HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/18/2004 Council Minutes•
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 18, 2004
APPROVED
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3 CITY OF LINO LAKES
4 MINUTES
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8 DATE : February 18, 2004
9 TIME STARTED : 5:35 p.m.
10 TIME ENDED : 9:25 p.m.
11 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson, Dahl, Reinert,
12 Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
13 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
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15 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development
16 Director, Michael Grochala; City Engineer, Jim Studenski; City Planner, Jeff Smyser;
17 and Chief of Police, Dave Pecchia (part)
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20 POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT, DAVE PECCHIA
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22 Chief Pecchia advised he distributed a draft copy of the Annual Police Report several
23 weeks ago. He noted that since that time, Officer McCarth and Officer Hagar earned
24 YSB Trudeau honors. He distributed a copy of a newspaper article relating to the honors.
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26 Chief Pecchia stated the police department had a 5% increase in calls for service in 2003.
27 The department has also spent a lot of time on starting a volunteer program and chaplain
28 program. The department has four employees that are trained in child safety seats. The
29 department has offered citizens clinics to make sure residents know how to properly
30 install a child safety seat. The department has also been involved in an Active Threat
31 Response Training Program, which is open to local businesses. The department has split
32 the City into three team areas enabling the officers to get to know residents in their area
33 and share information.
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35 Chief Pecchia reviewed the Annual Report noting a presentation would be made at the
36 Monday night Council meeting. A copy of the report will also be available in the
37 Citizen's Library for residents who would like to review the report.
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39 Chief Pecchia advised the 2004 goals for the department include emergency management,
40 volunteerism and traffic. He indicated he would like to be sure the department's goals are
41 consistent with the Council's direction.
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43 Councilmember Dahl inquired about the use of defibrillators in schools. Chief Pecchia
44 stated the Centennial Fire Department has outfitted all the schools with that equipment
45 and is working on getting them in at major retailers.
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47 Councilmember Reinert asked if occasionally some of the officers come out of their team
48 area. Chief Pecchia advised officers are not limited to their team area. During the day,
49 the City is split in two for patrolling. Officers are only focused on their team area when
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 18, 2004
APPROVED
1 they are doing problem -solving activities. Information from each area is exchanged to all
2 officers on a daily basis. There are also monthly meetings so teams do not become
3 isolated.
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5 Councilmember Stoltz asked if it is a fair assessment to assume that the increase in
6 commercial development within the City has not increased calls for the department.
7 Chief Pecchia stated the increase in service calls is most often related to illegal drug
8 activity. There has been an increase in drug activity because dealers buy some of their
9 supplies at Target. The department is also finding portable labs in the County Park.
10 There has been some theft at certain businesses that the City did not previously have
11 because those businesses were not within the City. Merchants are working very well with
12 the department to stop the crimes.
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14 Mayor Bergeson stated he thinks it is strange that the, School District does not have a
15 policy on the DARE program. Chief Pecchia advised the principal at Blue Heron
16 Elementary has chosen not to participate in the DARE program. However, one of the
17 officers recently gave a presentation to the fifth graders at that school.
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19 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, February 23, 2004, 6:30
20 p.m.
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22 DISCUSSION OF NON -CONFORMING RESIDENTIAL USE, MR. RICHARD
23 DICK, 8061 LAKE DRIVE, MICHAEL GROCHALA
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25 Community Development Director Grochala advised Mr. Dick owns a single-family
26 residential home. The property is currently located in an area guided for commercial and
27 zoned light industrial. His property is classified as a non -conforming use. That puts the
28 property into a category that if the replacement cost is more than 50% of the value of land
29 and home, it cannot be rebuilt if it were destroyed. Community Development Director
30 Grochala noted this situation is not unique within the City.
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32 Mr. Dick is trying to do improvements on his home but cannot get financing because of
33 that clause. The City could change the ordinance or rezone the property to R-1, which
34 would require a Comprehensive Plan Amendment.
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36 Mr. Richard Dick, 8061 Lake Drive, stated he wanted to expand the current home and
37 garage last summer. City staff indicated he should not expand the home and garage. He
38 advised he is now trying to refinance the property and the mortgage company will not
39 refinance because of the non -conforming use classification. He asked the City Council
40 for options.
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42 Councilmember Stoltz recommended Mr. Dick try some of the local banks and credit
43 unions within the community for refinancing. Banks and credit unions all have different
44 underwriting requirements and another bank may be willing to refinance the home.
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46 Mr. Dick indicated he would try other banks or credit unions. He stated that if he runs
47 into additional difficulties, he would come back to the City Council for direction.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 18, 2004
APPROVED
1 LEGACY AT WOODS EDGE (VILLAGE), MICHAEL GROCHALA
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3 Planned Unit Development/Development Stage Plan Approval Community
4 Development Director Grochala stated on February 11, 2004, the Planning and Zoning
5 Board recommended approval of Rezoning to Planned Unit Development (including
6 Design Standards) and approval of the Development Stage Plan for the proposed Legacy
7 at Woods Edge project, based on many conditions.
