HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/22/2003 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
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3 CITY OF LINO LAKES
4 MINUTES
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8 DATE : October 22, 2003
9 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m.
10 TIME ENDED : 7:08 p.m.
11 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson (5:49 p.m.), Dahl
12 O'Donnell, Reinert (5:34 p.m.) and Mayor
13 Bergeson
14 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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16 Staff members present: Acting City Administrator/Administration Director, Dan Tesch;
17 Community Development Director, Michael Grochala; City Engineer, Jim Studenski;
18 Economic Development Assistant, Mary Alice Divine (part); Finance Director, Al Rolek
19 (part); City Planner, Jeff Smyser; and Police Sergeant Steve Mortensen (part)
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22 UPDATE ON POLICE CANINE PROGRAM, SERGEANT MORTENSEN
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24 Sergeant Mortensen advised a canine program was discussed at the last Council work
. 25 session. The Police Department has raised $23,100 for this program. An anonymous
26 donor has donated $3,000 towards the dog and the cost of the training. There are still
27 some charitable organizations that will also be donating to the cost of the program.
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29 Councilmember Reinert arrived at the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
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31 Sergeant Mortensen indicated the Police Department believes it will reach its goal of
32 $25,000 for funding of the canine program. Some businesses have also indicated they
33 would help defray costs for the veterinarian bills and dog food.
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35 Sergeant Mortensen advised training will begin March 3, 2004 if the City is accepted for
36 the program.
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38 21st AVENUE STREET IMPROVEMENTS, JIM STUDENSKI, MICHAEL
39 GROCHALA
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41 Community Development Director Grochala advised the 21st Avenue Street project has
42 been discussed since 1997. The project has not been completed due to various reasons.
43 Staff felt if costs were cut on the project, assessments would be low enough to get the
44 project completed. However, two property owners objected to the project at the last City
45 Council meeting. Staff does not feel comfortable with moving the project forward as
46 presented.
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. 48 Community Development Director Grochala advised staff has investigated other options.
49 The City can contribute to the project because the area in question is in a Charter -exempt
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
1 area. A final assessment roll was distributed, noting the adjustments to the project and
• 2 the City's portion of the project in the amount of $105,000. A bond would be used to
3 pay for the City's portion over a ten-year period. The City already has spent
4 approximately $78,000 on the project. At a minimum, minor repairs have to be made on
5 21St Avenue.
6
7 Councilmember O'Donnell inquired about any other possible cost savings in relation to
8 the final project. City Engineer Studenski advised that the City would not know the
9 extent of possible additional cost savings until construction begins.
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11 Councilmember O'Donnell inquired about the City's portion of the project and how that
12 will impact the budget. Finance Director Rolek advised the project would not impact the
13 2004 levy, but would impact the 2005 levy.
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15 Ms. Joan Tschida, resident of Lino Lakes, distributed a letter from a private appraiser that
16 indicated the improvements made to 21st Avenue would not add any value to her
17 property. However, storm sewer is desperately needed and there is value to that.
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19 Councilmember Carlson arrived at the meeting at 5:49 p.m.
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21 Ms. Tschida advised she does not mind paying for a portion of the improvements.
22 However, $80,000 is too much when the improvements will not add any value to the
23 property.
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25 Community Development Director Grochala stated the Council previously received a
26 copy of a letter from Mr. Lessard regarding this issue. Mr. Lessard is very much in favor
27 of the project and has indicated he may pursue legal action if the project does not move
28 forward.
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30 Mayor Bergeson asked what would happen to the project if two or more of the property
31 owners petition out of the project. Community Development Director Grochala advised
32 the City would have to prove its case in court. The Council needs to take action on this
33 matter on Monday night. The project would have to be approved on Monday night to
34 ensure the project is completed this year.
