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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - January 12, 2021u r#] L 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV TO: -Mayor and Council me CC: James Dickinson, City FROM: Dana. Makinen, Humar SUBJl~EC'1': Commission Interviews DATE: January 12a' and 13", 2021 Please find the attached information for the Commission Interviews • Interview Schedule • Application from Candidates • 2020 Commissions Information o Planning & Zoning o Park & Rec. o Open Space o Andover/YMCA Community Center Respectfully submitted, / ayk10� Dana Makinen C ANDOVER COMMISSIONINTER VIEWS — JANUARYI2,1021 MINUTES The Andover Commission Interview meeting was called to order by Mayor Sheri Bukkila on January 12, 2021, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Valerie Holthus (remote), Jamie Barthel, Ted Butler, and Randy Nelson Councilmember absent: None AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved as presented. 10 INTERVIEWS OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION, PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION, OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION/YMCA CC ADVISORY COMMISSION Jake Widmyer — Park and Recreation Commission (remote) Mayor Bukkila welcomed Mr. Widmyer. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Widmyer to tell the Council about himself and why he wanted to continue to be on the Park and Recreation Commission. Mr. Widmyer stated he has been on the Park Commission for three years and he works at the City of Champlin in the Park and Recreation Department. He likes public service and being part of the community. Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Widmyer how long he has been a resident and what else he has been involved in. Mr. Widmyer replied he moved in Andover in 2012. He has worked at the Community Center, involved in his church, and he frequently visits the parks. Councilmember Nelson asked what special projects Mr. Widmyer would like to see accomplished. Mr. Widmyer replied he would like to continue the process .of trail connections. He stated he likes the playground replacement process. He also enjoys meeting with the neighborhood and getting their input about what they want to see in their park. Mayor Bukkila asked what needs improvement under the Park Commission purview. Mr. Widmyer responded there is a high turnover on the Park Commission membership and would like to see Commissioners stay longer. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 2 Councilmember Barthel asked Mr. Widmyer to share qualities that make him unique to serve on the Park and Recreation Commission and a strength he brings to the Commission. Mr. Widmyer responded that he enjoys listening to the community and see what they can do to help them. Mr. Widmyer understands the staff because he works in a Park and Recreation Department. Mr. Widmyer stated he has a young child and can bring that perspective to the Commission. Councilmember Barthel asked what he has learned from serving on the Commission. Mr. Widmyer replied he has learned how excited people get and how much they want to be involved. He gave the example of a baseball team that was looking for a field to use and the entire team came to advocate for using an Andover field. Mr. Widmyer said the pickleball organization is another example of community involvement. Councilmember Butler asked what goals Mr. Widmyer hopes to accomplish in his next term. Mr. Widmyer responded figuring out how the Commission fits with the Community Center. He wants to continue with playground replacements. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Widmyer his favorite park. Mr. Widmyer said Rose or Wild Iris Park. Councilmember Holthus asked what his favorite sport is that is played in the parks. Mr. Widmyer replied baseball. Councilmember Holthus asked which hockey rink served two people that play professional hockey today. Mr. Widmyer replied Prairie Knoll. Councilmember Holthus stated it was Hawk Ridge. Mayor Bukkila stated the Park Commission is dependent on development for its park budget and asked Mr. Widmyer what his priorities are if the budget were to be decreased. Mr. Widmyer replied safety is a priority. He said the Commission is not looking to build many more small parks. He said the City should spend money on keeping the parks and fields safe. Councilmember Barthel asked Mr. Widmyer to share his perspective on working with the City Council and how he has shared his opinion with the City Council. Mr. Widmyer stated the Commission was disappointed they could not meet with the Council at a joint meeting due to COVID. He stated he would like to have the opportunity to meet with the Council once per year. Mr. Widmyer said the overall relationship is good. Mr. Widmyer said he was quiet his first year serving, but he was able to share comments the Commission received in subsequent years. Mayor Bukkila thanked Mr. Widmyer for taking the time to interview. Mark Tossey — Planning and Zoning/EDA/Park and Rec/Open Space/ YMCA CC Mayor Bukkila welcomed Mr. Tossey and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Tossey to tell the Council about himself and why he wanted © to be on the Commission. Mr. Tossey stated he has been in Andover since 2007 and raised his kids here. He said he has more time to do anything he wants, and he would like to get more involved. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 12, 2021 Page 3 Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Tossey what community activities he has been involved in. Mr. Tossey replied his family has been involved in hockey and he has volunteered for the hockey association. Mr. Tossey has volunteered in the schools and has coached youth sports. Councilmember Nelson asked Mr. Tossey how much time it would require to be on a Commission. Mr. Tossey replied his work schedule is flexible and works 12-hour day which allows him to dedicate time to a Commission. Mayor Bukkila asked which Commission Mr. Tossey prefers and what experience he will bring to the Commission. Mr. Tossey replied he is open to any Commission and has a degree in economics and is a union steward. Councilmember Barthel asked what unique qualifications or characteristics Mr. Tossey can bring to a Commission. Mr. Tossey replied his work as a union steward in handling complaints and compromising will help the Commission. Mayor Bukkila asked if Mr. Tossey's occupation was union steward. Mr. Tossey stated he is an engineer in St. Paul and explained his job. Mayor Bukkila asked if he was experienced in construction, design, and facilities. Mr. Tossey stated his experience in facilities is with boilers, chillers, and licensing. Mayor Bukkila asked if he had experience in project planning. Mr. Tossey replied he works with engineers on equipment, piping, and software. Councilmember Barthel asked how many City meetings Mr. Tossey has attended. Mr. Tossey said he did not start looking until the recent elections and he has not looked at the minutes. Councilmember Butler asked what goals Mr. Tossey would have if he was selected to serve. Mr. Tossey stated his goals are to be as helpful as he can and learn. He said there are areas of Andover that need cleaning up. Mayor Bukkila thanked Mr. Tossey for taking the time to interview. Nick Loehlein Planning and Zoning Commission (remote) Mayor Bukkila welcomed Mr. Loehlein and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Loehlein to tell the Council about himself and why he wanted to continue to be on the Commission. Mr. Loehlein replied has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for a third term. He said he works for Connexus Energy and is the Vice -President of Operations. Mr. Loehlein has a background in engineering with an understanding of codes. He said he has enjoyed his experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission and believes there will be more asked of the Commission due to the density requirements and PUD process. © Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Loehlein to talk about his involvement in community activities. Mr. Loehlein stated his position on the Planning and Zoning Commission is one way to interact © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 4 with the community that matches his skills. He said he serves on a small non-profit called Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County as chairperson. He volunteers at Fun Fest, PTA, and Therapy Dogs International. Councilmember Nelson asked what makes Mr. Loehlein excited about applying for the Planning and Zoning Commission and what special projects he would like to work on. Mr. Loehlein replied he anticipates seeing unique types of development. He stated there will be PUDs and the City will have to consider different types of housing than it is used to. Mr. Loehlein said it's exciting to see development that is different and offers uniqueness. Mayor Bukkila said the City has gone through some controversial developments in the rural area with PUDs. She asked if Mr. Loehlein has a position on PUDs in the rural area and asked what he has learned from his past experience. Mr. Loehlein replied the first thing that comes to mind is density. He sees the advantages of the PUD process. He agrees it results in higher quality developments. He says there needs to be a balance between density and proper street connections, and existing landowner concerns. Mr. Loehlein can see the advantages and disadvantages of the PUD process. Councilmember Barthel stated the Planning and Zoning Commission interacts with the City the © most. He asked Mr. Loehlein how he feels about the interaction between the Council and the Commission and what changes he would like to make to change the relationship. Mr. Loehlein replied the Commission sometimes has a hard time determining what position to send to the Council. He said he focuses on what the Commission can agree on. He stated he is a collaborative person, and he would like to see more workshop formats with the Council to determine what the Council wants from the Commission. He said he appreciates the joint meetings. Mayor Bukkila thanked Mr. Loehlein for taking the time to interview and sit on the Planning and Zoning Commission. She stated she appreciates the disagreements the Commission has because it helps her make her decision. Mr. Loehlein stated he and the Planning and Zoning Chair often disagree, but they listen to each other's opinions and move forward with the discussion. Adolphis Bates — Park and Recreation Commission Mayor Bukkila welcomed Mr. Bates and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Bates to tell the Council about himself and why he wanted to be on the Commission. Mr. Bates said he is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandkids. He stated he has lived in the City for 17 years and would like to be a voice for the City of Andover. Mr. Bates stated he was waiting on his kids to grow up, so now he has time to serve. He stated he has visited many parks with his grandkids and has an idea of what he can do to help. Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Bates what other community activities he is involved in and what goals he would like to have. He said he would like the opportunity to serve and then see © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 12, 2021 Page 5 what he can do. He said he is a member of the YMCA. He feels that Andover is a great City, and he has a lot invested in the City. Councilmember Nelson asked what Mr. Bates was the most excited about in serving on the Park and Recreation Commission. Mr. Bates replied he likes challenges and getting involved. His strength is having the opportunity to do something he has not done before. He said he has been in the education system for many years. Mayor Bukkila asked what Mr. Bates had done to prepare for the Park Commission. Mr. Bates said he has spoken to someone and shared his interest and was given advice to read the City Newsletter where he found out about the Commission openings. Councilmember Barthel asked why Mr. Bates is interested in the Park Commission and what he would like to see changed with Park and Recreation. Mr. Bates stated he is excited to be on a Commission and give his opinion. He said he has a desire to see the parks improved. He played sports through his 40s: soccer, baseball, and basketball. He thinks everyone is ready to get out and do something. He said he thinks he is the right fit for the City right now. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Bates what his favorite park was. Mr. Bates said he uses the trails and walks by Lions Park. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Bates' favorite team sport that is played in Andover. Mr. Bates said his favorite sports are baseball and soccer. Mayor Bukkila stated the Park Commission is limited by funds and asked Mr. Bates what his priorities are. Mr. Bates replied all parks are not the same and would base the park improvements on neighborhood demand. Mayor Bukkila thanked Mr. Bates for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up process. Sophia Newton— Park and Recreation Commission Mayor Bukkila welcomed Ms. Newton and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Ms. Newton to tell the Council about herself and why she wanted to continue to be on the Commission. Ms. Newton stated she works in health care and finds it important to take care of other people. She said parks are an important part of the community and that is what drew her to Andover. Councilmember Butler asked how long she has lived in Andover and what other community activities she has been involved in. Ms. Newton has lived in Andover for 13 years and started a neighborhood Facebook group. She has organized Night to Unite for her neighborhood for two ® years. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 6 Councilmember Nelson asked what excites Ms. Newton about being on the Park Commission and what projects she wants to work on in the future. She replied she has learned a lot about the parks in her first nine months. She would like to see the results of the pickleball study and hopes it is not too expensive to construct. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Newton about a difficult topic she has had on the Commission and how she was a contributor in the discussion. Ms. Newton replied working on the parks plan and discussing what amenities should go in which parks. She said she takes the size of the lot and the neighborhood housing to determine what is desirable in a park. Councilmember Barthel stated sometimes the priorities of the Park Commission and the priorities of the City Council can differ. He asked Ms. Newton what characteristics she has that can help and how can the Commission bridge the gaps between them and the City Council. Ms. Newton stated communication is important. She said she reads the minutes and tries to watch meetings. Ms. Newton stated a joint meeting to discuss issues and understand what the City Council wants would be helpful. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Newton if she would like to see something different on the Park Commission. Ms. Newton stated things are going well, however, zoom is a challenge. She said she prefers in -person meetings. She said she is excited about pickleball courts, Pine Hills North parking lot getting paved, and Prairie Knoll parking lot paved. She said she is excited about the future projects. Mayor Bukkila thanked Ms. Newton for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up process. Mayor Bukkila recessed the meeting at 7:12 p.m. Mayor Bukkila reconvened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Laura Rades — Planning and Zoning Commission Mayor Bukkila welcomed Ms. Rades and explained the interview process Councilmember Holthus asked Ms. Rades to tell the Council about herself and why she wants to be on the Commission. Ms. Rades stated she has lived in Andover for almost 30 years and is interested in serving on the Commission after participating in the past election. She said she started paying more attention to the City and is interested in the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Butler asked Ms. Rades what other community activities she is involved in. Ms. Rades stated she volunteered in the schools and this will be her first entry into public service. She stated she volunteered for Coon Rapids Swimming and Diving Team and worked to have a grass- roots co-op. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 7 Councilmember Nelson asked what makes Ms. Rades excited about being on the Planning and Zoning Commission and what would she like to accomplish. Ms. Rades replied she is interested in the long-term planning and sustainability as the City is developed. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Rades how she feels about the current density levels and the development that is occurring. Ms. Rades stated there is a need for multiple variations in density and as people age, there should a variety of housing. Ms. Rades stated the cost of homes may eliminate younger families from buying in Andover. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. Rades how many meetings she has seen for the Planning and Zoning Commission and what skillset does she have that can benefit the Commission. Ms. Rades stated she has not attended any Commission meetings in person. She said she has watched several meetings online and has read several sets of minutes. She stated it is important to have collaboration, differing perspectives, and consider how the choices affect the broader community. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Rades her background on codes, ordinances, commercial property, and land use. Ms. Rades replied she does not have background in this area outside of reading about it. She said she is capable of learning about it and would not make a recommendation without doing research. © Mayor Bukkila asked if Ms. Rades thought the transportation system is adequate for the City's needs. Ms. Rades replied she does not feel the trail system is adequate because there are missing trail connections. She stated the trail system can be improved. She stated the roads have made improvements which will attract more industrial and commercial businesses. She said the City has come a long way and is headed in the right direction. Mayor Bukkila asked if public transportation plays a role. Ms. Rades replied she does see public transportation playing a role. She stated it is important for aging adults to have a way to get to a grocery store or medical appointment. She stated there is opportunity to thoughtfully integrate transportation into Andover. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. Rades what she would like to see changed or something that she can bring to the Commission. Ms. Rades stated she does not have a definitive answer or an agenda. She stated she supports getting an understanding of the community. Councilmember Holthus stated the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews the City Code and requires detail -oriented people. She asked Ms. Rades if she saw herself as a detail -oriented person. Ms. Rades replied she sees herself as a detail -oriented person. She said she is an experience designer in her current job where she needs to be detailed oriented. Mayor Bukkila thanked Ms. Rades for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up © process. Ms. Rades stated she is open to being on other Commissions if the Council thinks she is a good fit. Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 8 Sharon Cramer — Planning and Zoning/Park and Recreation/Open Space Commissions Ms. Cramer addressed the Council and thanked them for interviewing her. She applied for three Commissions and is looking for one position on a Commission that can use her unique characteristics and skills. Mayor Bukkila welcomed Ms. Cramer and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Ms. Cramer to tell the Council about herself and why she wanted to be on a Commission. Ms. Cramer stated she has been an Andover resident for over 30 years. She works as a technology manager and has skills in collaboration, learning and applying herself, committing herself, analysis and decision making, and developing options and making recommendations. Councilmember Butler asked Ms. Cramer what other community activities she has been involved in. Ms. Cramer replied she has been an election judge for many years. She has volunteered for Anoka High School all class reunion committee. Councilmember Nelson asked Ms. Cramer which Commission she leans more towards and asked Qher what she is compassionate about for that Commission. Ms. Cramer said she is most passionate about the Commission that has a spot for her. She said she is passionate about Open Space because she believes everyone should have access to nature in their backyard and a place to unplug. She is passionate about Park and Recreation because she believes the community should have access to recreation in various forms and build relationships and memories. She is passionate about Planning and Zoning because it is critical to a harmonious community. She believes it is important to have the zoning and ordinances in place. She believes it is important for the community to adhere to the rules to reduce friction and create a harmonious environment. She concluded she wants to be on a Commission where she can apply her strengths and skills and that needs her the most. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Cramer if she follows Commission or Council meetings. Ms. Cramer stated she prepared by thinking about the Commissions and what it would be like to be a member. She read the information about the positions, the Commissions, the Comprehensive Plan, zoning rules, and details about each Commission. She thought about how she would fit into each Commission. Councilmember Barthel asked Ms. Cramer to share her unique qualifications and characters. Ms. Cramer said she is not afraid to give a message people do not want to hear in a constructive manner. She said she is willing to commit and apply herself fully. Ms. Cramer is a quick learner and digs into the details. She looks through all the information and puts forth her best recommendation. She said she has the ability to analyze and make recommendations. Mayor Bukkila thanked Ms. Cramer for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up process. © Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes —January 12, 2021 Page 9 Michelle Boles — Park and Recreation Commission Mayor Bukkila welcomed Ms. Boles and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Ms. Boles to tell the Council about herself and why she wanted to be on the Commission. Ms. Boles stated she has lived in Minnesota for 7 years. She has been involved politically since college and has lived abroad. She stated she was shocked with her country and has gotten plugged in. She has gotten involved in Rotary and found out there were openings on City Commissions. She said she has two young daughters that keep her busy. Councilmember Butler asked Ms. Boles what her goals would be if she were selected for the Park and Recreation Commission. Ms. Boles said her goals would be to be involved with the community as a new mother, be a voice for the residents, and get to know people in her community. Councilmember Nelson asked Ms. Boles what she is most excited or passionate about with the Park and Recreation Commission. Ms. Boles said people want to be outside and it is a need in the community. She said she meets different people at the parks and wants to make sure they are in good condition and keep them safe and usable. © Mayor Bukkila asked how long Ms. Boles has lived in Andover. Ms. Boles replied since 2016. Mayor Bukkila asked how Ms. Boles prepared for being on a Commission and if she is up on the current events. Ms. Boles stated she is not. Councilmember Barthel stated the role of the Park Commission is to provide recommendations to the City Council. He said sometimes the goals and action differ between the Commission and the City Council. He asked Ms. Boles what skillset she brings to the Commission to help bridge the gap between Council and the Commission. Ms. Boles replied she is equipped to listening. She said it is good to hear from the residents. She said her strength is her interpersonal skills and communication. Ms. Boles stated she is involved in political groups and she did research with her friends who have served in political office. She said she is a licensed realtor and being a parent is the hardest job she has had. Mayor Bukkila asked if Ms. Boles is licensed in the area. Ms. Boles stated she works with Keller - Williams and has been licensed since 2016. Mayor Bukkila asked Ms. Boles what her assessment is of the livability and what attracts homebuyers to Andover. Ms. Boles stated she helps her friends out and is not in the professional field of realty at this time. Mayor Bukkila thanked Ms. Boles for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up process. © Don Schmeichel — YMCA Community Center Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 10 Mayor Bukkila welcomed Mr. Schmeichel and explained the interview process. Councilmember Holthus asked Mr. Schmeichel to tell the Council about himself and why he wanted to continue to be on the Commission. Mr. Schmeichel stated he has been a resident in Andover for 24 years. He said he has coached numerous sports and has been on the board for two terms. Councilmember Butler asked Mr. Schmeichel what his goals would be if he served another term. Mr. Schmeichel replied his goals include fiscal responsibility, help promote the Community Center and activities. Councilmember Nelson asked Mr. Schmeichel what motivates him to continue on the Commission and if there was anything new, he would like to do. Mr. Schmeichel stated he is motivated due to his longevity in the community and his desire to keep Andover a great place to live. Mayor Bukkila asked Mr. Schmeichel how he feels about his current role and if there is something else the Commission could take on. Mr. Schmeichel replied there has been a lot of discussion with the design of the Community Center expansion and feels he has input. He stated there have been challenges this past year due to COVID and the Commission has been flexible and making changes as needed. He stated the Commission balances the need of users. Mr. Schmeichel stated there is a need for the Commission to think outside the box. Councilmember Barthel asked Mr. Scbmeichel his opinion on what the Commission could turn into to ensure they had more voices or more organizations that are not currently represented. Mr. Schmeichel replied the City could look at adding a few more spots, such as organizations that are not represented. He suggested an item on the agenda that is added by Council to ensure the Commission is on the right track. Councilmember Butler stated the Community Center has budget challenges and asked what Mr. Schmeichel's philosophy was towards revenue generating activities and activities benefiting the greater community that does not produce much revenue. Mr. Schmeichel replied there needs to be a healthy mix of revenue generating activities and fund supported activities. He stated developing goals will help guide the Commission. Councilmember Holthus asked what Mr. Schmeichel thought would be best in the food area by the ice arena, whether it should be contracted or having paid employees run it. Mr. Schmeichel stated the Commission should look at the costs, risks, and return. Mayor Bukkila thanked Mr. Schmeichel for taking the time to interview and explained the follow up process. 0 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bukkila declared the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. ® Andover City Council Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes — January 12, 2021 Page 11 Respectfully submitted, Shari Kunza, Recording Secretary Timesaver OffSite Secretarial, Inc. u ID