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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/07/2007 Council Minutes• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 .22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 • 44 45 DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES February 7,2007 5:10 p.m. 10:45 p.m. Councilmember Carlson, O'Donnell, Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson None Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development Director, Mike Grochala; Chief of Police, Dave Pecchia (part); Finance Director, Al Rolek; City Planner, Jeff Smyser (part); Economic Development Coordinator, Mary Alice Divine (part); and City Clerk, Julie Bartell Administrator Heitke added Item 4.5 to the agenda entitled "City Solicitation of Donations." HODGSON/COUNTY ROAD J MASTER PLAN City Planner Smyser explained that a study of the vicinity of this intersection has been underway for the past two years with the goal of adopting a planning document to guide future development. The study included two open houses to receive input from area land owners and residents as well as a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Board on the comprehensive plan amendment that is necessary to incorporate this master plan. The process has included discussion of transportation planning, sewer and water systems, wetland implications in the study area and road design. The concept of access management is a consideration in development planning, and also impact on current property owners. Carolyn Krall, AIA, Landform, provided an overview of the master plan. She noted that the intersection of Hodgson Road and County Road J is an important framing point and the plan includes the concept of making the intersection more pedestrian friendly while allowing for current and future roadway improvements and trails. The plan considers maintaining the mixed use called for in the comprehensive plan and by area residents. There are residential components and inclusion of a neighborhood street grid to allow movement, including walking, biking and driving, away from the main arterial streets. The master planning was done with conservation development in mind. The proposed changes to the comprehensive plan are shown in the exhibit to Resolution 07-21. City Planner Smyser reinforced that the master plan addresses current and future infrastructure needs. There is firm establishment of some roadways points such as access on Hodgson and County Road J. Signalization plans for the intersection must be • • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 46 addressed before development moves forward. While staff recognizes that development 47 in the vicinity will occur over time and in steps, it is important to have a plan in place to 48 guide that development. The master plan attempts to consider the impact of development 49 on existing residential and business properties but it must be recognized that some impact 50 is inevitable. Staff intends to incorporate as much conservation development into all 51 projects. In the area of guiding development, the proposed comprehensive plan 52 amendment includes planning and development objectives that are quite specific and 53 provide some control and mandates. Also the master plan follows the standards of the 54 city's parks and open space requirements and therefore incorporates the conservation 55 development plans and theories. 56 57 Ms. Krall added that the master plan was actually prepared with more stringent standards 58 than exist within the city's conservation development standards. 59 60 At the council's request, City Planner Smyser concurred that the "objectives" could be 61 retitled "requirements" since that is the intent. No specific land use such as a specific 62 grocery or retail store is part of the plan and the plan guidelines only allow for 63 development that fits within the roadway/traffic/access plans that will be backed up by 64 traffic studies. 65 66 The council requested an amendment to make the requirements clearer. The master plan 67 document was amended by removing the word "much" from Page 3 and by adding 68 additional language from the comprehensive plan to better define mixed use. The council 69 also requested the written description of mixed use as it applies to the comprehensive 70 plan and consideration of adding in some way the conservation development aspect to the 71 plan. 72 73 The council took a short recess. 74 75 SPOTLIGHT 2030 VISION — CITIZEN VISIONING COMMITTEE 76 77 The council welcomed the citizens representing the Spotlight on 2030 - Community 78 Visioning Committee. The chair of the committee, Kathryn Gallup, reviewed the 2030 79 Vision Plan document and introduced the following individuals representing their 80 respective issue project teams and asked each to give a short report: 81 82 Harvey Karth, Community Residential and Neighborhood Development; 83 Steve Granquist, Chair, Economic and Commercial Development; 84 Judy Brunner, Chair, Community Amenities and Natural Resources; 85 Peter Brown, Chair, Roads and Transportation 86 87 Community Residential and Neighborhood Development — Mr. Karth explained that the 88 group recognizes that development/growth is ahead for the city and good planning is 89 important. The vision statement for the project seems to characterize an ideal but the 90 group pointed out that it is truly what the citizens believe and want for the city. He • • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 91 pointed out the seven goals identified by his group. Specifically in the area of housing, 92 the group understood that the senior element is on the way and life cycle housing should 93 be planned. They also recognized survey results that indicate a need for single family 94 affordable housing. The group discussed but didn't reach a conclusion on the question of 95 whether it is the role of the community to shape housing or provide what the market 96 demands. 97 98 Economic and Commercial Development — Mr. Granquist reviewed the four goals 99 developed by his group. He pointed out that in the area of attracting and encouraging 100 high tech development, the council may notice that attraction of heavy industrial is 101 missing because from a quality of life viewpoint that type of development is not seen as 102 desirable to the citizens. The work group did highlight that there are many young 103 children in the community that will soon grow into teens who will need 104 entertainment/leisure opportunities. There was recognition that developments should not 105 be on one side of the city or another but should be located so as to join the city. There 106 was also recognition of the importance of tax lowering development but not to the point 107 where people expect to be able to work in the city. Commercial development that fits the 108 residential character of the area is preferred. The challenge is to achieve a change in 109 culture and the perception that Lino Lakes is not "business friendly" and to inspire 110 residents to utilize the businesses that locate in the city. On the matter of tax incentives 111 for desired development, it is an area that is not real understandable to the general public 112 and education would be helpful. 