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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-10-WSCITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 6:00 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 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead; Council Members David Grant (arrived at 6:04 p.m.), Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and David McClung. Absent: None. r HILLS Approved: October 11, 2010 Also present: City Administrator, Patrick Klaers; Finance Director, Susan Iverson; Public Works Director, Terry Maurer; and City Planner, Meagan Beekman. APPROVAL OF AGENDA City Administrator Klaers stated he could provide a brief update on the Community Development Director search. The Council was in favor of this suggestion. MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember McClung seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously (4 -0). 1. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Councilmember Holmes questioned if the City should be concerned with a gas main explosion. Public Works Director Maurer indicated this was monitored by other entities and not by the City. Mayor Harpstead recommended the public works department look in the townhome association for a cross connected pipeline. He stated it would be nice to know if the City has any transit pipelines within the City. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 2 1. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS (continued) Councilmember Holden expressed concern about replacing the manhole covers on Ridgewood when this street was just reconstructed. She questioned why this wasn't done previously. Public Works Director Maurer indicated there were two manholes that need to be raised that were discovered in the sewer lining project. He reported that neither repair will require digging on the new street. Councilmember Holden requested that staff work to assure that the City would not be doing further sewer /water line work after new streets have been completed. Public Works Director Mauer explained this would be the process for street improvement projects scheduled for 2011. He stated that all underground utilities would be evaluated and any necessary repairs or replacements would be completed before the street work. He indicated he would be working to create updated GIS maps for the City to provide Public Works with the most recent information and drawings for line and manhole placement. Councilmember Holden indicated tickets are on sale for the Taste of Northwest and the event will be held on September 30 2. AGENDA ITEMS A. Review and Discuss Presbyterian Homes and Library Proposal City Administrator Klaers presented the City Council with information on the Presbyterian Homes /Library proposal. He indicated the Library Board was meeting on September 15, 2010. It was anticipated that one of their agenda items will be to select a library proposal to recommend to the County Board. City Administrator Klaers explained Presbyterians Homes was proposing a redevelopment of their existing site which would include a new library. Presbyterian Homes has requested TIF from the City for their redevelopment project. The Financial Planning and Analysis Committee (FPAC) reviewed the TIF request at a special meeting on September 9, 2010. He indicated FPAC recommended approval of the Presbyterian Homes TIF request whether or not the library is part of the proposal. Mayor Harpstead questioned how the Council should proceed at this time. City Administrator Klaers indicated he would like direction from the Council on TIF and if this would be supported for the Presbyterian Homes project. The Library Board may ask questions on Wednesday and he would like to be prepared to answer their questions. Councilmember McClung asked if Susan Nimitz would be presenting both reports on Wednesday with a recommendation. City Planner Beekman was unaware of the items on the agenda or how each proposal would be presented to the Board. Ms. Nimitz has been gathering information on both proposals and is anticipated to present a comparison between the two. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 3 A. Review and Discuss Presbyterian Homes and Library Proposal (continued) Councilmember McClung questioned how the Library Board reacted to the Presbyterian Homes proposal. City Planner Beekman stated each proposal was reviewed critically by the Board. The questions raised by the Board had to do with parking issues in New Brighton and if expansion was possible. The Board was surprised by the cost of building on the New Brighton site. She indicated the Presbyterian Homes concept discussion included concerns about bicycle and pedestrian access. The biggest concern that she heard was the number of unknowns, along with the timing of the build out, and City approvals. City Administrator Klaers noted Arden Hills came to the table late on this issue, but the build out costs were higher than anticipated at the New Brighton location. This was leading the Library Board to really consider the Arden Hills option. Councilmember Holden asked if Presbyterian Homes would need to revise their plans if TIF were not approved by the Council. City Planner Beekman indicated this was the case. Councilmember Grant questioned if the County would be paying for the remodeling if the New Brighton facility was chosen. John Mehrkens, Presbyterian Homes, stated the County would be paying the