09.c1 Staff Report-Palkert Request for Council Action
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: December 19, 2023
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Subject: Request for Council Action – Dennis Palkert – 12632 182nd St. N.
Background:
Dennis Palkert applied for a variance amendment this summer for a patio he installed at this
property. His request references the “City Engineer,” I believe he means City Planner, as he had
many discussions with TJ about this property’s patio and fire pit.
Mr. Palkert paid a $100 fee and a $600 escrow payment for his variance amendment. He was
charged half of the standard fee because he sought to amend a previous variance and did not
apply for a new one. The Planning Commission recommended denying his variance
amendment on September 5, 2023. Council denied the amendment at their September 19,
2023 meeting. Last month, Mr. Palkert received invoice 801 -22833 for $1,360.63, the
remaining balance on his variance amendment.
He is requesting the Council cancel invoice 801-22833
The council tabled this issue at the December 6 Work Session in order to hear from the City
Planner regarding his recollection of conversations with Mr. Palkert.
Bolton & Menk reviewed the invoices related to this variance request after staff questioned
why so many hours were billed for a variance amendment when significant work had already
been completed for the original variance application and review. This project will receive a
credit of $438, reducing the amount Mr. Palkert owes to $922.63.
Discussion:
Should the Council cancel the requested invoice?
Attachments:
Request for Council Action – Dennis Palkert
Invoice 801-22833
Citizen Request for Action
Form for the public to request a topic be added to the next Council Work Session agenda.
Name:*
Dennis
Phone *
612 382 4235
Email *
dennispalkert@gmail.com
Simple Description of Request:*
Cancellation of Variance Request Bill
Details of request:*
I submitted a variance request this past summer for an expansion of a patio and firepit area. I distinctly
asked the city engineer if he and the city administrator would support my request. I asked this question
as it is my experience that variance requests without the support of the city engineer and administrator
rarely get approved. He said they would support the patio expansion but not the firepit. Based on that
information I submitted a variance for the expansion of my patio. At the meeting the city engineer
recommended the council denied my request (first time I had heard of this change in recommendation)
which they did. I believe I filed a variance with false information. I would have never files a variance
request without the support of the engineer. In my opinion it is a waste money. I believe I have already
been cheated out of the $600 down payment I made and believe it is improper for the city to now ask me
to pay an additional $1,360.
I am requesting the council to cancel invoice #801-22833.
Thank you.
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