07-11-11 CC Reg Mtg Min
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MONDAY, JULY 11, 2011 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Acting Mayor Zerby called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present. Acting Mayor Zerby; Councilmembers Hotvet, Siakel, and Woodruff; Attorney Keane;
City Administrator Heck; Finance Director DeJong; Planning Director Nielsen; Director
of Public Works Brown; and Engineer Landini
Absent: Mayor Lizée
B. Review Agenda
Woodruff moved, Siakel seconded, approving the agenda as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. City Council Work Session Minutes, June 27, 2011
Siakel moved, Hotvet seconded, Approving the City Council Work Session Minutes of June 27,
2011, as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
B. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, June 27, 2011
Woodruff moved, Siakel seconded, Approving the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June
27, 2011, as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
Acting Mayor Zerby reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.
Woodruff moved, Siakel seconded, Approving the Motions Contained on the Consent Agenda and
Adopting the Resolution Therein.
A. Approval of the Verified Claims List
B. Authorize Expenditure of Funds for Disposal of Street Sweepings, City Project 11-11
C. Accept Quote and Award Contract for Pavement Marking, City Project 11.10
D. Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 11-039, “A Resolution Accepting the East Water
Tower Rehabilitation Project, City Project 05-04”
Motion passed 4/0.
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July 11, 2011
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4. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
6. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PARKS
No report was given because there had not been a Park Commission meeting since the last Council
meeting.
8. PLANNING
No report was given because there had not been a Planning Commission meeting since the last Council
meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2011.
9. ENGINEERING/PUBLIC WORKS
None.
10. GENERAL/NEW BUSINESS
A. Electrical Regulations Ordinance and Contract for Services
Director Nielsen explained the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry issues electrical permits, and
electrical inspections for a lot of municipalities are done by a State contracted electrical inspector.
Because of the State government shutdown, the State has temporarily stopped issuing permits and
conducting inspections. State Statutes allow municipalities to issue permits and perform inspections when
authorized by ordinance. The meeting packet contains a copy of a draft ordinance amendment that allows
the City to issue permits and have an Electrical Inspector conduct electrical inspections. The City would
directly contract with the same person who contracts with the State to be the Electrical Inspector. The
packet also contains a copy of a proposed contract for providing electrical inspection services. In addition
the packet contains a draft resolution approving publication of the ordinance by title and summary.
Nielsen stated that almost every remodeling project done in the City requires an electrical inspection.
Therefore, there is an immediate need to move forward with approving the draft ordinance so the City can
continue to provide inspection services. The cost for this will be recovered through the permit fees. He
noted that as soon as the shutdown ends the City would revert back to having the State conduct the
inspections.
Nielsen explained that Councilmember Woodruff has pointed out to him that the draft ordinance
amendment does not contain a sunset clause, noting that the League of Minnesota Cities’ (LMC) model
ordinance does contain such a clause. It states that as soon as the State resumes providing such services
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July 11, 2011
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the ordinance becomes null and void. He stated if Council wants he will add a sunset clause to the draft
amendment. He then explained Woodruff has also proposed two changes to the contract. In Section 1.4.2
change “… installer of electrical wiring neither less the 30 days nor more than 60 days prior…” to ““…
installer of electrical wiring not less the 30 days nor more than 60 days prior…” and in Section 18 change
“… in the District Court of the State of Minnesota for Carver County” to “… in the District Court of the
State of Minnesota for Hennepin County”.
Nielsen asked Council if it wants to include a sunset clause in the ordinance or just wait until the
shutdown is over to repeal the ordinance.
Acting Mayor Zerby stated the LMC’s model ordinance also deals with plumbing. He asked why the City
wouldn’t just use the model ordinance. Director Nielsen explained the City already deals with plumbing
inspections with the exception of very large jobs that require state plan review. Nielsen stated if a need to
back fill State provided plumbing inspection services arises then Staff will prepare an ordinance for that,
noting he doesn’t anticipate there will be that type of need.
