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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 12-20-1999 . MEETING MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 20,1999,4:45 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Probst called the meeting to order at 4:48 p.m. Those present included Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski and Lois Rem. Staff present included City Administrator, Joe Lynch; City Treasurer, Terry Post; Public Works Director, Dwayne Stafford; Parks and Recreation Director, Tom Moore; Associate Planner, Nancy Randall; and Recording Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Councilmembers David Grant and Gregg Larson each arrived at approximately 4:50 p.m. a. Proposed City Hall. Land Convevance Update City Administrator Lynch introduced Ken Nimmer Impact Planning, who updated the City Council and staff regarding the proposed City Hall site on the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) property. Mr. Nimmer provided infonnation regarding recent soil testing at the site and potential concerns brought forward by this testing. Mr. Nimmer distributed a bench handout . showing results of the completed testing and their respective analyses conducted by Impact Planning and the Department of Army. The area that was tested was the former silo foundation site. Discussion items included depth of the soil samples; distance between samples; methodology used and differences in analyses by the City's tests and those conducted by the Department of Army (DOA); potential future land clean up costs and liability; additional testing alternatives; timing issues if an Environmental Baseline Survey were deemed necessary; finding of suitability to lease requirements for federal property transfers; review of past aerial photos and former activities at the site; negotiating level of contamination with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA); heavy metals testing at the foundation site and transportation and landfill costs; additional soil borings at the site; raising the grade ofthe City Hall parking lot; remediation responsibilities and contingencies on the lease agreement; definition of City risk; and encapsulation or removal of soil from the site and potential costs. Staff was directed to further determine the costs for either removal of the soil from the site, or encapsulation on the site, and bring resulting recommendations to the City Council at the January Worksession. b. Ramsev County Parks and Recreation. Tonv Schmidt Park . Greg Mack, Ramsey County Director of Parks and Recreation, Larry Holmgren, Ramsey County Director of Acquisition and Development, and representatives ofthe County's ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - DECEMBER 20, 1999 2 . architectural firm, HCM Architects, were in attendance to present final designs for the playground equipment and structures at Lake Johanna Tony Schmidt Park. Mr. Mack provided an overview ofthe Tony Schmidt project to-date. Mr. Mack stated that he anticipated that the Ramsey County Commissions would be taking action at their Tuesday, December 21, 1999 regular meeting that would include approval of the County's capital budget for inclusion offunding for the project. Mr. Lynch requested clarification by Mr. Mack on how this portion of the project was unique from the Phase I presentation already made. Mr. Lynch reminded Mr. Mack that the City Council had only approved Phase I of the project, and it did not include playground equipment and structures; only site work. Mr. Mack acknowledged that the County was prepared to follow the process for Phase II with the Planning Commission and City Council approval. Mayor Probst thanked Mr. Mack et al for their presentation, and expressed the City's excitement about the project and its completion. b. Northwestern Soccer Fields Mr. Moore provided an update for the City Council regarding the Northwestern College soccer fields at the Presbyterian Homes facility. In previous conversations, Northwestern had proposed a fee to the City of $500/month for the season in order to cover their . projected maintenance costs at the fields. Northwestern had asked to reschedule a meeting with Mr. Moore on January 10,2000. Mr. Moore will attempt at this meeting to provide for North Suburban Soccer Association and our major participation, expressing the need to increase the level of fields to participants. Mr. Moore acknowledged that he was not aware of a current formal lease agreement between Northwestern College and Presbyterian Homes. Mr. Moore stated that Northwestern College had also tapped into a well at Presbyterian Homes for irrigation of the fields, so there was no water cost to them. It was the consensus of the City Council that, given the recent $30 million bond issue sponsored by the City on behalf of Presbyterian Homes, a cooperative endeavor be promoted and achieved by Presbyterian Homes, Northwestern College and the City to find a workable agreement in the usage of these soccer fields for all entities. c. Hie:hwavs 96/10 Discussion Mr. Brown presented the most recent designs his staff and City staff had created for the Highways 96/1 0 intersection for review by the City Council. Mr. Brown stated that he and City staff had met with Mr. Tolaas of Ramsey County last week to review this most recent design. Mr. Tolaas seemed more receptive to the more permanent nature for ramps, rather than . the temporary ramps originally proposed, to allow greater flexibility in future. Mr. ------- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - DECEMBER 20, 1999 3 . Tolaas did express concerns regarding having three (3) major intersections within such close proximity. Mr. Brown also advised the City Council that he had discussed the timing of the Highway 96 project with Mr. Tolaas, and did not find Mr. Tolaas too receptive to doing Phase II as a stand-alone project; but wanted to bid and construct the two phases together. Mr. Tolaas also stated that he was not convinced that this project should have a higher priority than Ramsey County #49 in Shoreview. Mayor Probst reiterated