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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 2013City considers electricity and gas fees to broaden revenue baseCity considers electricity and gas fees to broaden revenue base City considers electricity and gas fees to broaden revenue base by Kristine Goodrich he Arden Hills City Council is T discussing enacting franchise fees month fee on their electricity bills and month fee on their electricity bills and Currently, property tax collections are not to help fund street, trail, and park $1.75 per month on their gas bills. Fees for $1.75 per month on their gas bills. Fees for generating enough revenue to accomplish improvements. The monthly fees would businesses and other non-residential propbusinesses and other non-residential prop many of the priorities in the Citys Capital - be charged to all electricity and gas users erties would depend on their size and type erties would depend on their size and type Improvement Plan. in the City. For residential users, the fees of service. Councilmembers have asked of service. Councilmembers have asked under consideration would total $4.75 a an Xcel Energy representative to prepare an Xcel Energy representative to prepare Many cities have franchise fees, includ - month. The cost for non-residential users more detailed information about how the more detailed information about how the ing Shoreview, Mounds View and New Citys non-residential Brighton. The objective - tion as determined by Xcel Energy. properties will be is to broaden the citys impacted, especially revenue base. The fees Councilmembers have been discussing the Community members who would Community members who would businesses and organi are charged to all users, - like to share comments and/or like to share comments and/or zations. including tax-exempt over the last several months in workshop hear more about the proposed hear more about the proposed properties. By broaden- meetings. They will hold public hearings franchise fees are invited to franchise fees are invited to The proposed fees ing the revenue base about the proposal in February, and they participate in a public hearing. participate in a public hearing. would generate ap with franchise fees, the - plan to make a decision after considering The Council will hold hearings The Council will hold hearings proximately $439,000 City would not need to input from residents. If approved, the fees during its meetings on February during its meetings on February annually for the City. rely solely on increased would commence no earlier than January 10 and February 24. Residential customers property taxes to gener - 2015. Xcel Energy would collect the fees would supply 38 per ate revenue for City - as part of its bills and reimburse the City. cent of those revenues. improvements. Cities are permitted to use the revenues Cities are permitted to use the revenues After talking about both the Citys long- More information about the franchise fees term capital needs and the impact on com have established three spending priorities: have established three spending priorities: proposal will be posted on the City website - munity members, the Council is consider expanding and maintaining the City trail expanding and maintaining the City trail and will be presented at the February pub - - ing the following fee schedule: Residential system, improving and maintaining parks, system, improving and maintaining parks, lic hearings. electricity users each would pay a $3 per and improving and maintaining roads. and improving and maintaining roads. Bethel University looks to expand by Susan Cathey B ethel University, an Arden Hills pansion of its leased Red Fox Road facili pansion of its leased Red Fox Road facili - institution for 40 years, continues to ties. This proposed use included general ties. This proposed use included general grow and to look for space for expansion. and administrative spaces, nine classrooms and administrative spaces, nine classrooms The universitys 2012 Campus Master and specialized teaching facilities for its and specialized teaching facilities for its Plan stretched the limits of on-campus physician assistant program. space for undergraduate programs, and many classes in the College of Adult & A new opportunity arose for Bethel this A new opportunity arose for Bethel this Professional Studies and Graduate School past summer when Country Financial past summer when Country Financial are currently held in other locations in approached the University with an offer approached the University with an offer Arden Hills and elsewhere. to sell the property at 2 Pine Tree Drive, to sell the property at 2 Pine Tree Drive, currently only 35 percent occupied. The currently only 35 percent occupied. The In June of this year, the City approved a location and the single large building in location and the single large building in and conditions for a sale, assuming Bethel zoning code amendment and conditional a setting of woods and wetlands seemed a setting of woods and wetlands seemed could obtain the necessary City approvals use permit allowing Bethel to lease up ideal for an east campus for Bethel and ideal for an east campus for Bethel and to 26,000 square feet in the 2 Pine Tree on July 26, the University and the property on July 26, the University and the property Drive building as a replacement and exowner agreed in principle on the terms owner agreed in principle on the terms - Continued on page 3 News from Around the Town: Arden Hills Service Directory The ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Johanna Shores facility (formerly 1245 West Highway 96 Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills) Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 took place on Tuesday, November 5. The new facility boasts senior apartments, assisted living apartments, a memory care residence, and a care center. 