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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-16-R'I't -ARZEN HILLS Approved: December 12, 2016 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2016 7:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor David Grant called to order the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and Dave McClung Absent: Councilmember Jonathan Wicklund (excused) Also present: Interim City Administrator and Director of Finance and Administrative Services Sue Iverson; Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Andy Brotcler; Interim City Planner Eric Lweber; and City Clerk Julie Hanson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Grant requested Planning Case 16-031 be placed on the Consent Agenda. MOTION: Councilmember McClung moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 2. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Mayor Grant requested the Cub Scouts in attendance introduce themselves to the City Council. Miles Smith, "Troop #419, introduced himself to the Council and stated he was in attendance to learn about Arden Hills' government and to assist him in earning his Adventure in Boy Scouts Badge. Dillon Marsh, Troop #419, introduced himself to the Council and reported he was working on the same badge. AR -DEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — NOVEMBER 14, 2016 2 3. STAFF COMMENTS A. Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) and Joint Development Authority (JDA) Update Interim City Administrator and Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson provided the following update on TCAAP: Meetings • On November 2, the City and County Staff and consultants met with the Master Development Team and their consultants to discuss project updates. • On October 31, the City Council met with the Master Developer team to review requested updates to the TRC document that reflected land use and master plan changes. • On November 8 the communication consultants, staff, and Master Development team met to discuss details for the open house scheduled on November 16. Councilmember Holmes requested staff provide the Council with more detailed information on the meetings held between staff and the Master Developer. Councilmember Holmes invited the public to attend the Open I -louse on Wednesday, November 16 at the Ramsey County Public Works building in the Marsden Room from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. B. Transportation Update Interim Public Works Director .Brotzler reported the mill and overlay project for Shorewood Drive began today. He anticipated this project would be completed by the end of the week. Interim Public Works Director Brotzler explained staff continues to work on the Johanna Marsh tennis court project and a memo with costs will be brought to the Council at an upcoming worksession meeting. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Item - Claims and Payroll B. Motion to Approve Ordinance 2016-009 Amending Chapter 3 of the Arden hills City Code to Create a Tree Service License C. Motion to Acknowledge the Application of Catholic United Financial for an Exempt Permit to Conduct a Raffle with the Drawing being March 9, 2017 with no waiting period D. Motion to Approve Payment #I — Lift Station No. 1 l Reconstruction ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL, —NOVEMBER 14, 2016 3 E. Motion to Approve Resolution Certifying 2016 Municipal Election Canvass Results F. Planning Case 16-031 - Motion to Approve a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment for changes to the height of roof -mounted mechanical equipment on the new Land O'Lakes office building at 4001 Lexington Avenue North MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Couneilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented and to authorize execution of all necessary documents contained therein. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 6. PULLED CONSENT ITEMS None. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. TCAAP Development Discussion Opportunity for Residents Mayor Grant stated under the Public Hearing section, citizens would have an opportunity to discuss ideas regarding the TCAAP development. Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. With no one coming forward to speak, Mayor Grant closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. NEW BUSINESS A. Final PUD Agreement — MedExpress —1150 County Road E (PC 16-024) Interim City Planner Zweber stated on October 31, 2016, the City Council approved Planning Case 16-024 for a Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Phase 11 of the Arden Plaza Master PUD at 1150 County Road E West. The City Attorney has prepared the Final PUD Development Agreement — Phase 11 Arden Plaza. Interim City Planner Zweber reported during the October 31 City Council Meeting, the Council discussed sidewalk and pedestrian improvements around the Arden Plaza County Road E access drive to connect the Red Cross site with the Arden Plaza site. Following that meeting, staff visited the site to evaluate the feasibility of creating a sidewalk connection from the newly installed sidewalk at Red Cross to the crossing at the south end of the Arden Plaza access drive to County Road E. This option appears infeasible because of the width of the boulevard on the west side of the access drive, the location of the trees and the existing stormwater grate located just north of the crossing. As an alternative, staff has prepared two options for connecting the Red Cross site to the Arden Plaza sidewalk system. Interim City Planner Zweber explained Option 1 is a sidewalk installed at a 45 -degree angle from the southeast corner of the Red Cross parking lot to the access drive crossing. This option ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — NOVEMBER 14, 2016 4 would avoid the stormwater grate but would require replacing a section of concrete drainage channel and installing a new channel that would support a grate to continue the sidewalk. Option 2 is providing a sidewalk from the northeast corner of the Red Cross parking lot to the sidewalk on the south side of County Road E. From that point, residents can cross the access drive and continue south on the existing sidewalk on the east side of the access drive. Staff provided this second option because it would be clearly visible from the customer parking lot and Red