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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/21/2001 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES DATE : February 21, 2001 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m. TIME ENDED : 8:15 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Carlson, Dahl, O'Donnell, Reinert, and Mayor Bergeson : None MEMBERS ABSENT Staff members present: Administration Director, Dan Tesch; City Engineer, John Powell; Economic Development Director, Brian Wessel (part); Publitlervices Director, Rick DeGardner (part); and City Planner, Jeff Smyser DISCUSS 2001 PARK BOARD GOALS GEORGE LI Public Services Director DeGardner introduced Mr. or L air of the Park Board, and noted this item will appear on the re ag da. Mr. Lindy referred to a list of the 2001 P _, d G =-' s, noting the difference between designated dedicated funds and unde z� ```d funds. He reviewed the goals for 2001 in detail and also noted th- at '11 be recommended if additional funding becomes available. He advise • th als are approved, there would be approximately $9,000 1e • - ; nated dedicated funds. . Mr. Lindy continu referendum for the has been acquired at the Council needs to sit down and discuss the possible mplex and the timing issue. The property for the complex the demand for a park facility is evident. Mayor Bergeson stated the City does want to pursue a referendum. However, the City does not know what the school district will be doing. The possible referendum needs to be discussed at the next goal setting session. The school district does hire a consultant to determine the chances of a referendum passing. The City may want to hire a consultant also. Mr. Lindy stated the Park Board went through the planning process with Brauer and Associates in the past. They stressed the planning of a referendum and funding the complete project at one time. Including other park needs in the referendum has also been discussed. 1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Mayor Bergeson directed staff to bring the information from Brauer and Associates to a future work session. He also directed staff to contact various consultants about the cost of their service relating to a referendum. Council Member Carlson stated this year may be a good year to have a referendum. Public Services Director DeGardner stated typically 9 — 12 months are needed to get a referendum in place. However, a lot of the legwork has already been done. Mr. Lindy added that the feasibility issue of a referendum is key. Council Member Reinert stated that the Park Board has always been starved for dollars. He stated he believes some funding should come from the General Fund. A new park dedication fee may solve the problem of developing parks. However, there is still the issue of maintenance. Dollars need to come from the General Fund for future park maintenance. Mr. Lindy stated that dedicated funds by statute are not suppos maintenance. As years go by maintenance is a big issue. T for plan for it. Council Member Reinert stated $20,000 seems like t lace. The City has to start somewhere. Mayor Bergeson stated the maintenan cycle. be highlighted in the next budget Council Member O'Donn stafas any information regarding a wheels program in Centerville. d YMCA may be interested in a wheels program. Public Services Di • e dner stated the City of Centerville has an informational meeting regarding a ee `` program but no decisions have been made. He noted the athletic complex ma ' e a good location for a wheels program. This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, February 26, 2001, 6:30 p.m. CONSIDER RENEGOTIATING CIRCLE PINES UTILITIES FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, DAN TESCH Administration Director Tesch distributed a memo regarding the Circle Pines Gas Franchise. The memo advised that in November 2000, when the City Council decided against adopting a franchise fee for Reliant Energy Minnegasco, there was discussion of eliminating the franchise fee in the Circle Pines Utilities franchise agreement. One reason the franchise fee in the Circle Pines Utilities agreement is more than the fee proposed for Reliant Energy Minnegasco is that Reliant pays property taxes to the City of 2 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Lino Lakes and Circle Pines Utilities does not. Jim Keinath, City Administrator of Circle Pines has proposed the franchise fee be replaced by a "payment in lieu of taxes". Working with Anoka County Auditor and the State Department of Revenue, Mr. Keinath was able to establish a property valuation for the Circle Pines Utilities. Based on that value, the payment in lieu of taxes would be $5,234 in 2002. Finance Director Al Rolek has reviewed the proposal. He notes that revenue from the franchise agreement has amounted to $37,000 to $57,000 annually since 1998. He further notes that the City has no identified revenue source for replacing the lost franchise revenue, which will amount to $32,000 to $52,000 annually. If the franchise fee