DEEPHAVEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

Monday, November 1, 2004

7:00 p.m.

 

 

1.                  CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

PRESENT:  Mayor Tom Anderson, Councilmembers Nancy Middleton, Kim Crockett, Jon Monson and Paul Skrede.

STAFF:  Zoning Coordinator Gus Karpas, Police Chief Virgil Gustafson and City Administrator Dana Young

 

2.                  APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Councilmember Skrede moved to approve the following consent agenda items:

A.     Minutes of October 18, 2004

B.     Verifieds

C.     Appointment of Kent Carlson to Planning Commission

Councilmember Monson seconded.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

3.                  MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR

There were no matters from the floor.

 

4.                  PUBLIC HEARING

A.     Second reading of Ordinance No. 13-33, Amending Chapter 13 by establishing a definition of lot area.

Mayor Anderson convened the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. for the second reading of Ordinance No. 13-33.  Councilmember Monson expressed his concern that the proposed definition of lot area did not provide adequate clarification for those properties that abut unmeandered shorelines.  Zoning Coordinator Karpas explained that the proposed ordinance does provide a better definition of lot area for construction purposes and clarifies the amount of wetland that can be included within a buildable lot area and in determining the amount of hardcover coverage.

 

The Council adopted Ordinance No. 13-33, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13 by establishing a definition of lot area was adopted on a motion by Councilmember Middleton, seconded by Councilmember Crockett.  Councilmember Monson opposed.  Motion carried 4-1.

 

5.                  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A.      Discuss Policy on the use of Pervious Pavers

Jim Hafner, a staff member with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, was present to provide a presentation to the City Council on pervious pavers.  The main points of his presentation on pervious pavers were as follows:

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¨       Soils must be conducive to infiltration

¨       Proper installation of pavers is critical

¨       Paver stone itself is not pervious, the open areas surrounding the pavers are pervious

¨       There is no infiltration when the ground is frozen

¨       Regular maintenance of the pavers is a must

¨       Pavers will improve overall stormwater treatment if installed properly and maintained

 

Councilmember Crockett asked if there are any incentives for the homeowner to install the pavers properly.  Jim Hafner stated that proper installation improves frost movement, helps to keep the pavers flat and can add to the aesthetics of a home.

 

Councilmember Monson stated that the installation of pavers should be part of the building construction process with pavers and the subgrade properly reviewed and inspected just like any other component of the construction process.  Jim Hafner agreed that there should be standards in place to properly inspect the installation of pavers such as soil testing.

 

Councilmember Skrede asked if there has been any determination on the appropriate  percentage reduction from hardcover calculations due to the use of pervious pavers?  Jim Hafner stated that he is unaware if such a calculation has been determined.  He stated that these pavers have been used more in conjunction with erosion and stormwater control.  Councilmember Skrede stated that he was lead to believe by reading material provided by the Watershed District that pervious pavers were completely pervious and was surprised to learn that they were not.

 

Mayor Anderson stated that one of his neighbors has used pervious pavers in his driveway and it appears to have substantially improved the ponding of water at the end of his driveway.  He added that these pavers appear to be very useful for stormwater management but it might be hard to calculate its impact on hardcover requirements.  He stated that it would be a challenge to convince property owners to use this product since it is more expensive than other alternatives.

 

Jim Hafner stated that pervious pavers have to be viewed as a tool, a best management practice that is most applicable in areas attempting to address higher density issues.

 

Councilmember Middleton stated that the Council is attempting to try to determine how much to credit those individuals who are using pervious pavers either within or outside the Shoreland District when calculating hardcover.  Jim Hafner stated that there is no one answer since the effectiveness of these pavers depend on a number of factors such as the presence of a high water table or clay subgrade.

 

Councilmember Skrede stated that the City Council had granted a couple of variances based on the pavers being completely pervious, which does not appear to be the case at all.  He

 

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stated that the Council should not have given 100% relief on hardcover to those property owners using pervious pavers.  He added that the literature he had been given on the pavers was misleading to the point that he had wanted to use pavers at the Main Beach to replace the existing asphalt path.

 

Councilmember Monson stated that these pavers could still be useful as part of an overall stormwater mitigation plan prepared by an engineer.  He stated that the purpose of our current ordinance on the amount of permitted hardcover is to control the amount of stormwater running into a neighboring property or into the lake.  He stated that is the reason he prefers the Planning Commission’s recommendation to establish several levels of hardcover percentages depending on the level of stormwater controls.