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36 Councilmember O'Donnell asked if there is any way to reduce the City's risk involved
37 with the project. Community Development Director Grochala advised that if the two
38 property owners agree to the new assessments, the City Attorney could develop a waiver
39 for their signatures. Staff is recommending the City move forward with the project.
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41 Councilmember O'Donnell indicated he would like the signed waivers in place before the
42 City moves forward with the project.
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44 This item was added to the regular Council agenda Monday, October 27, 2003, 6:30 p.m.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
1 AUTHORIZE SALE OF BONDS, AL ROLEK
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3 $250,000 Taxable G.O. Improvement Bonds — Negotiated Sale — Finance Director
4 Rolek advised the City had looked at one financing source for all the projects to be
5 completed this year. However, Charter -exempt zones are not eligible for tax exempt
6 bonds. Therefore, staff separated the 21St Avenue project so the other projects are funded
7 by tax exempt bonds. The 21' Avenue project is a $250,000 dollar bond issue. That
8 amount is relatively small, so the City may be able to negotiate the bond rate.
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10 Ms. Terry Heaton, Springsted, advised in a negotiated deal, Springsted will work with a
11 company on the terms. A negotiated bond rate will allow for more flexibility. Springsted
12 will facilitate the negotiating of the bond rate.
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14 Councilmember O'Donnell asked why the bond would be for $250,000 when the City's
15 actual cost is $104,000. Finance Director Rolek advised the City would be bonding to
16 cover the assessments also.
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18 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, October 27, 2003, 6:30
19 p.m.
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21 $2,120,000 G.O. Improvement Refunding Bonds — Finance Director Rolek advised the
22 City Council has approved projects for Elm Street, Twilight Acres and the Century Farm
23 lift station. To finance the improvements to be made in these projects and perform the
24 refunding, it is necessary to issue and sell General Obligation Improvement and
25 Refunding Bonds. Springsted has issued their recommendation for the issuance of
26 $2,120,000 G.O. Improvement and Refunding Bonds Series 2003.
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28 Councilmember Carlson asked how the City would choose which bank with which to
29 negotiate. Finance Director Rolek advised staff will talk to Community Bank first to see
30 if they have any interest in the bonds.
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32 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, October 27, 2003, 6:30
33 p.m.
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35 Community Development Director Grochala advised he did speak with the two property
36 owners on 21' Avenue. They both indicated they would have signed letters/waivers to
37 the City by the end of the week.
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39 DECERTIFICATION OF TIF DISTRICTS 1-6,1-7 AND 3-1, AL ROLEK, MARY
40 ALICE DIVINE
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42 Economic Development Assistant Divine advised Tax Increment Finance District No. 1-6
43 was established in 1994 as a one -project district to provide assistance to UDOR U.S.A.
44 The obligations in that district have been satisfied.
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46 Economic Development Assistant Divine advised Tax Increment Financing District No.
47 1-7 was established in 1995 to provide assistance to businesses to develop the Apollo
48 Business Park. The businesses within the district are Mag Con, Emergency Apparatus
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
1 Maintenance, Lino Lakes Business Center Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4, Progressive Engineering,
2 Nol-Tech and Rice Industries. These businesses have added approximately $10 million
3 in market value to the City's tax base, hundreds of jobs and approximately $92,000 in
4 City taxes. The obligations in that district have been satisfied
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6 Economic Development Assistant Divine advised Tax Increment Financing District No.
7 3-1 was established in 1995 to provide assistance to businesses to develop the Clearwater
8 Creek Development Center on 35E. The businesses within the district are AdGraphics,
9 Northern Wholesale and GNW Machine. These businesses have added more than $11
10 million in market value to the City's tax base, approximately 300 jobs and approximately
11 $135,000 in annual City taxes. The obligations in that district have been satisfied.
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13 Economic Development Assistant Divine advised staff will be asking the Council to
14 consider decertification of the above districts on Monday night.
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16 These items will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, October 27, 2003, 6:30
17 p.m.
