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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-23-SWSMayor: David Grant lt Councilmembers: -AEN HILLS Brenda Holden Emily Rousseau Special City Council Work Tena Monson Tom Fabel Session Agenda October 23, 2023 Immediately Following Economic Development Authority Meeting City Hall Address: 1245 W Highway 96 Arden Hills MN 55112 Phone: 651-792-7800 Website: www.cityofardenhills.org City Vision Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well -maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. This meeting is open to the public and members of the public can attend in -person at City Hall or can access the meeting remotely by joining via Zoom (see Public Inquiries/Informational below for instructions) This meeting will be streamed live on local Cable Channel 16 and available for playback on our website. CALL TO ORDER 1. PUBLIC INQUIRIES/INFORMATIONAL Members of the public are invited to remotely monitor the City Council meeting via Zoom using the below link. Members are also welcome to provide public comments during this section of the agenda via Zoom. Members wishing to provide public comment must use the "raise hand" feature in Zoom to identify themselves as wanting to make a public comment and will be called upon to provide their public comment during this portion of the agenda. Those that speak must state their name and address for the record. HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM. US/J/83159543996 *Please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of Zoom to participate in the meeting* This is an opportunity for citizens to respectfully bring to the Council's attention any items which are relevant to the City. In addressing the Council, you must first state your name and address for the record. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes or less. Written documents may be distributed to the Council prior to the start of the meeting to allow a more timely presentation. Council will generally not respond at the same meeting where an issue is initially raised by a member of the public but the Council may refer the issue to staff for further research and possible report or action at a future Council meeting. 2. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INQUIRIES 3. AGENDA ITEMS 3.A. Newsletter Policy Update Luke Cardona, Senior Communications Coordinator Documents: MEMO.PDF ATTACHMENT A.PDF 3.B. TCAAP Discussion Dave Perrault, City Administrator Documents: MEMO.PDF 3.C. Council Retreat Discussion Dave Perrault, City Administrator Documents: MEMO.PDF 3.D. Solar Land Use Application Refund Discussion Jessica Jagoe, Community Development Director Documents: MEMO.PDF ATTACHMENT A.PDF 4. OPTIONAL ITEMS 4.A. Food Truck Discussion Julie Hanson, Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk Documents: MEMO.PDF 4.13. Council Tracker Dave Perrault, City Administrator Documents: MEMO.PDF 5. COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS ADJOURN AGENDA ITEM — 3A 'It ,ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Dave Perrault, City Administrator FROM: Luke Cardona, Senior Communications Coordinator SUBJECT: City Newsletter Policy Draft Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Council Should Consider Council should review the Newsletter Policy draft (Attachment A) created by Staff and be prepared to provide feedback and come to a consensus on any undetermined items in the policy draft. Background At the September 18 work session, City Staff and City Council discussed the creation of a Newsletter Policy, and Councilmembers answered a list of questions that helped guide a draft of the policy. The policy is intended to put in place a set of guidelines that Staff and other contributors will follow as it relates to the City newsletter. Ensuring Staff has clearly defined procedures when creating each edition of the newsletter. Discussion Items to be discussed in order to refine the Newsletter Policy draft: 1. Does Council agree with the sections in this policy (Statement, scope, volume, topic guidelines, topic submissions, etc.)? Are there any sections that should be added? If there are other/new sections Council thinks should be added, please disclose that. 2. How do City Councilmembers submit topic suggestions? Page 1 of 2 If a liaison continues to exist, then Staff recommends that person be point of contact for Councilmembers to submit topic suggestions to. Staff does not want to be put in the position of competing Council interests. Utilizing the appointed Council Liaison will ensure Staff is receiving suggestions from the agreed upon Council representative. If a liaison ceases to exist, then Staff recommends City Council involvement be limited proofreading each newsletter. Budget Impact N/A Attachments Attachment A — Newsletter policy draft. Page 2 of 2 Attachment A .ARZEN HILLS City Newsletter Policy & Procedure DRAFT Last updated: TBD Prepared by: Luke Cardona, Senior Communications Coordinator Approved by: [Name/s & date] Policy Statement: The City of Arden Hills is committed to providing its residents and businesses with informative, educational, and accurate information pertaining to the City. The Admin department will be responsible for publishing the City's newsletter, the Arden Hills Notes. Scope: This policy is intended to guide staff and the Council on how the City's newsletter should be created from start to finish. The lead communications person on staff is intended to enforce these policies and procedures to ensure the successful creation and distribution of each edition of the City newsletter. Volume: The City will produce ten (10) editions of the newsletter each year. Each edition will generally range from 4-10 pages in total. The following list includes the order of each edition: 1. January/February 2. March 3. April 4. May 5. June 6. July 7. August/September 8. October 9. November 