 

Mayor Anderson stated that he would prefer to restrict the use of pervious pavers to driveways and walkways as a substitute for less pervious material rather than as a devise to expand the use of hardcover.  He added that he would like the City to take a leadership position in order to address stormwater runoff.  He recommended that City Staff should come back to the City Council with ideas on incentives to induce residents to use pervious pavers.  He added that it would be quite an accomplishment to provide residents with an understanding of pervious pavers and their value in order to move the community to become more ecologically minded.

 

B.      Review 2005 Utility Fund Budgets

City Administrator Young provided a review of the 2005 Water Fund Budget, the 2005 Sewer Fund Budget and the 2005 Storm Water Fund Budget.  The Council requested additional information on need for the rate increase that is proposed in the 2005 Storm Water Fund Budget to be provided at the November 15th Council meeting.  The Council approved the 2005 Water Fund Budget and the 2005 Sewer Fund Budget on a motion by Councilmember Crockett, seconded by Councilmember Skrede.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

C.      Approve Sewer Main Televising & Rodding Bids

The Council reviewed the following bids submitted by Infratech and Visu-Sewer on the televising and jet cleaning of 22,611 lineal feet of sewer mains:

 

                                                                  Cleaning           Televising         Total Cost

                  Infratech                                   $0.86/LF           $0.56/LF           $32,107.62

                  Visu-Sewer                               $0.72/LF           $0.44/LF           $26,228.76

 

City Administrator Young stated that the City Engineer has recommended the bid submitted by Infratech despite the lower cost per lineal foot submitted by Visu-Sewer.  Administrator Young explained that Visu-Sewer has also included an additional disposal fee of $525.00 per trip and a separate hourly fee for cleaning and televising off of the city right of way that are likely to increase their total cost above the cost estimated for Infratech.

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The Council approved the bid submitted by Infratech for cleaning and televising 22,611 lineal feet of sewer main, subject to approval by the Public Works Committee, on a motion by Councilmember Middleton, seconded by Councilmember Skrede.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

D.      Discuss Special Meeting on November 3rd or 4th to Canvass Election Results

The Council agreed to hold a Special Council meeting on Wednesday, November 3rd at noon to canvass the results of the November 2nd General Election.

 

6.                  REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES & DEPARTMENTS

A.     Public Safety – Police Chief Gustafson stated that approximately 85 children had

participated in the Halloween program held at the Deephaven police station.  Mayor Anderson reviewed a letter from the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training that stated there was no basis to support South Lake Minnetonka Police Chief Bryan Litsey’s allegation that the Deephaven Police Department used unauthorized personnel during the administration of the Dockmaster and Park Patrol programs in Excelsior last summer.  Councilmember Skrede stated that Chief Litsey’s lack of cooperation on this program and other issues should be duly noted in his personnel file.

 

Mayor Anderson provided an update on the results of his meeting with the Excelsior Fire

District Board on October 27th to discuss recruitment efforts and the lack of a second

vehicle at the East Side Station.  He stated that he was informed that there are currently 13 firefighters scheduled at the East Side Station and that the purchase of a second vehicle for the East Side Station was currently under consideration by the Fire Officers. Councilmember Paul Skrede stated that he was displeased with the lack of respect accorded to Mayor Anderson at the Fire Board meeting.  He added that while the East Side Station has only one vehicle, it was reported at the same meeting that the Mayor attended that the Navarre Fire Station, which is similar in size and design to the East Side Station, would be receiving a second vehicle from the City of Long Lake and a third vehicle from the City of Orono.

 

B.      Public Works – City Administrator Young provided a brief update on the Report of

Activities for the Public Works for the month of October, 2004.

 

C.      Administration – Administrator Young stated that the City of Deephaven’s 2004 tax capacity rate is the 32nd lowest in Minnesota; the 2005-2014 Capital Improvement Plan and Five-Year Budget projections will be presented for Council review on November 15th; performance evaluations will be given to all department heads in November; the upgrade of the computer system and server has substantially been completed; provided an update on building permit fee revenues; provided an update on the contract with Excelsior for Dockmaster and Park Patrol services; provided notice of upcoming meetings presented by the Excelsior Fire Relief Association; and a report stating that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will no longer require the City to further investigate the pocket of petroleum that had been uncovered and removed during the installation of water main for the East Side Fire Station.

 

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7.                  ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Middleton, seconded by Mayor Anderson.  Motion carried 5-0.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dana H. Young

City Administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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