Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/08/2003 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES DATE : January 8, 2003 TIME STARTED : 5:33 p.m. TIME ENDED : 9:34 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Dahl, Carlson, O'Donnell, Reinert and Mayor Bergeson MEMBERS ABSENT : None Staff members present: City Administrator, Linda Waite Smith; Community;:. Development Director, Michael Grochala; Finance Director, Al Rolek; City Epginoer, Jim Studenski (part); Chief of Police, Dave Pecchia (part); and City Clerk, Ann Blair (per) DISCUSS KICKOFF FOR LINO LAKES HISTORY PROJECT, LINDA WAITE SMITH AND BETTY FRIESEN City Administrator Waite Smith introduced Ms. Betty Friesen and Mr. Jerry Berg who will be in charge of the Lino Lakes History Project. There will be an article in every newsletter and they will have space at City Hall to work. There has been discussion about a more visible kick off the project. Mayor Bergeson advised Councilmember Carlson has talked to some residents who have information about the history of the City and would like to help with the project. It was suggested that Mr. Art Hawkins attend a Council meeting to present the documents he has. Councilmember Reinert suggested they speak to Mr. Jim Livingston also, who was the first police chief in Lino Lakes. Councilmember Carlson requested a list of the names of residents they already have. Ms. Friesen advised she has not yet spoken to any residents. She is currently just working on the research. She noted a lot of information would overlap with other communities. She advised she has been to the Anoka County Historical Society and also the historical society in Fort Snelling. Councilmember Carlson stated she has talked to Mr. Hawkins and his daughter will attend a Council meeting to represent him. Mr. Hawkins has indicated he wants to review the material before it is presented. 1 • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED Ms. Friesen stated her goal is to have the project completed in two years, which is the City's 50th Anniversary. City Administrator Waite Smith stated staff believes the Council workroom is a good place for them to work occasionally. Mr. Berg would like to put a locking device on the closet in that room for security of some of the documents. She stated the kickoff of the project would be scheduled when both parties can attend the meeting. Ms. Friesen suggested the kickoff take place at the Monday night Council meeting, or as soon as possible. Mayor Bergeson suggested Ms. Friesen speak to Paul Montain, Tim Ross and Robert Neal. He also suggested Ms. Friesen take pictures of older buildings and barns within the City. Councilmember Carlson suggested Ms. Friesen also speak to Darlene and Gary Barrett. Councilmember Reinert suggested Ms. Friesen speak to Vern Reinert. This item may be placed on the regular Council agenda, Monday, January 13, 2003, 6:30 p.m. LIPOFF HOUSE RELOCATION, 6201 LAURENE AVENUE, MICHAEL GROCHALA Community Development Director Grochala advised this issue was discussed at the last Council meeting. Neighbors had requested additional information and review on this item. Staff has reviewed a number of issues. The lot does conform to all the requirements of the zoning ordinance. The grading has been completed in accordance with the grading plan. There have been no significant changes to the drainage on the lot. Staff has not identified any outstanding or problematic issues. Councilmember Dahl asked if the house meets City codes. Community Development Director Grochala advised the house was inspected prior to it being moved. There will be electrical improvements, new plumbing and heating and some of the windows will be replaced. Councilmember Carlson stated the house was probably moved at night due to traffic issues. Also, the roofline does look like what was shown on the original plan. Mrs. Beverly Krieger came forward and expressed concerns regarding the elevations and amount of dirt that was brought to the site. She stated she is very concerned about drainage and run off in the area. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED Community Development Director Grochala referred to a map and pointed out the areas that have a ditch and culvert. He advised he is not aware of any problems with ditches in the area. Mayor Bergeson suggested Mrs. Krieger review the information with staff. Mrs. Krieger distributed a memo outlining all the concerns of the neighbors. The memo also requested the City arrange a mediated meeting between the residents of Laurene Avenue and White Pine Road and the present owner, Dennis Lipoff. Mayor Bergeson advised he hopes the City can improve the City process so this type of situation can be avoided in the future. Mrs. Krieger stated she believes the Council and the Planning and Zoning Board were mislead. No one knew what the house would look like when it was completed. Communication would have been very helpful in this situation. The future building in the area is also a big concern for residents. She stated the residents want to be involved in the implementation of the new building ordinances. She stated neighbors would like a meeting with the present owner. The new owner is already an undesirable neighbor. Mayor Bergeson stated the Council will have to discuss if the City should be involved in • a meeting between the owner and neighbors. City Administrator Waite Smith advised she does not believe Mr. Lipoff will cooperate further with City staff at this point. She indicated