Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/10/2013 Regular OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY,JUNE 10,2013 THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON MONDAY,JUNE 10,2013 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS,CITY HALL,590 40TH AVENUE N.E., COLUMBIA HEIGHTS,MINNESOTA. 1. CALL TO ORDERIROLL CALL/INVOCATION Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Members Present: Mayor Peterson, Councilmember Schmitt, Councilmember Williams, Councilmember Diehm and Councilmembers Nawrocki. Staff Present: Assistant to City Manager/HR Director Linda Magee, Assistant Community Development Director Sheila Cartney, City Attorney Jim Hoeft, and City Clerk/Council Secretary Tori Leonhardt. Pastor Dan Thompson of Heights Church gave the invocation. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Recited 3. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO MEETING AGENDA Councilmember Nawrocki wanted to give a report on the Anoka County Officials Meeting from May 29th. Nawrocki also reiterated that the City needs to have at least one member trained and certified to hold the Local Board of Appeals meetings. His certification ends in November 2013 and suggested that two other members sign up for the training. 4. PROCLAMATIONS,PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITION,ANNOUNCEMENTS, GUESTS Mayor Peterson presented the Humanitarian of the Year award to Armin Bruegger. Bruegger has been a resident of Columbia Heights for 18 years with his wife Maxine. He volunteers at Immaculate Conception Church as an usher, helps with the pancake breakfast and sets up tables at the annual Fun Fest along with volunteering at Meals on Wheels delivering meals to those in need. Bruegger travels around the Twin Cities teaching a program called"Zoom Text"to help sight impaired people be able to see and use the computer. He retired from Hennepin County after 15 years of being employed as a computer programmer. When he is not volunteering, he enjoys being outside and gardening. Henry Drews, Chair of the Pancake Breakfast, stated that he gets there at 4:30 AM and Bruegger is already there ready to start helping and is there long after the younger volunteers leave. Drews thanked Bruegger for everything that he does. Mayor Peterson informed Council and the residents of two new outings for the seniors. One is a cruise on Lake Minnetonka on Friday, July I9th. Cost is $51.00 and includes a cruise on the "The Lady of the Lake", deluxe motor coach to boat launch, escort, and a boxed lunch. The next outing is at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater on Wednesday, July 31"to see"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"performance. Cost is $72.00 and includes a deluxe motor coach, escort, City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 2 of 11 lunch and show ticket. To register or more information please contact the Recreation Department at 763-706-3730. Mayor Peterson announced that bricks are still on sale for the Legacy Garden until July 14th. Bricks are$60 for 4 x 8 brick and $100 for a 8 x 8 brick. Anyone interested can contact the City Clerk at 763-706-3611. 5. CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Schmitt asked the Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes from May 6, 2013, be noted as approved minutes instead of unapproved. Council Member Nawrocki asked that items E and F be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. City Manager Fehst took the Council through the remaining items on the Consent Agenda. A. Approve City Council Meeting Minutes for May 28, 2013 MOTION: Move to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes for May 28, 2013. B. Accept Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes MOTION: Move to accept the Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes for May 6, 2013. MOTION: Move to accept the Planning &Zoning draft Meeting Minutes for June 4, 2013. MOTION: Move to accept the EDA Meeting Minutes for May 6, 2013. MOTION: Move to accept the EDA Special Meeting Minutes for May 13, 2013. C. Appoint Grace Lee to Planning and Zoning Commission MOTION: Move to appoint Grace Lee to the Planning and Zoning Commission effective immediately for a term of 4 years to expire April 2017. D. Approve Resolution 2013-34 -Variance to minimum floor area requirements - 4421 5th Street MOTION: Move to waive the reading of Resolution 2013-34, there being ample copies available to the public. MOTION: Move to adopt Resolution 2013-34 approving a variance from certain conditions of the City of Columbia Heights Zoning Code for 4421 5th Street. E. Adopt Resolution 2013-43, Regarding the 2013-2014 Public Managers'Association Memorandum of Understanding- Removed F. Adopt Resolution 2013-44, Being a Resolution Regarding the City Manager's Compensation and Benefits -Removed G. Approve Business License Applications MOTION: Move to approve the items a listed on the business license agenda for June 10, 2013 as presented. H. Payment of Bills MOTION: Move that in accordance with Minnesota Statue 412.271, subd. 8 the City Council has City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 3 of 11 received the list of claims paid covering check number 148031 through 148202 in the amount of $663,583.39. Motion by Williams seconded by Nawrocki to approve the Consent Agenda items with the exceptions of items E and F that were removed for further discussion. