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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 06-21-1999 . MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1999 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor DeIDlis Probst called to order the City Council Worksession at 4:50 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, Gregg Larson, Paul Malone, and Lois Rem; City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; Assistant to tl1e City Administrator, Kevin Ringwald; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; City Accountant, Terrance Post; Parks and Recreation Director, Thomas J. Moore; Associate Planner, Nancy Randall; and Administrative Secretary, Sheila Stowell. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Code Enforeement/Socio-Eeonomie Data Associate Planner, Nancy Randall, provided a brief overview of the electronic database being established by staff to coordinate code cnforcement and demographic data on properties witl1in the City. Discussion items included the availability of additional data from the Ramsey County . Sheriffs Department and the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department and the public and private aspects of the various data collected. Mr. Ringwald gave an update on tl1e various socio-economic data available to the City from the North Metro I-35W Corridor Coalition. Discussion items included block size and uniformity as it relates to demographics; and the estimated cost to the Coalition of $. 16/capita for production of the data. The Council expressed some concern about the long-term cost to the City for keeping the information current. Councilmcmber Rem requested that staff include the dates of production on the maps for a historical record. b. 2000 Budl!et/CIP Mr. Post reviewed several items and requested Council direction for continued planning for tl1e 2000 Budget regarding capital items. Staff focused only on 1999 and proposed 2000 capital items for this meeting. The proposed five-year, 2000 - 2004 capital plan is scheduled for presentation at the July 19, 1999 budget meeting. Various staff assumptions and discussion items included the following: timing for construction of City Hall; general planning costs for a new maintenance garage facility; monument signs at Lexington AvenuelHighway 96 and the West Round Lake Road/Highway 96 intersections; installation of a security fence around the maintenance . garage at 1440 Highway 96 (ifthere are definite plans to vacate thc premises in the short ---- ---------- . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 21, 1999 2 term); West Round Lake Road, Phase II reconstruction project and pending development activity occurring at tl1e extreme southern end of the Gateway Business District witl1 Council having previously directed staff to carry over the budgeted Gcneral Fund ($151,000) and Surface Water Management Utility funding ($184,200) until such time as the project proceeds; the 1999 BRW-prcpared Drainage Report that identified two (2) maintenance issues to resolve this year - McClung Drive and Siems Court, and whether the Siems Court drainage problems are more effectively resolved as part of a street reconstruction proj ect. Drainage at Arden Manor was identified as an issue, and staff further noted that tl1e playground structure replacement and hard court improvements at the Arden Manor Park were both somewhat dependent upon the drainage problem being resolved; and replacement of the Hazelnut Park shelter building as budgeted for in 1999, with staff now considering if a redesign to the general layout of the park is appropriate and how it effects thc siting of the shelter. Other items discussed as part of the 2000 Capital budget plan included that no administrative equipment was identified in the previous 1999 - 2000 CIP; however staff believes tl1at the creation of an additional PC workstation, laser printer replacements, and upgrades to the network server will be needed in 2000; the majority of the new City Hall . construction project will occur in 2000, ratl1er than the originally budgeted construction finish work; with the completion of West Round Lake Road, Phase I, in 1999 and tl1e County's completion of the Highway 96/Lexington Avenue intersection, both the Gateway monument signs be installed in 2000 (funding for these projects to be out of the "Non-Assessable Road Improvement" Fund No. 409). Ramsey County has reduced the scope of their County Road I reconstruction project to now terminate on the east side of Schutta Road. Previously, the termination point was Lexington Avenue. Accordingly, the City's cost participation in the project has dropped from $200,000 to approximately $50,000; Ramsey County has also indicated that they intend to commence the Cleveland A venue railroad bridge replacement project during the 1999/2000 winter season. They havc also revised the cost estimate participation by Arden Hills downward to $30,000 from $48,000. Staff has identified two (2) segments of the sanitary sewer system (near the Townhomes of Lake Valentine Project) that need attention on a priority basis in 1999. The recommended increase in 1999 project cost from a budgeted $75,000 to $150,000 due to project scope increase, is likely to continue into 2000 until the priority repairs are completed. Similar to the 1999 discussion at Hazelnut Park, staff is critically evaluating ifIngerson Park is an appropriate location for tl1e creation of a new soccer field, given the park's . topography, parking limitations, and current use level. If mass grading does occur to . