Ramsey Resident - 1988 - January

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..r-= MEETING CALENDAR February 1988 Feb. 2 Tuesday Planning and Zoning Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 Wednesday Economic Development Company City Hall 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4 Thursday Fire Safety Committee City Hall 7:00 p.m. Feb. 4 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Tuesday City Council City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 Wednesday Economic Development Commission City Hall 7:30 a.m. Feb. 10 Wednesday Airport Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 Thursday Park and Recreation Commission City Hall 7:00 p.m. Feb. 18 Thursday Fire Safety Committee City Hall 7:00 p.m. Feb. 18 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 Tuesday City Council City Hall 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 Thursday Board of Adjustment City Hall 7:30 p.m. Agendas for all Council, Commission and Committee meetings are available at City Hall two working days prior to the date of the meeting. City offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, 1988 in observance of President's Day. RAMSEY PLOWING AND PARKING POLICY It is the policy of the City of Ramsey to plow all city streets when the snow depth is two inches or more. Normal starting time is 2:00 a.m. or sooner if weather permits. It takes from six to ten hours to open all streets depending upon the snowfall amount, wind conditions and obstacles in the way such as cars and garbage cans. The City strongly requests that on pick-up days, garbage cans be plac- ed a couple of feet from roadway edge, either in the boulevard or at driveway end, so as not to hinder plowing procedures. The City is divided into five routes with each route being assigned at least one major thoroughfare which is opened almost immediately. The snowplow crew consists of 3 full time employees and 7 part time employees with seven pieces of equipment. These consist of three large trucks with plow, wing and sander, two graders with wings, one loader and one small four wheel drive truck with plow for plowing intersections and cul-de-sacs. COMMISSION MEETING NEWS The Planning and Zoning Commission met on January 5 and recommended that City Council ap- prove Commercial Asphalt Company's request for a conditional use permit to establish an asphalt bituminous plant in the 1-1 Industrial District. The Commission recommended Council preliminary plat approval of Flintwood Hills 5th addition which con- sists of the development of a 4 and a 6 unit apart- ment building and a 5,000 square foot office building on Outlots M and N of Flintwood Hills 2nd Addition Planned Unit Development. The Commission re- quested that staff prepare background information regarding past and present park fee dedication re- quirements in Ramsey. The Park Commission met on December 10 and recommended that City Council amend the Section 110.15 of the City Code to include All Terrain Vehicles in that section addressing use of Bicycles, Snowmobiles and Go-Carts in city parks; and con- sumption of non-alcoholic beverages in city parks must be by non-glass or metal containers; park hours will be from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. except for unusual or unforeseen circumstances. The Landfill Commission met on November 19 and Susan Ridgley from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave a presentation on how to con- duct a household hazardous waste day. The Com- mission passed a motion to pursue a hazardous waste collection day in Ramsey and directed Mr. Henry to research funding sources available for such an event. The Landfill Commission met on December 3 and reviewed a draft landfill abatement plan for waste reduction in Ramsey and the Keep America Beautiful program system. The Economic Development Commission met on January 13 and it was noted that the legislative com- mittee is preparing a comparative study of com mer- cial/industrial property taxes in Ramsey and surroun- ding communities in Anoka and Sherburne County. The revised version of the Ramsey video should be complete within a week. The Commission discuss- ed the compatibility of airports and landfills, the status of easement acquisition for the sewer and water project south of Hwy. #10, the progress on the star city business survey and the city's tax increment financing policy. The Commission recommended that City Council reappoint Darry Fults, Steve Gorecki, Don Greenberg and Glen Hardin to the Commission. Don Greenberg was appointed Chair- man and Ken Wagner Vice-Chairman for 1988. The Airport Commission met on January 13 and conducted the second public informational meeting on the environmental assessment study of propos- ed improvements to Gateway North Industrial Airport. SNOWBIRDS Basically, this means don't park your motor vehi- cle on any city street during a snowfall, or afterwards, until it is plowed. There are a thousand excuses for leaving your vehicle parked along the roadway and causing the plows to go around it. None of them are valid. We will tag and tow! Thank-you. OVERNIGHT PARKING No vehicles may be parked on city streets between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. year around. RIGHTS OF WAY Again this winter, as in most, we will experience the problem of our snow plows running into things in the Right of Way that don't belong there. These consist of fences, railroad ties, rocks and numerous other items many of you place on property that real- ly belongs to the public as a part of the street. For those of you who don't know, the public Right of Way does not stop at the edge of the roadway but, in most instances, 33 feet from the center of the street. What this then means is that the first twenty (20) feet or so from the edge of the road does not in fact belong to the home owner even though it is yours to main- tain. Further, the placement of any obstructions in this area whether it be fences or whatever is not on- ly in violation of City policy but could subject you as the home owner to a personal liability. In view of all this we would ask that you refrain from placing obstructions in the Right of Way and further ask that those of you that have items in the Right of Way make it a point to have them removed. NOTICE TO DRIVEWAY SNOW CLEANERS When you are plowing or snowblowing your driveways, as a matter of courtesy and to avoid possible invitation to visit the county court and relieve yourself of hard earned cash, please do not blow or otherwise deposit snow from your drive onto the street. If plowing, be sure that the blade carries the snow all the way across the street and off the road- way and if blowing be sure your discharge chute doesn't deposit the snow on the roadway or into the face of a passing motorist causing all kinds of bad