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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApr 25, 1978OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS RECESSED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA APRIL 25, 1978 The meeting was called to order at 9:30 p.m. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Norberg, Hentges, Nawrocki - present Mayor Nawrocki stated that a certificate of appreciation had been given to Stu Anderson, Police Chief, the night before for his outstanding work as Interim City Manager. At that time the cooperation he had received from certain staff people was alluded to. The Mayor stated that Tim Yantos, Administrative Assistant, in particular had done an excellent job in terms of time and effort to help during this period and expressed his and the Council's appreciation. PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion by Heintz, seconded by Hentges, that all bills be paid out of the proper funds. Roll Call: All Ayes ORDINANCE 867 The City Attorney stated that he didn't see any problem with the meaning of the language in section 3.311(4), paragraph 2, which had been discussed previously. Motion by Heintz, to remove the first sentence of paragraph 2, section 3.311 (4). Motion dies for lack of a second. Ordinance 867 was Offered by: Hentges Seconded by: Logacz Roll Call: Logacz, Hentges, Nawrocki - Aye Heintz, Norberg - Nay Ordinance 867 is adopted. ORDINANCE NO. 867 BEING AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 309 AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 853, CITY CODE OF 1977 The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: SECTION 1: ORDINANCE No. 309, BEING AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC RECREATION COMMISSION, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 233, LAWS OF 1937, AS AMENDED, passed April 28, 1953, is herewith repealed. April 25, 1978 Page 2 SECTION 2: 3.311(1) 3.311 (2) 3.311 ,[3) Section 3.311 of Ordinance 853 of the City Code of 1977, which is currently reserved, is amended to read as follows: The Columbia Heights and District #13 Recreation and Community Services Commission is hereby established pursuant to agreement between the City and Independent School District #13. The Commission may be known in this Code by the short title, "Recreation Commission" The Recreation Commission shall consist of six (6) members who shall each serve terms of three (3) years. The School shall appoint one (1) member of the Commission from amongst the members of the Board of Education, one (1) member of the Commission from the Community Education Advisory Council, and one (1) member of the Commission at large from amongst the residents of the School District. At least one of the members appointed by the School shall be a resident of the City of Columbia Heights. The City shall appoint one (1) member of the Commission from amongst the membership of the City Council, one (1) member from amongst the membership of the Park Board, and one member at large from amongst the residents of the City. Any member of the Recreation Commission may be removed with or without cause by the appointing authority, and the appointing authority may appoint another eligible person to fill the unexpired term of any member who has resigned or been removed prior to completion of his term. The appointing authority may set the commencement date of each memberls term; provided, however, that the appointing authority must set terms so that the expiration date of each term shall be in three consecutive one year intervals. The School Board and the City Council may appoint persons from amongst their membership to serve less than a full three year term so long as a successor is named by the appointing authority to fill the unexpired portion of any term after an appointment has lapsed. Provided, further, that the appointing authority may fix the terms of its first appointees at terms of less than three years so long as the terms expire in three consecutive one year intervals. The Recreation Commission shall promptly inform the parties to the agreement when a commission member's term has expired or when a resignation has taken place so that a new member might be promptly appointed by the proper party. All programs shall be in accordance with the policies approved by the School and City, and jointly amended from time to time. The Recreation Commission shall have broad programming latitude in the implementation of those policies, including programming ideas, development, and func- tions. Program policy shall not be set by one party to the agreement to the exclusion of the other. The said Recreation Commission shall conduct and supervise recreation services and programs for public recreation in its broadest sense, including playgrounds, parks, playfields, swimming pools, beaches, camps, indoor recreation centers, and any and all other recreation April 25, 1978 Page 3 3.311 (4) 3.311 (5) activities. Said Commission shall have power to conduct activities and to pay for the necessary supervision incidental thereto on the grounds and properties owned, leased or controlled by the City of Columbia Heights and the Board of Education or their departments, or on other properties with the consent of the owner or authorities who control the property. Nothing in this act shall be construed to abridge or delegate