City Council Minutes 09-14-1987MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, September 14, 1987 - 7:00 p.m.
Riverroad Plaza Development
Members Present: Arve Grimsmo, Fran Fair, Bill Fair, Warren Smith,
Dan Blonigen
Members Absent: None
1. Call to Order.
4. Consideration of Construction of Service Road at County Road 39 East
and County Road 75.
The Council meeting opened with an on-site inspection of the Riverroad
Plaza Development and discussion centered on the upcoming need to
construct a service road from the new County Road 39 location back to
MacArlund Plaza, the new apartment buildings, and the rear entry for
Riverroad Plaza. Representatives from the Wright County Highway
Department were present and indicated that the responsibility for a
service road lies with the City once the relocation of the County
Road 39 and County Road 75 intersection is constructed.
Public Works Director, John Simola, reviewed with those in attendance
the three possible alternatives for construction of a new frontage
road/service road that would serve the development. The frontage road
would primarily exist on the present County Road 39 road base and the
first alternative would be to construct the service road only as far
as the rear entrance of the Riverroad Plaza convenience store. This
would provide access to the development, but the owners and leasees of
the Riverroad Plaza have requested continued use of an entrance onto
County Road 75 which would necessitate the extension of the service
road along the north portion of County Road 75 to the middle of the
MacArlund Plaza Development. The initial cost estimate for a service
road that would just serve as the initial entrance to the back door of
the Riverroad Plaza was in the area of $7,000 to $10,000. Continuing
the service road around the south side of the Riverroad Plaza to the
middle of the MacArlund Plaza Subdivision would escalate the cost to
approximately $17,000 to $20,000. In order for trucks to be able to
make this entrance off of County Road 75, it would be necessary to
have a large radius at the new entrance which would require an
additional 30 feet of right-of-way acquisition from Curt and Anna Mae
Hoglund. The Hoglunds indicated that because the lots are currently
small, it may cause some problems if the lots are reduced in size to
allow for the frontage road. As a result, Curt and Anna Mae Hoglund
recommended that the service road continue along County Road 75 an
additional 300 feet to the west edge of their property near the entry
to the Maurice Hoglund property. It was their opinion that this type
of an entrance would be better suited for their property rather than
requiring additional right-of-way from their smaller lots. It was
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Page 2
noted that this would increase the cost another $8,000 to $10,000 and
would put the total frontage road/service road cost at approximately
$30,000.
Mr. Jim Maus, leasee of the Riverroad Plaza convenience store,
questioned whether the raised median along County Road 75 could be
shortened up to allow their existing driveway to be used for both left
and right turns. Mr. Dave Montebello, from the Wright County Highway
Department, indicated the design of the curb median was necessary to
allow for adequate storage of cars that will be making left turns and
did not feel the design could be shortened up. The idea of using a
painted median similar to what was used in downtown Monticello on
Highway 25 did not seem appropriate in the County's opinion because of
the speed limit being greater along County Road 75 than on
Highway 25. The raised channelization would provide greater safety
factors for cars making left turns and is easier to identify. After
further discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that a
decision on the type and length of service road would not be made at
this meeting but tabled until the next regularly scheduled Council
meeting on September 28, 1987.
The Council meeting reconvened at the City Hall at 7:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes.
Motion was made by Warren Smith, seconded by Fran Fair, and
unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held
August 24, 1987.
5. Discussion with Wright County Sheriff's Department on Possible
Solutions to Cruising Problem.
