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Home My WebLink About03-03-08 Hastings, Minnesota City Council Minutes March 3, 2008 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Hicks, City Councilmembers Alongi, Hazlet, Hollenbeck, Riveness and Slavik Councilmember Schultz arrived at 9:30 p.m. Members Absent: None Staff Present: City Administrator Dave Osberg City Attorney Dan Fluegel Assistant City Administrator Melanie Mesko Lee Public Works Director Tom Montgomery City Engineer Nick Egger HRA Director John Grossman Associate Planner Justin Fortney Approval of Minutes: Mayor Hicks asked ifthere were any corrections to the minutes ofthe regular meeting on February 19,2008. The minutes were approved as presented. Consent Agenda Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Hazlet to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 1. Pay Bills as Audited 2. First Reading/Order Public Hearing-Ordinance Amendment Relating to Length of Commission Terms 3. Agreement for Interpretive Planning Service 4. Pay Estimate #3-Public Works Office Expansion: Construction Results Corporation ($52,069.50) 5. 2008 Budget Adjustments and Transfers 6. First Reading/Order Public Hearing-City Code Amendment #2008-05: Home Occupations 7. Acceptance of Scholarship from CF Industries for Firefighter/Haz/Mat Training 6 Ayes, Nays, None. Copies of resolutions on file. Public Hearing-North Vermillion Street Area Street and Utility Reconstruction Program City Engineer Egger provided an overview of the proposed reconstruction project. Egger stated that Council direction on a few items including street widths~ sidewalk widths, ornamental lighting, tree preservation and parking would be needed. Mayor Hicks opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Joe Balsanek, 224 7th Street West, discussed his preference for ornamental lighting, replication of original curbing, using old/replication fire hydrants, burying utility lines, maintain mature trees, maintaining the historic look and feel of the retaining wall, earlier sod replacement, and a change to the sprinkling ordinance. City of Hastings City Council Minutes March 3, 2008 Page 2 of 4 Wes Lund, 120 East 7th Street, commended the responsiveness of City staff on the project, expressed concern about maintaining appearance of retaining wall, and asked for clarification on the assessment policy. Carl Rehm, 301 9th Street West, requested clarification on the assessment policy, and had some curb and retaining wall questions, and asked how project updates would be made. Mayor Hicks asked City Engineer Egger to respond to the above items: . Burying utility lines-cost prohibitive; . Maintaining original curbing--expensive to create and install, modern curbing lasts longer; . Old/replication fire hydrants-current standard is proposed; additional research could be conducted; · Sod replacement-can work with contractor on an earlier installation schedule; · Retaining walls-are funded through bonded debt and federal/state cost sharing and grant dollars; costs are not assessed; · Assessment policy-brief overview ofthe policy; . Project communication--door-to-door communication, construction update flyers, updates on City website; · Sidewalks-a field assessment will be done as to condition and replacement; · Brief explanation of assessment abatement process. Joe Balsanek, requested consideration of an aesthetic treatment (scoring, dyeing) to the sidewalks, stated that living in an historic district costs more, and inquired about obtaining a credit for sod ifhe installs it himself. Harold Siebenaler, 119 West 7th Street, asked ifhe will be assessed for blacktopping alleys. He also questioned consistency if some sidewalks are embossed and others are not. Bill Sylvander, 200 West 6th Street, clarified that he would like Eddy Street by his home to remain at 28' width. Mayor Hicks asked City Engineer Egger to respond to the above items: . There is no recommendation for an aesthetic sidewalk treatment . The City will work with the contractor on earlier sod installation; · Alley improvements are to provide a stable base for historic walls on Vermillion Street; . Eddy Street width was originally proposed at 32', which was modified to 30'. Egger provided an update on a parking request by St. John's Church to add angled parking along both sides of Eddy Street and expansion of current angled parking on 8th Street. Pastor Percy Damrow spoke in support of allowing angled parking. David Senter, 20504 Quentin A venue, stated that this is a unique situation, it will not set a precedent, there is a common good to be maintained, and the church will replace any displaced trees. Jon Wallander, 201 West 8th Street, stated that he