Ramsey Resident - 1987 - December

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MEETING CALENDAR January 1988 Jan. 5 Tuesday Planning and Zoning Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6 Wednesday Economic Development Company City Hall 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 Thursday Fire Committee City Hall 7:00 p.m. Jan. 7 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Tuesday City Council City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 Wednesday Economic Development Commission City Hall 7:30 a.m. Jan. 13 Wednesday Airport Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 Thursday Park and Recreation Commission City Hall 7:00 p.m. Jan. 21 Thursday Fire Safety Committee City Hall 7:00 p.m. Jan. 21 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 Tuesday City Council City Hall 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 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. ~ity offices will close ~n Dec. 24th at 1 :00, all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. City Hall will also close January 18 In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CITY HALL (Continued) Council met on November 17 and approved an ex- penditure of $550.00 for the purchase of a TV/VCR unit for displaying the Ramsey video. Council discussed the proposed 1988 budget at length. Dur- ing the discussion, they approved wage increases for all full and part-time individuals not represented by organized labor. Council authorized advertising f~>r . the following full~time positions: recep- tionist/secretary, accounting clerk and maintenance worker. Council approved an expenditure of $85,000 for the construction of a multi-use recreational facility at Central Park. Council also approved development ~f a civil defe.nse warning system in Ramsey utiliz- Ing the Landfill Fund as a borrowing source for the revenue needed to do so, with a payback schedul- ed over a multi-year program. Council met on November 23 and City Ad- ministrator Hartley gave a report on the petition that was submitted requesting a referendum vote on the airport safety zoning ordinance. Council adopted a resolution defining the insufficiencies of the petition; Mr. Hartley is to forward his report to the petition cir- culators and they will have 30 days to correct the insufficiencies and resubmit the petition. Council met on November 23 and City Ad- ministrator Hartley gave a report on the petition that was submitted requesting a referendum vote on the airport safety zoning ordinance. Council adopted a resolution defining the insufficiencies of the petition; Mr. Hartley is to forward his report to the petition cir- culators and they will have 30 days to correct the insufficiencies and resubmit the petition. Council met on November 24 and authorized enter- ing the Keep America Beautiful System with the en- try fee to be divided equally between the City and the Ramsey Jaycees. Council revised their past ac- tion to purchase, rather than lease, a temporary war- ming house for use at Central Park as the unit may either be resold when it's function at Central Park is complete or serve some other purpose elsewhere in the park system. Council introduced ordinance amendments regarding the keeping of wild animals and regulations for grading, mining and excavatin~. Council approved a landscape revision at River s Bend Plaza. Staff was ordered to continue negotia- tions until December 8 for sewer and water im- provements south of Hwy. #10 to be aligned in the future MSA road; if that effort fails, staff is to pro- ceed to amend the project utilizing the Hwy. #10 right-of-way as the alignment. The minimum escrow amount was required for the sewer and water pro- ject in Oakridge Industrial Park. Council establish- ed a policy for processing complaints. Mr. Hartley referred to the issue of truck traffic and railroad crossings and stated that Burlington Northern has indicated to North Fork that a private crossing at Dayton Port will be established; the hearing to establish Dayton Port as a public crossing was postponed until January because certain attorneys could not be present on December 8. Council ap- proved the hiring of economic development intern Yvonne Curran for a period of 6 months to assist in completing star city tasks. Council discussed the Uniform Building Code requirement for automatic sprinkler systems for businesses being built or remodelled; staff was directed to research whether the State has provisions for alternatives or waivers to that requirement. Council declared November to be Epilepsy Month. Council met on December 8 and gave concept ap- proval to sketch plans for Rambosek Red Oak Estates and Voltin's Oak Hill Estates provided future subdivision and coordination wilth adjacent proper- ty is taken into consideration. Council adopted or- dinances establishing regulations for the keeping of wild animals; establishing performance standards for grading, mining and excavating operations; and in- creasing the landfill tipping fee from $.15 to $.25 per cubic yard. Council approved a preliminary develop- ment agreement with Chateau Construction and Summit American Development company to use tax increment revenue to extend trunk sewer and water to property in the vicinity of County Rd. #116, near Ramsey Terrace, and the 37.5 acres to the north. Council adopted a policy prohibiting the hiring of relatives of appointed officers, full or part-time employees of the City. Mr. Hartley reported that North Fork has been able to acquire insurance for a private railroad crossing at Dayton Port; represen- tatives of North Fork have been informed that the City will continue to pursue Dayton Port as a public crossing. The Council chose to make no comment to Metro Council regarding Waste Management of Minnesota, Inc.'s request for an extension of their Certificate of Need due to expire in June, 1988. Council approved the purchase of a snowblower for use in grooming rinks at Central park. Council discussed concern for recent comments from the public regarding the City Council considering disban- ding or reducing the Ramsey Police Department to two. Council noted that their only action was to re- quest some preliminary cost estimates for contrac- ting with Anoka County for police protection; noted that funds have been budgeted in 1988 for an 8-member police department in Ramsey. COMMISSION MEETING NEWS The Planning and Zoning Commission met on November 9 and reviewed the proposed amend- ment to the City Code regarding regulations for keep- ing vicious dogs; the case was tabled until the December meeting to allow more time for review. The Commission recommended that Council ap- prove the development permit for Bill Dubats' pro- posed self-storage facility in the vicinity of 138th Avenue and Feldspar. The Commission recom- mended that Dick Carson proceed to preliminary plat and public hearing for his proposed development of an office building and 2 multiple residential struc- tures in Flintwood II. The Commission reviewed and