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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-01-2015 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 1, 2015 APPROVED I CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 4 DATE 5 TIME STARTED 6 TIME ENDED 7 MEMBERS PRESENT 8 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : June 1, 2015 . 6:00 p.m. . 9:30 p.m. : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman, Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert : None 10 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Services Director Rick 13 DeGardner; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Community Development Director 14 Michael Grochala; Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson; City Engineer Diane 15 Hankee; Utility Supervisor Tim Hillescheim; Park Supervisor Mike Hoffman; Public 16 Services Director Rick DeGardner; City Clerk Julie Bartell 17 18 1. Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan- Environmental Coordinator Asleson 19 and Park Supervisor Hoffman reported. Mr. Asleson noted locations where Emerald Ash 20 Borer (EAB) infestation has been identified (in the metro area). His report includes the 21 Lino Lakes EAB Management Plan that was adopted in 2011 and that gives staff options 22 for the removal or treatment of public ash trees. That plan has been reviewed by the 23 Environmental Board and they have made recommendations for updates, including a 24 2016 budget request for $5,000 for tree replacement. He explained plans to bring in 25 someone to harvest low value trees, noting that dying trees can be a hazard. There are 26 sites ready to receive the harvested tree material. Staff is in a position to treat some high 27 value trees. Starting now, he believes that the city could finish the efforts in five or six 28 years. The city has a practice of planting different types of trees and that will continue 29 with the replacement program. The Environmental Board also recommends that the cost 30 of replacement trees to property owners should be kept low to encourage participation. In 31 the area of tree work and contractors, he suggests that the city may want to consider 32 licensing to ensure they are following best practices. In discussing how staff will be 33 involved in the program, the council heard about impacts that could occur on other work 34 areas. Staff is planning to stage as much work as possible in-house over the next six - 35 seven years. Mr. Hoffman noted that there will be situations (trees) that staff cannot 36 handle; they are not trained as loggers. 37 38 The council asked about the removal of stumps (will not be done), and the number of 39 trees already removed (estimated at 220, mostly in the city parks). When Mayor Reinert 40 asked how many of the estimated 10,000 ash trees in the city are located on private 41 property, staff said more than half. There was a review of how Anoka County is 42 addressing the problem in the park reserve, and that includes a log burning program. 43 The council discussed what is budgeted for work this year and out years. 44 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 1, 2015 APPROVED 45 Public Services Director DeGardner explained that currently staff is managing the efforts 46 by working as they are able. If and when there is a need to move faster, that could mean 47 outsourcing. 48 49 2. Well No. 6 Pump House — Public Services Director DeGardner and Utility 50 Supervisor Hillesheim reported; Kurt Johnson of Stantec (consultant on the project) was 51 also present. Staff provided the council with drawings of the different views of the 52 proposed well house and noted that the staff report in the council packet contains pictures 53 of other well houses. Mr. Johnson explained that the drawings handed out are actually 54 design modifications based on council discussion. Modifications shown include: 55 - no windows (he noted that the facility will include a security system and the windows 56 originally presented are made of a very secure and tough material); 57 - a gabled look; 58 - windows included. 59 60 It was noted that removal of the windows would result in a very modest cost reduction. 61 Mayor Reinert suggested that the reason for the windows is to help the structure blend 62 into the neighborhood. Council Member Stoesz asked if it's possible to have a well 63 house separate from the well and Mr. Hillesheim said it doesn't have to be on top of the 64 well but its purpose is to protect the wellhead (there are government requirements) and so 65 it makes sense. 66 67 The council discussed the cost of building the pump house and Mr. Johnson provided 68 information on what is included in the cost, including that the cost of the building is about 69 50% and the mechanicals the remainder. Council Member Rafferty voiced some concern 70 about the $400,000 cost of the building and the indication that $200,000 of that is the 71 storage area. He also asked if the garage door could be brought down to a standard size; 72 Mr. Hillesheim explained that the larger door makes the storage more usable for large city 73 equipment. He also reminded the council that this would be a block structure that will 74 stand for 100 years. Mr. DeGardner remarked that the cost included in the staff report is 75 an estimate and the project will go out for bid; also he believes that including the storage 76 area is important and a good choice. Mr. Hillesheim explained how having storage in the 77 area will save trips and time for public service jobs. 78 79 Mayor Reinert suggested that the council appears to be discussing options for the project. 80 One option is to have the authorization for bids on the next council agenda and allow that 81 process to bring clarity to the real cost and then the council could still discuss the project 82 elements. Council Member Roeser remarked that the council has scheduled a tour of city 83 assets and that will provide insight on city needs. Council Member Rafferty suggested 84 that the city should get bids when ready and use alternates if that is necessary; he also 85 thinks the tour will provide good information. Mr. DeGardner noted that there is 86 somewhat of a time constraint on moving ahead with the project as it relates to staying in 87 this year's construction season. 88 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED June 1, 2015 89 The plans will be enhanced according to council direction and provided in the Friday 90 Update; if the council is comfortable, they will vote at the meeting on Monday. 91 92 3. Rice Lake Land Donation — Community Development Director explained that 93 this piece of land was recently donated and accepted by the city and the council has posed 94 questions about future use. Probably the best use is going to be as ponding for wetland 95 mitigation and perhaps, in the long term, if a trail were to come down Hodgeson Road 96 eventually, it would be on this side and then maybe it could be used as a wayside stop. 97 The council discussed the absence of buildable land on the lot and Council Member 98 Roeser pointed out an area where a trail was built over wetland. Regarding the 99 possibility of a dock, Mr. Grochala explained that the lake is very shallow so lake 100 recreation such as fishing would be marginal. 