is not opposed to the angled parking and that he would like the street width to remain the same. Duane Groth, 680 170th Street East, spoke in support of allowing angled parking. Dan Dancer, 3466 Olson Drive, spoke in support of allowing angled parking. Diane Nolan, 121 West 7th Street, stated that the church's parking needs are not consistent and vary throughout the week. Harold Siebenaler stated support of the angled parking request. Rita Dahl, 205 West 8th Street, spoke in opposition to the angled parking request, and submitted a petition signed by other neighbors also not in support. Joe Zimmerman, stated that his grandmother attends the church and additional parking is needed. Chris Reese, 6284 Hedgecroft, stated that the church needs additional parking throughout the week. City of Hastings City Council Miuutes March 3, 2008 Page 3 of 4 Joe Balsanek, stated that the HPC and Planning Commissions' recommendations should be adopted. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Hicks closed the public hearing at 9: 12 p.m. Councilmember Schultz arrived at 9:30 p.m. St. John's Parking Request Councilmember Hazlet stated he is a member ofSt. John's and will abstain from any discussion or action related to the church. Councilmember Alongi asked who would pay for the additional parking. Egger stated that the church would be assessed for the cost. There was discussion about reaching a compromise on the parking issue. Mayor Hicks stated that the church has been a good neighbor, but that changing the streetscape for an additional 10 parking spots is difficult to justify. Councilmember Alongi stated a request to find a balance between streetscape and working with the neighborhood to meet both needs. Councilmember Hollenbeck stated support for adherence to the conservation district guidelines which would not permit angled parking. Moved by Councilmember Slavik, seconded by Councilmember Alongi to approve angled parking expansion on 8th Street and on the West side of Eddy Street, with the church paying the additional incremental cost, and replacing any trees displaced as a result of the additional parking. Roll Call Vote was taken. Ayes: Councilmembers Alongi, Riveness, Schultz, Slavik Nays: Mayor Hicks, Councilmember Hollenbeck Abstain: Councilmember Hazlet Motion approved 4-2 Copy of resolution on file. Ornamental Lighting Moved by Mayor Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Schultz to not install ornamental lighting during this project, but to direct staff to develop a program for future installation of omamentallighting and report to the Operations Committee. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Sidewalks Moved by Councilmember Alongi, seconded by Councilmember Hollenbeck to reconstruct the sidewalks at a width of 4 Y2 feet in the historic district and 5 feet in the conservation district and to research historic-looking hydrants. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Street Width Moved by Councilmember Slavik, seconded by Councilmember Riveness to approve the street widths as proposed by staff. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Boulevard Tree Preservation Moved by Councilmember Alongi, seconded by Council member Slavik to approve compliance with the adopted tree policy. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. City of Hastings City Council Minutes March 3, 2008 Page 4 of4 Resolution--Order North Vermillion Street Area Improvements Moved by Councilmember Alongi, seconded by Councilmember Slavik to order the improvements. 6-0; Councilmember Hazlet abstaining. Resolution-Approve North Vermillion Street Area Improvements Plans and Specification and Authorize Advertisement for Bid Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Slavik to approve the project plans and specifications, with the amendments as adopted. 6-0; Councilmember Hazlet abstaining. Ordinance Amendment Relating to Commissions Moved by Councilmember Schultz, seconded by Councilmember Hollenbeck to approve the ordinance amendment as presented. 6 Ayes; Nays, one. Councilmember Slavik voting against Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Alongi to adjourn to a closed door session at 10:04 p.m. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Closed Door Session-Fire Union Negotiations Mayor Hicks called the closed door session to order at 10: 10 p.m. Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Schultz to adjourn the closed door session at 10:32 p.m. Mayor Hicks reconvened the regular City Council meeting at 10:32 p.m. Adjournment Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Schultz to adjourn meeting at 10:32 p.m. 7 Ayes, Nays, None. pai!)iI~ ~ Melanie Mesko Lee City Clerk Mayor