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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-09-WS ~ ~HlLLS Approved: April 20, 2009 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING JANUARY 20, 2009 5:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Stan Harpstead called to order the City Council Work Session meeting at 5 :00 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead; Council Members David Grant, Brenda Holden (arrived at 5 :05 p.m.), Fran Holmes, and Dave McClung. Absent: None. Also present: City Administrator Ron Moorse; Public Works Director Gregory Hoag; Finance Director Susan Iverson; Civil Engineer Kristine Giga; Community Development Director James Lehnhoff; Park and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson; Charles Roberts, Community Development Intern; and Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates; S~nator Chaudhary and Chuck Janski, Bonestroo. 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Senator Chaudhary Mayor Harpstead thanked Senator Chaudhary for being able to attend the meeting and stated he would like to see continued open communication between the Council and State representatives. He asked for an update at the State level based on the economic crisis and how this affected the 2009 budget. Mayor Harpstead indicated the City of Arden Hills was impacted only slightly due to the budget crunch, losing $57,000 largely due to the market value homestead credit. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 2 Senator Chaudhary stated heavy changes would continue to take place due to the economic conditions of the State. He indicated LGA, market value credit, etc. would have significant local impacts. Mayor Harpstead reviewed the five main issues for the City right now as being TCAAP, contracted fire/police services, the B2 zoning district (County Road E and Lexington), the Pavement Management Plan and preserving and maintaining our residential neighborhoods to eliminate decay or decline. He stated these were five major goals established at a goal setting session for 2009. Mayor Harpstead questioned the Senator's interests and priorities for 2009. Senator Chaudhary explained he chaired the Senate's Environment Policy Committee, which has been the main focus of his work. He indicated he was promoting conservation and was an avid sportsman. Senator Chaudhary stated the primary focus for this session for all legislators was to hold back the dramatic impact of the budget deficit on everyday citizens. Mayor Harpstead reviewed several other projects pending in the City including Arden Manor and Highway 10. Senator Chaudhary questioned if the County met with the City and residents after the August meeting to discuss the impacts of TH 10/County Road 96. Mayor Harpstead explained the County met with the City in early December and had a meeting with the residents. He indicated they substantially reduced the number of homes impacted by the County Road 96 portion of the project, going from 1 7 homes affected to 2. Senator Chaudhary asked if the City would be building sound walls along this corridor. Mayor Harpstead stated this has not been determined and that this would be decided through the TIF district. Councilmember Holden stated the 694/35W interchange could also impact this area but has now been pushed back. She questioned how this interchange could be addressed sooner. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 3 City Administrator Moorse indicated this interchange was in the Mn/DOT's 20- year plan but has now been pushed outside of the 20-year plan. Mayor Harpstead indicated it would greatly benefit the City and all those who commute through this interchange to have this item brought back to the Mn/DOT's 2030 plan. Councilmember Grant stated 35W and 35E were major arterials and that the 694- east/west connection should be a priority. Councilmember McClung understood that the 694 interchange required an advanced design and that funding had been given to Mn/DOT for these detailed plans. He questioned why the roadway has now been pushed out 20 years when advanced money was given for a detailed plan. Senator Chaudhary questioned if Mn/DOT has been addressed regarding this Issue. Mayor Harpstead stated he has not spoken with Mn/DOT regarding this issue in some time. He indicated the City's concern at this time has been County Road H for entrance into the TCAAP development. City Administrator Moorse stated he has not addressed this issue with Mn/DOT either but that it has always been a funding issue. He indicated the City received word from Mn/DOT last fall that the improvements are being pushed out further. City Administrator Moorse explained that recent conversations held with local legislators have been to address this issue to get it put back on the radar. Councilmember Grant stated it was interesting how this interchange was planned for renovation but now pulled and outside the 20-year plan. He indicated he would like to know why this project was pulled and which projects were put in its place. Senator Chaudhary stated this was a good question and that Mn/DOT should be asked for a written response to let the City know why plans have changed. Councilmember Holden questioned if there would be any initiatives to place a windmill on the TCAAP site. Senator Chaudhary stated there very well could be initiatives for community based energy production based on wind and solar power. He indicated there were several high areas on the property making this possible or plan a geothermal heating/cooling system. