SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MAY 2, 2023

SUNFISH LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAY 2, 2023

FIRST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH – 5495 S ROBERT TRAIL

7:00 P.M.

 

Attendants:

Mayor:                               Dan O’Leary

Councilmembers:              Steven Bulach, Shari Hansen, Mike Hovey, and Shannon Nelson

City Attorney:                    Timothy Kuntz

City Forester:                     Jim Nayes

Police Chief:                       Brian Sturgeon

City Engineer:                    Jeff Sandberg

City Planner:                      Lori Johnson

City Clerk:                          Christy Wilcox

City Treasurer:                  Ann Lanoue

 

  1. Call to Order
  2. Approve Agenda

                Mayor O’Leary asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda and there were none.       

                Councilmember Hovey moved to adopt the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (5-0).

  1. Consent Agenda

                Moved by Councilmember Hovey, seconded by Councilmember Hansen to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried (5-0).

  1. Approve Regular Minutes of April 4, 2023
  2. List of Bills
  3. Monthly Financial Statements
  4. Receive Building Inspection Report
  5. Receive City Forester Report
  6. Receive Public Safety Report

 

  1. Comments from the Public

                - John Draxton, 85 Salem Church Road, asked if the City Council would consider changing the zip code for Sunfish Lake.  He recently received the renewal of his insurance. Because his zip code of 55118 has a higher crime rate, and insurance companies take this into account when determining premiums, his rates went up.  After discussion of this issue, Mayor O’Leary said he would write a letter to the Postmaster General to see what options are available to the City of Sunfish Lake.  Councilmember Hovey offered the suggestion to ask the insurance company to look at a nine digit number rather than the five digit zip code.

  1. Public Hearing/Presentations

                There were no public hearings or presentations.

  1. Planner’s Report: There was no Planning Commission meeting in April, but there will be a meeting on May 18, 2023.

         March Planning Updates:

  • The City Planner indicated that she has received a lot of calls over the past month with questions on improvements or additions to residents’ homes.
  • 205 Salem Church Road: Staff has deemed the major site plan application complete, and this item will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on May 18, 2023, and by the City Council on June 6, 2023.
  • 11 Salem Lane: Staff has deemed the major site and building plan application complete, and this item will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on May 18, 2023, and by the City Council on June 6, 2023. This is the property that had the demolition permit.
  • 410 Salem Church Road: Butch Spenger of Destiny Homes has submitted an application for major site and building plan review for Tim and Kristel Barber at 410 Salem Church Road. The Barbers are planning a garage addition that exceeds 1,000 square feet, which requires the major review. Staff has deemed this application complete, and this item will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on May 18, 2023, and by the City Council on June 6, 2023.
  • 32 55th Street West: The Nayes have submitted plans for permit approval.
  • Ordinance Updates: Several chapters have been redlined and the Mayor and I will be meeting to discuss the proposed ordinance changes.
  • 2144 Charlton Road: An application has been received for a variance for a garage addition on this property. The current application is for a variance from the OHWL setback and a variance to the side yard building setback requirements. The applicant has not supplied all necessary information for staff review so the item is considered incomplete. The applicant also indicated there might be a change to the application to remove the variance request to the OHWL. The City Forester met with the applicant on site to discuss possible tree removal for the garage addition.
  • 114 Salem Church Road: Staff has been in contact with a builder who will be submitting a land use application for major site and building plan review for a new home on this property. The property is currently vacant. Plans have not been submitted, but pre-application questions have been answered.
  • 116 Salem Church Road: Staff has been in contact with the homeowner and surveyor regarding a building addition at this address. It is possible that a land use application could be submitted for the addition, depending on size and location of the addition.
  • 2099 Charlton Road: The City Forester met with a landscape architect who would like to do some strategic tree removal and replacement on this property. The City Forester explained the proposal for tree removal and depending on the number and location of the trees, the applicant might need to go through the minor site plan approval process. 
  • The City Planner and City Engineer met with West St. Paul staff to figure out how the transition process from Council approval to building permit for those projects requiring City Council approval will work. They are hoping to get access to the on-line permitting software that West St. Paul currently uses. 
  1. Engineer’s Report:
  • Engineering Activities Undertaken in the Month of April:   

