HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-11-2010 Council Minutes (2) CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11, 2010
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : August 11,2010
5 TIME STARTED : 6:08 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 10:05 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Gallup,O'Donnell,
8 Rafferty,Roeser and Mayor Reinert)
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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12 Staff members present: Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch; Community Development
13 Director Michael Grochala; Director of Public Safety Kent Strege; City Engineer Jim
14 Studenski; Economic Development Coordinator Mary Alice Divine; Director of Finance
15 Al Rolek; City Planners Jeff Smyser and Paul Bengtson; Environmental Coordinator
16 Marty Asleson; City Clerk Julie Bartell.
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18 1. Health Care policy (per request of Rafferty& Roeser)—Finance Director
19 Rolek noted that the council requested a review of the city's employee health care benefit
20 program/plan. He noted that the city uses the broker services of the firm Johnson
21 McCann to obtain its benefits.
22 Gayle McCann, President of Johnson McCann,used a PowerPoint presentation(on file)
23 to explain where the city is currently with its benefit program and the process to be
24 employed in the future to maintain a good health care benefits packet for employees at a
25 reasonable cost.
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27 The council inquired about the inclusion of a wellness program in the package. When the
28 council asked about the prospect of self insurance, Ms. McCann explained that it can
29 work well for some organizations but generally not those under 90 lives; she added that
30 she hasn't been able to convince carriers to allow organizations(cities)to combine to
31 meet that threshold.
32
33 The council discussed the use of health care savings accounts (HSA) in combination with
34 high deductible plans and heard about trends in that area. The council heard about the
35 amount the city contributes to the HSA of an employee in that type of a plan. Staff
36 explained that they have tried to keep the benefit to employees equal; a cash payment is
37 offered to those employees who are able to waive coverage, an option that one council
38 member suggested is not readily available in the private sector.
39
40 The council and Ms. McCann discussed the outlook for 2011 and heard that rates are not
41 yet available but that the city is generally running under the trend. The council indicated
42 they would like more information on self insurance possibilities, comparison of
43 employee/employer contributions and more information on HSA plans.
44
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11, 2010
APPROVED
45 Ms. McCann confirmed that the city is moving in the right direction (to the best value), in
46 the same way as other cities she works with. The council should expect to see more
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47 information coming with renewal discussions in September. Finance Director Rolek
48 added that staff intends to continue to challenge the market in order to get the best deal
49 for the city.
50 2. Police Department Interim Reorganization (postponed at council mtg of 7-
51 26-10)—Acting Police Chief Strege explained that the Police Department is requesting
52 that the council consider making an investment in the department by increasing the
53 schedule for the Community Relations Coordinator position from 3/4 to full time.
54 Historically the department has greatly increased its volunteer element and Ms. Karen
55 Anderson, the Community Relations Coordinator, has played a key role in that increase.
56 Ms. Anderson has served in the position since 2004 and in that period there has been a
57 600% increase in volunteer services. He outlined the enhancement those services bring to
58 the department. The volunteer involvement is continuing to grow and the department
59 would like to therefore increase Ms. Anderson's position to full time. He explained how
60 the increase could be funded (there is unexpected military training and a future
61 deployment that would more than fund the change for this year).
62 Ms. Anderson told the council that the potential in volunteer services is huge and it really
63 continues to grow. She works hard to coordinate the volunteer activities and that
64 coordination is an important element in keeping their work focused and put to the best
65 use. Currently she is working with the volunteers to form a 501 c(3)non-profit that can
66 do fund raising. The volunteer element has become a constant and important presence
67 within the police force.
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69 The council noted that the budget has been a difficult situation with layoffs and other
70 sacrifices last year and more uncertainty in the future. While they recognize the great
71 value of the volunteer program and Ms. Anderson's contribution, all requests should be
72 considered within the scope of the 2011 budget. The funding may be available for this
73 year but a change to the position must be considered a permanent expense. There was a
74 suggestion to see if other cities would perhaps be interested in purchasing Ms.
75 Anderson's services (as a revenue source).
76
77 3. Comprehensive Plan Review - Community Development Director Grochala
78 recalled council direction of the Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) in June to make some
79 changes to the land use plan; there was a request to look at modifications to the housing
80 program (growth management statement regarding annual average). There was concern
81 that a number of units is established but, if those are not constructed, how would they be
82 carried forward. New language is proposed that attempts to cap and spread by having a
83 yearly cap and noting that unallocated units at the end of the five year phase would be
84 moved into the new five year period, spread over those years on an even basis. The
85 market will dictate when development happens but the language really deals with how the
86 city considers those numbers when the development doesn't occur.
87
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11,2010
APPROVED
88 The council suggested that the limit figure may be perceived as a growth concern and
89 how can that be addressed? How about lowering that number with going above it being a
90 special consideration? Staff responded that the development is going to be market driven
91 and the most the city has even seen in a year is about 350 new homes. The council could
92 include the 230 per year figure with a general statement that unallotted units would be
93 spread out over the remains 18 years (to meet the forecast). The council discussed the
94 value of having a cap and concurred on the figure 345 with the understanding that 230
95 remains the yearly forecast.
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97 Mr. Grochala then reviewed the Chapter 4 Housing Plan proposed changes, including the
98 acknowledgement that the city is not committing to provide certain funding. The council
99 requested that the words "high density" and"mixed use" be removed.
