HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-07-2014 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 7, 2014
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : July 7, 2014
5 TIME STARTED : 5:37 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 7:53 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman,
8 Rafferty (arr. @ 6 pm), Roeser and Mayor
9 Reinert
10 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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13 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
14 Director Michael Grochala; City Engineer Diane Hankee; City Planner Katie Larsen;
15 Public Services Director Rick DeGarner; Public Safety Director John Swenson; City
16 Clerk Julie Bartell
17
18 1. New Brighton Public Safety Presentation — Public Safety Director Swenson
19 introduced the City of New Brighton Public Safety Director Bob Jacobson and Tony
20 Paetznick, the city's Deputy Director of the Police Division, who were present to discuss
21 their city's public safety model and explain its history.
22
23 Using a PowerPoint presentation, Chief Jacobson explained how the New Brighton Fire
24 Department and Police Department, once separate, are now joined as a Department of
25 Public Safety. The move to a public safety department model that would join the two
26 departments as well as the emergency management function made sense because it would
27 improve communication between functions, it came at a time when the leadership of the
28 departments was transitioning, and the public safety facilities needed work. The process
29 used to create the public safety department involved looking at the reasons for merging
30 (enhancement was the number one reason), working through the concept with the elected
31 officials and advisory commissions, and development of a plan of action. The transition
32 occurred in an eight-month period. Designing a new department meant looking at job
33 descriptions, changing the city code, developing a mission statement and looking at space
34 needs so that a new facility could be planned.
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36 Deputy Chief Paetznick reviewed a section of the PowerPoint. He first noted that the
37 population of New Brighton is very close to Lino Lakes. As part of their transition, their
38 CSO (Community Service Officer) position was changed to PSO (Public Service Officer)
39 because they also serve as firefighters. He noted that the clerical services are fluid
40 between the two functions (police and fire) also. Their fire department includes: 47 paid
41 on-call firefighters (and they have no problem keeping the positions filled); 1 FTE fire
42 marshall; 12 paid cross-trained; and 7 FTE employees that are able to assist on
43 emergencies. Emergency medical services continue to be handled by the Police
44 Department and rarely involve the fire personnel; they have Allina ambulance services
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 7, 2014
APPROVED
45 with a response time within seven minutes. The Police Department employees are EMS
46 trained. They receive mutual aid from other departments when needed.
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48 Chief Jacobson added that the cross training between divisions has been well accepted.
49 He noted the following lessons learned through their process: it's important to keep the
50 history of each department separate; solid communication throughout the process of
51 change is vital; there must be commitment from the city leadership; one budget for the
52 whole department; sharing a facility is a good idea. The results he's seen is that the
53 cultures of the two divisions have really complemented each other and having personnel
54 that is trained in multiple disciplines is a benefit. Additional functions that can be
55 blended are prevention, support services and volunteer services.
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57 Mayor Reiner noted that he supports the model and he thinks it will be best for this
58 community. He likes the communication that develops between the departments and can
59 see how that will be a benefit.
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61 Council Member Rafferty said he is excited about the possibilities and committed to
62 seeing a good process of development for the model in this city.
63
64 Council Member Roeser asked about the challenge of keeping public safety data
65 appropriately protected. Chief Swenson said fire personnel will have to meet the same
66 requirements as the police in order to use their data or access will have to be protected.
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68 Council Member Kusterman asked the Chiefs to explain how they do so well with
69 recruitment and why people want to work for their model department? They explained
70 that it is a sense of serving community that brings people to the jobs, not money. Chief
71 Jacobson said he sees it particularly important to have a maximum level of
72 communication with the people involved to build the understanding; otherwise people
73 tend to question that it can work.
74
75 2. Northeast Drainage Study — City Engineer Diane Hankee of WSB and
76 Associates first introduced herself to the council. She is replacing former city engineer
77 Jason Wedel. She noted her work experience as a city engineer for other communities
78 and also noted that she lives in Lino Lakes. She distributed a map indicating a proposed
79 drainage alignment for the identified drainage needs of the northeast 35E area of the city.
