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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK - February 24, 2015C Y O F © 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVAKU N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESUTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV City Council Workshop Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Andover Community Center at 6:00 p.m. Conference Rooms A & B 8:00 p.m. Joint Meeting with Community Center Advisory Commission at Andover Community Center 1. Call to Order — 6:00 p.m. City Council Workshop at Andover City Hall Conference Rooms A & B 8:00 p.m. 2. Country Oaks North 2nd Addition Discussion - Planning 3. Progress Update/Woodland Creek Wetland Restoration/12 -23 -Engineering 4. Discuss Fence Height along County Roads - Planning 5. Pre -Audit Year Ending December 2014 General Fund Budget Progress Report 6. January 2015 General Fund Budget Progress Report 7. January 2015 City Investments Review 8. Other Business 9. Adjournment C 0 4 ft C I Y O F \Nb 6 ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING — FEBRUARY 24, 201 S MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Julie Trade, February 24, 2015, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover Community Center, 15200 Hanson Blvd. NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Mike Knight, Sheri Bukkila, and Valerie Holthus Councilmember absent: James Goodrich (excused) Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson Community Development Director, Dave Carlberg Public Works Director /City Engineer, David Berkowitz Recreational Facility Manager, Erick Sutherland YMCA Representative, Allison Boes Others Community Center — 6:00 p.m. JOINT MEETING WITH COMMUNITY CENTER ADVISORY COMMISSION AT ANDOVER COMMUNITY CENTER Mr. Sutherland, Recreational Facility Manager stated the focus on the joint meeting and tour is on the overall operation of the facility and for the Council to get a feel for the operation at its peak. He reviewed the staff report prepared for the Council including programming, expenses, and needs including more multi -use rooms and storage of the facility. Ms. Boes, Andover YMCA Executive Director explained the programs offered by the YMCA, their partnership with the community, and their future needs. The tour included the ice arena and mechanical room, food court, pro shop, field house, the YMCA fitness facilities, swimming pool, child care areas and meeting rooms, along with discussions regarding the Library On the Go Program, YMCA Youth Center, and other programs being offered by the Community Center and the YMCA. Mr. Sutherland informed the group about the R22 Freon phase out that will need to occur related to the chiller equipment. Air quality testing was also discussed. Mr. Sutherland indicated that our facility is exempt from much of the testing because of the use of an electric edger and ice resurfacer. Ms. Boes explained there are 14,000 members, of which approximately 50% are Andover © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — February 24, 2015 Page 2 residents. The fitness and daycare areas are stressed plus there is demand for more multi -use space. The summer day camp had close to 1,200 children participate last year. Fundraising locally has resulted in over $100,000 to assist with scholarships and programming. Members come from Andover, Ham Lake, East Bethel, Coon Rapids and St. Francis. Mayor Trude asked Ms. Boes if residents can obtain scholarships if they are not able to afford a YMCA membership. Ms. Boes explained the process for applying for scholarships, residents need to provide some income information in order for the YMCA to be good stewards with the grant funds available. She reviewed the events the YMCA does in order to raise funds and the various volunteer opportunities within the YMCA. Mark Chevalier, Andover Youth Hockey Association President, reviewed the contributions of the Hockey Association and the future needs of the sport, noting tremendous numbers of grade school students now active with the association. Mr. Chevalier indicated that girls hockey is really taking off. He stated if there were more ice available at the community center, then the Association members and the High School students would not have to travel as much for ice time. Mayor Trude explained there are several residents with kids in the hockey program that are not complaining about the ice arenas in Blaine being too far to drive so she would like more information about the needs of the local youth. Councilmember Bukkila stated there are currently 450 kids in association hockey programs in Andover and expecting all 10,000 plus households to pay for just 450 kids to play hockey makes it an expense to question. Residents have expressed to her that they do not want to pay more property taxes for another ice rink. Advisory Commission Chair Frank Kellogg explained how much money hockey has brought to the Community Center and how having another arena available would increase the rental figures. Mr. Kellogg thought there should be more parity for hockey when compared to other community sports and school facilities for activities. Advisory Commissioner Tony Howard explained the idea would be to have a second ice sheet be installed over a multi -use floor so half the year it could provide turf for other sports like soccer. Councilmember Bukkila stated the City is being asked to build the facility and the arenas and the income the Association is referencing would only cover the operational costs but the structural costs would be borne by the taxpayers. QMr. Kellogg stated the Advisory Commission would prepare a proposal for the City to review and consider outlining various needs and potential and current revenue streams. © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — February 24, 2015 Page 3 Mr. Sutherland stated the YMCA also has needs that include a Teen Center. Mr. Kellogg explained a Teen Center would not generate income. Councilmember Knight explained a Teen Center gives back to the Community, which is what the Community Center and the YMCA are all about. Councilmember Holthus stated a Teen Center can provide a safe place for youth that encourages positive healthy activity as opposed to less healthy activity that may require additional policing. Ms. Boes explained the YMCA would need a multi - purpose space or a large space that could be transformed to meet the needs of the community. This space would make it easier for the YMCA to hold their programs on site. Mr. Sutherland stated there is demand for more facility and storage space by youth athletics and the schools. Mr. Dickinson explained from a financial perspective 2017 would be an opportune time for the City to do something significant in the Community. The City would need to determine what the priorities of the Community are, the funds required to meet these needs and the amount of funds available. The City will be looking at the City Campus master plan this year and this would be a good time for local Associations, the Community Center Advisory Commission, and the YMCA to make presentations regarding their needs and proposed solutions. Mr. Sutherland stated on another topic, the Andover Baseball Association would like to take over the concessions at Andover Station North, he is supportive of that as their needs are irregular and it is hard to staff and plan for their games making it difficult to financially break even