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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/09/1998 Council Minutes• • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES DATE September 9, 1998 TIME STARTED 5:32 p.m. TIME ENDED 9:28 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Bergeson, Dahl, Lyden, Sullivan MEMBERS ABSENT Neal Staff members present: Administration Director, Dan Tesch; Public Services Director, Rick DeGardner; Community Development Director, Brian Wessel; City Engineer, John Powell; Consulting Planner, Alan Brixius; Consulting Attorney, Ron Batty; Planning Coordinator, Mary Kay Wyland; Community Development Coordinator, Mary Alice Divine and Clerk -Treasurer Marilyn Anderson. LAKES SHOPPING CENTER PROPOSAL, BRIAN WESSEL Brian Wessel_explained that Item 3A on Monday's a nda deals with ting a public hearing for the establishment of a redevelopment proj for the northeast quadrant of the Town Center. Since John Bergeson will not be attending that Council meeting, he asked that this item be removed from the agenda. Brian reviewed the site plan for the proposed McDonalds restaurant to be constructed in the quadrant mentioned ab, `he si.Ie plan will be before the Planning and Zoning Board (P & Z) on Octobers x:98 eir review. Staff is also negotiating with a grocery store chai d 1 or a store could be before the Council next spring. Both proposals are tt ®gible dor industrial TIF consideration. Tim Baylo for the past Die elopment Group has been working with his development team o assemble land and produce a conceptual plan for the shopping center. Brian outlined the probable property tax impact from such a development and how the additional City portion of the taxes could be used as an incentive for the developer. He recommended the EDA authorize establishment of a Redevelopment Project to include all land within the Town Center boundaries. This would allow the EDA the opportunity to provide assistance where appropriate to control the type and quality of development in the Town Center. John Bergeson explained that financial assistance would "jump start" the development in this quadrant. If assistance is not provided, development could be delayed by as much as five (5) years and then the development may not be the quality the City desires. 11111 Mr. Batty provided further explanation about how such projects are funded and noted that the Council is in full control of what projects are funded and the dollar amount. He used PAGE 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 the City of Oakdale as an example of one procedure to follow. Mr. Batty suggested that this proposal would also allow the City to control the quality of the development because the City is investing its own dollars in the project. Mr. Brixius added that a developer would want flexibility in development and suggested that a PDO would be the best tool to use in this case. Chris said that ideally this is what the City would like to see. However, he has an issue of timing. Is the City in the position to offer another "carrot"? He felt the answer is no, the City is already over-extended. The Council had several questions about this proposal and asked that the questions be researched and discussed at the next work session. CONSIDERATION OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, BMX TRACK, MARY KAY WYLAND Mary Kay explained that the BMX track at Rehbein's Area, 490 Pine Street was to be reviewed by the City Council after one year of operation. That limit has expired. She asked for suggestions an how to handle the matter. suggeste that a process for review be established and implemented. The process 0uldinclude neighborhood comments. John suggested that the matter bereviewcd when the season is completed. This matter will come before the Co ithin-thc ext three (3) months. DISCUSSION OF ATHLETI`CCNIPLEX RICK DEGARDNER Rick presented a do d explained that there is the possibility of developing a joint cooperative park co ' • with ie City of North Oaks and the White Bear School District. Th co ple g ould contain approximately 30 acres. This proposal would not take care of1ee:'p in Lino Lakes and funding for development of the complex will have to be ct . ve. The White Bear School District would only be involved in the programming:- Several Park Board members assisted Rick in preparing a color coded map identifying several parcels of land for an athletic complex. Rick will come back before the Council with a recommendation on securing a parcel within the next two (2) months. Funding the acquisition of the land is still a major question. SET DATE FOR CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO REVIEW 1999 BUDGET AND 1998 TAX LEVY COLLECTABLE, 1999, DAN TESCH Dan explained the County has extended the deadline for filing the proposed 1999 Budget and the 1998 tax levy to September 30th because the County does not have the information needed for the City to complete the 1999 Budget. He will present a new PAGE 2 • • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 411 budget schedule to the Council at their meeting on Monday. He and Dave will take a serious look at reducing the