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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 05-19-1997 MINUTES . CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION MONDAY, MAY 19, 1997 4:45 P.M. - ARMY RESERVE CENTER - 4655 LEXINGTON A VENUE NORTH CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice tl1ereof, Acting Mayor Susan Keim called to order the City Council Worksession at 4:55 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Keirn, Beverly Aplikowski, Dale Hicks and Paul Malone; City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; City Accountant, Terry Post; Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford; and Administrative Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Mayor Probst arrived at 5:05 p.m. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Aplikowski moved and Malone seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda for the May 19, 1997 W orksession as presented. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). CITY ISSUES - SHORT TERM . a. Pro Dosed Trail Expansions Cindy Walsh, Parks & Recreation Director, presented an overview of proposed trail expansions currently being discussed by the Parks & Recreation Commission for Council review and conunent. Ms. Walsh sought Council priorities for future trail expansions. Discussion ensued regarding tl1e options for trail expansion and rerouting to facilitate the reconstruction of Highway 96 and tl1e Gateway Business Development area, witl1 possible rerouting south of Round Lake for safety considerations. Existing utility easements and rights-of-way, and location of three monitoring wells owned by the Army were also discussed. City Administrator Fritsinger advised Councilmembers and stafftl1at no park dedication considerations had been finalized witl1 Welsh Companies in tl1e Gateway Business District, but would need to be addressed soon, and would affect future trail and park development in that area. Acting Mayor Keirn turned the meeting over to Mayor Probst at this time. b. City Sponsorship. Day in the Park Event Ms. Walsh presented a request she had recently received for private business sponsorship of an event at the 1997 Day in tl1e Park celebration. Staff sought Council direction for . consideration of any current and future private sponsorship requests for events at conununity-hosted celebrations. It was the consensus of the Council that Ms. Walsh use her discretion in allowing limited private sponsorship for events at the 1997 Day in the Park celebration, on a one-time, trial basis, to evaluate tl1e need for future guidelines. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESS10N - MAY 19. 1997 2 - e. 1996 Informal Presentation. Audit Findings. Abdo. Abdo & Eick City Accountant, Terrance Post, introduced Mr. Steve McDonald, of the independent auditing firm, Abdo, Abdo & Eick. Mr. McDonald highlighted various aspects of the draft 1996 year-end audit results recently completed by their firm. A bench handout of their draft management letter was also presented for Council comment prior to formal presentation for Council acceptance at the May 27, 1997 City Council meeting. Mr. Post called the Council's attention to the excellent performance year reflected in tl1e Water and Sewer Funds, attributable to tl1ird quarter water sales, witl10ut which performance results would have reflected less positive results. Councilmember Malone commended the Finance Department on their excellent management of City funds. d. Gatewav Business Distriet (GBm. Feasibility Report City Administrator Fritsinger presented the second draft oftl1e Preliminary GBD Feasibility Report, which incorporated those revisions, refinements and corrections for street and utility improvements as previously reviewed by Council and staff, increasing . the total estimated project cost to $2,700,000. The final Feasibility Report is scheduled for formal presentation at the May 27, 1997 City Council meeting. Mr. Fritsinger advised Councilmembers that the time line for tl1e feasibility report and related items was continually changing with pending property acquisitions, discussions with developers, and other contingencies, but that timely staging of events needed to be considered in tl1e immediate future. Various options were discussed, and staff was directed to contact tl1e City of Shoreview regarding the level of Ramsey County funding for amenities in the Lexington Avenue area for tl1eir portion of the project. Those findings were to be referred to tl1e Highway 96 Task Force for their consideration and further recommendation to tl1e Council. Other considerations were whether or not tl1e City would bid infrastructure improvements, or if they would be included in the Welsh Companies' construction and development project. Chapter 429 issues, land acquisition, design and inspection considerations, Phase IV development, and C/I property tax rates were other discussion items. Mr. Post provided a cautionary note regarding proposed property tax reforms, and the dramatic affects those reforms would have on revenue forecasts. Mr. Post stated he would support Chapter 429 assessments, subject to tax increment financing supporting a portion of the debt load, with the developer paying remaining balances. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION -MAY 19. 