113 114 Roads and Transportation — Mr. Brown outlined the work of this group that dealt with 115 transportation including streets but also related items such as trails, carpool lots and 116 access to open spaces. Road reconstruction is an issue and the group recognized that the 117 city must be able to fix and maintain its streets and the council should be able to direct 118 that process. The city's pavement management plan sets forth the needs but they are not 119 being met and the problem will drop onto the city at once. 120 121 The council suggested that the information received from the group presents an 122 opportunity to use citizen input and set goals to move forward on the issue of road 123 reconstruction. The city charter contains language on the road reconstruction process and 124 since the charter is a citizens' document, it seems appropriate to start looking at the 125 process through the citizenry. A citizens group could work independently and gather 126 information to report back to the city leadership. 127 (See staff direction at the conclusion of the minutes) 128 129 Community Amenities and Natural Resources — Ms. Brunner reviewed the goals 130 established by the group. She noted discussion about how to build community support 131 for development of a multi -use recreation facility. The group recognized that most new 132 amenities would require tax funding or leveraging of outside dollars and that is a 133 challenge. There was discussion about involving a private entity such as a sponsor or 134 working with surrounding communities. 135 • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 136 The council noted that the group's recommendation for on-site mapping for trails is an 137 excellent suggestion; staff indicated that the improvement is already underway. 138 139 On behalf of the CVC, Chair Gallup stated that the participants felt the process was a 140 learning experience and were pleased to be involved. The report will be presented at the 141 upcoming council meeting for acceptance. 142 143 The council thanked all those who participated for their time and effort. 144 145 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS UPDATE 146 147 Ciara Schlichting, DSU, Inc., consultant to the city's comprehensive plan update process 148 presented a PowerPoint report. She explained the purpose of a comprehensive plan, the 149 topics included in a plan and how an update fits into the city's current process of 150 surveying and visioning. She provided a compilation of the proposed planning process, a 151 timeline incorporating visioning, the comprehensive plan update and the Rice Creek 152 Watershed District Resource Management Plan. An advisory panel will be established 153 comprised of 9 visioning committee members, the 7 members of the Planning and Zoning 154 Board, 3 members each from the Park Board, Environmental Board and Economic 155 Development Advisory Committee, and 5 at -large citizens appointed by council 156 members. The group will hold mostly monthly meetings with regular reports to the city 157 boards. 158 159 The council will consider approval of the comprehensive plan update process and 160 establishment of the advisory panel at the next regular council meeting. 161 162 SEWER ACCESS CHARGES (SAC) REFUND UPDATE 163 164 Finance Director Rolek provided the council with a report on the process and results of 165 the council's directive to refund SAC charges that have been held in escrow since 1990. 166 As directed, checks were mailed and cashed with the exception of several checks returned i67 to the city, two with letters requesting retention of the original arrangement. The legal 168 opinion remains that the city has the right to refund the charges since there was no formal 169 contract in place and the program was based only on policy that can be amended. Staff is 170 seeking direction on how to handle the returned checks. 171 172 The council affirmed the direction they have in place and directed staff to continue to 173 follow the directive. Staff should return the checks with a letter that clarifies what will 174 happen if the check is returned again. 175 176 The council requested that the minutes of the council meeting of August 9, 2006 177 (Financial Retreat) be corrected to clarify the intent of the council by amending the text as 178 follows: 179 • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 180 "The Council directed staff to obtain an opinion from the City Attorney regarding issuing 181 refunds. If there are no legal issues, staff should proceed with the refund with a one-year 182 option for the affected residents that have sewer service available." 183 184 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 185 186 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda. 187 188 TEMPORARY DIRECTIONAL SIGNS 189 190 Community Development Director Grochala explained that staff is returning for council 191 direction on the issue of temporary off -premise directional signs. Based on past council 192 direction, staff obtained an opinion from the city attorney that indicates that an 193 amendment to the city's sign ordinance would be necessary to either allow or disallow the 194 signs. Since sign regulations can be complex and amending them can require legal 195 assistance, staff is seeking direction before beginning the process of preparing 196 amendments. If the sign ordinance is reviewed, it may be prudent consider other updates 197 to the ordinance. 198 199 The council requested that staff obtain an estimate of the cost of revamping the sign 200 ordinance. 201 202 EARTH DAY DONATIONS 203 204 Administrator Heitke provided the council with a letter from Marty Asleson, 205 Environmental Specialist. Mr. Asleson coordinates the annual Earth Day event. For 206 financial support for the event, past practice involved a private fundraising group but with 207 that group no longer available, permission is requested by Mr. Asleson to seek donations 208 on behalf of the city for related expenses. 209 210 The council was cognizant of the danger of authorizing fundraising on behalf of the city 211 overall. Authorization was granted to seek donations for the next Earth Day but 212 indicated a review of the city's policy in this area should be scheduled. It was clarified 213 that this is a single authorization for this one event only. 214 215 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE 216 217 Based on previous discussion during the work session, staff was directed to speak with 218 CVC Visioning Chair Kathryn Gallup to see if there is interest in forming a charter 219 review committee and to report to the council as soon as possible. The council will 220 consider the provision of resources that are required by such a group. 221 222 The meeting was adjourned. 223 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 7, 2007 APPROVED 224 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on 225 February 26, 2007. 226 227 228 229 230 231 • • e Bartell, City ler 6 Pft, areil"a John Bergeson, Mayor