that the reason for the "quick fix" overlay of Highway 96 several years ago was due to construction being imminent. Mayor Probst also stated Phase I was to act at a catalyst for funding reimbursement by Ramsey County to the City for the signal at West Round Lake Road and Highway 96. Mayor Probst exprcssed his concern that, with continued delays, Ramsey County would expend all the turnback monies elsewhere, not allowing for those funds to be used in Arden Hills. It was the consensus of Councilmembers that staff and Mr. Brown continue to pursue this design concept with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and report back at the January Work session, prior to the City Council taking formal action to approve the final design. d. Old Highwav 10 Watermain Petition . Mr. Stafford reviewed the background of a petition request for water main on a section of Old Highway 10, and the responses received from affected residents. Mr. Stafford provided four options for the City Council's consideration: 1. Proceed with the projcct following the necessary steps and see how bids come out; 2. Consider funding a portion of the project and continue moving forward with it; 3. Place the project on hold while other funding sources are explored; 4. Elect not to proceed with the project at this time due to high resident costs and resident opposition to those costs. Discussion included the possibility of the City underwriting a portion of the project (i.e., 50%); potential application for a Ramsey County grant, based on income guidelines, for additional funding for the project; and the portion of the project that was restoration. Staff was directed to seek income information from affected residents to determine if an application for Community Development Block Grant funds were applicablc to pursue, prior to giving further consideration to the project. Later that evening, one of the property owners returned to the meeting and requested an . audience with the Council to speak in favor of the project. Mr. Cmiel, who owns three (3) vacant lots for potential development, represented himself as the designated ----- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - DECEMBER 20, 1999 4 . representative of thirteen (13) of the eighteen (18) affected property owners along Old Highway 10. Mr. Cmiel brought out issues of increased fire protection quality of potable water, and cost participation options for the City. Mayor Probst reviewed the City Council's previous discussion and potential process with Mr.Cmiel. e. Y2K Final Preparations Mr. Stafford reported that between the hours of II :00 p.m. on December 31 st and 2:00 a.m. on January IS" City staff (consisting ofMr. Stafford, Public Works Foreman Jim Perron, and Public Works employee Mike Schifsky) would be available to monitor the City's electronic and mechanical equipment related to the City's lift station and water tower pumps. Mr. Post was planning to man City Hall in case of emergency, and to serve as liaison with the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department, Station No.1. Both contracted agencies would be fully prepared to respond to any emergencies. Mr. Post referred to a recent Ramsey County mass mailing of emergency response strategic locations. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS January 3, 2000 Organizational Council Meeting . It was the consensus of the Councilmembers that the length of the annual organizational meeting be kept to a minimum. Employee Update Mr. Lynch advised Councilmembers of the death of the spouse of City employee, Celine Syfko, and stated that a plant and card had been provided to the family on behalf of the City Council and staff. January 10, 2000 Public Hearing, 2000 Street Improvement Project Discussion took place regarding the start time for the Public Hearing scheduled on January 10, 2000 for consideration of the 2000 Street Improvement Project. It was the consensus of the Council that the public hearing remain at 7:30, but that the regular Council meeting start at 6:30 p.m., then recess and reconvene as needed. Mr. Brown was requested to have the necessary recommended options for street widths available at the meeting. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Parks and Recreation Department Update . Mr. Moore provided an overview of recent recreation program activities. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - DECEMBER 20, 1999 5 . One of the discussion items included previous City maintenance and upkeep of Mounds View High School hockey rink and reciprocal use of their facilities and programming. Mr. Moore advised that he would continue to discuss this issue with the school district and the possibility offuture agreements for needs/usage to facilitate both the City and school district. Discussion also included changes to the City's ice rinks this winter, and the departments need to evaluate usage and manpower required to operate the various rinks. Mr. Moore advised that this would be an ongoing process. The Council expressed the need to keep residents informed about any changcs at the parks. Pnblic Works Department Update Mr. Stafford briefed the City Council on various activities of the Public Works Department. Finance Department Mr. Post reported on various activities of the Finance Department, with staffing shortages due to employee Syfko's fan1ily leave. COUNCIL COMMENTS . Councilmember Rem requested clarification on the City's employee incentive program activities. Councilmember Larson reported on various activities of the City's Water Quality Task Force; Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department (LJVFD) ongoing budget discussions; negotiations; and recognition offormer Councilmember Malone's service to the City. Councilmember Aplikowski reported on various activities of the City's Operations and Finance Committee. Mayor Probst requested an update by staff on the Vaughan tower code enforcement; Perry Park vandalism; and the Scholl trail easement. ADJOURN MOTION: Council member Aplikowski moved and Councilmember Rem seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). . -~ -