The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About4-9-19 City Council Workshop Packet NOTICE OF MEETING City Council Workshop 3800 Laverne Avenue North April 9, 2019 6:30 PM AGENDA I. Call to Order 6:30 PM II. Tree Trimming Policy Presentation and Discussion 6:30 PM III. Valley Branch Watershed District Update 7:00 PM IV. Detachment Request 7:30 PM V. Street Width and Parking Discussion 7:45 PM VI. Items for Future Work Session Agenda 8:30 PM VII. Adjourn 8:30 PM Our Mission is to Provide Quality Public Services in a Fiscally Responsible Manner While Preserving the City’s Open Space Character STAFF REPORT DATE: April 9, 2019 DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM: Draft Tree Trimming Policy SUBMITTED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator BACKGROUND: A group of students from UW-River Falls (Alex Loewen, Abigail Nyseth, and Vinnie Simone), are completing a service learning project this semester in their Urban/Local Politics course. Their professor reached out to the city in January seeking project ideas. One of the projects we gave them was to draft a tree trimming policy for the public works department. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Does the Council have any questions about the draft policy? Should the City adopt a tree trimming policy? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS/OPTIONS: Included in your packet is a draft tree trimming policy that the student put together after reviewing other communities and consulting with city staff (public works and planning). They will be at the meeting to present their recommendation and answer any questions. Since we will be bringing on a new public works director next month, I’d recommend we have him review the policy as well before bringing it back to Council for formal adoption. FISCAL IMPACT: NA ATTACHMENTS: • Draft Tree Trimming and Removal Policy Tree Trimming and Removal Proposal for Lake Elmo, Minnesota Drafted by UWRF students Alex Loewen, Abigail Nyseth, and Vinnie Simone Intent ● October through March is a great time to think about tree trimming. All trees, large and small, can benefit from proper trimming. There are 3 major reasons to prune trees: 1. Safety 2. Health of tree 3. Aesthetics Responsibilities and Authority of the Public Works Department ● The City has the authority to regulate tree trimming and removal activities within the city’s right of way. The City will not perform any of these activities on private property unless it is impacting the right of way. ● Trimming is required if trees obstruct road lights and signs, block emergency vehicles, are diseased, or present an imminent threat to property or the public safety. Private utility companies will be responsible for trimming required due to tree impacting power lines or electrical services. ● The Public Works Director has discretion to decide appropriate action for trees on public land. All trees on public property may be trimmed or removed under order of the Public Works Director and are to be inspected periodically. ● It is the duty of the city to trim trees to allow clearance of necessary vehicles for public safety. ● The City pays for tree services on public property, the funds coming from the money allocated to the Public Works Department. At the discretion of the Public Works Director, stump removal in the city right of way may also occur. Procedures and Guidelines for Tree Maintenance ● All trees and branches will be trimmed to the existing tree line. ● Overhanging trees will be cut to a 20-foot clearance over roads and a 7-foot clearance over sidewalks and ditches. ● In rural areas branches 4” or less in diameter are left behind. In urban areas branches are chipped and hauled away. ● Rural and urban branches that are > 4” are left behind at firewood length at the preference of the property owner. ● Trimming of limbs will be cut to the trunk for the safety of the tree. ● Diseased or infected trees will be removed. ● Trees are trimmed to 20 feet over street or curb, and 7 feet over sidewalk. ● Aged, decaying, or dead limbs will be removed. ● Priority is given to fallen trees blocking streets or interfering with homes, cars, in an area on or adjacent to the public right of way. The Public Works Director has discretion over specific determinations. ● All stop lights, stop signs, and other road signs must be clearly visible. The Public Works Director has discretion over what constitutes an unsafe obstruction of road signs and lights. Information for Private Property Owners ● Residents may plant new trees or remove existing trees that are not within the easement boundaries and are on private property, provided trees are setback 10 feet or more from utility lines (Electric, Sewer, Water, Etc.), 5 feet from any sidewalk or curbing, and outside of any vision triangle