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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 06-19-2000 # . MEETING MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MONDAY, JUNE 19,2000 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD CALL TO ORDER Acting Mayor, Gregg Larson called thc meeting to order at 4:47 p.m. Those present included Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, David Grant and Lois Rem. Staff present includcd City Administrator, Joc Lynch; City Accountant, Terry Post; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; Parks and Recreation Director, Tom Moore; Recreation Program Supervisor, Michelle Olson; Planner, Jennifer Chaput; and Recording Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Mayor Dennis Probst had previously informed Councilmembers of his inability to attend tonight's meeting due to a scheduling cont1ict. NEW CITY HALL FACILITY City Administrator Lynch introduced Peter Vesterholt and Jeanne Sterner of Architectural Alliance. Acting Mayor Larson reviewed a staff memorandum dated May t'- 25, 2000, itemizing the construction base bid and Alternates for Council consideration. . Discussion ensued regarding each Alternate as follows: Alternate B was for construction of a lcft-hand turn lane off Highway 96, in the amount of $16,000. After discussion, it was tl1e consensus of those City Councilmembers present to include Alternate B as part oftl1e construction bid. Alternates No.2 and 3 consisted of variations of window styles for the second floor, at a cost of$16,OOO and $25,000 respectively. After discussion, it was the consensus ofthose City Councilmembers present to include Alternate No.3 as part of the construction bid. Alternate No. A consisted of installation of a twelve inch (12") watermain from Hamline Avenue to City Hall, to accommodate future cross connections to the City of Shoreview for emergency purposcs. Public Works Director Stafford reported that he and City Administrator Lynch had met with representatives of the City of Shoreview regarding this option, but the City of Shoreview did not express any interest, due to the apparent prohibitive cost oftunneling under Lexington A venue. Without the cost sharing of the City of Shoreview, a twelve-inch line would not be feasible for Arden Hills to pursue. Mr. Stafford stated that a six inch (6") line would be sufficient for City Hall . purposes, but installation of an eight inch (8") line would allow for future expansion, and potential cross-connection to our own line. Mr. Stafford ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JUNE 19, 2000 2 . recommended installation of the eight-inch (8") line in conjunction with the City Hall infrastructure construction. After discussion, it was the consensus of those City COlillcilmembers present to authorize installation of an eight-inch (8") water line as part of the construction bid. The remaining discussion regarding City Hall construction consisted of Alternate No.1, allowing for a potential deduct of$3l5,000 for brick masonry, rather than stone masonry. Mr. Vesterholt and Ms. Sterner reviewed the two (2) options, advantages and disadvantages of stone and/or brick masonry. Aftcr cxtensive discussion of both options, budgetary concerns and aesthetics, it was the consensus of those City Councilmembers present to ratify inclusion of the stone masonry, rather than the deduct for brick masonry as part of the construction bid. ELECTRONIC INTERIORS. INC.. REVISED BUDGET. NEW CITY HALL While it was anticipated that David Skoog, ofEIectronic Interiors, Inc., would be present to provide an overview of a revised electronic media technology budget description for the City Council Chambers at the new City Hall facility, he was not present. . CITY LOGO DESIGN CHANGE PROCESS City Administrator Lynch introduced the City logo design change process to coincide with Parks and Recreation Guide scheduled for August printing and fall publication; and whether the City Council wished to pursue a short-term or long-term process. City Administrator Lynch introduced Mr. Derrek Hames, 1839 Venus Avenue, who had expressed an interest in volunteering his expertise in developing a new logo for the City. Mr. Hames also serves on the City Evcnts Task Force, currently planning tl1e City's Fiftieth Anniversary celebration for 2001. Acting Mayor Larson expressed the appreciation of the City Council and rcsidents for Mr. Hames generosity and community spirit in offering his services. It was the consensus of the City Council to havc Mr. Hames continue with the design process, and further discussion ensued regarding the design process. Mr. Hames requested clarification as to whether the Council wished to drive the process or appoint a committee to do so. Mr. Hames was asked to prepare three options for the Council to consider at their July 17, 2000 Worksession, at which time further consideration would be given as to the design process, and incorporating the new logo with the City Events Task Force proposed activities and supplies (i.e., banners). . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 19,2000 3 . Staff was directed to provide those items requested by Mr. Hames for further design of sample logos. CITY POLICY DISCUSSION. MOWING OF CITY/COUNTY RIGHTS-OF-WAY (R-O-w) Public Works Director Stafford and Parks and Recreation Director Moore reviewed a joint staff memorandum dated June 5, 2000 and photographic documentation regarding boulevard mowing and preferred Council policy, related to complaints received by staff from residents to provide this service. Staffreviewed various options on whether or not to mow City boulevard property; number oftimes to perform the service; those arcas appropriate for grooming and those that are wetland or natural areas; assistance in performing the duties for Ramsey County boulevards; and potential use of manpower and/or equipment with the City of Roseville through the Joint Powers Agreement (JP A); outsourcing options; or additional part-time, seasonal staffing. Discussion included those issues of safety, aesthetics and budgetary implications; and use of the City's ncwsletter to provide public information. Staff was directed to attempt to provide the service once per year, or as needed depending on the grooming rcquired, to keep the brush growth in check on City Rights-of-Way; . discontinue, at staff s discretion, performing maintenance on Ramsey County boulevards; and research performing this service with neighboring communities; as well as outsource options. INDYKIEWICZ PARCEL City Administrator Lynch stated that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was finalizing the right-of-way transfer from the State to the City, therefore allowing tl1e City to combine the rellll1ant parcels into a four (4) acre site and begin formal marketing of the former Indykiewicz parcel. Marketing and Zoning Considerations City Accountant Post sought Council direction on the type of development preferred on the site and various advantages and disadvantages oftl1e site. Other issues discussed included market potential and sale considerations; impacts of the pending Highway 96/1 0 interchange and unknown final designs at this time; uncertainty of the I-35W bridge reconstruction; pending reimbursement of intersection improvemcnt costs to the City from Ramsey County; location of pond; pending development at the southern section of the Gateway Business District; availability of one (1) liquor license in the City; and tl1e status of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District which expires in 2014. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - .JUNE 19,2000 4 . It was the consensus of the City Council that staff continue with the legal process for combining the parcel; seek thc maximum return on the City's investment in the property; research various uses for the site prior to marketing; provide that information to tl1e City Council at a future Worksession for determination of the desired use, then market the property to interested parties. It was suggested to staff to review thc Lexington/Fox Study prepared by Sanders, Wacker, Bergly, Inc. in 1998 for the Business Development Committee's review. 2001 BUDGET ISSUES Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department (LJVFD) Proposed Five Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Prollosed 2001 Operatine Budeet Dave Schreier, Fire Chief and Paul DeLaForest, Treasurer for LJVFD respectively, were in attendance to answer questions of the Council and staff regarding the proposed five year CIP and proposed 2001 Operating Budget for the department. City Accountant Post requested clarification of the reasoning for allocation of expenses per fire station, suggesting that the department may want to consider a per capita basis, rather than equal division of expenses between the four (4) stations. Treasurer DeLaForest suggested that this item could be discussed with the Joint Fire Board to see if changes were preferred. . Mr. Post also requested clarification of thc rclationship, actuarial annual funding requirement, and percentage split between citics and the state contributions between tl1e City's pension contribution to the department, and the State Fire Relicf Aid payment to the same organization. Mr. DeLaForest suggested that the Relief Association would need to answer those specific questions, and volunteered to have represcntatives ofthe Relief Association available for the next Joint Fire Board meeting. Acting Mayor Larson, who also serves as one ofthe City representatives on the Joint Fire Board and the Relief Association, suggested that this topic be discussed as part of next ycar's budget discussion for the Fire Board to obtain input from all parties. Mr. Post requested clarification of several line item expense categories: maps, refreshments, technology, and events. Chief Schreier and Mr. DeLaForest responded to each category. Mr. Post volunteered the Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities available at most cities for the department's use, rather than duplicating map purchases from other sources. Mr. Schreier stated that he would alert the department's map conunittee. Mr. DeLaForest stated that the "events" category covcred expenses related to the . department's finnily events; the "refreshments" category rcfcrrcd to supplies kept ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 19,2000 5 . available for fire fighters (i.e., high energy snacks and beverages for rehydrating the fire fighters); and the "technology" category covered "Fire House" software upgrades at Station No.3, Microsoft Suite 97 at each station, and included software upgrades and maintenance, along with ongoing hardware replacements. Other items discussed included the hiring of a part-time code enforcement official (Thierry Chevallier) to do inspections of commercial buildings; budget-averaging over several years for utilities and telephone services; and the category of "engineering services" being for vehicle maintenance. Chief Schreier commented on the status of planning and cost implications to cities regarding a permanent Fire Chief, and that the firm of Brimeyer and pm were being used for anticipated bylaw changes. The potcntial hirc had been divided into three phases: Phase I - communication; Phase II changes to the bylaws and creation of a job description; and Phase III actually advertising Jar candidates. Phase I had already been initiated, with the Fire Departmcnt covering that initial cost, and further discussions and cost implications being discussed at the Joint Fire Board level. It was clarified that term of Fire Chief Schreier expired in March of 2002, and tl1e department would like to have a permanent rcplacement in place by then. LAKE JOSEPHINE EAST, LLC - CITY PROCESS . City Administrator Lynch introduced a letter dated June 15,2000 from City Attorney Filla as part of the Council packet regarding the Shoreline Drive public right-of-way. Mr. Lynch advised Council members of a subsequent letter had been sent to the Lake Josephine East, LLC from property owners, Wesslund and Rushenberg, seeking further clarification on the actual square footage of the parcel being considered for the easement. Mr. Lynch also inJornled Councilmembers that the attorney for the Bachmann property had contacted him, which is currently in trust, affirming that the Bachmanns' were not in favor of a through street. Mr. Lynch reviewed the suggested action plan, process and timeframe provided in Mr. Filla's letter. Mr. Post provided information regarding a Quick Take option, not addressed by Mr. Filla. Councilmember Rem pointcd out the conflicting dcadlines outlined in the original Planning Case, and within the Developer's Agreement, and suggested tl1at more time be allowed for the developer and property owners to negotiate. Acting Mayor Larson expressed concern regarding whcther the parties were negotiating in good faith. Other items of discussion included who would be responsible for legal costs incurred for the condemnation process; developer fUl1ds held in escrow, and how much would be . recoverable to the City; and possible Chapter 429 assessments for road improvements.