HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-2014 Council Work Session Minutes1
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4 DATE : May 5, 2014
5 TIME STARTED : 6:10 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 9:15 p.m.
7 MEMI.,ERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman,
8 Rafferty, IRoeser and Mayor Reinert
9 MEM... ERS A SENT : None
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12 Staff members present: Community Development Director Michael Grochala, Public
13 Safety Director John Swenson, Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson; City Engineer
14 Jason Wedel; City Planner Katie Larsen; City Clerk Julie Bartell
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16 2. Bee Ordinance — City Planner Larsen reviewed her report indicating that staff has
17 done research on the matter of bee regulations, as requested by the council at the last
18 work session. In looking at what other cities are doing, the regulations are pretty much
19 across the board. In attempting to further understand bee regulations, staff also met with
20 a staff person of the University of Minnesota who specifically deals with bees and came
21 to the conclusion again that regulations are varied. If the council would like to consider
22 a change to the city's regulations, that would involve an ordinance amendment and would
23 follow the established process of first review by the Planning and Zoning Board. She
24 reviewed the considerations of making a change as outlined in the staff report.
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26 Mayor Reinert explained that the council received a request to look at the city's
27 regulations. Reviewing requests is what the council does and getting input is the process
28 they use. Now the council has heard about what other cities are doing as part of that
29 discussion. As he has personally considered the issue, he believes that regulations that
30 deal with the size of the property where bees are kept may not be quite right; rather he
31 thinks it should be more about distance from the hives to other property. In other words,
32 you should be able to draw a circle around the use and anything that falls into it would
33 require permission. If there's no property that isn't yours in that circle, then you're fine.
34 In his mind that eliminates the idea of a 25 foot setback.
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36 Council Member Rafferty said he's been thinking about the concept of permission for this
37 type of use. He pointed out that any process involving permission should take into
38 consideration the fact that people can change their minds and/or move away. There has to
39 be a way to take permission back. Mayor Reinert explained, in previous discussions, the
40 council indicated that permissions would be required yearly.
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42 Council Member Stoesz remarked that, as regulations are developed, he'd like to also see
43 consideration of allowing people whose property doesn't qualify to keep bees in a
44 common area such as the community gardens. Staff noted that could be a problem since
45 areas like the gardens don't offer any security to the property (bees) and also he wonders
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
CITY OF LINO LAKES
MINUTES
May 5, 2014
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 5, 2014
APPROVED
46 if much of the reason that people keep bees isn't the pleasure they receive from watching
47 the bees on their own property.
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49 Council Member Roeser said the discussion is now if the council wants to consider
50 changing the city regulations and, if so, how will public input be received in order to find
51 the best route on that process.
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53 Mayor Reinert noted that discussion of this topic started as a resident request to change
54 the regulations. For that individual, it's pretty clear now that the regulations the council
55 would consider won't allow them to have the bees.
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57 Comments were received from the audience.
58 Stillwater resident explained their regulations;
59 If you're allergic to bees, this is a big issues (very personal);
60 Twenty -five feet from property lines is not enough;
61 - Mother who has an eight year old son who is a bee keeper; wouldn't allow it if it
62 were dangerous;
63 Concerned about grandchildren visiting;
64 - Have lived near a farm that kept bees and experienced the bees moving to nearby
65 properties;
66 - Beekeepers wear special suits; why is that if the bees don't sting?
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68 The mayor indicated that discussion of the matter would continue at a future work
69 session.
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71 1. Mattamy Homes Presentation - Rick Packer, a representative from Mattamy
72 Homes, gave a presentation on a mixed -use development proposal for 350+ acres in the
73 northeast area of the city. The area is guided per the comprehensive plan
74 for a mixed -use of low- medium density residential and commercial development. No
75 formal Land Use Application has been submitted by Mattamy Homes to the city at
76 this time but the developer wishes to present some general concepts and ideas to the city.
