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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWS 08-18-1997 MINUTES . CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA WORKSESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997 4:45 P.M. - ARMY RESERVE CENTER - 4655 LEXINGTON A VENUE NORTH CALL TO ORDERlROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof: Mayor Dennis Probst called to order the City Council Worksession at 4:45 p.m. Present were Councilmembers Beverly Aplikowski, Dale Hieks, Susan Keirn and Paul Malone; City Aceountant, Terry Post; Community Development Direetor, Kevin Ringwald; Public Works Superintendent, Dwayne Stafford; Parks and Recreation Direetor, Cindy Walsh; and Administrative Secretary, Sheila Stowell. City Administrator, Brian Fritsinger, was not present. APPRO V AL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Aplikowski moved and Hicks seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda for the August 18, 1997 Worksession as revised to accommodate the guests. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). - CITY ISSUES - SHORT TERM a. Gateway Business District (GBD) 1. Welsh Development Agreement Mr. Ringwald provided a bench handout with further clarifications between Welsh Companies and the City which had been revised and under discussion since the previous Development Agreement reviewed by the City Council at their July 21,1997 Worksession. Those items included the project scope, construction time frame and detail; issuance of General Obligation Tax Increment Financing bonds to pay for public improvements on the relocated Fourteenth Street a11d Round Lake Road/Highway 96 intersection; projected increased tax revenues for the Phase I, II, III and IV projeets to cover the debt service of the bonds; minimWll and maximum square footage of each building; projected construction start dates for public improvements; and special assessments. The City's consulting development attorney, Bob Deike, was in attendance to provide assistance to the City Council a11d staffregarding specific items included in the draft agreement. 2. Bond Issnance Mr. Post provided a brief overview of the proposed bond issuance, and introduced . Mr. Mark Ruff and Ms. Shelly Eldridge, representatives of the City's Financial Advisor, Ehlers and Associates, Inc. Mr. Ruff was present to answer questions fro111 the City Couneil and staff regarding the proposed issuance of General Obligation Tax Increment Financing bonds to finance the public improvements ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 18. 1997 2 . required in the GBD. Mr. Ruff stated that the proposed schedule was for the City Council to call for the bond sale at their August 25, 1997 Council meeting, for consideration at the September 29, 1997 Council meeting. 3. Wclsh Building Elevations Mr. Ringwald presented revised building exterior enhancements and elevations provided by the developer as a result of previous discussions with the City Council, for Phases II through IV of the development project. The final plat is scheduled for submittal at the City COW1cil's August 25, 1997 meeting, and the developer was seeking preliminary feedback on proposed upgrades. The Council generally concurred with the proposed revisions to the exterior modifications prepared by the developer. b. Selection of Engineer. Determine Rcview Process Mr. Post requested City Council direction on the review process for the selection of a eonsulting engineer. Mr. Post advised that the City had received all nine (9) proposals from the short list of firnls eontacted. . Council direction was for staff to complete the initial review and narrow the list of finalists to two or three firms if possible; Councilmembers were encouraged to provide input to staff regarding the various qualification of any of the firms represented; staff to have the short list prepared by September 15, 1997; if more than three firms were selected for the short list, another date for interviews be provided; and City Council and staff would interview the short list of firms at the Army Reserve Center the afternoon of September 22, 1997. Mayor Probst stated that he would not be participating or commenting prior to the interviews due to his past link with one of the firms submitting a proposal. c. Final Plans and Review. Council/Staff/Committee Barbeque COW1cilmembers briefly reviewed plans to-date for the September 15, 1997 barbeque. d. North Heil!hts Lutheran Church. Building Elevations Mr. Ringwald reviewed staff concerns regarding the exterior finish and proposed building materials of the North Heights Lutheran Church expansion. City Council direction to staff was to inform the North Heights that, if an exterior other than the briek which was originally represented at the time of the Planned Unit Development (PUD), a formal planning process be revisited with modifications presented to the Planning Commission and City Council at their October, 1997 scheduled meetings, to allow for proper notification of area property owners. . e. 1998 Preliminary Budget Mr. Post provided a 1998 Preliminary Budget summary for City Council review, and reviewed various issues and topics related to the Budget. Items discussed included -.-- ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 18. 1997 3 . staffing levels; 1998 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) revisions; City Hall construction; Gateway Business District improvements; proposed bond issue; Highway 96 construction; completion of Comprehensive Plan; proposed Intern position; Park Maintenance and Recreation funds; and fund transfers. It was the consensus of the City Council to maintain a 1.91 % levy increase for the 1998 proposed Budget. f. Internet Access U);ldate Mr. Post advised the City Council that North Suburban Cable Commission had eompleted the internal wiring at City Hall for eventual Internet access. Additional work on the necessary agreements with a service provider were continuing, with a projected connection scheduled for the week of August 18, 1997. CITY ISSUES - LONG TERM a. Utility Rate Structure Mr. Post gave a brief review of the City's current utility rate structure and policies . affecting the City's utility rate structure. Mr. Post was directed to prepare a more detailed analysis for City Couneil consideration and review, including identifying impacts on typical customer billings. MISCELLANEOUS Public Works Department Mr. Stafford gave a brief review of various projects underway in the Public Works Department. COW1cilmember Keirn referred to Mr. Stafford's recent correspondence with MN/DOT regarding storage of construction vehicles and equipment on city-owned property. Mr. Stafford stated that he would continue discussions with the State regarding punch list items needing their attention. North Snellin(: Avenue Discussion ensued regarding the proposed application of slurry coat on North Snelling Avenue this week. Mr. Stafford was direeted by the City COW1eil to talk to North Heights Lutheran Church regarding construction vehicle traffic during the twelve-hour curing period. . County Road F COW1eilmember Aplikowski requested clarification on the W1kempt vegetation on private property along County Road F near Valentine Hills park. Mr. Ringwald stated he would ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - AUGUST 18. 1997 4 . investigate and pursue appropriate code enforcement as needed. Hamline Avenue Service Road Council member Aplikowski asked for an update on the sanitary sewer problem on Hamline A venue. Mr. Stafford reviewed the findings at his visit to the site earlier that day, and offered several possible options. Highwav 96 Si~n Desi~ns Councilmember Malone reminded staff a11d City Councilmembers that, in reference to pending proposals from the Highway 96 consultant for the City, the City had graphic standards and logo, and encouraged the City to be consistent with the proposed signage designs. Northwest Youth and Familv Services Councilmember Hicks stated that the Northwest Youth and Family Serviees building was now fully leased, eliminating some of their financial pressures. . August 25.1997 Meeting Schedule Mayor Probst asked for clarification of the times for the August 25, 1997 Closed Executive Session, Economic Development Authority (EDA), and regular City Council meetings. Healthy Youth Coalition Mayor Probst mentioned several upcoming events regarding the Healthy Youth Coalition with which he and Cowlcilmember Aplikowski were involved. City Hall Mayor Probst also mentioned that he and City Administrator Fritsinger were scheduled to meet with General LeBlanc of the Army National Guard on August 27, 1997, at which time a more definite time frame and location for City Hall should be available. ADJOURN MOTION: Hicks moved and Keirn seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). .