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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 04-17-2006 ~ . ~~HILLS Approved: 5/8/06 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 17,2006,5:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 Call To Order Mayor Aplikowski called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. Present: Mayor Aplikowski, Councilmembers: Gregg Larson, David Grant, Brenda Holden, and Vince Pellegrin Absent: None Staff present: City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Chief Finance Officer, Murtuza Siddiqui; Assistant City Administrator, Schawn Johnson; Civil Engineer, Kris Giga; City Platmer, James Lehnhoff; and URS Engineer, Greg Brown . Old Citv Hall/Public Works Site Community Development Director Karen Barton provided the City Council with an overview of the discussion regarding the old City Hall/Public Works site discussion. The CSAH 96 property can currently be accessed using the entrance off of CSAH 96. The entrance is only accessible to vehicles traveling east bound, since there is no opening in the median for westbound traffic access. At this time, Ramsey County does not intend on creating an opening in the median to allow access for the westbound traffic into the old City HalllPublic Works site. The City currently has an easement for the south and east portion of the property that could be used for access to the site from Ham1ine Avenue, north and south direction, and provide access to the site from westbound CSAH 96. The old City Hall/Public Works site is currently zoned "Neighborhood Business". The provisions of neighborhood business zoning are the following: . Limited over-the-counter, convenience, retain and service uses to accommodate the needs the adjacent residents; . To place limitations on the type, size, and intensity of uses within this district given its proximity to residential uses; . To place emphasis on convenience for pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation access; . To accommodate, where possible, a public commons giving residents a place to gather . and interact with one another; . To ensure adequate buffering is provided on these sites for the adjacent residential uses; . To require, where applicable, compliance with the City's gateway requirements. ------.---- April 17,2006 2 . City staff is seeking direction from the City Council on the following two items: I. Will access be permitted from Hamline Avenue? 2. What is the City Council's desired density for this development site? Mayor Aplikowski requested that access to the property be allowed on Hamline Avenue. City Administrator Wolfe said that access may be limited on Hamline Avenue due to the turn lanes on CSAH 96. Councilmember Grant said that he is in favor of having access on Ham1ine Avenue to the proposed site. Councilmember Larson said that he is concerned about the proposed access onto Hamline Avenue. Due to the hill and traffic congestion, it may be a better solution for the City to consider an access into the development along CSAH 96. Mayor Aplikowski suggested a right turn only option on Harnline Avenue. Counci1member Holden said that she is concerned about the possibility of more U-turns on CSAH 96 resulting in more traffic accidents. . Mayor Aplikowski said that she is not in favor of U-turns. She does not consider U-turns a safe driving maneuver. The original proposal included access to CSAH 96 and Hamline Avenue. Councilmember Larson said that the only way the City could stop the usage of U-turns was to place a sign along CSAH 96 that make U-turns illegal. Councilmember Grant said that it was important that the business owners have right-in and right- out access. The amount of density at this location will determine the access needs for this parcel of land. Easy access to the location is very important for a business. Mayor Aplikowski asked City staffifthe developer's proposal has changed since last year. Community Development Director Barton said that the developer is seeking clarification from the City regarding access and density issues before submitting new plans. Mayor Aplikowski asked the City Council if they are comfortable with the proposed density of 70,000 square feet or should the density of the project be decreased. Councilmember Holden said that she is not comfortable with the proposed density. She would like to see a project that is less dense due to traffic and safety concerns. . Mayor Aplikowski said that she is comfortable with the current density of the project. April 17,2006 3 . Councilmember Grant said that he is also concerned about the proposed density and would like to see a project that is less than 70,000 square feet. Councilmember Larson said that he is comfortable with the proposed density. Councilmember Holden proposed that the density of the project be 60,000 square feet. Mayor Aplikowski requested that City staff work with the developer on a 62,500 square foot project with right-in and right-out access along Hamline Avenue. The new proposal should address the City Council's density, landscaping, and trail concerns. 2006 Rid!!ewood Nei!!hborhood PMP Assessments Civil Engineer Kris Giga provided the City Council with an overview of the 2006 PMP Ridgewood Neighborhood project and proposed assessment process. Recently, City staff reviewed the assessment history for the past three PMP projects. It was determined that the additional costs incurred with the project were a result of necessary utility improvements, and not because of an increase in the road improvement costs. Utility improvements are funded through the City's enterprise funds and are not assessed to the property owners. Based upon this information, City staff is recommending that the assessment schedule remain as currently outlined in the City's assessment policy, which is to assess at the beginning of the project based . upon the engineer's project estimate. Civil Engineer Giga is requesting City Council input regarding whether or no the Beach Club should be assessed for costs associated with this proj ect. The Beach Club currently has fifty members and is considered a non-profit organization. The Beach Club was originally purchased as two parcels ofland. One of the parcels owned by the Beach Club is predominately a wetland area. A City owned and operated lift