HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2014 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 2, 2014
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : June 2, 2014
5 TIME STARTED : 5:50 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 9:50 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman,
8 Rafferty, Roeser (arrived at 6:00 pm) and
9 Mayor Reinert
10 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
11
12
13 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
14 Director Michael Grochala, City Planner Katie Larsen; Public Safety Director John
15 Swenson; Finance Director Alan Rolek; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; City
16 Engineer Jason Wedel; City Clerk Julie Bartell
17
18 3. Mattamy Homes Presentation — Rick Packer, Mattamy Homes, gave a presentation
19 responding to questions he heard from the council at his last visit. He reviewed the
20 concepts of the development proposed by Mattamy Homes:
21 - emphasize entrance types and user of different products;
22 - small neighborhoods within the development, as noted on a site plan;
23 - includes different lot types, including maintenance free.
24
25 The cost of detached homes would be in the range of $300,000 to $450,000 and the
26 townhomes in the area of $250,000.
27
28 Mayor Reinert noted that he still has concern about lot width and he wonders if lots sizes
29 could be adjusted. Mr. Packer responded by explaining how the development is planned
30 based on the market.
31
32 Council Member Stoesz said he asked at the last review about the school district
33 boundaries. Has the developer researched the possibility of having those boundaries run
34 along natural borders? Mr. Packer said yes.
35
36 Council Member Kusterman remarked that he understands the questions but knows, at the
37 end of the day, this company is in business to do it right and provide a development
38 where homes will sell. He has some continuing concern about how the noise on I35E
39 will impact the homes but he acknowledges that the development attempts to mitigate
40 that situation.
41
42 Council Member Roeser noted that he likes the multigenerational concept, allowing for
43 different ages and stages in life.
44
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 2, 2014
APPROVED
45 The mayor said he is hearing the council express some apprehension but he isn't hearing
46 that the council won't continue discussing these plans. He recommends that staff
47 continue to work on breaking down the numbers.
48
49 1. Annual Audit Report — Rachel Flanders and Chris Knopik, CliftonLarsonAllen
50 representatives, presented their company's audit findings. Their PowerPoint presentation
51 is on file. Staff is recommending that the council approve the audit report at the next
52 regular council meeting.
53
54 2. Street Reconstruction Plan — Community Development Director Grochala
55 reviewed the update on the Plan included in his staff report. This plan is one option that
56 the council is considering that would allow the city to do a road project utilizing bonding;
57 as authorized through Minnesota Statutes. The improvements would be funded
58 completely without special assessments. With the assistance of the city's fmancial
59 advisor, Springsted, staff has looked at possible phasing of the Plan over 10, 15 or 20
60 years. The initial phase would include two projects over a five year period. The steps
61 involved in consideration of this Plan are: 1) a draft plan is brought forward to the
62 council; 2) a public hearing is held; 3) the plan can be approved by a vote of the council;
63 4) a waiting period ensues during which a petition can be submitted sending the plan to
64 ballot; 5) If no petition is received, implementation of the plan begins. Staff will be
65 asking the council to hold the public hearing and then consider approval, including
66 authorizing the issuance of bonds. He introduced Terri Heaton of Springsted to review
67 financing.
68
69 Terri Heaton, Springsted, explained that an action authorizing a bond program would
70 preserve the option of issuing bonds in a not to exceed amount. Sale of the bonds would
71 be authorized when the council makes the decision to do so. She reviewed the possible
72 bond schedule and implications such as cost to the average property owner.
73
74 Mayor Reinert noted that the council has a responsibility to fix roads in the city. He
75 supports moving forward with the Plan as indicated by the schedule presented. He noted
76 that, under this Plan, if a neighborhood wants to add water and sewer elements to a
77 reconstruction project, they could petition for such. This Plan would allow the city to get
78 the road work done only.
79
80 Council Member Kustelivan noted that he likes the phasing concept, allowing payments
81 to be stretched out. He asked for more information on the number of signatures required
82 on a petition and the process that residents would face in requesting additional
83 improvements. Mr. Grochala explained that statute dictates that the number of
84 signatures required on a petition is a percentage of voters at the last municipal election,
85 and that additional work (such as water and sewer) done with special assessments would
86 fall under the city charter provisions.
87
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 2, 2014
APPROVED
88 Council Member Stoesz wondered about the benefits of concrete versus asphalt street
89 construction and heard the city engineer's opinion that asphalt is preferable for
90 reconstruction.
91
92 6. Snowmobile Use on Main Street Trail Bridge (discussion requested by
93 council) — Bill Prinsen, President of the Rice Creek Trail Association, explained that his
94 group is asking the council to support their effort to have the new pedestrian trail over
95 135W at Main Street open to snowmobile passage in the winter. It is a matter of safety
96 for the riders and, as far as the bridge surface, it will be covered with snow. He
97 reviewed the overall planning the group is doing for a trail system in the vicinity.
