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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 07-16-2001 MEETING MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MONDAY, JULY 16,2001 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD . CALL TO ORDER Mayor Probst called the meeting to order at 4:52 p.mo Councilmembers present were Beverly Aplikowski and Lois Remo Councilmembers Grant and Larson had previously advised the Council of their absence at the meeting. Staff present included City Administrator, Joe Lynch; City Accountant, Terry Post; Parks & Recreation Director and Interim Public Works Director, Tom Moore; Building Official, Dave Scherbel; and Recording Secretary, Sheila Stowell. The City's Consulting Engineer, Greg Brown, was present, as well as the City's Planning Consultant, Mike Cronin and City Attorney, Jerry Filla. ARCHITECTURAL ALLIANCE - CITY HALL SIGNS . Peter Vesterholt, City Hall Architect, presented a bench handout illustrating two options incorporating the new City logo behind the Council dais, and one option on the exterior of the buildingo Following discussion, Mr. Vesterholt was directed to incorporate Option 1 in the Council Chambers, with the black band included and text deleted. Mr. Vesterholt was further directed to present options, as discussed, in more refined drawings for Council's review at the July 30, 2001 regular Council meetingo Mr. Vesterholt was to relay a message to the contractor to have the masonry workers fill in gap in stonework on the exterior of the building, and plan to include the building address number on the exterior of the building and/or monument sign. RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - OPERATIONS REVIEW John Luey and George Altendorfer, former and current Ramsey County Contract Group Undersheriffs respectively, were present to review operations of this contracted City service, along with projected 2002 budget requestso . Discussion items included possible monthly billing on an actual net expense basis, rather than an annual adjustment after the budget year; concerns regarding final legislative action and the required size of the requested increase in the 2002 budget for police protection; the requested addition of one investigator with related car and training expenses; fairness of the Rice Street Corridor car cost allocations; additional discussions pending with the Ramsey County Contract Cities Group at their July 19th scheduled meeting; equipment/maintenance and ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 16, 2001 2 . facility needs; the D.A.R.K program; and lack of contact from officers serving the City. ML Luey will research and provide the information requested by Councilmembers and staff; and assured Councilmembers that the department would work more diligently on their visibility and availability to the community and residents. Councilmember Rem left the meeting at 5:45 porn. and returned at approximately 6:35 p.mo LAKE JOHANNA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT (LJVFD) BUDGET OPERATIONS REVIEW Fire Chief, Dave Schreier; Deputy Fire Chief, Tim Boehlke; and Department Treasurer, Paul DeLaforest were present to review the fire contract service's 2001 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Budget . Discussion items included a projected increase in the proposed 2002 Operating Budget substantially to fund the new "duty crew" process, which is currently being funded by the department with Alliant TechSystems monies, and not scheduled for initial review for six months; the increase in the number of fire calls; Fire Marshal vs. full-time Fire Chief; and change of existing by-laws and other documentation required for hire of a full-time Chief, which will be reflected in the 2003 budget, with any 2002 expenditures paid out of Alliant TechSystems momes. Further discussion included Alliant TechSystems contract revenue benefits by community; ownership of Station No.1; and future discussion of both of these items in a timely fashion. It was the consensus ofthose Councilmembers present that the Fire Department be invited back to the August W orksession if the schedule allowed for discussion of these two specific itemso ARDEN TOWER DISCUSSION, POTENTIAL SPECIAL USE PERMIT (SUP) REVOCATION City Administrator Lynch provided an update regarding the request by ML Vaughan, related to Planning Case 01-10, to postpone discussion from July 30th regular Council meeting to the August 20th Council Worksession. . Discussion items included the need for the City to be as informed as possible prior to any potential litigation in understanding the contractual relationships between Vaughan and tower lessees and the City's ability to access that information; continued delays in this vital code enforcement issue for the safety of the ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 16,2001 3 . community; possible amendment of the City's code; concurrence by the State Building Code Division on safety issues and continued delays; integrity of the existing tower structure with or without radial ice and/or wind; options available to ML Vaughan; long-term development visions ofthe Gateway Business District by the City; and a staff review of compliance of other towers within the City and the need for consistency. Staff was directed to verify compliance of other towers in the community and any noncompliance issues. Staff was further directed to direct a letter to ML Habiger ofHKS representing Mro Vaughan, requesting lease information as a condition of the City's postponement of this issue, to be provided by Mr. Vaughan prior to the August 20th Council Worksession discussion. On a related note, Mayor Probst stated that he will not be present at the August 20th Council W orksession and asked staff to provide sufficient information and research materials to Councilmember Grant, who will be serving that evening as Acting MayoL RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT PRESENTATION . Janell Miersch, Program Coordinator for Education and Research for the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) was