HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-2015 Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 6, 2015
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
3
4 DATE : July 6, 2015
5 TIME STARTED : 5:30 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 9:30 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman,
8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None
10
11
12 Staff members present: Community Development Director Michael Grochala; City
13 Planner Katie Larsen; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Public Services Director
14 Rick DeGardner; City Clerk Julie Bartell
15
16 1. Blue Heron Days, Tavern on Main Concert- Public Safety Director Swenson
17 explained that this matter is being brought forward because of past discussions about
18 noise from the concert and also because the event sponsor, Chad Wagner, has expressed
19 concerns about the cost of having two officers at the event. In preparation for a
20 discussion, the police department has reviewed police call data relating to the event,
21 mostly having to do with individuals having a high level of intoxication. They have met
22 with Mr. Wagner and discussed ways to deal with concerns about over serving of alcohol
23 at the event. Mr. Wagner has submitted a plan to prevent over service including server
24 training Mr. Swenson noted that the city resident who expressed concerns about noise
25 in 2014, Mr. Heimann, was present.
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27 Mayor Reinert noted that the city has attempted to control the impact of the event in the
28 past by placing conditions on the permit, including limiting music to midnight, and by
29 performing noise monitoring. He called upon Mr. Hermann for his comments.
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31 City resident Jon Herman told the council that he doesn't have anything new to report
32 since his appearance in 2014. He remains concerned about the level and constant noise
33 of the bass at these events. The music itself isn't the issue to him but specifically the
34 bass. The mayor concurred that the bass can be a problem and asked if that level can be
35 tested.
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37 The council discussed with Mr. Wagner ways to address concerns about noise, including
38 but not limited to, including the neighborhood in the event by providing free admission,
39 continued noise monitoring, etc. Mr. Wagner said he will have a discussion with the
40 professionals that provide the sound engineering and see what can be done to bring down
41 the bass. Mayor Reinert remarked that there may be some way to blanket the noise to the
42 event area (an acoustic sound blanket?), to keep it from traveling.
43
44 Council Member Rafferty noted that Mr. Wagner holds a similar event in the city of Hugo
45 so that city must also deal with issues. Mr. Wagner said the Hugo law enforcement
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 6, 2015
APPROVED
46 officers always stop by the event to check on things and they do regular testing of the
47 sound. Council Member Rafferty noted that he spoke with the City of Hugo and received
48 some information on their conditions, which he will share with staff.
49
50 Chief Swenson suggested that there should be a check in after the event to review what is
51 or isn't working. He then noted that Mr. Wagner is requesting that the council authorize
52 removal of the two officer requirement. Mayor Reinert said he wants to understand the
53 Police Department's recommendation on that; he sees that Mr. Wagner is offering plans
54 to deal with the issues.
55
56 Mr. Wagner reviewed what he is offering to do:
57 - Continue to provide professional security (normally 10-12 trained individuals);
58 - Offer mandatory server training through the MLBA just before the event;
59 - A safe ride home program;
60 - Cards with drive home assistance.
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62 Chief Swenson said everything that Mr. Wagner is offering to do is good but another
63 concern is that the event impacts the city's officers on duty on the nights of this event. If
64 there are 911 calls due to the event, officers on normal duty respond. If the city council
65 is comfortable with the program set forth by Mr. Wagner, he will concur but with a
66 recommendation for a thorough review after the event.
67
68 Mayor Reinert said he wants the Police Department to be comfortable and, if this is tried,
69 he wants the department to have expectations to judge how it worked.
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71 Chief Swenson said, if the city council is comfortable and understands there could be an
72 impact on the department's resources those evenings, considering Mr. Wagner's plan to
73 meet the issues ahead of time, he is okay with a trial year. He expects there will be a
74 review meeting required within two weeks after the event.
75
76 The council concurred and directed staff to report back on the matter at the September
77 work session.
78
79 2. Civic Complex Island Landscaping Project — Public Services Director Rick
80 DeGardner and Parks Services Supervisor Mike Hoffman reported on landscaping around
81 the City Hall complex. Mr. DeGardner introduced Mary Schmuland who, with her
82 husband Carl, volunteered time to design and coordinate the installation of the beautiful
83 landscaping already in place around the complex. Ms. Schmuland has prepared a design
84 plan for landscaping the island at the complex and staff is bringing that forward for
85 council review. Ms. Schmuland reviewed the plans, including the incorporation of the
86 existing oak trees and identifying plants included in the plans.
87
88 Mayor Reinert noted that the council has heard many wonderful compliments on the
89 landscaping work already done by Ms. Schmuland around city hall. The previous natural
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 6, 2015
APPROVED
90 look was good but not everyone could follow that concept. He said the plans for the
91 island look functional and fantastic.
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93 Ms. Schmuland thanked the mayor and noted that her work for the city hall area has been
94 fun and rewarding because she finds it's a privilege to contribute to the community where
95 she lives.
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97 Mr. DeGardner said the planting plans and costs would be discussed at budget time. He
98 also thanked the Schmuland's for donating their time and expertise and also offering to
99 get a discount on the plantings.
100
101 Ms. Schmuland added that she understands the need to balance and integrate the natural
102 with other elements. This area around the complex should be formalized.
