City Council Meetings and Work Sessions

Regular Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, October 7, 2024 106 Center Street, Excelsior, MN 55331 – Entrance located on Center Street 6:30 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Carlson called the regular October 7, 2024, meeting to order at 6:39 P.M. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Carlson and Councilmembers Caron, Dierking, Hersman, and Tyler. Also Present: City Manager Luger, Assistant City Manager/City Attorney Staunton, Public Works Director Amundsen, Planning Director Mullin, City Engineer Dawley, and City Clerk Bajda. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (a) August 19, 2024, City Council Work Session Minutes Caron moved, Tyler seconded to approve the August 19, 2024, City Council Work Session meeting minutes. Mayor Carlson abstained. Motion carried 4/0/1 abstention. (a) September 3, 2024, City Council Work Session Minutes (b) September 3, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes (c) September 16, 2024, City Council Work Session Minutes (d) September 16, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes Mayor Carlson requested that typos referencing August date be updated on September 16, 2024, minutes. Caron moved, Tyler seconded to approve the September 3, 2024, Council Work Session, September 3, 2024, Council Meeting, September 16, 2024, Work Session, and September 16, 2024, Council Meeting minutes with correction mentioned by Carlson. Motion carried 5/0. 4. OPEN FORUM This is the time for the public to speak on non-agenda items. Open Forum will be limited to one- half hour. No person may speak more than five (5) minutes or more than once. Each subject will  have a limit of ten (10) minutes. Council members may ask questions of the speaker. With the agreement of the Council, such matters taken up during the “Open Forum” may be scheduled on the current or a future Agenda. Members of the public interested in speaking on an agenda item may direct a request to be recognized to the Mayor. Bob Bolles, 229 George Street, addressed the Council regarding October 7, 2024, work session and expressed need for bank presence in town. 5. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS, QUESTIONS, and REPORTS (a) 339 Third Street Update Project manager for construction site (Mark) addressed the Council and provided project update, noting ramp opening anticipated for November 14, 2024. (b) Met Council Project Update Public Works Director Amundsen provided the council with an update on Met Council project and noted hydrant flushing will occur citywide Tuesday through Thursday. (c) Excelsior Fire District Board Meeting Update Dierking provided update on engine 11 delivery and summarized last board meeting. (d) Planning Commission Update Planning Director Mullin provided council with summary of recent Planning Commission meeting and noted one vacancy on the Commission. (e) Fall Cleanup on October 26 Mayor Carlson announced spring cleanup and reminded residents this is for yard waste only and should be placed on the curb by 8 A.M. 6. MEET EXCELSIOR (a) Tiffany King, Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce Update City Manager Luger stated Tiffany King is ill and will join for the October 21, 2024, meeting. 7. AGENDA APPROVAL (a) Meeting Agenda Dierking moved, Caron seconded, to approve October 7, 2024, agenda with change to order of public hearings to be 8a) 881 Third Avenue, 8b) 151 Bell Street, and 8c) 217 First Street.  Motion carried 5/0. (b) Consent Agenda Caron moved, Tyler seconded, to approve the October 7, 2024, consent agenda with change to pull item 7(b)4 Resolution 2024-33 Authorizing Participation in Exploring Transit Management Organization until City Attorney Staunton can provide clarification at the October 21, 2024, meeting as to whether council is able to exit any commitments made by this resolution at later date. Motion carried 5/0. 1. Review Verified Claims under $20,000 and Approve Verified Claims over $20,000 2. Approve 2024 Tobacco Licenses 3. August Financials 4. Resolution 2024-33 Authorizing Participation in Exploring the Formation of a Transit Management Organization Highway 7 5. Resolution 2024-36 Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for the 2024 Wastewater Treatment Building Structural Stabilization 6. Resolution 2024-37 Accepting Monetary Donation from Community for the Commons for Purchase of Spring Bulbs and Compost 7. Organics Recycling 8. Skidsteer Replacement 9. 2024 Goal Report – Third Quarter 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS (a) 881 Third Avenue Conditional Use Permit, Resolution 2024-35 Mayor Carlson opened public hearing. Planning Director Mullin summarized staff report and applicants desire to add two signs at United Methodist Church. No public comments. Mayor Calrson closed public hearing. Caron moved, Tyler seconded, to approve Resolution 2024-35 and issuance of conditional use permit for 881 Third Avenue. Motion carried 5/0. (b) 151 Bell Street Variance Application Mayor Carlson opened public hearing. Planning Director Mullin summarized staff report and applicants request for building coverage variance for 151 Bell Street to construct a new garage and front porch. Council Discussion. Adam Price, Applicant, addressed council and summarized project and request to council. City Engineer Morgan took questions from council and summarized stormwater management plan. Bob Bolles, 229 George Street, addressed council and shared experience with this type of request and flood event risk. Noted added liability to city. John Kelliher, 163 Bell Street, addressed council and expressed concern with development and risk to neighboring lots. Bruce Noll, 242 First Street, addressed council and expressed concern with technique proposed for stormwater management. Steve Thomas, 164 Bell Street, addressed council and expressed concern with lot being developed and stormwater management risks. Bob Bolles, 229 George Street, addressed council and discussed 100-year storm events. Mayor Carlson closed public hearing. Council discussion. Hersman moved, Caron Seconded, to deny variance request and direct staff to bring resolution to next meeting stating as such. Motion carried 5/0. (c) 217 First Street Variance Applications, Resolution 2024-34 Mayor Carlson opened public hearing. Tyler recused from voting as applicant of variance application. Planning Director Mullin summarized staff report and applicants request for rear yard, side yard and building coverage variances.  Council discussion. Kara and Robert Tyler, 217 First Street, addressed council and summarized their project. Regina Willman, 224 Lake Street, addressed council and expressed support of project as adjacent neighbor as long as no impacts to alley access were made. Mayor Carlson closed public hearing. Council discussion. Dierking moved, Caron seconded, to request staff bring an amended resolution to next meeting that approves variances for side and rear yard setbacks as requested, 120 square feet of building coverage and 91 square feet of lot coverage to support construction of new garage, while including findings of fact and final decision language. Motion carried 4/0/1. Abstention. 9. PETITIONS, REQUESTS and COMMUNICATIONS Caron moved, Hersman seconded, to add item under new business to schedule a special meeting to discuss 217 First Street variance requests. Motion carried 5/0. 10. ORDINANCES and RESOLUTIONS (a) None 11. REPORTS of OFFICERS, BOARDS, and COMMITTEES (a) None 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (a) Walker Parking Study Planning Director Mullin provided summary of parking study and request before council to consider parking system recommendations and staff request to issue a Request for Proposal to determine interest and costs associated with parking operator. Council discussion and recommendations made to staff. 13. NEW BUSINESS (a) Schedule Special Meeting  Tyler abstained from vote. Dierking moved, Hersman seconded, to schedule a special meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 4:30 P.M at 106 Center Street. Motion carried 4/0/1 abstention. 14. ADJOURNMENT Dierking moved, Tyler seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 10:09 P.M.