10. December Topic Guidelines: In order to maintain a non -partisan newsletter, topic submissions that are partisan or political, that advocate for or against one position or another politically, that advocate for or against any political candidate, whether a national, state, or local candidate, or advocate for or against any religious or fraternal group or organization is prohibited. Topic Submissions: Topic requests are submitted to the City Administrator and the Senior Communications Coordinator. Requests will be accepted by the following individuals: City staff department heads, assistant directors, and managers Senior Communications Coordinator or another person(s) in communications position City Councilmembers (needs further discussion) Topic submissions by any other individuals must be routed through one of the individuals listed above. An email will be sent by the Senior Communications Coordinator at least seven (7) days in advance of the deadline (see below) requesting topic submissions. The email will be sent to the following individuals: • City Administrator • City Clerk • Deputy City Clerk • Department Directors (responsible for sharing with their teams) • City Councilmembers General staff members must submit their topic requests to their department head who will then route the request to the City Admin/Comms Coordinator. Committee and Commission members, with the majority of their committee/commission in support, must submit their topic requests to their staff liaison who will then route the request to their department head. The following topics will be regularly included in the City newsletter: • Ramsey County Recycling (6x per year minimum) • Stormwater (5x per year on various subtopics) • Development Projects/TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons Updates • Major Upcoming City Events (i.e., State of the City, notable Recreation events, Night to Unite, City Open Houses/Community Events) Topic Deadlines: Each newsletter edition (listed above under Volume) will have corresponding deadlines to submit topics. To ensure the production of each newsletter stays on track, topics will only be considered and/or approved for inclusion in the newsletter if it is received by the deadline of which the newsletter edition is requested. The deadline to submit topics for each edition is the first Friday of each month. The following dates are the deadlines in 2024: Deadline Newsletter Edition January 5,2024 January/February February 2, 2024 March March 1, 2024 Aril April 5, 2024 May May 3, 2024 June June 7, 2024 Jul August 2, 2024 August/September September 6, 2024 October October 4, 2024 November November 1, 2024 December Topics Final Approval: Not all topic requests are guaranteed to be approved upon submission. Factors like timing, relevance, newsletter spacing, or unaligned vision can all be a factor in a specific topic request not being approved. Newsletter topics will be approved based on the final priority: 1. If they were submitted by the deadline for the given edition 2. If the City Administrator deems a top high priority and importance The City Administrator will have the final say on the topics in each newsletter edition. Article Guidelines: It's important to provide high -quality and digestible content in the newsletter. When writing articles, things like timing, impact, and relevance should be taken into consideration. Timing — the newsletter is not a newspaper, so the timing in which some information is dispersed must be taken into consideration. Impact — each newsletter should impact a large portion of our audience. Creating content catered to just a few individuals is not impactful. Relevance — ensure the articles are appropriate for our audience during the month they will receive the newsletter. The following guidelines should be observed when writing articles: Use a clear subject line so readers clearly know what that article will be about. Include a clear call to action when applicable. If the article is intended to elicit a reaction from the reader, then provide a clear call to action, like a website to visit or a phone number to call. Keep articles as brief as possible. If there is content that requires more length, it should be posted on the City's website and include a short summary in the newsletter, directing readers to your website for the full article. Break up heavy text with bullet points and break every few sentences to create short, easy -to -read paragraphs. Include images to keep things engaging. Images should be clear, crisp, and not blurred. Only images captured by City officials or procured from a stock image website (either paid or free) can be used. Article Contributors: Newsletter articles will be primarily written by the City's communications staff person(s). Given the nature of the topic, other subject matter experts may be asked to write articles or short informative blubs. These contributors may include: • City Admin staff (City Admin, City Clerk, Deputy City Clerk) • Department Directors • General staff • Committee and Commission members Ramsey County Other partnering agencies or organizations Articles Final Approval: With the exception of City Council members, written articles will be sent for review to the person(s) who requested the article for inclusion in the newsletter. For example, if an article about the parks is requested, then the Public Works Director will have a chance to review the article and provide any edits and feedback. They may also include other individuals in the review process who are vested in the topic (i.e., Recreation Supervisor, Assistant Public Works Director, etc.). Newsletter Review Process Each newsletter edition will go through multiple rounds of reviews and edits. Below is the order in which each review will occur and who will be included. Note the newsletter is not limited to this review cycle and may consist of more when necessary. • Review #1: City