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 21, 1999 3 build the field, the location of replacement playground equipment becomes a related issue. Altl10ugh currently on a backburner, tl1e prospect of some City cost participation in a proposed Bethel Park is a possibility. Additional items included the need for another community survey; general philosophy of the City's pay plan relative to marketplace competitiveness; and proposed 2000 Pay Plan range movement. Councilmcmber Malone requested that Mr. Post provide spreadsheets removing extraordinary itcms; non-General Fund items and a 3 - 5 year comparison between tl1e various budget years and to streamline tl1e numbering system for related items from year to year. In addition, Councilmember Malone requested staff prepare a five year cash funding analysis by Fund showing the fund balance impact of funding the ClP items. Staff was directed to review the Stanton Salary Survey for comparisons with neighboring communities and bring it back to a future Worksession to facilitate a discussion of the general Council philosophy related to the current job market. Discussion ensued rcgarding salary allocation metl1ods, franchise and utility fees, and contract services of the Ramsey County Sheriff and Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department. . Staff was also dirccted to install the fence at the existing Public Works facility. c. Codifieation Mr. Fritsinger provided various proposed changes to the City's Municipal Code, and requested Council direction and commitmcnt in bringing closure to the project. Mr. Fritsinger stated that staff and Councilmembers did not have current code books. Staff was directed to schedule 3 - 4 chapters at each regular Council meeting until review of the codification is completed, in order to forward the revisions to the League of Minnesota City attorney for develop of a final draft for Council adoption. Staff was further directed to provide additional information on the utility chapter to facilitate a policy discussion. d. TCAAP Zoninl!: Diseussion Mr. Ringwald reviewed various suggested regulations to implement a zoning district and/or detailed zoning requirements for the TCAAP property; spccifically to facilitate the immediate needs for a proposed maintenance facility and City Hall at tl1e site, and future development as it related to the overall Vento Re-Use Plan. Discussion items included the extent of involvement by Ramsey COU1lty and the Minnesota National Guard in the planning process; outdoor storage restrictions; creation of a 'Town Center" zoning district vs. site-specific zoning for the two inunediate . facilities once the land transfer has been completed; need for a written legal opinion from . ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 21, 1999 4 the City Attorney on related zoning issues; target date for completion; orientation of maintenance facility; and the possible need for implementation of the Public Works/Parks Maintenance Facility Task Force immediately. Staff was directed to immediately pursue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services to seek creation of a "Town Center" zoning district; and to seek participation with Ramsey County in an amended agreement with TKDA Design Consultants, in the initial space needs study and design considerations for the City's portion of a maintenance facility. Staff was further directed to bring those items needing formal action to the Council at their earliest opportunity. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Code Enforcement Issues Ms. Randall and Councilmembers reviewed various staff actions as they related to an outstanding code enforcement issue in tl1e community. Mr. Fritsinger advised Councilmembers of probable pending Council action required for possible liquor license revocation and related code enforcement issues at the business. . Annual Leaeue of Minnesota Cities Conferenee Councilmember Aplikowski gave a brief report on her recent attendance at the annual Lcague of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Conference in Rochester, MN. Hiehwav 96/10 Desien Proposal Mr. Fritsinger advised COU1lcilmembers that a public information meeting had been scheduled by Ramsey County, to be facilitated by the City, at the June 28, 1999 regular City Council meeting. It was tl1e consensus of the Councilmembers that, since this was the Council's initial review of tl1is latest design, formal action on June 28th would probably not be forthcoming. Street Siens Councilmember Aplikowski requested that thc Public Works Department review City street signs, when time allowed, and replace thosc in need of replacement. TCAAP Land Transfer Mayor Probst advised Councilmembers that he may be requesting Council authorization for he and/or Mr. Fritsinger to meet with Army officials in Rock Island, IL, as the land transfer process and related issues develop. National Nieht Out It was the consensus of Council that staff provide information, as it bccomes available . from the Ramsey County Sheriff, regarding those 5 - 6 neighborhood groups planning to ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 21, 1999 5 . participate in tl1e annual National Night Out on August 3, 1999. Councilmembers would then participate in the events as their schedules allowed. Future participation may expand as tl1e proposed Events Task Force begins more formal organization of citywide events. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Malone moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8: 13 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). . .