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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-25 City Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL 7:00 P.M. Monday, August 25, 2025 City Hall, Council Chambers Meeting No. 16-25 A. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the City Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 7:09 p.m.by Mayor Abrams. Mayor Abrams welcomed the change of the season and with school starting next week, asked residents to be aware of school buses and drive safely. B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE C. ROLL CALL Marylee Abrams, Mayor Present Rebecca Cave, Councilmember Present Kathleen Juenemann, Councilmember Present Chonburi Lee, Councilmember Present Nikki Villavicencio, Councilmember Present D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Councilmember Cave Mayor Abrams added Resolution of Appreciation for Craig Brannon, Parks & Recreation Commission to the agenda as agenda item F3 under Appointments and Presentations. Mayor Abrams moved a friendly amendment to add item F3, under Appointments and Presentations to the agenda, and approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. August 11, 2025 City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve the August 11, 2025 City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Councilmember Lee Ayes – Mayor Abrams Councilmember Juenemann Councilmember Lee August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 1 Councilmember Villavicencio Abstain – Councilmember Cave The motion passed. 2. August 11, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Councilmember Lee moved to approve the August 11, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – Mayor Abrams Councilmember Juenemann Councilmember Lee Councilmember Villavicencio Abstain – Councilmember Cave The motion passed. F. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 1. Administrative Presentations a. Council Calendar Update City Manager Sable gave an update to the council calendar and reviewed other topics of concern or interest requested by councilmembers. 2. Council Presentations Resolution of Appreciation for Craig Brannon Parks & Natural Resources Manager Robbins gave the staff report. Mayor Abrams thanked Mr. Brannon for his many contributions to the parks commission. Councilmember Villavicencio read the resolution. Craig Brannon addressed the council. Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve the resolution of appreciation for Craig Brannon, Parks & Recreation Commissioner. Seconded by Councilmember Cave Ayes – All G. CONSENT AGENDA – Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and non- controversial and are approved by one motion of the council. If a councilmember requests additional information or wants to make a comment regarding an item, the vote should be held until the questions or comments are made then the single vote should be taken. If a councilmember objects to an item it should be removed and acted upon as a separate item. Mayor Abrams pulled agenda item G4 for a separate vote Councilmember Lee moved to approve agenda items G1-G3 & G5-G6. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 2 The motion passed. 1. Approval of Claims Councilmember Lee moved to approve the approval of claims. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: $ 346,359.00 Checks # 124047 thru # 124079 dated 8/12/25 $ 1,854,967.82 Checks # 124080 thru # 124116 dated 8/19/25 $ 580,573.03 Disbursements via debits to checking account dated 8/04/25 thru 8/17/25 $ 2,781,899.85 Total Accounts Payable PAYROLL $ 831,093.84 Payroll Checks and Direct Deposits dated 8/15/25 $ 831,093.84 Total Payroll $ 3,612,993.69 GRAND TOTAL Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. 2. Resolution Accepting Assessment Roll and Ordering Assessment Hearing for September 22, 2025, 2025 Maplewood Street Improvements, City Project 24-12 Councilmember Lee moved to approve the Resolution Accepting Assessment Roll and Ordering Assessment Hearing, for the 2025 Maplewood Street Improvements, City Project 24-12. Resolution 25-08-2423 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING ASSESSMENT ROLL AND ORDERING ASSESSMENT HEARING, CITY PROJECT 24-12 WHEREAS, the Clerk and the City Engineer have, at the direction of the City Council, prepared an assessment roll for the 2025 Maplewood Street Improvements, City Project 24-12, and said assessment roll is on file in the office of the City Engineer. August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Maplewood, Minnesota: nd 1. A hearing shall be held on the 22 day of September 2025, at 7:00 p.m. to pass upon such proposed assessment and at such time and place all persons owning property affected by such improvement will be given an opportunity to be heard with reference to such assessment. 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause a notice of hearing on the proposed assessment to be published in the official newspaper, at least two weeks prior to the hearing, and to mail notices to the owner of all property affected by said assessment. The notice of hearing shall state the date, time and place of hearing, the general nature of the improvement, the area to be assessed, that the proposed assessment roll is on file with the clerk and city engineer and that written or oral objections will be considered. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. 3. Solar on Public Buildings Grant Application for the Wakefield Park Community Building Councilmember Lee moved to approve the Solar on Public Buildings grant application for the Wakefield Park community building. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. Conditional Use Permit Review, The American Cooperative on Lake Phalen, 1875 East Shore Drive Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve the CUP review for The American Cooperative on Lake Phalen at 1875 East Shore Drive and review again only if a problem arises or a significant change is proposed. Seconded by Councilmember Cave Ayes – Councilmember Cave Councilmember Juenemann Councilmember Lee Councilmember Villavicencio Abstain – Mayor Abrams The motion passed. 5. Conditional Use Permit Review, The Waldo, 1880 English Street North Councilmember Lee moved to approve the CUP review for The Waldo, located at 1880 English Street North, and review again in one year. August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 4 Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. Conditional Use Permit Review, Hampton Companies, 2694 Maplewood Drive North Councilmember Lee moved to approve the CUP review for Hampton Companies at 2694 Maplewood Drive North and review again in one year. Seconded by Councilmember Juenemann Ayes – All The motion passed. H. PUBLIC HEARINGS – If you are here for a Public Hearing please familiarize yourself with the Rules of Civility printed on the back of the agenda. Sign in with the City Clerk before addressing the council. At the podium please state your name and address clearly for the record. All comments/questions shall be posed to the Mayor and Council. The Mayor will then direct staff, as appropriate, to answer questions or respond to comments. None I. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None J. NEW BUSINESS 1. Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Stewardship Grant for Maplewood Police Department Raingarden Assistant City Manager/HR Director Darrow gave the staff report. Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve funding from the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District of up to $20,000 towards a raingarden project at the entrance of the Police Department. Seconded by Councilmember Cave Ayes – All The motion passed. 