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78 Council comments after the presentation included:
79 - The commercial area seems forced — perhaps homes in that area would be better;
80 The proposed buffering (from I35E) is creative and positive;
81 - Lot width as low as 50 feet is a concern;
82 Lot size overall seems small but more review of the project is acceptable.
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84 Mr. Packer reviewed the process that the developer would like to see, with construction
85 beginning at the end of 2015.
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87 Community Development Director Grochala reviewed the transportation aspects of the
88 area, noting that the highway interchange improvements are already in place. The
89 proposed road structure for this development would require a traffic review to confirm
90 information about traffic that was recently compiled in a traffic study.
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92 The council will hear more about the development plans in the future.
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94 5. Civil Complex Island Landscaping — Community Development Director Grochala
95 reviewed plans for the island located in front of the city hall complex. Staff has brought
96 forward plans based on the council's recent direction. They plan to total kill all native
97 landscape portions of the island, expose the existing trail, and reseed with Kentucky Blue
98 Grass. In the future staff is proposing to phase in flowering planting beds.
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100 The council concurred with the plans as presented.
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102 4. Street Reconstruction Plan — Community Development Director Grochala noted that
103 the council has forwarded two charter amendments to the Charter Commission.
104 Concurrent with the charter amendment review process staff has begun development of a
105 Street Reconstruction Plan, as presented in draft form in March. The draft plan proposes
106 a 5 -phase reconstruction project that addresses approximately 10 miles of city streets and
107 a timeline for phasing would be based on a financial analysis to determine the preferred
108 bond structure. Staff is working with WSB and Springsted Inc., to refine the plan to meet
109 statutory provisions. The Plan would allow the City to proceed with a project in 2015 in
110 the event that a charter amendment is not approved. However, as previously discussed,
111 the plan is 1) subject to a reverse referendum and 2) would need to be funded without
112 special assessments.
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114 Mayor Reinert noted that the council is trying to go through the charter amendment
115 process to achieve a change but is also being responsible in planning what to do if that
116 doesn't happen.
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118 Staff will proceed with their work on the Street Reconstruction Plan.
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120 3. Park Board Appointment — City Clerk Bartell explained that there is one appointed
121 position remaining open on the City's Park Board. Staff has advertised for this position
122 and received one application.
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124 The council will interview the applicant for the Park Board on either Monday, May 12 or
125 May 19, depending on the applicant's availability.
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127 6. Bald Eagle Lake Dam Maintenance — Community Development Director Grochala
128 reviewed his written report. The City of Hugo has submitted a request for Lino Lakes to
129 provide financial assistance in their effort to maintain a very old dam that is in disrepair.
130 It is not clear what jurisdiction owns the dam but because it is located within their city,
131 Hugo has stepped forward as the responsible party. The collapse of the dam could lead to
132 a drop in water level, downstream flooding and property damage. While Hugo is
133 continuing to work on obtain funding for a permanent repair project, there is a need to
134 shore up the existing concrete weir as a preventative measure. The cost of this temporary
135 fix is estimated at $20,000. The Town of White Bear and the City of Centerville have
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136 already pledged $2,500 each toward the work and staff is recommending that the City of
137 Lino Lakes contribute that amount as well.
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139 Council Member Stoesz asked how many Lino Lakes homes would be impacted if the
140 dame were to fail. Mr. Grochala did not have that information but noted that staff is also
141 concerned about possible damage to the Otter Lake Road service road.
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143 The council concurred with the recommended $2,500 contribution to the project.
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145 7. Monthly Progress Report- Community Development Director Grochala
146 reviewed the items on the monthly report. Regarding the joint meeting with the advisory
147 boards, the council suggested the following for the agenda:
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149 - hear from the boards and committees;
150 - update on the city council's work;
151 - bringing the boards' vision to the council;
152 - discussion of what pulls people to Lino Lakes
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154 8. Review Regular Agenda — The agenda was reviewed and there were no changes.
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156 The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
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158 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
159 May 27, 2014
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164 J h e Bartell, City Jerk Jeff ' ei Mayor
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