Metropolitan Transit Commission. Roll Call: All Ayes Councilman Logacz stated that he lives on a busy street with much traffic. He stated that each year there would be more and more traffic unless something is done to offer people an alternative to driving their cars. He also said that the MTC busses are controlled and driven by responsible people, and their service is economical. -221- May 24, 1976 Someone in the audience asked if the MTC would participate in the cost of maintaining 40th Avenue should any damage occur. Concern was voiced that the busses would be travelling over the area that once was swampy, and the road would not hold out. George Brown stated that the road was designed for the legal limit and no problems of this kind were anticipated. He stated that there isn't any reason why 40th Avenue shouldn't be as good as any other road. He further noted that if the road should require replacing, it would be paid for out of state aid funds at no cost to the residents. Mayor Nawrocki stated that, after the bus service is put into effect, people who feel that the service is causing more problems than had been anticipated should feel free to call him or the City staff. The special meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Bruce G. Nawrocki, Mayor Secr~l~ary OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS MAY 24, 1976 -222- Meeting was called to order at 8:27 p.m. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Hentges, Nawrocki---present Motion by Norberg, Seconded by Heintz to name Karen DeBruin Secretary for the Meeting. Roll Call: All Ayes Invocation was given by Reverend Otte of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz to approve the minutes of March 23, March 29, April 12, April 13, and April 26 as presented in writing and the reading be dispensed with. Roll Call: All Ayes PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion by Norberg, Seconded by Hentges to pay the bills as listed out of their proper funds. Roll Call: All Ayes BIDS ON PICK UP TRUCK INCLUDING UTILITY BOX It was recommended that the bid on the Pick Up Truck be awarded to the low bidder, Bill Boyer Ford, in an amount of $5,738.31. Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Heintz to award the bid on the Pick Up Truck with Utility Box to Bill Boyer Ford in an amount of $5,738.31 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Councilman Norberg asked if the $5,738.31 amount included the AM radio option. Mayor Nawrocki replied that it did. Motion by Norberg, Seconded by Hentges to award the bid on the Pick Up Truck to Bill Boyer Ford deleting option #2, AM radio, for a total amount of $5,667.76 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Councilman Logacz asked Shop Foreman Tom Hosch what the justification for the AM radio was. Mr. Hosch answered that by including the AM radio, people would no longer have to bring their own portable radios in the trucks. He stated that portable radios tend to scratch up the dashboard of the vehicles. He also stated that the re-sale value of the trucks is higher when they have a radio. He also noted the advantage of having something to break the monotony when it is necessary to plow snow for long periods of time. -223- May 24, 1976 He also stated that the highway reports from the radio could be useful in avoiding traffic jams and bad roads when the vehicle is used to travel out of the City. Ne also noted that other departments in the City have radios in their vehicles. He concluded by stating that it was not just a matter of riding around listening to & radio. Councilman Norberg stated that he thought the Public Works two-way radio could be used to transmit weather and highway reports. Councilman Hentges stated that most of the vehicles owned by the City are used to take the employees from the City Garage to the job site and there is really no need for a radio. He stated that he thought a radio wou]d be a distraction. He stated that the employees would have the temptation of listening to music or a ball game and not concentrating on their work. Mr. Hosch stated that he thought the practice of listening to music on the job should be discouraged, but noted that he still believed there was merit in having a radio in the vehicle. Councilman Hentges asked where the line should be drawn as to who should or should not be allowed to have an AM radio in their vehicles. He stated that if someone is allowed to have a radio, everyone else would also want one, and the cost of installing radios in all the City's vehicles would be a major expenditure. Roll Call on Motion to award the bid on the Pick Up Truck to Bill Boyer Ford: All Ayes Roll Call on Notion to delete from the purchase agreement the option of the AM radio: All Ayes BIDS ON KEYES PARK RECREATION BUILDING Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz to award the bid on the Keyes Park Recreation Building to Nedegaard Construction in an amount of $53~930 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Councilman Hentges inquired as to whether or not a motion would have to be made to show where the money for this construction would come from, since only $50,OOO was budgeted for the construction of this building. Mayor Nawrocki noted that some other park related project would have to be decreased or eliminated to make up for the over expenditure on this item. He also stated that no motion would have to be made to transfer funds to the line item for construction of the Keyes Park Building. May 24, 1976 -224- Roll Call on Motion: