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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - January 17, 20171685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order— 6:00 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval 3. Interviews of Planning & Zoning Commission/Park & Recreation Commission/Open Space Advisory Commission/Commission Applicants 4. Adjournment CM] H, ANDOVER COMMISSIONINTERVIEWS —JANUARY 17,2017 MINUTES The Andover Commission Interviews was called to order by Mayor Julie Trude, January 17, 2017, 6:03 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Mike Knight, Sheri Bukkila, Valerie Holthus and James Goodrich Councilmember absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson INTERVIEWS OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION / PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION / OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION / COMMISSION APPLICANTS Shelly Zenner — Park & Recreation Commission Councilmember Holthus outlined the responsibilities of a Park & Recreation Commissioner, focusing on it being a recommendation body. Ms. Zenner described her background and desire to participate in local government. She indicated her ability to participate in the twice per month meetings. She stated she eventually would like to do more in local government and in the community, after her kids are in school. She briefly described her background, having been in the Peace Corp in Botswana for 2 years in the area of community development. Peace Corp work involved doing whatever the community needed, leaming what they would like to do, not taking over and really listening. After she returned from Botswana, she was in sales related to efficient lighting upgrades, where she sold and managed projects. She also started her own online dating website for volunteers, where she verifies individual's volunteer service. She and her husband traveled a lot before they had children. Mayor Trude referred to the City's parks to see how they are laid out and to the City's Master Plan and asked if she would have done things differently. Ms. Zenner replied she had learned what fails for parks, specifically when there is no money to maintain it. She felt she was aware of what does not work. Mayor Trude asked about Ms. Zenner's family. Ms. Zenner indicated she had come to the meeting regarding Pine Hills Park and that she was very proud of Andover for listening to her, a resident, and responded to things she asked for (moving the location of a parking lot). Councilmember Goodrich asked if she had any connections to sports. Ms. Zenner stated their family © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes—January 17, 2017 Page 2 goes to the YMCA often and have participated in sports there. In college, she started a sport club from scratch. She grew up in Andover and now lives one mile from her dad, having bought a house here in 2010. Councilmember Knight noted her variety of experience and organizational management degree. He asked how she sees the function of the parks. Ms. Zenner replied the work is to maintain and manage parks and trails in the City. Mayor Trude asked if Ms. Zenner had read the Commission minutes or attended a meeting. Ms. Zenner replied affirmatively. She also confirmed she had seen the master plan, shared with her via pdf by Todd Haas, and she had also shared it with others. She stated she is excited about plans for the environmental learning areas. Mayor Trude asked why she thought that she would be the best candidate. Ms. Zenner stated she is adaptable and flexible, more so than most. After the Peace Corp, she felt like she could do anything, because she had so few resources then within which to do accomplish tasks. In her work on her website, she has to fill every position/role, as one would in a small company. © Mayor Trude asked Ms. Zenner if the City had been good at communicating with residents in her experience. Ms. Zenner thought it had been great, based on only a few interactions. She recounted telling staff about an oil spill and they were at the location within one day to clean it up. Mayor Trude encouraged the candidate to apply again if not chosen for a Commission position. Regina Pekarek—Andover/YMCA Community Center Councilmember Knight described the arrangements the City has with the YMCA/Community Center and asked if she uses the facility significantly. Ms. Pekarek replied, yes, but stated she did not know the management staff, but knew the fitness staff. She called it a very vibrant space, saying she enjoys it herself and she feels it enhances the health and wellness of the community. She expressed her belief that it is good for kids to keep them healthy and engaged in the community and believes it is a unique partnership and benefit to both the City/residents and the YMCA organization. She described it as a non-profit that gives back to the community. Councilmember Bukkila noted her work history is in Human Resources. Ms. Pekarek explained her background and how it fits in with the Community Center. She is involved in workforce development and wants to see people be educated and move ahead in their lives. She works with people on the business side and how an organization needs to run. She stated she understood there is © a desire in the community to expand and enhance the Community Center. Mayor Trude asked Ms. Pekarek if she had read any of the minutes or knew about any of the issues © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 17, 2017 Page 3 facing the Commission. Ms. Pekarek stated she had not familiarized herself. Mayor Trude described the role of the Commission, as opposed to the business of the YMCA/Community Center, and asked her if she had thought about the business side of the YMCA/Community Center. Ms. Pekarek indicated she had seen some of the developments and the enhancements and cited the library services addition. Mayor Trude indicated the Commission decides what