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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-15-WS lt EN HILLS Approved: August 10, 2015 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 20,2015 5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Pro-Tem McClung called to order the City Council work session at 5:00 p.m. Councilmember Holden stated that she wanted to discuss the Council dias seating arrangement as item 1 C. Present: Mayor David Grant (arrived at 5:40 p.m.); Councilmembers Brenda Holden (left meeting at 6:48 p.m.), Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Robert Woodburn Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Director of Finance and Administrative Services Sue Iverson; Assistant City Engineer John Anderson; City Planner Ryan Streff; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; Finance Analyst Dave Perrault; Accounting Analyst Ashley Bertrand; and City Clerk Amy Dietl 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. CIP Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson reviewed the preliminary 2016-2020 CIP with the Council. She noted some typos within the document and reported that Bethel University would be making payments to the City over the next several years for the trail per the agreement signed with the CUP. Mayor Pro-Tem McClung recommended that the Council begin with 2016 requests and provide comments to staff. Councilmember Holmes commented on the expense of the new water tower. She questioned why the City was responsible for the majority of this expense. She also questioned how the TCAAP Park expenses were determined. She stated that she was surprised to see how much of the City TCAAP expenses were the responsibility of the County. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 20, 2015 2 City Administrator Klaers discussed how the water tower would be funded by both the City and the County. He stated that a large portion of the water tower expense is planned to be covered through WAC fees. He stated that this financing plan is consistent with the recommendation from Ehlers. Mayor Pro-Tem McClung requested that the infrastructure information provided by Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers, be further broken down within the project descriptions within the CIP and that the water fund be further clarified. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that she would review the information from Ms. Kvilvang and Public Works Director Maurer and have this data reclassified. Assistant City Engineer Anderson discussed the Public Works related expenses within the 2016 CIP in further detail with the Council. It was noted that all of the TCAAP improvements have been detailed in a separate report. Councilmember Holden stated that she wanted the Council to review the PMP schedule and was in favor of Floral Street being reconstructed prior to Old Snelling. Further discussion ensued regarding the reconstruction of Old Snelling. Mayor Pro-Tem McClung was in favor of the Council discussing street priorities later this fall. Assistant City Engineer Anderson reviewed the equipment expenses for TCAAP. The Council reviewed Attachment G—Projects by Departments. Councilmember Holden was in favor of pushing the 2016 gateway sign out to 2017. The Council was in agreement. Councilmember Holden questioned if the Perry Park playground equipment had to be replaced in 2016. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson indicated that the park playground equipment is reviewed on a yearly basis. She understood that Perry Park had to be replaced in 2016. Mayor Pro-Tem McClung requested that a justification be provided for all future park playground equipment replacements. Councilmember Holden requested further clarification on the fire expenses per year. She mentioned that maybe contributions could be obtained for some fire trucks. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson said she would provide the details in the Fire Department Capital Budget in the next draft. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 20, 2015 3 Mayor Grant arrived at the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Discussion ensued regarding the treatment planned for Karth Lake. Councilmember Holden suggested that the improvements and treatment planned for Karth Lake be pushed out or removed from the CIP until the City has additional information on the project. She suggested that the Council look at all the lakes and produce a plan for needed future improvements. The Council was in agreement with this recommendation. Mayor Grant requested that the technology and office equipment fund for 2016 be reduced to $5,000. The Council was in agreement. Councilmember Holden asked that the water tower painting and repair be pushed to 2017, as suggested by Public Works Director Maurer. The Council concurred. The Council turned their discussion to Public Works equipment. Councilmember Holmes recommended that the street sweeper be pushed out to 2017. The Council was in agreement. Councilmember Woodburn stated that he was interested in viewing the City's fleet vehicles. Mayor Grant encouraged Councilmember Woodburn to visit the public works facility for a tour. City Administrator Klaers thanked the Council for the comments and noted that staff would revise the document and report back at a future meeting. B. Outdoor Sales and Exterior Storage Associate Planner Bachler explained that at the regular City Council meeting on April 13, 2015, staff was directed to review properties within the City with outdoor sales or exterior storage and report back to the City Council. He noted that the Community Development Department has completed a preliminary inventory of commercial and industrial properties in the B-2 and B-3 Zoning Districts. This inventory includes information on the type of business, whether outdoor sales or exterior storage are present on the property, and if the property has received approval for these activities. Associate Planner Bachler stated that for the preliminary review, staff focused on the B-2 and 13- 3 Districts as most of the commercial retail properties in the City are within these two districts. Businesses that have outdoor sales or exterior storage but are not located in either district, such as ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 20, 2015 4 the Holiday Service Station on Highway 96, have not been reviewed at this time. If directed by the City Council, staff is prepared to complete a similar inventory of properties within the City's primarily industrial zoning districts. It should also be noted that trash and service areas were not addressed because these uses are not defined as exterior storage in the Zoning Code. Staff reviewed the results of the inventory survey with the Council and requested direction on the following items: 1) Should certain types of outdoor display and sales, such as vending machines, propane tank exchanges, and ice machines, be allowed as permitted accessory uses if the principal use on the property is a vehicle service business or convenience retail store? 