was eliminated effective 1-1-01, and replaced with an in -lieu -of -tax payment, a revenue shortfall of approximately $37,000 would have to be covered for 2001. Council Member Reinert stated he understood that Reliant was goi figure was based on what the franchise fee would be with the t amount of $5,000 seems very low. 1 Council Member Carlson stated the 4% was for tax o or the fee. Council Member Reinert stated the goal was eve field for 4%. The 7% A total playing o each utility company. Mr. Keinath asked the Counci revised franchise agreeme impose a franchise agre not object. dir ction to renegotiate the contract. The tain anguage stating that if the City decides to atural gas provides, the Circle Pines Utilities would Council Member O 1 asked how the rates compare with Reliant. Mr. Keinath distributed a handout with a rate comparison for each company. Council Member O'Donnell stated the rates are comparable. He stated he wants all residents to be treated fairly. He stated he does not want to raise taxes. He indicated he is hesitant to look at reducing the franchise fee right now. Council Member Reinert added he is hesitant to reduce the rates at such a big loss. Council Member Carlson asked if a municipal utility has tax advantages that the other companies can not utilize. Mr. Keinath stated Circle Pines Utilities does not have tax advantages. The company has had some tax exempt bonds in the past. He added there is also the issue of equity. 3 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Mayor Bergeson stated this issue will be discussed further. The Council has not discussed this since the decision on the meter fee was made. The Council can not make a decision at this time. Council Member Reinert asked how Circle Pines Utilities is still cheaper when it is paying the 7%. Mr. Keinath stated they have the benefit of previous gas purchases. The company must remain competitive to grow. Council Member Reinert stated Circle Pines Utilities would be even cheaper without the 7%. He stated he is interested in making it fair for all companies. The fee is not fair to the company at this time. TOWN CENTER UPDATE, BRIAN WESSEL Economic Development Director Wessel advised that last week, st = ended the Target project be continued at the Planning and Zoning Board e 9 F f met with the Ryan Companies last week. They indicated they are rev' g e r ':. , tion and reducing the size of the project due to the market. A rev' b mitted for the April Planning and Zoning Board meeting. The Tar t ain unchanged but will move closer to Lake Drive. The move wil d mitigation issues. The target stills intends to break ground in July 20 Council Member Carlson asked if the second access. City Engineer regarding the second acces 77th Street. Mayor Bergeson s for the site. He ask Development Direct scale. tinged their mind regarding the ed '' e County has not yet made a decision option is one access at Apollo and one at fore the plan for the Super Target, there was another plan plan going back to less development on the site. Economic Wessel advised it is conceivable that the plan may be reduced in MOLIN CUP UPDATE, JEFF SMYSER City Planner Smyser advised the application for the amendment to the CUP for Molin was pulled at the last Planning and Zoning Board meeting. Staff is looking into issues raised at the last Council work session. Staff is also meeting with Molin next week. Council Member Carlson asked if staff is also looking into noise regulations. City Planner Smyser advised the noise regulations are very clear but very thin and difficult to enforce. Currently, a bill is being introduced into the legislature addressing this issue. Typically, the State would enforce noise regulations. 4 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Council Member Reinert asked if a strobe is a legal option. City Planner Smyser stated staff needs to find that out. Staff is currently gathering information and a report will be made to the City Council. Council directed staff to provide information regarding the timeline in the Friday update. Council Member Carlson asked if the report from the Police Department relating to a reading was located. City Planner Smyser indicated the report has not yet been found. Council Member Carlson inquired about the status of the application for an amendment to the CUP. City Planner Smyser advised the application was withdrawn before action was taken. Mayor Bergeson asked if the CUP has to be renewed. City Planner Smyser stated the CUP does not expire. Molin was asking for an amendment to the CUP. CUP's can be reviewed yearly for compliance. Council Member Carlson asked if the neighbors will be notifie g application does go before the Planning and Zoning Board. City Plann r Molin will have to reapply and the neighbors will be notified. Council Member Dahl stated she thought CUP' r d annually and could be revoked if there is not compliance. Mayor Bergeson stated it seems li c might be a good reason to review a CUP. This item will appear on t! , 200 , Council Work Session agenda. PARK