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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-18-WS - A EN HILLS Approved: May 14, 2018 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APRIL 16,2018 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, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Steve Scott Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault; Public Works Director/City Engineer Sue Polka; Finance Director Gayle Bauman; City Clerk Julie Hanson; Joe Lux, Ramsey County Planning Specialist; Ehlers Senior Financial Specialist Jeanne Vogt and State Representative Randy Jessup 1. AGENDA ITEMS Two items were added to the agenda at the request of Councilmember Holden: the TCAAP Cartridge (added as Item 1I) and City Logo Clothing for Councilmembers (added as Item 1J). A. Legislative Update State Representative Randy Jessup provided an overview and update of current legislative actions being considered. He briefly discussed tax conformance legislation and stated he will work diligently in regard to this issue. Mayor Grant requested that State government strive to ensure Minnesota's tax language reflect the regulation changes made by the Federal government. State Representative Jessup touched briefly on additional initiatives of importance that included school shootings, the opioid crisis,the pension bill, and sexual exploitation. State Representative Jessup discussed his support of the Early College initiative within the Mounds View School District and stated he will be seeking funding up to $250,000 for this initiative. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 19, 2018 2 Councilmember Holden stated that regarding gun safety and school safety, she would like to see education about gun safety begin at the point in which students are at the bus stop or on the bus and not just once they walk through the school's doors. Representative Jessup stated there is a plan to conduct outside audits of the schools in the Mounds View District. A discussion ensued regarding the Emergency Center and the Primer Tracer area located in TCAAP. B. Cooperative Agreement—County Road E Intersection Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka indicated that Ramsey County is requesting partnering with the City regarding intersection improvements at Old Snelling Avenue and County Road E/La Johanna Boulevard. The County would like to make the improvements in conjunction with the City's improvement project at this location and is suggesting a study be performed regarding options. The County's Cooperative Agreement was provided which spelled out the City's financial contribution to the study. Ramsey County Planning Specialist Joe Lux indicated the County is considering a roundabout at this location as the most feasible improvement. Currently there is a four-way stop at this location. Mayor Grant expressed concern over a roundabout and how it would affect traffic backup. Mr. Lux stated that a roundabout would be the most efficient form of traffic management at this location. He stated that a traffic signal, while better than a four-way stop, would be inefficient most times throughout the day. He indicated that crash data also supports the fact that roundabouts are more effective than four-way stops and signals. He indicated the City would be asked to contribute 25%towards the cost of constructing the roundabout. Councilmember Holden asked if the County would build the roundabout and not charge the City if the City does not provide consent. Mr. Lux indicated that if the City does not provide consent for a roundabout at this location, the County would not proceed with constructing a roundabout. Councilmember Scott asked about emissions as there would be less cars idling at a stop sign or stoplight. Mr. Lux indicated that studies have shown that is correct that emissions are reduced in a roundabout situation. Councilmember Holmes stated that while she did not initially support a roundabout, she does support performing a study. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 19, 2018 3 Councilmember McClung stated that he also supports that a study be performed and is supportive of roundabouts in general. He asked that the Council have no predisposed position regarding the matter. Mayor Grant and Councilmember Holden both stated that they support Ramsey County conducting a study at the location. The Council directed City staff and Ramsey County to move forward with conducting a traffic study at Old Snelling Avenue and County Road E/Lake Johanna Boulevard. C. Utility Rate Study City Administrator Perrault asked the Council to provide final direction regarding the utility rate study performed by Ehler's. He noted the Council had reviewed the study's findings at its work sessions in January, February and March this year. Ehlers Senior Financial Specialist Jeanne Vogt discussed the most recent changes based on feedback received from the Council at the March work session. She stated that updates to the Water Utility fund and rates as outlined in Option 1 included adjusting bonding to the recommended $2.5 million and smoothing out rate increases at 6.5% for 2018-2022 with a 2% increase for 2023 and beyond. Ms. Vogt reviewed updates to the Sewer Utility fund as requested by Council that included an increase in the base charge from $46.41 to $50.00 per quarter and to smooth out rate increases at 6.5% for 2018-2021 with a 3.5% increase for 2022 and beyond. These figures are also reflected in Option 1. The Council directed Ms. Vogt to update the project costs for Sewer Lining Rehabilitation on slide 20 of the presentation. The table should reflect $200,000 each year from 2018 through 2022. A short discussion ensued regarding the PIR fund. Ms. Vogt noted that the updated rates as presented do not include TCAAP. The Council was asked to select either Option 1 (combine water meter and standby charges with new sewer structure as revised) or Option 2 (combine water meter and standby charges with existing sewer structure). The Council was in full agreement and directed staff to move forward with Option 1 and to place this item on the May 14 regular meeting agenda for approval. D. Staff Recommendations on Planning Cases Mayor Grant requested that City staff no longer make recommendations regarding approval or denial of planning cases to the Planning Commission. