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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApr 25, 1977OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA APRIL 25, 1977 The Meeting was called to order at 8:17 p.m. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Hentges, Nawrocki--present Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Norberg to name Karen DeBruin secretary for the meeting. Roll Call: All Ayes INVOCATION Invocation was given by Reverend William McEachern of Oak Hill Baptist Church. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz that the minutes of the April 11 Regular Meeting be approved as presented in writing and the reading be dispensed with. Roll Call: All Ayes PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Heintz to pay the bills as listed out of their proper accounts. Roll Call: All Ayes Mayor Nawrocki noted that there was a bill for consideration which was not on the list; that being the bill from the Telephone Company for the initial installation of the Dimension PBX system and the subsequent monthly billings. A discussion between the Council and representatives from Northwestern Bell was held at the informal session before this meeting regarding a dispute in the charges incurred. Some adjustments had been made. Motion by Hentges, Seconded by Norberg that payment of the bill from Northwestern Bell Telephone Company be authorized in an amount of $17,437.72. Roll Call: All Ayes BIDS ON MOBILE TRAFFIC RADAR UNIT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Mr. Watson noted that the Police Chief had submitted a letter explaining his concerns and an explanation of why he felt the bid should not be awarded to the low bidder. Also submitted were letters from both of the bidding companies: Kustom Signals, Inc. and Decatur Electronics~ also submitted was a letter from Nick Casper, prosecuting attorney for the City. The Chief was recommending award to Kustom Signals because of some characteristics in the Decatur Electronics model that would make it unadvisable, in his opinion, to purchase this unit. Some examples of these characteristics were given. Councilman Norberg noted that from the information presented he was not convinced of the merits of making a purchase from other than the low bidder. He noted that he understood the electronics involved and he did not feel there was a serious problem with the Decatur model. He explained that he did not think the deviation being discussed was involved with the heart of the specifications and the diff- erence in the bids was too large to take lightly. April 25, 1977 Chief Anderson stated that he could not say anything more than had been stated in his letter; and that he would feel more comfortable with the Kustom Signals model. There was some discussion on the characteristics of the Decatur unit and the court case which could possibly result when citations are issued using the Decatur radar to determine speed of the vehicle. Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Hentges to award the bid on the Mobile Traffic Radar Unit for the Police Department to Kustom Signals in an amount of $2,085 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Roll Call: Logacz, Hentges--aye Heintz, Norberg, Nawrocki--nay Motion is defeated. Motion by Norberg, Seconded by Heintz to award the bid on the }{obile Traffic Radar Unit for the Police Department to Decatur Electronics in an amount of $1,650 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Roll Call: All Ayes REPORT ON BIDS ON RESTAURANT FACILITY AT 4025 CENTRAl, AVENUE (FORMER LIQUOR STORE #1) The bids on the lease of the premises at 4025 Central Avenue for restaurant purposes were scheduled to be opened Friday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. No bids were received. City ~ffanager Watson was suggesting letting bids for the remodeling of the building to facilitate a restaurant operation. He stated that the City may anticipate an investment of about $30,000 on this remodeling. Councilman Hentges stated that he felt there were no bidders because the specifications were unsatisfactory. He noted that there was information that should have been in the specifications that was not included. Motion by Hentges to table further consideration of this item. Mayor Nawrocki noted that there was nothing to tab]e. He stated that bids were authorized and taken and no bids were submitted, so progress was at somewhat of a halt. Motion to table dies for lack of a second. Attorney Kalina noted that he felt the specifications were inadequate, and that no one could have submitted a responsible bid. Yotion by Hentges, Seconded by Norberg to authorize the City Manager to prepare revised specifications for the ]ease of premises at 4025 Central Avenue for restaurant purposes. Roll Call: All Ayes Attorney Kalina stated that he did not feel it was necessary or advisable to set a time limit on the preparation of these t-c:¥ised s;pecifications. April 25, 1977 REQUEST TO RESCIND