HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-27-2007 400 Special MeetingMINUTES
MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Council Chambers, City Hall
4:00 p.m.
Meeting 7 -23
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CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the City Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order
at 4:00 p.m. by Mayor Longrie.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Diana Longrie, Mayor Present
Rebecca Cave, Councilmember Present
Erik Hjelle, Councilmember Present
Kathleen Juenemann, Councilmember Present
Will Rossbach, Councilmember Present
Councilmember Hjelle moved to approve the agenda as submitted
Seconded by Councilmember Cave.
Ayes — Mayor Longrie,
Councilmembers Cave, Hjelle
Nays — Councilmembers Rossbach,
Juenemann
Councilmembers Juenemann and Rossbach voted Nay because at the December 10, 2007,
council meeting councilmembers were concerned that the Conditional Use Permit for Clear
Channel Outdoor sign should not be heard until the Dynamic Sign Ordinance has been heard by
the council. The order of business is the same on this agenda as it was for December 10, 2007.
Councilmember Rossbach stated that the Conditional Use Permit for Clear Channel does not
require that the city make the changes before the Dynamic Sign Ordinance is heard. It seemed
odd to him that after the concerns were raised December 10 that the council would approve the
agenda in the same order.
PUBLIC HEARING
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December 27, 2007, Special Council Meeting
F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Take from the Table Conditional Use Permit Application of Clear Channel
Outdoor for 1790 Gervais Avenue, Tabled on December 10, 2007.
Councilmember Hjelle moved to Take from the Table the Conditional Use Permit application by
Clear Channel Outdoor for a billboard height increase at 1790 Gervais Court.
Seconded by Mayor Longrie. Ayes — Mayor Longrie,
Councilmembers Cave, Hjelle
Nays — Councilmembers Rossbach,
Juenemann
b. Consideration of Conditional Use Permit Resolution for same should it be
taken from the table.
a. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the report.
b. Alan Kantrud, City Attorney addressed and answered questions of the council.
C. Tom McCarver, Vice President, Clear Channel Outdoor addressed the council.
Councilmember Hjelle moved to approve the conditional use permit by adoption of the resolution
specifying the terms and conditions required by City Code and necessary to implement the City
Council Agreement approved on October 22, 2007, with Clear Channel Outdoor with the
amended language as discussed at the December 27, 2007, city council meeting.
WHEREAS, Clear Channel Outdoor applied for a conditional use permit to increase the height of
one of their existing billboards from 35 feet to 50 feet. This conditional use permit is also for the
expansion of a nonconforming use since the billboard is closer than 100 feet to a building and
300 feet to an interchange.
WHEREAS, this permit applies to 1790 Gervais Court. The legal description is:
Tract A, Registered Land Survey No. 257, Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Subject to those parts embraced within State Highway No. 36 and Gervais Court.
WHEREAS, the history of this conditional use permit is as follows:
1. On December 4, 2007, the planning commission held a public hearing to review this
request. City staff published a notice in the paper and sent notices to the surrounding
property owners as required by law. The planning commission gave everyone at the
hearing a chance to speak and present written statements. The planning commission also
considered reports and recommendations of the city staff.
2. The city council reviewed this proposal and considered the Planning Commission's action
on December 4, 2007. The council also considered public testimony from the public
hearing, reports and recommendations of the city staff and those in attendance.
December 27, 2007, Special Council Meeting 2
3. The City Council adopted an amendment on December 10, 2007 to the City's Sign Code
deleting descriptive language which identified "prohibited signs" as signs that "change in
brightness or color."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council approves the above described
conditional use permit because:
1. The use would be located, designed, maintained, constructed and operated to be in
conformity with the City's Comprehensive Plan and Code of Ordinances.
2. The use would not change the existing or planned character of the surrounding area.
3. The use would not depreciate property values.
4. The use would not involve any activity, process, materials, equipment or methods of
operation that would be dangerous, hazardous, detrimental, disturbing or cause a
nuisance to any person or property, because of excessive noise, glare, smoke, dust, odor,
fumes, water or air pollution, drainage, water run -off, vibration, general unsightliness,
electrical interference or other nuisances.
5. The use would generate only minimal vehicular traffic on local streets and would not
create traffic congestion or unsafe access on existing or proposed streets.
6. The use would be served by adequate public facilities and services, including streets,
police and fire protection, drainage structures, water and sewer systems, schools and
parks.
7. The use would not create excessive additional costs for public facilities or services.
8. The use would maximize the preservation of and incorporate the site's natural and scenic
features into the development design.
9. The use would cause minimal adverse environmental effects.
Approval is subject to compliance with the following conditions (additions are underlined and
deletions are crossed out):
1. The proposed height increase shall follow the approved plan and shall take place within
one year of this approval. The city council may extend this deadline one additional year as
provided by ordinance.
The city shall issue a sign permit to increase the height of this billboard and add the two proposed
dynamic - display sign panels upon the approval of this Conditional Use Permit Resolution.
The Maplewood City Council approved this resolution on December 27, 2007.
Seconded by Councilmember Cave. Ayes — Mayor Longrie,
Councilmembers Cave, Hjelle,
Rossbach
Nom Councilmember Juenemann
December 27, 2007, Special Council Meeting 3
2. Approval of Proposed Budget modifications to the adopted 2008 Budget.
a. Finance and Administration Manager, Bob Mittet gave the report and answered
questions of the council.