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9 Community Development Director Grochala referred to a copy of the February 11, 2004
10 staff report, presented to the Planning and Zoning Board, as well as the proposed Design
11 Standards that were included in the Council's packet. The proposal will be brought to the
12 City Council for consideration at the March 8, 2004 City Council meeting. The required
13 actions include a first and second reading of the ordinance to rezone the property as well
14 as a resolution approving the Development Stage Plan.
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16 Community Development Director Grochala advised the intent of the rezoning to Planned
17 Unit Development and the approval of the Development Stage Plan is to establish the
18 overall regulatory framework, unique to the development, while allowing flexibility for
19 individual site design. Approval of the requested actions established the following:
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21 1. A zoning district (PUD) specific to the proposed project
22 2. Development Standards specific to development within the PUD District.
23 3. Maximum Development Density (both commercial and residential).
24 4. General layout of the proposed development.
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26 While it is anticipated that the Hartford Group will request some form of public
27 assistance to complete the project, approval of the requested actions does not commit the
28 City to any form of public assistance.
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30 Community Development Director Grochala stated as listed in the conditions of approval,
31 several items will need to be addressed prior to Final Plan/Final Plat approval, as well as
32 City consideration of any public assistance requested. If the development framework is
33 acceptable to the Council, the City in conjunction with Hartford will commence with the
34 economic feasibility study review as well as the feasibility study for the street,
35 streetscaping and utility improvements (including Lake Drive). Additionally, the City
36 will need to evaluate the operation and maintenance impacts of the proposed
37 development.
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39 Community Development Director Grochala noted that from staff's viewpoint, these
40 items are more important to the project success than the rezoning and plan approvals now
41 being considered. However, these items cannot be adequately addressed unless there is
42 some commitment, on the City's part, to the specific development program.
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44 Councilmember Reinert stated he would like more detail about what the City will end up
45 with after the project is developed. He indicated he is concerned that if the plan has too
46 much flexibility the City may end up with something it does not want.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 18, 2004
APPROVED
1 Community Development Director Grochala stated the general layout of the plan is the
• 2 easy part. After the general layout is accepted, details will be worked on. The City is in a
3 good position because of the grant money and the public assistance Hartford will be
4 requesting. Conditions will be put on the public assistance the City approves. However,
5 economic viability of the project will have to be addressed. A commitment from the City
6 is needed to the specific development program.
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8 Community Development Director Grochala noted the YMCA project is moving forward.
9 They want to break ground in spring 2005. The City needs to work on the plans and
10 specs for this project so they can begin on their project.
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12 Community Development Director Grochala stated staff wants the Council to be
13 comfortable with the layout of the plan and the design standards. Details regarding the
14 mix within the plan will be worked out after the design layout is approved.
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16 Mayor Bergeson stated staff needs to convey to Hartford that there is flexibility within
17 the project. However, the City does expect to get a project that looks like the original
18 plan.
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20 Community Development Director Grochala advised staff is anticipating a more detailed
21 review of the development project, including the traffic simulations prepared by SEH, at
22 the March 3, 2004 work session. Staff is also available for a special work session if the
23 Council would prefer more time to evaluate the proposal.
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•25 Mayor Bergeson stated he believes it would be a good idea to schedule a special meeting
26 with Hartford to review their plan.
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28 Community Development Director Grochala advised Council to review the plan and staff
29 report. He asked the Council to call him if anyone has any questions.
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31 YMCA Update — Community Development Director Grochala advised the YMCA is
32 very happy with switching locations. They still have questions about the parking lot.
33 They have also indicated they would like an outdoor play area, such as a soccer field.
34 The City wants to try to preserve the wooded area adjacent to their site. Staff feels the
35 City can accommodate both the field and save the wooded area.
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38 MAIN STREET (CSAH 14) PROJECT PLANNING OPEN HOUSE, MICHAEL
39 GROCHALA
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41 Community Development Director advised everyone received a flyer about the open
42 house tomorrow evening in relation to the Main Street project (CSAH 14). The project is
43 scheduled for 2006 construction and funding has been obtained. This first phase of the
44 project is to analyze all options for the project and get resident input. There is no set
45 presentation time for the meeting. The open house will consist of various stations for
46 citizens to review the plan and give feedback.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 18, 2004
APPROVED
1 Community Development Director Grochala invited the Council to attend the meeting.
2 He stated he is hoping for a good turnout from residents. There will be three public
3 meetings regarding this project between now and June 2004.
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5 LEAGUE OF MN CITIES LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR EXPERIENCED
6 OFFICIALS, GORDON HEITKE
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8 City Administrator Heitke distributed information on the League of MN Cities
9 Leadership Conference. The conference is Friday and Saturday at the Radisson Hotel in
10 Plymouth. He noted there were no accommodations for lodging. He asked the Council
11 to contact him if anyone needs lodging.
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13 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, FEBRUARY 23, 2004
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15 Councilmember Carlson suggested the City consider putting up signs indicating which
16 areas within the City will be developed for commercial use.
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18 There were no changes to the regular agenda.
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20 The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
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22 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
23 March 8, 2004.
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28 Ann Blair ity Clerk Jo Berge on, Mayor
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32 Transcribed by:
33 Kim Points
34 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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