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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-21-SWSCity of Arden Hills ▪1245 West Highway 96 ▪ Arden Hills Minnesota 55112 Phone 651.792.7800 ▪ Fax 651.634.5137 ▪ www.cityofardenhills.org Request for Special City Council Work Session A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers. Reason for meeting: 1A. Shoreland Ordinance and Lake Classification Discussion 1B. COVID-19 Operations Requested Date: 06/07/2021 Requested time: 5:45 pm or immediately following the Joint Development Authority (JDA) meeting Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s) making request: ________________________ 06/04/2021 Mayor or Council Member Date / / Council Member Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received: 6/04/2021 Date meeting to be held: 06/07/2021 Time of meeting: 5:45 pm or immediately following the Joint Development Authority (JDA) meeting Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. 6/04/2021 Signature of City Clerk Date �-fiRZEN HILLS Approved: June 28, 2021 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JUNE 7, 2021 5:45 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 5:45 p.m. Note: On March 20`h' 2020 the Mayor signed a determination allowing Councilmembers to participate in City Council meetings via telephone pursuant to State Statute 13D.021 Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and Steve Scott Absent: Councilmember Dave McClung Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault and Senior Planner Jessica Jagoe 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Shoreland Ordinance and Lake Classification Discussion Senior Planner Jagoe stated at its May 24, 2021 Regular Meeting, the City Council reviewed the Zoning Code Amendment for Planning Case 21-008 to permit accessory storage sheds within the required structure setback from the ordinary high water level of up to 100 square feet in size and 8 feet in height. At that meeting, the City Council tabled the amendment to allow for further discussion and review of lake classifications. Staff provided detailed historical information for the Council for the City's shoreland ordinance, the lakes classifications, and commented on the proposed Ordinance revisions. Senior Planner Jagoe explained in 1969, the State of Minnesota passed the Shoreland Management Act due to concerns over rapid development, crowding, and declining water quality and recreational value of the State's lakes and rivers. From 1967-1982, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) noted a shoreland development increase by about 74% with conversion of seasonal cabins to permanent dwellings and development of new permanent homes. This act directed the DNR to develop rules and oversee programs for shoreland management for Cities and Counties. In 1976, the DNR adopted Shoreland rules for Cities. These Shoreland rules are MN Rules Chapter 6120, Shoreland and Floodplain Management. In response ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 7, 2021 2 to the adoption of State rules, the City in 1984 studied the differences between our existing zoning controls and the State Shoreland Management Standards. This research and review was completed by a Shoreland subcommittee. Their recommendations for reclassification of several lakes, and relaxation of lot area and lot coverage requirements were presented to and supported by both the Planning Commission and City Council. On December 26, 1984, the City submitted a preliminary request to the DNR for comment prior to submittal of the formal request. This letter included a summary of City comments for seeking the lake reclassification which were due to existing development and present zoning being relatively compatible with the requirements of General Development, the lot area requirements of Recreational Development classification exceed existing development (95%+ developed) and present zoning, and General Development classification more compatible with development around the lake. The City received a response from the DNR of a willingness to accept all of the requested changes with the exception of riparian lot dimensions for Valentine Lake. Based on that direction, the City Council passed Resolution 85-22, Lake Reclassification and Zoning Provision Modifications on May 13, 1985 to request official approval from the DNR. Senior Planner Jagoe commented in 2019, the City contacted the DNR upon discovery of the discrepancy between the shoreland classification for Lake Johanna. The DNR replied to the City acknowledging receipt of a 1984 request for shoreland reclassification of Lake Johanna, Little Johanna Lake, and Karth Lake from Recreational Development to General Development, but noted that there was no record of ever receiving the resolution, and therefore the DNR did not finalize the classification changes. It was stated that the DNR still concurs with the reasoning supporting the requested reclassifications of these three lakes made in 1984 and is ready to officially adopt the new classifications upon receipt of a resolution. City staff is unsure if Resolution 85-22 was submitted to the DNR and/or if it was misplaced in processing on their end. However, no formal action has been taken to date by the DNR for formal approval. Senior Planner Jagoe reported this past month City staff contacted Dan