Administrator, City Clerk, Senior Communications Coordinator, and • Review #2: Communications Liaison (content review) • Review #3: City Administrator and City Clerk • Review #4: Customer Service Specialist (proofreading) • Review #5: City Councilmembers (proofreading) • Review #6: City Administrator and City Clerk (content and proofreading) Note — after the newsletter is sent to the printer there is another 1-2 reviews that occur. Post Review Approval After all reviews have been completed, the final step is to approve the newsletter to send to the printer. The City Administrator has final approval of the newsletter. Once the City Administrator approves the final draft of the newsletter, the Senior Communications Coordinator will send that draft to the printing company. Allegra Printing Company Once the newsletter is sent to Allegra (see Newsletter SOP on how to complete this process), they will put it into proper layout and send a proof for review. At that time, the City Administrator, City Clerk, and Senior Communications Coordinator will review the newsletter one final time. If any minor edits need to be made, the Senior Communications Coordinator will send those directly to Allegra. Allegra will then make those edits and send back a final proof for review. Post Allegra Approval The City Administrator, City Clerk, and Senior Communications Coordinator will review the final version of the newsletter that Allegra sent. At that time, the City Administrator will provide final approval, and the Communications Coordinator will notify Allegra the newsletter is ready for print. Delivery Once the newsletter is approved, it will generally arrive in mailboxes 5-7 business days later. The digital version of the newsletter is shared online via the City's website and social media channels and is filed in Laserfiche. AGENDA ITEM — 3B 'It ,ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator SUBJECT: TCAAP Discussion Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A For Council Consideration Council will have the opportunity to comment on any TCAAP related items they so choose. Background N/A Budget Impact N/A Attachment N/A Page 1 of 1 AGENDA ITEM — 3C d ,-flI�EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator SUBJECT: Council Retreat Discussion Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A For Council Consideration Council should consider providing direction on moving forward with a Council Retreat in early 2024. Background This item was added to a worksession discussion at a recent Council meeting. The City Council had previously considered holding both a "norms of behavior" meeting with LMCIT and a Council Retreat with an outside facilitator. Both meetings have been dependent on scheduling and neither are scheduled the moment. Council should consider advising Staff to continue to pursue both, one of the two, or neither. If Council directs Staff to plan for meetings in 2024, Council should consider setting a date for the retreat and authorizing Staff to bring forward a proposal for approval at a City Council meeting. Budget Impact The meeting with LMCIT would not cost anything for the City, the Council Retreat would. It was previously anticipated that the Council Retreat would be in 2023, however, there is currently no plan to have one scheduled before the end of the year. There is $10,000 in next year's budget for a retreat/strategic planning session, the previous one -day proposal was for $11,000. Attachment N/A Page 1 of 1 AGENDA ITEM — 3D 'It ,ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Dave Perrault, City Administrator FROM: Jessica Jagoe, Community Development Director Julie Hanson, Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk SUBJECT: Solar Land Use Application Refund Discussion Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Council Should Consider Council should discuss and provide direction on a refund of the land use application fees to Mr. Wahlberg for a request to the City to amend the city code to allow ground -mounted solar arrays in residential zoning districts. Background At the October 9, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to bring back to the Council at a future work session the discussion regarding a potential refunding of the land use application fees to Mr. Wahlberg. Mr. Wahlberg had previously spoken at the City Council work session on August 21, 2023, during Public Inquiries to request the City reconsider its current policy to allow ground -mounted solar panels on residential properties when they are not visible to adjacent properties. Following his comments, staff did not receive direction from the City Council to bring this matter forward to the Planning Commission. As a result following that meeting, Mr. Wahlberg made the decision to initiate said request to the City. He applied on September 17ffi for a city code amendment that would allow for ground -mounted solar arrays in residential zoning districts. This type of land use request has a $400 application fee and $1,500 escrow. The Planning Commission reviewed this planning case at their meeting on October 41h. There was discussion amongst the Commission about the process for land use application fees. The Commission was generally supportive of the Council considering a refund since the code amendment would be applicable city-wide for residential properties rather than site specific. Page 1 of 2 Discussion Staff is looking for direction from the City Council on the potential full or partial refund of the land use application and escrow fees to Mr. Wahlberg. Budget Impact N/A Attachments Attachment A — Land Use Application Form Page 2 of 2 Attachment A 'It �- Il�)EN�HILLS 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, Minnesota 55112 Telephone (651) 792-7800 Fax (651) 634-5137 www.cityofardenhills.org Planning Case No. 23- Submittal Date Application Completed Date Accepted by Receipt Number Council Decision