HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/2004 Council MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 2004
APPROVED
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3 CITY OF LINO LAKES
4 MINUTES
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8 DATE : August 18, 2004
9 TIME STARTED : 5:37 p.m.
10 TIME ENDED : 8:02 p.m.
11 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Carlson (part), Reinert,
12 Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
13 MEMBERS ABSENT : Dahl
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16 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development
17 Director, Mike Grochala; City Engineer, Jim Studenski; Economic Development
18 Assistant, Mary Alice Divine (part); Chief of Police, Dave Pecchia (part); Fire Chief,
19 Milo Bennett (part); and City Clerk, Ann Blair (part)
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22 BLUE HERON DAYS FESTIVAL COMMITTEE — UPDATE
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24 Mr. Jon Kram, Target, indicated two letters were previously sent to the City Council.
25 One letter requested help from the City with the mowing of two lots that will be used for
26 overflow parking during the event. The other letter was a request for funding for next
27 year's event.
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29 Mr. Kram advised everything is set to go for the event. All details are in order and
30 everyone believes it will be very successful.
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32 City Administrator Heitke advised the City is not aware of who owns the lot next to US
33 Bank. He stated the City would need written permission from the owner and liability
34 issues also need to be resolved.
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36 Mr. Chad Wagner, Miller's on Main, advised one of the lots is owned by a relative of his.
37 He indicated he has obtained permission to use the lot for overflow parking.
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39 City Administrator Heitke advised there is a concern regarding safety. The lot may be in
40 a County right-of-way. The City Attorney has indicated that potential legal issues with
41 mowing the lots may be able to be resolved. However, there are many other obstacles
42 with cutting the grass. Staff does need Council direction this evening.
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44 The majority of the Council directed staff to try to resolve any outstanding issues,
45 including liability and permission, to possibly direct City staff to mow the specified lots.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 2004
APPROVED
1 City Administrator Heitke noted due to time constraints, the issues may not be resolved
2 in time for the City to mow the lots.
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4 The majority of the Council commended the Committee for all their hard work on the
5 event.
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7 CHAPTER 1306 FIRE CODE, MILO BENNETT
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9 Fire Chief Bennett distributed and read a memo regarding the optional Chapter 1306 of
10 the Building Code. He reviewed the background regarding the adoption of Chapter 1306
11 and noted the surrounding communities that have also adopted 1306.
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13 Fire Chief Bennett advised that at this time, he feels all options regarding 1306 have been
14 presented and that 1306 is a needed chapter for Lino Lakes. There are many buildings
15 other than hangars affected by this chapter and it has proven to be a great fire prevention
16 tool.
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18 Fire Chief Bennett provided the history of sprinkling requirements and noted the Fire
19 Department would have a very difficult time putting out a fire in a 12,000 -sq. ft. building.
20 Equipment and staffing needs within the department would have to be reviewed if 1306 is
21 repealed.
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23 Fire Chief Bennett advised there are three options: repeal 1306, property owners build
24 2,000 sq. ft. hangars, or apply for a variance from the State Fire Marshall. A variance
25 request has to be submitted by the City Council. He noted he is not recommending the
26 City repeal 1306.
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28 Mayor Bergeson stated the City of Lino Lakes is unique because of the air park. If the
29 Council wants to take action to address this issue, it seems appropriate to apply for a
30 variance as opposed to repealing 1306.
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32 Fire Chief Bennett advised he would get more information regarding the variance
33 process.
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35 City Administrator Heitke stated the City needs to establish strict criteria for application
36 of a variance. Staff will come back to the Council with a recommendation.
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38 Mr. Gary Mann, resident, stated he is still very frustrated with the situation. The City is
39 looking for a solution to a non-existent problem. He stated no one wants to risk safety.
40 According to the State Department, they are revisiting Chapter 1306 within the building
41 code because of many concerns. He stated 1306 causes a huge financial problem for a
42 non-existent problem.
