112403 CC Reg Min
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CITY OF SHOREWOOD
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24,2003
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
A.
Roll Call
Present:
Mayor Love; Councilmembers Lizee, Turgeon, and Zerby; Administrator Dawson;
Attorney Keane (arrived 7:01 P.M.); Engineer Brown; Planning Director Nielsen and
Park Commission Liaison Davis
Absent:
Councilmember Garfunkel, Finance Director Burton, and Planning Commission Liaison
Borkon
B.
Review Agenda
Mayor Love reviewed the Agenda for this meeting. Councilmember Zerby requested Item 3D be
removed from the Consent Agenda and moved to Item 9C.
. Lizee moved, Zerby seconded, Approving the Agenda as amended. Motion passed 4/0.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes, November 3,2003
Zerby moved, Turgeon seconded, Approving the City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes of
November 3, 2003, as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
B. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, November 10,2003
Lizee moved, Turgeon seconded, Approving the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of
November 10, 2003, as amended, on Page 7, Item llB, change "space needs issue" to "community
role issue." Motion passed 4/0.
C. City Council Joint Work Session Minutes, November 13, 2003
Turgeon moved, Zerby seconded, Approving the City Council Joint Work Session Meeting
Minutes of November 13, 2003, as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
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Turgeon moved, Zerby seconded, Approving the Motions Contained on the Consent Agenda and
Adopting the Resolutions Therein:
A. Approval of the Verified Claims List
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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 24, 2003
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B.
Insurance Renewals - Property and Liability
C. Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 03-101, "A Resolution Prohibiting Parking Along
Smithtown Road and Portions of Strawberry Lane."
D. Approval of the Prosecuting Attorney 2004 Contract for Services (This item was
moved to 9C.)
E. Amendment to the Water Tower Lease Agreement for AT&T-Southeast Tower
F. Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 03-102. "A Resolution Accepting Quotes and
Awarding Contract for LED Signal Conversion Project SAP Th.7."
G. Set the Public Hearing date for easement vacation on Maple Street
H. Staffing - Part-time Liquor Clerks
Motion passed 4/0.
4. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
5.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
6. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
7. PARKS
A. Report on Park Commission Meeting Held November 12, 2003
Park Commissioner Davis reported on matters considered and actions taken at the November 12, 2003,
Park Commission Meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting.)
Mayor Love thanked her for her report and complimented the Park Commission on its planned projects
for the upcoming year.
8. PLANNING
Due to the absence of Planning Commissioner Borkon, Director Nielsen reported on the November 18,
2003 Planning Commission Meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting).
A.
Minor Subdivision/Combination
Applicant: Schwarz Builders, Inc.
Location: 24140 Yellowstone Trail
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 24, 2003
Page 3 of6
. Director Nielsen explained the applicant had purchased the property at 24140 Yellowstone Trail and the
vacant lot next to it. The applicant had requested a minor subdivision and combination to rearrange the
lot lines between the two parcels. The westerly of the two lots was vacant, but virtually unbuildable due
to wetland and wetland setbacks. The lot line rearrangement would add buildable area to the westerly
lot, as shown on the submitted survey, with access through a shared driveway to the easterly lot. The
subject properties contained a total of 3.32 acres, with a single-family dwelling occupying the easterly
parcel. As proposed, the westerly parcel would contain 2.31 acres and the easterly parcel would contain
1.01 acres.
Upon analysis, Director Nielsen stated both of the proposed lots complied with the area, width, and depth
requirements of the R-1A Zoning District. To avoid disturbing the wetland area, the applicants proposed
serving both properties with a common driveway on the east side of the site. The driveway serving the
existing home would be removed. Director Nielsen also noted the proposal was considered to be a good
solution to the development of this property, versus filling and mitigating the wetland. The applicants
also planned to construct a house on the new lot, while still observing the City's wetland buffer and
setback requirements.
Councilmember Turgeon questioned the options available as an alternative to a shared driveway, and
requested clarification about the dimensions of the proposed driveway. Director Nielsen stated the
driveway width depended on the choice of the developer regarding a sprinkler system being connected to
the proposed house on the site. He also noted the Comprehensive Plan did encourage the use of shared
driveways to extent possible, and in this case, it seemed best to limit the access points onto Yellowstone
Trail.
