HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.a. Minutes of September 20, 1994 Regular Meeting 1..
� ' ROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Rosemount City Council was
duly held on T�esday, September 20, 1994 at 7:36 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City
Hall, 2875 145th Street West.
Mayor McMenomy called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Anderson,
Wippermann, Staats, and Busho present. Also present were City Attomey LeFevere, City
Administrator Burt, City Engineer/Public Works Director Osmundson, Community
Deveiopment Director Wasmund, Fire Chief Aker, Administrative Assistant Susan Walsh,
and Parks and Recreation/Community Center Manager Topitzhofer.
Mayor McMenomy led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. �
Additions to the Agenda. included adding Consent Item 4. o. Payment #5 and Final, 145th ',
Street Reconstruction, City Project 235; and additions under New Business were Item 6.c
High School Location Task Force Update; Item 6.d. Fire Service Task Force Update; Item
6.e. Downtown Scoping Gommittee Selection Updaxe; Item 6.f. Community CenterlIce
Arena News Article; Item 6.g. Declare Cost/Set Assessment Hearing, 145th Street
Improvements-Shannon Parkway to Chili Avenue and the Realignment of the Chili-
Chippendale Avenues Intersection with 145th Street, City Project 235; and Item 6.h. Greif
Brothers Corporation Tour.
Finance Director May introduced Mark Flaten, President of American Risk Services, Inc.
who has proposed to provide the City of Rosemount with risk management consultant
services for workers compensation insurance and general liability insurance. Fla.ten
described the process to identify what is at risk for the City and then to measure that, and
then proceed to reduce or eliminate the risk making the City more cost effective and
efficient. Council directed some questions to Flaten. This would include a safety plan with
a pro-active aPProach.
MOTION by McMenomy to approve the City of Rosemount entering into a one year
agreement with American Risk Services, Inc. to provide the City with risk management
services. Second by Wippermann. Ayes: McMenomy, Staaxs, Busho, Anderson,
Wippermann. Nays: None.
City Engineer/Public Works Director Osmundson reviewed the Carrollton 4th/Wachter 186A
Outlet. About a year ago several residents complained of standing water in their backyards
and the worry of actual flooding of their basements. Staff proposed a secondary outlet to
flow south which required easements to be obtained. The land owners have no interest in
cooperating for an easement on undeveloped property so the project has been delayed. Staff
will continue to negotiate and Public Works will continue to watch on the existing drainage
system.
Mayor McMenomy asked for the City Attorney's general opinion on liability. I.eFevere
noted that the Council by approving a plat does not guarantee that basements will be dry. In
this case it looks as though there may be many contributing factors. A thirty foot wide
easement is unusual and it appears as though it was designed for ponding water runoff.
Jackie Hennen, 14894 Colorado Avenue, noted she believed that the new easement required
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would go to condemnation to force the landowners to comply. Osmundson noted that
condemnation was not used because the land value is much higher than was expected and
undeterminable at this point. If the land easement adds a considerable cost to the project
with additional lawyer fees, it may not be feasible to proceed. Ms. Hennen stressed the
frustra.tion her family and those around her face with ea.ch heavy rain. Hennen said it's very
disturbing and they have not been able to make any impmvements such as sod or a swing set
to their yard.
Osmundson said he would work with the City Attorney to draft a letter to the land owners'
partnership to offer mediation in hopes that would speed up the easement negotiation.
MOTION by Wippermann to approve the Consent Agenda.. Second by Anderson. Ayes:
Staats, Busho, Anderson, Wippermann, McMenomy. Nays: None.
Ron Jacobson, 3647 143rd Street West, fears that nature is being ta.ken out of Carroll's
Woods and wishes to stop the development of trails in the woods. Jacobson believes the
grant with the state was for passive recreation only. The trails are S to 12 feet wide when
the recommended width is 6 feet. He stated that the lime rock used on the trails also
changes the acidity of the soil which for a certain type of orchid is fatal. Jacobson said the
Haunted Woods program`in the woods each October 31 has gotten too large and is damaging
the woods. He urged Council to halt the trail building and find a better place for the
�-Iaunted Woods.
' Parks & Recreation/Community Director Topitzhofer reviewed the trail plan. Topitzhofer
noted that the trails are to replace some trails that are under water some of the time and
allow an access to the west which will curtail children cutting through yards to enter the
woods. Walking on these trails would be considered a passive recreation. Buckthorn
removal has been an intense project with some positive results already seen. Naturalist have
used the Rosemount Buckthorn Project as an example for many other communities and
Rosemount is very proud of their Parks & Recreation Committee and community
involvement. The trail width recommended now is for 8 feet wide of lime rock so that
maintenance vehicles can be used 'm the buckthorn removal. If the buckthorn was left to
grow on its own when the large trees die out the seedlings could not survive and there would
be no more woods. It is vital that the buckthorn gets under control so this is a primary goa1.
When this is achieved the trail width will decrease to the goal of six feet wide.
Amy LaPree, 14121 Cobbler Avenue, said her backyard is adjacent to Carroll's Woods.
