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Home My WebLink About10-15-07-WS ~ ~~HILLS Approved: 11/26/2007 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION OCTOBER 15, 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 5:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead, Councilmembers David Grant (left at 8:30 p.m.), Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and David McClung (left at 8:40 p.m.) Absent: None Also Present: City Administrator Michelle Wolfe; City Attorney John Dean; Stacy Kvilvang and Sid Inman, Ehlers & Associates; and Recording Secretary Dianna Wise. 2. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember McClung moved and Councihnember Grant seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP Financial Analvsis Discussion Ms. Stacy Kvilvang, Financial Analysis. Councilmembers. Ehlers & Associates, presented information on the TCAAP She referenced the packet of handouts she provided for ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION ~ October 15, 2007 2 Ms. Kvilvang stated she is looking for direction as to whether Council is comfortable with the commercial and population projections. Councilmember McClung stated he is comfortable with the projected residential units identified. Councilmember Holmes stated she would need to see how the layout looked. She stated she is happy with the format used to present the figures. Councilmember Grant stated he is interested in the financial aspects of the residential component. Ms. Kvilvang presented information on the land sales performa, state and federal funding, transportation funding, special assessments, tax increment financing, and infrastructure costs. She explained that many of the numbers are estimates; therefore, more detailed numbers would be required in the future. Discussion ensued on each line item presented. Ms. Kvilvang sUlllffiarized that additional information would be requested relative to the layout of residential development with a maximum of 1,750 units, review the addition of commercial and offices to previous levels, further study of clean up, Information regarding equity partners, provide cost estimates for development, road improvement details, and land development rate ofreturn. Consensus from Council is that the request for revenue bonds up front is firmly no. Mayor Harpstead stated he would like to see photos of similar developments. He stated he would also like an illustration of the higher density areas for development. Councilmember Holmes cautioned that everyone defines density differently. City Administrator Wolfe commented she would bring the information back to another worksession as soon as reportable information is available. Discussion ensued on the increase in police coverage requirements due to TCAAP. Mayor Harpstead commented on the GSA strategy and questioned some of the negotiation items. City Administrator Wolfe replied a closed meeting on October 29, 2007 would address this. She clarified the removal of environmentally hazardous materials is an issue, not the actual demolition of buildings. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - October 15, 2007 3 B. TCAAP Status Report City Administrator Wolfe reported the Offer to Purchase - Transfer Process meetings scheduled for October 30-31, 2007 have been postponed to November 29-30, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Councihnember Holmes reported on the selection of a communications consultant. She stated they are leaning towards Mr. Ted Davis. She commented on why the other applicants were not selected. She stated the recommendation would be brought to the next Council meeting. City Administrator Wolfe reported a scope of work was sent to three environmental firms for bids to review TCAAP environmental studies and documents on the City's behalf. She stated that the most important thing is to select someone who would represent the City. City Administrator Wolfe reported a scope of work would be submitted to a pool of firms for the general civil engineering types of work for the site. City Administrator Wolfe reported Highways 10 and 96 are separate from this project as more information is needed before it moves forward and the tour occurs. She stated a concept plan is needed before proceeding much further with this project. Councihnember Holden stated she would like clarification of the Ryan email received on this topic. Councilmember Grant commented Council needs to get its arms around what the 1,750 would look like and what the requirements are. Discussion ensued. Council directed staff to obtain clarification from Ryan regarding the email. Councilmember Grant thanked Ms. Kvilvang for her work on the TCAAP updated financials. City Administrator Wolfe encouraged Councilmembers to call Ms. Kvilvang directly if they have concerns or questions. Mayor Harpstead commented that he does not believe there is enough room in the project financials to pay for intersections. He stated there is a great deal of turmoil in the transportation budget at this time due to the I-35W bridge. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - October 15,2007 4 C. Ramsev County Sheriffs Department 2008 Budget City Administrator Wolfe commented that Mayor Watson, City of North Oaks, raised some concerns. She stated that he asserts that the number of events should have a role in the allocation of costs. Sheriff Fletcher provided data and statistics that indicate a deputy spends about 20% of his/her time on calls. She stated Sheriff Fletcher proposed that in 2008, use the same formula and review the cost allocations for years 2009-2011. City Administrator Wolfe stated the formula is under discussion and would potentially benefit the City in the long-term. City Administrator Wolfe requested feedback for the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department annual review. Question #1 Feedback: Not clear understanding who is assigned to community and crime prevention; response times are good; concern with enforcement of no boats on Lake Johanna from 11 :00 a.m. to 1 :00 p.m.; major crimes or event statistics reported to the City are adequate. Question #2 Feedback: Inform public about cnme without divulging personal information. Question #3 Feedback: Improve documentation in terms of statistics for patrol, calls for service, crime trends; provide quarterly newsletter article, etc. Council committed to continue to find opportunities to provide better community visibility. City Administrator Wolfe presented the proposed budget for the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department. She reported the overall proposed increase for the department budget is 6.47% with Arden Hills' portion of the proposed increase at 6.42%. She reported that one ofthe major impacts is the need for more than one officer to respond to calls. City Administrator Wolfe stated the budget includes a new relief deputy starting July 1, 2008; PERA increases; increased car replacement cost of $26,000; an increase of $5,000 for weight restriction enforcement; additional computers at a cost of $10,000; and maintaining previous levels for equipment and lasers. Consensus reached to support the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department 2008 Budget. Discussion ensued on the FTE patrol coverage contract. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - October 15, 2007 5 D. Citv Emplovee Health Insurance Update Consensus reached that Council is in agreement with the City Employee Health Insurance plan. E. Citv Survev Final Review Councilmember Holmes discussed the interviews for the communications position. She asked whether questions should be added to the survey relative to TCAAP. City Administrator Wolfe replied there is a cost per question over 50 questions. Discussion ensued on the survey questions. Consensus reached to request the Communications Consultant review the questions on TCAAP and provide feedback. Consensus reached to delete the sentence between Question 9 and 10. Consensus reached to add Question 22A: "If in favor, what services would you like to see enhanced?" Consensus reached for Questions 31-36, to quantify a dollar amount or range. 4. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REOUESTS City Administrator Wolfe asked for consensus on the consideration of a staff person or Timesavers to take meeting minutes at various committees. Mayor Harpstead stated he is in favor of having a staff person take minutes for various committees. Councilmember McClung reported he would not be available for the October 29, 2007 PTRC meeting. Councilmember Holmes reported she is going to New Orleans for the National League of Cities Conference in November. Councilmember Holden asked if Council is allowed to discuss neighborhood businesses relative to the Comprehensive Plan. City Administrator Wolfe replied she would check on this in terms of the process. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - October 15, 2007 6 City Administrator Wolfe noted an issue has arisen relative to professional development opportunities. She recommended a new policy be drafted for approval and the process to follow. City Administrator Wolfe commented that with the vacancy of the Community Development Director, additional duties would shift to the City Planner and Chief Building Official and recommended a salary adjustment. Council was comfortable with the recommendation 5. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Hohnes seconded a mot to a Journ the meeting at 9:43 p.m. The motion carried (3-0). d~lfL~ Michelle Wolfe City Administrator