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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/2012 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012 The following are the minutes for the regular meeting of the City Council held at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 09, 2012 in the,City Council Chambers, City Hall, 590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights, MN. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/INVOCATION Pastor Dan Thompson, Columbia Heights Assembly of God, gave the Invocation. Present: Mayor Peterson, Council member Williams, Council member Nawrocki, Council member Diehm, Council member Schmitt PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - recited ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA Nawrocki moved to add Council Corner to the agenda. There was not a second to the motion. Nawrocki stated his disappointment in this and said he will keep trying and we will see what happens at the election this year. Diehm stated this was discussed at length at the work session and it was agreed if this was limited to five minutes and use that time to communicate with residents and community members, and not to debate items that could not be discussed in 5 minutes. There was not a unanimous consensus. Williams agreed. PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION, ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS A. Community Prayer Breakfast Peterson read the proclamation. The Prayer Breakfast will be held Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at Murzyn Hall. B. National Library Week Diehm read the proclamation. Pat Sowada, Barbara Tantanella, and Catherine Vesley, Library Board members accepted the proclamation. Sowada stated that our Library has been in service for 84 years. She gave a short history of the Library. Tantanella stated appreciation of the support given to the library. She gave statistics for patronage at the library. Vesley stated there will be a Library Foundation fundraiser with Linder's Greenhouse held on Mother's Day. A certificate is available at the Library or the city's website which will give the Foundation fifteen percent of the sale. Vesley passed out Library buttons. C. 2012 Arbor Day Proclamation Peterson read the proclamation. May 2012 will be Arbor Month. City Forester Lauren McClanahan presented the Mayor with a 20 year Arbor City plaque. McClanahan stated only 96 cities in the state have this distinction. Our tree board is our Recreation Commission. We will plant 60 trees in our parks this year. Funding takes $2 per capita, which we have accomplished. Emerald Ash Borer coming into our area will be our next challenge. D. Citizens Academy Peterson read the proclamation for the the first Citizens Academy and the desire that this program continue. Jeff Sargent, City Planner, read the name of the participants. Sargent stated this was a six week course in government-ology. The goal is to open up the city to the citizens. City Council Minutes Monday, April 09,2012 Page 2 of 5 There were 20 participants, with an average of 18 members in attendance each week. There were five members present at this meeting, which Sargent recognized. Bob Odden, Citizen Academy participant, stated that the academy was worthwhile and is a wonderful idea for new citizens. Nawrocki indicated the difficult time he had obtaining information that the academy received. He also did not receive the meeting location change information. He again indicated the need for a transit shelter and the length of time to have one placed. Schmitt thanked Sargent for his work on the Citizens Academy and indicated that the agendas were on line. She indicated that she submitted this to the League of Minnesota Cities as a success story. Sargent stated his appreciation and reiterated that all Citizens Academy information is available on the web site. He apologized to Council member Nawrocki. Fehst stated that the Academy meetings were basically descriptions of department activities. Peterson thanked staff and the residents that went through the process. CONSENT AGENDA City Manager Walt Fehst took Council members through the Consent Agenda items: A. Approve City Council meeting minutes Motion to approve the minutes of the March 26, 2012 City Council meeting. B. Accept Minutes of the Boards and Commissions Motion to accept the February 6, 2012 EDA meeting minutes. Motion to accept the April 3, 2012 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting minutes. C. Approval of attached list of rental housing applications. Motion to approve the items listed for rental housing license applications for April 9, 2012 in that they have met the requirements of the Property Maintenance Code. D. Approve Business License Applications Motion to approve the items as listed on the business license agenda for April 9, 2012 as presented. E. Review Payment of the Bills Motion that in accordance with Minnesota Statute 412.271, subd. 8 the City Council has received the list of claims paid covering check number 142978 through 143159 in the amount of $638,631.67. Motion by Diehm, second by Nawrocki, to approve the Consent Agenda items. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARINGS - none ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION A. Other Ordinances and Resolutions 1st Reading of Ordinance 1606, being a Zoning Amendment as it Relates to Precious Metal Dealers. Sargent indicated that staff received a request asking where a precious metal dealer could be located. In the City Code, this was categorized with pawn shops, second hand dealers, and currency exchanges. There is a purpose stated in the license, which staff felt was necessary to City Council Minutes Monday,April 09,2012 Page 3 of 5 include in the current code. This can only be located in the general business district as a conditional use and must not be within 3,000 feet of other similar businesses. Nawrocki questioned what a precious metal dealer sells. Sargent stated they usually operate to purchase metals to be melted and sold back onto the market. Some dealers may handle resale. Schmitt asked how they are distinguished from a jewelry store. Sargent stated this would be unwanted metal and a jewelry store would be a retail store. Schmitt stated that some jewelers buy