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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 03-20-2000 . MEETING MINUTES JOINT WORKSESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2000, 4:45 P.M. Acting Mayor Gregg Larson called the meeting to order at 4:52 p.m. Those present included Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, David Grant and Lois Rem. Staff present included City Administrator, Joe Lynch; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; Parks and Recreation Director, Tom Moore; Building Inspector, David Scherbel; Associate Planner, Nancy Randall; Recreation Program Supervisor, Michelle Olson; and Recording Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Both Mayor Probst and City Accountant, Terry Post, were on vacation. a. TKDA Presentation. Maintenance Facility Space Needs Study Mr. Dean Johnson, of the firm Toltz, King, Duvall, Anderson & Associates, Inc. (TKDA), presented a summary of the space needs study perfoIDled by his orgaIlization for the proposed maintenance facility. This study was an update and revision of the original study performed in 1992. Mr. Johnson also briefly reviewed the Ramsey County plan, advising that Mr. Bob . Webber was the new County contact, since Mr. Kirkwold had accepted the position of County Manager. Mr. Johnson emphasized the areas most receptive to potential shared services. Mr. Johnson stated that the next step might be for the City and County to meet to discuss a possible combined use facility, and determine a resulting timetable for further design processes. City Administrator Lynch asked ifthe Ramsey County Board of Commissioners had been made aware of the City of Arden Hills' zoning requirements related to setbacks, screening, and open storage on the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property. Mr. Johnson stated that the COWlty was aware that their current design criteria did not meet the City's existing zoning requirements, and further indicated that the County was in the process of surveying the TCAAP property to obtain a legal description. Acting Mayor Larson referred to the Hennepin County facility in Medina, and stated that the City would likc to encourage Ramsey County to carefully consider the aesthetics of a similar facility if it was to be situated on the TCAAP site aIld due to it's prime visual impact within the community of Arden Hills. Mr. Johnson identified the next step in tile process for the proposed maintenance facility was for Ramsey County Board of Commissioners to determine whether or not to continue the design as a single entity, allocate funds and pursue the next design step. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MARCH 20, 2000 2 . This would be essentially the same process, with consideration of other compatible uses within the Ramsey County facility for other agencies. Mr. Johnson stated that this completed the services ofTKDA to-date. Acting Mayor Larson thanked Mr. Johnson for his presentation, and advised that the City Council would take action at a future City Council meeting to receive and/or accept the space needs study as presented. Further discussion included the proj ected date (2004) for Ramsey County funding and construction of a maintenance facility and how that timeline affects the City's existing facility and equipment/staffing requirements and projections. b. Hi!!hwavs 96/10 Desi!!D Discussion City Administrator Lynch introduced tile discussion of the Highways 96/1 0 design as a follow up from the March 9,2000 residential informational meeting. Greg Brown, Consulting Engineer with BRW, summarized the infoffilational meeting, public comments, and rationale for the various design options being considered by the City Council, prior to committing to one particular design for Ramsey County to pursue, and larger community-wide concerns for Council consideration. . Councilmember Rem referenced a comment made by Bob Brown of the Minnesota Dcpartment of Transportation (MnDOT) that if the City agreed to Option No. I (tile State plan), there would be ultimately no cost to the City. Councilmembcr Rem expressed concern that this comment may have sent an incorrect perception to the public in attendance at the meeting. Discussion items included a frontage road around the north side of Round Lake; access onto Highway 10; access to North Heights Lutheran Church; the need for a frontage road if Highway 10 were a flyover; the potential number of manufactured homes affected; making Highway 96 as the primary route; and consideration of the loss of revenue for the mobile home park, not just the residences. Several interested parties ,vere invited by Acting Mayor Larson to speak on tile subject. Mr. Elmer Cmiel acknowledged his agreement with the original MnDOT option, stating that the proposed three intersections were unnecessary. Mr. Cmie1 expressed his concerns related to safety and his opinion for the logic of moving Highway 96 further north. Several representatives of the North Heights Lutheran Church were in attendance to express their opinions with projected right-of-way needed in some of the plans being considered, and how any land conveyance would affect their PlaImed Unit Development (PUD) and future expansion plans and greatly impact . parking needs. Church representatives stated that when they began studying ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MARCH 20, 2000 3 . future expansion plans, they met with City representatives and Jim Tolaas of Ramsey County, to review common interests. At that time, their major concern was safety at the intersection of Highways 10 and 96. While the church's original request was for the City to keep an exit from Highway 10 to Highway 96. They now felt this new option was a reasonable trade-off, and they were satisfied with Highway 96 going under Highway 10. Ken Kerns, a member of congregation, provided a preliminary site plan for proposed expansion of the sanctuary and a Retreat Center, along with a proposed Retirement Center. The Church's concern was for the lost parking spaces and wetland requirements if their property were needed for roadway expansion. City Administrator asked if the Church would consider signing an agreement with MnDOT regarding current and future access. Mr. Kerns emphasized that the Church was not in the suing business. Mr. Kerns further stated that the Church was considering the addition of a berm along Highway 10 to further reduce noise and to provide for neighbors regarding lighting concerns. Mr. Kerns advised that future expansion plans included development of a park, plaza and a walkway, and they would be interested in obtaining any fill materials from the roadway construction for use in constructing this sound barrier. Public Works Director Stafford agreed with Mr. Cmiel's