1997 3 . Mr. Fritsinger advised Councilmembers tl1at these issues were planned for incorporation in tl1e Developer Agreement currently being drafted, with the developer making a commitment to the dates for respective phases, witl1 tax levels at that time showing the parcels as developed properties. It was the consensus oftl1e Council to leave the southerly extension of the eight inch water main that currently exists, rather than extending the twelve inch water main. It was also the consensus oftl1e Council that more consideration be given to tl1e selection of tree plantings along the boulevard roadway sections, rather tl1an quantity of plantings. Council directed staff to have the City's consulting engineers prepare the Feasibility Study for formal presentation at tl1e May 27, 1997 Council meeting. Further discussion ensued regarding bond issuance, its process, public hearing requirements, and/or tl1e need for a public informational meeting. Staff was directed to review tl1e bond issuance procedure and inform Councilmembers accordingly. . e. 1998 Budget City Administrator Fritsinger reviewed the 1998 Budget process and proposed calendar. Discussion ensued regarding the Park Fund, and use of an annuity plan to spend down principal and interest. Ms. Walsh was directed to clarify this issue with the Parks and Recreation Conunission as tl1ey prepare future budgets. Councilmember Keim, as Council liaison to the Commission, advised Councilmembers that Commission members were anticipating the need to fund some park development at TCAAP. Mr. Fritsinger also presented preliminary 1998 Capital Improvement worksheets by department. Further discussion is scheduled to take place at the June 16, 1997 Council Worksession. It was tl1e consensus of the Council that goals for tl1e 1998 Levy reflect a zero increase baseline with identified additional spending priorities resulting in no more than a three percent (3%) increase. CITY ISSUES - LONG TERM a. Assessment Policv Consideration of potential revisions to the City's current Assessment Policy were not available for discussion, pending receipt of recommendations from the City's Finance . Conunittee. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MAY 19. 1997 4 . b. Water Meters Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford, presented the Request for Proposals (RFP) and specifications as prepared by staff for the water meter replacement project. Staff was directed to proceed with the RFP's with presentation of proposals scheduled at the June 16, 1997 Worksession, and award of bid scheduled for the June 30,1997 Council meeting. Councilmember Malone commended staff on their preparation of the documents for this project. Councilmember Hicks left the meeting at 7:00 p.m. MISCELLANEOUS Boatine- Rell"ulation Ordinance Review Councilmember Malone and Public Works Superintendent Stafford commented on a letter from Bill Costello concerning potential boating regulations for Lake J oharma and Lake Josephine. In the near future, the City of Arden Hills will most likely be . approached for inclusion in a joint agreement with Roseville. The Public Safety Commission supports involvement in a joint agreement at this time, and will most likely make a recommendation for Council support of the agreement. Councilmember Keim and Mayor Probst both shared their conviction that the City be immediately involved in the agreements and ordinances being considered by the Cities of Roseville and Shoreview for Lake Owasso. Due to the long-term affects of a potential agreement and/or ordinance, and possible community concerns with the issue, it was the consensus of those Councilmembers present to seek immediate involvement with the City of Roseville in their drafting of related documents, with the goal being to achieve community unanimity prior to such a document being adopted in Arden Hills. Thank You Mayor Probst recognized the volunteer labor recently provided by area youth and, on his behalf, directed staff to prepare a "thank you" to those three individuals involved in painting City fire hydrants. Public Works/City Hall Fence Repairs Councilmember Malone expressed concern that, with relocation of City Hall and the Public Works facility in the near future, no extensive amount of staff time or money be spent on repairs and/or replacement of the existing privacy fence behind City Hall. City Administrator Fritsinger assured the Council that staff is considering any manpower or . financial expenditure very carefully. Mr. Fritsinger mentioned that a safety fence would serve to address concerns regarding theft, vandalism and unauthorized refuse dumping experienced in the past. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - MAY 19. 1997 5 . Flood Donations Councilmember Aplikowski questioned the City's involvement in financial or manpower donations to flood relief efforts. City Administrator Fritsinger responded that the City had provided manpower to the City of Fridley in their flood control efforts earlier this spring, and staff was in contact with both the League of Minnesota Cities and Ramsey County in their relief efforts, and had provided lists of available personnel and equipment for use in affected communities as needed. Suburban Mayors Meetin~s Mayor Probst informed Councilmembers and staff that organized meetings of Suburban Mayors, as initiated by Mayor Wall ofRoseville, would no longer be held due to lack of involvement by area cities. Mayor Wall suggested that each interested community become more active with the Ramsey County League of Local Cities and the I-35W Corridor Coalition at this time, to provide for more county-wide involvement of city- related interests. Electric Fence/Zoning Ordinance Revisions City Administrator Fritsinger advised the Council that the electric fence previously . reported would be removed by the property owners. Mr. Fritsinger stated that the Planning Commission would proceed with revisions to the City's zoning ordinance to address any future concerns. Gateway Business District (GBD) City Administrator Fritsinger advised the Council that litigation was in progress by Ms. Rademacher, owner of the horses previously grazing on the Truhler/Zafke property in the process of being acquired by Welsh Companies in the Gateway Business District. ADJOURN MOTION: Malone moved and Aplikowski seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). .