HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 08-19-2002
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MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, AUGUST 19,2002,4:45 P.M.
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Probst callcd the meeting to order at 4:45 P.rn.
Present: COLUlcil Members Beverly Aplikowski, David Grant, Lois Rem, and
Gregg Larson.
Also present: Administrator, Joe Lynch; Director of Operations and
Maintenance, Tom Moore; Director of Community Services, Aaron Pan-ish;
Accountant, Ten-y Post; Attorney Jerry Filla; and Deputy Clerk, Cynthia
Young.
2.A Community Services - TCAAP Updates
1. Representative Betty McCollum
Reprcsentative McCollum presented and reviewed a document map of TCAAP,
disposal report from the Department of Army, original cost for the property,
acrcage report, a copy of the status of Rice Creek, the disposal process sheet, and
other public uses report.
Representative McCollum's assistant said the sum property, minus 276 acres,
which is licensed to National Guard, left 774 acres of which 113 acres is Rice
Creek Corridor, leaving 661 acres for Title 10 for the full early transfer process.
Mayor Probst thanked Representative McCollum for joining Arden Hills at the
Work Session.
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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
August 19, 2002
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2. Carol Swenson University of Minnesota Design Center
Ms. Swenson said shc had coordinated the community dialogue, which covered
four general topic areas: Transportation; Natural Resources and Parks; responses to
the Community Dialogue questionnaire; and the Environmental Clean-up issLles.
Shc reviewed the citizen's concerns and recommendations. She said people are
very intercsted and compassionatc about the site, and still fom1ally tracking the
Vento Plan [or this propcrty. She suggested a more public interpretation of the
following of the baseline Vento Plan.
Council Member Rem said her disappointment with this community process was
the scheduling [of meetings], and shc would like to see more opportunities for
resident input.
Mr. Parrish presented the TCAAP Master Planning Advisory Panel chart.
Mayor Probst said the public process is as it is, and ultimately, the City Council
was the decision maker, and a certain comfort level for them was necessary. He
noted a strong baseline is in place for the Vento Plan, and reaffirmed thc
commitment to follow it.
Council Member Grant said the Vento Plan originally envisioned the development
of more acreagc.
Council Member Larson stated the real pending issue is how much land is
available tor development. He said if the City were truly adhering to the Vento
Plan, the City Council had to look beyond the excess area.
Ms. Swenson said she will retum to rcport to the City Council at its September 16,
2002, Work Session meeting.
2.3.ii Interim Development Agreement
Mr. Filla presented a sixth draft of the Interim Development Agreement, and
reviewed recommended amendments and principle changes, stating it is going to
takc two years or more to become aware of thc entirc environmcntal issucs. Hc
said he wanted to make it clcar that this agreement acknowledges the 661 acres.
He said the City should plan to access the excess areas.
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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
August 19,2002
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Council Member Larson was agreeable to the current draft agreement, which is
consistent with the Vento Plan. Hc questioned why the planning in the excess area
is limited to just that area and did not inelude land that fell into the developable site
in phase one.
;\1r. Filla said he limited the agreement because the planning had to be donc now,
staying true to the Vento Plan. He said he would amend the document to illustrate
thc development of the Vento Reuse plan that is shown.
Council Member Grant exprcssed his eoncems regarding what would be permitted
in the excess areas.
Mr. Filla said he would prepare the agreement for the August 26, 2002 City
Council meeting.
Council Member Rem asked about the insurance costs provision, and another
provision which indicated a elarification of language relating to the City
Administrator decision making regarding budgetary expenditures without Council
approval.
Council Member Larson agreed, and asked for further scrutiny within this
document and following situations.
2.3.i Critical Path Chart
Jolm Hink presented Figure One, which detailed the Work Program and Schedule.
He noted the schedule was admittedly ambitious, but also mentioned that this was
in linc with the Army's scheduling, as well.
Administrator Lynch said Jolm Hink rcquestcd thc City Council approvc thc Work
Program and Schcdule, so the chart could be displayed at City Hall and readily
available for public viewing.
2.B.l Finance - 2003 Budget Discussion
Mr. Post reviewed the 2003 Salary and Benefit portion of the budget, stating the
salaries that are not levy supported are supported by utility billing rights and
TCAAP funds. He also noted the figures prescnted did not indicate the results of
the LRA market study results.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
August 19,2002
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Council Member Larson asked how some administrative salaries had incrcased so
rapidly.
Mr. Post said the City expandcd some positions, and some ncw staff had moved
through the "steps" quicker than predicted.
Council Member Grant suggested the draft budget indicated a greater disparity
between bargaining unit staff and non-bargaining unit staff costs for benefits.
Council Member Larson said it was reasonable to allocate salaries to TCAAP and
other funds, but to be sensitive to the long term issues.
Mayor Probst asked when the levy figure needed to be submitted to Ramsey
County.
Mr. Post said by September 15, 2002 and the levy could be capped, high. He
asked the Council what its gencral "comfort level" perccntage was.
. Mr. Lynch suggested using 5.1 %, make the decisions, and bring back to the
Council in two weeks. He mentioned this could afford the Council more time to
discuss other issues, and it may bc a safer bet is to go up the full amount.
Mayor Probst said he would deelarc his own bias, that being he wants to keep the
increase no higher than 2.99%
Mr. Post said the State price inflater indicates a 1.7% increase.
Council Member Aplikowski said she could see the levy increasing somewhere
between 3% and the 5%.
Council Member Larson stated he was not in agreement with the 5% figure, but
stated thcre was some value in 3%.
DiJ-ector of Operations & Maintenance Report: NONE
Director of Community Services Report: No Additional Rcport
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Administrator Report: NONE
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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCiL WORK SESSION MINUTES
August 19,2002
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City Council Reports:
Council Member Grant Report: Council Mcmber Grant reported the Bethel
College Sports Facility had becn leased by the US Women's Soccer Association
and subsequently, Olympic security personnel escorted somc Arden Hills residents
off the Bethel property at a recent evcnt. He quoted a letter from Bethel College
relating to the issue, stating the facility is to open to the public, but when leased,
that indicates a elosed venue.
Administrator Lynch said he met with Bruce Kunkel, and talked about a use
agreement, stating there will be other groups [than Bethel College] using the
facility.
Mayor Probst said serious negotiations had begun with Ramsey County as to how
the City wanted to deal with its portion of thc Ramsey County Maintenance
Facility. He noted staff needs to explore this, and bring back to the Council. He
said the cunent plan indicates a cutoff entrance for Hamlinc Avcnue, and that was
not acceptablc to the City.
Council Member Larson Report: Council Member Larson said he had nothing
at this time, but later said he saw a potential problem with the cutoff entrance for
Hamline Avenue, stating if the City does not have at least some conncctions at the
Hamline Avenue entrance area, the City is at a disadvantage for access in the
future.
Council Member Rem Report: Council Member Rem brought up TCAAP from
DNR concerning the 49 acres.
Council Member Aplikowski Report: Council Member Aplikowski said shc had
great concems regarding the agenda memo rcgarding the 35- W coalition. She said
she had met with the Peter Hellegers, the intended new City Planner.
Mayor Probst: No additional Report.
Mayor Probst adjourned the Work Session at 8:55 p.rn.
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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
August 19, 2002
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Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Young, Deputy Clerk
Dennis Probst, Mayor
Joe Lynch, Administrator