City Council Notes-May 20, 2014

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2014 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

1. Demolition of houses on Lemond Road. The contract for demolition was awarded NOT to the lowest bidder rather to a contractor that has displayed good and faithful work practices in the past. A local contractor was the lowest bidder but has performed poorly in past contracts awarded with the city. Mark Wallbran , city attorney clarified this ruling under state law.

2. Airport work order: The estimates for engineering services has with Bolton and Menk engineering has come in $2,500 over budget for services. Troy Klecker reported that the bonding bill that recently passed in St. Paul will cover the immediate cost of repairs at the airport. Net cost to the city is zero.

3. A lot of discussion on residential variances. The planning and zoning committee will re-visit the setback limits on three and four season porches. Current set backs are 20 ft. form property line. Troy Klecker reported in recent years there has been an increase amount of requests for this variance. Council input stated to be careful in re-writing the variance to open up the opportunity for citizens to request building closer to their property line.

4. The council approved a pay increase for council members and the mayor. Last pay increase was in 1997. Minimal increase of $50.00 per month. And the mayor $100.00 per month. Council member Raney suggested having the charter commission evaluate future pay increase for the council to avoid a conflict of interest.

5. Repair road on Mineral Springs Road and put a bike path/trail extension on east side of road. A lot of decision on this topic. Council member Svenby noted he has been on the council for nine years and this project has been pushed back to the nest year for nine years. He voted to approve the repairs. The building inspector met with land owners and all of the land owners are not in favor of the repairs. The council vote was 3-2 vote. They need four votes for the resolution to pass. Council voted to table the vote to next meeting. One land owner expressed concern on the bike path on the east side of the road. That land owner opposed the bike trail, “stating that five houses will be impacted with the bike trail on the east side of the road and if the built trail is constructed on the west side of the road would only impact one land owner” Land owners concern bike path would be to close to the house and any screening (ie bushes , trees, fencing, etc.) would take even more of their land.

6. Gateway Apartment was given the go ahead to build a new apartment building in the vacant lot to the east of the existing gateway building. They are approved for tax increment financing (TIFF) with a payback structure to the city.