Councilmember Hjelle moved to adopt the proposed 2008 Budget Modifications. The
recommended reductions will reduce the total 2008 Budget to $39,725,850, a decrease of
$29,991 from the level proposed and adopted by the City Council on December 10, 2007.
Seconded by Councilmember Rossbach.
Ayes — Mayor Longrie,
Councilmembers Cave, Hjelle,
Rossbach
Nom Councilmember Juenemann
3. Discussion of Dynamic Sign Ordinance Recommendations of Planning Commission
and Community Design Review Board.
a. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the report and answered questions of the
council.
b. City Attorney, Alan Kantrud answered questions of the council.
C. Planning Commission Chairperson, Lorraine Fischer addressed the council and
shared the planning commission's concerns regarding this item.
d. Planning Commissioner, Dale Trippler addressed the council and explained the
planning commission's concerns regarding this ordinance.
e. Tom McCarver, Vice President, Clear Channel Outdoor Sign addressed the
council and answered questions.
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NEW BUSINESS
Advanced Order of Tandem Axle Truck
a. Public Works Director, Chuck AN gave the report.
Councilmember Cave moved to authorize the Director of Public Works to place an order for one
tandem axle truck chassis in 2007 at a cost not to exceed $90,000 as listed within the 2008 —
2012 Capital Improvement Plan.
Seconded by Councilmember Hjelle. Ayes — All
2. Mayor's Report — No Written Report — No Action Required
a. Mayor Longrie gave an Annual Report for 2007 for the City of Maplewood.
H. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Longrie moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:03 p.m.
December 27, 2007, Special Council Meeting
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Memorandum
To: Greg Copeland, City Manager
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From: Bob Mittet, Finance and Administration Manager
Date: December 27, 2007
Re: 2008 Budget Adjustments
On December 10, the City Council received an updated Proposed 2008 Budget and
staff recommendation for approval. Discussion during this meeting focused on the
reduction of three positions made up of a Business Licensing Specialist and two
Planners. The Council approved the 2008 Budget subject to reinstatement of these
positions with cuts to be made elsewhere.
Department heads offered up alternatives during the Council meeting including, but not
limited to, a 3% across the board reduction in non- personnel costs to elimination of
vacant positions intended to be filled.
Following my request of December 12 to department heads for recommendations on
budget reductions, I received a joint memo from six department heads. The balance of
this memorandum addresses their recommendations.
1. $156,000 is owed the City by Ramsey County for the sale to the county of
dispatch equipment. While the City and County have offset this payment against
the monthly payments due the county for dispatch, these funds are essentially
available. I recommend transferring these funds to the debt service fund for the
Series 2006B Equipment Certificate Bonds that were sold to finance the
acquisition of the 800 Mhz radios.
2. Discussion was also made of the use of General Fund balances in excess of
35% of expenditures. The memo pointed out that 37.3% of 2008 expenditures
are planned to be in the 12/31/08 fund balance. While that is correct, the more
accurate percentage to use is the percentage of the next year's expenditures in
the fund balance. This reflects the primary purpose in keeping the fund balance,
i.e., the end of year fund balance needs to be sufficient to cover expenditures
prior to the next property tax payment the city will receive in June of the following
year.
Budget adjustments proposed by Department Heads are as follows:
December 27, 2007
1. Eliminate Parks & Rec administration of $52,957. While that had at one time
been in the budget, it had been eliminated prior to the budget presented on
December 10, 2007.
2. Eliminate one planner position and proceed with Environmental Planner position
costing $95,000. The Council was very clear in not eliminating the planner
positions. At this writing, I can't be certain of whether Shann Finwall will
ultimately be the Environmental Planner. This is a good long -term possibility for
future budget adjustments but can't be assumed at this point.
3. Reduction of consultant budget in planning of $40,000. Allowing $50,000 for the
2030 Comp Plan leaves $36,000 in the current budget. This approximates
spending in this category in 2007.
4. Increase Engineering Revenue from $1,086,000 to $1,165,000. 1 had already
increased revenue to $1,125,000 in this category and the rest of the revenue was
tied to personnel changes not yet authorized.
5. Delay hiring replacement worker for Public Works saving $24,255. The changes
proposed below are based on eliminating vacant positions, of which this is one.
6. Eliminate Vehicle allowance of $2,000 for IPBO. This has be utilized.
7. Delay hiring new Police Officer to save $5,000. This hire is in the works and
while the delay is expected, the savings are difficult to show in the budget
document and are not significant enough to be truly useful.
8. Reduce server additions to 1 per year saving $5,000. Once again, the savings
are minor and the need to keep our servers in full operation is too important.
9. Fire Department CAD and Wireless feed saving $6,000 for'/ of the year. This is
also minor.
10. Reduction in Elections inventory for REAL saving $3,000. This was utilized.
The following changes have been made to the 2008 Budget approved on December 10:
Add Backs:
Business License Specialist
64,719
Two Planners
190,582
Fees for Service Correction
42,100
Deducts:
Replace Terminated Fire Fighter with new
-7,942
Eliminate Vacant MCC Position
- 34,855
Eliminate Vacant Public Works Position
- 76,498
Eliminate Vacant Parks Position
- 70,795
Fill Vacant Position at Lower Starting Rate
- 24,298
Eliminate Vacant Maintenance Position
- 29,350
Reduction in Elections Supplies
-3,000
Unused Vehicle Allowance
-2,430
Travel & Training
- 42,837
Personnel Corrections to Calculations
- 35,387
Net Reduction in Expenditures
-29,991
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