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Zerby moved, Lizee seconded, Approving a Minor Subdivision/Combination, subject to Staff
Recommendations, for Schwarz Builders, Inc., 24140 Yellowstone Trail. Motion passed 4/0.
B. Minor Subdivision/Combination
Applicant: Kay Triden
Location: 4975 Kensington Gate
Director Nielsen explained the applicant was requesting a lot line rearrangement for her property at 4975
Kensington Gate. As she explained in her request letter, her existing deck was located on the common
area of Amesbury, beyond the unit-lot boundary of her property. A lot line adjustment would solve the
problem and Director Nielsen noted she had the support of the Amesbury Homes Association. Director
Nielsen also stated occasionally cases like this had shown themselves over the years in the Amesbury
Planned Unit Development, due in part to a practice of not requiring surveys at the time the original units
were being built. The conveyance did not adversely affect the common area and observed the required
setback from Manor Road. The Planning Commission and Staff had recommended approval subject to
the applicant recording the resolution within 30 days of her receipt thereof.
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Councilmember Turgeon expressed concern for more cases like this one, and questioned whether it
would be possible to request the Amesbury Association to replat that area. Attorney Keane, in response
to Director Nielsen's question of process, stated a "triggering event" was needed to make that request.
He stated the Amesbury Homeowners Association could be given notice that should further cases like
this one present themselves, lots would need to be surveyed and replatted, which he also noted was a
rather large undertaking.
Lizee moved, Zerby seconded, Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 03-103, " A Resolution Approving
Subdivision and Combination of Real Property for Kay Triden, 4975 Kensington Gate." Motion
passed 4/0.
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Zerby moved, Turgeon seconded, Directing Staff to Notify the Amesbury Board that future
requests, such as this one, would be grounds to "trigger" the necessity for replatting of the
Amesbury Planned Unit Development. Motion passed 4/0.
9. GENERALINEW BUSINESS
A. South Lake Minnetonka Police Department 2004 Operating Budget
Administrator Dawson explained the City of Excelsior had submitted a proposal to the four member
cities of the Joint Powers Agreement (JP A) that governed the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department
for the 2004 Operating Budget. This proposal included a combination of additional revenue and
reductions in expenses that it believed would form the basis for equal services provided to all JP A
member cities. He went on to explain the four member cities met to discuss this issue and mediate a
solution on November 13, 2003. While there was a great deal of discussion, no alternative action or
direction was identified. The majority of the SLMPD Coordinating Committee believed "Approach A"
for 2004 should be pursued, whereby the three cities of Greenwood, Shorewood, and Tonka Bay would
agree to increase their contributions to maintain a higher level of service, provided that each of the three
cities followed through on this commitment.
No further proposals had been received at this point in time.
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Turgeon moved, Zerby seconded, that the Council reaffirm its support and commitment to
"Approach A" for the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department 2004 Operating Budget. Motion
passed 4/0.
B. Resident Complaint regarding Public Safety Facility
Administrator Dawson explained Allan Vanderlinde, owner of the property at 5550-5560 Shorewood
Lane, had raised concerns about the final grade of the slope on the north side of the Public Safety
Facility, and requested this issue be placed on the Agenda for this evening so Mr. Vanderlinde could
address Council. Mr. Vanderlinde had noted the final grade did not conform to the plans in place at the
time the Conditional Use Permit for the property was approved. The resulting slope removed the
openness that had extended from the edge of his property to the City's Public Works maintenance site.
Administrator Dawson then reviewed the soil content that had been found on the site, and subsequent
field decisions for how best to abate the soil issues. He also noted Mr. Vanderlinde was not present this
evening, and no word had been received from him since the receipt of his request letter, dated November
6, 2003.
