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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 09-20-1999 . MINUTES eITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1999 4:45 P.M. - CITY HALL, 4364 WEST ROUND LAKE ROAD eALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Dennis Probst called to order the City Council Worksession at 4:50 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski and Paul Malone; Interim City Administrator, Terry Post; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; Parks and Recreation Director, Thomas J. Moore; Associate Planner, Nancy Randall; Building Inspector, Dave Scherbel; and Administrative Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Councilmembers Lois Rem and Gregg Larson arrived at 5:10 p.m. and 6:05 p.m., respectively. Due to several of the Councilmembers yet to arrive, and to accommodate the evening's schedule, Mayor Probst reviewed various staff issues at the beginning of the meeting. MISeELLANEOUS ITEMS eode Enforcement Issues City Building Inspector, Dave ScherbeJ, reviewed a draft letter proposed for mailing to Mr. Dan . Vaughan regarding various tower safety issues, specifically y, inch radial ice. Mr. Scherbel referred to a December 8, 1993 letter in response to the design of tower structures for wind and ice. The letter was to a Mr. Roger Barton, P.E. of the Andrew Corporation trom Scott McLellan, State of Minnesota Building Code Representative at that time. Mr. Scherbel updated Councilmembers on various tower issues, and stated that there were many antennas now on the tower that were not approved by the City, nor brought to the City's attention. Enforcement of this tower safety issue may affect Mr. Vaughan, as well as those who are leasing space on the tower. Staff was directed to proceed with a certified notice to Mr. Vaughan regarding the code enforcement and safety issues identified by Mr. Scherbel in his draft letter. Parks and Recreation Department Update Parks and Recreation Director, Tom Moore, provided Councilmembers with an overview of recent park activities, including tree & stump removal at various parks; consideration of additional directional signs for parks; report of positive results of returned adult program surveys; drafting of the Winter Recreation; upgrading of the soccer program; planned offering of eleven (11) new recreation programs this fall. Mr. Moore observed that the City's new Recreation Program Supervisor was doing a great job with existing program, and incorporating new programming. . ---------------- . ARDEN HILLS eITY eOUNeIL WORK SESSION - SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 2 Public Works Department Update Dwayne Stafford, Public Works Director, reported that the fence around the Public Works/Parks maintenance facility had been essentially installed, at a cost of approximately $5,000; the easement machine had been delivered and was in use; the re-roofing of Lift Station #4 was in progress by staff; and another watermain break had been experienced at Lake Valentine Road & County Road E-2. Mr. Stafford also provided Councilmembers with a draft of several proposed utility billing stuffers regarding the residential water meter replacement project, and the sump pump inspection information for residents. Mr. Stafford also provided a copy of the 2000-2002 Transportation Improvement Program for Ramsey County for Council information. Mr. Stafford was directed to rescarch and confirm that the street in the Tony Anderson development area was a dedieatcd City street and not just a "paper street," and verity and revise any legal documentation as required. Finance Department Update . Terry Post, Interim City Administrator, distributed the City's most recent Investment Portfolio for Council information. Mr. Post also reported that the City had received a $1,000 corporate donation to be used for 1999/2000 park and recreation programs. Wisp ark Development, Shoreview Mr. Post reported on a recent meeting staff had attended with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Ramsey County Department of Public Works regarding the newly designcd Wispark Road design in Shoreview as it lines up with County Road I and how it aligns with the State of Minnesota Surplus Warehouse, and the Drivers' Education property private driveway. Councilmembers discussed several possible options and discussion items included; Ramsey County's installation ofa temporary semiphore from the driveway linked to WisPark Road/l- 35W ramp intersection stoplight; S.E.H. Engineering design completion; Rice Creek Watershed District concerns; previous written agreements with the City of Shoreview; potential abandonment or improvement by MnDOT oftheir training center; and equity issues involving Ramsey County cost participation in signalization projects. eomprehensive Plan