she will give the neighbors the phone number for the Anoka County Mediation Services and City facilities would be available for the meeting. Mr. Chavez came forward and stated the property owner is very upset and wishes he had never bought the property. Not one of the neighbors has approached Mr. Lipoff to speak to him about this issue. KEEFE LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL, MICHAEL GROCHALA Community Development Director Grochala stated this issue was not on the Planning and Zoning Board meeting agenda this evening. Staff has not done a review on the request. However, one member of the Planning and Zoning Board may request this issue be added to the agenda. A packet of information was distributed to the Council regarding the request. Staff has had an application for a minor subdivision from Mr. Keefe. Staff did the initial review and determined more information was needed. Additional information was received on Monday. Staff believes a review can now be started but additional information may be required. Staff does sympathize with the applicant but can't review the request within the applicant's time frame. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED Councilmember Reinert asked if the Council could have a staff report by the next Council work session. Community Development Director Grochala advised the Council can direct staff to work on the application immediately. Staff needs to determine how many variances are needed and address roadway issues. Mayor Bergeson asked what information is needed to do a complete review of the application. Community Development Director advised title work information is needed as well as information on the road issues. There are also lot issues, the creation of a cul- de-sac, street design and wetland information that will be needed. Mayor Bergeson inquired about zoning issues with the request. Community Development Director Grochala advised the application requests a subdivision that would create lots less than 10 acres. Variances would be necessary for the lot size. Mr. Keefe stated the bank is looking for a purchase agreement. The Planning and Zoning Board members have viewed the property and are supportive of the request. The realtor cannot legally market the land until the minor subdivision occurs. There are builders interested in purchasing the property. Mayor Bergeson stated the concern is the question of creating 5 -acre lots when the minimum is 10 acres. Community Development Director Grochala advised the road is also an issue because a new roadway would have to be constructed. Councilmember Reinert stated staff needs to review the application and determine what is necessary to make the subdivision happen. Then the Council must decide if the request should be approved. If there is something that makes sense for the City the Council should try to accommodate the request. Councilmember Carlson stated she does not want to see Mr. Keefe lose his property if the City is going to pass an ordinance in the next few months that would allow his request to be approved. Mayor Bergeson requested a staff recommendation be provided that also includes the future ordinances. Council directed staff to review the application and provide Council with a staff recommendation under the current ordinances and future ordinances. Community Development Director Grochala advised the Planning and Zoning Board did add this item to their agenda. • ELM STREET/62ND STREET IMPROVEMENTS, JIM STUDENSKI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED City Engineer Studenski advised the City has received petitions from residents on 62nd Street indicating the following: 16 of 18 residents oppose road assessments 15 of 18 residents oppose storm sewer assessments 10 of 17 residents requested sanitary sewer and water are installed Additionally, the residents requested design consideration of a 28 foot roadway (13 of 19), parking not be allowed (14 of 19), elimination of the walking path (13 of 19), saving trees and utility extension onto Red Maple Lane. Because MSA funding does not cover 100% of the street and sewer costs, the proposed assessment of $72,000 would be an additional cost to the Surface Water Management Fund or require a referendum. A majority of the residents have petitioned for sanitary sewer and watermain and in accordance with the City Charter, would be assessed for the improvements. Staff is recommending Council authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the sanitary sewer and watermain improvements. City Engineer Studenski advised the City has received very few petitions from residents on Elm Street: 1 in favor — 1 opposed to sanitary sewer and water 1 in favor — 1 opposed to street and storm sewer The City has proposed the project in accordance with the City Charter and has received little opposition. Street, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermain would, in accordance with the City Charter, be assessed to the benefiting properties. Staff is recommending the Council authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the sanitary sewer and watermain improvements. These items will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, January 13, 2003, 6:30 p.m. FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, AL ROLEK Finance Director Rolek advised staff has nothing new to present regarding the Five Year Plan. Minnesota has a new governor but cities still do not know what will happen with the legislature. State Aid funds were not withheld at the end of the year. Mayor Bergeson suggested the Council could approve the proposed Five Year Plan and update it in six months if it is necessary. Councilmember Reinert suggested the name of the plan be changed to "Five Year Projection". 