Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/07/1993 Council Minutes1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 7, 1993 DATE Ju TIME STARTED 5:09 P.M TIME ENDED 6:3.0 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Neal, Elliott, Bergeson MEMBERS ABSENT Ruether, Reinert Staff Members present: City Engineer, Darrell Schneider; Public Works Director, Don Volk; City Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk -Treasurer Marilyn Anderson. Proposed Change of Packet Date Mr. Schumacher explained that staff is having a problem sending packets to the City Council on Thursdays. The PM2 meeting is held on Wednesday mornings and the Council Work Sessions are held on Wednesday afternoons. Items from both of these meetings are then placed on the Council agenda. This does not allow staff enough time to properly prepare the green sheets and other material that should be included in the Council packets. CSO Kenow has requested that packets be ready for delivery by 3:00 P.M. on Thursday to allow enough time for her to deliver them on her shift. This leaves very little time for the preparation and assemblage of the packets. Packets will be prepared and sent to the City Council on Friday. This will allow one (1) extra working day for staff. The City Council will be updated on how this procedure is working. Charter Meeting Update Mr. Schumacher explained that he has attended the last two (2) Charter Commission meetings because the Commission has been dealing with economic development issues. Brian Wessel has presented many economic development issues to the Commisgon in an effort to get the Charter. Commission to consider updating the City Charter. PAGE 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 7, 1993 Mr. Schumacher presented a map showing two (2) important economic development areas of the City (Highway #49/Lake Drive and I35W Lake Drive). The Economic Development Committee is proposing that the Charter Commission adopt a revision to the Charter exempting these two (2) areas from the assessment policy outlined in the City Charter and adopting State Statute 429 for the two (2) areas. There has been mixed reaction to the proposal with some Charter Commission members suggesting that all economic development areas of the City should be given the same consideration. Mr. Schumacher noted that two (2) attorneys attended the last Charter Commission meeting and both agreed that the Lino Lakes Charter contains restrictions to economic development and somewhere in the future there will be a real problem for economic development in Lino Lakes. However, there is a real strong division within the Charter Commission membership on this matter. Mr. Schumacher felt the emphasis on these meetings should be directed to improve the Charter to better benefit the City. A subcommittee was appointed at the last Charter Commission meeting to draft a letter directed to the entire community asking the residents what they felt was the best direction to take. Responses will be tabulated and discussed. Mr. Schumacher told the Charter Commission that presently the City Council is looking at this City being highly taxed. He noted that the City cannot be developed on residential taxes. However, some Charter members are not willing to adjust the Charter because rights of some residents may be affected. Mr. Schumacher also noted that some Charter Commission members have said that they do not care if their taxes are high. He felt they may be more sensitive to this issue if they could attend the Board of Review and hear from residents who pay very high taxes. Annexation Hearing Update Mr. Schumacher explained that the hearings are completed. Seven (7) persons testified on behalf of this City. Documents were prepared and a very professional presentation was made. He noted that present and past Centerville City Council members testified in behalf of that City. Mr. Schumacher noted that some of the Municipal Board Members were not present at the hearings. He has requested that oral testimony be allowed at the time the Board presents its findings. It will take approximately two (2) months for the Board to compile their findings and give the final order. Appeals can be PAGE 2 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 7, 1993 made within 30 days after the final order. Council Member Neal said he would like to begin the City of Centerville and some of the persons hearings because of things that were said. Mr. explained that those remarks were only opinions considered when the decision is made. Brad Racutt Update a lawsuit against who spoke at the Schumacher and should not be Mr. Schumacher explained that Mr. Racutt's lawsuit was heard in District Court and a final decision has been received. In all matters requested by Mr. Racutt, the Court ordered for the City and against Mr. Racutt. Mr. Schumacher noted that during the period this matter was in litigation, Mr. Racutt's septic system failed and his basement was damaged. Mr. Racutt's insurance company is threatening to sue the City for recovery of damages. Mr. Racutt's septic system has now been repaired. Boat Launch Update Mr. Schumacher explained that the City Attorney has received communication from the attorney for the Reshanau Park Estates Homeowner's Assn. indicating that a pile of sand has been placed at the end of the boat launch area to indicate that the boat launch cannot be used at this time. This should help quiet some rumors that have been circulating. Acting Mayor Neal has visited the area and noted that the area looks terrible and there is a lot of dirt in the street. Mr. Volk explained that contractors are required to clean the area and the storm sewers before the improvement project is given final approval. Police Common Ground Meeting — Canceled Mr. Schumacher explained that the City of Circle Pines has looked at the options and issues that have been presented and feel that if they were to enter into a joint powers agreement for police service, that city would be reducing the current level of service. They feel at this time that they do not want to enter a joint powers agreement and lessen their services. They have said that they may want to look at the matter three (3) to five (5) years from now. The Circle Pines City Council will meetrhis evening and consider a resolution containing language explaining that