HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-09 WS Minutes - Approved
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
underground utilities need to be extended in the street. The program
funding is included in the budget for 2012, but the first work will be done
in 2013.
3.Finance Director Jeziorski reviewed the budget, including results for 2011,
the planned expenditures for 2012 and preliminary runs for 2013. The
Street Mill and Overlay Program is continued into 2013 along with other
planned capital expenditures, while the anticipated levy is likely to remain
at 2012 levels.
4.Park and Rec needs were discussed. P&R chair Pat Branch reviewed the
activities that the Committee is working on in 2012, noting that not much
money is being spent. The Committee is sponsoring Fete des lacs
activities, 8k and youth run events, winter skating nights, music in the
parks, and have encouraged residents to adopt a park to reduce
maintenance expenses. He noted that the plantings in Cornerstone Park
may not have survived the winter. P&R member Seeley expressed concern
that adequate resources may not have been committed to maintaining
parks and suggested that Hidden Springs park needs more crushed rock
added to the path. Council asked staff to look at adding a summer worker
to maintain parks in 2013 budgeting
5.Mayor Wilharber asked if the joint work session has been useful.
Consensus was that a joint meeting two or three times per year may be an
appropriate way to share feedback.
The meeting adjourned at about 9:00 p.m.
Dallas Larson, Administrator