5 • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED Councilmember Carlson stated the plan may as well go forward on the regular Council agenda. She said she could not vote in favor of the plan because of the increases in spending and not knowing what the legislature will do, but she understands others may feel differently, so she is willing to see it proceed. Councilmember Dahl asked why the plan has such a large jump in spending. Finance Director Rolek advised personnel and staff additions are the main reason for the budget increases. Councilmember Carlson stated she has had problems with the plan from the beginning and will not support it. She indicated she cannot support the plan and does not see anything that will happen to change her mind. Councilmember Dahl stated she would like to see a 5-0 vote in favor of the plan. She stated she pulled the plan from the agenda at the last Council meeting so everyone would be present and vote in favor of approving the plan. Councilmember O'Donnell stated he has no issue with discussing the plan further and considering revisions so the plan can be approved. He states he does, however, have a problem with a Councilmember wanting a plan to pass but voting no for political reasons. He stated the plan should be put on a Council meeting agenda, but he is not sure how he will vote. Councilmember Reinert stated staff has revised the plan to get to a comfortable level of increase in the plan. If the comfortable level has changed, the Council needs to determine a real target so the plan can pass if that target is possible. Councilmember Carlson stated she believes the contingency fund could be reduced. She stated she does not know what other areas could be cut. She stated she does have a problem with possible legislature changes. She noted she is not suggesting that there are no staff additions in the next five years. Councilmember Carlson requested a list of the possible budget cuts that staff is discussing. City Administrator Waite Smith advised staff is not prepared to give that to the Council at this time. She wants all City employees to have an opportunity for input. Mayor Bergeson asked staff to prepare information regarding the worst case scenario from the legislature. This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, January 13, 2003, 6:30 p.m. • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED NORTH METRO CABLE TELEVISION FACILITY FINANCING, LINDA WAITE SMITH City Administrator Waite Smith distributed information on the North Metro Cable Commission on Proposed New Facility, Expenditure Projections and changes to the Joint Powers Agreement. The information outlined how the Commission intends to pay for the new facility. The amendment to change the joint powers agreement will allow the Commission to purchase land for the new facility. She noted Ms. Heidi Arnson from the Commission could be available at the next Council work session to answer questions. Finance Director Rolek advised he did review the joint powers agreement and it seems as though the City is in a way lending its bonding capacity to the Commission. That would impact the City on being a small issuer but staff does not feel that will be a problem. The other issue in the contract is that the City is committed to make up franchise fees if there is a shortage in the fees. Mayor Bergeson stated the City needs to make sure the plan for the new facility is financially responsible. City Administrator Waite Smith stated she will get information regarding the details of the new facility for the Council to review. This item will appear on the next Council work session agenda, Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 5:30 p.m. SET DATE FOR INTERVIEW OF BOARD APPLICANTS, SET DATE FOR LINDA WAITE SMITH'S PERFORMANCE REVIEW, CONFIRM CLOSED MEETING FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, LINDA WAITE SMITH City Administrator Waite Smith distributed a folder with the 2003 City Board appointments, applications and a copy of the questions that were asked at the last interviews. Mayor Bergeson stated the Council may want to consider changing some of the questions. Council determined all applicants, including incumbents, would be interviewed. Interviews were tentatively scheduled for January 15 and January 29. Mayor Bergeson advised Council to have any suggested changes to the interview questions to staff by Friday. Council scheduled City Administrator Waite Smith's Performance Review for Wednesday, January 22, 2003, 5:00 p.m. • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 8, 2003 APPROVED Mayor Bergeson suggested the Council discuss the review process after tonight's meeting. It was determined that all Councilmembers would submit the review sheet and the City Administrator's contract will be available for the Council to review. Mayor Bergeson suggested the City hire a facilitator to conduct a meeting between staff and the City Council. REGULAR AGENDA, JANUARY 13, 2003 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda. The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 p.m. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on March 24, 2003. Ann Blai JCity Clerk Transcribed by: Kim Points TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 8 Ber_eson, ayor