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Item E: Adopt Resolution 2013-43, Regarding the 2013-2014 Public Managers' Association Memorandum of Understanding Motion by Williams seconded by Schmitt, to waive the reading of Resolution 2013-43, there being ample copies available to the public. Upon Vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Motion by Williams seconded by Schmitt, to adopt Resolution 2013-43 regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Columbia Heights and the Public Managers' Association, effective January 1, 2013 —December 31, 2014. Discussion on Items Pulled from Consent Agenda: Nawrocki indicated we did not review this item in a work session as to what these increases would consist of We have good employees and we need to know how we compare to other cities with our salaries. Motion by Nawrocki to move Item E regarding the 2013-2014 Public Managers' Association Memorandum of Understanding to a work session for further discussion. Mayor Peterson called for a second to the motion. Motion died for lack of a second. Roll Call Vote: Schmidt aye; Williams aye; Dielim aye; Nawrocki nay; Peterson aye. 4 ayes, 1 nay. Motion Carried. Item F: Adopt Resolution 2013-44, being a Resolution Regarding the City Manager's Compensation and Benefits Motion by Schmitt seconded by Williams to waive the reading of Resolution No. 2013-44, there being ample copies available to the public. Upon Vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Motion by Schmitt seconded by Williams to adopt Resolution 2013-44, being a resolution regarding the City Manager's Compensation and Benefits. Council Member Nawrocki stated this is the same as the previous item. He indicated that for cities our size; our City Manager's salary is higher than the comparable. Nawrocki inquired as to how much deferred comp the manager receives. Magee stated an additional compensation of $8,800 that he can use at his discretion. Magee further explained, as in the past, what is reflected are the changes to the City Manager's Compensation and benefits. We are not proposing any change to what he currently gets to use as additional compensation as deferred compensation as he so chooses. What is reflected are the changes,which are consisted with other granted management employees. Nawrocki indicated we used to have a performance review session and that has not been done in a while and should be. Nawrocki wanted to know if the amount given includes expense money. Magee indicated she did not understand the question. Nawrocki stated in the original contract there was something in there for expenses. Magee stated, initially when the City Manager came, City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 4 of 11 we addressed relocation expenses as part of his contract. Nawrocki stated there is also a car allowance of$350 a month. Does not feel the manager should get an increase. Motion by Nawrocki to refer Resolution 2013-44,being a resolution regarding the City Manager's Compensation and Benefits. to work session for further discussion. Mayor Peterson called for a second to the motion. Motion died for a lack of a second. Roll Call Vote: Schmidt; aye, Williams; aye, Diehm; aye,Nawrocki; nay, Peterson; aye. 4 ayes, 1 nay. Motion Carried. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION A. Other Ordinances and Resolutions First Reading of Ordinance 1612 -Zoning Amendment to minimum main floor area requirements for one, one-half and two-story dwellings. Assistant Community Development Director Sheila Cartney stated tonight is the first reading of Ordinance 1612, which is a zoning amendment for minimum floor area allowed for 1'/2 story and 2 story dwellings. Currently our Ordinance requires for a minimum floor area of 960 square feet on the first floor. One and two stories are the only one that requires a minimum main area and all other dwellings require a minimum floor area of 1020 square feet. We would like to change 1'/z and 2 story dwellings to this same minimum requirement. This would be consistent with the other ordinance. The Public Fearing was at the Planning Commission meeting on June 4th and there were no questions or concerns raised at that meeting, therefore the Planning Commission is recommending approval of Ordinance 1612. Schmitt indicated the square footage seems odd at 1020 square feet. Cartney stated normally you would do 550 square feet on bottom and 550 square feet on top, but to stay consistent with Ordinance we stayed at the 1020 square feet. Schmitt asked if it includes everything above grade and wondered if it included covered porches. Cartney indicated yes that a covered porch is included in the overall above ground square footage. Motion by Diehm, seconded by Williams to waive the reading of Ordinance 1612, there being ample copies available to the public. Upon Vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Motion by Diehm, seconded by Williams to set the Second Reading for Monday, June 24, 2013 at approximately 