jewelry. Sargent stated that is not the major portion of their business. Schmitt asked if a percentage should be required. Diehm stated that staff would give the business applicant the title distinction. Sargent stated this is how other cities define the business, with the inclusion of second hand materials. Jim Hoeft, City Attorney, stated this specifically defines second hand items and does require more than 50 percent second hand items. Bob Odden, 1201 421/2 Avenue, questioned the concern with distance from similar dealers. Sargent stated the goal is to reflect the Council's precedents. He read from the staff report quoting the licensing of these types of businesses. Odden stated that if there are criminal concerns, this type of businesses should be banned. Nawrocki stated that it is not the most desirable type of business to have in our community because this would require extra attention from the Police Department. We try to handle it so we don't have a flock of them in the city. Motion by Williams, second by Schmitt, to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 1606, there being ample copies available to the public. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Williams, second by Schmitt, to set the second reading of Ordinance No. 1606, for Monday, April 23, 2012, at approximately 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. B. Bid Considerations - none C. New Business and Reports - none Nawrocki referred to his comments at the last meeting regarding payments to employees for training but we do not allow Council reimbursement. He stated that Council member Schmitt takes time from her job to attend meetings. Motion by Nawrocki that Council member Schmitt be reimbursed for LMC meetings and Local Officials meetings. Diehm gave the history of the budget adoption meeting where this was discussed and approved. She reiterated her motion to lead by example to reduce spending by eliminating reimbursements to council. She categorized Council differently than staff. All Council members attend meetings and take time out of our day, pay parking, etc. She stated her willingness to reexamine this and the budget. Funds budgeted for reimbursements were used only by one or two members. Peterson recommended this be discussed at a work session. Fehst stated the determination was made that this was for reimbursable events. Meals at events would be covered. This will be on the next work session agenda. Nawrocki stated that with his registration at the LMC Legislative meeting he had the meal amount removed. Nawrocki stated that Schmitt uses her time to attend these meetings. Schmitt clarified that last year, her first year, the city paid for her to attend the new City Council Minutes Monday,April 09,2012 Page 4 of 5 councilmember's meetings. There were speakers during the meals. The City also paid for her to attend the conference in Rochester. Last year the first time attendee price was $99. This year the cost is more. She stated it is worth it to attend these conferences. She did attend the legislative meetings, which was beneficial. There are other meetings she can attend that there are stipends for. Diehm stated there is a distinction between training and meetings. She serves on a Met Council committee. Some Council members submitted for reimbursement for these meetings. We need to have a policy to determine if we are reimbursing for educational opportunities versus service opportunities or information meetings. Motion died for lack of a second. Peterson asked that this be discussed at a work session. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Manager Fehst referred to past discussion to re-engage the "Adopt a Park" program, allowing for groups, businesses, or residents to establish a connection with a park. This would allow them to maintain the area, advise City staff of vandalism or park needs, or neighborhood watch activities. We have a list of groups that we will contact to encourage groups to volunteer. Some cities recognize groups with a sign. We will try this program again. Fehst thanked Council member Schmitt and County Commissioner Jim Kordiak for having county groups clean up along Central Avenue and some of our parks. Nawrocki stated that initially the program was very successful, but interest waned with time. The Sister Cities group works with plantings in the City and the Lions Club has a cleanup day along University Avenue. Fehst stated that our Beautification Committee plants and maintains flowers around the City. Nawrocki stated that the debris at 50th and University has been picked up, but the tires are still there. Nawrocki requested to see the draft of the City newsletter before it goes to print. Nawrocki questioned current and past revenue received from Comcast fees. The EDA meeting had a closed session, which represented a considerable amount of money. He asked, if before final action, if that information will come back to public meeting. Diehm stated yes, it will be presented at a public meeting. Nawrocki stated concerns on obtaining information given to the task force for funding a new library and city hall. The Librarian indicated that the materials would be given to all Council members. Nawrocki wants to receive the information on a timely basis. Nawrocki spoke about the tax levy and indicated his taxes would be less if he lived in the City of Fridley. Report of the City Attorney—nothing to report CITIZENS FORUM Jenny Hallock, 4600 Fillmore, commented on the Adopt A Park program, stating that she would be willing to help. There is a lot of litter and trash in her area. She and her mother clean up in their area. Maybe this could spill over into adopting a street. She also recommended including youth to help clean up and help to get them to care about their city. Diehm stated there are groups at the high school and middle school that have community service hours to fulfill. They would be excited to team up on this. Peterson thanked her for her interest. City Council Minutes Monday,April 09,2012 Page 5 of 5 Peterson stated: Don't forget our service men and women; keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Don't take ourselves too seriously and do a random act of kindness. ADJOURNMENT Peterson adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. atricia Muscovit�j�CMC City Jerk t