Scollan, East Metro Area Hydrologist with the DNR, regarding next steps and available options for proceeding with Resolution 85-22. Mr. Scollan has indicated that the DNR has reviewed the 1984/85 documentation and would proceed with approval of Resolution 85-22 as submitted. Their decision in support of the reclassifications is the result of the lake classification factors having not appreciably changed since 1985. Looking at all of the classification criteria holistically, the DNR still agrees with the City's reasoning presented in 1985 and concurs that the area development is still consistent with the 1985 Council request as outlined. As an alternate, the DNR would also process reclassification of just one of the lakes in Resolution 85-22, but would need submittal of a new resolution that requests only the reclassification(s) the City is currently seeking. It should be noted that a change on the City's part in lake classification other than what is noted under current ordinance may result in existing development/structures around that particular lake becoming legal nonconforming due to newly applicable lot dimensional standards (i.e. lot area, lot width, and setbacks). Councilmember Holden asked if lake classification was based solely on the size of the lake. Senior Planner Jagoe explained the DNR has several data points that are used when determining a lake classification. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 7, 2021 3 Mayor Grant questioned if staff knew the total number of homes on Lake Little Johanna. Senior Planner Jagoe stated in the 1984 analysis there were six existing water front lots. She commented she could not confirm the current number of homes. Councilmember Holden reported in her opinion nothing has really changed when it comes to the extensive use for Lake Johanna. She noted this lake has a regional park which meant there was no less pressure on this lake than in 1985. She supported the City submitting to the 1985 Resolution classifying each of the lakes in Arden Hills general development. Councilmember Scott asked if the City's classifications matched the DNR for Sunfish Lake and Round Lake. Senior Planner Jagoe reported this was the case. Councilmember Scott commented he was not interested in changing the classification for Sunfish Lake or Round Lake, but agreed with Councilmember Holden that the 1985 Resolution should be resubmitted to reclassify Lake Johanna from recreational development to general development. Councilmember Holmes supported this recommendation given the amount of development and use on Lake Johanna. Councilmember Holden commented further on the intensity of use for Lake Johanna. Mayor Grant stated he favored sending forward Resolution 85-22. He indicated he was not interested in reclassifying these lakes, but rather wanted to see them remain general development. He asked if this was something staff could handle administratively or would the Council have to take action on this item at a future meeting. City Administrator Perrault explained staff would be submitting the Resolution administratively and the Council would consider the City's Shoreland Ordinance Amendment for reclassification of Little Johanna at a future meeting. B. COVID-19 Operations City Administrator Perrault stated the City is currently operating under a modified COVID-19 operations plan. As mitigation measures continue to be rolled back at the State and Federal level, the City Council may want to consider making modifications to current operations. Those operations include: - City Hall re-opening to the public: City Hall is slated to tentatively open to the public on July 1 st, however, that was before the mask mandate repeal. City Staff is expected to return to City Hall in-full on June 14th; given the mask mandate and capacity limits have been repealed, staff questioned if the Council wanted to consider opening City Hall to the public on June 14th. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 7, 2021 4 - City meetings in-person: As part of the COVID-19 state of emergency, meetings have been held remotely. When City Hall re-opens to the public, it would be prudent to have public meetings in-person again. The other complicating factor is whether or not the Governor repeals his emergency declaration, which is slated to run through June 14th unless extended another thirty days. City Administrator Perrault explained should the Governor extend his emergency declaration another thirty days, the City can continue with its current plan of June 14th having Staff back in the office, and July 1 st for re-opening to the public and in-person meetings. If the Governor does not extend his emergency declaration, does the City want to follow suit? This would mean that on June 14th Council would have an item rescinding its emergency order and starting June 15th City Hall would re-open to the public and in-person meetings would resume (the June 14th meeting would still be held remotely regardless of the Governor's actions). We may not know if the Governor is planning to extend his emergency declaration until later in the week, and the appropriate item for Council will be drafted at that time. - Other COVID-19 mitigation measures: Staff is planning a lift on other COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as, the mask mandate on June 14th (City employees have continued to wear masks