2. Metro I-Net Lease Agreement – 1902 Building Assistant City Manager/HR Director Darrow gave the staff report. City Manager Sable provided further information. Councilmember Juenemann moved to approve the five-year lease agreement with Metro-INET for space located within the Public Works Building. Seconded by Councilmember Lee Ayes – All August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 5 The motion passed. 3. Resolution Approving the Record of Decision for Century Ponds Development Community Development Director Parr introduced the item. Aaron Stolte, Environmental Consultant with Kimley-Horn, gave the presentation. Deb Ridgeway and Mike Suel, with DR Horton, and Dave Nash and Keara Fehr, with Alliant Engineering, answered questions from council. Councilmember Cave moved to approve the resolution approving the record of decision and the negative declaration of the need for an Environmental Impact Statement for the Century Ponds Development. Resolution 25-08-2424 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RECORD OF DECISION AND THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF THE NEED FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE CENTURY PONDS DEVELOPMENT WHEREAS, DR Horton, Inc. (the “Proposer”) proposes to redevelop a 92.25-acre former golf course site to construct 134 single-family homes and 73 townhomes for a total of 207 units located in the southwest quadrant of Lower Afton Rd E (CSAH 39) and Century Ave S (CSAH 25) in Maplewood (the “Project”); and WHEREAS, the Project crosses the threshold of a mandatory environmental assessment worksheet (“EAW”) for a residential development consistent per Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.4300, subpart 19(C); and WHEREAS, the EQB has designated the City of Maplewood (the “City”) as the Responsible Governmental Unit (“RGU”) for the Project pursuant to the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4410; and WHEREAS, the EAW was prepared by Alliant Engineering on behalf of the Proposer, who submitted completed data portions of the EAW to the City consistent with Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1400; and WHEREAS, the City retained Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (the “Consultant”) to assist the City in reviewing the EAW and completing the EAW process; and WHEREAS, the EAW was prepared using the form approved by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (“EQB”) for EAWs in accordance with Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1300; and WHEREAS, the City submitted a copy of the EAW to all public agencies on the EAW distribution list and published the EAW in the EQB Monitor on July 1, 2025, in accordance with applicable state laws, rules, and regulations; and WHEREAS, the EAW comment period lasted from July 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025, and five regulatory agencies and five members of the public submitted written comments during the comment period; and August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 6 WHEREAS, the City acknowledges the comments received from the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and five members of the public; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1700, subpart 6 require the City to determine whether the Project has the potential for significant environmental effects requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement (“EIS”); and WHEREAS, Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1700, subpart 7 further require the City to consider the following factors in making such determination: a. Type, extent, and reversibility of environmental effects; b. Cumulative potential effects: whether the cumulative potential effect is significant; whether the contribution from the Project is significant when viewed in connection with other contributions to the cumulative potential effect; the degree to which the Project complies with approved mitigation measures specifically designed to address the cumulative potential effect; and the efforts of the Proposer to minimize the contributions from the Project; c. The extent to which the environmental effects are subject to mitigation by ongoing public regulatory authority; and d. The extent to which environmental effects can be anticipated and controlled as a result of other available environmental studies undertaken by public agencies or the Project Proposer, including other environmental impact statements; and WHEREAS, at its meeting on August 25, 2025, the City Council considered the Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision prepared by the Consultant and which is the Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision; and WHEREAS, City staff reviewed the Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision and finds it to be consistent with the evidence submitted to the City and the applicable statutes and regulations, to the best of their knowledge, and recommends the City Council approve them and determine that no EIS is necessary, reasonable or warranted with respect to the Project under the circumstances; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to make and approve the Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision and determine that no EIS is required with respect to the Project (“Negative Declaration”). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, after careful consideration and based on all of the evidence presented by the Consultant, the Proposer, and other persons or otherwise known to the RGU, the City Council adopts and approves the Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision for the Century Ponds Development Environmental Assessment Worksheet in the form which is Response to Comments, Findings of Fact, and Record of Decision. August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council determines that the EAW was prepared in compliance with the procedures of the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act and Minnesota Rules, Parts 4410.1000 to 4410.1700. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council determines that, the EAW satisfactorily addressed the issues for which existing information could have been reasonably obtained. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council determines that the Project does not have the potential for significant environmental effects based upon the above findings and the evaluation of the criteria in accordance with Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1700, subpart 7. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council determines that the Negative Declaration is appropriate and no EIS is required for the Project pursuant to the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act or Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4410. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City staff and consultants are hereby authorized and directed to take all necessary steps and actions, including the execution of necessary documents, to otherwise complete the environmental review process and to accomplish the intent of this Resolution and the Negative Declaration. The City Clerk is specifically authorized and directed to mail a copy of this Resolution to the Proposer and anyone who submitted timely and substantive comments within five days of the date it was adopted. The City Clerk is also specifically authorized and directed to submit this Resolution for distribution in the EQB Monitor. Seconded by Councilmember Lee Ayes – All The motion passed. K. AWARD OF BIDS None L. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Abrams adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. Andrea Sindt, City Clerk August 25, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes 8