Update Mr. Post reported tllat he and Associate Planner, Nancy Randall, had attended a meeting with Metropolitan Council staffregarding their concerns about apparent outstanding issues. . . ARDEN HILLS eITY eOUNeIL WORKSESSION - SEPTEMBER 20,1999 3 Mr. Post advised Councilmembers that the list of deficiencies originally communicated by the Met Council did not all need to be addressed. Mr. Post stated that staff was intending to submit the majority of the additional outstanding items to the agency by mid-October, and that he saw no need for an additional planning consultant to complete the remaining items. Councilmember Malone expressed his concerns regarding the uniformity of the Met Council's requirements. Councilmember Malone also reminded Councilmembers and staff that the Met Council's legislative authority only included review of the updates, not approval. Ms. Randall stated that she would contact other communities for a copy oftheir comprehensive plan update checklist to compare it to the City's. Mr. Post stated that the Met Council was mainly concerned with the City's original and ongoing philosophy for a full land-use plan for the Twin Cities Army Ammlmition Plan (TCAAP), as it concerned the build-out capabilities of the water and sanitary sewer infrastructure system. Councilmember Malone questioned staff on the development ofthese issues, when the City Council was under the impression from previous staffreports that the project was nearly completed. . Mr. Post responded that, after review of the City's internal files, it appears that verbal information, rather than required written information was provided to the Met Council by staff. Ms. Randall responded that former Assistant to the City Administrator had made a personal presentation to the Met Council, and it was his understanding that this met the requirements of the Met Council, as thcy did not inform the City that they needed additional written communication. Mr. Post stated that it was staff's goal to have the project completed by year-end. Emplovee Health Insuranee Mr. Post informed Councilmembers that the employee health insurance through the Lakes Country Cooperative and Blue Cross Blue Sheild, would be increasing in tile year 2000 by approximately 16%, thus increasing out-of~pocket expenses for those employees carrying family coverage. DISeUSSION ITEMS a. North Suburban eable eommission Update, Dave Sand Mr. Dave Sand, the City's reprcsentative to the North Suburban Cable Commission and Access Corporation provided an update of recent Board actions on behalf of the City as franchise holder . to the cable provider, MediaOne Corporation. ARDEN HILLS eITY eOUNeIL WORKSESSION - SEPTEMBER 20,1999 4 . Mr. Sand made the Council aware of yet another offer to purchase Meredith Cable (MediaOne) by AT & T. The Cable Commission was still reviewing a proposed Transfer of Ownership, which it needed to respond to by November 15, 1999. Mr. Sand presented a copy of September 1, 1999 Notice of Franchise Violation sent to MediaOne by the Cable Commission addressing current customer complaints being experienced with MediaOne, cable provider for the City. Discussion included Mr. Post's attendance and involvement with the Commission's Telecommunications Advisory Meeting; the proposed 2000 Commission budget and proposed use of reserves and capital expenditures; the Council's need for input on the budget as it relates to the City's franchise agreement; future markcting for the Roadrunner product; and the City's current cable capabilities for resident information. b. Old Hie:hwav 10 Water Main Extension Petition Discussion Mr. Post and Mr. Stafford reviewed the petition request and discussion ensued more fully on the issues surrounding this requested water utility capital project. . Mr. Stafford reviewed the history ofthis request, stating that the City Council had originally considered, in 1996, installation of a segment of water line on Old Highway 10, south of Highway 96 to Wedgewood Circle. Due to higher than expected bids received for the project in 1996, and the limited resident support of this project, the Council rejected all bids. This area remains the only developed area of the City not served by City water and affects approximately sixteen (16) properties. Discussion included the City's existing assessment policy and the ramifications to the neighborhood; possible proportionate funding from the water utility; estimated cost of the project by Consulting Engineer, Greg Brown, at an estimated $125,000 total bid out with hydrants and fittings (or $25.00/foot); Mr. Stafford noted that the originator ofthe petition was not a resident, but has three undeveloped lots and is apparently interested in marketing them, following availability of city services. Mr. Stafford also questioned whether or not this could be considered