present, along with Brett Evans of the RCWD. Also present were Joel Schilling and Beth Peterson from SoE.R, the City's consulting firm developing the Stormwater Management Plan. The RCWD representatives provided an overview of their programs and their desire for support and cooperation with local governments, and confirmed their commitment to the City's development of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). Further discussion was with regard to the City's development of goals through its stormwater management plan and their relationship to the goals of the RCWDo It was announced that a draft of the Stormwater Management Plan was scheduled for presentation at the City's August 20th Worksession, at which time and as directed by the City Council, the various affected agencies (i.e., Metropolitan Council; Rice Creek Watershed District) would be provided a copy for their review and comment, prior to final adoption scheduled for November 2001. FINANCE DEPARTMENT City Accountant, Terry Post, updated Councilmembers on the impacts of the recently completed legislation session and related 2002 Budget ramifications. . Discussion items included final status of Homestead and Agricultural Credit Aid and Local Government Aid; Tax Increment Financing implications; press releases ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 16,2001 4 . to inform the public of the legislative implications to the City; no required Truth in Taxation public hearings in 2001; and whether the Council wished to incorporate a Pavement Management Plan for 2002. Further discussion included the Council's preference for a proposed 2002 expenditure of approximately $10,000 for next year's Day in the Park event or a more heavily financed event. It was the consensus of those Councilmembers present that the $10,000 was sufficient unless a fireworks demonstration was planned to be incorporated again, with fundraising being required for any additional expenditures due to budget constraints. Discussion items related to the Day in the Park celebration included independent organization management of an annual festival; setting a standard for the City's annual event; continued involvement of the City Events Task Force members, and potential staff support. Staff was directed to prepare a projected 2002 Budget with a three percent (3%) levy increase incorporating the Fire and Sheriffs Department requests for Council review prior to the Preliminary Levy adoption date of September 17, 2001. Staff was further directed to request the City's Communication Committee to prepare an article for the City's newsletter explaining the impacts to the public ofthis state legislation. . TWIN CITIES ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT (TCAAP) EXCLUSIVITY Councilmembers discussed the recent exclusivity agreement proposed by The Mills Corporation and approaches by another consulting firm with a different type of proposal. It was the consensus ofthose Councilmembers present that the Council needed to move forward with the one agreement, or seek others, prior to pursuing related planning activities and discussion with Repo McCollum and TCAAP Phase II development. Discussion items included use of one of these consulting firms versus the City attempting development on its own; potential Request for Proposals (RFP's) for local and/or national private firm assistance; staff and financial resources required; and a potential timeline. Staff was directed to provide a non-committal response to The Mills Corporation, leaving the City's options open at this timeo Staff was further directed to make contact with a local and national consulting development firm for a presentation at a meeting in the near future, preferably by September. At that time, Council will make a decision and proceed accordingly, preferably by mid-October. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 16, 2001 5 SUMP PUMP NOTIFICATIONS . City Administrator Lynch advised Councilmembers that approximately sixty (60) residences may receive a surcharge on their third quarter utility bill due to their lack of response in completing a sump pump inspection. Staff was directed to provide Councilmembers with a copy of the correspondence to these residentso WATER TOWER REHABILIT A TION/EMERGENCY WATER BAN City Administrator Lynch reviewed a proposed ordinance and resolution drafted by City Attorney Filla, as a public safety measure in order to provide for an emergency water ban effective immediately to accommodate the extended time and scope of repairs to the City's north water tower, and related water pressure problems 0 Staff was requested enactment of a sprinkling restriction schedule north ofI-694. . Staff was directed to prepare flyers to be delivered door-to-door to residents and businesses north of I -694, explaining the problem and requesting their voluntary cooperation. Staff was further directed to proceed on an orderly basis to prepare an Emergency Water Plan to be incorporated for future use. Councilmembers requested that a copy of the flyer be included in their weekly mail packet for their information. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Rem left the meeting at approximately 8:30 porno Councilmember Aplikowski made reference to the Fiftieth Anniversary Wrap-up Breakfast, scheduled for July 27th. Mayor Probst provided an update on his recent discussions with Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett regarding the status ofthe proposed joint maintenance facility. Mayor Probst expressed concerns regarding the County's timetable, and the possibility of the City proceeding on its own. Mayor Probst suggested further discussion at the July 30, 2001 regular City Council meetingo STAFF DISCUSSION ITEMS Written reports were presented for Council review and comment from the Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Recreation Program, Finance and Building/Code Enforcement departments. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 16, 2001 ADJOURN 6 . Mayor Probst adjourned the meeting at 8:45 porn. by consensus. . .