proposed levy. • s DISCUSS SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, PHASE II, RESTRUCTURING, DAN TESCH Dan looked at salaries of six (6) other cities approximately the size of Lino Lakes. These cities are also in the process of development. He then negotiated salaries with the Directors and prepared the proposal outlined in his "green sheet". He noted that the proposal does keep the City within the 1998 Salary Budget. Not all Council Members agreed with the proposal. Some concerns expressed were: 1) many employees were at Step 6, the highest step; 2) given the financial condition, this proposal may not be responsive; 3) concern about motivation; 4) changes in work load; and 5) compression due to restructuring. Kim asked Council Members to let Dan know if they have serious concerns wt h his proposal. Dan will review his proposal with the Directors an 'll take the mater off of the agenda if an acceptable proposal cannot be determined be+„`Monday's Council meeting. DISCUSSION OF INTERIM CITY ADM NJSTRA I OR=GOALS, MAYOR SULLIVAN � Kim distributed a list of goals pre work session. The goals outlinee the same or improve, 2) Conti base for the City; comprehensive pl Developm component owing the City Administrator goal setting ��1) the'iinancial situation of the City will remain to build a more skilled and efficient human resources perspective, ensure a timely completion of an acceptable ecember, 1998; 4) continue to emphasize Economic ty for the City and 5) develop a communication strategy whose d alone and project components strategies. Each Counci ember commented on the list. Concerns included the status of engineering projects; the large number of goals and whether they could realistically be completed within the time frame outlined; prioritize goals and the need to fill two (2) critical positions. Dave felt the goals were achievable. Since Dave was comfortable with the goals, the Council will revisit this matter in January, 1999. The Council discussed an evaluation process for the Directors. It was suggested that each Director perform a self-evaluation first. Then the Council would complete an evaluation of each Director. Another suggestion was that each Council Member do individual evaluations for each Director. This matter will be discussed at the next work session. PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 DISCUSSION OF POLICY PLAN FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (PLAN), MAYOR SULLIVAN The City Council is required by Metropolitan Council to prepare a Comprehensive Plan and submit it to the Metropolitan Council by January 1st. for their review. About a month previous to this meeting, Kim asked each Council Member to review the policy plan in the Comprehensive Plan. Council Members were asked to present their concerns or comments in writing and be prepared to discuss them this evening.. Kim talked to Andy via the telephone. He did not have any concerns about the Plan and had not prepared any written comments. Chris explained that he did not get a copy of the latest policy but did prepare some comments in rough draft form. He explained that the City needs to be accountable and should be serious about controlled growth. Caroline also presented her comments in rough draft form. She is opposed to r sting additional MUSA and would like to see "cluster" housing. She is also looking a iting residential growth until commercial development reaches a particular le Mr. Trehus, speaking as a private citizen and not as a ember o"the lnning and Zoning Board, asked the City Council to listen to the peo e no have said' that density is the root of the problem. He asked that there be a shift to placing an equal or greater value on space. Chris continued with his presentation His: concerns included the need for a regulatory mechanism, staged development, and a reduction in the amount of MUSA that is proposed. Chris also Jerred t -i ad placed in the Quad Press by staff. He felt the ad was inappropriaten wvas promoting a Plan not yet approved by Council. Kim explained that the directed staff to place a notice in the Quad Press regarding the current Plan. expl + ed if Chris had attended all of the meetings on the Plan he would have kno Y a was there. Kim told Chris and Caroline that it was inappropriate to come at this time and try to change the direction of the Plan. Chris explained that he had brought input (his concerns) to the Task Force in late May. Kim referred to Chris' comments about "his plan". She noted that most of what Chris was proposing was already in the Task Force Plan. She also noted that some of the information Chris presented is incorrect. Kim asked Chris what his "bottom line" was and where would there be common ground? The City Council has the duty to prepare a Plan and staff needs Council to be consistent. She suggested that Chris was giving unrealistic direction. Chris felt that the City should not be spending tax dollars for the ad since in his opinion the ad was propaganda. Chris and Kim continued to discuss their differences. Chris agreed to put his goals in writing within the next week. PAGE 4 • • • • • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9,1998 