Council Decision Date 2023 LAND USE APPLICATION Applicant Information Applicant: Address: Telephone No.: Other: Fax No.: Email Address: Property Information Property Owner: Owner Address Owner Telephone No. Other: Address of Property Involved: Legal Description: Property ID No.: Type of Use: Zone: Property Acreage: Type of Request ❑ Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Fee: $550 + Escrow: $2,500) ❑ Conditional Use or Interim Use Permit/CUP or IUP Amendment (Fee: $400 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ Preliminary Plat (Fee: $500 + Escrow: $2,500) ❑ Final Plat (Fee: $450 + Escrow: $1,000) ❑ Concept Plan Review (Fee: $300 + Escrow: $750) ❑ Master Planned Unit Development or Master Special Development Plan (Fee: $600 + Escrow: $2,500) ❑ Final Planned Unit Development or Final Special Development Plan (Fee: $350 + Escrow: $2,000) ❑ Planned Unit Development Amendment or Special Develo ment Plan Amendment (Fee: $400 + Escrow: $1,500� ❑ Site Plan Review (Fee: $450 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ Rezoning or TCAAP Regulating Plan Amendment (Fee: $500 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ Zoning Code or TCAAP Redevelopment Code Amendment (Fee: $400 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ City Code Amendment (Fee: $350 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ Lot Split/Minor Subdivision (R-1 and R-2 Districts Only) (Fee: $350 + Escrow: $1,500) ❑ Variance or Permitted Adjustment (Fee: $350 + Escrow: $1,000) ❑ Vacation of Easement or Right -of -Way (Fee: $150 + Escrow: $1,000) ❑ Appeal of Administrative Decision (Fee: $150 + Escrow: $1,000) ❑ Land Use Requests — Not Already Specified (Fee: $150 + Escrow: $1,000 Page 1 of 3 Brief Description of Reauest (r)lease also include a tvped, detailed letter explaini *IMPORTANT* • Certain applications are subject to review and approval by the Rice Creek Watershed District. Contact RCWD directly at 763-398-3070 for additional information. • The land use application fees do not cover building, sign, or other permit fees that may be required upon approval of a land use application. • All applications will be subject to additional fees for reimbursement of consultant costs associated with filing, reviewing, and processing of application in the form of an escrow to the City. Filing & Information Requirements The City requests that you make a pre -application meeting with the Community Development Director to discuss the application process, requirements, and deadlines. Unless waived by the Community Development Director or Planning Commission, a certified survey of the property is required for all applications. A checklist with additional application requirements can be found at www.citvofardenhills.org/landuseapplications. Complete/Incomplete Applications Under Minnesota Statute, Chapter 15.99, cities have 15 business days to review all plans and application materials to ensure they satisfy City requirements. During the 15 day review period, planning staff will provide written comments on the application and may request plan revisions. If the application is determined to be complete, Minnesota State Statute then requires the City to approve or deny the application within 60 days, up to 120 days. If not complete, the City may require plan revisions and/or additional information before the application is scheduled for Planning Commission review and/or City Council action. Project will not be scheduled for any meeting until the application submittal is found to be complete by the Community Development Director. Payment of Fees and Escrows The undersigned acknowledges that she/he understands that before a land use application can be deemed complete, all required fees and escrows must be paid to the City. The applicant is responsible for all costs incurred by the City related to the processing of this application. Each separate land use request shall be charged a separate administrative fee and escrow even if submitted on the same application. Costs expended in reviewing and processing an application will be charged against the cash escrow and credited to the City. Charges to the escrow may include planning and engineering staff time, City Attorney and consulting fees, and mailing costs. If, at any time, a required cash escrow is depleted to less than 20 percent of its original amount, the applicant shall deposit additional funds in the cash escrow account as determined by the City. The City may withhold final action on a land use application, withhold building permits, and/or rescind prior action until all fees have been paid. Unused portions of an escrow are returned to the applicant upon successful implementation of an approved plan. The escrow may be reduced or increased by the Community Development Director on a project by project basis. Notice of Meetina Attendance In order for the Planning Commission and the City Council to consider any application, the applicant or a designated representative must be present at the scheduled meeting. If not, the matter may be tabled until the next available agenda. Page 2 of 3 Meeting Schedule Planning Commission meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM, though please contact City Hall to verify the meeting date and time. City Council meetings are held typically the last Monday of the same month at 7:00 PM. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at the City of Arden Hills, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden Hills, Minnesota 55112, unless otherwise stated. The schedules below are for reference purposes only. Project will not be scheduled for any meeting until the application submittal is found to be complete by the Community Development Director. 