HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-05-2012 Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 5, 2012
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : March 5,2012
5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 8:45 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Rafferty, Roeser
8 and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Council Member O'Donnell
10
11
12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
13 Director Michael Grochala; City Engineer Jason Wedel; Public Safety Director John
14 Swenson; Finance Director Al Rolek; City Planner Paul Bengtson; City Clerk Julie
15 Bartell
16
17 1. Charter Amendment—Community Development Director Grochala noted that the
18 council has discussed and is reviewing an ordinance that proposes an amendment to
19 Chapter 8 of the City Charter. The amendment is based on the ordinance forwarded in
20 2007 by the citizen's task force. Different from the task force ordinance is the addition of
21 a reverse referendum that would provide residents with the opportunity to petition for a
22 referendum, an element that was included in the 2007 Charter Commission proposal. He
23 pointed out that the reverse referendum language is also similar to that included in state
24 statutes.
25
26 Mr. Grochala reviewed the summary of the elements of the ordinance (as included in his
27 staff report). In summary,the ordinance:
28 - Allows for more interaction, as it calls for two hearings for impacted property
29 owners;
30 - Gives the council has a period where they can change the project based on public
31 input and a second hearing that allows a review of any changes;
32 - Allows affected owners to veto the project after it is ordered within 30 days and
33 with a 50%petition;
34 - Sets forth a process that forces the city to get it right;
35 - Removes language that exempts certain areas of the city from the charter
36 provisions that was originally meant for economic development but creates an
37 inequity.
38
39 Mr. Grochala noted that the process of this ordinance presents a greater likelihood of
40 getting projects done but also allows for good public involvement. When asked about the
41 citizen communication element, Mr. Grochala explained the requirement of mailings to
42 property taxpayers.
43
44 Council member comments included:
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• CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 5,2012
APPROVED
45 - The ordinance is a compromise in that the council's request to include the charter
46 commission in formulating an amendment was denied but yet a element
47 previously proposed by the commission is included;
48 - The ordinance offers more project options, includes more working together,
49 streamlines the current process, and creates more equity(removing exempt
50 zones);
51 - A flow chart indicating the entire process is requested.
52
53 Mayor Reinert left the meeting briefly at 6:38 p.m. to attend the Park Board meeting. He
54 returned in five minutes.
55
56 John DeHaven, 612 Birch Street, addressed the council. He noted that the Charter
57 Commission members are not elected officials. He is not supportive of the ideas of the
58 Charter Commission and sees that the members have not been willing to participate in
59 this issue. He supports the council.
60
61 Community Development Director Grochala explained that the ordinance will be
62 included on the March 12 City Council meeting agenda for the council's consideration of
63 first reading and referral to the Lino Lakes Charter Commission for their statutory review
64 period. Staff would intend to continue to review the amendment with the council.
65
66 2. 21st Avenue—Community Development Director Grochala recalled for the council
67 that a public park and ride facility is planned for the northeas quadrant adjacent to the
68 35E/CSAH 14 Interchange. Construction of the park and ride requires the extension of
69 21St Avenue. The project would be done in conjunction with the City of Centerville, with
70 Lino Lakes being the lead agency. The project costs would be fully assessed. He is
71 providing a report to the council as an update only as staff continues to work with the city
72 attorney on the Petition and Waiver of Appeal agreement and eventually a joint powers
73 agreement with Centerville. A council member noted the unusual location of a pond and
74 staff explained the reason for the pond placement.
75
76 3. Otter Lake Road Extension—Community Development Director Grochala recalled
77 that the council has authorized that an appraisal special benefit report be completed on
78 this project. The appraiser, BRKW Appraisal, Inc. is estimating that the report will be
79 done in about six weeks. Staff is still recommending that the city get that information in
80 place before proceeding with contracting for plans and specifications, although that is a
81 council decision. He noted that one of the property owners who would be assessed, Mr.
82 Schrier, has indicated that he will challenge the special assessments. Staff feels it is
83 important to be cautious considering the current development environment.
84
85 The council members discussed the six week time frame for completion of the special
86 benefit report. They also discussed what they believe will be a clear value benefit to the
87 area property from the proposed improvements.
88
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 5, 2012
APPROVED
89 Bruce Miller, property owner in the assessment area, noted that his company has already
90 obtained appraisal information and it indicates that the improvement costs are
91 appropriate. When asked he confirmed that his company does have a client interested in
92 the area and as the process draws out longer and longer,there is always a possibility of
93 losing them. A council member noted that he feels certain that all properties assessed
94 will benefit from the improvements and he is afraid also that time kills all deals. The
95 mayor noted that it appears that the council prefers to move ahead with the plans and
96 specifications knowing that the appraisal will come. City Engineer Wedel then reviewed
97 a possibility construction schedule with the council. It could be completed this year but
98 he warned that a condemnation process could slow everything down.
99
100 The council concurred to put the matter of authorizing plans and specifications for the
101 project onto the next council agenda.
102
103 4. Centennial Utilities Franchise Ordinance—Administrator Karlson recalled that the
104 city has a franchise ordinance with Centennial Utilities (run by the City of Circle Pines)
105 that expires on March 31 of this year. He received a proposal for a new ordinance from
106 Circle Pines City Administrator Jim Keinath. Included in the proposal are some changes:
107 1) the original franchise agreement included language that would allow the city to
108 purchase its share of the system; that option no longer exists as of 2010; 2)the franchise
109 fee in place (7%) would be capped at 5%; 3)the Utility will no longer collect the fee at all
110 unless other utilities are charged(currently only Centennial customers are charged a
111 franchise fee in Lino Lakes); and 4)that the Lino Lakes representative be eliminated from
112 the commission that oversees the utility. Mr. Karlson noted that he had the proposed
113 agreement reviewed by the city's attorney and has been advised that the utility cannot
114 unilaterally change the contract that has been in place including stop collecting the
115 franchise fee as they have suggested; that fee is included in a contract and the contract
116 must be renegotiated. Mr. Karlson noted that his report includes a history of council
117 discussions on utility franchise fees across the board in the city and also information on
118 the status of other franchise agreements.
