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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/1993 Council Minutes1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 18, 1993 TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT; MEMBERS ABSENT • August18, 1993 :00 P.M. • 6:32 .P.M.: Reinert;, Neal, Kuether, ;Elliott Bergeson Staff members present: Public Works Director, Don Volk; Planning Coordinator, Mary Kay Wyland; Parks Director, Marty Asieson; Police Department Administrative Officer, Bruce Keller; City Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk -Treasurer, Marilyn Anderson. Police Speed Monitor Program Officer Keller updated the City Council regarding the progress of the Speed Monitor Program and provided a written review of the past three (3) weeks. He explained that the program is doing well. This report is informational only. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mr. Schumacher explained that the above named agency has provided a map of the City which divides the City into various flood zones. This map is old, out of date and in some cases inaccurate. If the map indicates that a specific home is in the flood zone, then mortgage companies usually require flood insurance. An updated map has been requested. Until a new map is received there are some problems for homeowners and developers shown to be in the flood zone. As new subdivisions are being approved by the City, the developers must provide the necessary engineering data to remove the subdivision from the flood zone. A letter of map revision must be provided to FEMA to affect the map revision. However, older subdivisions were approved and never removed from the flood zone. Now as residents of the older subdivisions sell their homes or remortgage, they are finding that their property is in the flood zone and they are being required to purchase flood PAGE 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 1993 insurance. A particular homeowner in Rice Lake Estates is trying to sell his home and has found that his property is in this situation. This is making the sale of the home more difficult. The cost to develop the necessary engineering data to remove the property from the flood zone would cost approximately $3,000.00. Ms. Wyland noted that there are 58 - 90 structures within the flood zone and nine (9) homeowners have purchased flood insurance. Two (2) questions were posed. Should the City of Lino Lakes initiate the required study to remove the Rice Lake Estates lot from the flood zone. The cost could be more than $3,000.00. The second question is should the City withhold approval of a subdivision until the map revision has been completed. It was noted that this process may take six (6) months or more. After discussing this matter, no action was taken regarding the property in Rice Lake Estates. The City Council requested that a policy be drafted for new subdivisions that contain property within the flood zone. The new policy will be to require that the developer prepare the necessary data to remove the affected areas from the flood zone and apply for the map revision. The approval of the subdivision will not be delayed during this process. Centerville Annexation - Radzwill-Hellings Briefs Mr. Schumacher explained that he has received a copy of the briefs from both the City of Lino Lakes and the City of Centerville attorneys. The briefs are a summary of what happened during the proceedings before the Municipal Board and what the position of each City is. The Municipal Board will be meeting in September and will give a preliminary decision. A final decision will be given in about 60 days. Deer Complaint Update Mr. Schumacher has met with Ms. McDougal and explained what options are available to control deer damage in her area. He is working with the Department of Natural Resources and other property owners south of Baldwin Lake and will coordinate a solution. There will be additional meetings and a solution will be found independently of the City Council. Mayor's Corner The fall quarter of the City newsletter is being prepared. Mr. Schumacher noted that during the last election, some concern arose regarding the section of the newsletter titled, "Mayor's PAGE 2 1 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 1993 Corner". He asked if this portion of the newsletter should be omitted this quarter. It was decided that the "Mayor's Corner" of the newsletter should be included but be sensitive to the election. Chief of Police Search Update Mr. Schumacher gave the City Council a handout which indicated that over 50 applications for the Chief of Police position were received. Mr. Thompson has evaluated the applications and has reduced the field of candidates to 23. All 23 candidates have been evaluated and tested. When all the test results have been reviewed, the field of candidates will be narrowed to 10. Mr. Thompson will again interview the 10 candidates and narrow the number to four (4). The City Council will have the opportunity to interview the finalists. Mr. Schumacher noted that the quality of the candidates was excellent. Mr. Thompson will meet with the City Council at the September 8, 1993 work session to prepare written questions that will be used during the City Council interview of candidates. A press release will be prepared by Mr. Thompson. The four (4) final candidates will be identified and the background briefly outlined. The press release will also contain a paragraph about the process that has been used to select a new Chief