100
101 The council discussed the schedule for submitting the Plan and staff reported that it is due
102 by the end of summer so staff will work through the information provided by the council,
103 speak with the Metropolitan Council and try to bring something back to the council for
104 approval in September. If the council has any concerns in the meantime, staff will
105 respond.
106
107 4. Housing Goals, LCA- Community Development Director Grochala explained
108 that the Livable Communities Act created a system for competitive grant funding for
109 housing. To participate, the city must establish and adopt certain goals regarding
110 housing. The grants generally relate to assistance with site cleanup, livable cities (mixed
111 use development, expanding lifecycle and affordable, and inclusionary). The city has
112 received about $1.6 million over the past years for this program.
113
114 City Planner Smyser explained how the goals being presented now compare with the
115 goals of the past. The goals are now based on a ten year(rather than fifteen year) time
116 line and he has made the comparison through averages (which were announced). The
117 affordability goals are lower than those from the past while the lifecycle goals are not
118 changing very much. The goals are a range, are not annual but span the ten year period
119 and reflect the high end of what could be funded.
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121 A council member suggested that the city can opt in on a yearly basis so there is no rush
122 as far as development plans coming forward.
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124 Mr. Smyser noted a portion of the program provides funds for the cleanup of polluted
125 land and there are some parcels that may be coming forward that could benefit.
126
127 The council discussed the prudence of skipping a year before opting in on the program,
128 waiting for the city's comp plan update to be completed.
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130 Staff will add the resolution to the August 23 council agenda but the council may or may
131 not act upon it then.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11,2010
APPROVED
133 5. KI Auto—Variance—City Planner Bengtson recalled that the council has
134 previously reviewed this variance request related to an entryway that was added to a non-
135 conforming building at 909 Maple Street. The council denied a request that would allow
136 auto sales at the property. Regarding the variance request, Mr. Bengtson noted that he
137 has provided the latest case law and the city attorney's review of how it impacts the city's
138 consideration of variances. Regarding KI Auto,the attorney has opined that the
139 circumstances don't appear to support a variance. Staff continues to recommend denial
140 of the request based on the findings of fact. The applicant has stated in the past that,
141 barring granting of a variance, he would be able to move the entryway back to meet
142 requirements.
143
144 The council recognized that while they'd like to assist the small business owner in
145 improving his property,there doesn't seem to be a way to accomplish that in this case.
146 6. Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination Ordinance—Community
147 Development Director Grochala explained that this relates to meeting a requirement
148 attached to the city's Clean Water National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
149 Permit as explained in the information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
150 that is attached to the staff report. While the city has some regulations already spread
151 throughout the code, this combines regulations and puts enforcement measures into place.
152 Environmental Coordinator Asleson added that the city's Environmental Board has
153 reviewed the proposed ordinance, made some changes and has forwarded it with their
154 approval. The right of inspection and entry is consistent with the rest of the city code.
155 Education is a part of the process, so people understand what they can't do and why.
156 Mr. Grochala added that the regulations disallow discharge of chemical or septic waste in
157 an area where it could end up in the storm sewer system. Grass clippings into the street
158 are not allowed.
159
160 7. Redevelopment Task Force - Economic Development Coordinator Divine stated
161 that she is reporting back on the council's direction to look at a task force to consider
162 issues relative to nonconforming and blighted properties. She noted that there are
163 different reasons why properties fall into the situation. She is looking for some direction
164 from the council as to the charge to such a task force. The city's Economic Development
165 Advisory Committee (EDAC) has expressed interest in being involved with staff
166 assistance.
167 A council member noted a situation in the City of Hugo where they are dealing with three
168 properties that could fall into the category. Perhaps that could be a model.
169 The council heard about the legal process necessary to order the razing of a property as
170 well as how tax increment can fit in to redevelopment activities. They recognized that
171 there isn't necessarily one solution for all but a suggestion for the group would be to look
172 at what, in general, the city could do to help the situation of these blighted properties.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 11, 2010
APPROVED
173 A council member noted that sometimes it's simply a matter of the city not standing in
174 the way. There could also be examples of what has worked in other areas.
175 Community Development Grochala suggested that the council may want to wait until the
176 comp plan update is completed and, in the meantime, direct staff to start inventorying
177 properties.
178 A council member suggested that the EDAC could be the task force, with staff providing
179 assistance to their work. The council will look forward to updates.
180 8. Legacy Update—Economic Development Coordinator Divine reported that the
181 council heard earlier in the year about an offer that staff was to present to Anoka County
182 proposing the city's purchase of the land (Legacy property) at the value of the delinquent
183 taxes and to be paid for as the property was sold for development. The county responded
184 that they must sell the property at the appraised value and that is substantially higher than
185 the city's proposal. Discussion with the county has continued and the property is now in
186 forfeiture although the banks who forfeited have a one year repurchase period. Staff
187 proposed to the banks that if they were going to let the property go, could they just deed
188 the property to the city; that idea did not fly with the banks. It is unlikely that the banks
189 will step forward to repurchase the property since a pending development is probably the
190 only way that would happen.
191 Community Development Grochala added staff is also considering a public/private
192 partnership with the banks that would impact the tax status. Also there were some
193 statutory changes this year regarding tax forfeited property that could impact the county's
194 ability to sell the property below value.
195 9. September Work Session Schedule—Based on the Labor Day holiday, the
196 September work session was rescheduled to September 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m.
197
198 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
199
200 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda.
201
202 The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
203
204 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
205 September 13, 2010.
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210 Julian e Bartell, City Cler Jeff Reinert, Mayor
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