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44 Fire Chief Bennett reviewed Chapter 1306 noting the type of facilities it applies to.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 2004
APPROVED
• i Mr. Mann stated he is concerned that a variance would not be granted by the State Fire
2 Marshal. He suggested the City determine if past agreements with the air parks could be
3 grandfathered in.
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5 Mayor Bergeson advised staff would confer with the City Attorney regarding that issue.
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7 The Council directed staff to get as much information as possible on the variance process
8 and report back to the Council. The Council will then have to determine if the City
9 should pursue a variance. Staff should also obtain information regarding building code
10 requirements.
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12 This item will be placed on the Council Work Session agenda Wednesday, September 8,
13 2004, 5:30 p.m.
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15 MARILYN DRIVE/COUNTRY LANE — UTILITY PETITION, JIM STUDENSKI
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17 City Engineer Studenski advised the City has received a petition from residents and
18 property owners on Country Lane and Marilyn Drive for sanitary sewer and water
19 service. The petition consisted of 5 parcels on the two streets. City Council directed staff
20 to send a letter to the residents in the area to find out if there is more interest in extending
21 City utilities. The letter was sent out and the City received a response from a total of 14
22 of the 54 residents. All of them were in favor of moving forward in the process.
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.24 City Engineer Studenski stated that due to the low amount of responses, the Council
25 directed staff to send out another letter trying to get additional responses. The City now
26 has received a total of 27 of the 54 residents. He referred to a map showing responses
27 and for or against extending City utilities.
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29 City Engineer Studenski stated currently the City Attorney has sent a letter dated June 1,
30 2004 to four residents in this area regarding non-compliance with replacing a failed septic
31 system within 24 months of notification. This letter gives them ten days to bring their
32 system into compliance.
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34 City Engineer Studenski noted the area of the petition is defined as Low Density
35 Unsewered Residential. It is outside of the State 1 and 2 Growth Areas. County Lane is
36 outside of the MUSA boundary. Staff is requesting further direction from the Council on
37 how to proceed with this petition to extend City utilities.
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39 City Engineer Studenski added the City would have to carry 50% of the costs of the
40 project if the Council chooses to proceed with the project.
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42 Councilmember Reinert suggested the City put a policy in placed regarding the extension
43 of utilities that includes set criteria and a funding source if the City has to carry a portion
44 of the costs.
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• 46 The Council directed staff to send a letter to the residents in the area indicating the project
47 is not feasible at this time.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 18, 2004
APPROVED
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2 Councilmember Carlson excused herself from the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
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4 COUNTY RD. 14/HWY. 8 LANDSCAPING/LIGHTING PROJECT, MIKE
5 GROCHALA
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7 Community Development Director Grochala advised the reconstruction of County Road
8 14 (Lino Lakes) and Highway 8 (Hugo) from the 35E interchange east to Highway 61 is
9 scheduled for 2005-2006. The City of Hugo is planning an extensive gateway project
10 from Elmcrest to Highway 61 that will include landscaping and decorative lighting. Staff
11 would like to discuss with the Council an interest in establishing a plan for upgrading this
12 gateway into Lino Lakes from Elmcrest to the 35E interchange, as well as the future
13 extension of County Road 14 to the west.
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15 Community Development Director Grochala advised the City would be able to use some
16 State Aid funding for the project. However, another funding source would have to be
17 identified to fund the project. He indicated staff would like to work with TKDA on some
18 conceptual sketches.
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20 Councilmember Stoltz suggested the City develop a plan for all gateways within the City.
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22 The Council directed staff to move forward with TKDA on conceptual plans for the
23 gateway into Lino Lakes from Elmcrest to the 35E interchange.
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25 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
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27 There were no changes to the regular agenda.
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29 The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
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31 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
32 September 13, 2004.
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37 Ann Blair ity Clerk Jo erges n, M yor
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40 Transcribed by:
41 Kim Points
42 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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