2002.02.25 CC Minutes - Special meeting

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MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL HUGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25.2002 Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PRESENT: Granger, Haas, Petryk, Puleo, Miron City Administrator, Michael Ericson CD Director, John Rask City Attorney, Dave Snyder City.Engineer, Dave Mitchell VISIONING PROCESS — REVIEW — HGA'S FINAL REPORT At its January 22, 2002 meeting, the Council accepted the final draft of the community vision/charrette process prepared by the planning firm of Hammel, Greene, and Abrahamson, Inc., (HGA), which will guide the City with a community-based vision for the downtown Hugo area to the western border on Elmcrest Avenue. The new "central" Hugo will have the new City Hall as its anchor, and it will incorporate a pedestrian friendly retail -oriented theme with a variety of lifecycle housing, including senior citizen housing. This special meeting was called following Council direction to staff to schedule a follow-up meeting to determine the future direction for the City in shaping its vision over the next twenty years. At staff s recommendation, Council reviewed the new City Newsletter, which included a story about the charrette process being completed. CD Director John Rask explained that the development of the central downtown Hugo will be framed by the City's land use ordinance and street design standards. The Community Development Department will continue to use the vision boards prepared by HGA in its discussion with business owners and developers. CITY COUNCIL GOAL SETTING SESSION At its January 22, 2002 meeting, the Council directed staff to schedule a goal setting session at which it would discuss City Council goals for the upcoming year. Staff included for Council the goal setting report prepared by Barbara Strandell from last year, as well as the new City Newsletter, which includes a number of projects that staff will be working on. Additionally, staff included the in-house current/unfinished projects list dated February 20, 2002. Also included were the 2002 work plans from the Parks Commission and Planning Commission. Council discussed the need for a better, more well defined cluster housing ordinance. Mayor and Council members agreed to provide clear policy direction to the planning Commission to work on a revised cluster -housing ordinance. CD Director John Rask agreed to share this policy direction with the PC. Council stated that the diverse thinking on the PC would be healthy in drafting a newly revised ordinance. Council offered additional goals for 2002, including: home occupation/home-based business; buffer ordinances; downtown redevelopment plan; DTED and Met Council grants; grants for senior citizen housing; and an inventory of City lands for parkland. Parks Commission should prioritize the land parcels and recommend selling or retaining them. Staff will bring a comprehensive list of all goals to the next Council meeting for prioritization by Council. CONCEPT PLAN FOR CENTEX'S FENWAY PA" PROJECT Steve Ach from Centex presented his concept plan for development of the Ken Tschida property. He would like to submit it as a 50 -acre P.U.D. with 25 acres of open space. Council comments were advisorory only. Mr. Ach thanked the Council for the* tim and consideration.