things. As the homeowner you will also be liable for the actions of whoever does your plowing/blowing so let them know. (Minnesota Statute 160.27, Sub. 5) WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CITY HALL Council met on December 22 and directed that a letter of appreciation be forwarded to E.H. Ren- ner and Sons for their donation of a quality control device for the well pump at Central Park. Council approved staff's recommendation for benefits to be offered in lieu of cash payment for all the right-of- way and easements required to install sewer, water, streets and storm sewer south of Highway #10. Council set a public hearing for January 26 at 7:30 for sewer and water improvements for Front Street N.W. from Sunfish Lake Blvd. to Tungsten Street. Council adopted a 1988 Landfill Abatement Plan and Budget and directed that a request for funding be forwarded to Anoka County. Ms. Claudia Dodge of Community Education was present and informed Council that the Ramsey Lions have approved a one year grant of $5,108 to implement the Key Com- municator project in Ramsey for 1988. Ms. Dodge requested Council endorsem'ent of the Key Com- municator project and that a councilmember be ap- pointed to the Key Communicator Committee. It was noted that if the City had established the Key Com- municator Program through the Joint Powers Agree- ment with the School District, the cost to the city would have been $3,000. Council directed staff to research whether the city can impleme(lt the pro- gram through the joint powers agreement and ac- cept reimbursement for that cost from the Ramsey Lions, thereby saving that organization $2,000 for other community projects. Council member Cox was directed to serve on the Key Communicator Com- mittee for the balance of 1987 and that an appoint- ment to that Committee for 1988 will be addressed at the January 11 Council Organizational Meeting. Staff was directed to prepare a policy for Council review that would address maintenance of cemeteries in Ramsey and solicit civic organization interest in taking on the responsibility of cemetery maintenance. It was reported that through a series of errors, Outlot B of Countryside Estates, which was originally dedicated to the city as park, was replat- ted and developed; Council directed the City At- torney to prepare legal documents to commence vacating Outlot B. The following items were noted: Senator Greg Dahl has requested an audience with the Ramsey City Council on Tuesday, January 26 at 9:00 p.m. at Ramsey City Hall; to schedule a meeting with Anoka Hennepin School District #11 Superintendent Lewis Finch for Monday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss City Council concerns regar- ding spending and referendums; that Anoka Coun- ty has received applications for renewal of hazardous waste generators licenses from Altron, Anoka Regional Sanitary Landfill, Mike and Wayne's Auto Detail and Waltek; County Commissioner Haas- Steffen is proposing that the Anoka County Board cease work on the environmental impact statement for Sites P, D and Q until the liability question relating to the drilling of deep wells that will be necessary at these sites is resolved; to designate City Ad- ministrator Hartley as the Association of Municipalities' contact person in Ramsey for legislative issues; to negotiate with Burlington- Northern for a lifetime easement at no fee or a max- imum of $150, for easements for storm sewer im- provements in their right-of-way; to schedule a meeting on Monday, January 11 to review the Fire Safety Committee report. to direct the Park and Recreation Commission to meet with the Sno-Rams snowmobile club to review and make recommenda- tions for a snowmobile ordinance that will protect private property and maintained boulevards; to revoke the permit to move in an accessory structure to 17349 St. Francis Blvd. and direct that it be remov- ed from City limits. City Council met on January 11 and made the following appointments and designations for 1988: Official Newspaper - Anoka County Union (and the Elk River Star as an additional newspaper); Acting Mayor - Council member Cox; Personnel Committee - Mayor Reimann and Councilmember DeLuca; Budget Committee - Council members Cox and DeLuca; Road and Bridge Committee - Coun- cilmembers Sorteberg and Pearson; City Attorney - William Goodrich; City Engineer - Peter Raatikka; Health Officer - Dr. Ronald Jankowski; Association of Metropolitan Municipalities Primary Delegate and Legislative Contact - David Hartley (Alternate Delegate - Mayor Reimann); Joint Law Enforcement Council Delegate - Councilmember Cox; Key Com- municator - Councilmember Cox; Anoka Landfill Board (Methane Project) Delegate - David Hartley; Anoka County Solid Waste Abatement Task Force Delegate - Council member DeLuca. Members of the Fire Safety Committee were present to review their report on establishing a volunteer fire department in Ramsey. Council requested an addendum to that report to include additional information on the organizational and financing aspects of a volunteer fire department. That addendum should be provid- ed to Council by March of 1988 at which time Coun- cil plans to make a decision regarding the establish- ment of a volunteer fire department in Ramsey. City Council met on January 12 and approved Commercial Asphalt Company s request for a con- ditional use permit to establish a commercial asphalt bituminous plant on the southeast 20 acres of the old Prestressed Concrete property. Council adopted a resolution declaring the sufficiency of a petition for a referendum on the airport safety zoning ordinance and scheduled a special election for April 19, 1988. Council also declared that an advisory question will also be on the April 19 ballot regarding whether or not the City should establish a volunteer fire depart- ment. Council granted preliminary plat approval to Flintwood 5th Addition which consists of a 5,000 square foot office building, a 4-unit and a 6-unit apartment building to be developed north of Industry Avenue and east of Dysprosium Street N.W. Coun- cil adopted the 1988 budget. As a result of Anoka County's safety study of Cty. Rd. #56, City Council is requesting that the County install a crosswalk at 149th and Cty. Rd. #56 and complete a speed zone study following that installation. Council directed staff to prepare a policy regarding the use of city proper- ty by private and public groups. Council adopted a resolution supporting legislation proposed by Ham Lake to indemnify local units of government from any liability incurred as a result of enforcing land use regulations imposed by other governmental agen- cies. Council approved contributing funds to the Nor- thern Mayors' Association for the purpose of hiring a lobbyist to encourage legislature to fund transpor- tation projects in the northern metro area.