With more people using the woods the visibility of the deer and other small wild animals
have decreased. LaPree and her family would like to see the woods remain undeveloped.
Deanna Simpson, 3534 143rd Street, noted that the mission of the park land is to have
people use the park and that trails actually keep people from walking through the woods and
destroying plant life. The six foot wide trail is a real goal, but the need to eliminate the
bucktharn must come first to preserve the woods. I
Frank Curry, Colorado Avenue, noted that Carroll's Woods should remain a nature
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preserve. Not too many people use it now, the trail access will encourage more people. The
' limestone on the trails does not seem necessary.
Tom Reller, 15659 Comell Court North, commented on the trails many of which are made
from woodchips which in time sprea.d from 6 to almost 12 feet wide. The lime rock will not
spread. The soil is now sandy and the acidity from the lime rock will actually help plant
growth in the woods.
City Council commended the Pa.rks & Recreation Committee and the Garroll's Woods
Committee on the great job in mana.gement of Carroll's Woods. It is a "jewel" in the
Rosemount parks system. 'T'he Carroll's Woods Committee meets one hour prior (6:30 p.m.) �
to the regular Parks & Recreation Committee on the third Monday of each month at ,
7:30 p.m. Interested people are invited to attend. '
MOTION by Staats to continue construction of the proposed Carrolls Woods' trail, as
planned by the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Carrolls Woods Sub-Committee.
Second by Busho. Ayes: Busho, Anderson, Wippermann, McMenomy, Staaxs. Nays:
None.
Administrative Assistant Susan Wa1sh requested a Special Closed Meeting to discuss a new
salary program for City employees. Council consensus was to meet Thursday, October 6,
1994, at 6:00 p.m.
MOTION by McMenomy to set a closed City Council meeting for Thursday, October 6, ,
1994, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall for the purpose of discussing a new salary-program for city
' employees. Second by Busho. Ayes: Anderson, Wippermann, McMenomy, Staats, Busho.
Nays: None.
Administra.tive Assistant Susan Wa1sh presented a recommended wage increase of 2.5% for
the fire department. Fire Chief Aker answered several questions posed by the Council.
MOTION by Staats to approve the 1994 wage increases as illustrated in Column C of the
spreadsheet reviewed by city staff. Second by Wippermann. Ayes: Wippermann,
McMenomy, Staats, Busho, Anderson. Nays: None.
Mayor McMenomy is serving on the High School Location Task Force and reported on the
four locations under consideration.
Fire Chief Aker gave an update on the Fire Service Task Force and noted that a interim
report will be brought to Council next month.
City Administrator Burt reported on the Downtown Scoping Committee selection process. A
Mission Statement is being formed, and the appointments will be made in October.
City Administrator Burt responded to a newspaper article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press,
September 10, 1994, regarding the 9.5 tax increase for Rosemount and the press that the
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Rosemount Ice Arena received. Burt reported that a meeting with city staff, Rosemount
Area �Iockey Association (RAHA), and the Mayor brought out all the positive things that are
happening at the ice arena/community center. Other communities view our facility as a
model worth visiting and using. Clearly the 9.5 tax increase is not due to only the expense
of the ice arena but also the many other projects going on throughout the city. Council
consensus was to place an arkicle in our regular monthly Rosemount City Page in the
"ThisWeek" newspaper to clarify any issues.
Parks & Recreation/Community Center Manager Topitzhofer noted that RAFiA is the ice
arena's best customer of ice time. RAHA has many volunteers that help with tournaments
and benefit the community.
City Engineer/Public Works Director Osmundson presented City Project 235, to Declare
Cost/Set Assessment Hearing for 145th Street Improvements at Shannon Parkway to Chili
Avenue and the Realignment of the Chili/Chippendale Avenues Intersection with 145th
Street. Osmundson noted that all costs axe in and that the assessments are ready. A Public
Hearing will be set for October 18, 1994, at 8:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible.
Residents will have the right to appeal the assessments.
MOTION by McMenomy to adopt A RESOLUTION DECLARING COST TO BE
ASSESSED AND ORDERING PREPARATION OF PROPOSED ASSESSMENT, AND
CALLING FOR HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENT 145TH STREET
IlVIPROtiTMENTS-SHANNON PARKWAY TO CHII.I AVENUE AND THE
REALIGr�MENT OF THE CHII.I/CHII'PENDALE AVEl�1UE5 INTERSECTION WITH
145TH STREET, CITY PROJECT 235. Second by Anderson. Ayes: McMenomy,
Staats, Busho,'Anderson, Wippermann. Nays: None.
Mark Mooney, Greif Brothers Corporation, invited City Council, city staff, and the Planning '
Commission to tour their industrial plant. City staff and officials can``call for an appointment ,
or stop by individually. Council thanked Mr. Mooney and will plan to take a tour. ',
MOTION by McMenomy to adjourn the meeting. Second by Wippermann. The meeting
was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda. Jentink
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Thomas D. Burt
City Administra.tor
The City Council Agenda Packet is Clerk's File 1994-32.
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