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Home My WebLink About03-07-05 Hastings, Minnesota City Council Minutes March 7, 2005 The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a regular meeting on Monday, March 7, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers at Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Werner, Councilmembers Alongi, Hazlet, Hicks, Moratzka, Riveness and Schultz None City Administrator Dave Osberg, Assistant City Administrator Melanie Mesko Lee, City Attorney Shawn Moynihan, Planning Director John Hinzman, Public Works Director Tom Montgomery, and HRA Director John Grossman Members Absent: Staff Members Present: Approval of Minutes Mayor Werner asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the regular meeting of February 22, 2005. Hearing none, the minutes were approved as presented. Consent Agenda Moved by Councilmember Hicks seconded by Councilmember Hazlet to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, None. 1. Pay Bills As Audited 2. Approval to Seek Bids for Coping Stones at Family Aquatic Center 3. First Reading/Order Public Hearing-Rezoning 2005-15: R-2 to RMU (401 Ramsey Street) 4. First Reading/Order Public Hearing-Ordinance Amendment #2005-17- Shoreland 5. 2005 Budget Adjustment 6. Resolution Expressing Acceptance of and Appreciation for Donation to the Police Department-Clayton G. Kukacka 7. Resolution Expressing Acceptance of and Appreciation for Donation to the Police Department-Richard J. Larson 8. Resolution Expressing Acceptance of and Appreciation for Donation to the Police Department-Hastings School District Copies of resolutions on file. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 7, 2005 Page 2 of5 Award of Contract-LeDuc Mansion Wallpaper City Administrator Osberg requested that contracts be awarded to the following: . Print Chateau de Mores in cream, red, and gold wallpaper for the Library at a cost of $2,012 from Carter & Co.; . Wolff House to design and produce wallpaper for Dining Room at a cost of $5,280; . Wolff House to design and produce wallpaper for Southwest Bedroom at a cost of $5,280 Moved by Council member Moratzka, seconded by Councilmember Hazlet to award the contracts as recommended. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Public Hearing-Vacation of Right-of-Way #2005-12: East Half of Lake Street, South of 4th Street (Ken Holtz) Mayor Werner opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Planning Director Hinzman gave a brief overview of the vacation request. Hinzman stated that a similar request for the entire right-of-way was denied previously by the Council. The Planning Commission and staff recommends approval of this vacation request for half of the right-of-way. Hinzman stated that due to ownership issues, staff recommends that the public hearing be held but that, should the Council support approval of the vacation request, that action be tabled until the proper signatures are obtained by the property owners. If denial is supported, that action can be taken tonight. Hinzman also stated that should the vacation of the right-of-way not be approved, the City Council will need to provide direction on the status of the garage, which was built in the right-of-way. Clarence Chapman, 623 East 3rd Street and representative of the East Hastings Homeowners Association, read a statement opposing the vacation of the right-of-way. Janet Saari, on behalf of the homeowner adjacent to the property requesting the vacation, stated that the adjacent homeowner does not support the vacation request. She also stated that the garage was built without the proper permits and that this request is an improper method of obtaining approval for the garage. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Werner closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Resolution-Vacation of Right-of-Way #2005-12: East Half of Lake Street, South of 4th Street (Ken Holtz) Moved by Council member Hazlet, seconded by Councilmember Hicks to deny the vacation of right-of-way and to order the removal of the garage located in the right-of-way. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Parking Restrictions in Summit Point Development Public Works Director Montgomery stated that staff has been approached with a request from eleven property owners that parking on Glenlou Way, Summit Point, Drive, and Summit Point Court be restricted during school hours. Montgomery stated that school students are using the street to park on, loiter, and cut through yards to get to the high Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 7, 2005 Page 3 of5 school. Montgomery stated that since a notice has been mailed to the homeowners of the Summit Point Development regarding the proposed parking restrictions, additional comments opposing the parking restrictions have been received from property owners. Based on the additional comments received, staff recommends amending the parking restriction to include only Glenlou Way. If parking becomes an issue on Summit Point Drive or Summit Point Court in the future, the Council may adopt parking restrictions at that point. The Council discussed several options, including using a permit process, whether a partial ban will simply move the student parking to different streets in the development, whether it is the City's role to prohibit parking on a public street, and what control, if any, the school district may have over the situation. It was determined that a permit process may not be the best use of city resources for enforcement and that the school district has no control over students parking on city streets. Pat Brie, 188 Glenlou Way, stated that he initiated contact with his neighbors on a parking ban due to leaking cars, littering, and other unwelcome behavior by students. Moved by Councilmember Hazlet, seconded by Councilmember Schultz to restrict parking on Glenlou Way during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on school days. 6 Ayes, Nays, one. Mayor Werner voting against. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Utility Rate Review Public Works Director Montgomery recommended the following: Water: no change from current rate of $1.45/1 ,000 gallons Wastewater: recommend increase of $0.10 to $2.55/1,000 gallons as a result of recouping costs of sanitary sewer replacements. WAC: recommend increase to $1,350 SAC: recommend increase to $715 Interceptor Sewer: recommend increase to $365. The WAC, SAC, and Interceptor Sewer increases are indexed to the American City and County construction cost index. This index increased 8.3% in 2004. Moved by Councilmember Moratzka, seconded by Councilmember Riveness to approve the adjustments as recommended. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Order Feasibility Study: Downtown Redevelopment Public Improvements Moved by Councilmember Moratzka, seconded by Councilmember Hicks to approve ordering the feasibility study as recommended. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Order Feasibility Study: South Frontage Road Reconstruction Moved by Councilmember Moratzka, seconded by Councilmember Hicks to approve ordering the feasibility study as recommended. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Copy of resolution on file. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 7, 2005 Page 4 of 5 Resolution-Variance #2005-08: Shoreland Ordinance Lot Size at SW Barker and 2nd Street East (David Warg) Moved by Councilmember Riveness, seconded by Councilmember Alongi to approve the resolution as presented. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Copy of resolution on file. Resolution-Development Plan #2005-04: Three Rivers Place at Slock 2 Downtown (Robert Abdo) Planning Director Hinzman provided a presentation on the proposed development plan, including parking, height of building, mass of building, residential use on first floor adjacent to the Mississippi River, shoreland ordinance amendments, and coordination of Block 1 project and off-site improvements. Hinzman provided information on the proposed parking and stated that, with the parking lot proposed on Lot 16, and the proposed uses for Blocks 1 and 2, parking appears adequate. Discussion over whether full parking needs will be met or whether there will still be parking issues downtown with this development. Councilmember Riveness asked how far north the north half of the building is proposed to be. Hinzman stated that the building itself will not be any closer to the river than the existing building. Councilmember Moratzka asked where the esplanade will fit in the plan. Hinzman stated that detail has not yet been defined. Councilmember Schultz wondered why there was not any opposition to the residential component proposed, as opposition to condominiums downtown has been commonly expressed by some residents or property owners. Mayor Werner asked why an historic property (the Hjermsted property) will be removed. He also questioned the loss of retail space and the high proportion of residential space in the development. Councilmember Alongi stated that he felt that the City continues to be able to negotiate with developers to determine the best use of space for the development. Council member Hicks stated that there are a lot of positive elements proposed in this plan. He stated that the quality of retail is as important as the quantity of retail proposed. Moved by Council member Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Alongi to approve the development plan with friendly amendments that this approval does not preclude the City from requiring retail on the first floor of the north end of the building and that shoreland height issues still need to be resolved. 6 Ayes; Nays, one. Mayor Werner voting against. Copy of resolution on file. Preliminary Approval-USC Relocation HRA Director Grossman stated that staff recommends the relocation of UBC to the Hastings Industrial Park with the following main points: . The HRA buys the downtown lumberyard from UBC at a cost of $1,145,000; . The City transfers Industrial Park property to UBC as part of a business subsidy; and Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 7, 2005 Page 5 015 . The City reserves 3.1 acres for the next 3-5 years for additional expansion by UBC. Grossman stated that the Economic Development Commission and the HRA support this proposal. Moved by Council member Moratzka, seconded by Council member Schultz to support the preliminary approval of the proposed terms of acquisition of UBC property and their relocation to City-owned land in the Industrial Park and direction to staff to complete the documents and site plan reviews and to request a business subsidy public hearing when appropriate. 7 Ayes; Nays, none. Mayor Werner left the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Public Dock Project Presentation Joel Toso, of Polaris Group, provided a brief presentation on the status of securing approval to construct a public dock along the Mississippi River. Toso stated that approval for the permit could come as early as March 21, 2005. City Administrator Osberg stated that staff will begin work on the dock as soon as a permit is issued and bidding requirements are met. Comments from the Audience: Rich Myklebust, 1336 Eagle Bluff Drive, asked for an update on clarification on what is permitted in City easements. City Administrator Osberg stated that a staff recommendation will most likely come before the City Council at a Council meeting in April 2005. Adjournment Moved by Councilmember Moratzka; seconded by Councilmember Riveness to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. 6 Ayes; Nays, None. ~ ATTESIv{Ulf1tt-WlMluil~ City Clerk Mayor