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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 06-16-1997 . MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION MONDAY, JUNE 16,1997 4:45 P.M. - ARMY RESERVE CENTER - 4655 LEXINGTON A VENUE NORTH CALL TO ORDERIROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Probst called to order the City Council Worksession at 4:50 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski and Dale Hicks; City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger; City Accountant, Terry Post; Conununity Development Director, Kevin Ringwald; Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford; Parks & Recreation Director, Cindy Walsh; and Administrative Secretary, Sheila Stowell. Councilmember Paul Malone arrived at 4:55 p.m. and Councilmember Susan Keirn arrived at 5:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Hicks moved and Aplikowski seconded a motion to approve tl1e meeting agenda for the June 16, 1997 W orksession as presented. The motion carried unanimously (3-0). . CITY ISSUES - SHORT TERM 1998 Bud~et/CapitaI Improvement Plan (CIP) a. City Administrator Fritsinger provided an overview and presented revised 1998, and the longer range 1998 - 2002, CIP recommendations, along with various issues and legislation impacting the 1998 budget as a whole. Detail sheets for each proposed project were provided for assisting in future scheduling of replacements. Mr. Fritsinger noted that the CIP for tl1e Pavement Management Program (PMP) reflects tl1e total cost of anticipated PMP, including tl1e PIRlassessment portion of the budget, witl1 the various funding sources provided. Staff reviewed department-specific budgets. Discussion included the Parks and Recreation Department budget, an annuity plan as it relates to the General Fund and Park Fund playground structure acquisition and replacement, establishing a more aggressive trail expansion program, and boulevard tree planting and maintenance issues. Council consensus was that this was not a budget or policy-related item, and directed staff to review the City's existing boulevard tree permit policy, right -of-way issues, snow removal and storage, and prepare informational guidelines for residents regarding minimum standards, and suggested hardy tree varieties. . Additional budget issues were presented and discussed by respective staff members. Mr. Fritsinger advised Councilmembers that staffwill be evaluating the CIP in more detail as it impacts the overall 1998 budget/levy, and will continue to refine tl1e document for final presentation to the Council at tl1e July 21, 1997 W orksession. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - JUNE 16. 1997 2 . City Accountant Post reviewed recent state legislation which compressed property tax rates for commercial/industrial properties, and discussed the impact on Arden Hills due to our larger conunerciallindustrial property base. Mr. Post also referenced recent legislation increasing the City's portion of Public Employee Retirement Account (PERA) contributions. b. Gateway Business Distriet (GBm Conununity Development Director Ringwald provided a status report and reviewed key elements of the Gateway Business District's ongoing property acquisitions negotiations. 1. Naegele Purchase Agreement Mr. Ringwald sununarized the Purchase Agreement for acquisition oftl1e Naegele property for Council review and conunent. 2. Sale ofCitv Land (J(em Milling Site) Mr. Ringwald summarized the ongoing negotiations and proposed sale of the former Kern Milling site for Council review and conunent prior to providing tl1e document to Welsh Companies. . 3. Welsh Development Agreement Mr. Ringwald summarized the draft Development Agreement for Council review and comment prior to presentation to Welsh Companies. Mr. Ringwald reviewed various portions ofthe Agreement language related to Tax Increment Financing (TIF), project timing, assessments and other items. Councilmembers commended staff on tl1eir management of the project to-date. e. Water Meter Bids Public Works Superintendent Stafford reviewed tl1e four bids received by the City on Friday, June 13, 1997 for the proposed replacement of water meters throughout tl1e City. Mr. Stafford, and City Accountant Post will use tl1e 60-day evaluation period to continue their analysis of the bids and provide a formal bid award reconunendation to the Council at tl1e July 28, 1997 regular meeting. d. Loeal Performanee Aid (LPA) City Administrator Fritsinger briefly discussed recent legislative amendments to the Local Performance Aid program, and sought Council direction as to whether it wished to participate in tl1e 1998 program, and if so, what service program on which to focus. Discussion included the possibility offocusing on tl1e I-35W Corridor Coalition . activities, including the recent GIS program. Council directed staff to review long-term ramifications on the City not participating in this program at this time, with tl1e option of future participation. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION -JUNE 16. 1997 3 . CITY ISSUES - LONG TERM a. TCAAP 1. EDA Plannin~ Study/AIIiant Techsystems City Administrator Fritsinger requested Council direction regarding facilitation of TCAAP, Phase II, planning activities. Councilmembers and staff had previously identified TCAAP as one of their 1997 priorities for continued monitoring, but not as a program requiring active staff involvement. Recent developments and conversations with Alliant Techsystems have moved tl1is item to the forefront, and staff sought Council direction on tl1e level of activity Council preferred for the remainder of 1997, and the resultant affect on current staff workload. Discussion included congressional action required, overall planning pursuits, retrocession activities, financial participation by Alliant Techsystems, long-term infrastructure development, budget implications, Economic Development Administration funding, and staff time constraints. After discussion, staff was directed to contact Alliant Techsystems and pursue a . three to six month delay in planning activities to allow staff completion of various current projects. Further discussion will take place at tl1e July 21, 1997 Worksession. MISCELLANEOUS Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department. Meetin!! Notiee City Administrator Fritsinger polled Councilmembers on their availability for a joint City/Fire Department meeting on Thursday, June 19, 1997, as notified by Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department (LJVFD). The purpose of the meeting was to begin negotiations regarding the renewal of the joint agreement for fire protection services. Due to the late notice of the meeting, and pursuant scheduling conflicts, no Councilmembers were available to attend this joint meeting sponsored by LNFD. Residential Fire Mr. Fritsinger advised Councilmembers of a home fire which occurred on Sunday evening, June 15, 1997. Mr. Fritsinger advised that, due to the suspect origins of the fire and condition of the house, condemnation proceedings may be required. Staff will monitor tl1e situation and apply code enforcement as deemed necessary. Ouad lee Arena Mr. Fritsinger advised the Council that the City of Arden Hills, along with the entire . SAMS group representing area cities, were now the official owners of the fourth rink at the Quad Ice Arena. Mr. Fritsinger stated that he had pursued previously voiced Council concerns regarding concession sales and tl1eir application to outstanding debt service. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JUNE 16. 1997 4 e With all cities in agreement that stronger language needed to be included in the agreements to clarify tl1is application, the management board had initiated a Letter of Understanding which will be drafted and made part of the Master Agreement documentation. Vaeant Property/Car Sales Councilmembers addressed several code enforcement issues regarding vehicles for sale on vacant property on Hamline Avenue and on New Brighton Road. Staff was directed to review the areas in question and enforce codes required. Lawn/Garden Watering Ban Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of implementing a watering ban this summer. Consensus was that statl would continue monitoring the situation and take the initiative to advertise a watering ban, if they deemed it was necessary at a later date. Graffiti Staff was directed to identify costs for labor and materials for clean up ofrecent graffiti in the area, for possible restitution. . ADJOURN MOTION: Malone moved and Aplikowski seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). .