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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/04/1995 Council MinutesJ0v COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNCIL MINUTES DATE January 4, 1995',. TIME STARTED 5:00 P.M. TIME ENDED; : 7:45 F.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Reinert, Neal, Kuether,<Ellott,; Bergeson MEMBERS ABSENT : None Staff members present: City Administrator, Randy Schumacher; Assistant to the Administrator, Dan Tesch; 20/20 Visioning Coordinator, Kim Sullivan; Acting City Engineer, John Powell; Community Development Director, Brian Wessel and Clerk -Treasurer, Marilyn Anderson. LINO LAKES MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (LLMA) UPDATE, RANDY SCHUMACHER Mr. Schumacher gave each Council Member a copy of a portion of the proposed LLMA settlement document. He noted that Mr. Tesch will be preparing copies of the entire document and distributing them to the City Council later in the week. Mr. Schumacher asked the City Council if they wished to hold another closed session on this matter before it comes before the City Council on Monday, January 9, 1995. Council Member Bergeson asked for a definition of several terms and Mr. Tesch and Mr. Schumacher explained. This item will be placed on the agenda for Monday, January 9, 1995. No other closed sessions will be needed. 1995 ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS, DAN TESCH Mr. Tesch explained that the City Council will be considering appointment to the Park Board, the Planning and Zoning Board and the Circle Pines Utility Commission. He noted that he had not received a very good response to the advertisements that were placed in all three (3) of the local newspapers. Mr. Tesch explained that Ms. Viger is in the process of calling persons who applied for positions on these boards last year to determine if they are still interested in an appointment. If no applicants from last years advertisements are interested, the City Council PAGE 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 will have to discuss re -advertising the positions. Mr. Tesch will prepare packets of interested candidates for City Council review. He noted that he is in the process of preparing a worksheet for the Council to use to weigh each candidates merits. Council Member Neal noted that the Circulating Pines is no longer in business and asked that proposals be invited from the Forest Lake Times and the Anoka Shopper. REGULAR AGENDA, JANUARY 9, 1995 Mr. Schumacher noted that the LLMA item will be added to this agenda. Mayor Reinert asked that the City Attorney research the question of whether or not there is a legal conflict of interest when a candidate for appointment to a board is also suing the City. Council Member Bergeson asked if there has been any proposal for the intersection of Birch Street and Hodgson Road. Mr. Powell indicated that he is preparing a formal submittal for both the State and County. Council Member Neal explained that the 49 Club is interested in expanding and the owner is interested in meeting with the City. Mr. Wessel will meet with the owner. FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL UPDATE, DICK HOWARD Mr. Dick Howard, Vice President of Development for Fairview Hospitals and Mr. Scott Wordelman, Senior Vice President and lead person for Chisago Hospital and for DMH gave an update regarding the sale of District Memorial Hospital (DMH) in Forest Lake and the Chisago Hospital to Fairview Hospital. Yvonne Henrich, Jack Lannon and LaVarie Rosengren were also present to answer questions from the City Council. Mr. Howard used the overhead projector to help make his presentation. He explained that the State Legislature has enacted legislation to create a regional hospital district along the I35E corridor. A new regional hospital will be constructed by Fairview Hospitals within this corridor just north of Forest Lake. An exact location for this hospital has not yet been selected. The acquisition of both DMH and the Chisago Lakes Hospital by Fairview Hospitals will enable Fairview Hospitals to plan and construct a new facility. The new facility will be a PAGE 2 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 multi -health organization providing quality health care for the region. Mr. Howard noted that Fairview Hospital is associated with the Lutheran Church and is very ecumenical in its approach to health care. Mr. Howard presented the mission statement, the values statement and the vision statement prepared by Fairview Hospitals as well as key financial statistics. Mr. Wordelman explained that Chisago Lakes Hospital had determined that there was a need to expand services. Chisago Lakes Hospital also determined that a partner was needed to help provide the services. They selected Fairview Hospitals. At the same time, DMH was also considering affiliating with Fairview Hospitals. The merger between Fairview Hospitals and the Chisago Lakes Hospital was finalized in July, 1994. The merger with DMH was completed on January 3, 1995. Mr. Howard explained that the new facility will be located within an area outlined by the State Legislature which is generally located north of Forest Lake. He noted that there will be opportunities for a variety of services for Lino Lakes. Mr. Howard explained that a new board (regional board) has been created to select a site for the new facility and to assist in the planning. The board will consist of three (3) representatives from Fairview Hospitals, two (2) members from the divisional boards, three (3) members from the communities within the district