2012-05-09 WS Minutes - Approved

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City Council 2012-05-09 at 7:00 p.m. Minutes of Work Session Present were Mayor Tom Wilharber, Council members Jeff Paar, Steve King, D Love, and Ben Fehrenbacher. Representing P&Z were Darin Mosher, Eric Larson, Olaf Lee, Russ Koski and representing Park and Rec were Pat Branch, Suzanne Seeley and John Grahek. Staff present were Public Works Director Paul Palzer, City Attorney Kurt Glaser, and Finance Director Mike Jeziorski. 1.Council reviewed a draft set of questions for the Business Outreach Survey. Consensus was that the questions were okay and it would be about the right number of questions. Staff will finalize the question form with space for notes. The next step will be to break the list among the council members and then schedule the visits. 2.Council goals for 2012 were reviewed by Administrator Larson. Park and Rec member Branch asked that additional goals be added relating to park and recreation activities. The Park and Rec Committee will draft a set of goals and submit them for Council approval to be included in the list. P&Z members Lee and Larson asked what land the city currently owns and then asked if some could be sold to place them back on the tax rolls. The Council responded by saying that efforts are being made to sell some of the commercial parcels but that the market has been weak. Also, the land on Commerce Drive needs to be sold at a high enough price to cover the bulk of the road costs to avoid that being a cost that transfers to the tax levy. That means being patient in hopes that development near the interchange in Lino Lakes occurs, which should increase the likelihood that the city land will bring the maximum return. The topic turned to industrial development and whether there are untried options that could make development in Centerville more likely. The council expressed a willingness to consider tax increment financing and creative options with the zoning if an industrial user is willing to look at Centerville. With regard to budgeting and utility charges, P&Z member Koski asked if an alternative method could be found for sewer charges. The charge is currently a flat rate and may not be fair to low volume users. This will be looked at when rates are considered for 2013. Staff explained the street maintenance program that will include mill and overlay of streets as a budgeted maintenance item. Streets will routinely get a mill and overlay about every 12-15 years and the cost will be paid by the city, except where the street needs reconstruction or in cases where