needs to bring in money [at the Community Center] and what does not. From a member perspective, Ms. Pekarek would like to see more choices for classes and more studio space, and on the community side, a larger field house and a larger gym area. She expressed the gym space is very crowded, even for spectator space. She believes a larger space could bring in more revenue. Councilmember Bukkila also inquired if she had reviewed the minutes or the issues before the Commission. Ms. Pekarek replied she had not. Mayor Trude asked if she was able to commit to meeting once a month. Ms. Pekarek replied she is able to make that commitment. Mayor Trude asked her opinion about a physical therapist renting space. Ms. Pekarek replied she would explore the hours of operation, make sure the business fit with the philosophy of the © Community Center. She also expressed concern about the ramifications of allowing one physical therapist to rent space, and then what about others? Other considerations would be where to locate the services within the facility. Mayor Trude continued by asking how she would feel if someone moved from a strip mall to the Community Center. Ms. Pekarek replied she would have questions, concerns, and she wondered about the tax base and what that would mean for the City as a whole. Mayor Trade explained this particular Commission does not interact much with the public at meetings, but more so with the management of the YMCA. She went on to described the make-up of the group and that this would be a "resident -at -large" slot they are looking to fill. Ms. Pekarek said she had gone to the YMCA as a resident and non-resident, having moved to Andover for the schools and a new home. She has school-age children. Mayor Trude expressed she could be an alternate on the Commission if not selected. Joy Orvis —Andover YMCA/Community Center Mayor Trude indicated the next big thing for the YMCA/Community Center was an evaluation and possible expansion. She asked what Ms. Orvis could bring to the Commission. Ms. Orvis stated she had a vested interest in the Community Center since the beginning. She indicated she is involved in the Andover Athletic Association and is a hockey mom of 4 kids with a wealth of business experience, specifically in sales and marketing. She has been a small business © owner in the community. She was also involved in the Highway 65 overpass issue with other business owners. More recently she has been involved in visual marketing. Ms. Orvis spoke about a gap in the Community Center and that residents have a lack of information about how the YMCA © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 17, 2017 Page 4 services the Andover community, feeling that residents do not see the value proposition. She expressed the importance of educating residents about how valuable the Community Center is, with over IM visits. She would like to share that information. She has come to understand the YMCA/Community Center from the business side and expressed the importance of identifying the strengths, opportunities and threats. This year the City has a flat budget and Ms. Orvis has been thinking about the age of the building [and needed future repairs], non-traditional revenue streams, and partnerships. Ninety-five percent of the time is booked in the facility and expansion could bring more revenue opportunity. She believes there are opportunities outside the current partners. Ms. Orvis believes once the feasibility study is completed, that partners should be asked what they are willing to commit to, to have more space, including pre -selling of hours. She stated her commitment to making the Community Center all it can be. Potential partners could be the Andover Football Association, those needing track training space, along with Lacrosse. She pointed out talking to potential partners and asking what their needs are is an important step. Councilmember Bukkila asked about a situation that happened last summer, regarding a Facebook page post with misinformation. Ms. Orvis indicated she corrected the misinformation and referenced the City Administrator, Jim Dickinson. She followed up by stating she had met with Mr. Dickinson several times and she is very careful what she says in the public arena. She stated she did not © mention her association to the Community Center Advisory Commission. Ms. Orvis left at 6:45 p.m. Mr. Dickinson indicated the 6:45 p.m. applicant was not present. There was discussion regarding the candidates for the Community Center Advisory Commission. Motion by Holthus, Seconded by Bukkila, to appoint Don Schmeichel to the Community Center Advisory Commission. Motion carried unanimously. RECESS Motion by Holthus, Seconded by Goodrich, to recess the meeting until after the regular City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The City Council Workshop meeting recessed at 6:53 p.m. RECONVENE The City Council reconvened the Workshop meeting at 9:52 p.m. There was continued discussion regarding the candidates and the current openings on the various Commissions. © Motion by Holthus, Seconded by Goodrich, to appoint Dean Daninger, Tim Cleven, and Jeff Sims to the Planning and Zoning Commission, with Nick Loehlein as an Alternate. Motion carried unanimously. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 17, 2017 Page 5 Motion by Bukkila, Seconded by Goodrich, to appoint Angela Marinello and Jim Lindahl to the Park and Recreation Commission, with Dawn Perra as an Alternate. Motion carried 4 aye, 1 nay (Holthus). Motion by Bukkila, Seconded by Goodrich, to appoint Anna Dirkswager, Gretchen Sabel and Rebecca Dahlberg to the Open Space Advisory Commission, with Sharon Cramer as an Alternate. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Bukkila, Seconded by Councilmember Goodrich, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:19 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marlene White, Recording Secretary TimeSaver OffSite Secretarial, Inc. H \J