2023 Planning Commission and City Council Schedule (*subject to change) TENTATIVE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE* (Generally held on the first Wednesday after the first Monday at 6:30 .m. TENTATIVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE* (Generally held on the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m.) DEADLINE FOR LAND USE APPLICATION SUBMISSION (Pt day of the preceding month) January 4 January 23 December 1 2022 February 8 February 27 January 2 March 8 March 27 February 1 April 5 Aril 24 March 1 May 3 May 22 April 3 June 7 June 26 May 1 July 5 July 24 June 1 August 9 August 28 July 3 September 6 September 25 August 1 October 4 October 23 September 1 November 8 November 27 October 2 December 6 January 8 (2024) November 1 Acknowledgement and Signature I hereby apply for the above consideration and declare that the information and materials submitted with this application are complete and accurate per city code and ordinance requirements. I fully understand that I am responsible for all costs incurred by the City related to the processing of this application. Property Owner Signature (Required) Date Applicant Signature (If different than the property owner) Date Please contact the Community Development Director at 651-792-7800 if you have any questions regarding this application. Additional copies of this application form are available on the City's website: www.citvofardenhills.org/landusea,nplications Page 3 of 3 OPTIONAL ITEM — 4A ,-ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Dave Perrault, City Administrator FROM: Julie Hanson, Assistant to the City Administrator/City Clerk SUBJECT: Food trucks discussion Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Council Should Consider The City Council previously directed staff to bring the topic of food trucks forward to a worksession and may consider if it wants to pursue any changes to the current process for licensing and permits related to food truck operations in the city. Background/Discussion In 2017, City Council directed staff to research the topic of food truck operation as the practice was growing in popularity. At that point in time, if the City was made aware of a food truck operating in Arden Hills, the practice was to obtain a copy of the vendor's State of Minnesota Department of Health license (or Ramsey County license) and a Certificate of Insurance showing coverage for the business. Community Development staff had conducted background research as to what many other cities were doing and found there was a mix of those that had a licensing process already in place, those that were watching how the topic unfolded, and those that indicated they were not planning to regulate them due to having no issues. Based on Council direction to pursue requirement of a City issued mobile food unit/food truck license, staff worked with the City Attorney to amend City Code to include Mobile Food Unit Licensing and created an application form that includes the below required submittals: • Payment of $30 for a temporary license (7 days or less in a calendar year) • Payment of $100 for an annual license (8 days or more in a calendar year) • Written consent of the owner of private property (whether commercial or residential) A copy of the State of MN Dept of Health license or Ramsey County Health license • A Certificate of Insurance Once the required information has been received by staff, the Fire Marshal is notified and works directly with the vendor to conduct an inspection to ensure proper equipment is on site. It should Page 1 of 2 be noted that the licensing process typically occurs completely digitally via email, and a payment link is provided to the vendor for payment online of the license fee. The below table illustrates the number of temporary ($30) and annual ($100) licenses issued each year to date since this license was created (note the fees have remained the same since inception). Year Temporary Licenses Annual Licenses Total No. Issued 2018 26 0 26 2019 25 0 25 2020 4 0 4 2021 24 0 24 2022 46 2 48 2023 40 4 44 It should be noted that the majority of the above licenses are issued to vendors operating at commercial properties such as Boston Scientific and Land O' Lakes or at one of the local schools for an event. That said, over the course of 2021 and into 2022, the City Council discussed implementing a resident permit for hosting a mobile food unit/food truck in which the residential property owner obtains a no -fee permit from the City. The permit allows for a duration of 2 events/parties lasting no more than 3 days per event, per calendar year (similar to hosting a garage sale/boutique). Staff issued two such permits in 2022 and three so far in 2023. Council may wish to consider the following: 1. Does the Council wish to remove the designation of a temporary license and just have one, annual license with one standard fee? 2. Does the Council wish to revisit requiring a City issued license and revert back to only requiring that the vendors submit the Minnesota Department of Health food license or Ramsey County license and proof of insurance? 3. Does the Council wish to revisit requiring the no fee, resident food truck permit? 4. Does the Council wish to leave the process and fees for the vendor license and/or the resident permit as they currently are and make no changes? Budget Impact The City has collected approximately $1,600 annually the past two years with these fees, and any implications to the revenue will depend on what Council wants changed. Attachments 110M Page 2 of 2 OPTIONAL ITEM — 4B ,-ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 23, 2023 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator SUBJECT: Council Tracker Update Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Council Should Consider The Council should provide further direction on items presented on the Council Request Tracker. Background City Council will receive a verbal update on items the Council has previously directed staff to research and/or bring forward. Discussion N/A Budget Impact N/A Attachments N/A Page 1 of 1