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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/26/1990 Council MinutesCOUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 26, 1990 Mayor Bisel called a work session of the Lino Lakes City Council to order on Monday, March 26, 1990 at 5:40 P.M. Council Members present: Neal, Kuether and Reinert. Council Members absent: Bohjanen. City Attorney, Hawkins; Engineers, Darrell Schneider, Ron Stahlberg and Dan Boxrud; Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk- Treasurer Marilyn Anderson were also present. ASSESSMENT REVIEW Mr. Stahlberg gave a brief overview of the Sunrise Meadows Improvement Project, the West Central Trunk Improvement Project and the Comprehensive Storm Drainage Plan Improvement. He explained that these improvements were treated as two separate improvement projects and two separate public hearings were held at two separate times. He noted that during the period that these improvements were being planned the Council approved an assessment policy for existing landowners along a trunk line. Mr. Stahlberg read the policy. He also noted that during this same period the City Council commissioned a utility rate study and approved rate increases that included a sufficient amount that would be transferred to the Area and Connection Fund account (revolving fund). Mr. Stahlberg indicated that the initial feasibility study for the West Central Trunk improvement indicated a rate of $57.00 per front foot for sanitary sewer and municipal water. He indicated the route of the trunk mains on the map. Mr. Stahlberg then indicated that the final figures are going to be very close at $56.00 per front foot. Since the West Central Trunk Improvement began several subdivisions have been approved and will be connecting to the trunk mains. They are: Sunnygate, Sunrise Meadows, Parkview Estates and several small subdivisions. Several more subdivisions are in the planning stages. Mr. Stahlberg noted that most of the lots in the Sunrise Meadows subdivision are connected to the lateral lines. However, there are several that are connected directly to the trunk lines. There are nine (9) lots on Sunrise Drive that have petitioned for water or sewer service. These lots are on the lateral lines. Mr. Stahlberg noted that the lots connected to the trunk main lines are assessed at a higher rate than those connected to the lateral lines. Mr. Stahlberg suggested that the Sunrise Meadows area and surrounding lots be assessed as follows: the assessment for lots on the lateral lines would be computed and then the assessments for the lots on the trunk lines would be computed separately. The total for the trunk line area and the total for the lateral line area would then be added together and COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 26, 1990 divided by the total number of lots. This then would average the total assessment over the entire area and each lot would be assessed the same. Mr. Hawkins said this would be legal providing the assessment was no larger than the increase in the value of the lot. Mayor Bisel asked what will happen to the lots on the west side of Sunrise Drive and north of Fairmont Drive. Mr. Stahlberg noted that Sunnygate, on the east side of Sunrise Drive will be installing their lateral lines to serve the future lots on the east side of Sunrise Drive, probably later this year. At the time laterals are installed on Sunrise Drive, residents on the west side of Sunrise Drive will be offered the opportunity to connect to the utility lines. Mr. Stahlberg noted that Sunnygate will probably be required to install curb and gutter along the east side of Sunrise Drive. He asked the Council if curb and gutter should also be installed on the west side of Sunrise Drive? If curb and gutter were to be installed, it would be necessary to install the sewer and water connections on the west side at the same time. Mayor Bisel asked what will happen when the area between Sunset Road and Sunrise Drive decide to connect to the utility system? They too have the large lots and the costs would appear to be prohibitive. Mr. Schneider explained that this is not necessarily true. That area will have benefited by the current improvement since the trunk facilities were installed and paid for by those in the immediate area of the trunk line. The landowners that Mayor Bisel is concerned about will only pay for lateral lines which are generally less expensive. This would be treated as a completely separate improvement project and all Charter requirements would have to be followed. If 51% of the landowners petition for the improvement, all landowners will be assessed. Mr. Stahlberg asked the Council if they were in agreement with the assessment procedure he has outlined. It was agreed that this would be the best assessment method for Sunrise Meadows and adjoining areas. Mr. Schneider explained this would keep the integrity of the rate for trunk lines in place. SECOND AVENUE Mr. Stahlberg explained that the new Second Avenue will be "stronger" and wider because it will be constructed to MSA standards. He noted that there will be lots facing Second Avenue from the Ulmer's Rice Lake Subdivision and some side lots from Sunnygate will also be on Second Avenue. He explained that the lots in Ulmer's Rice Lake Subdivision will be receiving a street assessment equivalent to a residential COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 26, 1990 street assessment. However, there is a concern with the Sunnygate lots. The assessment policy for Lino Lakes states that only the front of a lot will be considered when the assessments are calculated. This policy needs to be amended to take into consideration such situations as Sunnygate. Mr. Stahlberg noted that the developer has already been informed that there will be some street assessments on those lots for Second Avenue. Council Member Kuether asked when sanitary sewer is constructed on Rice Lake Drive, will the facing lots be forced to split? Mr. Stahlberg said this would depend upon where the existing house is located on the lot. The original developer was required to place the home so that the lots could be subdivided, however this did not always happen. Council Member Kuether noted that forcing the lots to be subdivided would force them to become even more non- conforming. Mr. Stahlberg asked if the Council was satisfied with the manner in which he planned to handle the assessments for Second Avenue. There was agreement. Council Member Neal asked if Mr. Eibensteiner was installing his own utilities and streets in Parkview Estates. Mr. Stahlberg explained that he was and that there is a full time inspector from TKDA at the site all the time during construction. Council Member Reinert asked if it was common to allow each developer to install his utilities rather than require that the improvement be a municipal improvement. It was noted that it certainly is not uncommon, however it is very important that the City have full time inspectors on each improvement and equally important that the City be in full control of the development. In Lino Lakes this is handled with a developers agreement. Mr. Schneider said he would encourage the City to do all the improvements. Council Member Neal asked if the information regarding how the assessment rate was decided could be written in such a manner that when citizens call him regarding their particular assessment, he could explain it to them. It was decided that whenever a citizen needed information about their assessment, they should call staff. This would insure that all citizens are getting the same information from the same source. Mayor Bisel asked Mr. Schneider to revise the current street assessment policy with regard to the situation of Second Avenue and Sunnygate and bring the draft policy to the Council for their review. Mayor Bisel asked if the current lots backing up to Second Avenue will be assessed for street improvement? Mr. Stahlberg explained that they will receive both a street and utility assessment at the time the lots are subdivided to be COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 26, 1990 sold. He also noted that there will be some lots in Parkview Estates that will be subject to a Second Avenue assessment. Mr. Stahlberg referred to several lots on the very south of the Lino Lakes Industrial Park. He noted that the configuration does not lend to good development. These lots will be looked at very closely, to be sure that they are not over assessed. COMPREHENSIVE SEWER PLAN UPDATE Mr. Schneider told the Council the Metropolitan Council has formally approved the Lino Lakes Comprehensive Land Use plan Amendment March 22, 1990. STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT UPDATE Mr. Stahlberg explained that the improvement is progressing. The land appraisals have been completed and legal proceedings have commenced to acquire the needed easements. All of the costs involved with the acquisition procedure will be added to the improvement costs and spread out over the entire storm sewer district. Mr. Stahlberg explained that in some areas of the district, the recovery of costs may be some time in the future. The recovery of costs will come at the time development of the land takes place and will be made part of the subdivision costs. He noted both Sunnygate and Parkview Estates will pay their fair share of the improvement. The work session adjourned at 7:04 P.M. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at a regular Council meeting held on April 9, 1990. Marilyn G. Anderson, Harold L. Bisel, Clerk - Treasurer Mayor