and one (1) physician. This board will be chaired by Ms. Henrich. The goal was to create a board with broad representation from the communities. Mr. Wordelman explained that the new board will have to "think like a region" not like a representative of a specific community. The board will be "intimately" involved in the process to identify three (3) to five (5) possible sites for the new facility. Additional roles for this board are still unclear. Mayor Reinert explained to the Council that he had invited Mr. Howard and Mr. Wordelman to the meeting to discuss the selection of the regional board. He noted that this project will impact this area for a long time and felt it was in the interest of Lino Lakes to be a part of the program from the very beginning. Ms. Henrich explained that when the decision was made to select the regional board, there was a strong commitment to obtaining input from the entire district. She noted that Lino Lakes does have representation through LaVarie Rosengren and she felt that her position was one representing the entire southern end of the area. PAGE 3 1 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 Council Member Bergeson said he felt that the orientation of persons living in Lino Lakes was primarily to the south and that it is hard to get anyone to drive north for health services. He felt that this should be considered when planning the new facility. Mr. Howard explained that Fairview Hospitals planned to bring services into the region which may impact the current health care focus of the Lino Lakes residents. Mayor Reinert explained that Fairview Hospitals may have to convince Lino Lakes residents to go north for health care. Mr. Wordelman noted that currently the DMH taxes Lino Lakes for ambulance services. This tax will continue for another year. Mr. Lannon explained that Fairview Hospitals has guaranteed continuation of quality ambulance service for the region. Mr. Wordelman explained that the existing facilities at Chisago Lakes will continue to operate as an acute health care unit. No definite plans have been completed for the DMH. Mayor Reinert thanked everyone for coming this evening. It was noted that Ms. Henrich and Mr. Wordelman will keep Lino Lakes updated on this matter. 1995 GOAL SETTING SESSION, RANDY SCHUMACHER This meeting was set for Saturday, January 21, 1995, 9:00 A.M. to noon. 20/20 VISION UPDATE, RIM SULLIVAN Ms. Sullivan provided a handout for each Council Member. The handout included a draft of the invitations to the two (2) public meetings. The invitations will be mailed on Tuesday of next week. Ms. Sullivan gave a brief oral presentation of the current status of 20/20 Visioning. Ms. Sullivan explained that Council Members and staff are invited to the two (2) public meetings and noted that they are welcomed as observers only. She felt that the citizens needed to know that the City Council and staff support this effort but will not be participating in it. Ms. Sullivan will also be meeting with the Park Board and the Planning and Zoning Board to let them know that they are welcomed as observers and residents not representatives of the City. Mayor Reinert expressed the need to keep the public meetings from becoming a "bitch" session. Ms. Sullivan explained that Mr. Carl Neu will be conducting the meetings and those situations if PAGE 4 r, COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 necessary. Council Member Bergeson asked Ms. Sullivan if she felt that the 20/20 Visioning project was adequately staffed. Ms. Sullivan explained that some outside consulting costs have been cut and felt that there was adequate funding for her costs and for Mr. Neu. Ms. Sullivan will prepare a status report for Council review. Ms. Sullivan asked the City Council to give her some feedback as to what each individual member felt is the time for visioning. Is it for two (2) years, five (5) years or 25 years. Mayor Reinert felt that the plan should be open ended. Ms. Sullivan asked if the end result of each committee will be binding on the City Council. Council Member Bergeson felt that the results of the committees should be general and not specific. Mayor Reinert felt that the purpose of this entire project is to tie the City Council to the wishes of the citizens. He felt that they need assurances that everything possible will be done to implement the committee recommendations. Two items that were considered "off limits" for the committees were staff descriptions, staff salary and the 1995 Budget. Council Member Bergeson asked if the visioning concept has been around long enough so that there is an example of what happens in two (2) years, five (5) years etc. Ms. Sullivan explained that the oldest plan that she is aware of was completed in 1988. Ms. Sullivan asked the City Council to give her their comments and suggestions by next Friday. COUNTY LAKES ESTATES UPDATE, JOHN POWELL Mr. Powell explained that construction of the sewer main from the Rice Lake Elementary School east along the north side of Birch Street is scheduled for early spring. The sewer line is needed to serve the Country Lakes Estates subdivision. The Barott family is concerned about the number of trees that will be lost in their front yard. This matter should be resolved in time for the construction to begin as scheduled. Mr. Powell will keep the City Council updated on this matter. MUSA EXPANSION UPDATE, JOHN POWELL Mr. Powell explained that the MUSA expansion proposal in concept form will be brought before the Planning and Zoning Board next PAGE 5 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995. week. The