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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.03.20 CC MinutesMINUTES City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Monday, March 20, 2023 7:00 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Weidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call COUNCIL PRESENT: Klein, Miron (via ZOOM), Petryk, Strub, Weidt COUNCIL ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Bryan Bear, City Engineer Mark Erichson, City Attorney Dave Snyder, Community Development Director Rachel Juba, Finance Director Anna Wobse, City Clerk Michele Lindau Approval of Minutes for the City Council Meeting on March 6, 2023 Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve the minutes for the Council meeting held on March 6, 2023, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes for the Legislative Reception on March 7, 2023 Petryk made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for the Legislative Reception held on March 7, 2023, as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Lakes Center for Youth and Family – Executive Director Linda Madsen Lakes Center for Youth and Family Executive Director Linda Madsen provided information on the LC4YF and activities in 2022. She began by thanking the Council for their financial support over the years and invited them to contact her at any time. She told the story of how the Center began in 1976 when then Police Chief Jim Trudeau developed the idea of providing programs to troubled youths and their families. She talked about their partnerships that included schools such as Linwood Elementary where prevention programs were provided through a grant. There were also Enrichment Programs after school in Chisago and Safety Camps during the summer in Forest Lake, which had been going on for 25 years. Counseling is the newest part of their programing, and therapist go to the schools for sessions. Linda said she started with LC4YF in Council Meeting Minutes for March 20, 2023 Page 2 of 6 2018 when there were 1.5 counselors. There were now 5.25, but there was still a shortage of therapist, and 34 people were on their waiting list. There were 166 clients seen last year for 2,466 sessions. She shared information on two upcoming events. Empire Insurance will be holding a Shred It event on April 29, 2023, and will provide a donation to the Center. The Taste of the Lakes fundraiser event will be at the Scandia Creamery on April 20, 2023. Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the 2023 agreement between the City of Hugo and Lake Center for Youth and Family. All Ayes. Motion carried. Washington County Assessors Update - Assessors Dan Squyres and Tyson Terry Washington County Assessors Dan Squyres (Commercial) and Tyson Terry (Residential) provided Council an update on the County and Hugo property assessments in preparation for the Local Board of Appeals and Adjustments meeting on April 6, 2023. Tyson began by reviewing their assessment year timeline. Sales studies occur in October-September. By January 2nd, valuations are finalized and sent out in March. Truth in Taxation notices go out in November, and the tax payable is the following year. They are currently in the appeals period with the City’s Local Board of Appeals and Adjustments meeting on April 6, and the County Board meeting in June. He explained the quintile review was mandated by law and requires each property to be reviewed in-depth every five years. Last year, 1,188 properties were reviewed, and 1,536 were scheduled to be reviewed this year. Sales had peaked in 2018 in Hugo and in 2022 in Washington County. The median sales price in Hugo was $575,000, which was higher than the County median price of $500,000 and $398,000 in the Twin Cities. There were 110 new home starts in 2022, which made up most of the residential values. This was down from 197 new home starts the year before. Tyson stated the recent rise in interest rates had not affected values but has affected the length of time properties stay on the market. Approval of the Consent Agenda Klein made motion, Strub seconded, to approve the following Consent Agenda: 1. Approve Claims Roster 2. Approve Resolution Approving CUP Amendment for Bradley Investments/DART Portable Storage Units – 16028 Forest Boulevard North 3. Approve Proposal from WSB to Update Master Plan for the Bernin Property All Ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Claims Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the Claims Roster as presented. Council Meeting Minutes for March 20, 2023 Page 3 of 6 Approve Resolution Approving CUP Amendment for Bradley Investments/DART Portable Storage Units – 16028 Forest Boulevard North Bradley Investments, LLC. (Dart Portable Storage) had requested approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) amendment for property located at 16028 Forest Boulevard North. The applicant had requested to amend the CUP to include items related to business operations and the type of exterior storage. The property is 20 acres and included a 7,500 square foot office building and three accessory buildings. At its February 23, 2023, meeting the Planning Commission held a public hearing and considered the request. The Planning Commission agreed the application met the requirements necessary to approve the CUP amendment and unanimously recommended approval to the City Council. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved RESOLUTION 2023- 3 APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT FOR BRADLEY INVESTMENTS, LLC, FOR EXTERIOR STORAGE IN THE RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 16028 FOREST BOULEVARD NORTH. Approve Proposal from WSB to Update Master Plan for the Bernin Property At the meeting of February 15, 2023, the Parks Commission reviewed the 2004 master plan for the Bernin Property. The Parks Commission discussed next steps towards constructing park improvements at the property which included digitally rendering the master plan document and public engagement to gather further input on the plan. A scope of services had been provided by WSB and Associates totaling $3,600 to render the 2004 master plan and incorporate current developed park amenities and other changes since its approval. At the meeting of March 15, 2023, the Parks Commission recommended approval of the proposal and recommended staff hold a community workshop to review the updated master plan. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the proposal from WSB to update the master plan for the Bernin property at 5540 Greene Avenue North. Approve Resolution Establishing Water and Sanitary Sewer Rates The Finance Department had completed its analysis of water and sewer billing data and had prepared a pro forma financial guide and corresponding service rates for the 2023 fiscal year. Finance Director Anna Wobse presented information to the Council saying the Finance Department had been preparing the water and sewer rates in-house since 2018 to see what revenue was necessary to cover operating costs. The last rate increase was done in 2020, and the 2023 Pro Forma Financial Guide showed there was a need to increase fees to meet expenses. In 2023, a new superintendent and lead worker positions were created, and a new facility was built in 2022 that created new costs. The sewer and water budget reflected these increases. There were also increases from the Metropolitan Council of 18% for sewage treatment, and continued yearly increases were anticipated. She reviewed water rates and recommended a 6% increase in the water base fee, which would increase the fee from $34 to $36 per quarter. She also recommended an increase of 15% for top tier single family residential usage (29,000 plus gallons) and for separately metered irrigation usage. For sewer rates, a 13% increase in sewer base fee and 13% increase in tiered usage was recommended. This would be equivalent to $8 a quarter increase per SAC unit for residential users and $2.50 a quarter per SAC unit for Council Meeting Minutes for March 20, 2023 Page 4 of 6 commercial users. These increases would generate adequate revenue for the Sewer and Water Fund, but would need to be reviewed again next year to see if additional increases were necessary. Anna stated that if revenue didn’t cover all expenses, reserves would be used to cover the difference. Though it is difficult to do a true comparison with other cities since all have a different rate structure, Hugo would be less than what is reported in the Metropolitan Council’s single-family average rate data. Council talked about the Met Council’s increases and the City’s inability to influence it. Part of the overall goal to decrease water use in the region reduces the fees Met Council receives to cover costs, and in addition, the Hugo population has increased, both leading to increased costs from the Met Council. It was asked if the rate increase would cover the City’s costs. Anna responded that most likely meet the goal of covering expenses, dependent on if it’s a wet or dry year. Klein made motion, Petryk seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2023 – 4 ADOPTING A PRO FORMA FINANCIAL GUIDE FOR WATER AND SANITARY SEWER OPERATIONS FOR THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR AND ESTABLISHING SERVICE RATES. All Ayes. Motion carried. TH61 Visioning Study – Washington County and Bolton Menk, Inc. Washington County, MnDOT and the City of Hugo were partnering on a corridor visioning study of Highway 61. A traffic, land use, and engineering analysis along with community input would help identify the long-range vision for the corridor that will be used to define future improvements and guide a potential jurisdictional transfer of the roadway from MnDOT to Washington County. The goals of the study include items such as evaluation of intersection improvements, defining access points, and determining right-of-way needs for the corridor for a possible expansion of the roadway. The kick-off of the study began in January with collection of data for an existing conditions report. Madeline Dahlheimer, from Washington County, and Beth Engum and Bob Rogers from Bolton and Menk, Inc. attended the City Council meeting to present an overview of the study and ask for any input from the City Council. Maddie Dahlheimer, Senior Planner at Washington County Public Works explained they were currently in the stakeholder engagement phase. She introduced Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron. Commissioner Miron said Highway 61 had been discussed for many years, and the County is involved in a number of turnbacks, this being one of them. The connection to Hugo’s downtown underscores the importance of the City and County needs. He thought the visioning process would help address the community’s needs, and he looked forward to working with the study. Bob Rogers, Transportation Planner at Bolton Menk, said he grew up in White Bear Lake and was currently a resident in Hugo with five drivers in his family. He said there were two components of the study: the visioning process and the jurisdictional transfer. He elaborated on the three phases of the visioning process. The first phase will be the exploratory phase and Council Meeting Minutes for March 20, 2023 Page 5 of 6 include creating a list of key issues and opportunities and studying goals to define the corridor vision to support economic growth and long-term transportation and increasing safety for all users. Information will then be evaluated. Defining the correct solutions, preferred resolutions, and jurisdictional transfer will take place in 2024. Stakeholder meeting will be held, and an open house is scheduled for early April. There will be pop up events including one at Good Neighbor Days. Smaller group meeting will be set up with the Economic Development Authority, Hugo Area Business Association, and the school districts. There is also a project website. Phase one will include looking at traffic volumes, crashes, and fatalities. Operations and delays will also be looked at to see what can be done to move traffic along easier. It will include demographic assessments and natural and environmental review. Klein said he was pleased they were starting this process and recommended they reach out to business owners along Highway 61. He said traffic light delays have been a headache, and he asked if all entrances will continue to be available. He also asked, assuming it would be four lanes, how would it all fit in. Bob responded they will be looking at access management and looking into future development and access. Maddie added that these are all topics that will be looked into during the study, and no assumptions had been made. Weidt commented that it gets congested at certain times of the day, but it not as bad as other traffic problems in the metro area. He added that the study is much needed as the City plans for the future. Weidt made motion, Petryk seconded, to schedule a meeting to attend the Open House on Wednesday April 5, 2023, from 5 pm to 7 pm at Hugo City Hall in the Oneka Room. All Ayes. Motion carried. Reminder – Solar Workshop on Thursday, March 23, 2023 City Administrator Bryan Bear reminded Council a workshop was scheduled with the Planning Commission to discuss the Solar Energy Systems ordinance as it applies to solar farms. The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the Oneka Room. Schedule the Metro Cities Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council they were invited to attend the Metro Cities Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. in the Rose Room at the Roseville Skating Center. Petryk made motion, Klein seconded, to schedule a meeting to attend Metro Cities Annual Meeting on April 19, 2023. Al Ayes. Motion carried. Council Meeting Minutes for March 20, 2023 Page 6 of 6 Schedule the 2023 LMC Annual Conference June 21-23 City Administrator Bryan Bear informed Council they were invited to attend the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference on June 21-23 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Council did not schedule this as a meeting, and will let staff know if they are interested in attending. Adjournment Klein made motion, Strub seconded, to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Michele Lindau, City Clerk