A.  No Solicitation Signage – Staff has worked with Attorney Kuntz and Cheif Sturgeon to develop the mock-up street sign for City Council review. Mayor O’Leary did have some feedback to Jeff regarding the signs and those changes have been incorporated into the new version. The cost will be $59.92/sign.  The plan would be to purchase seven (7) signs and to install the signage at the locations shown on the map provided.  After discussion, it was determined to order more than the seven (7) signs to have more available should other streets warrant a sign.

Moved by Mayor O’Leary to approve the purchase of ten (10) signs and any posts that are necessary, seconded by Councilmember Nelson. Motion carried (5-0).

B.  Met Council Water Quality Report – As part of the Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP) that the City funds, the Met Council has released the water quality monitoring report through 2022. Horseshoe and Sunfish Lakes each received an “A” grade, and Hornbeam Lake received a “C” grade. The three lakes’ water quality has been maintained over the last several years.

Building and Site Reviews in the Month of April

  • 116 Salem Church Road – Staff provided information to the applicant regarding a potential application for improvements. It is anticipated this application will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
  • 2144 Charlton Road – Staff reviewed a submittal for a garage addition and associated improvements. The applicant is planning to resubmit to address staff comments.

 Public Works Activities Undertaken in the Month of April

  • 2023 Contract for City Snow Plowing Services – City staff requested quotes from a number of area contractors. The memo as submitted in the agenda shows the results and staff recommendations, which include awarding the contract to Executive Contractors, Inc. based upon their lump sum pricing. Added benefits to renewing a three-year contract with Executive Contractors include City-wide street sweeping at no additional cost, sump manhole cleaning at no additional cost and snow removal at intersections and on shoulders when needed.  These additional benefits amount to an approximate $5,000 savings annually.

Moved by Councilmember Hovey to accept the quote from Executive Contractors, Inc. and award a three-year contract based upon their lump sum pricing of $45,000 per year for three years through the 2026/2027 season.  Motion carried (5-0).

  • Road restrictions went into effect on SFL city streets on April 3rd and were lifted on April 24th. Staff has removed applicable signage.
  • Staff worked with the city contractor on snow removal and addressing areas of concern by residents, including emergency clearing of Angell Road of trees after a storm.

Anticipated Engineering/Public Works Activities for the Month of May

  • The City snowplow contractor has begun the street sweeping. The cost is part of the overall snowplowing contract. The catch basins are going to be cleaned this year and the City will be invoiced for this service, as it is not a part of the contact this year.

 

  1. New/Other Business
  2. Appointments to MSP Noise Oversight Committee

                                Moved by Councilmember Bulach to appoint Dan O’Leary as the Sunfish Lake Representative to the MSP Noise Oversight Committee – At Large Community Group, seconded by Councilmember Hovey.  Motion carried (5-0).

                                Moved by Mayor O’Leary to appoint Gretchen and Eric Funk as the Citizen Representatives to the MSP Noise Oversight Committee – At Large Community Group, seconded by Councilmember Nelson.  Motion carried (5-0).

  1. Discussion of Deer Population Management Program.

                The City Attorney discussed at length the deer population management program and the contract with Metro Bowhunters which ran from 2020-2022.  The City Attorney also discussed the Resident Volunteer Program which provides a limited and controlled way to allow deer hunting by a resident at the resident’s homesite. 

                This item will be brought back at the next regular meeting for additional discussion.  

Mayor O’Leary noted that he did receive an email that the audit will begin May 22, 2023.

 

  1. Adjournment

                Mayor O’Leary adjourned the meeting at 7:58 p.m.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_________________________________                     ___________________________________

Christy Wilcox, City Clerk                                Dan O’Leary, Mayor