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Upon Vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. B. Bid Considerations C. New Business and Reports Nawrocki inquired about the memo regarding the local board of appeals training and that the law requires that a Council member be certified. Mayor Peterson indicated that he is going in November along with councilmember Williams. Nawrocki also mentioned the fall newsletter will be coming out August 9th and Ruth Dunn would like information and stories submitted to her by June 28th. He feels it is imperative that we do a City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 5 of 11 good job of notifying the residents on the proposed budget for the upcoming year and particularly what might be proposed for a property tax levy. Lastly,Nawrocki stated he went to the Local Government's Meeting in Ramsey and thought it was a pretty good meeting. Talked about some of the things happening in their city and looking for financial help. We need to have a meeting with our congressional leaders. There was a presentation on broadband project for wiring throughout the County. Anoka County fiber network is now in place. Nawrocki inquired if we had any city buildings on this. Fehst indicated yes, all of the city buildings except the liquor store. There will be an increase in LGA's and we will get approximately $500,000 more in 2014 and 2015 to what we are getting now. In addition, they eliminated that local government has to pay sales tax on things that they by, but was not sure how that works when you have a contractor supplying materials to complete a job. Fehst stated if it is Fire and Police related you do not have sales tax figured in. It is his understanding it applies to everything. Prefers local government aid assistance and wanted to remind them that in the past we have lived with the anticipation of government aid and have not received it and we cannot count on it. We are on a five year plan that any additional local aid is used for tax relief. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Report of the City Manager Fehst indicated that he and Scott Clark met with Gary Garbrielson and his son, Jason, who are agents for Dave Jaspers in regards to the office building on 40th and Central Avenue and whether there is any prospect of a development there that would include condo-minimizing the building so Jaspers could still be vested in the building and make investment changes in the second floor to the top floor. The reason for this is he has teamed up with a partner on seeing how to make senior housing work and is continuing to work with Dunbar companies, also working with Dougherty Financial and they have ordered a market study and they did not come to the city to pay for it. Have some introduction to the Bauchen foundation and see if there is any interest in funding any part of the library. They looked at what types of bonds are needed. They hope the market study will be back by July 7`"or there about. They are talking to different banks. They are really trying to move forward with this and will meet with us again on Thursday. Nawrocki added that he feels the present library still has some life left in it and we need to keep that in mind. Report of the City Attorney Nothing to report at this time. 9. CITIZENS FORUM Peterson invited anyone from the audience to address the Council. Neil Harper, 1437 Glacier, member of Library Task Force, stated he appreciates the progress that is being made and thanked the city manager for keeping them updated. Peterson reminded everyone to keep our service men and women in our thoughts and prayers and to do a random act of kindness. 10. ADJOURNMENT City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 6 of 11 Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 7:48 PM 0 (VA L0 A g Tori eo a t, City Clerk/Council Secretary RESOLUTION 2013-43 BEING A RESOLUTION REGARDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS AND THE PUBLIC MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights that: WHEREAS, negotiations have proceeded between the Public Managers' Association,representing Division Heads of the City, and members of the City negotiating team, and said negotiations have resulted in a mutually acceptable Memorandum of Understanding for calendar years 2013 and 2014; WHEREAS, changes to the current Memorandum of Understanding are attached, and a copy of the 2013-2014 Memorandum of Understanding is available at the Office of the City Manager and is made a part hereof by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the Memorandum of Understanding as negotiated,be and is hereby established as the salary and fringe benefit program for calendar years 2013 and 2014 for the Public Managers' Association bargaining unit employees of the City. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Manager are hereby authorized to execute this agreement. Passed this 10`h day of June, 2013. City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 7 of 11 Offered by: Diehm Seconded by: Williams Roll Call: Schmitt; aye, Williams; aye,Diehm; aye Nawrocki; nay,Peterson; aye. 4 ayes, 1 nay Motion Carried. Gary L. Peterson,Mayor Tori Leonhardt City Clerk/Council Secretary RESOLUTION NO. 2013-44 RESOLUTION REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER'S COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS WHEREAS, in previous years, the City Manager has received an adjustment in compensation and benefits consistent with that given to the management employees. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights does hereby make the following modifications to the City Manager's compensation and benefits, consistent with pay adjustments and benefits granted other management employees: Effective May 1, 2013: 2%pay adjustment($127,581) Effective January 1, 2014: 2%pay adjustment($130,133) Effective January 1, 2013: $835 per month Employer contribution to insurances Effective January 1, 2014: $865 per month Employer contribution to insurances Passed this 10th day of June, 2013. City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 8 of 11 Offered by: Diehm Seconded by: Williams Roll Call: Schmitt; aye, Williams; aye,Diehm; aye Nawrocki; nay,Peterson; aye. 4 ayes, 1 nay Motion Carried. Mayor Gary L. Peterson Tori Leonhardt, City Clerk/Council Secretary City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 9 of I I RESOLUTION NO.2013-34 RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE FROM CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ZONING CODE FOR 4421 5`h STREET WHEREAS,a proposal(Case#2013-34)has been submitted by the City of Columbia Heights to the City Council requesting a variance from the City of Columbia Heights Zoning Code at the following site: ADDRESS: 44215"'Street NE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: On file at City Hall. THE APPLICANT SEEKS THE FOLLOWING RELIEF: 379-square foot area variance to main floor area for a two-story dwelling per Code Section 9.106(D)(b), I WHEREAS,the Planning Commission has held a public hearing as required by the City Zoning Code on December June 4,2013; WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the advice and recommendations of the Planning Commission regarding the effect of the proposed variance upon the health,safety,and welfare of the community and its Comprehensive Plan,as well as any concern related to traffic,property values, light,air,danger of fire,and risk to public safety,in the surrounding area; NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights that the City Council accepts and adopts the following findings of the Planning Commission: 1. Because of the particular physical surroundings,or the shape,configuration,topography, or other conditions of the specific parcel of land involved, strict adherence to the provisions of this article would cause practical difficulties in conforming to the zoning ordinance. The applicant, however, is proposing to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the zoning ordinance. 2. The conditions upon which the variance is based are unique to the specific parcel of land involved and are generally not applicable to other properties within the same zoning classification. 3. The practical difficulties are caused by the provisions of this article and have not been created by any person currently having a legal interest in the property. 4. The granting of the variance is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Comprehensive Plan. 5. The granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or materially injurious to the enjoyment, use, development or value of property or improvements in the vicinity. City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 10 of 11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the attached plans, maps and other information shall become part of this variance and approval; and in granting this variance the city and the applicant agree that this variance shall become null and void if the project has not been completed within one (1) calendar year after the approval date, subject to petition for renewal of the permit. CONDITIONS ATTACHED: 1. All application materials, maps, drawings, and descriptive information submitted with the application shall become part of the permit. 2. The above grade minimum floor area shall be 1,162 square feet. Passed this 10`h day of June 2013. Offered by: Williams Seconded by: Nawrocki Roll Call: All ayes. Motion Carried. Gary L. Peterson, Mayor Tori Leonhardt City Clerk/Council Secretary City Council Meeting Monday,June 10,2013 Page 11 of 11 ORDINANCE NO. 1612 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1490, CITY CODE OF 2005 RELATING TO FLOOR AREA REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: Chapter 9,Article 1, Section 9.106 (D) of the Columbia Heights City Code, is proposed to include the following additions and deletions: § 9.106 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. (D)Dwellings (2)Floor area requirements. The following floor area requirements shall apply to all dwelling units within the city: One and one-half and two story dwellings shall have a minimum floor area of 968-550 square feet on the main floor,plus 120 squ a fe feet f. each additional bedroom with a total above grade minimum finished floor area of 1,020 square feet. Section 2: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after 30 days after its passage.