while indoors). We are also planning on events that would normally take place later in the summer, such as, Bark and Rec Day, the Penny Carnival (late July), and the required annual stormwater protection public meeting. Another item recently discussed by Staff is the Committee/Commission picnic; this would be a good "back to normal" event to hold in early August. Unless Council needs to discuss further, Staff can be begin planning for that event, too. Lastly, as a heads up to Council, we did grant some flexibility last year to businesses to expand outdoor operations (seating, serving of alcohol, etc.), the resolution specifically noted that this flexibility would end when businesses can resume normal operations. We believe restaurants currently can operate normally, and this would trigger the end of any expanded outdoor operations. We only received three requests last year for this, and to the best of our knowledge none of the three businesses are continuing the expanded outdoor operations, but we can formally reach out and inform them the flexibility is no longer applicable (unless Council wanted to consider allowing it on a temporary basis). - Summer Hours: As previously noted to Council, the Public Works crew is operating on summer hours; however, City Hall is still on its normal 8:00 am to 4:30 pm schedule. An item will be brought forward to Council for official approval at an upcoming meeting that would set City Hall's schedule on summer hours starting July 6th. Mayor Grant supported City Hall reopening on July 1 St Councilmember Scott concurred with this recommendation. Councilmember Holden stated some cities have reopened and some have not. She reminded the public that Arden Hills has a very small number of staff members and she did not want to lose any staff members to COVID. She supported the Mayor and City Administrator making a decision on when to reopen City Hall. She questioned how much business the City was doing with the public on Friday afternoons. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 7, 2021 5 City Administrator Perrault commented Fridays were typically slower. He estimated there were 10 or less visits from the public on Friday afternoons. Councilmember Holmes supported moving forward with the original plan. Mayor Grant stated there was general agreement to move forward with the original plan. He asked if the Council supported City staff starting summer hours after July 51n Councilmember Holden commented she supported staff beginning summer hours after July 5tn Councilmember Scott indicated he was neutral on this matter given the fact City Hall has already been closed to the public for over a year. He stated he would trust the Mayor and City Administrator to make a determination on this matter. Councilmember Holmes explained she supported staff moving to summer hours because this was part of moving things back to normal. Mayor Grant questioned how the Council wanted to proceed with summer recreational activities. He commented on the lowering trend for COVID numbers. He noted he was okay with the City hosting events again this summer. Councilmember Holden supported all recreational activities coming back this summer. Councilmember Holmes and Councilmember Scott agreed. Councilmember Holden stated she would like to talk about flexibility for local businesses and outdoor operation. Mayor Grant commented this was not an item on the agenda. Councilmember Holden explained this item was within the staff memo. She reported she did not have a problem with leaving this flexibility in place until January of 2022. Councilmember Scott and Councilmember Holmes concurred. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES Councilmember Holden encouraged the City to not tag people for long grass at this time. She stated she did not want to mow her grass for fear of it burning out due to the drought. Councilmember Holden explained she received an email regarding Cummings Park and the use of the pavilions. She requested staff consider how to address the dumping of hot charcoal within the park. Mayor Grant reported the Arden Hills Foundation was considering how to address this matter. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 7, 2021 6 Councilmember Holden stated she spoke to a gentleman from the Twin Cities Visitor's Bureau recently and she requested the Council receive a presentation from this organization. Councilmember Holden commented she would like to receive a water report annually and would like to better understand how much water the City was losing on an annual basis. Councilmember Holden stated the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary was building four little libraries. She asked if the City was willing to allow these libraries to be installed in City right-of- way versus having to be put into resident's yards. Mayor Grant commented he would like to receive an update on water meter readings. City Administrator Perrault explained staff was preparing an update for the Council regarding how the City conducts its water meter readings. Mayor Grant noted Kim Tamble resigned from the Arden Hills Foundation and the Foundation was now seeking additional members. City Administrator Perrault welcomed Senior Planner Jessica Jagoe to the City of Arden Hills. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 6:41 p.m. o� iao JqClerk Hanson David Grant C Mayor