HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2007 Council Minutes• 1
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•45
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 7, 2007
APPROVED
DATE
TIME STARTED
TIME ENDED
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
MINUTES
: May 7, 2007
. 5:30 p.m.
. 8:50 p.m.
: Councilmember O'Donnell (part),
Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
: Council Member Carlson
Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development Director,
Mike Grochala (part); Senior Planner, Jeff Smyser (part); Associate Planner, Paul Bengtson
(part); Director of Public Safety, Dave Pecchia (part); City Engineer, Jim Studenski (part);
Director of Administration, Dan Tesch (part); Director of Finance, Al Rolek (part);and City
Clerk, Julie Bartell
BLUE HERON DAYS
Chad Wagner and Stephanie Smith, members of the Blue Heron Days Committee, announced
that the 2007 Lino Lakes Blue Heron Days Festival is planned for the weekend of August 17-18.
They are looking at the possibility of some new elements to the festival such as a business expo
and possibly building on the softball tournament. The organizing committee is requesting the
city's partnership in their efforts to hold this year's festival including the waiver of city fees
associated with the events as well as a cash donation from the city.
The participation of Target and Kohl's was discussed; Kohl's does not participate but Target
Corporation has helped with parade activities and has also provided grant funds in the past.
There has been a problem with the receipt of those funds since the committee is not an
established non-profit group.
The Council authorized a letter of support to Target seeking grant funds for this year's festival as
well last year's grant that was not deposited.
Administrator Heitke explained that the waiver of city costs associated with the festival can be
broken down to permit fees as well as the cost of certain public safety services, on-going
maintenance of the city float and some public works involvement. The city cannot provide the
barricades for the road detour as the county uses their own contractor.
The Council suggested that the city attorney should be consulted on who or how the Target funds
can be accepted and utilized.
PHEASANT HILLS 13TH (ISLAND) — REQUEST FOR CITY TO INITIATE
CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC ROAD OR BRIDGE FOR PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 7, 2007
APPROVED
46
•47 Senior Planner Smyser noted his discussion with the Minnesota Department of Natural
48 Resources (DNR) and reported his response to questions raised at the last work session regarding
49 this matter. He reviewed the DNR policy regarding crossing public waters as well as the
50 potential environmental impact issues of a road vs. bridge situation. Also it was noted that the
51 deadline for submittal of final plans under the city's zoning ordinance has expired. The city
52 attorney has verified that the city is under no obligation to accept or approve a development
53 proposal for the property in question. Regarding dedication of parkland on the island, Senior
54 Planner Smyser reported that the Public Services Director indicated that he would prefer park
55 dedication funds that could be utilized to development existing parkland in the area.
56
57 Senior Planner reported that the staff recommendation has not changed as staff doesn't feel it
58 would be in the city's interest to pursue a road to this island; public purpose would have to be
59 proven to the DNR and the ability to do that is doubtful.
60
61 There was no Council interest in initiating construction of a public road or bridge.
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63 SPIRIT HILLS PARKING
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65 Associate Planner Bengtson reported that questions were posed to the city by tenants of the Spirit
66 Hills Commercial Center regarding inadequate parking at the center. In response those
67 questions, he prepared a detailed parking analysis and an evaluation of how the current parking
•68 complies with city ordinance. The concerned tenants requested that the city put an immediate
69 hold on further leasing of space in the center. The current number of parking spaces was found
70 to be in compliance but only with the vacancies that now exist at the center and not allowing for
71 consideration of shared spaces. Options to address the situation are to hold off on further leasing
72 or to allow occupancy only within certain requirements.
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74 Community Development Director Grochala added that parking on the area streets is not a
75 problem as there is no real spillover. The city could encourage the businesses to work together to
76 deal with the parking problems. Any consideration of a reserved parking plan should be initiated
77 only by the businesses.
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79 The Council indicated their desire to ensure that City requirements are met. The leasing
80 company for the center should be informed that there will not be any additional occupancy
81 allowed and they need to help deal with the problem.