98
99 Mayor Reinert explained that the bridge is the jurisdiction of Anoka County and they will
100 make decisions on its use. He believes the question for the group is how they can get
101 permission to use the bridge. Mr. Prinsen noted that they are certainly in touch with the
102 County on the matter; it would be helpful to have the support of the City.
103
104 Police Chief Swenson was asked if he supports snowmobiles on the bridge and he said
105 his preference is to have the snowmobiles off of the street. On the question of whether
106 or not the trail will be plowed in the winter, Public Services Director DeGardner said it
107 would not be plowed since it leads nowhere — there is no path on north side.
108
109 The council concurred that the city will contact Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda
110 Sivarajah to learn about possible concerns and attempt to work on the issues as that is
111 possible.
112
113 4. Century Farm North, PUD Amendment — Planner Larsen reviewed a
114 PowerPoint presentation on the proposed project that involves a rezoning and preliminary
115 plan. The original Century Farm North development includes a variety of housing styles
116 and she noted that these actions would finish up the existing project. An amendment to
117 the plat boundary is being requested to include an additional property (that is almost one
118 acre) and straightens out a boundary and allows for about eleven additional parcels.
119 There will be 32 new parcels overall. A vacation of park land is also requested for
120 additional lots; the city would receive payment for the vacation. The previous townhome
121 proposal is being withdrawn for single family housing development, an amendment to the
122 PUD. She discussed the impact on density, noting that the level will fall below the
123 comprehensive plan guidelines. She reviewed the type of homes planed and the lot sizes.
124 Water and sewer infrastructure was also reviewed. Fees for park dedication and other
125 will exceed $54,000 for the project.
126
127 The council discussed their interest in seeing park and trail land developed in the area.
128 Staff explained the long term plans for the area and how park and trail funding will
129 develop. When asked about when housing starts will occur, staff estimated probably not
130 until next spring but there may be a model home built this year.
131
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APPROVED
132 5. NorthPointe, PUD Final Plan/Final Plat (Regular Agenda Item) — City
133 Planner Larsen explained that this matter has been pulled from the upcoming council
134 agenda but she would still review the recommendations. She reviewed the development
135 plans on a site location map, including conditions of the preliminary plat that have been
136 met, density calculations, the phasing plan, the age - restricted unit that is included in a
137 later phase, easements, land dedication and park fees, transportation plans, and noise
138 elements (a noise mitigation study is coming forward later in June).
139
140 6. Sign Ordinance (Flags) — Community Development Director Grochala provided
141 an update on discussions about the city's sign ordinance, including a recent question that
142 arose about flags at the American Legion. Historically the Legion did approach the
143 Planning and Zoning Board about regulations, including relative to flags. Although there
144 are city regulations that relate to flags and a matter came up in 2012 regarding a banner at
145 the Legion that was removed at the city's request, it isn't clear that flags were involved.
146 At that same time, the Planning and Zoning Board was reviewing sign regulations and the
147 Legion participated in discussions to a certain extent. He isn't aware that the city has
148 done any enforcement work related to flags. He is recommending that language
149 regarding flags that is included in the sign ordinance be stricken just to be clear that flags
150 are allowed. Mayor Reinert remarked that he's told the American Legion that they can
151 fly American flags whenever and in whatever amount they wish.
152
153 Staff will continue reviewing sign regulations at the Planning and Zoning Board.
154
155 8. 2015 Budget Discussion- Mayor Reinert noted that this item comes forward with staff
156 requesting some basic direction on budget planning and in particular regarding the fire
157 department. Since there are some start-up costs related to the fire department, he is
158 advising that those be kept separate from the budget, for monitoring and since they will
159 be payable under future bonding. He noted also that costs related to a new station would
160 have been incurred without or without a new department.
161
162 Administrator Karlson concurred that there will be fire department start-up costs. They
163 could be rolled into a bond issue and initially taken from reserves to be paid back through
164 bond proceeds. He noted that there are some initial costs coming up quickly of which
165 he'd like the council to be aware. The mayor suggested that costs for new projects, such
166 as a new city hall, have traditionally been handled by payment over time through the use
167 of bonds. Council Member Kusterman suggested setting up a separate account for new
168 costs. Finance Director Rolek noted that some of the start-up costs are clearly capital
169 and can be debt fmanced; operating costs, however, cannot be handled with bonding.
170 Those would be things like additional personnel and training.
171
172 The council recognized that there will be a first year of start-up costs. There are cost
173 unknowns still about the number of individuals who will transfer to the department with
174 equipment and training and also how much equipment will belong to the city when the
175 Centennial equipment is divided. There was a review of the how the new department
176 will be structured under the Public Safety Division. Public Safety Director Swenson
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 2, 2014
APPROVED
177 provided a basic explanation of how he sees the budget for this department changing.
178 Council Member Stoesz suggested that, for accounting and budget purposes, the fire
179 department fleet be kept separate from the rest of the city vehicle fleet. Mayor Reinert
180 remarked that full disclosure throughout the process of establishing the department is the
181 goal.
182
183 9. Monthly Progress Report — Administrator Karlson reviewed his report updating
184 the council on certain on-going projects:
185 - Scanning Project — good progress, moving from Finance Department records to
186 Community Development division;
187
188 Review Regular Council Agenda June 9, 2014 — the agenda was reviewed and
189 there were no changes.
190
191 The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
192
193 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
194 June 23, 2014.
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199 i e Bartell, C. Cler
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