City Council Highlights – November 28, 2023
This regular City Council meeting began with a presentation to provide an update on the 2023 Pothole Patching.
There were 22 items on the Consent Agenda; all items passed unanimously.
Next were two public hearings; the first was to approve an on-sale liquor license, including Sunday sales, for Bossman, Inc. dba Chanticlear Pizza at 7876 Sunwood Drive NW #100A. This establishment would be located in the former Anytime Fitness location at the corner of Sunwood Drive NW and Zeolite. The Council approved the 0n-sale liquor license contingent upon the completion and approval of the background investigation by the Police Chief.
The second public hearing was to Adopt Ordinance #23-17: 2024 Schedule of Rates, Fees and Charges. The City annually adopts a schedule of rates, fees and charges, which outlines the fees that the City charges for building construction, business licenses, utility rates, and Planning and Zoning. The main changes to the schedule include updating the International Code Council (ICC) Building Valuation from the 2017 table to the 2021 table. Utility rates are proposed to be increased by five percent for quarterly water and stormwater utility billings. Water increases are needed to assist in funding the water treatment plant and stormwater projects. Lastly, sewer quarterly utility charges are proposed to increase by 10 percent to offset the 10.65 percent rate increase the Met Council put in place for 2024. Council adopted the ordinance, which will be effective January 1, 2024.
Council Business consisted of four cases.
The first case was to Consider a Request to Construct a Private Ice Rink on Krypton Street NW, North of 157th Avenue NW. The property owner at 5649 157th Avenue NW is requesting to build an ice rink with sideboards and lighting on the paved stub street segment of Krypton Street, north of 157th Avenue NW, which abuts the west edge of the property. This public stub street has a concrete curb and gutter and a sidewalk along the east side, and municipal utilities exist under this street segment. Council approved the private ice rink with conditions that require the resident to enter into a new license agreement with the City to protect the City in the event someone is injured while using the rink or if City crews damage the rink, the resident is also required to continue to provide liability insurance for their use of City right-of-way.
The next case was a Settlement Hearing: Animal Violation of Chapter 10 for the keeping of a rooster on property less than 2.5 acres in size, located at 6025 177th Lane NW, Ramsey, MN. Ramsey City Code Chapter 10, Animals, Article I. The City Code allows up to two roosters on parcels of at least 2.5 acres in size. On August 21, 2023, Mr. Trout was notified of various violations, including keeping a rooster on a property less than 2.5 acres in size. The homeowner provided a written request for a Settlement Conference. A Settlement Conference was completed, and the staff's decision was to uphold the requirements of the City Code related to keeping certain animals, livestock, and poultry. City Code states that if the property owner and City do not agree upon a final resolution, a settlement hearing will be conducted during a City Council meeting. At that time, a decision by the City Council shall be made to affirm, repeal or modify the order of the City at the conclusion of the conference. The Council voted to table the Settlement Hearing for a future meeting.
The third case was to Adopt Ordinance #23-20, Amendment to Chapter 26, Licenses, Permits, and Miscellaneous Business Regulations, Article XVI. Tobacco, Division 2, Section 26-787(6). The current City Code does not specifically address the number of tobacco licenses allowed for each property. On November 14, 2023, the City Council introduced Ordinance #23-20, which amends the City Code to allow only one tobacco license for any given location or address. Council adopted the ordinance, which will be effective January 1, 2024.
The final case was to Adopt Resolution #23-305 Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract for Improvement Project #21-08, Water Treatment Plant Trunk Watermain Improvements. On September 26, 2023, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #23-237, approving revised final plans and specifications prepared by SEH, Inc. and authorizing advertisements for bids, including a base bid and an alternate bid utilizing prevailing wage rates. The lowest responsible bid received was from Northdale Construction Company for the alternate bid of $6,671,414. The resolution was approved and the project was awarded to Northdale Construction Company.
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