AWARD ON TURNOUT GEAR FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT Mr. Watson reported that the Fire Department had received the sample coat from Alb Rubber Company (the bid on the turnout gear had been awarded to Alb Rubber Company at a previous meeting) and the coat failed to meet specifications. The person wearing the coat was to be able to raise his arms without lifting the bottom of the coat. The Alb coat lifted approximately five inches. The pockets were to be a double layer of material and the metal snaps were to be covered. The Alb coat had single layer pockets and exposed snaps. The second low bidder was checked and his turnout gear did meet specifications. The sa]es representative of Alb Rubber Company was contacted and he felt the City would be within its rights to rescind the award of the bid. Mr. Watson was further requesting that the bid on the turnout gear then be awarded to Mason-Dixon Company in an amount of $5,359.20, payment to come from the Fire Department budget as follows: $3,645 from Personal Safety Equipment and $1,714 from Other Equipment. Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Heintz to rescind previous Council action authorizing award of bid on turnout gear for the Fire Department to Alb Rubber Company. Roll Call: All Ayes A question was asked about the difference in price between Alb Rubber Company and the second low bidder, Mason-Dixon Company. Mr. Watson stated that Alb's bid was $4,892.75 and Mason-Dixon's was $5,359.20. Councilman Hentges asked if the City could use all or part of Alb's bid bond to make up the difference in prices. Attorney Kalina noted that that could not be done in this situation. The City can only collect on a bid bond when the company reneges. Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz to award the bid on turnout gear for the Fire Department to Mason-Dixon Company in an amount of $5,359.20 and the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into contract for same. Roll Call: All Ayes INFORMAL BIDS ON UTILITY BOX FOR SEWER DEPARTMENT Mr. Watson reported that the low bidder meeting the specifications for the utility box for the Sewer Department was Charles Olson in an amount of $1,690. Motion by Hentges, Seconded by Logacz that the bids on the utility box for the Sewer Department be awarded to Charles Olson in an amount of $1,609 based on low informal quotation. Roll Call: All Ayes PURCHASE OF FOUR HAND HELD 5 CHANNEL 5 WATT RCA MODEL NO. HCA 35 EB 63 RADIOS FOR THE CIVIL DEFENSE RESERVE Mr. Watson stated that these units can be purchased through Hennepin County Joint Purchasing in an amount of $4,072. It was noted that the money would come from the Civil Defense budget. Police Chief Anderson noted that these radios were needed for the Reserve personnel to handle their work effectively. April 25, 1977 Motion by Hentges, Seconded by Heintz to authorize the purchase of four hand held 5 channel 5 watt RCA Model No. HCA 35 EB 63 radios through Hennepin County Joint Purchasing. Roll Call: All Ayes CALL FOR BIDS ON TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY Mr. Watson was requesting authorization to take bids on tree and stump removal on public .and private property as it had been determined that the City should have a contractor responsible for this work tl~roughout the community. This work had formerly been done by City forces. Councilman Hentges asked bow many people and how much equipment the City would not be using once a contractor begins doing this work. Mr. Watson noted that the City would operate the same way it did before there was a need to take down trees due to the dutch elm disease epidemic. He noted that last summer, work fell behind due to this added burden. Councilman Heintz stated that City forces would still be doing trimming of trees on public prop- erty. Motion by Hentges, Seconded by Heintz to authorize the City Manager to call for bids on tree and stump removal on public and private property, bids to be opened Thursday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. Roll Call: All Ayes RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ANOKA COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO COOPERATE WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TO DETE~IINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INSTITUTING A 20 MPH SPEED ZONE STUDY AROUND SCHOOL DISTRICT #13 SCHOOLS, THROUGH THE SCHOOL AREAS ON 49TH AVENUE NE (CSAH P4) RESOLUTION 77-23 BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the C{ty of Columbia Heights, that WHEREAS, the City of Columbia Heights Traffic Commission has discussed the possibilities of a 20 mph speed zone study with the Columbia Heights School Board, and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights has concurred with the Traffic Commission's recommendation at the February 14, 1977 regular Council meeting, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights hereby requests that the Anoka County Highway Department proceed