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 4 Mayor Harpstead explained that several conversations have been started with the National Guard because they are pumping 2 million gallons of water a day, which is coming out of the ground at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. He indicated this would be an ongoing resource for the next 25-40 years. Senator Chaudhary stated he would be a staunch advocate for the City in pursuing geothermal or wind energy for this development. Mayor Harpstead asked for an update on the TCAAP land transfer process. City Administrator Moorse reviewed the TCAAP land information with the Senator stating the City would need assistance with special legislation for the TIF district to have the financial package work. Mayor Harpstead indicated the size and scale of this project makes it very cash heavy on the front end for the purchase, demolition and clean up of the property along with infrastructure expenditures. He stated the front end cash needs to be recovered in such a way that the City can maintain regular services for its residents, which is where the TIF comes in to assist with a project of this magnitude and that it was a superfund site. Mayor Harpstead explained that a meeting has been held between Stacie Kvilvang, the City's financial advisor along with Joel Michael - House Research, Senator Chaudhary and also with Representative Kate Knuth. Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates reviewed the five items the Council was seeking special legislation for. She indicated the City was looking for an extension of the five-year rule to ten years, which has been approved by the legislature for large projects. Ms. Kvilvang explained the second item was to establish the TCAAP site of 585 acres as being qualified as a redevelopment district up front, as all buildings need to be demolished. She stated an extension was also needed to extend the term another five years from 25 to 30 years to provide flexibility based on the economic cycles during the life of the di~trict. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 5 Mayor Harpstead indicated it was not the Council's intention to use TIF unless it had to be used and to terminate districts as early as possible, which was being negotiated with the developer. He explained that these requests were being asked for on the front end, but that the City would only use these extensions if absolutely necessary. Senator Chaudhary questioned if Ryan Companies has committed to this development. Mayor Harpstead stated the City has a preliminary development agreement with Ryan Companies that commits them to provide the cash needed to purchase the property from the National Guard with a sizeable down payment. Senator Chaudhary questioned if the additional requested funds up front would be used for cleanup of the TCAAP site. Mayor Harpstead indicated the funds would be used for cleanup of the site both above and below grade. He explained that any below grade contamination cleanup would be credited back to Ryan Companies. Mayor Harpstead stated the second major part of the cleanup expense would be the demolition of two million square feet of buildings, removal of existing utility lines and grading the site. He indicated all of these items required large amounts of cash up front before the site would be ready for development. Senator Chaudhary asked what portion of the up front dollars was the responsibility of Ryan Companies. Mayor Harpstead indicated this was in negotiation at this time and has not been determined but will be defined within the master development agreement. Co-uncilmember Holden stated that without TIF the TCAAP development would not be able to proceed. Senator Chaudhary indicated he will receive many comments or questions once this bill was introduced as to why Ryan Companies, the largest construction company in the state, would need a tax break. He stated this would be the question he would need to answer in gaining support for this type of bill. Senator Chaudhary suggested the Council also greater define who will benefit from the tax incentives, whether this be the taxpayers, City of Arden Hills or Ryan Companies. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 6 Ms. Kvilvang stated the City can do a tax increment finance district but that the issues with this site include significant contamination as well as buildings that needed to be demolished. These items require a great deal of capital before the site would be ready for redevelopment. Mayor Harpstead stated the Council would have this issue clearly explained before this item was to go before the legislators. He indicated the City does not want to start this project and have it half done and experience financial concerns. Councilmember Holden indicated a portion of land within TCAAP would be deeded back to the City for public use and parks. Mayor Harpstead explained the City was trying to establish a wise financial position to assure that this project begins and follows through to completion without impacting its residents or the State. He stated that looking at the numbers, this development