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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 12-15-2003 . ~ ~HILLS APPROVED January 12,2004 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 15,2003,4:45 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 - 1. Call To Order Mayor Aplikowski called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Present: Councilmembers David Grant, Brenda Holden, Gregg Larson and Lois Rem. Staff present: Administrator, Michellc Wolfe; Director of Community Development/Assistant Administrator, Aaron Parrish; Operations & Maintenance Director, Thomas J. Moore; Deputy Clerk/Human Resources Director, Cynthia Young; Building Official, David Scherbel; Engineer, Greg Brown; and Attorney, Jerry Filla. . 2.A City Hall: Update M r. Schcrbel reported that a mold problem occurred in the lower level of City Hall as a result of several flooding incidents. He provided the Council with a report from American Engineering, Testing Inc. who had performcd an assessment of the mold situation. He said most of the moisture problems at City Hall had been resolved. However, some minor water issues still exist, but he was hopeful that these could be addressed before the arbitration hearing occurred. He stated the original building contractor basically wants the City to pay for the failed waterproofing system. Mr. Scherbel said the mold must be removed due to possible health risks involved which may occur due to exposure to certain kinds of molds in City Hall. Mr. Filla said the City was going to increase the amount of the claims due to the recent discovery of the mold problems, which may become a health issue once the remediation process begins. He noted the cause of the watcr problems at City Hall were basically caused by the improper initial and subsequent waterproofing process. He said most of the damages to City Hall will be expensive to remediate, and that the original arbitration amounts will be adjusted before the actual hearing. He noted it is imperative that these issucs bc addressed beforc the hearing. 2.B TCAAP Mr. Parrish reported that the TCAAP agcnda items - Development Team Presentation and Environmental Update was postponed. . \\Earth\Admin\Council\Minutes\ W orksession \2003 \12- 1 5-03 .doc ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION DECEMBER 15,2003 2 . 2.C Economic Development Commission Mr. Parrish brought fOlih a recommendation that the Council establish an Economic Development Commission. He presented sample ordinances from commissions in other cities. After a brief discussion, the consensus of the Council was there was interest in this concept, and staff should bring the Economic Development Commission issue forward at a subscquent Council meeting. 2.D Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce Membership Mr. Parrish stated, over thc past few months, staff and the Mayor had been contacted rcgarding possible membership in the Twin Cities North Chamber ofCommcrce. He said the primary communities served include Ncw Brighton, Mounds View, Fridley, Columbia Heights and Spring Lake Park. Mayor Aplikowski said the group had accomplished some good things, and a plus is bringing the office to Mounds View, which is a more central location. Ms. Wolfe said an Arden Hills voice would allow the chamber leadership a more cfficicnt tool to approach Arden Hills businesses, and also noted the membership fee . sccmed reasonable. Councilmember Larson stated his support for this membership. The consensus of the Council was to direct staff to have Ardcn Hills join the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce. 2.E Capital Asset Policy M,'. Parrish stated that to make the City financial reporting consistent with the requirements outlined in GASB Statement #34, it is necessary to have a Capital Asset Policy in place. He reviewed the capitalization thresholds, details of how and which capital assets are reported and depreciated, and articulated the useful life for various catcgorics of capital asscts. He presented a draft policy for Council review. It was the consensus of the Council to bring this forward for approval at tbe next Council meeting. 2.F Transportation Issues Mr. Parrish said staff wanted to follow-up with concerns brought forth relative to Hamline A venue. He presented a graphic illustration of thc signal options on Hamline A venue, which notcd a full service intersection as a potential solution. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION DECEMBER 15, 2003 3 . Mayor Aplikowski recommended a neighborhood mceting with the folks who live along Hamline Avcnuc in order to get additional comments and feedback from the affected rcsidents. Councilmember Grant asked if Ramsey County would be willing to discuss options for making some changes to Hamline Avenue access. Councilmcmbcr Larson said if the City were going to make pedestrian improvements, it may be beneficial to look at other areas of the City as wcll, and get infonnation as to how residents rcact to ccrtain proposals. It was the consensus of the Council to providc a Hamline Avenue update in the newsletter and to revisit the potential signal once Highway 96 was completed and the "no turn on rcd" has had a chance to be implemented. Mr. Moore said the first of multiple meetings planned related to the reconstruction of Lexington Avenue yielded good attendance by Shoreview and Arden Hills residents. He said the information presented by Ramsey County was well received. Mr. Parrish reviewed the issues brought forth at the joint Arden HillsfNew Brighton City Council meeting. He then brought forth the Highway 96 and Highway 10 TCAAP . transportation concept. Councilmember Larson prescnted a list of several reasons why Highway 10 should not become an Interstate Freeway. He suggestcd removing the access to Highway 10 as a short-cut to 694. He asked for support from the Council to take a more public stand on this issue. It was the consensus of the Council to have staff bring back additional information. 2.G I-35W Corridor Coalition Membership Mr. Parrish presented an overview and discussion items regarding the Council's request for additional infonnation concerning the I-35W Corridor Coalition Membership. He discussed the most recent housing resource center monthly report, which indicated 118 contacts with Arden Hills residents since the City had initiated membership. He also prescnted information from the 1-35W Corridor Coalition website, the work plan, additional community development asscssmcnts, and strategies found in the staff report. The Council reviewed the infonnation, and aftcr discussion, directed staff to withdraw from its membership of the 1-35W Corridor Coalition in 2004. . - - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESS1ON DECEMBER 15,2003 4 . 2.H Ramsev County Suburban Libraries - Arden Hills Branch Ms. Wolfe said Ramsey County Library Director, Alice Jo Carlson, asked for a commitment from the City to help keep the Arden Hills Branch of the Ramscy County Lihrary open. She said Ms. Carlson stated the Arden Hills Library Board didn't want to become dependent upon cities for funding. Rather, form a partnership. Ms. Wolfe stated Operations and Maintenance Superintendcnt Jim Perron provided an estimate to her which indicated the costs for ground maintenance of the facility. Consensus of Council was to have City Operations and Maintenance staff provide snow removal to the Arden Hills Library in an effort to defray some of the operating costs in 2004, cffectivc January I, 2004. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Holden expressed her concern that North Heights Church is operating a book store and coffee shop; asked when the 2004 PMP neighborhood meetings would occur. Councilmember Grant indicated that he wants to move ahead with thc trail on the County Road E Bridge over Highway 51. He would like to see what the specifications are f()f the project as soon as possible; he would like to see that the meals for Work . Sessions be provided by an Arden Hills based vendor - like Big Ten; Lindey's possible sign violation; auto-pay utility billing; asked if Chipotle Restaurant was going to locate in Shannon Square; said he had asked Commissioner Bennett and Joe Murphy to install a sign directing drivers to 35W after McCracken A venue. Councilmember Larson: None Couucilmember Rem requested information for Arden Hills Notes be communicated to the committee. Mayor Aplikowski: Nonc The meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Young - Deputy Clerk/Human Resourccs Director. ~~~. ~~ / B erly Aplikowski, MAYOR Michelle Wolfe, ADMINISTRATOR .