there. Mayor Trude said she would support his recommendation as he has been reporting problems for some time with trying to make concessions there worthwhile. The Community Center would continue to operate the concessions at Sunshine Park as that remains profitable. Councilmember Bukkila stated she had a few questions regarding the Andover Station North concessions so she would like to see a proposal on this prior to the change. Mayor Trude recessed the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Mayor Trude reconvened the City Council Workshop at 8:15 p.m. at Andover City Hall, 1685, Crosstown Blvd. NW, Andover. CO UNTRY OAKS NORTH 2" ADDITION DISCUSSION Mr. Carlberg explained the City Council is requested to discuss a concept plan of Country Oaks North Second Addition regarding land use, general development design and road alignments. © Mr. Carlberg indicated this concept plan involves City property, so it was determined the Council should review the concepts before anything moves to a formal review. Mr. Carlberg reviewed the staff report and concept details with the Council. Mr. Scott Wold, © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — February 24, 2015 Page 4 developer, was at the meeting to present his thoughts behind the concept and to answer questions. Mr. Wold explained the proposed road out to Hanson Boulevard uses some of the city's land to avoid sections of a sensitive wetland on land he owns. The lots are large, with some one acre lots planned next to open space for reasonable development. Mr. Berkowitz stated this would be the best location for an east -west access to /from Hanson Boulevard and this connection would be needed to serve the next development phase as the Council requested of the developer. Mr. Dickinson reminded the Council is asked to discuss the concept primarily because the proposed design would utilize some City owned property and create what would be considered transitional one acre lots. Mayor Trade asked if one acre lots are large enough to accommodate a well and septic system. She stated she would want public hearings on allowing these in Andover and is concerned about setting precedent. Councilmember Bukkila stated she would like to see the proposed development connect to the existing road in phase 1 in two locations rather than one. Mr. Dave Nash, developer's engineer, explained if a road connection is made to the south it would affect the drainage for the lots that already exist along the existing roadway. Mayor Trade suggested any second connection occur on the developer's land and she did not think it was needed for the next phase. Mr. Carlberg explained the one acre lots would only be transitional from urban to rural. This type of land use would be very limited in the City and would need to be approved by Met Council due to the limited areas this type of lot could be used within the City, it should not set a precedent. He indicated the very few locations this may be allowed on the city map, all in areas where MUSA land is next to rural zones. He explained if the Council would like to see another connection between the proposed development and the existing road then staff would work with the developer on that. The Council discussed establishing a Transitional Rural land use category and limiting the application of this type of land use so it would only be allowed on land with city utilities or next to land with city utilities as a buffer between different zoning districts. There were mixed opinions about redesigning the developer's concept plan. Councilmember Bukkila asked if there would be enough space available for public parking to access the City owned Open Space. © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — February 24, 2015 Page 5 Mr. Carlberg stated one idea would be to have a neighborhood park with parking. The proposed project would provide enough land through the City's Park Dedication Fee but this is something that would need to be worked out if the project moved forward. Mayor Trude expressed concern about adding a park on land the City owned. She noted they had set aside some land that could have been open space in order to facilitate one east -west road for the developer and adding a second road or parking lot would require additional trees to be removed. She would not support anything but the minimal use of the city land. Council consensus was to explore the Transitional Rural land use category with the Met Council. PROGRESS UPDATEIWOODLAND CREEK WETLAND RESTORATION /12 -23 Mr. Berkowitz explained the City Council is requested to discuss the status of the Woodland Creek Wetland Restoration project. Mr. Berkowitz reviewed with the Council the progress on the Woodland Creek Wetland Restoration. He explained every bordering property would have a monument marker for their © property lines including the City owned property. The construction activities would likely start in the fall. Mayor Trude asked if the City could construct an access to the south on the 20 foot easement. Mr. Dickinson stated that proceeds generated from the project could be used to build a retaining wall. It was originally envisioned those proceeds would be used for maintaining the property. DISCUSS FENCE HEIGHT ALONG COUNTYROADS Mr. Carlberg explained the City Council is requested to discuss fence height regulations along county roads and provide staff with direction if amendments to the City Code are necessary. Mr. Carlberg reviewed the current City Code related to fences with the Council. Councilmember Bukkila explained she would like to have these regulations be more specific than just along county roads. Mayor Trude reviewed the regulations and rules she would recommend. She asked what the goal would be if the City were to grant a variance to the height of a fence. The Council consensus was that a uniform and attractive appearance would be important. No © one wanted varying heights of fences next to the sound walls. Mr. Carlberg stated there is a purpose for sound walls and he would suggest if a property does not qualify for a sound wall the maximum height of the fence be 6 -feet and the variance process Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — February 24, 2015 Page 6 can be used for special situations. The Council agreed. There was general discussion on the height of fences in the City and along county roads. The consensus of the Council was to keep the variance process as is and use for deviations regarding fence height along county roads. PRE AUDIT YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 2014 GENERAL FUND BUDGET PROGRESS REPORT Mr. Dickinson stated the City of Andover 2014 General Fund Budget contains total revenues of $9,569,142 and total expenditures of $10,026,875 (includes $30,500 of 2013 budget carry forwards), a decrease in fund balance is planned. Mr. Dickinson reviewed the report with the Council. JANUARY 2015 GENERAL FUND BUDGET PROGRESS REPORT Mr. Dickinson explained the City of Andover 2015 General Fund Budget contains total revenues © of $9,876,575 and total expenditures of $10,338,730; a decrease in fund balance is planned. Mr. Dickinson reviewed the fund budget progress report with the Council. JANUARY 2015 CITY INVESTMENTS REVIEW Mr. Dickinson reviewed the January 2015 City Investments with the City Council. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Bukkila, Seconded by Councilmember Holthus, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tina Borg, Recording Secretary X