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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-07-WS ~ ~~HILLS Approved: October 29, 2007 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2007; 5:00 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Stan Harpstead called to order the City Council Worksession meeting at 5: 11 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead, Councilmembers David Grant (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes (left at 6:34 p.m.), and David McClung Absent: None. Also present: City Administrator Michelle Wolfe; Finance Director Sue Iverson; Civil Engineer, Kristine Giga; Public Works Director Greg Hoag; City Planner, James Lehnhoff; City Planner, Meagan Beekman; Parks and Recreation Manager, Michelle Olson; City Attorney, Jerry Filla; Mark Benson and Jamie Sloboden (Short, Elliot, Hendrickson); Chris Roy, Mn/DOT; Marc Goess, Mn/DOT; and Recording Secretary, Dianna Wise. 2. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Mayor Harpstead moved and Councilmember Holmes seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 3. AGENDA ITEMS A. Community Survey City Administrator Wolfe discussed the updated draft survey and pointed out the additional questions for discussion. The Council reviewed the survey questions and identified changes, additions and deletions. The discussion on this item was suspended at ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 2 6:00 p.m. in order to move to Item 3B; it resumed at 7:00 p.m. Council requested to see the survey document again after changes are made, and before it is fmalized. Council reached consensus to direct staff to update the draft survey. B. Highway 10 and CSAH 96 - Concept Discussion Public Works Director Hoag displayed a revised concept map of TH lO/CSAH 96 and pointed out the affected properties. He stated staff is requesting feedback from Council on this layout and direction on the next steps. City Administrator Wolfe indicated this is something that staff did not want to spend a lot of time on until Council had a chance to review it. Staff has contacted Big 10 and Scherer Brothers on the changes. She reported the questions Council directed staff to research were land acquisition, relocation and costs, and the impact on this concept on TCAAP in terms of traffic and development. Mayor Harpstead stated that any concept Council approves could be subject to change. Councilmember Grant stated that this is an expensive project with funding sources that are as yet undetermined. He questioned whether or not the State and County have the funding necessary for the project. He also stated that he would like to know whether TCAAP is on solid financial footing before Council moves forward. Councilmember Holden stated she did not like this plan as she is opposed to several of the design concepts. She would like to see this done correctly over the long term. She stated that she doesn't believe the State will allow Scherer Brothers to have access to Highway 10 if the grade separation is constructed at 10 and 96. The indicated that she does not want to lose Scherer Brothers. She stated that she believes Arden Manor should have two access points, and that we should do the project right and slow. Conncilmember McClung stated he is concerned Council is rushing to do this before it understands the financial, density, traffic, and master planning issues. He added that he needs to know what Mn/DOT's position is regarding Scherer Brothers access, as well as other TCAAP Master Planning issues such as finance, traffic, and density. Mayor Harpstead stated it is possible to approve a concept with the understanding that financial funding is first in place. Councilmember Holmes stated she would like to go to the next step and at least have a plan assuming the State agrees it could be done. Mr. Chris Roy, Mn/DOT, responded to the concept plan and stated it is good to look at alternatives. He stated he is willing to bring the plan to Mn/DOT and look at it from a geometric, safety, and traffic perspective. He stated it is likely that Mn/DOT would ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 3 request an increase in distance between the proposed exit ramp and Scherer Brothers. He stated there is also some potential for phased-in construction. He stated his overall impression is that this decision would be problematic, but he would bring it back to Mn/DOT for further review. Mayor Harpstead asked what stage most cities get to before they find out if funding is available. Mr. Roy replied it could get to the concept design without identifying all the possible funding sources. He stated that to apply for federal funds, a pretty well defined plan is required. Mayor Harpstead asked what the amount of time would be for the preliminary design. Mr. Mark Benson, Short, Elliott, Hendrickson (SEH), replied from six to nine months. City Administrator Wolfe reported she discussed the use of the second entrance with the fire department. She reported the fire department is comfortable with a single entrance design. City Attorney Filla commented that any land use acquisition must define the public purpose for the land. Discussion ensued on the traffic plan. Councilmember Grant stated that perhaps work should start now to acquire homes He summarized that the financial analysis and density discussions must occur before he can support a concept plan. He further stated that he wants to retain Scherer Brothers. Councilmember McClung stated that he also wants to retain Scherer Brothers. Councilmember Holden stated she would like a design plan built with a frontage road for Scherer Brothers. She stated that we need to know Mn/DOT's position relative to Scherer Brothers access, and that she really thinks a second access is needed for Arden Manor. Mayor Harpstead clarified that Councilmember Holden would like to see a plan for a second entrance and for the long term. Mayor Harpstead stated he would like to avoid delaying tactics. He stated he would like to move to the next step to gain insight. He stated the problem is deciding on the concept plan to move forward. Councilmember Grant commented the fmancial analysis and risk to the City should have been done before the project began. He believes the cart was put before the horse. He ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 4 stated he could move forward if minimal impact is done to Arden Manor and Scherer Brothers stays. Mayor Harpstead summarized there is no reason to bring this forward for Council action yet, no real engineering work should occur at this time beyond asking Mn/DOT to explore the right-in/right-out at the overpass and to explore a second access to Arden Manor. Council reached consensus on this summary. C. Pay Equity Plan and Compensation Study City Administrator Wolfe explained that the City Council approved a motion to award the Job Classification Study to Riley, Dettman, Kelsey, LLC. She stated the City last completed a job classification and compensation study in 2002. She pointed out that in January 200S, the City is required by state law to submit a pay equity report based on December 2007 wages. She stated Mr. Rod Kelsey will prepare a compensation study. She stated that she anticipates several discussions on this study and the implementation. Mr. Rod Kelsey, Riley, Dettman, Kelsey, LLC, provided the results of the study to date. He reported he met with and discussed the process with employees. He stated the Job Description Questionnaires (JDQ) were reviewed for pay equity purposes and to develop a proposed classification structure. Mr. Kelsey stated he did a market analysis to look at the City of Arden Hills salaries in relation to the peer comparison cities and developed a proposed revised pay plan. City Administrator Wolfe explained that staff is looking for initial feedback. She stated this would be discussed again with Council before approval is required. She stated that in terms of a timeline, staff would need to implement changes by the end of the year in order for them to be considered in the 2007 report due to the State in early 200S. City Administrator Wolfe indicated she would meet with employees on September IS, 2007 to give them a status update. Mayor Harpstead stated City Administrator Wolfe could inform employees that Council heard the presentation by the consultant who presented a change to the key matrix and presented a classification structure. He stated Council looked at the numbers that are market linked at the 50th and 60th percentiles, but these need further review and discussion. Mayor Harpstead requested a reference point to the grid be added to ensure what is happening is consistent with the market place. Council reached consensus to review this again after the September 24, 2007 Council meeting. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 5 4. Council Comments and Requests None 5. Adiournment to Closed Session MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Mayor Harpstead seconded a motion to adjourn to a closed session at 9:35 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4- . Michelle olfe City Administrator