a joint powers agreement is not feasible at this time. Mr. Schumacher also noted that the Centerville/Lino Lakes annexation matter did provide hostile feelings in the Common Ground matters PAGE 3 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 7, 1993 and said that the joint powers agreement may be considered after the annexation matter is concluded. Flood Water Update Mr. Volk presented pictures of flooded areas of Lino Lakes. He noted that Reshanau Lake is the most serious problem. The City has supplied sand and sandbags to the residents to protect structures but not the grass. Mr. Volk noted other areas of concern and explained that his staff have been on-call around the clock and have six (6) pumps in operation. The pumps have not been shut off in the past six (6) weeks. He also explained that some residents are not very patient. A four (4) or five (5) acre holding pond that floods will not go away in hours but may take weeks. In the meantime there is no place for additional rain water to go. Mr. Volk also noted that the staff does not get paid for being on-call but they do get paid for going out to work. Mr. Schumacher explained that no employee actually goes out to work without authorization from an authorized person. Concern was expressed that staff would not be available in cases of emergency. Mr. Volk explained that Central Communications has a list of all staff and they can dispatch staff in cases of emergency. Council Member Bergeson noted that the new road to Chomonix Golf Course has also been under water. He asked why it was not constructed above flood level. Mr. Schneider explained that the County constructed the road as best they could under DNR and ACORP permits. Council Member Bergeson suggested that the DNR and ACORP inspect the problems their permits created. Council Member Neal noted that the nature center road is also under water. Mr. Volk also explained that the Chomonix Golf Course gate will remain open all night until flood water recede from West Shadow Lake Drive. Ron Palmen Driveway Mr. Schneider explained where the Palmen property is located and noted that the frontage is along Otter Lake Road. Unfortunately the frontage is all wetland and the DNR is refusing to issue a permit for the construction of a driveway so that Mr. Palmen can construct a home. PAGE 4 1 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 7, 1993 Mr. Palmen was asked to contact his neighbor on his north boundary (Caine) and try to work out an access plan through the Caine property. The neighbor refused to cooperate because he is against development in the area. Mr. Palmen has requested that he be allowed to use the City easement that runs across his property and past the Lowell and Westbrock property to Bald Eagle Boulevard for construction of his driveway. Mr. Schneider explained the background on this matter noting that a feasibility report had been prepared for construction of a City street on the easement. The cost for this improvement was very high and the Westbrocks petitioned against the improvement. The Lowell's did not petition for the improvement and there is no record that Mr. Palmen responded to the improvement at all. The project was denied by the City and the Lowell's were allowed to divide their property into two (2) parcels. They have a home constructed on the larger parcel. The second parcel is vacant. Mr. Paimen proposed using the easement for a road to his property and he would pay for the road. This would eliminate the Westbrock and Lowell driveways. Mr. Palmen's road would meander west to his property through the Lowell's property and off of the easement. Mr. Palmen has not approached the Lowell's regarding this matter. Mr. Schneider noted a recently passed law which would allows for the establishment of a minimum maintenance road. The City would have to establish a policy for such roads. Mr. Palmen was told that the City would allow a minimum maintenance road at his cost if he could arrange a formal agreement with the Lowells. It is not known if Mr. Paimen has contacted the Lowells regarding this matter. However, Mr. Palmen is not demanding that the City solve his problem with access. Mr. Schneider asked if the City Council wanted to get into negotiating with the Lowells on this matter. The consensus of the City, Council was that is was not their place to do so. Other questions considered included: could a road be constructed up the middle of the easement and could there be mitigation for access to Otter Lake Road? The answer to both questions was, probably not. There was discussion regarding the City playing a role in negotiating a minimum maintenance street and trying to generate cooperation among the landowners. Mr. Schneider explained that it would cost several thousand dollars to prepare a plan for the minimum maintenance road and there would be no guarantee that the plan would be accepted. Mr. Schneider volunteered to contact the Lowell's to get their input regarding a minimum maintenance road that would require snow plowing only. Mr. Volk felt that once the road is in place, PAGE 5 COUNCIL WORK SESSION the residents will ask for grading of the gravel surface and other requests will follow. After discussing what the role of the City should be in this matter, it was decided Council Member Neal and Mr. Schneider could meet with the Lowell's to see if they were interested in a minimum maintenance road. Lino Lakes Friends of the Parks Foundation Council Member Bergeson explained that this group is preparing a brochure which will contain a list of contributors to the parks. He felt it would be appropriate if the list could contain the names of all Council Members. VFW Council Member Neal explained that he will be meeting with three (3) members of the VFW regarding donations to the City. He asked the City Council to let him know if there was anything specific he should relate to this committee. Regular Council Agenda, July 12, 1993 Each item on the proposed agenda was discussed. Charter Appointments will not be on the agenda until it is determined if all current members whose terms are expiring want to be re- appointed. The balance of the agenda remained unchanged. The work session adjourned at 6:30 P.M. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on August 23, 1993. arilyn . Anderson, Clerk -Treasurer Vernon F. Reinert, Mayor PAGE 6