Trees, Wages and Culver's: Golden Valley City Council Meeting July 2 Preview

Wages, tree debris and Sweet Cream properties are on the agenda for the Tuesday, July 2, Golden Valley City Council meeting, at City Hall.

Here are some highlights of what is up for council approval on the July 2 agenda:

• Public hearing for to approve a conditional use permit for Sweet Cream Properties (Culver's) to be located at the former Piazza's Restaurant location on 7th Avenue off Hwy 55. The Planning Commission has already approved the conditional use permit at a previous meeting. Culver's is in the process of demolishing the current building there, but the Council must approve the use of a drive-thru operation for the facility.

The proposed size of the restaurant is 4,300 square feet and seats about 102 people. The outdoor patio seats about 24 people and is 807 square feet. The potential impact of the drive-thru will be mitigated by speaker posts by the car, landscaping and orientation of the building. The proposed hours of the new Culver's is for 10 a.m. to midnight daily.

• Already discussed in May, the city is reorganization of positions in the Police Department's upper management from one Commander position to now having two Lieutenant positions. At this time, the Council is being asked to approve modifications with the 2013 general wages and salary for the Lieutenant positions from $91,008 to $94,800 as part of the changes made in creating those new positions.

• The City Council had an emergency meeting June 24 after a series of serious storms hit the city and left a great deal of tree and other damage and debris to be cleaned up. The city has contracted with Tim's Tree Service for years to help with tree debris clean up and typically spends about $66,000 for spring collection. But based on amount stacked at curbs and boulevards to be picked up around the city, estimates for new costs could be more around $80,000. The city's Public Works staff will work with Tim's on more clean up efforts starting July 1 at city parks, streets, trails, public right-of-ways, Bassett Creek and Brookview Golf Course until it is completed.

For the July 2 Council meeting, the council is being asked to approve a new contract reflecting the $80,000 fees to be paid to Tim's Tree Service for the additional clean up work needed. Funds for brush pick-up work is being paid through the city's conservation/recycling fund while the funds for the drop-off site are coming from the general fund.

(Information from the city of Golden Valley's website.)