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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 07-17-2000 . MEETING MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MONDAY, JULY 17,2000 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD CALL TO ORDER Mayor Probst called the meeting to order at 5 :50 p.m. Those present included Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, David Grant, Gregg Larson and Lois Rem. Staff present included City Administrator, Joe 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 Stowcll. OUARTERL Y WRITTEN DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO COUNCIL Each departmcnt had provided a writtcn quarterly report to the City Council on current activities and pending projects. Councilmembers questioned, and Mr. Stafford responded, thc planned improvements to alleviate resident concerns rclated to the Bethel College sanitary sewer odor. DISCUSSION ITEMS . 2001 BUDGET - RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Ranlsey County Sheriffs Departmcnt representatives, Sheriff Bob Fletcher and Commander John Luey were in attcndance regarding the proposed 2001 Budget, reflecting a 3.97% budget increase to the City of Ardcn Hills. Discussion included the amount of refund received from Ramsey County for 1999 projected net budget as compared to actual expenses; various ways to assess services on a quarterly basis and communicating that information to contract cities; assigmnent of officers and tl1eir visibility and community involvement in Arden Hills; availability of coverage as it relates to usc of the K-9 unit in Arden Hills; and attendance at former Public Safety meetings of the City. City Administrator Lynch reviewed several items related to turnover; additional training; and a Highway 96 car; as identified by tl1e contract cities. For the benefit of newer City Council members, Commander Luey and Sheriff Fletcher briefly reviewed an overview of the cstimated cost, based on response times deputy sheriff assignments to each contract City - Arden Hills, Gem Lake, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Township. Commander Luey and Sheriff Fletcher expressed their receptiveness to being more . involved in the community; as well as scheduling an additional meeting to discuss ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 17, 2000 2 . personnel related items; current and proposed services; crime statistics; and other crime prevention measures to provide a better understanding by the City Council. Staff was directed to schedule this mceting at a future Council Worksession. COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY REQUEST Mary Nosek, an Arden Hills resident and member of the City's Communications Committee, provided a proposal for a city research project as part of the completion of her master's program through the University ofSt. Thomas. Ms. Nosek provided sample questions and gavc a brief overview of her work to-date and request for surveying residents regarding the usefulness of the City's newsletter. Discussion itcms included staff time; total cost for tile survey and city participation; consideration of proposed future changes in the City's Newsletter; random return envelope stuffing in a newsletter edition; additional costs incurred for additional printing It was thc consensus of the City Council to direct staff to work with Ms. Nosek on the survcy content, and estimated costs for City involvement, and make a formal request at the City's July 31, 2000 regular City Council mceting. PMP REVIEW INFORMATION . Mr. Stafford reviewed current Arden Hills street improvement programs and turnback history. Discussion items included tl1e status of the recommendations from the Ingerson Road Review Group; and a recent request by the Review Group's Chairperson for a time extension allotted for completing this report, most recently requested by July 3 1,2000. Councilmembers expressed concern about further extensions, and process requirements for public notice and bidding of proposed improvements, and sought to clari fy their original charge and cxpectations of this citizen rcview group. It was the conscnsus of thc City Council to providc written communication to the entire Ingerson Ncighborhood Rcview Group, through Council Liaisons Grant and Larson, regarding the expectations of the City Council. Thc Review Group was to be directed to provide tl1eir written recommendations to City Hall by Thursday, August 17, to be circulated and discussed at the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2000. Staff and the City Engineer were also directed to providc their recommendations to the City Council, using the same time frame. Staff was further dirccted to provide an update on the improvement project process at the July 31,2000 City Council meeting for their reference. In a related note, a bench handout from the Lake Josephinc Improvement Association was distributcd and reviewed. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 17,2000 3 . 2001 BUDGET - GENERAL FUND OPERATIONAL BUDGET-O% LEVY INCREASE City Treasurer Post reviewed various scenarios of General Fund impacts with the Council's dircctivc for a zero percent levy increase for the 2001 Budget. Staff sought further direction on projected revenue sources and expenditure items, and a consensus on which prioritics to pursue. Discussion items included, funding of recommendations by thc Water Quality Task Force with surface water management funds; thc levy target the City Council wanted to pursue; continued carrying costs for the Ramsey County debt on signalization for tl1e West Round Lake RoadlHighway 96 intersection; four loans from the PIR Fund, in addition to bonded debt obligations; level offunding of an ammal community event, with suggested cstimatcs not to exceed $25 - $30,000; development of a City Web Site; deferral of one of the two proposed dump truck replacements identified in the 2001 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); and thc need for immediate replacement of park structures at Sampson and Floral Parks to bring them up to code requirements, ratl1er tl1an waiting for completion of the Comprehensive Park Plan. StafTwas directed to projcct a 2.5% General Fund Lcvy increase; consider additional Building Inspector duties to be self-funded through revenues generated; provide additional information for a policy decision on use of excess revenue from tax increment . financing (TIf) in consideration of potential further developmcnt in the Gateway Business District (GBD); and to pursue an additional position, currently referred to as Community Development Director, with possible MIS responsibilities. StafTwas further dircctcd to rc-cxamine the revenue portion of the proposed 2001 budget. WATER QUALITY TASK FORCE (WQTF) RECOMMENDATIONS City Administrator Lynch presented the recommendations ofthe Water Quality Task force. The Council expressed their appreciation to thc task force for their work on thesc recommendations. The City Council will formally receive the recommendations by Consent Calendar at their July 31, 2000 regular City Council meeting. While some of the recommendations may be put into place as soon as possible, further actions will be considered in relationship to available funding. It was tl1e consensus of the Councilmembers to pursue, in addition to public awareness, a Stormwater Managemcnt Plan, as part of the Metropolitan Council requirements for the City's Comprehensive Plan Update, willi funding from the Surface Water Management Fund. This would allow the Council to establish priorities and determinc costs. Councilmember Grant referred to recommendation numbcr seven (7) in order for the City Council to clari ly their intended endorsement. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JULY 17,2000 4 . Further discussion included recent Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMM) comments regarding watershed districts related to city planning operations; and additional pending dialogue with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Stafford rcferrcd to scvcral storm-relatcd items for the City Council's information. Mr. Lynch recognized Mr. Stafford's five-year anniversary with the City as of July 10th; and an update on negotiations with Washington, D.C. regarding right-of-entry to the City Hall property on the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). Mayor Probst sought Council consensus on awarding the construction contract at tl1e July 31,2000 regular Council meeting, and planning of the Groundbreaking Ceremony. It was tl1e consensus of the Council that thcy would be more comfortable whcn the written verification was received, acknowledging the Department of Army's authorization for the City's right-of-cntry, in lieu offee title. Mr. Lynch advised Councilmembers that an amlllal revision, as per ordinance, to the City's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) would be coming before them on thc Consent Agenda at the July 31, 2000 regular Council meeting. . Mr. Lynch advised Councilmembers that he had reccived verification that the City was in compliance with Pay Equity, and that the City's next report would be in 2003. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Aplikowski advised that her counterparts in the Cities of Shoreview and New Brighton had asked that she alert tl1e Arden Hills City Council of the upcoming National League of Cities confcrence in Boston, MA. Councilmember Rem provided a brief report on upcoming zoning amendments from the most recent Planning Commission, which would be coming before the City Council for formal action; and also suggested the City Council may wish to review the need for the financc portion of the members of the City's Operations and Finance Committee. Mayor Probst suggested that the City Council consider committee revisions prior to their appointment and/or reappointment for the year 2001. Councilmember Grant refcrcnced the upcoming Ingerson Neighborhood Rcview Group. Councilmember Larson expressed his appreciation to Counci1member Rem for her attendance at the Planning Commission. . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - .JUL Y 17, 2000 5 ADJOURN . MOTION: Council member Aplikowski moved and Councilmcmbcr Rcm secondcd a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8 :45 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 19,2000 6 . Acting Mayor Larson recognized those property owners in attendance at the meeting, and opened the meeting for their comments. Dee Rushenberg, 3168 Shoreline Lane, stated that the neighborhood had, in 1993, been vehemently opposed to putting a street through, and tl1at it was the understanding of property owners that cul-de-sacs wcre going to bc installed. Ms. Rushenberg stated tl1at she does not sharc the opinion that the easement arca in front of her home is in fact a street, but that there had existed a "gentleman's agreement" to allow the City access to it's lift station. Ms. Rushenberg further stated that she feels the driveway (street) is owncd by her and her neighbor, Mr. Robert Wesslund, and feels that thcre needs to be a dctermination made about the actual amount of property in question. Ms. Rushenberg stated that the property owners had appreciated Mr. Lynch serving as a mediator between the parties. Robert Wesslund, 3167 Shoreline Lane, stated that he feels he should reccive a fair market value for the property, and that seemed to be in dispute between the property owners and developers. Further discussion took place regarding the zoning of tile property and its non- conforming status; the date of the Subdivision approval by the City Council (May of 1999); and the extensive discussion by the City at that time, regarding the intent of the City to dcvelop the road, and connect both scctions of road, and that the cul-de-sac was . temporary. Aller further discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to allow tl1e process to continue, with City Administrator Lynch offering to continue to serve as mediator between tl1e developers and property owners. Property owncrs were strongly encouraged to continue resolution to avoid condemnation proceedings. It was the consensus of the City Council that a definitive settlement needed to be reached by August of 200 1 at the latest, to avoid condemnation procccdings. COUNCIL COMMENTS Bev Aplikowski Councilmember Aplikowski referred the Councilmcmbers to a letter included in the packet regarding the City's support for the New Brighton District Court facility being continued. Staff was directed to prepare a letter of support on behalf of the City Council. Councilmember Aplikowski briefly shared information from the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference entitled, "Building Quality Communities." . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 19,2000 7 . Grc!!:!!: Larson Cowlcilmember Larson referenced the letter received from a concerned citizen regarding the abandoned car near Floral Park. Staff was directed to look into the matter. Lois Rem Councilmember Rem made a brief reference to the Day in the Park event. David Grant Councilmember Grant had no commcnts at this time. STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Moore again thanked Councilmembcrs and staff for their attendance and participation at the annual Day in the Park. Mr. Stafford referred to a proposed speed study to be conducted on Old Snelling Avenue. Staff was directed to provide additional infornlation for the Council's next meeting for adoption of a resolution requesting such a study along the entire lengtl1 of Old Snelling. Mr. Stafford reported on his most recent discussions with Ramscy County representative, . Tim Mayasich, regarding a proposed joint maintenance facility. Mr. Mayasich reported that tile County's stand-alone space needs study won't be presented to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners until July. Therefore, there would bc no need to begin task force meetings prior to that presentation. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4- 0). .