made some revisions to the proposed amendments regulating the keeping of horses; further review and action was tabled until the December meeting. The Commission reviewed and revised the proposed or- dinance establishing performance standards for min- ing, grading and excavating; recommended Coun- cil adoption of the ordinance. The Planning and Zoning Commission met on December 1 and conducted a public hearing regar- ding Mr. Dick Carson's request for preliminary plat approval of Flintwood Hills 5th Addition. The plat in- volves subdivision of Outlots M and N of Flintwood Hills 2nd Addition into 3 lots to be developed with a small office building, a 4 unit and a 6 unit residen- tial structure. City staff was instructed to provide the Commission with a chronological history of all writ- ten decumentation relating to the approval of the Flintwood 2nd Addition planned unit development. The Commission reviewed Commercial Asphalt Company's request for a conditional use permit to establish a bituminous asphalt plant on the southeast 20 acres of the old Prestressed Concrete property; the Commission recommended Council approval of the findings of fact; a recommendation for Council approval or denial of the request was tabled. The Commission recommended sketch plan approval of Voltin's Oak Hill Estates 2nd Addition and Rambosek's Red Oak Estates located south of Menkveld's Country Park. The Commission review- ed proposed amendments to ordinances regarding vicious dogs and the keeping of horses; the issues were tabled for further review and discussion. The Board of Adjustment met on December 1 and approved Mr. Dubat's request for a variance to con- struct a self-service storage facility at 6802 138th Avenue N.W., approximately 5 feet from the southern property line in order to maintain a uniform spacing with the existing storage facilities to the south. The Economic Development Commission met on November 12 and directed the Frontage Road Sub- committee to offer their assistance to city staff in resolving problems encountered in obtaining easements for sewer and water improvements south of Hwy. #10. The Commission discussed some in- accuracies that have become evident in the Ramsey video and directed that a special EDC meeting be scheduled with the producer of the video; at that time the Commission will determine if the seriousness of the errors justify the cost of correction, taking into consideration that the tape will require updating in another year. Commissioner Fults and the Publicity Subcommittee were directed to research and for- mulate a recommendation for a response to the Nor- thern Mayors Association call for possible sites that could be developed with a Twin Cities metro resort. The Economic Development Commission met on November 24 to meet with the producer of the Ramsey video and requested certain changes to the video. The Commission recommended that City Council hire Yvonne Curran as a temporary position to assist in completion of certain star city tasks. The Commission recommended that City Council res- pond to the Northern Mayors Association request for possible sites for a metro area resort by noting the desirability of parcels along the Mississippi River for such a facility. The Economic Development Commission met on December 9 and reviewed concerns with the draft of the Hwy. #10 Corridor Study. The Commission passed a motion to indicate to City Council that the draft of the Hwy. #10 Corridor Study did not specifically address how important the airport is to commercial/industrial development in. Ramsey but the Economic Development Commission endorses the airport project and implementation of airport safety zoning. The Airport Commission met on November 12 and conducted a public informational meeting regar- ding the environmental impact assessment in pro- gress regarding proposed improvements to Gateway North I ndustrial Airport. Consulting engineer, Merland Otto and Jack Bagley and Tom Donohue of Federal/State Relocation Service were present to discuss work that has been done so far on certain aspects of the assessment report and the relocation plan. The next public informational meeting on the environemtnal assessment report was tentatively scheduled for the Commission's regular meeting on January 13, 1988. The Airport Commission met on December 9 and noted the resignations of Dick Sieber and Don Stauf- fer due to constraints placed on their time by their jobs. The Commission requested Council approval to advertise to fill the two vacancies. The Park Commission met on November 12 and the consensus was that the best policy would be to have non-profit organizations operate the conces- sion stand at Central Park with scheduling of it coor- dinated at City Hall. Mr. Otto reported the progress of improvements at Central Park for lighted hockey rinks and a rented temporary warming house. The Commission requested that Mr. Otto again approach Council with a recommendation to purchase rather than lease a warming house as the unit could be us- ed elsewhere in the city when it's function at Cen- tral Park is complete. The Commission recommend- ed that Council approve a wage increase for skating rink managers and supervisors. The Commission re- quested that City Council reconsider their decision not to fund a key communicator program in Ramsey. The Landfill Commission met on November 5 and discussed the County mandate for waste reduction and using the ramsey Resident to educate residents and businesses of wastes that can be recycled and where they can be deposited. Plans were set to gain information from MPCA regarding arranging a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Ramsey. RAMSEY SENIOR CITIZENS Thirty-nine members and guests gathered in the Senior Citizens room at the Ramsey City Hall on Wednesday, December 2nd for a delightful Christmas party. The tables were beautifully decorated and it was obvious that the Christmas Par- ty Committee had really put forth a great effort to pro- vide a party atmosphere. The pot luck luncheon was positively scrumptious. Ramsey businessmen, Leo LeTourneau and Bob Muller, provided an abun- dance of door prizes which were drawn for by Mayor Gary Reimann. Thanks to all who made the Christmas Party such a great success! Mr. Milt Anderson was also present at the Senior's December meeting to finalize the plans for the Christmas bus tour. The tour will take in many Twin City areas where holiday decorations are on display. The tour is scheduled for Sunday, December 13 and the bus will pick up seniors at the Ramsey City Hall at 4:00 p.m. and at St. Stephen's parking lot in Anoka at 4:15 p.m. The excursion includes stopp- ing for dinner after the tour. The next meeting of the Ramsey Seniors will be Wednesday, January 6,1988 at 12:00 noon in the lower level meeting room at Ramsey City Hall. Please come and join us for a few hours of fellowship, fun and food. If you are interested in joining the Ramsey Seniors or would like more information, please call Dorothy Scroggins at 421-4414. UfJIJidaq C~1l