DEEPHAVEN CITY COUNCIL

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005

MINUTES

PAGE 1

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

PRESENT:       Mayor Tom Anderson, Councilmembers Paul Skrede, Kim Crockett, Keith Kask and John Wheaton

 

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

 

2.        APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

 

Motion by Councilmember Crockett to approve the consent agenda which includes the

Minutes of July 7, 2005.  Councilmember Skrede seconded.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

3.           MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR

 

John Dupont, a member of the Deephaven Park Committee, was present to provide an update on recent Park Committee activities.  He stated that the recent focus of the Park Committee has been on organizing Deephaven Days, which will be held on August 13th and will include both a triathlon and picnic.  He stated that Darel and Cindy Gustafson have done a terrific job on the triathlon and noted that the rules and map for the triathlon are on the City’s web page.  He thanked both Councilmembers Skrede and Wheaton for their assistance on Deephaven Days.  He stated that the Committee is now concentrating on organizing the picnic portion of the event and are meeting every Tuesday morning at the Cottagewood Store.

 

Ed Oliver, 20230 Cottagewood Road, stated that he had several issues that he wanted to discuss with the City Council.  First, he stated that he had received a notice from Waste Management that they will begin the pickup of recyclables every other week and asked why the price has not dropped in half?  Second, he stated that there are cracks developing in the Village Hall tennis courts and stated that the courts should be better maintained.  And third, he stated that there should be a barrier placed along the path next to the tennis courts to prevent water from running over the courts. 

 

Mayor Anderson thanked Mr. Oliver for his comments and stated that the new Single Sort Recycling Program was shown to be hugely popular during a trail program run earlier this year and while the new program did not lower garbage rates, it did keep rates from increasing.  Administrator Young stated that the Park Committee shares Mr. Oliver’s concern regarding the condition of the City’s tennis courts and Tennis West has been asked to provide their recommendations on an annual maintenance schedule.

 

4.         PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

SUBDIVISION/VARIANCE – Sheryl Wilkie, 19440 Vine Street (R-2, 40,000).  A request to subdivide an existing lot into two buildable lots and a variance request of the minimum required lot width at the street.

 

Sheryl Wilkie stated that the reason for her request is due to the fact that her lot is so large that much of her land is wasted, and the subdivision of her land would reduce the amount of maintenance.

 

Mayor Anderson asked Councilmember Crockett to summarize the Planning Commission’s findings on this request.  Councilmember Crockett stated that the Planning Commission did not object to the proposed variance of the required minimum lot width at the street. 

 

Zoning Coordinator Gus Karpas added that the declaration of easement has been reviewed by the City Attorney and the Attorney has determined that the easement that is immediately west of the barn in Parcel B does not adversely affect the subdivision of the property and can be removed.  Further discussion was held on the easements on the southern border of Parcel B that are shared with the adjoining property owner.  Mayor Anderson asked if this southern easement wouldn’t conflict with the construction of a house on Parcel B?  Councilmember Crockett added that cleaning up the encumbrances on the property would certainly be an advantage to the property owner.  Zoning Coordinator Karpas stated that the southern easements encroach 15’ into Parcel B, which  would be comparable to the required sideyard setbacks.

 

Councilmember Kask noted that with the extra square footage in both lots, the lots could be designed to meet the minimum street frontage and that the City would be creating a parcel that contains a non-conforming structure.  Discussion was held on whether the barn would have to be converted into a residential use or if it could be used solely for storage.  Mayor Anderson stated that the Council would probably want to condition subdivision approval on prohibiting the use of the barn for any purpose other than as a residential use.  Councilmember Crockett asked if Sheryl Wilkie couldn’t continue to use the barn for storage?  Mayor Anderson stated that Ms. Wilkie could use it for storage until the property was sold.  He added that the City doesn’t want to encourage the use of residential property for storage.

 

Councilmember Kask moved to approve Sheryl Wilkie’s request for a two-lot subdivision and a variance from the minimum required lot width at the street at 19440 Vine Street according to the site plan submitted to the City Council.  The motion is conditioned that if either property is separately conveyed, the barn on Parcel B must be converted into a residential use and not used as an accessory structure for storage purposes in violation of city ordinances.  The motion is further conditioned that due to the proposed legal descriptions, the property must be platted, at such time the applicant may eliminate the easement running through Parcel B and a variance will be required for the reconstruction or alteration of the non-conforming structure on Parcel B.  The proposed driveway easement document must be completed and filed with the plat and the applicant must pay all fees related to the review of the plat and all applicable sewer and park dedication fees related to the subdivision of the property.  Seconded by Councilmember Crockett.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

 

5.         UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

A.        Approve Variance Extension, Arthur Johnsen (3655 Parkway)

 

Zoning Coordinator Gus Karpas stated that Arthur Johnsen received a variance at 3655 Parkway to exceed the maximum permitted impervious surface to construct a room addition on August 2, 2004. He stated that Mr. Johnsen is requesting a two-year extension of his variance request due to the rainy spring, his contractor’s back-log of building projects and the possible reduction in the proposed size of his addition, which would required the re-design of his plans.

 

Councilmembers Crockett and Wheaton voiced their concern about permitting a two-year extension due to the past practice of only allowing a one-year extension and each felt that Mr. Johnsen could return to the City Council next year if he needed an additional extension.

 

Councilmember Crockett moved to approve a one-year extension until August 2, 2006 for the variance request received by Arthur Johnsen on August 2, 2004.  Seconded by Councilmember Wheaton.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

B.                 Adopt Resolution No. 26-05, Authorizing a Public Hearing to Issue a Tax-Exempt Bond

 

Mayor Anderson stated that the City has received a request from Walker Methodist for the City

to issue a $6 or $7 million dollar tax exempt revenue bond to assist with their acquisition of a 77

-unit assisted living facility located in Minnetonka.  He stated that the proposal is very similar to the

proposal received last year from Governmental & Educational Assistance Corporation.  He stated

that the City would not be obligated in any way towards payment of the bond issue with the

exception that the bond would count against the City’s annual $10,000,00 debt limit.  He stated that

the proposal would also enable the City to obtain both upfront and annual fees for issuing the debt

on behalf of Walker Methodist.

 

Councilmember Crockett moved to adopt Resolution No. 26-05, A Resolution Authorizing a Public

Hearing to be held on August 15, 2005 to Issue a Tax Exempt Bond.  Seconded by Councilmember

Kask.  Motion carried 5-0. 

 

C.                 Review 2006 Budget

 

Discussion on the 2006 Budget was held earlier at the Special Council Work Session.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Skrede.  Seconded by Councilmember Wheaton.

Motion carried 5-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dana H. Young

City Administrator