those powers and authorities reserved to the Board of Education by law and reserved to the City Council by Minnesota statute, charter, or other provisions of this Code, specifically including but not limited to expenditures of money and establishment of salaries. The Recreation Commission shall operate the Community Service program which shall direct and coordinate community education programs and services. Said Commission shall have the power to employ a person trained and qualified in the field of recreation as Recreation Director and such other expert assistants, supervisors, directors, play leaders and other employees as may be here necessary in its judgement for the efficient administration of programs, and provided for in the budgets of the City of Columbia Heights and the Board of Education and the various departments and divisions of the municipal administration brought at any time within its operations as aforesaid and provided. Said Recreation Director shall serve said Commission as its executive officer, and may act as its secretary, in a relation similar to that of the Superintendent of Schools to the Board of Education. The Recreation Director shall be selected by joint agreement of the City and School, which parties shall consider the recommendations of the Recreation Commission. The salary of the Recreation Director shall be established by joint agreement of the School and City, evidenced by resolution of the City Council and affirmative vote of the members of the School Board. In establishing said salary, the recommendations of the Recreation Commission shall be considered. Other employees of the Recreation Commission shall be subordinate to the Recreation Director. Salaries of subordinate officers and employees shall be set by the Recreation Commission, subject to approval by the School and City. Said Commission shall render annually a full report to the Columbia Heights City Council, the Board of Education and the Park Board covering its operations for the year closing, together with a detailed account of its recommendations and estimated funds required for its work for the ensuing year. Said Commission shall also, at its discretion, report advisory recommendations and estimates covering the whole field of its operations and responsibilities, as regards related divisions and departments of said City, to the respective departments or boards concerned, as indicated. It shall render also such other regular and special reports and make such investigations as may be required by the City Council and the Board of Education and the Park Board and such reports and investigations in addition as it may itself deem necessary or expedient. April 25, 1978 Page 4 3.311 (6) 3.311 (7) Said Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to use without charge such public buildings, grounds and facilities as may be available and adaptable to the purpose of this Commission with the consent of the authorities controlling these facilities. The necessary expenses and operational budget for the purposes of this Commission shall be provided from the funds of the City of Columbia Heights and Independent School District #13. Participation in such budget shall be equal as between the City and the School District. 3.31l(8) Said Commission is empowered and authorized to solicit and receive gifts, bequests, or endowments of money or property as donations or grants from persons, firms or corporations including governmental agencies and to administer their funds for public recreation purposes. 3.311(9) Should any of the provisions of this section be in conflict with the agreement referred to in Section 3.311(1), the provisions of the said agreement shall prevail. SECTION 3: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after thirty (30) days after its passage. NEW BUSIf]ESS: 4. Plaque for LaBelle Park The Park Department has recommended the purchase of a plaque honoring Pvt. James LaBel]e, Medal of Honor winner, to be installed in LaBelle Park. Mayor Nawrocki stated the V.F.W. posts in Anoka County have put up a monument honoring the three Anoka County Medal of Honor winners at the Bunker Prairie Park but added that LaBelle Park would be a proper place for a memorial to Pvt. LaBelle. Motion by Heintz, seconded by Logacz, to authorize the request of the Park Department, the money to come from the general surplus. The City Manager asked that this be tabled until the next regular meeting as more than the plaque itself is involved; a flagpole, mounting for the plaque, and general beautification of the area should also be considered. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Norberg, to table this matter until the next regular Council meeting. Roll Call: All Ayes 5. Offer to Purchase Sullivan Lake Property Discussion followed on the property around Sullivan Lake and what would be a fair market value as an offer had been made on the property by Wahlberg and Associates. April 25, 1978 Page 5 Motion by Hentges, seconded by Logacz, to direct the City Manager to get two appraisals on the property on the northwest corner of Sullivan Lake. The City Manager suggested not rejecting Wahlberg and Associates' offer but to seek appraisals and then contact Wahlberg with a counter offer. Councilman Norberg suggested the counter offer not include the possibility of R-4 zoning. Roll Call: All Ayes 6. Other Old and New Business The City Manager stated that a merit increase for Dean Otterson, City Planner/ HRA Director, is being recommended. Motion by Norberg, that the Council deny the request of the City Manager and not take any action on the merit raise at this time. Motion dies for lack of a second. Motion by Hentges, seconded by Logacz, that the Council concur with the City Manager's recommendation to give the City Planner/HRA Director the 2½% merit raise as proposed. Councilman Norberg stated that his reason for not supporting this motion is that he doesn't feel there is any merit involved. Discussion followed on the areas of Mr. Otterson's work that should be considered. Roll Call: Logacz, Heintz, Hentges, Nawrocki - Aye Norberg - Nay CITY MANAGER REPORTS: Wage Adjustment - 49ers Contract - The City Manager stated that this covers only the CETA employees who belong to the union. He is granting an adjustment based upon the percentage increase in the light equipment operators classification. The total cost for the remainder of the CETA program is $1,021 for 17 employees. Burlington Northern Agreement - The City Manager stated that he had gotten together with Burlington Northern representatives. They have agreed to have a landscape plan submitted for Council approval. The area to be landscaped is from 37th Avenue to 40th Avenue on the railroad berm. Street Lighting at Gould - The City Manager reported that NSP will be installing an experimental 150 watt sodium vapor fixture for a period of one month after which a 250 watt sodium vapor fixture will be tried for one month. Para-Transit - The Mayor noted that Fridley is still discussing the para-transit program. He added that he feels it would be an error to drop the discussions of para-transit. The legislature has provided money for the demonstration type projects. The opportunity is here to try the project and it should be tried. The Mayor urged the Council not to let the matter die but to continue to work to find out if this kind of system will provide transportation services for the people of our area and help reduce some of the dependence on the auto. April 25, 1978 Page 6 Motion by Nawrocki, seconded by Logacz, that the City Manager be directed to continue to work on the para-transit program. Roll Ca]]: Logacz, Hentges, Nawrocki Heintz, Norberg Nay Aye Demolition of House at 545 Mill Street - Two bids were received for the demolition of the Johnson house at 545 Mill Street so the lot can be used for additional parking. The bids received were for $16OO and $2800. Motion by Heintz, seconded by Hentges, that the Mayor and City Manager be authorized to enter into an agreement to demolish the house, not to exceed $I600. Roll Call: All Ayes ARBOR DAY Mayor Nawrocki read the following proclamation: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING WHEREAS, our city is proud of the beautiful shade trees which line our streets and arch over our homes, and WHEREAS, our city's trees have been a gift to us from those whose foresight and concern for the future motivated them to plant shade trees for our benefit and pleasure, and WHEREAS, the shade tree diseases such as Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt Disease may threaten many of our city's shade trees with rapid destruction, unless we take immediate action of a vigorous manner to control these natural disasters, and WHEREAS, citizens all around the State of Minnesota are uniting to "Plant Their Future" in 1978 and reforest the cities of our state, and this is a commendable effort that the citizens of this city would do well to join, and WHEREAS, Arbor Day, April 28, 1978, and Arbor Celebration, May, 1978, are times that are to appreciate the contributions made by shade trees to our city and to undertake a spirited effort to increase their numbers in our neighborhoods, NOW, THEREFORE, I, The Mayor of the City of Columbia Heights, do hereby proclaim April 28, 1978, as "Arbor Day" in the City of Columbia Heights, and do further proclaim the month of May as "Arbor Month" and I call upon the public spirited and foresighted citizens of our City to plant trees NOW for the enjoyment of us and future generations April 25, 1978 Page 7 PUBLIC HEARINGS The City Manager stated that he had been asked by Earl Gustafson, Public Works Director, to set a date for a public hearing to review the hazardous sidewalk replacement program. May 22 at 7:00 p.m. was selected for the hearing. City Manager Bocwinski stated that Mrs. Jon Niemi has requested a public hearing to review the denial of her license application for "Mother Tuckers". He has set the hearing for the next regular meeting which is May 8. LICENSES Motion by Hentges, seconded by Heintz, that licenses be approved upon payment of proper fees, that the fee for the Hilltop Chamber of Commerce and Richard Bierch licenses be waived,and that "Mother Tuckersu license be removed from the list based on previous Council action. Motion by Norberg, seconded by Hentges, to amend the motion under consideration to delete the waiving of the fee for Richard Bierch. Roll Call on motion to amend: Norberg, Hentges - Aye Logacz, Heintz, Nawrocki - Nay Motion fails Roll Call on original motion: Logacz, Heintz, Hentges, Nawrocki - Aye Norberg - Nay Motion by Heintz, seconded by Logacz, to adjourn at 11:25 p.m. Roll Call: All Ayes Bruce~G Nawrocki, Mayor Secretary