Wright County Sheriff, Darrell Wolff; Chief Deputy, Jim Powers; and
Lieutenant Don Hozempa were in attendance at the Council meeting to
review possible solutions to the cruising and loitering problem
existing in Monticello on weekends. After a brief opening statement
by Mayor Grimsmo regarding the problem, Sheriff Wolff noted that in
addition to the cruising, it appeared that more of a problem exists
from the groups gathering along Broadway. Sheriff Wolff suggested
that a committee possibly be set up to come up with ideas and
solutions to tackle the problem for the upcoming year, including
possible ordinances and regulations that would tackle the loitering
problem including curfew, etc. The Sheriff's Department
representatives felt that if the groups gathering along Broadway could
be lessened, the audience would be eliminated for the cruisers, which
might help control the situation. The department indicated that
additional coverage would be necessary in man hours to enforce the
regulations and suggested the City Council consider increasing its
hours of protection, especially on weekends.
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Page 3
After further discussion, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by
Fran Fair, and unanimously carried to authorize the City Administrator
to contract for additional coverage for Friday and Saturday evenings
for the balance of 1987, the additional coverage to be provided by a
foot patrol officer and authorized a task force to be set up
consisting of Sheriff Department, City Council, and/or citizen
participation to find solutions for the problem next year.
6. Consideration of Zoning Map Amendment - Boyle Property.
Recently the City staff initiated a proposed ordinance amendment that
would change the zoning on the Jim Boyle property lying south of I-94
and east of the Oakwood Industrial Park adjacent to the new middle
school property. The area was currently zoned partially light
industrial, with the majority heavy indusrial; and it was the staff's
opinion that the property should be down zoned somewhat to accommodate
uses adjacent to the new school.
A tentative rezoning of the area was proposed to the Planning
Commission who recommended the City Council adopt the rezoning as an
interim measure until the land owner subdivides the property in the
future. It was felt the proposed rezoning would not be necessarily
permanent in nature but would depend primarily on how the developer
planned on platting the property; and at that time the entire area
could be reviewed for possible additional amendments.
Property owner, Jim Boyle, requested the City Council not take any
official action at their meeting to enable himself to further research
all the possibilities that the new zoning may affect his property.
Mr. Boyle had been informed of the proposed rezoning hearing held by
the Planning Commission but had not been shown a map of the area and
the actual rezoning proposed. In addition, the City Consulting
Planner, Dahlgren, Shardlow & Uban, had not yet completed their review
of the proposed rezoning; and this information was received on
September 14, 1987.
As a result, motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen,
and unanimously carried to table final action on the proposed rezoning
of the Jim Boyle property until the next regularly scheduled Council
meeting to allow the property owner additional time to review the
zoning changes and provide comment.
7. Consideration of an Amendment to the Sign Ordinance Requiring Address
Signs on each Building in all Zoning Districts.
An ordinance amendment was proposed by the City staff that would
require all buildings in the City of Monticello, including
residential, commercial, and industrial, to display an address number
on their building. The main purpose of this ordinance amendment is
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Page 4
to better identify property addresses by their numbers in case of an
emergency response request and that the numbers are easily visible
from the public right-of-way or public street. The proposed
regulations would require the address numbers to be at least
3 1/2 inches in height and be a contrasting color to the color of the
building.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously
carried to approve adoption of the ordinance amendment requiring
address signs. See Ordinance Amendment No. 158.
8. Consideration of a Sketch Plan Proposal to be Known as Highland
Heights One. Applicant, Rivera Financial and Development Corporation.
Mr. George Rivera was present at the Council meeting to review a
proposed sketch plan of a development to be known as Highland Heights
One consisting of commercial and residential townhouse development on
a parcel of property located directly west of Sandberg South
development south of I-94 adjacent to Marvin Road. The initial
proposal would create a commercial area consisting of possible uses
such as office building, restaurant, and drive-in fast food
establishments and additional areas proposed for townhouse
development.
At this stage of the planned unit development, Mr. Rivera was looking
for concept approval for his continuation of his development; and such
items as park dedication, sewer and water and street construction
plans would have to be addressed later as he proceeds with his planned
unit development.
Motion was made by Fran Fair, seconded by Bill Fair, and unanimously
carried to approve the general concept of the sketch plan proposal to
be known as Highland Heights and directing Mr. Rivera to continue with
his planned unit development through the normal procedures.