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19 Finance Director Rolek distributed a copy of City of Lino Lakes 2003 Certification List.
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21 HOKANSON DEVELOPMENT COMP PLAN AMENDMENT (LAKE
22 DRIVE/AQUA LANE), JEFF SMYSER
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24 City Planner Smyser distributed and reviewed a memo outlining a request for a
25 Comprehensive Plan amendment from Hokanson Development. The site is
26 approximately 4 acres at the northeast corner of Lake Drive and Aqua Lane, adjacent to
27 the existing Marshan Lake townhomes. However, the zoning and the land use density in
28 the Comprehensive Plan do not match.
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30 City Planner Smyser advised the Planning and Zoning Board held a public hearing on the
31 application. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended denial of the application.
32 Staff is requesting Council direction regarding the application. Council must take action
33 by November 10, 2003.
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35 Mr. Ron Fuchs, representative for Hokanson Development, distributed and reviewed a
36 conceptual plan, a snow storage plan and a plan that was submitted in 1995 for Marshan
37 Lake. He explained the reasons why the Comprehensive Plan amendment is justified,
38 noting it conforms to all criteria imposed in the Comprehensive Plan. He asked for
39 Council direction regarding the request.
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41 City Planner Smyser noted a site plan has not been submitted. A conceptual plan was
42 included in the application. The Planning and Zoning Board reviewed an application for
43 a Comprehensive Plan amendment. The density on the concept plan is 9 units per acre.
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45 Councilmember Carlson stated she would prefer to see a rezone to fit the Comprehensive
46 Plan.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
1 Councilmember O'Donnell agreed that the City should change the zoning to match the
. 2 Comprehensive Plan.
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4 Councilmember Reinert also indicated the City should change the zoning to match the
5 Comprehensive Plan.
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7 Councilmember Dahl stated that if the City wanted high density in that area it would have
8 that designation. She stated she does not believe high density fits into the existing
9 neighborhood.
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11 Mayor Bergeson stated that under a PUD the project could match the density of the
12 existing project. A PUD would mean that density would have to be agreed to. City
13 Planner Smyser advised the number of units would work out the same under a PUD.
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15 Mr. Fuchs stated the project was developed under a tier system. The third tier would be
16 built at the same density. He indicated he is not sure what the density figure is, but
17 believes the developer would be amenable to that.
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19 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, November 10, 2003, 6:30
20 p.m.
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22 DISCUSS DATES FOR CITY ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH AND COUNCIL
23 GUIDELINES
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O 25 Mayor Bergeson advised the Council needs to schedule meeting dates for City
26 Administrator interviews and also for the Council Guidelines.
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28 Councilmember O'Donnell stated he received information from the City Attorney in
29 regard to the draft Council Guidelines. The City Attorney noted the guidelines that
30 should be removed from the document because they are in conflict with other regulations.
31 Councilmember O'Donnell stated the rest of the guidelines may just need minor revisions
32 and the Council may not have to spend much time on them.
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34 Councilmember Carlson stated she would like to see the draft guidelines with the changes
35 the Council made and after some of the guidelines are deleted.
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37 Councilmember O'Donnell indicated he would come up with a first draft, after all.
38 revisions, for the Council packet on Friday.
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40 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch advised he would try to
41 schedule City Administrator interviews on Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 5:30 p.m.
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43 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, OCTOBER 27, 2003
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45 21St Avenue Street Improvements was added to the regular Council agenda.
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47 City Administrator Interviews, Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 5:30 p.m., was added to
• 48 the Community Calendar.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OCTOBER 22, 2003
APPROVED
1
2 Acting City Administrator/Administration Director Tesch advised the Russian Delegates
3 would be in the City tomorrow. They are meeting with the Mayor and any available
4 Councilmembers from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
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6 The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
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8 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
9 November 10, 2003.
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14 Ann Blau pity Clerk
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18 Transcribed by:
19 Kim Points
20 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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