119
120 The Mayor noted that Centennial Utilities is a non-profit organization, not like Xcel
121 Energy or Centerpoint Energy. The franchise fee collected by Centennial would not
122 become part of a profit but would be part of the budget and therefore reduce the cost of
123 services. He suggested that he doesn't think it is a good idea to make a change to
124 customers during this time of a difficult economy. He would prefer to not act and
125 perhaps look at the issue again next year. The council expressed an interest in seeing a
126 rate comparison between all utilities. The council concurred that they would not accept
127 the proposed franchise ordinance at this time.
128
129 5. Upgrade to City Website—Administrator Karlson explained that city staff has been
130 encouraged by a council member to improve the city's Web site. He explained that
131 historically the city's Web site was managed by the receptionist who was laid off several
132 years ago. After that two employees were assigned work on Web matters, one of those
133 employees being part time and both of those employees having also been asked to assume
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 5, 2012
APPROVED
134 the city's cable television channel upkeep. Mr. Karlson said he agrees that the city's site
135 needs upgrading and he has put together a staff group that will be looking at the site for
136 updating and possible improvements. While the best option, Mr. Karlson said, is to
137 completely redo the site, he can't recommend that right now. It is a priority of staff to
138 focus on the electronic records system right now. The city Website is an important
139 communication tool and should be a high priority and it will be in the future. A council
140 member suggested that staff also consider"growing"the site—including more interactive
141 forms and social media as many other cities do. The council member suggested not using
142 staff time as much for cable television upgrades but for the Web instead; it reaches more
143 people.
144
145 The staff group will look at enhancing the Website as well as reviewing its current status.
146
147 6. City Logo—Administrator Karlson presented the option that has been developed for a
148 four-color city logo. Staff is recommending going with the logo as presented and to use it
149 on vertical business cards in the future (existing cards will not be replaced). The
150 embroidery feature on clothing will be as close as possible to the logo presented. The
151 council recommends no glossy paper and one council member recommends keeping the
152 logo in mind as an emblem on future road signage.
153
154 7. Weekly Progress Report—Administrator Karlson reviewed and updated the council
155 on the three items in the report: Organized Recycling&Yard Waste Collection;
156 Conversion to Paperless Council Packet; and Labor Negotiations.
157
158 Regarding paperless packets, Mr. Karlson noted that staff is working with the Roseville
159 IT network. That network staff is formulating a recommendation for a program that will
160 work for all the cities they serve. They may be recommending an android system for
161 staff and IPads for councils. A council member noted that staff has previously mentioned
162 the possible use of Drop Box as a free program to assist with providing electronic packets
163 to council members. However in reviewing that program,he sees that there may be a
164 problem in that the council could share information without having it open to the public.
165 Staff will pass that on to the network administrators. Staff will be forwarding a
166 recommendation to the council soon. The mayor noted that there are cities using
167 paperless packets successfully and he suggests looking at what hardware and software
168 they are using.
169
170 On the matter of labor negotiations, Mr. Karlson reviewed the status of labor contracts.
171 He sees arbitration coming on the LELS contract and so staff will continue working but it
172 may come down to an outside decision.
173
174 8. Residential Zoning Districts Ordinance—City Planner Bengtson explained that the
175 staff letter explains the changes that are suggested in this ordinance as well as the action
176 of the Planning and Zoning Board. The nine major changes were reviewed.
177
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 5, 2012
APPROVED
178 The mayor noted the change regarding new impervious surface requirements from the
179 Comprehensive Plan—going from 65 percent to 40 percent. He wants to talk about
180 possible issues,perhaps with something like a swimming pool and he'd like to know the
181 impact of this change on real people living in the city. Mr. Bengtson noted that the city
182 doesn't normally see anything near the percentages unless the shoreline ordinance comes
183 into play.
184
185 The mayor noted that he disagrees with the change to a standard footprint as it's a big
186 difference between a one and two level with the same footprint. It could hurt people
187 buying lots and it doesn't protect the neighbors. He agrees with the changes to the
188 footprint size but doesn't like one standard. A council member concurred with the mayor
189 and also mentioned concerns about losing buffers with the setbacks. Mr. Grochala
190 suggested that he'd like to review more background information on the setback matter
191 before changes are made and it would have to be run through the Planning and Zoning
192 Board again if changed. He suggested that the issue come back as a separate ordinance
193 after further review as a separate consideration and the council concurred. The council
194 briefly discussed the manufactured home park section and was told by staff that cities
195 cannot ban the structures under zoning law but the homes would still have to meet other
196 city requirements. Staff is recommending the use be added to certain districts as a
197 conditional use and the council recommended that the matter be held off of the ordinance
198 for more discussion.
199
200 Review Regular Agenda—The agenda for the upcoming council meeting on March 12,
201 2012 was reviewed. There were no changes to the agenda.
202
203 The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
204
205 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
206 March 26, 2012.
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211 -41 ..�
211 Juli. e Bartell, Ci Cler J=` ' mart, Mayor
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