with a cooperative study to determine the advisability of instituting and signing a 20 mph speed zone limit in front of the publJc schools along 49th Avenue NE and including the Valley View Elementary, Central Junior High School, the Senior High and the Hyland Elementary Schools. Offered by: Hentges Seconded by: Norberg Roll Call: All Ayes April 25, 1977 RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN PUBLIC UTILITY RATE BASES RESOLUTION 77-24 WHEREAS, in its recent action setting rates for the Minnesota Gas Company, the Minnesota Public Service Commission allowed inclusion of $335,000 of charitable contributions in the Rate Base to suburban customers, and WHEREAS, such inclusion permits Minnegasco stockholders to profit by nine percent of that amount, thus increasing the cost to gas customers of such contributions to near $365,000, and WHEREAS, Minnegasco should not be allowed to profit from charitable contribu- tions, and WHEREAS, the rates of Minengasco or any other public utility are an improper vehicle for charitable contributions, since its customers have no choice in the decision to make such contributions, their amounts, or their destinations, which in effect become charity assessments upon customers without their consent, and WHEREAS, the Commission, when questioned in this matter by the Suburban Rate Authority, indicated that no objections had been heard from citizens, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights, on behalf of its 7,000 or more citizen gas customers, does hereby object to the inclusion by PSC of such contributions in the rate bases of Minnegasco or of any other public utility, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Suburban Rate Authority is hereby requested to raise and press this issue in future rate proceedings in which it may be a party or intervenor. Councilman Norberg noted that this resolution is a result of a discussion held at a recent Suburban Rate Authority meeting. The SeA had decided that it would be beneficial to have City Councils state their positions with a resolution of this nature. Resolution Offered by Norberg, Seconded by Logacz Roll Call: All Ayes TRAFFIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS The Traffic Commission has recommended setting an empty vehicle weight limit of 10,000 pounds for any residential street. This would be easier for the Police Department to enforce than the 15,000 pound gross weight limit required in an existing ordinance. It was further noted that the signs posted through- out the City currently read "No trucks over 7,000 lbs. empty weight." These signs are unenforceable. There was some discussion on how truck weights affected street surfaces (cracking, etc.). Mr. Watson noted that the main reason for the proposed 10,000 pound limit was not to take care of street surfaces, but to keep large sized April 25, 1977 trucks off of residential streets. Mayor Nawrocki directed Attorney Kalina to incorporate a change of this kind into the proposed City Code. PLANNING AND ZONING COM~iISSION RECO}~ENDATION: TYCOON BAR, 4952 CENTRAL AVENUE REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Mr. Wilbur Harris was requesting a Conditional Use Permit to expand the Tycoon Bar located at 4952 Central Avenue. The eighteen by thirty eight foot addition would house expanded game room and washroom facilities. The Planning Commission recommended the permit with the following stipulations: 1. a fence be constructed along the parking area at a four foot height 2. bring the building up to State building code requirements, and 3. grant a thirty eight stall variance for the needed parking spaces. Mayor Nawrocki noted that this plan allowed for more parking spaces than are currently available, but the number is still considerably short of the requirement. The Mayor noted that it may be reasonable to grant the parking variance to Mr. Harris for his tavern, but he questioned what would happen if Mr. Harris sold the property and the use of the building was changed. ~r. Ka]ina noted that the parking variance would remain in effect regardless of who owned the building or what it is being used for, provided the use does not require more parking than a tavern. The Attorney noted that virtually no use requires more parking than a tavern. There was some discussion on Mr. Harris' request. RECESS: 10:02 P.M. RECONVENE: 10:31 P.M. Motion by Logacz to concur with the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and grant Mr. Harris' request. Motion dies for lack of a second. Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Norberg to deny the request of Mr. Wilbur Harris for a conditional use permit for the Tycoon Bar at 4952 Central Avenue. Councilman Heintz noted that the variance could not be justified as there is no hardship. Mayor Nawrocki noted that the appearance of the building would be improved by granting the request and allowing Mr. Harris to expand, and he said be would be doing some refinishing on the outside of the building. Councilman Heintz asked if the variance could be restricted to the present use of the building. Attorney Kalina noted that this is not possible - variances run with the land and ~ot with the owner or operator. Roll Call on Motion to dcny: All Ayes April 25, 1977 There was some discussion on how Mr. Harris' proposed remodeling could be done without expanding the building. Mr. Harris commented that he had looked at several ways to accomplish his proposal, but this was the only way it would work. DISCUSSION ON THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S REQUEST FOR LOCAL INPUT ON THE STATE TRANSPORTATION PLAN A list of suggestions was prepared by George Brown with the assistance of the Traffic Commission. These were reviewed by the Council and Mayor Nawrocki noted that the list would be sent to the Department of Transportation. SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES: STATE FIRE CONVENTION The Fire Chief was requesting that authorization be made for five department members to attend the convention at Crosby, Minnesota June 2 through 4. The total cost was estimated between $530 and $540. Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Norberg to authorize the attendance of five Fire Department members at the State Fire Convention at Crosby, Minnesota June 2 through 4. Roll Call: All Ayes CENTRAL AVENUE URBANIZATION DISCUSSION A short discussion was held on the status of the Central Avenue Urbanization project. Mr. Gustafson noted that he had received the preliminary Urbanization plans, but there were still many changes to be made before the plans could be finalized. Councilman Norberg noted that he had received some information on a conference dealing with vandalism to be held in the near future in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Police Chief Anderson noted that Sergeant Hedblad had attended this conference last year and did not find it as valuable as had been anticipated. There was a feeling on the part of the Council that perhaps the quality of the information to be presented had improved. Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Heintz to authorize two people to attend the conference on Vandalism in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Roll Call: All Ayes REPORT ON ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES The Mayor reported that the Community Service Officer position (funded through CETA) would not be used to provide animal control services throughout the City as had been anticipated when this position was created. He explained that there were options in the specifications for the animal boarding contract recently let to allow for patrolling, md these options would be exercised. (The Council had recently authorized awarded this contract to Blaine Midway All Pets, Inc.) April 25, 1977 PROPOSED B'UILDING FOR SOUTHWEST PARK There was some general discussion on the building proposed for Southwest Park. Motion by Logacz, Seconded by Heintz to authorize the City Manager to engage the services of Architect Bob Diedrich to draw plans and specifications for the proposed Southwest Park Building in an amount of $15 per hour, not to exceed 75 hours. Councilman Hentges did not feel a building should be put in Southwest Park. He stated that the park land at Sulliw~n Lake should be developed at this time. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Nawrocki--aye Hentges--nay Motion carries. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COM>IISSIONS Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz to reappoint: William Carlson to the Library Board Tom Lucas to the Merit Commission Mike Farrell to the Park Board Bernie Szymczak to the Planning and Zoning Commission and John Nelson to the Traffic Commission. Roll Call: All Ayes Mayor Nawrocki noted for the record that he was reappointing Gerral Herringer to the ?olice and Fire Civil Service Commission. LICENSES Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Logacz to approve the licenses as listed upon payment of proper fees. Roll (]all: Ali Ayes CITY }IANAGER REPORTS City Manager Watson requested that he be authorized to expend $1,000 on a study and cost review to be done by Architect Diedrich on the heating and cooling systems and energy saving factors in the City Hall building. Councilman. Hentges felt that, since an addition and remodeling was being planned for City Hall, this study and cost review could be held off until this work was ready to proceed. The Mayor ~g~'oed with Councilman Hentges and there was no further discussion on this subject. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS Attorney Kalina noted that last week in district court the motion to register the Glover Property to the City of Columbia Heights was not opposed. He further reported that the City s!~uld be receiving the title to this land soon. April 25, 1977 Motion by Heintz, Seconded by Hentges to adjourn the meeting at 12:39 a.m. Roll Call: All Ayes Bruc~e~. Nawrocki, Mayor Secretary