or otherwise endangering the public safety. Residents may plant new trees or remove existing trees within the easement on private property, provided they receive a permit from the City Planner. If the City Planner denies the request for a permit, property owners have the right to appeal the decision to the City Council. ● If a resident chooses to plant a tree within the easement on their property they must be aware that the City does have the right to remove the tree for a variety of reasons. The City will not reimburse the property owner for the value of the tree if it was planted within the easement and will not replant a new tree if the tree fails to survive. ● VISIBLE TRIANGLE. The area created by drawing an imaginary line between points 30 feet back from where the curb lines of the intersection quadrant meet. STAFF REPORT DATE: April 9, 2019 DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM: Detachment Petition SUBMITTED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator BACKGROUND: Mark Lambert, Central Commons, LLC, owns 38 acres at the southwest corner of Manning Ave and TH 36. Most of that area was detached from Lake Elmo a number of years ago and is within Stillwater Township. One exception to that is an approximately one acre parcel at 5775 Manning Ave which remained in the City of Lake Elmo. Mr. Lambert is now proposing to detach that one acre parcel from the City of Lake Elmo to assist in his development efforts. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Does the Council have any further questions/concerns related to the potential detachment? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS/OPTIONS: Included in your packet is a petition from Central Commons LLC to detach a 1 acre parcel in Lake Elmo to Stillwater Township. The petition and resolution have been reviewed by the city attorney. The parcel is located along Manning Ave across from Sanctuary. The developer has met with city staff and we have expressed our concerns related to providing the same level of access to the Sanctuary Development as they have today. He is supportive of our position and has met with Washington County to discuss access locations from his parcels to the east so as not to interfere with the Sanctuary access. The purpose of this meeting is to get feedback from Council. Official action on the petition would be done at a later meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: Estimated loss of property tax revenue to the city is about $900 per year. The applicant is planning to make a financial contribution to the city and pay for legal fees incurred by the city. ATTACHMENTS: • Detachment Petition and Resolution STAFF REPORT DATE: 4/9/2019 DISCUSSION TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Kyla Rippey, Intern AGENDA ITEM: Street Widths and Parking Restrictions REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator BACKGROUND: In respect to the concerns brought forth at the 3-19-19 regular council meeting regarding street width and parking capacity in the medium density residential development of Bentley Village, the City’s Engineering Design Standards were reviewed and compared to similar local residential street development in metro area. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the Engineering Design Standards for Lake Elmo be updated or do they remain appropriate? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: 2018 Engineering Design Standards for Lake Elmo Geometric Design, Local Residential Street ‐Minimum Street Width (B‐B), parking both sides…………………………………...….…28‐feet ‐Minimum Street Width (B‐B), parking one side (when allowed by City)…..……….….…24‐feet ‐Minimum Street Width (B‐B), no parking (when allowed by City)……….………………22‐feet Comparable Engineering Design Standards City (b-b) parking both sides (b-b) parking 1 side (b-b) no parking Lake Elmo 28 feet 24 feet 19 feet Albertville* Marginal access 28 feet 28 feet 28 feet Lakeville 32 feet Little Canada 32 feet Mahtomedi* Includes commercial 38 feet 32 feet 26 feet Minnetrista* includes commercial 36 feet 32 feet 28 feet Mounds View 25 feet Oak Park Heights 28 feet Princeton 32 feet Rogers 28 feet Will vary, no min in place Will vary, no min in place Victoria 32 feet 28 feet 28 feet Waconia 28 -34 feet 28 feet 24 feet FISCAL IMPACT: Increasing residential street widths increases the cost of maintenance (seal coating, mill and overlay, reconstruction, etc) and impact storm water runoff and collection which comes with increased costs. OPTIONS: • Direct staff to make street width and parking changes to the Engineering and Design Standards for Lake Elmo • Keep current Engineering and Design Standards for Lake Elmo without change • Identify other questions relating to street width and parking on residential streets in Lake Elmo ATTACHMENTS: None