DEDICA al. '� 1 RT DRAFT, JEFF SMYSER City Planner Smyse tr` luted a draft of the Park Dedication Report noting it is only a draft. Staff will be r eiving comment from the City Attorney regarding a number of issues. City Planner Smyser briefly reviewed what is included in the report. He noted he believes the City can base park dedication on the value of the land at final plat. Currently, the City bases park dedication on the raw land. Council Member Carlson asked if other cities are basing the park dedication on land value at final plat. Council Member Dahl added that the City of Woodbury requires $1,500 for each newly created lot. It is up to the Council whether they want land and/or cash dedication. City Planner Smyser advised staff needs time to review the report. An update will be given to the Council at a future Council work session. 5 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 2001— 2003 UTILITY RATES, JOHN POWELL City Engineer Powell advised the proposed rates were published in the Quad. An estimated bill according to the new rates was included. Council Member Carlson asked why the City is so high and if there is anything that can be done to lower the rates. City Engineer Powell advised there is not a lot than can be done to lower the rates. For sewer rates, the City has operating costs, SAC charges, debt service, and depreciation. Depreciation is a significant amount that is being included in the new rates. Council Member Reinert asked for a break down of the cost. City Engineer Powell advised 20-30% of the costs is for depreciation. Council Member Carlson asked if the debt service will being going down with the proposed rates. City Engineer Powell advised the debt service should go down over time as existing bonds are retired. Council Member Dahl asked when the water and sewer rat Engineer Powell advised in 1996 or 1997. He advised C the background information on the last rate increase. d. City rovide them with Council Member Dahl asked if the Council c ;� 'ust <�� e on either the sewer or water at the Council meeting. City Engineer Po . - d re is a separate resolution for each item. The Charter requires both fund us : nmg. The rates can be changed or phased in when the vote is con Council Member Carls be assessed in the formula is to take City is considering what the property owner would considering depreciation. City Engineer Powell stated the value of the system and divide that over 50 years. This item will appe n the regular Council agenda Monday, February 26, 2001, 6:30 p.m. RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT TO LIVABLE COMMUNITY, MAYOR BERGESON Mayor Bergeson advised a discussion was previously held regarding the process used to make the Livable Communities awards. One concern included not having representation from Anoka County. There is an opening on the Committee and the City can send in a nomination. The issue is if the Council would like to recommend someone and how the City should go about the nomination. Council Member Carlson noted there is someone from Anoka County on the Committee. 6 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 Council agreed a recommendation should be made. Council directed staff to get information regarding the position, deadline for the nomination, and backgrounds of those currently on the Committee. The information should be included in the Friday update. Mayor Bergeson suggested Mr. Bill Johnson, former Planning and Zoning Board member, be nominated for the position. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, DAN TESCH Administration Director Tesch distributed a memo regarding a work plan for the next three (3) Comprehensive Plan work sessions. He asked for Council direction regarding inviting people who have requested a change to the land use map to the March 3, 2001, meeting. Council directed staff to invite people with a requested change to the March 3, 2001, work session at 9:00 a.m. Council directed staff to change the me to 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. REGULAR AGENDA, FEBRUARY 26, 2001 Mayor Bergeson advised he will not be presen r Council meeting Monday, February 26, 2001. Item 7A, Resolution No. 01— 31, Council directed staff to conta commercial. sion, 325 Birch St., Rockey Goertz -- the the change in the area mapped for Item 7D, Resoluti ': o. 32, Requesting a Reduction of the Speed Limit on Hodgson Road (CSAH 49) • ;, ' ected staff to include a statement in the resolution noting that the reduction is S1-" ent with the speed limit in the City of Shoreview. Mayor Bergeson stated the new Mayor of Centerville has suggested a joint meeting to discuss mutual areas of interest. Council directed staff to schedule a meeting in April 2001. Council Member Dahl advised Tim Bartlet from the Quad is leaving. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on March 12, 2001. 7 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 2001 girdevd Gaustad, City Clerk John l�krges , Mayor Transcribed by: Kim Points TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 8