80
81 Pete Willenbring, WSB and Associates, reviewed the map showing drainage and planning
82 underway. During review of how drainage should be handled in the area, it was
83 discovered that the initial plan to run a stonu sewer line to Clearwater Creek was
84 somewhat inadequate. Therefore a second alternative has been studied that would
85 provide a city drainage system running to Peltier Lake, a system that would enlarge the
86 area covered.
87
88 The council discussed what the City of Hugo is draining into that area of the city and
89 found that it is more than what is draining out. It is possible that a drainage corridor
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 7, 2014
APPROVED
90 could actually be an amenity for development and as developers emerge for the area, they
91 could build the system. The Peltier Lake plan has the most support from the Rice Creek
92 Watershed District. When Mayor Reinert asked if there is any urgency to move on the
93 drainage system, Community Development Director Grochala said yes, because lack of
94 proper drainage can hold up development. The cost of the system was estimated in the
95 area of $4 million, mainly passed on to developers. Council Member Roeser asked
96 about possible impact to Peltier Lake and Mr. Willenbring replied that the proposal would
97 actually drain a much smaller area than the lake is already handling and he would expect
98 little impact as far as lake level; regarding water quality, the city would have to
99 demonstrate that the draining would bring no additional phosphorus because Peltier and
100 Centerville Lakes are already challenged in that area.
101
102 The plans were identified as conceptual with issues remaining to be worked out. The
103 council is being made aware of the framework and concurred that staff will continue to
104 study the plans.
105
106 Mayor Reinert indicated that he would have to leave the meeting shortly for another
107 meeting; he offered the following comments on items that would be discussed.
108
109 Isabell Estates (Regular Agenda Item) — The item includes a request for a variance,
110 something the council tries to avoid. Mayor Reinert understands that sometimes a
111 variance is appropriate in a narrowly defined circumstance and he'll trust the council to
112 discuss that in his absence.
113
114 Item 6A (Regular Agenda Item), Authorizing Execution of Agreement for
115 Architectural and Engineering Services for Fire House No. 2 project — Community
116 Development Director Grochala noted the process and individuals involved in reviewing
117 proposals to design a new fire house for the city. The proposals were ranked and the
118 recommendation is for CNH Architects to be given the contract. Their availability is
119 strong, they have a good team, and a good schedule. The council discussed the need for
120 the project to come in on schedule and how that will be managed. Council Member
121 Rafferty discussed the importance of avoiding a delay over the holiday season.
122
123 Mayor Reinert left the meeting at 7:10 p.m.; Acting Mayor Kusterman was left in charge.
124
125 3. Isabell Estates — Rezoning, Variances, Preliminary Plat (Regular Agenda
126 Item) — City Planner Larsen reviewed the project using a PowerPoint presentation. It
127 involves a four lot subdivision at 535 Lois Lake. She compared the proposed
128 subdivision to others done in the area and explained how the variance for lot depth is
129 appropriate considering the history. She reviewed the project considerations: density,
130 stoini water management; utilities; and park dedication. The project has been reviewed
131 by the Planning & Zoning and Environmental Boards with no adverse comments. The
132 variance request was reviewed and discussed; findings of fact on granting a variance are
133 included in the staff report. Staff feels that there will be ample separation between the
134 structures. Community Development Director Grochala explained the history of utility
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 7, 2014
APPROVED
135 connections stubbed in anticipation of the addition of lots. At the Planning and Zoning
136 Board public hearing, two residents came forward and discussed the lot size and traffic
137 concerns. One resident spoke in full support of the project. Council Member Rafferty
138 asked to receive the comments noted in the minutes of the public hearing.
139
140 4. Century Farm North Update — City Planner Larsen gave an update on the
141 project that was recently delayed from council consideration. The developer has asked to
142 remove three houses from the project; soil borings were a part of the reasoning. Staff
143 doesn't feel the scope of the change requires a full process redo and will be bringing the
144 project back to the council with that change. She noted the elements of the project that
145 will be reviewed at the council meeting.
146
147 5. Monthly Progress Report- Community Development Director Grochala
148 reviewed the report.
149
150 Review Regular Agenda — There were no changes to the regular agenda.
151
152 The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
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154 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
155 July 28, 2014.
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158
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160 Jir a e Bartell, City Clerk
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