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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-2024 Council Special Work Session MinutesSPECIAL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: June 3,, 2024 TIME STARTED: 6:00 PM TIME ENDED: 8:40 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilmembers, Lyden, Stoesz, Cavegn, Ruhland, Mayor Rafferty Staff Members Present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Finance Director Hannah Lynch; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City Planner Katie Larsen; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; WSB Project Engineer Diane Hankee 1. Setting the Agenda The agenda was accepted as presented. Move item 4, Park Dedication Study and Park Board Discussion after item 5, Drilling Estates Preliminary Plat and Final Plat, and item 6, Linda Avenue Addition Preliminary Plat. 2. 2023 Audit Report,, Andy Hering,, Redpath & Company. Finance Director Hannah Lynch introduced Andy Hering, Auditor with Redpath and Company, who presented an overview of the 2023 Comprehensive Audit. Mr. Hering highlighted the audit processes and results of the audit. He also noted the following results: • Opinion on the Fair Presentation of the Financial Statements: No findings • Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting: No findings • Report on Federal Compliance: No findings • Communication with those Charged with Governance: No findings Mayor Rafferty expressed gratitude to Andy Hering and Redpath & Company for all the completed work. Council further discussed the findings of the audit and complimented the finance staff for their hard work. 3. Drilling Estates Preliminary Plat and Final Plat, City Planner Katie Larsen stated Lloyd & Linda Drilling are proposing to adjust the lot line between 7185 Mound Trail and 7193 Mound Trail. No new lots are being created. Portions of both lots are located in the City of Lino Lakes and the City of Centerville. The lot line is shifting about 36 feet to the east. The Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing on May 8, 2024. There were no public comments. The Board recommended approval with a 7- 0 vote. 1 Mayor Rafferty inquired if the property line is a minimum of five feet. Planner Larsen replied yes; it meets all the setback requirements. 4. Linda Avenue Addition Preliminary. City Planner Katie Larsen stated the applicant, James Christiansen, is proposing to subdivide the existing lot located at 6217 Hodgson Road into two lots to construct two new single- family houses. The parcel is 1.37 gross acres. The existing house was demolished in January 2024. An additional 27 feet of right of way will be added to Lot 2 on Hodgson Road. The city will receive $3,300 in park dedication fees for the one new house. The Environmental Board reviewed the preliminary plat on April 24, 2024. They recommended approval with conditions and minor revisions. The Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing on May 81 2024. There were no public comments. The Board recommended approval with a 7-0 vote, with conditions as listed in the resolution. Councilmember Lyden inquired if the additional easement along Hodgson is for a road or a trail. Planner Larsen replied could be either. 5. Park Dedication Study and Park Board Discussion. Community Development Director Michael Grochala reviewed the Park Dedication Fee study. The base cost of a park is $1.43 million; land costs $50,000 an acre. Arterial trails cost $350,000 per mile. Recommendations: • Increase the park dedication fee to $3,860 per unit for residential development from the current $3,300 fee. • Increase commercial and residential fees annually according to Engineering News Record (ENR) Index. • Allocate park dedication fees by function ratio, i.e., park development (73%), arterial trail (17%), and recreation complex (10%) • Establish a policy for interfund loans between neighborhood service areas and functional categories. Councilmember Cavegn asked how long it has been since the park dedication fee has been increased. Director Lynch announced it was increased in 2023 from $3,160 to $3,300. Councilmember Ruhland inquired: How much is the city of Blaine's park dedication fee? Director Grochala stated a little over $5,000 for residential and commercial. Councilmember Lyden stated he is in support of increasing the park dedication fee. Inquired if the City has heard back from the legislator regarding the inclusive playground. Director Grochala stated that no bonds were passed this year. Councilmember Lyden likes the idea of purchasing the tools/equipment to create the trail segments and renting the tools/equipment to other communities. 2 Park Board member Pat Huelman introduced the Park Board members and shared his State of the Lino Lakes Parks and Trail System presentation. Currently, we have nine playgrounds between 21 to 31 years old, six hard courts 20 years old, along with aged shelters and hockey rinks. The City has 22 parks with current hard assets worth more than $5,000,000 and almost 27 miles of community trails that are worth more than $9,000,000. Needs: • Catching up ($275,000/year): A. Replacement of past due assets B. Completion of existing Park Master Plans C. Completion of identified community trail segments • Maintaining of existing assets ($180,000/year): A. Annual replacement B. Replacement of trail assets • Providing funds for vibrant parks & trails ($75,000/year): A. Enhancement funds Mr. Huelman has asked the Council to consider designating 1/3 of any general fund surplus dollars to the Park and Trail Improvement Fund. $90,000 replaces one park each year. Park Board priorities are new shelters at Lino Park and Marshan Park; new playground equipment at Behm's, Highland Meadows, and Marshan; and a destination park at Tower Park. Councilmember Ruhland asked if the warming house at Sunrise Park could be upgraded to a concession stand. Council discussed a bond referendum. Mayor Rafferty inquired about what to do for future funding. 6. Municipal Sewer and Water Extension Draft Feasibility Reports. WSB Project Engineer Diane Hankee is requesting staff municipal sewer and water extension draft feasibility reports for Colonial Woods and Pine Haven. On June 26, 2023, the City Council adopted a five-year Street Reconstruction Plan that identified roadways that would be funded through Street Reconstruction Bonds. On August 28, 2023, the City Council authorized a Feasibility Report for the 2024 Street Reconstruction and Municipal Sewer and Water Extension Project in the Colonial Woods and Pine Haven neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods were platted in the late 1970s and need street reconstruction. Both neighborhoods currently use onsite private wells and septic systems, and the City is evaluating the extension of municipal water and sanitary sewer. Residents of Colonial Woods will pay a $18,000 assessment per lot or unit. For residents of Colonial Woods, the cost of connecting to water and sewer is $15,337 per unit or lot. A $16,000 assessment will be made to each unit or lot in Pine Haven. The cost of connecting a unit or lot in Pine Haven Woods to the water and sewer systems is $13,356. 3 Public informational meetings were held for both neighborhoods on September 28, 2023, to introduce the proposed project. Residents in the Colonial Woods neighborhood were generally supportive of the project. Residents in the Pine Haven neighborhood were concerned with the potential for being assessed. A petition was submitted by Pine Haven residents, but it was denied for scheduling reasons. After the public hearing, a neighborhood has 60 days to file a petition against the project. The Colonial Woods public hearing will be held on July 8, 2024, and the Pine Haven public hearing will be held on July 22, 2024. Councilmember Ruhland asked if the petition for the project was completed, would the City still be repaving? Engineer Hankee replied yes. Councilmember Ruhland questioned if the homeowners could complete the project with the same contractor. Engineer Hankee stated that they must employ their own contractor. Councilmember Lyden asked what was the message from the Pine Haven petition. Engineer Hankee stated that the Pine Haven neighborhood objected to be assessed. 7. Notices and Communications Public Safety Director John Swenson provided an update for the Request for Proposals (RFP). Mayor Rafferty suggested creating a committee. Councilmember Ruhland and Cavegn have agreed to be on the RFP committee. 9. Adjourn The Work Session concluded at 8:40pm These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council Meeting on July 22, 2024. -P) Roberta Colotti, CIVIC, City Clerk Rob Raff rty, Mayor M