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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 08-21-2000 (2) . . . MEETING MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2000 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD CALL TO ORDER Mayor Probst called the meeting to order at 4:45 p,m, Those present included Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, Gregg Larson and Lois Rem, Councilmember Grant had previously notified Mayor Probst of his inability to attend tonight's Worksession, 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, Jellllifer Chaput; and Recording Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Mayor Probst closed the Council Worksession at 4:47 p,m, for a Closed Executive Session to discuss pending litigation, Mayor Probst reconvened the Council Worksession at 5:56 ,m, DISCUSSION ITEMS a. County Road I and Schutta Road City Administrator Lynch introduced Mr. Jim Tolaas, Ramsey County Department of Public Works, Mr. Tolaas was in attendance to discuss the design process with Ramsey County's County Road I and Wispark project in the City of Shore view : and the future development ramifications with the City of Arden Hills, Discussion items included Ramsey County's policy regarding semiphore cost participation between the City and County; the eleven (1 I) warrants to be met for County installation of a semiphore; the status of the West Round Lake Road signal reimbursement; and an update regarding future plalllling for the Schutta Road to Lexington Avenue segment, Staff was directed to bring back the "No Parking" resolution for County Road I at the August 28, 2000 regular City Council meeting, Highways 96/10Intersection Mr, Tolaas discussed the current status of design for the Highway 96/1 0 intersection, Discussion items included the study being conducted through work with the 1-35W Corridor Coalition, a process of approximately seven (7) months, which is tied to the build out study; cost sharing and revenue sources; right-of-way acquisition; availability ofturnback dollars; ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 21, 2000 2 . Mayor Probst requested that Mr. Tolaas advise Mr. Mayasich of the City of Arden Hills' desire to be included in any current or future discussions regarding any Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) maintenance facility planning discussions involving the County and other agencies, Mr. Tolaas stated that Ramsey County and the National Guard were in discussions about the potential resiting of the joint maintenancc facility to comply with City zoning requirements, County Road E, Streetlight Standard Replacement Mr. Stafford presented evidence of the need to replace the seventeen (17) city-owned streetlight poles along County Road E due to the deterioration ofthe underground mountings. Mr, Stafford estimated the cost of replacement to be between $1,700 - $2,300 per standard, exclusive of mounting and lightheads, Mr. Stafford was working with a firm that suggested replacement of the concrete pillars, at approximately $3,000 per pole, Mr, Stafford recommended to the Council that thcy direct the City's Operations and Finance Committee to review the City's current street light policy and potential design of a City streetlight standard, Discussion items included the immediate safety issues; involvcment of the Planning Commission in any future city-wide lighting design process Staff was directed to bring a recommendation to the City Council at their August 28,2000 regular meeting with an estimated cost for a temporary welding repair solution; as well as a recommendation to the Operations and Finance Committee and the Planning Commission for . further study. b. Ingerson Road Mayor Probst stated that the purpose of this agenda item tonight was for an informal presentation of the two (2) reports; that of the Ingerson Neighborhood Review Group and that of City Staff and the Consulting Engineer. Mayor Probst asked that any further elaboration on specific points in cither report be held until the August 28, 2000 formal presentation to tlle full City COWlcil at their rcgular meeting. Mayor Probst stated that, at the August 2Sth meeting, a public information meeting date would be established, with further Council action to follow at that public meeting, Ms. Linda Swanson, representing the Ingerson Neighborhood Review Group, thanked Mayor Probst, Councilmembers, City staff, and Consulting Engineer, Greg Brown, for the opportunity to review the proposcd 2000 Street Improvement Projcct, and to provide recommendations to the City Council. Ms, Swanson reviewed the specific items of agreement, and those conflicting items, between the staff and neighborhood groups. Mayor Probst expressed his appreciation that there appeared to be more commonality than differences in the reports, . . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 21, 2000 3 Discussion items included the detriment of increased road widths; potential closure of Ham line Avenue and lack of consensus of the neighborhood group; increased traffic on Ingerson and Dunlap; the Lake Josephine Associations concern for the Fernwood Channel recreational land value; untreated stormwater into wetlands; the presentation on raingardens by Mr, Haider of the City of Maplewood, and the varying soils involved; and the protection or insulation of water and sewer lines in some areas proposed for raingarden installation, Mayor Probst complimented the Review Group, and again thanked them for their research and presentation, Councilmember Aplikowski requested comments from anyone else in the audience, Two (2) unidentified representatives of the Lake Josephine Association, were present and requested more definitive information on the plan for the Fernwood Channel, as it directly affected their property, They asked the City Council to be included in any future discussions, Mayor Probst stated that tile City Council anticipated the public informational meeting to be scheduled at one of the September regular Council meetings, and assured the residents that the neighborhood would be notified, Staff was directed to establish an orderly fashion to address the specific issues involved in the report, to allow the City Council to direct the consulting engineer to prepare a revised feasibility report. c. 2001 Budget Mr. Post stated that staff was continuing to work on the previous directive of the City Council to provide a 2001 Budget, based on a maximum levy increase 01'2,5%, Mr. Post addressed the proposed unbudgeted streetlight standard repair and/or replacement, and stated that this could possibly be considered as a 2000 project as funding was more readily available at this time, Mr. Post also addressed the Council's proposal for the 2001/02 Pavement Management Plan (PMP), and the possibility of pending development in the Gateway Business District and the possible need to reprioritize the West Round Lake Road Phase II project. Councilmember Aplikowski proposed increasing the 2001 levy by three percent (3%), Mr. Post advised that the optional dates for the City's Truth in Taxation dates would be December 4th or December 11 th, with the Preliminary Levy due to Ramsey County by September 15,2000, Staff was directed to plan for the Ingerson Neighborhood Project as the PMP Project for 2001, and that future projects would most likely continue on a two-year cycle and process; and to continue with the proposed 2,5% maximum levy increase. . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 21, 2000 4 STAFF COMMENTS Parks Director Moore reported on various activities of the Parks and Recreation Department including, recent trail grooming and brush clearing; Ingerson Park play structure installation; fall aeration; Cummings Park warminghouse repair done by staff at an (approximate savings of $4,000; addition of a practice soccer field at Floral Park; field #3 at Perry Park now being operational; ongoing improved working relationship with Northwestern College regarding the Presbytcrian Homes field and the agreement to provide the City fees for services rendered, Planner Chaput reported on various issues before the Planning Commission regarding ordinance and sign changcs; as well as seeking Council input at a future joint Plmming Commission/City Council Worksession, Recreation Program Supervisor Olson updated the Council on various Recreation activities including increased soccer registrations; no necd for additional fields; and addition of a new pre- school soccer program. Public Works Director Stafford reported that thc City was making good use of the sewer maintenance easement machine recently purchased jointly with the City of White Bear Lake; a planned meeting with BRW staff on Thursday to discuss the Highway 96 median cut at the new City Hall site; testing and repair of the City's civil defensc sirens; status of the requested speed study for Highway 5 I; thc research and drafting of an ordinance requiring installation of grease traps to prevent recurring greasc problems in City sewer lines from food processors and restaurants, Mr. Stafford reported that more of these problems were being found with the advanced televising of the sewer lines, Mr. Brown stated that a report on the recent televising of the City's sanitary sewer system would be forthcoming, with the Edgewater and Ingerson neighborhoods having the most immediate areas for concern, City Treasurer Post reported that he would be seeking Council authorization in the near future for submitting a grant proposal to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for reimbursement of property acquisition costs at the Indykiewicz site, Mr. Post also stated that additional Finance Department activities included work on the 2001 Budget and election training, City Administrator Lynch reported on the upcoming Preconstruction meeting for construction of the City Hall facility; meeting with MnDOT and Ramsey County for potential relocation of a National Guard site and commercial driver's facility from Fort Snelling to the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP); and a recent meeting with the St. Paul Water Utility regarding their interest in purchasing the City of Arden Hills' water system. Related discussion items included the viability of ownership of the water system by another party; capacities of neighboring communities; and the status of the request for the City to acquire the TCAAP infrastructure system, ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 21, 2000 5 . COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Larson requested further CouncillDllow up to staff recommendations regarding revisions to the City's Zoning Ordinance and why the Council failed to reach a consensus. COlillcilmember Larson asked that the Council take into consideration continuing parking issues; non-owner-occupied residences; property valuation repercussions; and further public infDrmation of the proposed chmlges, It was the consensus of the Councilmembers and staff was directed to schedule ajoint Worksession in September between the Planning Commission and City Council to discuss various zoning ordinance revisions, including the above-referenced item and antennas, Another concern raised by Councilmembers was the numerous complaints received regarding the home-based business on County Road E, Planner Chaput advised that there was an application forthcoming to the Planning Commission from the resident for a Class Two Home Business, Councilmember Rem advised that Mayor Probst would be presenting a historical perspective on the lengthy process for the construction of the new City Hall facility at the next Operations and Finance Committee meeting, Councilmember Aplikowski advised that the City Events Task Force was moving forward with plans fDr the City's Fiftieth Anniversary celebration and that a one-time annual calendar was being planned, with historical photographs being solicited, Councilmember Aplikowski also . reported on the Communications Committee and their continued diligence and dedication, Mayor Probst discussed upcoming vacancies in the City's Planning Commission; and requested clarification of the schedule for the revised City logo and its inclusion in the next Recreation Guide printing, City Administrator Lynch advised that the three options for the logo would be presented to the City Council at one of their September meetings, Discussion ensued regarding the proccss to be followed by statf and the consulting engineer for the Ingerson Neighborhood Street Improvement Project, Staff was directed to provide a topic by topic report to allow the City Council to reach agreement on the direction to provide to the consulting engineer for an amended feasibility study; to then hold a public informational meeting; then call for detailed plans and specifications; then the fDrnlal Public Hearing related to the Chapter 429 assessment process, Staff was further directed to consult with Ms, Swanson, as the spokesperson for the Ingerson neighborhood prior to the public information meeting; to provide an adequate number of visuals for ease of presentation and understanding; and to prepare for a review of the City's Assessment Policy regarding the basis of road width for assessment purposes, . . . . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 21, 2000 6 AD.JOURN MOTION: Councilmember Aplikowski moved and Council member Larson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:27 p,m, The motion carried unanimously (4-0).