will not happen without using future revenue streams from the development that is on the property itself. Councilmember McClung indicated he was not a huge fan of TIF but that the numbers shown will not allow the TCAAP development to continue without some form ofTIF for this project. Mayor Harpstead explained the economic conditions that arose in 2008 did not make this large-scale development any easier. Councilmember Holden stated the extra conditions the City of Arden Hills was requesting would allow the City more control over the TIF. Senator Chaudhary encouraged the Council to consider a unIque alternative energy project for the TCAAP development. Ms. Kvilvang stated the City would be interested in an appropriation for the energy alternative and should continue conversations regarding this issue. Mayor Harpstead reviewed the current timeline for the land transfer stating it should be mid-September, but could slide further out. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 7 Councilmember Grant stated this site will be viewed as a national model and is a superfund site. He indicated the energy conservation and efficiency efforts put into this development would be exciting. Mayor Harpstead thanked Senator Chaudhary for his time and for listening to the comments and concerns of the Council. B. CP Rail Bridge and Trail Civil Engineer Giga presented the City Council with updated information on the CP Rail Bridge and trail. She reviewed a more detailed proposal from Bolton & Menk. Civil Engineer Giga stated the topographic survey would be completed in March or April after the snow melts. She indicated there were several PTRC members present for this discussion. Mayor Harpstead questioned if the main issue was the critical path and which side would be chosen. Civil Engineer Giga stated this was an early issue and that Bolton & Menk would need direction as to which side would be chosen. Councilmember Holden asked if one side had to be chosen over the other or if this could be done in segments to create cost savings and better used by the surrounding population. Civil Engineer Giga explained the costs are about the same on either side. Mayor Harpstead stated he found it difficult to do a public survey on the choice of side because so often the people that state their opinions are not a good representation of the entire community. He indicated the decision should be made to benefit the community and not serve the loudest voice. Councilmember Grant stated he would be in favor of surveying the walkers to see which side was being used the most. Mayor Harpstead agreed with this suggestion. Councilmember Holden questioned which side the PTRC selected. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 8 Councilmember Holmes stated the PTRC has not discussed this in great depth and detail. She explained that Ms. Olson had instructed the PTRC to review the plans and report back at the next meeting to arrive at a consensus. Mayor Harpstead questioned if the railroad should be contacted before a decision was made on the trail side. Councilmember Grant suggested a conversation be held with the railroad to make sure they are still on board. He stated the railroad should also be asked if they will be redoing the bridge as this would impact the trail. Councilmember McClung indicated the report was done very well but that additional information should be gathered listing the pros and cons of each side, including costs before a decision was made. Councilmember Holmes stated the PTRC will discuss this in more detail at the February meeting. Councilmember Grant asked that safety be a deciding factor in this decision as well and not cost alone. Civil Engineer Giga stated Bolton & Menk were scheduled to attend three meetings and asked if a public meeting should be held to inform residents of the CP Rail report. Councilmember Holden stated she felt a public meeting was not necessary at this time and except to address the bottleneck concerns. She indicated this trail was still several years out. Councilmember McClung felt a public meeting was not necessary or critical to deciding the trail path. Civil Engineer Giga questioned if Bolton & Menk should initiate conversations with CP Rail and if these costs should be investigated. Mayor Harpstead stated this would have to be brought back to Council if not included in the current feasibility study. Councilmember Holden stated it was her understanding this was covered within the current study. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 9 Further discussion ensued regarding the discussion to be held with CP Rail. Mayor Harpstead suggested the Bolton & Menk design be brought to CP Rail for their consideration and continue moving forward with this item. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff and the City Engineers to hold a conversation with CP Rail. Secondly, the side selection should be discussed by the PTRC with the caveat that this cannot be 100% opinion driven but based on use and best fit for the community. C. CIP Review Process Discussion City Administrator Moorse spent some time reviewing the 2009-2013 CIP with the Council. He indicated the Council has thoroughly reviewed the 2009 projects but has not reviewed any projects beyond this point. City Administrator Moorse explained the purpose of this review process would be to make sure the Council was clear about upcoming projects and understood them enough to make clear decisions. City Administrator Moorse suggested each department walk through the future projects by type and by year with the Council with a different department present each month at a work session meeting. Mayor Harpstead asked if this would be added to upCOmIng worksession meetings for the Council to begin reviewing. City Administrator Moorse explained he could have two department heads present a month to review their upcoming CIP information with the Council. Councilmember Holden felt this was a great suggestion. Councilmember McClung stated this would be a great opportunity for the Council to get more up to speed with the fire and police contracts and have conversations with the Fire Chief and Sheriffs department. Mayor Harpstead agreed. Finance Director Iverson explained the CIP process needed to begin in June, with the operating budget reviewed in August. She stated this would streamline the process to allow the Council to fine tune items before the budgets were adopted at the end of the year. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 10 It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to proceed with CIP Review process by department. D. Planning for Town Hall Meeting(s) City Administrator Moorse stated he would like feedback from the Council on how to handle the town hall meeting( s) this coming spring. He asked when the Council would like to hold these meetings, how many should be held, and what they should look like. City Administrator Moorse indicated it would be beneficial to get these on staff s calendars so the planning process could begin. Councilmember Holden stated she would be in favor of holding one town hall meeting, without separate neighborhood meetings. Councilmember Grant agreed. Councilmember McClung indicated people tend to come out when there are issues. He felt there were not enough concerns right now in the City to generate the need for numerous town hall meetings and that one would be sufficient. Mayor Harpstead agreed one meeting should be held and suggested one meeting be held for the corporate residents, separate from the town hall meeting, possibly handled done in conjunction with the EDC. Councilmember Holmes stated she was in favor of holding a separate meeting with the corporate residents as this would begin the process of building partnerships between the City and the local businesses. Councilmember Grant stated he would be in favor of addressing the residents and corporate entities at the same meeting under separate topics. Councilmember McClung agreed that this could be done at one meeting without segregation. Mayor Harpstead questioned what the objectives should be at the town hall meeting. Councilmember Holden suggested the budget be discussed, explaining the cuts that the City has received. She added that the 694/35W interchange should be discussed as well. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 11 Councilmember Grant felt this should be a "State of the City" style meeting addressing what the City foresees in the future, highlighting upcoming changes, and new developments. He stated it would be great for the residents to see that the Council values the local businesses by placing them on the agenda for discussion. Councilmember McClung suggested the Council's five objectives for the year be discussed with the public. Councilmember Holmes indicated TH 10 and County Road 96 should be addressed as well. Mayor Harpstead stated it would benefit the Council to have a Q&A time at this meeting. Councilmember McClung suggested this meeting be held at the Marsden Room. He felt this would allow for additional parking and if notice was given in advance, could still be televised by the cable company. Councilmember Holden questioned the format of the meeting, if it would be in the evening or on a Saturday morning. She noted the difference would be the availability of the police and fire department for presentations. Councilmember McClung stated he was in favor of inviting the Sheriffs Department and Fire Department to have a squad car and fire truck available if questions were to arise. He suggested only a quick presentation be made by these entities and that a Q&A time could be held at the end of the meeting. Mayor Harpstead indicated the format would include a presentation followed by Q&A. Councilmember Holden suggested the fire department and Sheriff not make presentations to assist with the timeliness of the meeting. She felt the meeting should not be much longer than an hour. Councilmember Grant felt it would be important that those attending learn something while attending this meeting. Further discussion ensued regarding the format of the town hall meeting and how much time should be allotted for questions and answers. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 12 Mayor Harpstead questioned when the town hall meeting should be held. After discussion the meeting was tentatively set for the Monday, April 6, 2009 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. It was the consensus of the City Council to have each Councilmember present an agenda item to the public and have a short time to ask for questions after each presentation. Staff was advised to reserve a room for the meeting along with renting video equipment. E. 1&1 Year End Report Chuck Janski, Bonestroo presented the City Council with the 1&1 year end report summarizing the main points. Councilmember Grant questioned if the City had made enough progress that they were now off the hook. Mr. Janski stated the three-year average needed to be compared to the peak in order to determine the allowable. He explained if this number were maintained for three continuous years, the surcharge fees could be reduced. Mr. Janski reported that each station is reporting reduced inflow limits, which has been a step in the right direction. He indicated the manhole rehabilitation project was completed. Mr. Janski indicated there were 62 different defects in the manholes and were repaired which added to the reduction in the inflow as well. Mayor Harpstead questioned the percentage of inflow reduction that has been handled to date. Mr. Janski stated roughly 10% of the inflow has been reduced. Councilmember Holden questioned if any further conclusions have been drawn based on the information gathered for this report. Mr. Janski indicated no conclusions could be drawn from these results due to the fact it is based on natural rainfall events. He explained that several roof drains were found to be 1&1 contributors through the smoke testing and will be addressed. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 13 Mr. Janski stated the study looked for broken pipes underground, road cracks and manhole ring seepage. He indicated the smoke testing study did allow the City to identify defects in the manholes, even those on private property. Public Works Director Hoag explained there were two or three homes with smoke in their basements which means there is a way for sewer gas to get into the homes, which could be a danger to the homeowners. He indicated staff would be contacting the residents with this information. Mayor Harpstead asked that this information be passed along to these residents quickly. Public Works Director Hoag stated 80% of the manhole inspections have been completed. He indicated the smoke testing was carried out through a contract with a local vendor with assistance from City staff. Mr. Janski suggested areas 59 and 54 be smoke tested in the future. Public Works Director Hoag reported that 80% of the system has been televised in the past 10 years. Public Works Director Hoag indicated the 2009 plan would compile the City inspection reports. He stated the City will complete the remaining manhole inspections and rehab them when identified. Public Works Director Hoag explained that the sump pump inspections will begin in 2009. Councilmember Grant questioned if dates would be set on these items or if they would be prioritized. Public Works Director Hoag stated he wouldn't be setting a rigid date but that the manhole inspection would begin again this spring/summer and took priority at this time. He explained that the PMP project would coincide with the manhole rehab project. Councilmember Grant asked if the data could start to be compiled based on the information currently gathered. Public Works Director Hoag stated a database could be compiled of everything that has been televised, but prior to 2007 no paper logging was done to state what was found. He indicated he had hours of tapes to review to allow him time to properly document what was televised but that he could create a database on the work that had be documented. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 14 Councilmember Grant questioned if the sump pump inspections required a program or process and if so, has staff begun drafting such information. He indicated he would like to see some dates and expectations on how this task will be completed to be monitored by Council. Mayor Harpstead agreed with this suggestion and requested that a work plan be brought back to Council for the sump pump inspections by the first of March. Councilmember McClung thought a time frame would be crucial in achieving goals with the sump pump inspections. Councilmember Grant questioned the increased inflow caused by a defective sump pump. Mr. Janski stated the Met Council reports this to be 6 gallons a minute. Mayor Harpstead stated that this could be a significant number if 10% of the City's sump pumps were incorrectly connected. Councilmember Holden questioned why the sump pumps were not inspected first, if they were such a growing concern. Mr. Janski indicated the City system had to be inspected first before moving in the residential homes. He stated at least the City knows now where the problem would be coming from and not an adjacent manhole or City pipe. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to report back with a sump pump plan by the first of March along with a manhole rehabilitation project plan. F. Walgreens Concept Review and Transportation Discussion Community Development Director Lehnhoff presented the City Council with a concept review for Walgreens along with a transportation plan. He indicated the two parts that will be discussed would be the overall site layout along with the transportation in and around this property. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated this property was in the B2 zoning district. He explained the Council was not being asked to make any decisions at this time but to respond with comments or questions to the presentation of the concept plan. Community Development Director Lehnhoff ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 15 indicated the comments made would help the applicants address any concerns before submitting an application to the City. Community Development Director Lehnhoff asked that the members representing Walgreens introduce themselves to the Council before giving their presentation. He indicated Hay Dobbs was contracted for work on the B2 zoning district. Mike Spack, Spack Consulting gave a brief overview of the Walgreens concept plan. He stated several changes have come about since this issue was before the Council last October. Mr. Spack reviewed the site plan changes along with the grade differential and asked for questions or comments from the Council. He indicated that the architectural plans were not in the final phase and would contain more detail upon submission. Discussion ensued regarding the Walgreen's concept review with regard to the B2 zoning guidelines. Mayor Harpstead asked the Council to address any areas of concern at this meeting to allow the applicant to address these issues before submitting their application with final plans. Councilmember Holden expressed concern for the setback between County Road E and the building. She added that the drive-through was expanded from the last plan as well and stated that she was against a double sized drive through. Councilmember Holden questioned if there was enough green space within the site plan and stated she would like to see more trees. She also addressed the need for clearer access from those being let off the bus at Lexington and County Road E. Councilmember Holden added that the signage appears to be more than would be allowed within City code. She indicated she was not in favor of the red cap on the Walgreens building. Mayor Harpstead reviewed his concerns stating he would like there to be proper flow on this property keeping in mind there was a grade change. He stated the traffic coming from County Road E should not have an area of confusion. Mayor Harpstead expressed concern for the landscaping as well stating he would like to see trees planted within this site to have them become established. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 16 Councilmember Grant stated he felt nothing had changed in terms of traffic flow. He indicated the Walgreens building itself does not meet the new design standards and he was not in favor with the red cap either. Councilmember Grant stated he would like to see more landscaping on this site and questioned if a City monument sign was set within this plan. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated when he met with Mr. Wellington a couple of weeks ago, the City made it known to them that a gateway sign was desired for this intersection. He indicated they discussed a partnership for this sign placement where they would fund the brick surround and the City would be responsible for the sign design. Councilmember Grant stated he would be in favor of seeing this site blend and be aligned with the new design standards as it is in need of revitalization. He felt the adjacent space would benefit from a restaurant or food amenity as this would draw traffic into the area. Councilmember McClung was concerned with the fact this plan was not as pedestrian friendly as it could be and that there was not enough parking for the additional retail. If the double drive-through were scaled back, additional parking could be gained. He added that he agrees with the comments made by the Council thus far and stated the B2 guidelines should be followed with this building, including closer setbacks. Councilmember McClung expressed concern about the future development possibilities around this property and how it would adversely affect the traffic flow surrounding the Walgreens site. Mr. Spack stated the layout presented was established by Walgreens to allow the site to be viable, even though the site wants to be pedestrian friendly. Mayor Harpstead explained the double drive-through was obstructing the parking. He stated there was enough space for parking but had to be realigned in a more appealing design. Councilmember Grant stated the potential restaurant parking and existing retail needs to be considered with the traffic flow. He explained that by moving the drive-through to the opposite side of the building, additional parking could be ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 17 added along with increasing the flow of traffic off County Road E. Mayor Harpstead was in agreement with this suggestion. Councilmember Holden questioned if this was an average sized Walgreens. She felt that several neighboring Walgreens did not have this much parking and asked why so many additional spaces were needed. Mr. Spack stated that Walgreens has standards for parking, access and the drive- through. He indicated the site plan does appear to be parking heavy but that this was what they required. Councilmember Holmes questioned if the drive-through could be placed on the north side of the building. Mr. Spack stated this was suggested by staff several weeks ago. He indicated one issue that arose from that was the safety of pedestrians entering and exiting the front door. Councilmember Holmes indicated she felt it was interesting that the drive through was as far as possible away from the adjacent retail. Mr. Spack stated the visibility could be further discussed and if the preference of the Council would be to face another direction this could be addressed. Councilmember Holmes questioned if the bank property has been spoken to with regard to this site plan. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated he was not aware of any progress but that ongoing conversations have been held. Mr. Wellington stated this was a very important question and that they were sensitive to the access needed from the bank. He indicated their hands were tied at this point and until the lease expires, three to four years from now . Mr. Wellington stated agreement could be reached in the development agreement with the City stating that access will be changed at a future date. Mayor Harpstead asked for additional comments from Mr. Spack or Mr. Dobbs along with any issues from the Planning Commission or staff. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 18 Mr. Spack stated based on his national database the Walgreens parking lot will need 35 parking spaces for peak hours and that the neighboring potential restaurant site would need roughly 50-60 spaces. He explained the long term vision for this site does include changing the intersection to avoid the wait time during peak hours, along with increasing the safety for pedestrians. Community Development Director Lehnhoff reiterated that these traffic concerns are mostly for peak hours and not 24 hours of the day. Gary Hay, Hay Dobbs Architects thanked the Council for their time and attention to this item and that they picked up on most of the areas of concern. He felt the signage issues could be addressed and that this should be addressed with the signage of the entire redevelopment. Mr. Hay indicated the traffic flow at this time was confusing and would need to be reworked. He stated the orientation of the building seemed a bit odd for this client based on the pedestrian movement. Clay Zimmerman questioned if the lot would be owned by Walgreens. Mr. Wellington stated this would be their first preference but that they would not own the proposed restaurant site. Clay Zimmerman asked if the 5,000 square foot retail building could be placed on the east side of Walgreens to allow the drive through to be placed on another side of the building and allow access off of Lexington. Greg Larson commented that the Council needs to see the plan for the entire development before this proceeds instead of approaching this in pieces and not knowing what will happen with adjacent parking. He stated he was underwhelmed by this site plan and that there was no imagination or excitement infused into this plan. Mr. Larson encouraged the Council to ask for more from this site as it will begin the B2 redevelopment design standards. He stated the design lacked imagination and that more should be expected from Walgreens. Mr. Spack stated the retail side of development at this time was problematic and that there were thresholds. He explained that if Walgreens really wants this site they would be more willing to negotiate but if not, they would have to be convinced. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 19 Mr. Wellington explained that Walgreens has been very cooperative and will continue to be cooperative. He stated however that if the development hinges on the traffic signal, the application will be withdrawn. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated he visited 14 different Walgreens in the metro area to see the variety of styles. He indicated Wal gre ens really does want to be a site in this location. Community Development Intern Charles Roberts stated the 14 Walgreens visited were a small sampling of the 90 within the metro area. He indicated the vast majority do follow the standard layout and encouraged the Council to go online and view the numerous locations to see the designs that were favorable with regard to setbacks and architecture. Community Development Director Lehnhoff explained the future access on County Road E will have to be worked into this design. Mayor Harpstead called for final comments from the Council along with addressing the traffic signal concerns. Councilmember Holden stated she had three more issues with regard to the full build out. She felt the current fountain location would be surrounded by cars and not visible to pedestrians. Councilmember Holden suggested a bike lane and rack be added to this site plan. She explained the traffic light is roughly 5-10 years out but that the internal flow of this site could be improved without the addition of the light. Mayor Harpstead noted this site and the B2 district was a very important part of the City. He recognizes that this parcel will set the tone for a fairly significant area. Mayor Harpstead asked that the developer considering flipping the Walgreens and 5,000 retail site to allow the drive through to go between the two buildings. He stated this would allow access to the southern parking lot with a prominent location to the north. Mayor Harpstead encouraged the representatives to continue working with the City as he does not see a threshold for a traffic light before moving forward with this site plan. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 20 Councilmember Grant stated this site was a front door entrance to Arden Hills, which made the development of this parcel crucial. He encouraged the Walgreens building to be dressed up a bit more as laid out in the B2 design standards. Councilmember Grant agreed that the City should know what the full build out would be, along with the parking needs and placement of the retail building. He commended the group on the number of pedestrian walkways. Councilmember Grant stated he was excited for possibilities with this development and the synergy of uses being brought together on this corner. Councilmember McClung stated there were numerous issues raised tonight by Council and that they would need to be seriously considered before a final plan was approved. He explained the function of a final build out should be well thought through considering the alignment of the entrances and access to County Road E. Councilmember McClung indicated this was a prominent property along the B2 zoning district and that if the City did not hold firm to the plan it would set a poor standard. He felt the additional work was worth the effort at this time. Councilmember Holmes stated from her perspective she would support the project without the light currently. She indicated however that a solution would have to be reached. Jon Commers stated he was present to gather information but that he has been in communication with Mr. Wellington as well as the City. Mr. Spack thanked the Council for their time and comments on this site plan. He indicated it was very helpful to address these items before plans were finalized. Community Development Director Lehnhoff encouraged the Council and Planning Commission to forward any further comments or questions to him. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Councilmember Holden stated there was a growing concern with overnight parking on City streets. She indicated Little Canada was addressing this issue and asked that the Sheriff also address this item in Arden Hills. Councilmember Holden explained she has agreed to teach the third Wednesday of the month, which will not allow her to make the TCAAP meetings until June. She ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 21 asked that all the Councilmember's have a calendar for staff to make future meeting planning easier. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to begin holding the TCAAP workshops on the second or fourth Wednesday of the month. Councilmember Grant indicated it would benefit the City to define the TCAAP TIF district to go south of County Road 96 to include a sound wall, etc. Finance Director Iverson stated this would require special legislation. She explained she would address this issue with Ms. Kvilvang to find the best option given the situation. Councilmember Grant questioned if the Sheriff s contract was going out for bid. Mayor Harpstead suggested a subcommittee be established to address this issue. Councilmember Grant and Councilmember McClung agreed to meet with staff to address this issue. Councilmember Grant stated he received an email from the City Administrator speaking to comments from Governor Pawlentyand the upcoming budget crisis. Further discussion ensued regarding this information. Councilmember Grant explained if TIF was being proposed to be used for the Walgreens site and surrounding developments. Mayor Harpstead felt this would be best discussed between Finance Director Iverson and Ms. Kvilvang as there were additional properties in this area that would be redeveloped in the coming years. Councilmember Grant encouraged the Council to think ahead in terms of the B2 zoning district and if TIF would be granted. Councilmember Holmes stated she felt the traffic signal was crucial and should be pursued by the City as this area is redeveloped. Mayor Harpstead agreed with the importance of the light along with a pedestrian bridge. He stated this area would continue to be worked on before being approved by the Council. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 20, 2009 22 Councilmember Grant reviewed several access scenarios with the Council and discussion ensued regarding the flow of traffic through this retail development area. Councilmember Holden encouraged the Council to further explore working with Senator Chaudhary to receive grants for the TCAAP site. Mayor Harpstead stated he would meet with him to further explain this development and the benefits of these grants. Councilmember Holmes stated on the gateway sign, she encouraged the City to be sensitive to the logo design and who the City has used in the past. Councilmember McClung agreed stating the original designer of the logo should be contacted. Councilmember Holmes stated she would be in favor of continuing to work with Derek as he was a long time resident of the City who was invested in the community. Councilmember Holden agreed. ,.. Mayor Harpstead stated the bidding process may have to be done in an open fashion to allow others to present the City with a bid for the sign work. Mayor Harpstead asked staff see if the City has acquired this logo and check the legal ramifications surrounding working with the original designer versus hiring out a new vendor. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated he would speak with Jerry Fila before proceeding with this item. Mayor Harpstead ~City Council Work Session meetin~, 3; :58 p.m. :4~~ '/ '~. Ronald J. Moor City Administrator