Cross entrance. The Option I sidewalk is not visible from the Red Cross entrance and is located adjacent to the staff parking area and the staff entrance to the Red Cross. Interim City Planner Zweber stated the two sidewalks options are illustrated in Attachment B. Each of the sidewalk options are estimated to cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Staff is requesting that the Council review the sidewalk options and direct staff if the Council wishes to pursue either option. Based on the direction provided, staff will bring a revised Final PUD Agreement to the City Council meeting on November 28, 2016, for the Council's consideration. Mayor Grant understood it would be difficult for the Council to visualize the two options. He stated he favored Option 2 at this time. Councilmember Holden was disappointed that the Red Cross put a sidewalk in that led to nowhere. She was not convinced that a sidewalk should be required for MedExpress. She had hoped to make this property more pedestrian friendly, but was not sure that either of the options would improve the pedestrian flow. Councilmember Holmes understood Mr. Zweber was not with the City when the original PUD came before the City. She believed that the original sidewalk location was as suggested in Option 1. Further discussion ensued regarding Red Cross sidewalk location. She expressed frustration with the proposed location of the walkway and the entire situation. Councilmember Holden questioned how much of the sidewalk was located on Arden Plaza property versus Commers. Interim City Planner Zweber described the differences between Option 1 and Option 2 with regard to where the sidewalk would be located. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler explained the City would have to work with Commers in order to secure an easement for the sidewalk as suggested within Option I or Option 2. Mayor Grant stated the Council could always elect to not proceed with Option I or Option 2. Councilmember Holden recalled that Commers was very willing to put in a sidewalk. when the Red Cross building was completed. She believed the main concern with this was the placement of the sidewalk. Interim City Planner Zweber reviewed a discussion he had with Mr. Commers regarding the reduction of greenspace that would occur if another portion of sidewalk were installed. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — NOVEMBER 14, ?016 5 Councilmember McClung preferred to have a sidewalk connection. However, he stated he did not support either of the options presented by staff. He recommended the PUD Agreement move forward without a sidewalk connection. Councilmember Holden asked if the sidewalk connection could be recorded in the Final PUD and that it be constructed at a later date when future tenants were located within Arden Plaza. Interim City Planner Zweber recommended a cash payment be taken by the City in the amount of the engineer's estimate for the sidewalk connection and that an easement be received from Arden Plaza in alignment with Option 1. Councilmember Holden supported this recommendation. Mayor Grant also supported this suggestion. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler recommended that a timeframe be set on the sidewalk connection. Mayor Grant recommended this be determined by the City Attorney within the agreement. Councilmember Holmes believed it would be easy for pedestrians to cross over the grass during the summer months but questioned how pedestrians would cross the property during the winter months. She was of the opinion it was not fair to force MedExpress to pay for a sidewalk. that benefited another property. She recommended the sidewalk connection not proceed. Councilmember Holden believed Arden Plaza would greatly benefit through a sidewalk connection. Councilmember Holmes called the question. MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to direct staff to invest the option of creating an escrow in the amount of $6,000 for the sidewalk connection between Arden Plaza, MedExpress and the City. The motion carried (4-0). B. Planning Case 16-031 — Land O'Lakes — PUD Amendment — 4001 Lexington Avenue North This item was approved on the Consent Agenda. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 10. COUNCIL COMMENTS ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — NOVEMBER 14, 2016 6 Mayor Grant invited all to attend the TCAAP Open House in the Marsden Room at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility on Wednesday, November 16 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. He encouraged those in attendance to fill out a feedback form. Mayor Grant stated he received a nomination form from Northeast Youth and Family Services for Vthe 2017 Service to Youth Award. Ile explained an awards banquet would be held on Thursday, February 9. Ile reviewed a list of award winners from 1986 through 2016. He then provided each of the Councilmembers with a nomination form. Councilmeinber Holden asked that the trees on I lighway 96 be trimmed this winter. Councilmember Holden questioned if the City was seeking an intern to assist with the GreenStep Cities Program. Interim City Ad min istrator/Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson explained the City had not sought an intern. Councilmember Holden stated she wanted to have a discussion at an upcoming work -session meeting regarding traffic. She feared that the speed of traffic along Hamline Avenue was too high. Mayor Grant asked that Ramsey County place the speed board along Hamline Avenue to remind passing traffic of their rate of speed. Councilmember Holden reported she had not received her postcard yet regarding the TCAAP Open House. She believed that a two-day notification was in disappointing and thought a second open house may be necessary. Mayor Grant stated the has shared the meeting date and time with many individuals and hoped the City would have a nice turnout. Interim City Administrator/Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson explained the City has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Met Council for I&1. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember McCluniz moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to adiourn. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). Mayor Grant adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:50/4m. 11 J ie I lanson David Grant Clerk Mayor