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83 LAKE DRIVE/1-35W INTERCHANGE PROJECT
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85 Community Development Director Grochala reviewed the bids received on the project; the bids
86 came in 10.5% over the engineer's estimate. The Minnesota Department of Transportation
87 (MnDOT) reviewed the bids and found the variance acceptable. Staff has reevaluated the project
88 and has worked with Springsted and Kennedy & Graven on a solution that involves a workable
89 finance plan. Options on the project were presented as follows: terminate the project but with the
• 90 understanding that some basic improvements to the interchange would still be required and
2
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 7, 2007
APPROVED
91 federal, county and state funding could be lost; rebid the project with the risk that the bids would
• 92 come in higher; include closure of Lake Drive knowing that savings would be hard to pre -
93 calculate and there would be an impact on residents and businesses; approve a revised finance
94 plan to fund the project.
95
96 Mark Dierling, SEH Consulting Engineer, was present to answer questions. He noted that the
97 same factors are driving high bids on many projects. They are high fuel costs as well as high
98 demand for cement and steel. A rebid is not common approach and can be quite risky.
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100 Finance Director Rolek explained that the proposed revised finance plan for the interchange
101 project involves the use of tax increment funds (TIF) from the Town Center project, Town
102 Center Project fund balances, addition of justifiable storm water management funds and
103 Municipal State Aid (MSA) funds. The MSA funding is sufficient to be a safety net in the event
104 the TIF district develops slower than anticipated. The draw -down of MSA funds for the project
105 will occur over several years to allow for MSA fund availability for other projects.
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107 Community Development Director Grochala noted that staff is comfortable with the proposed
108 new finance plan and will present additional information at the council meeting if requested to do
109 so.
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111 The Council agreed to consider the new finance plan at the May 14 council meeting.
112
•13 NONUNION 2007 WAGE ADJUSTMENTS
114
115 Administration Director Tesch introduced human resources consultant Ann Antonsen of
116 Springsted, Inc. Ms. Antonsen noted that the Stanton Report formerly used for salary
117 information no longer exists but rather cities are utilizing the League of Minnesota Cities survey
118 information to analyze salaries. Looking at cities with like populations as a market, jobs were
119 matched and, in some cases, blended to identify minimum and maximum salary ranges for City
120 nonunion positions. As in the past, the 65th percentile was used to establish an appropriate range
121 for the management team. Along with the market adjustments the 3% annual adjustment would
122 be applied. This is intended to be the first stage of a comprehensive project.
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124 Ms. Antonsen reviewed the city administrator position findings to show what process was used
125 to formulate the wage recommendations.
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127 Council comments included questioning use of the 65th percentile, a request to include
128 performance in the future and a request for figures on the difference between the 50th and 65th
129 percentile. Also requested was information on salaries for all metro area cities and updated job
130 descriptions.
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132 Council Member O'Donnell was excused from the meeting at 7:40 p.m.; the council took a
133 fifteen minute recess.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 7, 2007
APPROVED
136 PERSONNEL POLICY UPDATE
•37
138 Administration Director Tesch explained that the City has adopted a number of changes to
139 employee benefits and policies over the past several years and staff is presenting an updated
140 personnel policy that reflects those changes. A review and explanation of the update was made
141 available to City employees.
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143 2009 ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
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145 Community Development Director Grochala recalled the history of proposed reconstruction
146 projects for Shenandoah and West Shadow Lake Drive. Staff finds that the streets continue to
147 warrant consideration for reconstruction and is presenting a option that the city go forward with
148 updating the feasibility studies for the two projects at a cost of approximately $7,500 total.
149 Those funds are available within the current city budget and results would be available in June.
150 A memo was provided from the League of Minnesota Cities regarding the risk management
151 element of road reconstruction as well as addressing the question of discretionary immunity.
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153 REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
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155 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda.
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157 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE
058
159 Public Safety Director Pecchia updated the Council on the city's emergency management plan.
160 An organizational chart was reviewed as well as emergency operations center plans and a
161 command structure. It was noted that a pandemic plan is in place and personnel rules are being
162 reviewed. There is an exercise planned to get command and control operations down.
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164 The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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166 I These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
167 May 29, 2007.
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Ju 1. e Bartell, Cit Cler
John ergeson, Mayor