Woodruff moved, Siakel seconded, Approving ORDINANCE NO. 477, “An Ordinance Amending
Title 1000 of the Shorewood City Code Concerning Electrical Regulations” subject to it being
amended to include a clause stating that once the State of Minnesota resumes providing such
services the Ordinance is no longer in effect, and Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 11-040, “A
Resolution Approving Publication of Ordinance No. 477 by Title and Summary.” Motion passed
4/0.
11. OLD BUSINESS
A. Christmas Lake Aquatic Invasive Species Pilot Project
Administrator Heck explained that during its June 27, 2011 meeting, Council passed a motion expressing
support for the proposed pilot project to prevent the infestation of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in
Christmas Lake, Lotus Lake and Lake Minnewashta and the installation of a control access gate at the
Christmas Lake boat launch, and authorizing the expenditure of funds up to $1,000 for providing
electrical service to the gate, purchasing and installing directional signs, and striping the parking lot.
Heck then explained that since that meeting Attorney Keane, Mayor Lizée and he have decided that it
would be prudent to prepare a resolution for Council consideration that will memorialize that motion,
noting a copy of the draft resolution is included in the meeting packet. He noted there are some
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differences between what Council discussed on June 27 and what’s included in the resolution. The
differences came about because of discussions with Keane. He explained that Keane had again expressed
concern about the City’s lack of authority to allow the installation of control access gate at the Christmas
Lake boat launch without first getting approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and obtaining an amendment to the 1986 agreement between City, the DNR, and the Christmas
Lake Homeowners Association (HOA). He noted that Keane expressed that same concern during the June
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27 meeting.
Heck stated Keane and he understand it’s in the City’s best interest for Council to work toward obtaining
approval from the DNR and to work with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the
Christmas Lake HOA to get it to move forward. Unfortunately, the shutdown of the State government
prohibits doing that at this time. Therefore, they have instead proposed the City more strictly enforce the
hours of operation at the launch site by installing a gate that can be locked at the entrance of the parking
area. The gate would be locked from 10:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. the next morning. The details of who
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July 11, 2011
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would lock and unlock the gate have yet to be worked out. The resolution authorizes the Christmas Lake
HOA to implement an onsite AIS inspection program at the launch site during the hours of operation.
Heck stated the proposed pilot project had included having a centralized AIS inspection location at Lake
Minnewashta Regional Park which would be staffed by DNR trained inspectors. He is unsure if Carver
County has approved that. He then stated he did not think the City of Chanhassen has approved the
installation of a control access gate at the Lotus Lake boat launch. The plan had been for the various lake
associations to pool their inspection funding. If either of those two things don’t come to fruition that
could potentially impact the pilot project as a whole. For example, there may not be enough resources to
have inspections at Christmas Lake.
Heck outlined what the resolution states the City would be responsible for doing if the resolution is
adopted. The City will purchase and install directional signage and stripe the parking area. The City will
implement some type of restricted access to the parking area. The City will allow the Christmas Lake
HOA to utilize DNR trained AIS inspectors to conduct inspections and prohibit watercraft with AIS, in
particular zebra mussels, on them from entering Christmas Lake. If an agreement is reached between the
City, the DNR, the MCWD and the Christmas Lake HOA to allow restricted access at the Christmas Lake
boat launch the City will move forward with the HOA on implementing that.
Attorney Keane explained that the 1986 three-party agreement is very explicit about what the rights,
duties and responsibilities of the City, the DNR, and the Christmas Lake HOA are. The unilateral
installation of a control access gate at the boat launch would violate the terms of that agreement. The
proposed interim measures, in particular the invocation of an emergency clause within the agreement, in
light of the heavy spread of zebra mussels in Lake Minnetonka allows for implementing the measures.
The City has informed the DNR that it wants to amend the agreement as soon as possible.
Councilmember Woodruff stated the resolution states the City will purchase and install a control access
gate for the entrance to the parking area to restrict access between 10:00 P.M. and 4:00 A.M. He asked
what the estimated cost is to do that. He then asked what the logic is for installing a second gate.
Administrator Heck responded Attorney Keane, Mayor Lizée and he think that if the City can’t authorize
the installation of a control gate at the boat launch itself then the next best thing is to control the hours of
use of the boat launch and parking site. Heck stated the gate at the entrance to the parking area could be a
swing gate with a chain and padlock to secure it closed. Heck then stated he thought a lockable gate
would cost less than $2,000.