as an internal project by City staff. Engineering and construction concerns included the size of main to be installed; additional cost to homeowners of driveway cuts, and service connections; cathodic protection due to the acidic soils in tile area or the need for plastic piping; potential assessment of $6 - 8,000 per property; the requirement for residents to pay for their portion of the main and service, but not needing to hook up at this time if they wanted to continue using private wells; and consideration of any assessment deferral. . . ARDEN HILLS eITY eOUNeIL WORKSESSION - SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 5 Mr. Stafford stated that the cost of the pipe, depending on the size, was more of a cost issue than the actual labor for installation. Mayor Probst left the meeting momentarily, and turned the gavel over to Acting Mayor, Beverly Aplikowski. After further discussion, and Mayor Probst's return to the meeting, staff was directed to notify property owners by letter of projected costs at 100% assessment plus connections, and schedule an informational meeting to be held at a future Council meeting, at which point, the City Council will make a determination as to whether or not to proceed with ordering a Preliminary Feasibility Report. If, following that information meeting, the project moves forward, the next step would be for the Council to prepare plans and specifications with the water main as the base bid, and other Old Highway 10 repair work as an alternate. c. Pavement Manal!ement Prol!ram (PMP)!2000 Proiect Scone Mr. Post provided an overview and reviewed the proposed neighborhood approach for future Pavement Management Program (PMP) project scope. . Greg Brown, City Engineer with BRW, Inc., presented final recommendations to the City Council for candidate projects for proposed 2000 street improvement projects and their impact on the five-year Capital Improvcment Plan (CIP). Mr. Brown suggested that the Ingerson neighborhood be the proj cct scope area in 2000 and that Council consider using budgeted 1999 funds on this project rather than carrying them over for future Round Lake Road, Phase II, reconstruction costs. Discussion items included street width related to cost savings and standards; significant deviation from previous approach to street projects done on a worst first basis; cul-de-sacs versus through- streets; a multi-tiered scenario with thirty-two feet for collector streets, local streets or cul-de- sacs at 28', minimal streets probably at twenty-four feet with mitigating issues being a subjective call. Further discussion included consistency in the City's assessment policy with residential streets assessed the same amount based on footage, not width; reducing pavement due to environmental concerns; use of existing spaces for storm ponding, with narrower streets in the Ingerson area, rather than needing to purchase land for ponding purposes; the need to develop additional criteria developed for future deviations; uses ofMSAS funds; use of West Round Lake Road, Phase II, funding and Surface Water Management funding; when to actually begin the neighborhood approach, and ramifications of initiating a project in the year 2000, rather than waiting another two (2) years. . ARDEN HILLS eITY eOUNeIL WORKSESSION - SEPTEMBER 20, 1999 6 . Staff and Mr. Bro'-"TI were directed to prepare a resolution authorizing preparation of a feasibility report for the first October City Council meeting for the Ingerson neighborhood, which would include the Tiller Lane/Cannon Avenue work, along with the North Snelling piece as an alternate. Staff and Mr. Brown were further directed to schedule an informational meeting for the neighborhood residents to provide them with the projected scope of the project. Staff and Mr. Brown were further directed to have the live (5) year projected project map and criteria available in the near future for public reference. d. eomDrehensive Plan Undate, Status Report Staff had updated Councilmembers earlier in the meeting on their recent meeting with representatives of the Metropolitan Council and the status ofthe City's Comprehensive Plan update submittal to the agency and apparent deficiencies noted by the Metropolitan Council staff review team. e. eitv Administrator Hirilll! Proeess, Identify Interview eandidates and SeheduIe Dates for Interviews The Council discussed and sought consensus as a group on the six (6) candidates it . wished to schedule interviews with on Monday, October 4 and Tuesday, October 5, 1999. Following the candidate selection for interview purposes, Council determined the interview process they wished to follow. Staff was directed to notify the unsuccessful candidates by mail of the Council's dccision. ADJOURN MOTION: Councilmember Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). .