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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - January 16, 202041 ND OVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US TO: Mayor and Council members CC: James Dickinson, City Administrator FROM: Dana Makinen, Human Resources Manager SUBJECT: Commission Interviews DATE: January 14" and 16'' 2020 Please find the attached information for the Commission Interviews • Interview Schedule • Application from Candidates © • 2019 Commissions Information o Planning & Zoning O Park & Rec. o Open Space Respectfully submitted, C. Dana Makinen A ANDOVER COMMISSIONINTERVIEWS— JANUARY 16,2020 MINUTES The Andover Commission Interviews was called to order by Mayor Julie Trude, January 16, 2020 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Mike Knight, Sheri Bukkila, Valerie Holthus and Jamie Barthel Councilmember absent: None Others present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved as presented. INTERVIEWS OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION/PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION/YMCA COMMUNITY CENTER ADVISORY COMMISSION/OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION/YOUTH FIRST APPLICANTS Tracy Strombeck— Park and Recreation Commission Mayor Trude welcomed Ms. Strombeck and asked her why she decided to apply for the Park and Recreation Commission. Ms. Strombeck stated she has ended her term with the High School Boosters and now has time to give to other efforts. She stated she and her kids have grown up here and she is familiar with athletics in the City. Councilmember Bukkila asked Ms. Strombeck if she was involved in any park projects. Ms. Strombeck stated she was involved in baseball and softball field projects. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. Strombeck to share what she would like to see changed on the Park Commission. Ms. Strombeck stated she would love a trail connecting anything north of 1615f Avenue to Andover. Councilmember Knight asked about Ms. Strombeck's involvement in sports. Ms. Strombeck stated she has been active on boards and in high school boosters for a very long time. She stated she has learned field maintenance through her experience in the boosters. © Mayor Trude asked how her high school athletics experience would transfer to the Park Commission. Ms. Strombeck stated she has worked with youth groups and she has overseen the © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 16, 2020 Page 2 youth associations use of the high school fields. Councilmember Holthus asked if Ms. Strombeck if she had used the parks for passive activities other than sports. Ms. Strombeck stated when she was younger, but not much in her adulthood. Mayor Trade asked Ms. Strombeck if she could name any parks. Ms. Strombeck stated she can name all the ones with fields. Ms. Strombeck stated she is willing to learn. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. Strombeck how she would handle a situation where the Park Commission thought one park should be improved and the Council thought it should be a different park. Ms. Strombeck replied there should be meetings with both groups, take into account usage numbers, and weigh the factors. She stated the Council would be making the final decision; however, she would advocate for the Park and Recreation Commission's position. Mayor Trade asked why the Council should appoint her. Ms. Strombeck replied she has a lot of time, is hands on, and is a big picture girl. She says her favorite thing is to make things better for the future. © The Council thanked Ms. Strombeck for taking the time to interview. Mary VanderLaan Planning and Zoning Commission Mayor Trade welcomed Ms. VanderLaan and asked her what she felt was the most interesting case the Commission reviewed this past year. Ms. VanderLaan replied the landfill case and the Petersen Farm were the two most interesting especially because of her knowledge and experience in the City during the early years. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. VanderLaan to state one or two strengths that she brings to the Commission. Ms. VanderLaan responded her awareness that the City needs affordable housing is one strength. She defined affordable as 21-25 units per acre and is aware that building an apartment complex will be a volatile issue in the City. Ms. VanderLaan stated she is also loquacious. Mayor Trade stated the Council appreciates hearing different viewpoints from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Ms. VanderLaan stated she values fairness and jurisprudence. Mayor Trade clarified that affordable housing includes smaller lots and town homes. Councilmember Bukkila stated anything over 8 units per acre meets Met Council's requirement for affordable housing. Ms. VanderLaan stated the City has an obligation to serve the people that live in Andover and an obligation to those that are coming in the future. Mayor Trade asked what she liked about living in Andover. Ms. VanderLaan stated she likes the number of services coming to Andover in a sane fashion. She stated the City is balancing development, has good roads, and an identity. She appreciates the farsightedness the current and past Councils have had. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 16, 2020 Page 3 The Council thanked Ms. VanderLaan for taking the time to interview. Jen Vedadi —Open Space Advisory Commission Mayor Trude welcomed Ms. Vedadi and asked if she would also consider the Parks Commission. Ms. Vedadi stated she would, depending on the time commitment. Ms. Vedadi stated she is interested in maintaining the amenities that brought her to Andover: the recreational and natural elements. Mayor Trude asked if she had been to the open space parks and Ms. Vedadi replied she has been to all four and recently went snowshoeing at two locations. Mayor Trude reviewed the open space locations and the responsibilities of the Advisory Commission. Councilmember Barthel asked one or two things she would like to see with the Open Space Commission. Ms. Vedadi replied she would like to increase access and brought forward suggestions for doing so. She would like to develop partnerships to improve education and access to the open spaces. Councilmember Bukkila commented that she liked the ideas Ms. Vedadi brought and felt it was appropriate for the next phase of Andover's open spaces. © Ms. Vedadi stated her passion is outdoor recreation and she would like to serve and protect the outdoors. She stated she has many ideas and is a team player. The Council thanked Ms. Vedadi for taking the time to interview. Pam Breyen— Planning and Zoning/Open Space Advisory Commission Mayor Trade welcomed Ms. Breyen and reviewed the position of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Ms. Breyen stated she is retired and has the time and interest to serve. Ms. Breyen stated she is a long-time City resident. She stated the health of the community is important in the planning stages. She says that she has frequent conversations with residents about the City. She stated she reviewed the City's Facebook page to gather more information about what is occurring in the City. Councilmember Bukkila asked if she has dealt with building code, ordinances, compliance, and legal matters. Ms. Breyen stated she went through the process of building a house and followed City Code. Councilmember Bukkila stated different rules apply to different types of properties and asked what she thought of that. Ms. Breyen stated she lives in a rural area and there are different rules for her than there are for properties in the MUSA. Councilmember Barthel asked her what she would like to champion if she got on one of these © commissions. Ms. Breyen stated she would like to be a voice for the health of the community after the planning is done. She stated she is concerned about the disparity between the seniors and the young people. She stated it is important to plan for the seniors when they sell their houses and © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 16, 2020 Page 4 move to something smaller. Mayor Trade asked her what the City should do to help the seniors with housing. Ms. Breyen stated the City should add condos, but not massive complexes. Councilmember Bukkila asked her concerns about adding an impound lot. Ms. Breyen replied she would ask how often they would be towing cars. Ms. Breyen stated it would require a lot of research. The Council thanked Ms. Breyen for taking the time to interview. DELIBERATION The Councilmembers discussed and reviewed the candidates for all vacant Commission positions. Motion by Councilmember Holthus, Seconded by Councilmember Knight, to appoint Jen Vedadi and Erik Lindberg to the Open Space Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilmember Holthus, Seconded by Councilmember Bukkila, to appoint Mary VanderLaan, Dawn Perra, and Mami Elias to the Planning and Zoning Commission and appoint © Wes Volkenant as the first alternate. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilmember Knight, Seconded by Councilmember Barthel, to appoint Jim Lindahl to the Park and Recreation Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilmember Bukkila, Seconded by Councilmember Knight, to appoint Tracy Strombeck to the Park and Recreation Commission. Motion failed (1-4). Trade, Barthel, Holthus and Knight voting against. Motion by Councilmember Barthel, Seconded by Councilmember Knight, to re -advertise for the Park and Recreation Commission. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilmember Bukkila, Seconded by Councilmember Holthus, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Shari Kunza, Recording Secretary Timesaver OffSite Secretarial, Inc.