Logacz, Heintz, Nawrocki---aye Norberg, Hentges---nay Motion carries. Councilman Hentges noted that there is no year-round program for the use of these buildings, so therefore he thought the money could be put to better use on some other project. Mayor Nawrocki and Councilman Heintz pointed out to Councilman Hentges that these park buildings do get used all year, and as time goes on and better recreation programs can be instituted, more and more uses will be available for the buildings. BIDS ON REPAIR WORK ON DRIVE APPROACHES NEAR PRESTEMON PARK Mr. Watson noted that the driveways in question were along Cleveland Street, 39th to 40th Avenue and on 39½ Avenue from Cleveland Street to McKinley Street. He also noted that these driveways were restored by City forces during the Fall of 1975 after the installation of curb and gutter and street surfacing. Several complaints from dissatisfied homeowners were received on the unprofessional work done, the weak edges, and poor appearance. George Brown, City Engineer stated that he felt that he must recommend either overlays after patching, or removing and replacing all of the work. He also noted that two quotes on the work had been received: D. J. Krone and Sons for $1,500 and Jeff Masters for $1,750. Mayor Nawrocki asked if the work on the driveways should be cleaned up by the contractor who did the work. George Brown replied that the contractor was the City of Columbia Heights. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Heintz to enter into a contract with D. J. Krone and Sons in an amount of $1,500 for repair work to be done on driveways near Prestoman Park based on low informal quotation. Roll Call: All Ayes. Councilman Norberg had questioned which fund the money for this project would come from and at this time asked for a written report from Mr. Schedler, Finance Director, stating which line items the money would be taken from. HEARING ON MONROE STREET; 45th to 46th Avenue City Manager Watson noted that the City of Columbia Heights has been working in conjunction with the Village of Hilltop in order to come to some agreement on the Monroe Street; 45th to 46th Avenue Project which entails installing a water main, putting in a new street and curb and gutter. Mr. Watson -225- May 24, 1976 noted that the City of Columbia Heights by itself does not have enough right of way to proceed with the project to its fullest extent. It was noted that this project had been proposed last year but bids were rejected by the Council because they came in very high. The project was being proposed again this year because it is probable that a contractor can be found who can do the job for a reasonable cost. Mr. Watson noted that Clayton Berg of the Engineering Department has been attending the Hilltop Village Council meetings and was present at this meeting to discuss the topic with the Council and the people present. Mr. Berg stated that he thought this project could be accomplished this year with the cooperation of Hilltop. He also stated that Hilltop had scheduled a hearing for June 7, 1976, to further review the plans and see if some agreement could be reached. Mr. Berg noted that Hilltop requested that prior to thh. ir June 7 hearing, the Columbia Heights City Council should approve the taking of bids with the understanding that the bids would be awarded with concurrence from their Council because they would have to share in the costs. Mr. Berg noted that a petition had been received from the people in this area and had already been placed on file which had been signed by 59 percent of the property owners requesting permanent blacktop, street drainage, and curb and gutter. One lady in the audience noted that she knew of two people in the area who intended to take their names off of the petition if the work could not be done to an acceptable extent, that is: A full street, water main, and curb and gutter. The gentlem&n who had circulated the petition was present and noted that no one had signed the petition without first reading it and discussing it with him. One man noted that he had read the petition but hadn't noticed anything about a water main. Mr. Watson noted that the water main was an integral part of the project. Mr. Berg at this time showed transparencies of the proposed project. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the City would propose to build the fullest street width possible, based on the assumption that Hilltop would go along with the City of Columbia Heights' proposal. It was noted that the "fullest street width possibleII would be 26 feet face to face. May 24, 1976 -226- Lengthy discussion was held on how this project would be assessed and on the estimated costs. Mayor Nawrocki asked what the extent of the project would be if Hilltop did not participate. Mr. Berg noted that it would include the water main and curb and gutter resurfacing. Discussion was held centering on what Hilltop's "Fair Share" would be of this project. One man asked if the people living along the Columbia Heights side of Monroe Street used Hilltop land long enough if they could assume this was their land. Mr. Watson noted that this was the principle of adverse possession. He also noted that this type of possession is not as easy as people usually assume it to be. He stated that there were about fifteen requirements which had to be met in order to be able to take possession of the property. He concluded that the City of ~olumbia Heights could not just assume the land was theirs to use for this improvement. George Brown noted the possibility of no cooperation from Hilltop, in which case a half street of fourteen feet would be put in with curb and gutter on one side. Councilman Heintz asked Mr. Brown if this was a sound way to build a street and Mr. Brown replied that he was not advocating it, but it may have to be considered as an alternative. A gentleman in the audience asked if Hilltop could be forced to pay for the amount of the improvement that would affect them. Mayor Nawrocki noted that this would be very difficult to do. Mr. Watson noted that the Hilltop Village Council is interested in knowing what the intentions of the Columbia Heights City Council re§arding this project. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Norberg to concur with the full street width proposal with the understanding that Hilltop would pay their 'lfair share" with the improvement to include installation of a water main, curb, gutter, and blacktopping. Roll Call: All Ayes. It was noted that this hearing would be continued on June 14 at which time there would be some report from Hilltop. RECESS !0:30 RECONVENE lO:51 -227- May 24, 1976 PETITION FOR A PRIVACY FENCE AT 3907 - 2nd Street It was noted that his petition was signed by the neighbors of 3907 2nd Street for a privacy-type fence to keep the children of that address in the yard. It was noted that the children get into the alley very easily, causing a hazardous situation for drivers who are likely to hit these children. It was noted that this subject had come before the Planning and Zoning Commission at their last meeting three weeks ago, and the matter was presently on their table. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Logacz to refer the matter of the privacy fence at 3907 2nd Street back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their recommendation. Roll Call: All Ayes. Police Chief Anderson came before the Council to ask a question in response to the authorization to purchase two protective vests. He noted that the price for two of the vests is slightly ~nore that they had anticipated. Mayor Nawrocki noted that since the price was still considerably under $500, he may go ahead and purchase the vests. Chief Anderson noted that the people he knows who have this type of vest wear them daily. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the Metropolitan Transit Commission was planning to dispose of their used busses by making them available at no cost to units of local government and non-profit organizations. He noted that these were twenty five year old busses, but several of them were still in fair condit ion. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Norberg to authorize the acquisition of three used MTC busses. Roll Call: All Ayes. LICENSES At this time, Mr. Law of the Minneapolis Recreation Development Company came be'fore the Council to ask them to consider granting him a solicitor's license. Mt. Law noted that his candy selling program gives under-privileged young people a chance to earn some money. Mr. Law noted that his company is not a non-profit organization. He stated that if it were a non-profit organization, the kids who participate wouldn't be able to make any money from the candy they sell. Hotion by Logacz, seconded by Heintz to grant the license upon payment of proper :Fees. Councilman Norberg inquired as to whether each solicitor would be required to have a separate license. It was noted that in previous years, a blanket license has been issued and separate licenses have not been required. Mr. Law noted that the selling was done before 8:00 p.m. and at the very latest 8:30 p.m. May 24, 1976 -228- May~r Nawrocki noted that Mr. Law's company worked out fairly well when they went through the City of Columbia Heights last year and that there were no problems. City Attorney, Ronald Kalina, noted that the City Council could really not restrict people from getting licenses. He stated that the power was limited to the Police Department jurisdiction. He further stated that the only real question before the Council was whether or not they chose to waive the license fee. Mr. Law stated that he gives a good deal of his own time to helping these children and he invited the Council to ride with him sometime when he was with the kids. Chief Anderson suggested that Mr. Law's license be limited to one pass through the City. Mayor Nawrocki noted that perhaps these would be good guidelines for Mr. Law to follow: 1. Register individuals involved in the program with the Police. 2. License be limited to one pass through the community at such times to be worked out by the Police Chief. Councilman Norberg asked tlr. Law if each of the sellers carried identification. Mr. Law replied that each of them carries an Insty Print copy of the license that is issued. Roll Call on motion: Logacz, Heintz, Nawrocki--Ayes, Norberg and Hentges--Nay Councilman Norberg and Hentges noted that the reason they voted against this motion is because the name of the organization leads people to believe that Mr. Law's company is a non-profit organization, which it is not. They noted that people who would not ordinarily buy candy from him might do so if they believe he was working for a non-profit organization. General discussion was held between George Brown and the Council regarding the matter of storm drain construction to be discussed at the School Board Meeting May 25, 1976. At 12:31 a.m. Mayor Nawrocki declared a in_th'Ls ~eetingrecess ' ' ' until Tuesday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. ~~l////~ Bruce G. Nawrocki, Mayor Secr/~tary