The January 13, 2014 Crystal Planning Commission meeting was rather uneventful.

As it was the first meeting of the year, we voted on new officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary). Officers are only allowed to serve two years in the same position. The current officers were all in year one of the two year limit, and were all unanimously voted in for a second one year term.

We also approved the meeting calendar, which keeps the same meeting schedule as we have been using.

The only other item on the agenda was to take up the garage variance from the last meeting.

As a refresher, a guy and his wife moved into a very strange property on Quail Avenue, over by the lake, and wanted permission to basically build a new garage where the old garage sits. Because the old garage is non-conforming (in that it isn’t set back 3 feet from the lot line) and grandfathered in (in that it was built before the zoning ordinance was passed) it would require a variance to allow a rebuild.

The garages on this particular block are very close to the street, because the street was supposed to be an alley. (See last month’s post for the history.)

The majority of the commission (myself excepted) and the city staff were not thrilled about the idea of allowing a new garage to be built 1 foot from the street. I didn’t mind it, as every other garage on the block is built that way, and many won’t be torn down for many many years to come. Because of the unique nature of the property, and the fact that the encroachment wasn’t new (just a replacement of an existing structure) I was OK allowing the variance.

But, seeing that his variance was going to be shot down, the property owner changed his request during the meeting to agree to a 3 foot setback from the curb, and a 1 foot setback from the lot line that backs up to the neighbor’s garage.

After some lengthy discussion about setting precedents, etc., the commission voted unanimously to allow the variance.

As of meeting time there were no applications in process for February’s meeting, so we most likely won’t meet.

The first city council meeting of the year was quite a bit less exciting than the last one of 2013.  However, the council did cover a lot of ground.

The meeting started with the presentation of some awards for the Crystal Sparkles contest. The contest is an annual effort to encourage residents and business owners to decorate their homes and businesses during the holiday season, and is sponsored by the West Metro Fire Auxiliary. There is a cash prize for the winner, though I didn’t notice how much. Here’s the flyer for 2013.

During open forum a gentleman told the council about a nonprofit he is starting, called The Light of Crystal, which is designed to promote the city. They have a Facebook group you can join, here. The idea is modeled on a similar program in Robbinsdale called The Heart of Robbinsdale. The group will host social events in the city, including a monthly happy hour.  There was also a friendly bowling challenge made by the Mayor of Robbinsdale, Reagan Murphy, to Crystal Mayor Jim Adams at the Crystal group’s upcoming bowling challenge.

Next the council appointed its new representative to the West Metro Fire Rescue District Board. The new member is a citizen, not a member of the council, which represents a win for Mayor Adams. Adams has been a strong advocate of appointing a citizen, as opposed to a council member, but had faced opposition from some members of the council.

The Human Rights Commission and Environmental Quality Commission both got new members as well.

Next the council considered a resolution authorizing the first steps toward exercising their eminent domain authority to acquire property for a new public works facility.

I am not crazy about this project- mostly because the cost seems very high. I’m not convinced we are getting the best deal we can get. I also felt that some members of the city staff overstepped the bounds in trying to get the result they wanted from the council. Nevertheless, the city needs a new public works building, and as Crystal is fully developed, it has to go somewhere, which means acquiring land. The owners of three of the four properties that must be acquired are dealing with the city. The fourth just has not responded to the city, which is what lead to this motion.

Next the council re-appointed Anne Norris as city manager, and renewed her employment contract for one year. The unanimous vote on this item was significant, as members of CUAPB (see last meeting) have been agitating to get Norris fired. The fact that the renewal of Norris’ contract was entirely non-controversial may be a sign that whatever sympathy or support CUAPB may have had on the council is waning.

The oddest portion of the night came when the council voted on the appointments of the commission liaisons. The council appoints one member to be the liaison to each of the commissions: Planning, Parks, EQC and Human Rights.

Mayor Adams read the list of proposed liaisons, which had council member Joe Selton assigned to the Human Rights Commission. Selton objected, and asked to be switched to Environmental Quality instead. Selton did not give a reason for the switch, but it was accommodated.

The meeting then adjourned.