Kim reminded Chris that the Task Force worked on the Plan for two (2) years and have prepared a workable Plan. She asked him if he was saying that he would not support any plan other than his plan? The Council needs to pull the community together and it is the job of the Council to let the citizens know about the Plan that has been prepared. If Chis is not going to support the Plan prepared by the Task Force, he should be up front. If Chris is saying he will only support a plan with a growth factor of 50 new homes each year, there is a problem. Caroline explained that she had been telling the Task Force all along that she is supporting slow growth and no additional MUSA. But it did not matter. However, now that she is a Council Member, it does matter. She asked that someone show her all the people that want moderate or fast growth and prove her wrong. She also suggested that there may be some middle ground and asked for more options that would leave more open space. John expressed concern with the "cluster" housing concept. H felt that concept leaves a piece of property that is owned and controlled by a homeoner association He expressed concern about property placed in the control ofw a group that may fall apart. John felt that if land is set aside for non -development (' men space), it should be under the control of some public government agency low do you:police or protect the area under the control of a homeowners association'? Chris said that historically, hoes built around open space hold their value. He noted that the reason people moved s,is that they value space. Kim asked Chris, could do to come work on thetaxMrate. what they could do and what the other Council Members cation. hris said a five (5) year goal of no additional MUSA and s and Kim continued to discuss this matter. Paul MontafCharter Commission Member, said that everyone wants Lino Lakes to be a great place toive. However, he noted that he had read Chris and Caroline's plan and does not agree with a growth rate of 50 new homes per year. Paul felt that MUSA and how it is distributed can be designed to meet Chris and Caroline's concerns. Bob Bening, a Lino Lakes resident, reminded everyone that there are 15,000 people in Lino Lakes that need to be represented. Recent surveys did not request specific numbers of houses to be constructed. He felt that 147 is slowing growth. He referred to a petition circulated regarding the expansion of Birch Street and noted that residents in other areas of the City who use Birch Street did not get an opportunity to sign the petition. Donna Carlson, a Lino Lakes resident, said that she has been asking for a proposed transportation map that is to be included in the Plan. Kim explained that the map is expensive and is being prepared and will be available for all to see. Ms. Carlson felt that the expense argument is not appropriate and referred to the ad printed in the Quad Press. PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9,1998 She felt that if the City could afford the ad, why can't the City afford to get a completed transportation plan with a map. Kim explained it is time for the citizens to come in and see what is planned. Chris said the Plan is the peoples Plan. He suggested that the Plan be placed on a ballot. Kim said the City Council is responsible for the Plan. Kim suggested that Chris and Caroline prepare a specific written outline of their needs and then a meeting be set to review them. REGULAR AGENDA 3B. PUBLIC HEARING, Vacate a Portion of Drainage Easement, 1270 Chokecherry Road - Mary Kay explained that there is a large drainage easement on this lot. The owner would like to build another parking staff"his gage, however, the garage stall would infringe on the easement.ihe easement is larger than needed, staff is recommending that a portion of the easement be vacated and the owner be allowed to extend his garag 3C. FIRST READING, Ordinance No. 12 - 98, Rezone Clearwater Creek, 3rd Addition, Al Brixius - Mr. Brixius explained that only the rezone request is on the agenda for consideration at4this tune. The; preliminary plat needs further modification. The rezone request is consistent with the zoning in l st and 2nd Additions of Clearwate Creek.. The request has been before the Environmental Board and the P & , are environmental concerns that need further discussion. Three (3) forward remo e1 members were uncomfortable with bringing the rezone request e preliminary plat was reviewed by the P & Z. This item was the agenda. 3E. Consideration of Resolution No. 98 -152, Approve Payment No. 7 (final) and Change Order No. 1, Town Center Parkway, Phase 2, John Powell - As a side note to this item, John added that he has prepared a letter to be sent tomorrow to all landowners involved in the Lake Drive utility construction project. The letter includes an update on the project including when construction is expected to begin and end. The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at : reg , lar Council meeting on May 10, 1999. PAGE 6 rkI A 1 • • • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 Marilyn G. NIclcison, ClcrlsTrcasur r Kimberly A. Sullivan, Mayor PAGE 7