HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-13-2014 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 13, 2014
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE :October 13, 2014
5 TIME STARTED 5:30 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED 9:05 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT :Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman,
8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT :None
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12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
13 Director Michael Grochala; City Planner Katie Larsen; Deputy Public Safety Director
14 Kelly McCarthy; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Finance Director Al Rolek; City
15 Clerk Julie Bartell
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17 Agenda
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19 1. Fire House No. 2, Preliminary Site and Building Plans _Public Safety Director
20 John Swenson introduced Quinn Hutson of CNH Architects and firm representative
21 Brooke Jacobson. Mr. Hutson reviewed the preliminary site and building plans for the
22 fire station, including space needs, an update on site development (including soil
23 conditions, wetlands and engineering), an overall site plan (including future uses of the
24 facility and the surrounding property), and the preliminary site plan of the station property
25 itself. He noted the possibility of including training features in the development and the
26 benefits of doing so. He reviewed three building design options. Option A is the most
27 basic option but it would meet national standards for fire facilities. This option would be
28 smaller in square footage than the city's current Fire Station No. 1. Option B would be
29 larger and include items for additional functions such as training, offices, and a day room.
30 Option C, the largest facility, includes the most facilities including a public area
31 (community room) and dorms and an added training function with a tower and a second
32 level. The council then reviewed the cost estimates for the three options. Mr. Hutson
33 explained that the cost estimates include site work, soil work, building, design
34 contingency and inflation consideration. When Mayor Reinert asked why the cost per
35 square foot rises with a smaller building, Mr. Hutson explained that is due to loss of
36 economy of scale and inclusion of more first time elements.
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38 Mayor Reinert remarked that the council must look at what the city needs. He sees. that
39 Option C has everything that's attractive but at a huge cost —it's too high for his support.
4o Public Safety Director Swenson indicated that he wanted to get the information on station
41 options to the council so they have time to make an informed decision; he noted that there
42 is an important time line to be maintained in order to get a bid for the facility in January
43 and keep things on schedule.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 13, 2014
APPROVED
45 The council discussed the options. The mayor noted that the city currently has one station
46 and it does have office space and is located close to city hall, a benefit for the police
47 element. He likes the concept of having training facilities with the new station but
48 realizes it comes with a cost. Chief Swenson remarked on the importance of having
49 office facilities at each station to handle employment and administration for that station;
50 he encourages the council to think about future call volumes on the south side. Mayor
51 Reinert indicated that he likes Option B but perhaps with more training and less
52 administrative space. Council Member Kusterman asked if the city saves money by
53 having its own training and Chief Swenson explained that it becomes a minimum of
54 training if it's outsourced, but it can be frequent if you're doing it on site. Council
55 Member Rafferty said he's interested in more information that breaks down the cost
56 estimates.
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58 The meeting was recessed for the regular council meeting.
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60 The meeting was reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
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62 All council members were present; Staff present were Administrator Karlson, Finance
63 Director Rolek; City Clerk Bartell, Public Safety Director Swenson; Community
64 Development Director Grochala
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66 The council continued discussion of the fire station preliminary design options. Council
67 Member Rafferty said he likes some of what he is seeing but is concerned about the cost.
68 Architect Quinn Hutson recalled that there have been meetings and discussions about
69 preliminary design options. Some of the design options are based on what is being seen
70 in other new fire facilities; things that could have value for this city. When asked about
71 the value of dorm rooms, Chief Swenson explained that they open up the recruiting pool
72 beyond borders. On the training elements, Chief Swenson said there is definitely bang for
73 the buck — it is good for the organization and would provide for having a well -trained
74 force. The mayor said he is leaning toward including some training facilities at the right
75 cost. Council Member Roeser noted that he doesn't see the need for dorms or a
76 community room; a training tower is a good idea.
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78 The council discussed parking needs and also the possible future conversion of space for
79 dorms. There was also discussion about reaching out for input from the current
80 firefighters and Chief Swenson said he would talk to Pat Devaney.
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82 The mayor suggested that the council was gravitating toward Option B but with changes.
83 Administrator Karlson suggested that the footprint could remain but elements within the
84 preliminary design could be changed. Chief Swenson noted that he supports including
85 training elements over dorms. Council Member Rafferty recommended that the architect
86 be directed to work on the aesthetics of the building also because he feels improvement is
87 needed in that area. The council discussed the use and value of including a day rooms it's
88 an absolute need if an ambulance service was to ever be included at the facility. The
89 council would like additional information on the value of having in-house training.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 13, 2014
APPROVED
90 Mayor Reinert also suggested that adequate storage should be well planned ahead to
91 avoid other space ending up as storage.
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93 The council concurred that the architect will provide more information on possible
94 elements and costs for more discussion at the November work session.
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96 2. 2015 Budget - Administrator Karlson recalled that the council received an update
97 on the city's cash reserves at the last work session. Staff is responding to questions that
98 arose about those funds.
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100 Finance Director Rolek noted that the council requested additional information about the
101 sewer and water system. The value of the system is approximately $26,000,000
102 depreciated; the sewer and water reserve funds exist to support that infrastructure.
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104 Mr. Rolek distributed a new gap analysis sheet. The mayor noted that the city will be
105 receiving funding from the Centennial Fire District in 2015 as part of the split; he's
106 interested in the possibility of using those funds for some of the start-up costs for the new
107 department. Chief Swenson explained that those funds would be well used also for
108 future expenses for aging fire equipment.
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110 Mr. Rolek noted that the source of funding the city has been using to fund debt service for
111 the Legacy improvements will soon not be available and he suggested that the Closed
112 Bond Fund would be a possible and sensible resource for that need.
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114 Council Member Stoesz reminded the council that there will be start up and opening
115 expenses related to the fire department/new station.
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117 Administrator Karlson noted that there will be bond costs for the fire station appearing in
118 2016. The bond debt service has been estimated at $70,500 per million. He noted the
119 $93,000 budget gap and also suggested that the anticipated amount from the CFD could
120 come down.
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122 The council will continue discussion of the 2015 budget at a future work session.
123 Additional information was requested on future maintenance needs at Fire Station No. 1.
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125 The meeting was adjourned at 9*05 p.m.
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These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held
on
Octb oer 27, 2014.
J nne Bartell, C' y Clerk
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