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 19, 2018 4 A discussion ensued and all Councilmembers were in agreement that staff should provide the facts related to the planning case but should not include a written recommendation in the corresponding memorandum. E. Old Highway 10 Mail Delivery Mayor Grant requested an update regarding City staff s efforts to resolve the issue with mail delivery for those 16 properties located on Old Highway 10 in Arden Hills. For approximately the last two years, residents on Old Highway 10 in Arden Hills have experienced difficulties with mail delivery as a result of the City of Mounds View changing the name of Old Highway 10 to Mounds View Boulevard for that portion of this roadway in Mounds View that is north of County Road H. City Administrator Perrault stated that staff had followed up with the US Postal Service, the City of Mounds View and Ramsey County. The Post Office indicated that they have made the change in their database and the correction should cause no disruption to mail delivery service. City Administrator Perrault also indicated that it had been verified that Ramsey County's GIS information was correct and lists Old Highway 10 in Arden Hills. Councilmember Holden requested staff confirm that 911 emergency services has the correct information so that services would not be adversely impacted by the address discrepancy. Mayor Grant directed staff to provide a letter to the 16 affected properties in Arden Hills to confirm that their address is Old Highway 10 (and not Mounds View Boulevard) and to let them know the City has worked with the various entities to correct the situation. He also asked that an update be provided in the Admin Update. F. Communications Update Communications Coordinator Skelly provided a presentation regarding the status of the website platform upgrade. The presentation included progress and deliverables met to date, website analytics,project goals, and a timeline. Communications Coordinator Skelly requested an additional 90 hours of time to move the project forward in order to meet the targeted go-live date of March 2019. The Council approved the additional hours and asked that the item be placed on the April 23 regular meeting agenda for formal approval. G. 2018 Elections Process—Early Voting City Clerk Hanson asked for Council direction regarding whether or not the administration of early voting (which is the week prior to the Primary and also General Election Day) should be held at City Hall this fall. She indicated Ramsey County has expanded its locations for all Ramsey County voters and that one of the early voting locations will be at the Ramsey County Public Works facility in Arden Hills. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 19, 2018 5 Due to the close proximity of an available voting location for Arden Hills' residents as well the convenience provided to Ramsey County voters in general, the Council directed staff to have Ramsey County administer early voting. Staff will communicate the change in early voting locations options via the City newsletter, website and Facebook. H. Compensation Study City Administrator Perrault stated that at the retreat in March, Council directed staff to contact consultant George Gmach regarding a proposal for services for a compensation study. A proposal was received from Mr. Gmach and provided to Council in the agenda packet together with a tentative schedule. City Administrator Perrault stated that Mr. Gmach has many years of experience and that staff recommends moving forward with Mr. Gmach's services. A short discussion ensued and the Council directed staff to reach out to other cities for references and to place this item on the April 23 regular meeting agenda for approval. I. TCAAP Cartridge Councilmember Holden requested that this item be added to the agenda. She stated that an individual had reached out to the City a couple of years ago regarding a TCAAP cartridge that is currently in the UK. Thanksgiving Field and its initiative, known as Mission I I5Z "Going Home" seeks to return certain artifacts to their place of origin. Councilmember Holden indicated that the City had reached out to the individual from Thanksgiving Field that provided this information to the City previously but had not been able to make contact with him. She stated that she would like staff to pursue this matter. The Council directed staff to reach out to Thanksgiving Field in an effort to retrieve the TCAAP cartridge. J. City Logo Clothing for Councilmembers Councilmember Holden requested that this item be added to the agenda. She stated that she would like to purchase City logo clothing for the Council to wear at City events. A discussion ensued regarding ordering a short-sleeved, polo type shirt and also a long-sleeved shirt. Mayor Grant asked that the Councilmembers receive the same clothing option for uniformity. The Council agreed and staff was directed to provide a couple of clothing options to the Council for consideration. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES None. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 19, 2018 6 ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 8:15 p.m. CDr& %C���� zaj�,-,)k Julie a son David Grant City Vrk Mayor