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Councilmember Zerby stated he was concerned about this matter since the beginning of the project, and
questioned the impacts of the soil and its slope for Mr. Vanderlinde. Engineer Brown explained the
process followed in working with Mr. Vanderlinde to mitigate the issue. He explained Mr. Vanderlinde
wanted the soil removed and spread further west toward the Public Works, which would place mature
trees at risk. He noted concerns had been heard from neighboring Tonka Bay residents and other
residents that the mature trees should not be compromised in this project. Engineer Brown, in response
to Councilmember Zerby's question, estimated soil removal costs roughly between $5,000 and $8,000.
Councilmember Zerby believed the decision to leave the soil was economic, and noted he agreed with the
concerns stated by residents regarding this decision.
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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
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Director Nielsen stated Staff would recommend keeping the hill in place if a revised Conditional Use
Permit process was enacted, as the hill and landscape provided additional landscaping and a better view
for the residents.
Mayor Love stated he believed Council member Zerby's concerns were valid, and requested Staff
continue to work with area residents to find remedy to this issue.
C. Approval of the Prosecuting Attorney 2004 Contract for Services
Administrator Dawson reviewed the scope and services to be provided by the Prosecuting Attorney as
apart of the contract for services in the Year 2004. Councilmember Zerby stated he was concerned there
had been no regular communication regarding the services that Attorney Potts provided, and he requested
a more detailed report be given in the future. Administrator Dawson stated Mr. Potts would be asked to
provide a report for the next Regular City Council Meeting.
10. ENGINEERING/PUBLIC WORKS
A. Vacate Right-of-Way Property
Applicant: James Marso
Location: 5495 Wedgewood Drive
Engineer Brown reported, at the November 10, 2003, Regular City Council Meeting, a Public Hearing
had been conducted regarding this matter. At that time, no residents appeared in support or objection to
the request, however, a written request had been receive questioning the location of the paved surface of
Wedgewood Drive, within the dedicated right-of-way. He explained the location of the traveled surface
of Wedge wood Drive had since been surveyed in relationship to the dedicated right-of-way. Findings
indicated the traveled surface was within the public right-of-way and no additional right-of-way was
required along Wedgewood Drive. Staff was therefore recommending approval of the request.
Engineer Brown explained, in response to Councilmember Turgeon's question, that the topography in the
area would allow the right-of-way property proposed for vacation to be utilized for drainage utility
purposes.
Lizee moved, Zerby seconded, Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 03-104, "A Resolution Approving
Vacation of Right-of-Way Property for James Marso, 5495 Wedgewood Drive."
Without objection from the maker and seconder of the motion, the motion was amended to include
additional verbiage in the resolution in Paragraph 4, ".. ..and hereby are vacated and the southerly
vacated area be vacated in equal ten-foot strips to the abutting properties." Motion passed 4/0.
11. REPORTS
A. Administrator & Staff
1. County Road 19 Intersection
Administrator Dawson noted progress continued to be made on the intersection project, noting the goal
was to have plans for the project finalized by the end of this year, and ready to bid in Spring of 2004. He
also shared an update from Hennepin County regarding right-of-way negotiations and the schedule for
demolition of the Liquor store.
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2.
Public Safety Facilities
Administrator Dawson stated a Groundbreaking ceremony had taken place for the East Side Public
Safety Facility November 22,2003.
3. Gideon Glen
Director Nielsen briefly reviewed the changes made to the concept plans for Gideon Glen and progress
made in working with other agencies in bringing Gideon Glen to fruition as part of the County Road 19
Corridor Study and Intersection Project.
Councilmembers commented they liked the proposed trail being further away from the road, as well as
the revised shape to the pond planned for the site. Director Nielsen also noted the front half of the site
would have substantial alterations as part of the project.
B. Mayor & City Council
Mayor Love stated it was with profound sadness he attended the funeral of Scott Aanerud earlier in the
day. He stated the South Lake Minnetonka area had lost a fine reserve officer of the SLMPD, and would
miss the diligence shown by this young man in providing many aspects of exemplary service to the entire
South Lake Minnetonka community.
A brief discussion was held regarding concerns from residents regarding the impacts made on a lot near
the intersection of Smithtown Road and Wedgewood Road.
12. ADJOURN
Turgeon moved, Zerby seconded, Adjourning the Regular City Council Meeting of November 24,
2003, at 8:25 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Sally Keefe,
Recording Secretary
Woody Love, Mayor