proposal consists of information regarding what is currently in the MUSA, what developments are planned, and how much in the current MUSA is available for development. A meeting with the Metropolitan Council to "flush out" any other issues has been set following the meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board. Mr. Powell explained that Metropolitan Council has a lot of issues not necessarily related to MUSA. They want to "clean up" these issues. Metropolitan Council is focused on regional concepts and Lino Lakes must make them understand issues that are unique to Lino Lakes. Council Member Bergeson asked if Metropolitan Council has an unlimited supply of MUSA or do they have to pick and choose which request they will accommodate. Mr. Powell explained that they do have a limited supply of service. They are focusing on regional development and also focusing on low income housing. They also look at logical growth patterns and are trying to prevent an explosion in development in any particular area. Council Member Bergeson asked if Lino Lakes has adequate zoning for apartments and other multiple family housing. Mr. Powell felt that Lino Lakes could make a case that a reasonable amount of affordable housing is available for such a young city. Mr. Powell explained that because of the high water table, the DNR regulations and the City Charter, Lino Lakes can make a case for flexibility in the MUSA and administer the land bank concept. Council Member Bergeson asked what option does the City have if the Metropolitan Council refuses the request for land bank MUSA. Mr. Powell explained that Lino Lakes would consider trading MUSA. Mr. Powell explained that the Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on growth issues and on the MUSA proposal. The matter will then go to the City Council for their consideration and, if approved by the City Council, will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for their consideration. Mr. Powell also noted that he had met with the Open Space staff at the Metropolitan Council regarding a proposed "land swap". The issue of affordable housing was raised at this meeting. Mayor Reinert asked Mr. Powell to give his perception of growth for Lino Lakes in 1995. Mr. Powell said he has received a letter from Mr. Hokanson indicating that he intended to proceed with the development of Trapper's Crossing and the Marshan Lake Townhomes. Mr. Powell also met with Mr. Hokanson and outlined the items that would be required by the City. The first requirement is the PAGE 6 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 preparation of two (2) feasibility studies, the first for Holly Drive/12th Avenue and the second for the extension of sanitary sewer. Mr. Powell explained that the City Council will meet with the Hugo City Council early next month to discuss an area drainage study that was prepared by the Hugo consulting engineer. Mr. Powell said that he will have a copy of the study later this week. He will meet with the City Council prior to the meeting with the Hugo City Council. DISCUSSION OF CHANGING ELECTION FROM ODD TO EVEN YEARS Mrs. Anderson prepared a memorandum to the City Council explaining that the 1994 Legislature mandated that all council members (a mayor is a member of the council) shall have four (4) year terms. In addition, the Legislature strongly recommended that municipalities conduct even -year elections to coincide with the regular general elections. The City of Lino Lakes, City of Coon Rapids, City of Columbia Heights and the City of Circle Pines are the only cities in Anoka County holding odd -year elections. The City of Coon Rapids is in the process of changing to even -year elections and the City of Columbia Heights is also considering the change. The City of Circle Pines has not yet addressed the issue and is waiting for the Centennial School Board to make a decision as to when they would hold their school board elections. (Centennial School District decided to go to even -year elections.) If the City of Lino Lakes decides to adhere to the Legislature's mandates and recommendations, several important steps must be taken and finalized by June 1, 1995. The Charter Commission must meet and recommend an amendment to the City Charter, Section 2.03, Council Composition and Election and 4.01, Regular Municipal Election revising the term for the mayor and changing from odd -year elections to even -year elections. This amendment must be accomplished by ordinance recommended by the Charter Commission and approved by the City Council. Included with the memorandum to the City Council is a copy of the Coon Rapids City Attorney's opinion on the matter and a copy of the 1994 legislation, a transition schedule and a copy of the text outlining the procedure used in preparing the transition chart. Mrs. Anderson noted the Mr. Hawkins has been requested to give his opinion regarding the impact of the legislation. Mr. Hawkins has asked the League of Minnesota Cities to request a State PAGE 7 1 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 4, 1995 Attorney General's opinion on the matter. Mrs. Anderson will keep the City Council updated on this matter. Council Member Elliott asked the City Council to think about a specific date in February to meet with the Park Board. She will bring this matter to the next Council work session. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 P.M. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at a regular meeting of the City Council on February 13, 1995. Marbly G. Anderson, Vernon F. Reinert, Clerk -Treasurer Mayor PAGE 8