Woodruff then stated it’s his understanding that the DNR requires public waters to be accessible between
4:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. Attorney Keane clarified that is what the three-party agreement stipulates.
Woodruff asked if the second gate would be installed independent of whether or not permission is
obtained from the DNR to install the electronic control access gate at the boat launch. Acting Mayor
Zerby stated he did not think of the parking lot gate as a second gate; he viewed it as being an interim
measure.
Woodruff commented that from his perspective there are operational issues that must be resolved. He
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stated during its June 27 meeting Council authorized the expenditure of up to $1,000 for providing
electrical service to the gate at the boat launch, purchasing and installing directional signs, and striping
the parking lot. He asked if that $1,000 could be used for the purchase and installation of the gate at the
entrance to the parking area and then Council can approve funding for providing electrical service to the
gate, purchasing and installing directional signs, and striping the parking lot at a future date.
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July 11, 2011
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Director Brown explained the gate for the parking lot entrance needs to have electronic open and lock
capabilities, and he thought the cost for that would be $1,500 – $2,000. He noted the automated car wash
industry has mastered control access with the use of access codes and emergency override capabilities. He
explained there are solutions available that allow public safety personnel 24-hour access to areas. Acting
Mayor Zerby noted the City has time controlled access to the restroom facilities at Manor Park and there
are override capabilities there.
Councilmember Siakel asked if the electronic controls for the entrance gate could be reused on the control
access gate at the boat launch if that is eventually approved. Director Brown responded they could be
reused.
Councilmember Woodruff stated a control access gate for the boat launch would have to provide access
code capabilities. Director Brown stated the electronic controls for the gate at the parking area entrance
would have to have access code and open/lock capabilities.
Zerby moved, Siakel seconded, Adopting RESOLUTION NO. 11-041, “A Resolution Supporting
the Pilot Project at Christmas Lake to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species” and
authorizing an expenditure not to exceed $2,000 for the purchase and installation of a gate with
electronic control access code and open/lock capabilities at the entrance to the parking area. Motion
passed 4/0.
12. STAFF AND COUNCIL REPORTS
A. Administrator and Staff
Administrator Heck encouraged people with a sporting dog to educate themselves on the disease glastro
micosis. He noted his dog just passed away from that.
Director Brown expressed thanks on behalf of the Public Works Department to Council for authorizing
the purchase of a One Wheel Loader. He stated that 15 minutes after the City took delivery of the Loader
it was in use. It was heavily used the day before to remove downed trees that blocked roadways out on the
Islands. He noted a preconstruction meeting was held for the Smithtown Way storm sewer improvement
project. Another preconstruction meeting will be held this week for the Murray Hill Road storm sewer
improvement project.
Engineer Landini stated the mill and overlay of Vine Hill Road has been completed. He then stated Flint
Resources will not make its otta seal oil product until it receives an order of at least 40,000
Hills
gallons. An order of that size may be in jeopardy because of the State government shutdown.
Director Nielsen stated he and representatives from
Metro Bowhunters Resources Base (MBRB)
recently toured the sites where it harvested deer in the City in 2010 as well as other potential sites. Some
of the sites harvested in the past will not be harvested in 2011 if another harvest is conducted.
Consideration is being given to add an alternate weekend (a fifth weekend) to the harvest schedule rather
than increasing the number of sites harvested.
Acting Mayor Zerby asked Staff what progress has been made on
the Carver County Open Fiber
Initiative (CCOFI). He also asked if the Minnetonka School District has gotten back to Staff about the
possibility of the City using the District’s fiber optic network to connect into Carver County’s fiber ring.
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July 11, 2011
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Administrator Heck responded he has not heard from the District or Carver County recently. Heck stated
he would follow up on both items.
B. Mayor and City Council
Acting Mayor Zerby noted the Excelsior Firefighters Relief Association’s fund raising dance will be on
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July 15 from 5:00 P.M. to midnight.
13. ADJOURN
Siakel moved, Woodruff seconded, Adjourning the City Council Regular Meeting of July 11, 2011,
at 7:44 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder
ATTEST:
City Administrator/Clerk