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--ARZEN HILLS
Approved: November 13, 2017
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
OCTOBER 16, 2017
5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Work
Session at 5:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Dave McClung, Fran
Holmes and Steve Scott
Absent: None
Also present: City Administrator William Joynes, Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue
Polka, Interim Director of Finance and Admin Services Dave Perrault, Deputy Clerk Jolene
Trauba, Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly, Roseville School District Board Members
Mike Boguszewski and Kitty Gogins, Ehlers, Inc. Senor Financial Advisor/Director Stacie
Kvilvang, and Ramsey County Sheriff Commander Rich Clark
1. AGENDA ITEMS
A. INTRODUCTION OF DAWN SKELLY, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Interim Director of Finance and Admin Services Dave Perrault introduced the new
Communications Coordinator, Dawn Skelly, to the Council.
Communications Coordinator Skelly gave a brief history of her background.
B. ROSEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM
Roseville School District Board Members Mike Boguszewski and Kitty Gogins gave a presentation
with information relevant to the upcoming bond referendum. A "Building Bond Facts" booklet was
also distributed.
Councilmember Brenda Holden arrived at 5:15 p.m.
Mayor David Grant noted that the Council does not take a position on referendums. He asked if there
was a committee working to help pass the referendum.
Mr. Boguszewski stated there is a "Yes" committee, called Commitment 2 R Schools. He also noted
that Emmet D. Williams School is the default school for the Arden Hills residents in the district.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 16, 2017 2
C. COUNCIL POLICIES
Mayor Grant introduced this item as a place to start a discussion in regard to Council policies, both
formal and informal. He mentioned the purchasing policy and it was noted that the City Administrator
can approve up to $7500 for budgeted items, and $5000 for unbudgeted items.
Mayor Grant also wished to discuss hiring and the Personnel Committee. He noted that Council
should approve job postings and the Council will decide if the position is within the budget. The
Personnel Committee makes recommendations and the full Council decides whether or not to approve
the selection.
Councilmember Holden requested the header on the memos show the budgeted amount for the item
being presented.
Interim Director of Finance and Admin Services Perrault noted that beginning in January the
memo will be identical for each department with the budgeted or non -budgeted amount listed on each
memo.
Staff stated there is a list of Council issues and concerns. (This language was added by Council as part
of their motion to approve the minutes.)
Councilmember Holden wondered about the process for Staff to respond to resident comments and
complaints. She also felt Council should be kept more informed through the Admin Update.
Mayor Grant stated that the Admin Update should include more information on the day to day work
of Staff, meetings, and learning opportunities.
City Administrator William Joynes noted that the new Communications Coordinator will be working
on communicating information with the Council. The Council has the opportunity to meet with the
Communications Coordinator to establish the types of things they want to know and how they would
like to receive it.
D. DEVELOPMENT FEE AND UTILITY RATE STUDY
Ehlers, Inc. Senor Financial Advisor/Director Stacie Kvilvang briefly reviewed the proposal for a
Development Fee Analysis for TCAAP and a city wide Utility Rate Study. The biggest issue will be the
timing for the water tower, booster station and lift station at TCAAP. There will be a need to have
adequate reserves in case the City needs to borrow against the Utility Fund. The study will look at
different options involving user fees or trunk charges against the properties. Recommendations will be
made about how and when to bill for the water tower, along with risk based scenarios. The last rate
study was in 2008.
After discussion, Mayor Grant directed Staff to put this item on the next Council agenda for potential
approval.
E. STATE FAIR PARKING RECAP
Ramsey County Sheriff Commander Rich Clark noted that State Fair parking went better this year
than last. He said in 2016 the Sheriff's Department fielded a lot of complaints that needed to be
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 16, 2017 3
addressed, but a plan was put in place to cut down parking in certain residential areas and this year the
City had fewer complaints.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue Polka discussed suggestions for next year. The first was
to place more signs along the no parking areas. It was suggested to use cardboard signs on wooden
stakes that could be spaced closer, making it very clear where there is no parking. The Sheriff's Office
also suggested that additional no parking be designated on the east side of Pine Tree Drive, south of
County Road E. Another option would be to paint the intersection radii yellow permanently, however
there are no curbs on several street intersections.
Councilmember Dave McClung wondered if instead of painting the curbs if the no parking signs
could be placed closer to the stop signs.
Commander Clark said an option would be to put a "no parking from here to stop sign" sign.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka noted that Staff would meet with the Sheriff's office
again before the 2018 State Fair to be sure the best plan is in place.
Mayor Grant asked if "no parking here to corner" signs could left in place, or if there could be a
combination of metal and wood signs.
Council consensus was to use a combination of the current metal signs and the wooden lathe signs
during the 2018 State Fair, and to increase the no parking area on Pine Tree Drive.
Commander Clark assured Council that patrolling would be heavier in the area during the fair, and
they will do a walk-through of the signage approximately one week before the fair starts.
F. SPEED SIGNS
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka stated that she met with Deputy Sheriff Mike Casey and
discussed the best places to put the variable speed signs. Deputy Casey felt the best place would be on
Hamline Ave, south of Highway 96, but the most treacherous area is on Old Highway 10 south of 694.
The signs are the permanent signs that were removed and replaced on County Road E2.
Councilmember McClung noted that he has been seeing other cities adding variable speed signs, and
he felt there are several routes in Arden Hills that would benefit from having them installed, in addition
to the two currently being discussed.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka commented that the Old Highway 10 and Parkshore
Drive location is more critical based on at the number of crashes in the area. The Sheriff's office feels
that roadway could use upgrading such as this to make it safer. She also said she will find information
on costs for additional signs.
Mayor Grant directed staff to put the portable speed sign on Ingerson Road.
Council requested that Arden Hills owned speed sign be taken out and utilized.
Staff will locate the best placement for the variable speed signs on Old Highway 10.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 16, 2017 4
Councilmember Holden asked about the comment in the paper that stated the Council was supporting
the Amazon proposal, and that she wasn't supportive without knowing what the proposal was.
Mayor Grant reiterated that the Council chose Alatus as the developer, and gave them the right to
market the property.
Councilmember Steve Scott noted the speed sign at Valentine Elementary wasn't working.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka said she had placed a call to have the signs fixed.
Councilmember Steve Scott stated that he had received a complaint about the crosswalk on Hamline
Avenue near Floral Park, and that cars aren't stopping for pedestrians trying to cross the street.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka will speak with Ramsey County about making the
signage at the crosswalk more visible.
Councilmember Fran Holmes asked about early voting at City Hall for this year's election.
Deputy Clerk Jolene Trauba explained there would be no early voting at City Hall because the only
items on the ballot are school referendums, and so early voting is being handled by the School Districts
and Ramsey County.
Councilmember Holmes mentioned that it is hard to turn left at Lake Valentine Road and Old
Snelling and that everyone had received an email from a resident. Public Works Director/City Engineer
Polka will be looking into it.
Mayor Grant asked if there were any updates on the new hotel and Rice Creek Watershed District,
and the proposed Pulte townhome project.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka said she thought the hotel had received approval from
Rice Creek Watershed, and that Pulte had withdrawn their application for the townhome development.
Interim Director of Finance and Admin Services Perrault noted there may be a Special Work
Session on November 27, prior to the regular Council meeting.
ADJOURN
Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 6:52 p.m.
David Grant
Mayor