8:00 a.m.--4:30 p.m. In the front row are Wendy Kingbay, 651-792-7800 Campus Administrator, Johanna Shores; Dan Lindh, President, Presbyterian Homes & Services; Fran Holmes, Arden Hills Major Pro Tem; Pamela Belz, Developer Senior Housing Partners; 911 Pastor Brenda Alexander, Chaplain, Courtesy Presbyterian Homes and Services; Elizabeth Day, photogr Presbyterian Homes & Services. 651-767-0640 by Dave McClung Council initiates TCAAP review A t its October 14 meeting, the City Council initiated an Alterna 651-481-7024 Areawide Review (AUAR) for the TCAAP development area. Minnesota requires a Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) to consider issue arise as property is developed so the RGU can plan for mitigatio 651-767-9640 - ment plans are presented. There are no actual plans being consi scenarios that will be explored will illustrate likely condition David Grant 651-538-0747 - ally on the existing comprehensive plan and zoning code currentl property. The second scenario looks at development at a much gre the capacity of the anticipated transportation network in place begins  this is considered the maximum build scenario. The AUAR will look at the environmental and other impacts on the owned by Ramsey County and the surrounding areas. Scenario one a 1,500 residential units while scenario two anticipates up to 2,5 the level of these anticipated developments being lower in scen Cathey The City Council as the RGU is required to initiate the AUAR pro scenarios. Council Members hope that studying these two scenario - isfy statutory requirements but will provide valuable informatio decision-making as development actually occurs. Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the continued from page 1 , month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised In October, the Arden Hills Planning Com A pedestrian and bicycle trail connect - - live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of mission considered Bethels request for ing the two campuses is also a desire of the Planning Commission are televised a new conditional use permit to allow a the University leaders in order to provide the University leaders in order to provide the University leaders in order to provide higher education use in the entire 189,904 safe routes for their entire student body, the month. Playbacks of City meetings square foot building, to be phased in over and they have agreed to contribute up to begin the morning after the meeting a period of several years, as current leases $800,000 toward the cost of a City-con - and continue every day until the next expire. According to the information pro structed trail. - City meeting. Playbacks are 3 a.m., 11 vided by Bethel, the property would have a.m., and 7 p.m. Monday through Fri - Planning Case 13-013 went to the City day, and 7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 10 p.m. on uses along with both daytime and evening Council for discussion at its October 28 Saturday and Sunday. For web casts, classes. meeting, with the recommendation of the visit www.ctv15.org. Planning Commission for passage. There The University is planning for a mix of are two possible scenarios being consid - transportation modes to be used between - ered. The proposed plan for scenario 1, letter of the City of Arden Hills, an the two campuses, including shuttle considered likely use, is laid out in three equal-opportunity employer. service, carpooling and personal vehicles. phases. (See chart next page) 2 Benchmarks: a review of recent City Council action October 14, 2013 Approved the Cable Services Agree Tabled approval of Ordinance 2013- " " - ment between the City and North 009 for amendments to Section Approved a joint powers agreement " Suburban Access Commission (5-0) 1305.04 and Section 1320 of the Zon with Ramsey County for new voting - ing Code and Ordinance 2013-010 for system acquisition and operation Approved an agreement with SEH " amendments to Section 1320 of the (5-0) for $5,000 for technical review and Zoning Code related to the proposed inspection services for an AT&T Approved Ordinance 2013-009 " Conservation District (5-0) (tabled to antenna upgrade project at the Cum amending Section 335 of the City - a work session for discussion) mings Park water tower (5-0) Code regulating residential rental Tabled consideration of Planning Case properties (5-0) (the proposed " " 13-013 for a conditional use permit Pearson Brothers, Inc., for the 2013 at 2 Pine Tree Drive to allow a higher occupancy limit within the rental Seal Coat Improvement in the amount regulations section of the City Code of $96,434 (5-0) building (5-0) (City Council was not and allows the City to issue citations " able to complete consideration due to for violations of the limit) Construction, LLC, for the 2013 Sani lateness of evening.) - Approved Resolution 2013-039 or " tary Sewer Lining Improvement in the - dering an Alternative Urban Areawide November 12, 2013 (Werner excused) Amount of $311,869 (5-0) Review for the TCAAP redevelop - Continued consideration of Plan " " - ment site (5-0) ning Case #13-013 to the November Ace Blacktop for the North Snelling Approved the Zoning Scenario and 25, 2013, City Council meeting for " mill and overlay improvement in the Maximum Development Scenario a Conditional Use Permit at 2 Pine amount of $104,291 (5-0) for the TCAAP redevelopment site Tree Drive (4-0) (Bethel CUP request Approved Planning Case #13-016 for " Tree