basic comments, but . addressed concerns regarding how the connection would be made from the service road and West Round Lake Road without impacting the contaminated soil. Lacking a firm consensus, staff was directed to review the original option, with a revised frontage road along the north end of Round Lake; determination of the impacts for Sherer Brothers Lumber, Big Ten Supper Club; impacts on the Old Highway 10 intersection; and potential acquisition of homes along Highway 96 and 10, depending on the final design. The City Council will review these options at a future Worksession, prior to action at a future Worksession. Councilmember Grant requested further review of the State's proposed plan in order to make a more informed decision. Councilmember Rem concurred. Mr. Stafford advised Councilmembers that additional fimding had been received in the turnback fund, and that it was imperative that the City provide their preferred option to Ramsey County as soon as possible in order for Ramsey County to proceed to a final design before money is allocated to other projects. c. Town Hall Meetinl! Plans City Administrator Lynch reviewed the final plans for the City's fourth annual Town Hall meeting scheduled for Saturday, April I , 2000 at Bethel College. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MARCH 20, 2000 4 . DEPARTMENT REPORTS Community Development Department Dave Scherbel, Building Official, provided a written 1998 and 1999 year-end comparison report on building inspections, and a verbal review ofthe first quarter of 2000 to-date. Mr. Scherbel addressed several zoning ordinance items related to code enforcement that staff had requested Planning Commission review (i.e., parking on grass; ratio of bituminous in relationship to sod areas). Staff would like more clarification ofthe City's ordinance for enforcement purposes, rather than just City policy. Nancy Randall, Associate Planner, provided a written 1999 year-end review, as well as a verbal review of the first quarter of2000 to-date. Ms. Randall noted that the department had already been made aware of nineteen (19) Planning cascs this year, in comparison to a total of twenty-three (23) cases last year. Pending cases of note include the renovation of the Mounds View High School; revisions to tile City's zoning regulations; and the Vaughan Tower appeal. Parks and Recreation Department Tom Moore, Parks and Recreation Director, provided a the department's written 1999 year-end writtcn review, as well as a verbal review of the first quarter of 2000 to-date. . Itcms of note included initiation of an "Adopt-a-Flower Garden;" "Adopt-a-Park" program" with neighborhood groups similar to neighborhood watch program with spring and fall clean up; "Adopt-a- Trail" program; extensive tree cutting along trails and at Sampson Park due to disease; incorporation of directional park signage; installation of a new Arden Manor playstructure; and picnic table repair. Mr. Moore statcd that the department was doing a park by park analysis, considering their respective needs and existing equipment, a park improvement and amenity survey performed by the City's consulting engineer, BRW, in order to relate those items to the City's five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Possible revisions to the current CIP schedule will be brought beforc a future Council meeting for consideration. Mr. Moore also reported that mandated bleacher replacement would be performed as needed. Michelle Olson, Recreation Program Supervisor, revicwed ice rink operations, ongoing analysis of class offerings, hiring for spring/summer programs, and preliminary redesign of the fall recreation guide, pending City Council approval, to make it more user-friendly. Councilmembcr Grant requested, and Mr. Moore responded to, a brief overview of proposed improvements at Perry Park. . ________u_____ ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MARCH 20, 2000 5 . Acting Mayor Larson requested an assessment by Mr. Moore and Ms. Olson of the reduction in skating rink use. They responded that use was down on some rinks, while up on others. Availability of indoor ice rink use is a factor in declining skating rink use. Public Works Department Mr. Stafford, Public Works Director, provided the department's written 1999 year-end written review, as well as a verbal review of the first quarter of2000 to-date. Items of note included fourteen (14) snow/ice events; status of ongoing water meter installation; general maintcnance oflift stations, manholes, and equipment; and ongoing replacement of inadequate catch basins to prevent collapses. Mr. Stafford updated the City Council on the Bethel odor issue. Councilmembers requested clarification of several department items. Finance Departmcnt Due to the absence of Terry Post, City AccOlmtant, he had provided written reports for the Council's review. Administration Department . .Toe Lynch, City Administrator, briefly reviewed various items during his five-month tenure at the City of Arden Hills. Items of note included resolution of support staff issues; review and potential revision of department operations and job descriptions for future City Council review; Personnel Policy updates in the form of a policy, rather than an ordinance; and potential physical space changes. COUNCIL REPORT Councilmember Rem advised that she would be attending the State Human Rights Seminar on Saturday, March 25, 2000. Councilmember Grant reviewed the upcoming Ingerson Review Group meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 2000. Councilmember Aplikowski reported on various concerns regarding the City's newly formed City Events Task Force. Acting Mayor Larson reviewed the most recent Water Quality Task Force meeting held on Tuesday, March 14,2000. Acting Mayor Larson had reiterated thc committee process relatcd to recommendations to the City Council; and potential media articles for future consideration after Council approval of Task Force recommendations. Acting Mayor Larson also reported on the most recent Fire Board meeting, stating that . the City of Arden Hills was taking their turn chairing the meeting; the Lake Johanna ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MARCH 20,2000 6 . Volunteer Fire Department and the cities had come to an agreement regarding spending policies, providing acknowlcdgement by the Department that the cities have responsibility over the funds and their disbursement. Mr. Larson also addressed the future hiring of a full-time Fire Chief and/or Fire Marshal, at the discretion of the Fire Board. Mr. Lynch stated that the Department's first concern was the internal maIlagement and administration of the Department, rather than for the services of a Fire Marshal. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). . .