9. Consideration of Approval of Liquor Store Sign Design and Landscaping
Design.
Council members were presented with a number of new sign designs that
had been obtained by the Liquor Store Manager from various sign
companies. Liquor Store Manager, Joe Hartman, noted that the City
staff had reviewed the sign proposals submitted and recommended that a
double posted pylon sign from Cragg Signs of Golden Valley be
purchased. The price for the new sign would be $8,983 and an
additional $1,020 would be needed for letters on the building fascia.
It was the Council consensus to authorize the Liquor Store Manager to
proceed with ordering the double faced pylon sign from Cragg Signs at
the quoted price of $8,983 and the additional edge trim letters for
the building fascia at an additional cost of $1,020 with the colors to
be determined by a color coordinator selected by the Liquor Store
Manager.
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Page 5
In regards to the landscaping proposed for the Liquor Store site,
Public Works Director, John Simola, noted that the City had requested
three design bid quotations for landscaping proposals at the Liquor
Store. Landscaping designs were submitted by Fair's Garden Center of
Monticello, Ak-Sar-Ben Landscape Contractors from Elk River, and
Steve's Nursery also of Elk River. The City staff had reviewed the
designs submitted and initially selected the proposal submitted by
Steve's Nursery of Elk River, which also happened to be the low bid
price at $10,060.35. Minor alterations were recommended to their
plan; and after further consideration, the question arose whether or
not the City should prepare its own design specifications for the
landscaping plan and ask all bidders to resubmit quotations based on
the same plan.
The Public Works Director noted that in order to prepare a basic
design with specifications on the type of shrubs, trees, and
landscaping that would be required and to receive the bids from all
interested parties might take two to three additional weeks, and
completion of the project may not be possible yet this fall. As a
result, it was the consensus of the Council to have the Public Works
staff prepare a basic design for a landscaping plan over the next few
months and present the bid specifications to all interested parties
during the winter for implementation next spring.
10. Consideration of Setting a Public Hearing Date to Modify the Finance
Plan for Tax Increment Redevelopment District #6.
Economic Development Director, 011ie Koropchak, informed the Council
that the Housing and Redevelopment Authority had approved
Modification #1 to the Finance Plan for the Tax Increment
Redevelopment District #6 which would modify the plan to allow for the
HRA and the City to recapture additional expenditures through tax
increment for this district. As part of the original financing plan,
the HRA had incurred additional cost of approximately $25,000 because
of soil correction needed on the Sixth Street extension, and an
additional $28,000 in soil correction surrounding the City easement
for the interceptor sewer project. It was recommended by the HRA that
the plan be modified to allow for the additional $53,000 in cost to be
recaptured.
Motion was made by Bill Fair, seconded by Dan Blonigen, and
unanimously carried to adopt the resolution setting a public hearing
for the purpose of modifying the Tax Increment Finance Plan for
Redevelopment District #6 on September 28, 1987.
See Resolution 87-26.
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Page 6
11. Consideration of City Attorney Appointment.
Due to the recent death of City Attorney, Gary Pringle, the Council
discussed the appointment of a new city attorney to fill out the
balance of the appointment for 1987. The partners remaining in the
law firm of Smith, Pringle, and Hayes, have indicated a willingness to
continue serving as city attorney and partner, Tom Hayes, had agreed
to continue as the official city attorney representative. Mr. Hayes
and partner Greg Smith have been familiar with some of the City's
legal affairs; and at this point, it was the Council's consensus to
continue with this firm as the City's legal representative and
officially appoint Mr. Tom Hayes as the city attorney for the balance
of 1987.
12. Discussion on Senior Citizen Center Position.
On a recommendation by legal counsel, motion was made by Bill Fair,
seconded by Fran Fair, an unanimously carried to table any discussion
on the Senior Citizen Center position until a special closed meeting
is held at 6:00 p.m., September 28, 1987.
Rick Wol steller
City Administrator