station (LS #4) is currently located on this site. Two sedimentation ponds are being proposed for this area in conjunction with the PMP project. At this time the Beach Club parcels are not considered developable, but staff does believe that the improvement project will benefit the property. The Beach Club has paved an access to Arden Place and the island is currently used for recreational purposes by its members. There is a small possibility that the island could be developed in the future. Also, the City does own one parcel of land that may be included in the assessment calculation rate. City staff is requesting guidance from the City Council regarding whether or not this parcel of land should also be included in the final assessment costs. Councilmember Larson said that he does not believe that the City should be assessed for this improvement project. Councilmember Holden asked if the residents on Ridgewood Court were being assessed for this . project. ----...---- - -- ----- April 17, 2006 4 . City Engineer Giga said that the residents along Ridgewood Court are being assessed for this proj ect. Councilmember Larson said that the Beach Club submitted a proposal to the City Council and he was wondering if City staff was given the opportunity to review this document. City Administrator Wolfe said that City staff received the proposal from the Beach Club and that the information was forwarded to our engineers. Members of the City Council agreed not to assess the Beach Club for road and utility improvements if they agreed to let the City construct two retention ponds on their property. Additional landscaping may be provided to the Beach Club if the retention pond proposal is accepted. If the proposal is not agreeable to the Beach Club, the City may assess for the PMP project. CIP Discussion/MSA Fundin!! City Administrator Michelle Wolfe provided the City Council with an overview of the CIP process. The CIP discussions have been prolonged due to the following reasons: . Analysis of utility funds; . CSAH 96 landscaping project; . . Lexington A venue construction costs; . Changes in engineer services; . Completion of PCI street ratings; . Purchase of GoodPointe street rating software. In order to assist in the CIP discussion, City staff is seeking City Council input regarding the City's future Minnesota State Aid (MSA) funding expenditures. City staff created a spread sheet to illustrate the current status of the City's MSA funding resources. City staffs goal is to obtain some sense of prioritization from the City Council regarding MSA-e1igible projects. In May, City staff will present to the City Council information regarding the City's street PCI rating and preliminary 2005 audit information which will be utilized in preparing the five year CIP. Councilmember Holden asked if any of the seal coat streets would be candidates for MSA funding. URS Engineer Greg Brown said that none of the proposed CIP seal coat streets would be eligible for state aid at this time. City Administrator Wolfe requested that the City Council prioritize the MSA eligible projects for the City. Mayor Aplikowski suggested that the proposed Snelling Avenue project be pushed back one or . two years. April 17, 2006 5 . Councilmember Grant recommended that the City spend approximately $1 million per year on street improvements. Councilmember Larson said that the City Council is responsible for maintaining the City's infrastructure. It is important that essential projects are not be pushed out into the future. It may be time for the City to consider other revenue sources, such as bonding for improvement projects. The City will have to explore different funding options to pay for upcoming street and park improvement projects. Councilmember Holden said the City would be responsible for bonding expenses. The City would have to raise the levy in order to pay the interest on the bonds. Councilmember Holden stated that the City should concentrate on completing mill and overlay projects and not reconstruction projects. City Administrator Wolfe said that City staff will likely recommend utilizing mill and overlay whenever possible. Members of the City Council agreed that the following MSA eligible projects should be completed in the near future: . Snelling Avenue; . . Old Highway 10 Rail Road Bridge; . Old Highway 10 Sidewalk Trail; . County Road E Sidewalk; . Old Snelling Trail (Highway 51 to Highway 96). Councilmember Larson requested that the City's current utility fund balances be included in future CIP discussions. Councilmember Holden requested additional information about future mill and overlay projects. City Administrator Wolfe noted that City Council and City staff will have to discuss the City's future philosophy regarding seal coats and mill & overlays. A draft five year CIP will be presented to the City Council at the May work session. City Protocol for Settin!!: Meetin!!: A!!:endas City Administrator Wolfe reported that there was discussion at the March City Council retreat regarding how items were placed on the meeting and work session agendas. An outcome of the retreat was that the "Council Comments and Requests" was removed from the meeting agendas. With the removal of "Council Comments and Requests" from the agenda, it has become somewhat confusing regarding how City Councilmember's can get an item on an upcoming . agenda. April 17,2006 6 . In order to alleviate this problem, City Administrator Wolfe recommended that a "Council Request" item be added to the meeting agenda for regular City Council meetings. At this time of the meeting Councilmembers can make information requests, announce an up-coming meeting, or consider placing an item on a future work session or regular meeting. Councilmember Holden asked how the City Council obtains a consensus to place an item on a future agenda. City Administrator Wolfe said that the majority ofthe City Council would have to be agreeable to place the item on a future agenda. Councilmember Larson said that he has no objections to this proposal. Members of the City Council were agreeable to the "Council Request" item being inserted into the City Council meeting agenda on a trial basis. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM Respectfully submitted by Schawn P. Johnson - . M~kJPIr Michelle A. Wolfe, CITY ADMINISTRATOR .