Drive (4-0) (Bethel CUP request Alternative Urban Areawide Review continued to allow the full council to two variances to allow the proposed be available for consideration of this construction project located at 1226 dated October 10, 2013 (3-2; Holden, item) Ingerson Road (3-2; Holden, Holmes) Holmes) Tabled approval of the 2014 tree re " - Approved construction of a gateway moval services contract for discussion " sign on the south side of County Road at a work session (4-0) and the second variance would allow E and Cleveland Avenue in an amount Accepted the Third Quarter Financial " not to exceed $17,000 (4-1 McClung) to expand the existing deck, construct Reports (4-0) a front entrance overhang, and add October 28, 2013 sunshades to the south facing eleva - Adopted changes to the Arden Hills " tions of the home) Personnel Policy (5-0) Scenario 2 uses the same time frame but try Financial, and SRF Consultingthe in writing its intent to continue to wel - shows slightly higher overall numbers. come use of this area by the public. The Bethel has submitted a letter indicating it evening included a public hearing, with has no plans for any additional building on several people addressing the Council. - the site. ing, and public use of the walking trails currently on the property. These trails are Because it was growing late and the The City Council spent over an hour at the in a buffer zone established between the Council had several additional points meeting gathering information from City business area of the property and adjacent to discuss, it was decided to table the staff, and representatives of Bethel, Coun residential neighborhoods. Bethel has stated proposal until a future meeting. - Bethel University Expansion Plan Time Frame Time Frame Staff/Faculty Classrooms Classroom SeatsDescription Phase 1: 2013-2014 35 9 300 Original 26,000 sq. ft. Conditional Use Permit Phase 2: 2015-2018110 6 260 Available spaces on levels 2, 3, and 5 Phase 3: 2018-2025 35 3 110 Available spaces on levels 1 and 4 3 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid St. Paul, MN Permit #1962 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 . I City weighs utility fees n Postal Customer Bethel proposes expansion s i TCAAP environmental review begins d e Notes from the City Council Road Construction Season Ends! here is a saying in Minnesota that Another interesting aspect of having High T way 96 was being redone and because it - there are only two seasons, winter way 10 open is that drivers will be able to limits any future need to close Highway 96 and road construction. Personally, I see the cleanup that has been going on at to add a turnoff. am glad to be moving into the winter seaTCAAP. As cleanup started early this year, - Highway 10 had only limited access at the Other road improvements in Arden Hills construction. For Arden Hills it has been northern area of TCAAP near I-35W. So are scheduled for future years, but noth - like the perfect storm for road construction far all but one building has been removed, ing as extensive as I-694 and Highways with highways 10 and 96 closed, I-694 building number 502 which is located 10 and 96. One of the planned improve - with delays and a short bit of construction along Highway 96. Asbestos will be re ments is the reconstruction of the County - along Lexington Avenue near Target. This moved ne during the winter months and the Road E Bridge over Snelling Avenue. The letter will reach you in early December and building will be taken down next spring. plan will include a long needed and often by that time Highways 10 and 96 should requested safe pedestrian walkway. be open and the I-694 repairs will have The work on TCAAP this year has been completed. Having Highways 10 and removed what some called an eyesore. The holiday season is upon us and that 96 open to both I-35W and I-694 means While there may be some construction de means a lot of travel for some families. - several things:bris visible, it is certainly not as unsightly Our major roads are done and in good as the old buildings were. Other work shape. I want to wish you and your family this year included a median cut to TCAAP safe travels on whatever road you choose. northern Arden Hills will be available on on Highway 96. It was done in large part Highway 96, with quicker access to I-35W, because it makes sense to do it while High - one of our primary north/south routes. It David Grant, Mayor also means easier access to Mounds View High School for people living in northern Monday-Friday, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Arden Hills. For residents living west of Arden Hills skating rinks will be open Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Snelling Avenue, it means being able to from December 9 to February 17if Sunday, 1-7 p.m. get on Highway 96 without having to take weather conditions permit. They are County Road E and go north on Hamline located at: or Lexington avenues. Having Highway Cummings Park1220 Wyncrest " Dec. 23, 26, 27, 3010 a.m.-8:30 p.m. 10 open should, to some degree, reduce Court (Pleasure rink only) Christmas Eve10 a.m.-5 p.m. Freeway Park1370 West County " New Years Eve10 a.m.-5 p.m. is what MnDOT is planning for. Having Road E New Years Day10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. these roads open again could make for an Hazelnut Park3301 New Brighton " interesting few months as drivers readjust Road 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. their driving patterns. Hopefully the long Perry Park3700 New " Presidents Day, February 17 wait has been worth it. Brighton Road (Hockey rink 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. only)