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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-14 Special WS / i ,-fiIQEN HILLS Approved: July 28, 2014 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JUNE 9,2014 5:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the special City Council work session at 5:43 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Ed Werner Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Public Works Director Terry Maurer; Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher; and Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Introduction of Metropolitan Council Member Marie McCarthy Metropolitan Council Member Marie McCarthy introduced herself to the Council and thanked them for their time. She noted that she lives in Blaine and wanted to be accessible to the Council to assist in any way possible. Mayor Grant asked if a third lane was being considered for I-694 between I-35W and I-35E. He stated he uses I-35E on a daily basis and that this stretch of roadway needs additional capacity for traffic. Public Works Director Maurer indicated that MnDOT has reported that the I-694 general purpose lane, or third lane, between Rice Street and Lexington Avenue was originally going to be a dynamic shoulder. This has now been changed to a proposed general purpose lane that would be open at all times. He understood that this would be considered by the Metropolitan Council but it does require a change to the 2030 Transportation Comp Plan. He believed this would be a positive improvement for Arden Hills and the entire area. Ms. McCarthy commented that this roadway was a Tier II and indicated that Tier I corridors would be cleared out in the next year or two. She indicated that there was currently no funding for ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 9, 2014 2 this project; however,the Metropolitan Council was continuing to participate in the engineering of the draft plan. She understood the necessity of this project. Councilmember McClung discussed the Corridors for Commerce project that was funded by the Governor. He believed that this 1-694 project already had funding from Rice Street to Lexington Avenue. Ms. McCarthy indicated that she would follow up on this project and would provide her findings to staff. Further discussion ensued regarding the traffic issues in and around Arden Hills and how the City's residents are adversely impacted. Councilmember Holden requested that the grant system be reviewed. She believed it was unfair that Arden Hills is being punished for not having public transportation when public transportation locations are determined by the Metropolitan Council. Ms. McCarthy indicated that she would investigate this further and report back. Councilmember Holmes stated that she believed that Rosedale needed a park and ride to bring passengers using public transportation into St. Paul. Councilmember Holden requested an update on I&I issues for the City. Ms. McCarthy indicated that the City had an exceedance from an April rain event and a letter was sent to Arden Hills on May 28, 2014. Public Works Director Maurer provided further comment on the City's I&I efforts and hoped that the City would not have future exceedances. He indicated that the City would need additional State grant money in order to stay ahead or on top of the issues. He recommended that the State consider providing additional funding to address I&I issues. He explained that the smaller easily accessible pipes have been addressed. The expense to deal with the pipes along county road and highway ditches remained and the City did not have enough funding to complete all of this work. Councilmember McClung believed that public transportation issues would have to be addressed by the City and the Metropolitan Council as the TCAAP property develops. Mayor Grant commented that this would be important for senior citizens. He thanked Ms. McCarthy for her presence this evening. B. EAB Follow-Up Parks and Recreation Manager Olson explained that at the February 18, 2014, Council work session, staff presented an ash tree inventory of the City parks maintained areas. The inventory found 54 ash trees in the maintained areas of the parks and 38 were found to be healthy and good candidates for treatment. She noted that after review and discussion, it was the consensus of the ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 9, 2014 3 Council to treat the ash trees that were evaluated to be in good condition. The treatment for the 38 ash trees in good condition was completed the week of June 2nd. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that Council asked staff to bring back specific information on the location of the remaining 16 trees, their size, and information on removal and replacement. Color coded aerials of each of the parks with ash trees show the treated trees and the trees planned for removal were provided in the agenda packets for Council review. Staff reviewed a chart with specific sizes of trees being planned for removal and the cost to have Precision Landscape and Tree, Inc., the current tree contractor, remove them. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson indicated that there are 16 trees in total that are NOT being recommended for treatment. Staff located those trees and made the determination that seven should be replaced in the same or similar location. Staff is not planning on replacing the other nine at this time. Staff made the determination by considering factors such as quantity of trees in current location, amount of trees in park, available growing space and amount of sunlight. Below is a table indicating the specific parks and number of proposed tree replacements. Park Total Removals Replacement Arden Oaks 1 1 Floral 2 2 Freeway 2 0 Johanna Marsh 3 0 Perry 6 2 Royal Hills 2 2 TOTAL 16 7 Parks and Recreation Manager Olson reviewed the variety of trees staff is planning to replace, including estimated cost and that information is as follows: Tree Type Size Quantity Price Per Total Japanese 2" 2 $195.00 $390.00 Tree Lilacs Red Sunset 2" 1 $170.00 $170.00 Maple Princeton 2" 1 $176.00 $176.00 Elm Green 2" 1 $180.00 $180.00 Mountain Sugar Maple Thornless 2" 2 $170.00 $340.00 Hawthorn Delivery $120.00 Subtotal 7 $1,376.00 Tax 7.125% $98.04 TOTAL $1,474.04 ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 9, 2014 4 Parks and Recreation Manager Olson commented that due to the flight season of the EAB, staff plans on waiting until fall to remove the trees and the replacement can take place at the same time. The fall is a better time to plant trees based on the weather. Another option available to the Council would be to wait until next spring to replace these trees, and the City could utilize the annual Friends of the Park tree sale. On average, the City receives a donation of 18-24 trees each year. The only disadvantage to using the donated trees is that the City will not have control over the type of trees received. Mayor Grant questioned if by removing these trees would the advance of Emerald Ash Borer be reduced. Public Works Director Maurer stated that staff was hoping to protect and maintain portions of the City's parks by aggressively treating good quality trees, while removing and replacing the poorer quality trees. He indicated that staff was recommending the removal of 16 trees and that seven be replanted this fall. Mayor Grant suggested that the trees remain and be enjoyed until this fall. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that this could be done. Public Works Director Maurer commented that the plan will be to plant trees next spring with donations made by residents. C. TCAAP Update Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that at the August 19, 2013, City Council work session, representatives from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) and Ramsey County introduced the TCAAP Redevelopment Partnership (TRP). The TRP was established to educate the public and build support for the project and the legislative funding requests. The TRP is not a formal or legal entity, rather a fluid coalition working toward a common goal—the successful redevelopment of the TCAAP site. Community Development Director Hutmacher reported that Mr. Weinhagen, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, was present to brief the Council on an economic development initiative that SPACC is proposing. Jonathan Weinhagen, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Council for attending the June 6th dedication event at TCAAP. He discussed the event in further detail and appreciated the positive media coverage from this event. He provided comment on the intensive TCAAP curriculum called STEAM that the school district completed this past year. He was happy to report that this curriculum would be continued in the 2014-2015 school year. He stated the Chamber had interest in capturing the history of Building 189. He encouraged the Council to reach out to the Chamber if there were areas of concern that the Chamber can address. Mr. Weinhagen discussed the proposed Accelerate Ramsey County (ARC) economic development initiative that the County is developing in partnership with the municipalities within the County. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JUNE 9, 2014 5 The City Council indicated that they needed more information on the proposal and some additional time to consider its role in this partnership. Mayor Grant thanked Mr. Weinhagen for his presentation. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the special City Council work session at 6:58 p.m. 6,IV G/ Patrick Klaers David Grant City Administrator Mayor