of Police. A concern was expressed regarding the September 8, 1993 work session with Mr. Thompson. Mr. Schumacher was asked how the questions for the candidates would be kept confidential. It was noted that it would be unfair if some of the candidates had advance knowledge of the questions while others did not. Mr. Schumacher explained that the matter will be handled so that the questions will not become public. Concert in the Park The final concert in the park at Country Lakes Park had to be canceled because there was not sufficient power for the band instruments. Electrical power had not been a concern for the previous concerts in the park. Mr. Asleson explained that this was the first year for the concerts in the park and all other performances were very: successful. The purpose of the concerts was to get the citizens acquainted with the parks and each other. He noted that overall, the program was very successful. PAGE 3 52 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 1993 Mr. Asleson noted that a questionnaire was handed out during the second to the last performance. The response to the questionnaire was very good and it indicated that the persons attending the concerts were looking for programs for the entire family. In particular, the children's performances were very popular. Mr. Asleson explained that if this program continues and the crowds continue to build, he will be looking at a permanent facility such as a band shell. He noted that the Friends of the Parks organization may be able to complete a band shell by 1997. Mr. Asleson was asked to draft a proposal for 1994. He noted that he has talked to other communities who have concerts in the parks and they all told him that their programs started slow but continued to build during the season as well as each year. Council Member Kuether noted that she had only positive telephone calls regarding this program. Mr. Schumacher asked if all concerts were held in the same park and at the same time, would there be a better response. Mr. Asleson explained that it could help and he may concentrate on both Sunrise Park and Country Lakes Park. Block Party Clarification. It was explained that the City Clerk received an application for a block party and the organizers refused to sign the "hold harmless" clause. The City Clerk notified the organizers that the block party would not be approved and notified the Police Department and Public Works Department that the requirements for the party had not been completed but that the block party would probably be held anyway. The City Council discussed the application for a block party and questioned if the "hold harmless" clause was needed. The City Clerk was asked to survey some other communities to see how they handle block parties and to ask the City Attorney to give his opinion regarding the "hold harmless" clause at the next City Council meeting. August 23, 1993 City Council Agenda The City Council reviewed the entire agenda. Two (2) resolutions on the agenda recognize a donation to the City. It was spggested that the City hold a public recognition of all donations at the end of the year. Council Member Kuether expressed concern regarding the proposed PAGE 4 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 1993 "Weed Ordinance". She asked who will determine if there has been a violation of the ordinance. She also expressed concern regarding liability exposure if the City enters private property to mow the grass and damaged some of the property. Council Member Kuether also expressed concern regarding exempting City property from the ordinance. She noted that the ordinance is saying, "do as I say not as 1 do". Mr. Asleson explained that the proposed ordinance has been researched thoroughly. Mr. Volk explained what the exclusions were and explained that it is not practical and it is costly to mow and maintain all City owned property. The "Weed Ordinance" was removed from the agenda and Mr. Asleson and Mr. Volk will visit Council Member Kuether to pinpoint her concerns. The ordinance will be brought back to the next work session. Mayor Reinert noted the ordinance addressing the City Council salaries. He explained that the news media has made it appear that the City Council is proposing to increase their own salaries. However, the salaries will be not increased until January 1, 1994 when the new City Council takes it seat. Council Member Elliott explained that the Ways and Means Committee has reviewed the pay for all City employees and the City Council and it was found that the compensation for the City Council was below metro average. This ordinance was not removed from the agenda at this time. However, it was removed from the agenda prior to the packets being prepared. A draft ordinance amending the dog license requirements will be on the agenda. The draft ordinance will make dog licensing a two (2) year requirement rather than an annual requirement. It was noted that in the next few months a "pooper/scooper" ordinance will be prepared to address the complaints that are coming into the Police Department regarding walking dogs on City trails. Other communities will be surveyed to determine how they handle this matter. The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 P.M. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at j he regular City Council meeting held on September 13, 1993. PAGE 5 COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 1993 m� (WLr ,,e_%A_/)-(A_ Marilyn G. Anderson, Clerk -Treasurer Mayor Vernon F. Reinert, PAGE 6