2) Should a separate definition be added to the Zoning Code specifically for outdoor display and sales for vehicle service businesses and convenience retail stores? 3) Should products that are displayed outdoors while a business is open and stored inside overnight, such as equipment or bicycles, be exempt from the restrictions on outdoor display and sales? 4) Should the City establish a process that would allow more extensive outdoor display and sales areas with an approved Site Plan if certain location and setback standards are met? 5) Should any changes be made at this time to the Zoning Code's prohibition of exterior storage in the B-2 and B-3 District? Councilmember Holden questioned the zoning for the Holiday Station store. Associate Planner Bachler indicated that the Holiday Station Store on Highway 96 is zoned Gateway Business District. Mayor Grant requested that the Council address staff's questions one at a time regarding outdoor sales and exterior storage. The Council discussed the use and location of outdoor vending machines. Associate Planner Bachler commented that he would consider Redbox video rental units to be vending machines. The Council supported the use and location of soda machines and Redbox vending units outdoors. Councilmember Holden believed that there should be separate City Code standards for gas stations and another for retail. Councilmember McClung agreed that this made the most sense. Councilmember Holden feared that shops would need further regulating if the City allowed items to be stored outdoors during the day and stored indoors at night. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 20, 2015 5 Councilmember McClung suggested that this not be an exemption and that the City review this item further. City Administrator Klaers noted that retail businesses such as secondhand book stores will often cart items outdoors during business hours and wheel them back in when closing. Councilmember Holmes recommended that the Council investigate a process that would allow more extensive outdoor display and sales areas with an approved Site Plan if certain location and setback standards are met. Mayor Grant agreed. Councilmember Woodburn was hesitant to investigate this further as he feared outdoor display areas would be difficult for the City to regulate. The Council discussed the outdoor storage that was approved for Frattallone's in the B-2 district. Mayor Grant did not want to see the City creating additional outdoor storage in the B-2 or B-3 zoning district. Councilmembers McClung and Woodburn agreed with Mayor Grant. Councilmember Woodburn discussed the storage needs for a garden center and commented on how this was a very specific use that required outdoor sales. Councilmember Holmes did not believe that outdoor storage should be prohibited. Associate Planner Bachler stated that he would investigate this matter further, see how other cities were handling outdoor sales and storage, and report back to the Council at a future meeting. C. Council Seating at the Dais Councilmember McClung was in favor of adjusting the Council seating at the dais. He wanted to see Councilmember Woodburn moved closer to staff. Mayor Grant commented that he was in favor of keeping the City Administrator and City Attorney to his right. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that at this time, the Council is arranged by Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem, and then the remainder of the Councilmembers by seniority. Councilmember Holmes stated that she was more than happy to be seated at the end in order to allow Councilmember Woodburn to be seated next to the Mayor Pro-Tem. The Council supported this suggestion. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JULY 20, 2015 6 Councilmember McClung suggested that the new seating arrangement be tried and that staff investigate any audio/visual equipment that may assist Councilmember Woodburn. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES Mayor Grant indicated that he has received several emails regarding the road project on Venus Avenue. He asked if staff had received any complaints or damage claims. Assistant City Engineer Anderson stated that all complaints to date have been addressed. Mayor Grant was pleased to report that his neighborhood will be hosting two Night to Unite events. He requested that staff create a consolidated list of parties for the Council to review. Councilmember Holmes indicated that there will be Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Pacific Union Financial at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21St Councilmember McClung encouraged the Council to find some time to discuss the Fire Department and Fire Station No. 1. He believed it would be a benefit to the City to discuss the 24-hour coverage that was now being offered to the City and the changes that may be required or desired for Fire Station No. 1. Mayor Grant recommended that this item be discussed at the August work session. Councilmember Holmes asked if staff has heard anything from the County after the City passed the TRC and CPA. City Administrator Klaers indicated that Heather Worthington has contacted the City and that the press was contacting the County for a comment on the City's decision. It was the County's hope to have continued conversations regarding their goals for the site. Ms. Worthington informed City staff that the County had removed two items from their agenda, which were the consideration of a master developer solicitation process and the other was consideration of spending funds for the Rice Creek meandering. He expected that Chair McDonough would be reaching out to Mayor Grant. He anticipated that there would be an article in the paper regarding TCAAP. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council work session at 7:19 p.m. Amy Dietl U David Grant City Clerk Mayor