101 102 4. Liquor Licensing — Restriction of one license per individual- City Clerk Bartell 103 noted that the council discussed this code language at the last work session. More 104 information is included in the staff report in the area of controls that the council has over 105 liquor licensing in the city. The previous council discussion centered on restaurants so 106 the new language presented would allow additional licenses at restaurants only. 107 108 The mayor said the council has discussed the matter three times and he is supportive of 109 the change. Council Member Roeser noted that one liquor license holder was present at 110 the last discussion and did not have a problem with the change. 111 112 The council discussed whether a limitation would allow one additional license or 113 unlimited. 114 115 The council concurred that the language presented by staff (allowing unlimited additional 116 licenses to restaurants) should be presented for first reading at the next council meeting. 117 118 5. Update on 2015 State Liquor Law Amendments — City Clerk Bartell noted that 119 there were changes approved by the state this year to liquor regulations that impact cities. 120 In the case of these state law changes, they do not become effective at the city level unless 121 they are also enacted by the city. The changes were briefly reviewed: 122 123 - Sunday sales of growlers (breweries), the city does have one licensed brewery, 124 Hammerheart, and they do have a Sunday sales license for their taproom and they do have 125 an off -sale license for growlers. Staff understands they are interested in selling growlers 126 on Sunday. The council did approve an ordinance last year that concurred with state law 127 allowing Sunday sales in taprooms so they are already open on Sunday and selling on - 128 sale. 129 130 -On-Sale Sunday sales beginning at 8:00 a.m.- Currently the city allows Sunday on -sale 131 to begin at 10:00 a.m. (8:00 a.m. every other day besides Sunday). The law would allow 132 sales two hours earlier on Sundays. The American Legion may be interested in this 133 option since they have some breakfast events that are impacted by the 10:00 a.m. start CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 1, 2015 APPROVED 134 time. The Mayor noted that he heard the American Legion doesn't feel strongly about 135 the 8:00 a.m. change but they would use it if available. 136 137 The council discussed the changes, allowed the Police Chief to weigh in (he has no direct 138 objections) and concurred that they do not have an issue with either change and will 139 follow the state. 140 141 6. Council Packet Process- City Clerk Bartell noted that, based on a council 142 discussion about the flow of information for meetings, staff has prepared a packet process 143 update report. It is important that the council receive information in complete form and 144 on a timely basis. The mayor said he recognizes that there will always be situations 145 where information flows later because it's an imperfect world. Council Member Rafferty 146 clarified that his recent concern related to expenditure information not being included in 147 the packet but at the same time he has a continuing concern when a council packet is 148 posted the same day as council discussion will occur (such as this evening's work 149 session). 150 151 Mayor Reinert noted that the discussion brought forward the idea that when a council 152 member asks for information on an agenda item, the response to that request should go to 153 all council members. He thinks that is a good practice. 154 155 Council Member Stoesz suggested that a user based system may be something the city 156 should look at. He noted the possibility of putting in a kiosk at city hall with access to 157 records and to a printer and the possibility of growing the system to access thinks like the 158 financial system. Staff suggested there is availability of information to the public on the 159 city website and through a computer at the building desk. The council discussed areas 160 where access to data would make sense and Administrator Karlson suggested that this 161 type of initiative would be difficult to staff and locate at this time but may fit into the 162 upcoming technical upgrade for the council chambers. Mayor Reinert said he doesn't 163 want to see the idea dropped and asked that staff keep it as a goal. 164 165 7. Council Updates/Boards and Commissions — 166 167 Council Member Rafferty noted that it's helpful for council members to attend advisory 168 board meetings. There is so much good background information at that level. Mayor 169 Reinert noted that he heard about the status of the Mattamy homes project at the Planning 170 and Zoning Board meeting. Community Development Director Grochala explained that 171 preview of projects by advisory boards is helpful to developers in understanding what 172 would be good as they put together their final proposal. The Mayor noted that 173 commercial is missing from that project mainly because that developer doesn't do 174 commercial. 175 176 Lino Lakes Ambassadors Program — Council Member Roeser reported on the project to 177 upgrade the city's float. The group has finished the float project and has gotten a tarp to 178 cover the float. They would like to do an unveiling here at city hall and get some CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 1, 2015 APPROVED 179 publicity for the program. The council concurred to participate in such an event. Public 180 Services Director DeGamer noted that the Twin Cities Gateway tourism organization did 181 contribute $1,800 to the float. 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 8. Monthly Progress Report — Administrator Karlson reviewed his written report. Regarding CFRA vs. Lino Lakes, the mayor suggested a communication to the public on the matter. Regarding the council's request for a history of union negotiations, Mr. Karlson asked for clarification. There are not substantial records on negotiations because they are not permanent. That fact limits the amount of history that can be put together. The mayor clarified that the information is intended for future reference, as a history to be used by future councils as they consider contracts. He suggests that Mr. Karlson work to put together as much history as is available on requests that have been made by unions. 9. Review Regular Agenda for Council Meeting of June 8, 2015. The agenda was reviewed and there were no changes. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on June 22, 2015. 204 206" Ju i e Bartell, J Cler 207 5