103
104 Council Member Roeser noted that the council has been discussing the concept of a
105 veteran's memorial in the city. He wonders if this space around city hall has been
106 considered and if that would fit in to this project. Ms. Schmuland replied that a
107 memorial would be very inviting and would honor the space in her opinion.
108
109 Mr. DeGardner added that staff is supportive of the landscaping plans for the island and
110 he can report that the new concept would actually save on maintenance for staff.
111
112 Council Member Rafferty added that he was a proponent of the landscaping change
113 around city hall and he's happy that the new look has been embraced. He also offered
114 thanks to the Schmulands for their hard work.
115
116 3. NE Lino Drainage Area - Community Development Director Grochala reviewed his
117 written report outlining the history and functionality of the drainage system for the
118 northeast area of the city. The city has submitted a plan to the watershed district that
119 begins a process that could lead to a feasibility report for a drainage improvement project.
120 He introduced Pete Willenbring of WSB and Associates to review the aforementioned
121 plan. Mr. Willenbring explained that there are requirements that the watershed district
122 call for before development can occur so this is a process the city would want to keep
123 moving if development in the area is planned. He discussed the need to keep pollution
124 loads in check and reviewed the plans included in the staff report.
125
126 The council discussed future costs and Mr. Grochala suggested that the study would be in
127 the range of $50,000 and the project as a whole probably more than $1 million. The
128 city's investment at this point is around $40,000, paid from the surface water
129 management fund. The council discussed the developer's involvement in funding.
130 Mayor Reinert noted that surface water really goes where it would go anyway but the
131 improvements would move it faster. Council Member Stoesz asked if the project could
132 be phased as part of development and staff said yes and that topic would be a part of a
133 feasibility study.
134
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135 The council heard about right-of-way discussions underway with impacted property
136 owners. It was also noted that, with a new drainage plan, the current ditch system
137 wouldn't be needed any longer and could be abandoned. Council Member Stoesz noted
138 that he isn't comfortable with moving ahead with the feasibility study (costs) without
139 knowing that the land will be available. Community Development Director Grochala
140 explained that the infoimation provided in a feasibility study would be very helpful in
141 providing facts.
142
143 Staff will report again on the project at the next work session.
144
145 4. Mattamy Development Update and Discussion — Community Development Director
146 Grochala updated the council on the status of the proposed Watermark project. Rick
147 Packer, representing Mattamy Homes, was present. Mr. Grochala explained that Mr.
148 Packer did appear before the Planning and Zoning Board recently to provide information
149 on the project. The board raised three issues noted in the staff report and Mr. Grochala
150 said he would intend to review those areas with the council as the developer is beginning
151 to prepare their PUD development application. He noted that through discussion and
152 information provided, the Planning and Zoning Board was able to come away in support
153 of the development. He reviewed the concept plan layout and an analysis of what's gone
154 into planning for the area, including transportation improvements. He reviewed
155 guidance provided for the area by the Comp Plan, AUAR and PUD. He discussed the
156 matter of commercial development and that the area has been studied and researched and
157 found to not be favorable for commercial activities. He reviewed land nearby the
158 proposed development that is planned for commercial as well as the commercial
159 properties already in the area. On the matter of density, Mr. Grochala reviewed what is
160 proposed for the project and what is allowed as a maximum (proposed is lower than
161 maximum). He reviewed the front view of each proposed home style. The council
162 asked about the townhouse element and Mr. Packer explained that they would be grouped
163 by six in a row style. When asked if twin homes are proposed, Mr. Packer said there's
164 no real advantage in selling that type — people just go for the detached if it's two. When
165 Council Member Roeser asked if regional guidelines are forcing the inclusion of
166 townhomes in the development, Mr. Packer said no, the townhome portion fits well into a
167 development in areas next to something like commercial (and in this case, next to the
168 park and ride facility).
169
170 Council comments included that it appears commercial isn't viable and shouldn't be
171 forced; do not like the roundabouts; lot widths of 44 feet are not good and aren't seen in
172 other developments; some people like the idea of less maintenance that comes with a
173 smaller lot or townhouse. When asked if the development will include a community
174 center, Mr. Packer said it is pretty much expected these days and will probably be
175 something like a club house.
176
177 The council discussed planned street widths (the mayor prefers wider widths because it
178 provides greater access in and out). The council concurred that no commercial is
179 acceptable at this point but the matter of lot width needs more drill down.
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180
181 5. Advertising for New Positions- The council is being requested to approve
182 posting of two new positions — Assistant City Administrator and Part Time Building
183 Inspector.
184
185 The council declined to discuss the Assistant City Administrator position since
186 Administrator Karlson was not present.
187
188 The council concurred on moving forward with the Part Time Building Inspector position
189 after Community Development Director Grochala explained the need for the position,
190 that it is already included in the budget and that it will be a no benefits position.
191
192 6. Advisory Board Applicants- City Clerk Bartell reviewed the openings and the
193 applicants. The council will interview candidates on July 13 before or after the regular
194 meeting that evening.
195.
196 7. Council Updates on Boards and Commissions- Council members provided
197 updates on their representation on the Vadnais Lakes Area Water Management
198 Organization (VLAWMO) and North Metro Telecommunications Commission.
199
200 8. Monthly Progress Report — Community Development Director Grochala
201 reviewed the written report.
202
203 9. Regular Council Agenda of July 13, 2015 — The regular agenda was reviewed.
204
205 The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
206
207 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
208 July 27, 2015.
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