capital costs of either facility regardless it it's in New Brighton or Arden Hills. Councilmember Holmes questioned the length of the New Brighton facility lease. City Administrator Klaers stated New Brighton has suggested a 20 year lease. Presbyterian Homes would be willing to agree to a 30 year lease. Councilmember McClung asked how integral TIF would be in the redevelopment of Presbyterian Homes complete with the library. John Mehrkens stated if TIF was not available a revised plan would be submitted with varying features and elements. Mayor Harpstead felt there was a justification for TIF, however more information was needed. The plan from Presbyterian Homes included features and benefits for the residents of Arden Hills. Councilmember McClung indicated the redevelopment would be an asset to the community and would benefit the Arden Hills tax base as well. Councilmember Holmes stated she was very conservative on her TIF decisions and the only reason she would consider using TIF would be if the library was included in the project. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 4 A. Review and Discuss Presbyterian Homes and Library Proposal (continued) Mayor Harpstead explained he wanted to see the City involved in activities that would grow and develop the tax base. This redevelopment was a meaningful opportunity for a significant business in the community located on Lake Johanna. Councilmember Holden expressed concern about there being too much TIF in the City. She may be willing to approve TIF for 10 years, but not for 16. Mayor Harpstead questioned if the City had a limit on TIF at this time. Ms. Kvilvang, Ehlers and Associates, stated the City did not have a policy to limit TIF. She explained the City was just under 4% of captured value compared to total City tax capacity and if Presbyterian Homes were added, the City would be just under 5 City Administrator Klaers reviewed several neighboring communities' use of TIF stating that New Brighton was around 20 He felt that 4 -5% was low, but understood the City was conservative with TIF. Councilmember Holden indicated the comments she has received from residents are requesting the library remain in its current location and that the money be put into upgrades to that building. City Administrator Klaers stated it was his understanding that the operating costs on that building would still be much higher than a newer facility. The County Board was looking for partners to reduce operating expenses. Councilmember Grant stated a library up on the TCAAP site would make a lot of sense with the number of new houses on that site. He felt that the decision was being rushed and that the long term implications would greatly affect the City. Mayor Harpstead commented that the Library Board has been trying to close the Arden Hills site for more than four years. This was not a new request, as operating costs have been reduced and hours have been cut. He stated the TCAAP site may be a viable site for a library, but this would be an altogether new expense for the Library Board. Councilmember Grant questioned when the library in Arden Hills would be closing. Mayor Harpstead understood the library was not funded past December of 2010. No new budget money has been allocated to the library going forward, but the County Board could vote to make a change. Councilmember Holmes stated the New Brighton plan did have parking issues. Councilmember Holden questioned the goal of this discussion. Mayor Harpstead indicated staff needs to make a statement on Wednesday on behalf of Council. That would require the Council to reach some form of consensus. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 5 A. Review and Discuss Presbyterian Homes and Library Proposal (continued) Councilmember Grant stated if the County was in favor of the Presbyterian Homes proposal, the lease would need to be longer than 20 years. Councilmember Holmes indicated she did not feel there was any need to rush through this decision. She felt the County Board would not support the Presbyterian Homes proposal without TIF. Councilmember Holden explained Presbyterian Homes was going to request TIF whether the library was onsite or not. Councilmember Holmes questioned how the library would benefit from the use of TIF. Ms. Kvilvang stated the library would not benefit, but the overall project would be enhanced if TIF were approved. If TIF were not approved, the library would very likely not proceed in Presbyterian Homes. Mayor Harpstead noted in the interest of time the Council would have to reach a consensus or readdress this issue after the Council meeting for further discussion. He questioned if the Council could support a library in Arden Hills in and around the Presbyterian Homes redevelopment. He reiterated that he would support Presbyterian Homes, the library and the use of TIF for the redevelopment. This option would keep a library operational in the City of Arden Hills. Councilmember McClung indicated he was open to the Presbyterian Homes proposal as this would keep a library in Arden Hills. Councilmember Holmes did not feel the Council had reached a consensus on this issue. She requested the discussion on this issue be continued after the Council meeting. B. Community Development Director Search This item was not discussed. ADJOURN Mayor Harpstead adjourned the City Council Work Sessi n meeting at 6. 6 p.m. 4 .2( Patrick Klaers City Administrator Stan H Mayor st- ad