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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP January 6, 2004 C~~ ~ h~ O-u-\- 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755·5100 FAX (763) 755·8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Special City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 6, 2004 Conference Room A & B 1, Call to Order - 6:30 p.m. 2. 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Interview Two (2) Commission Candidates 3. 7:00 p.m. - BREAK - (7:00-8:00 p.m.) Regular City Council Meeting 4. Resume Interviews of Seven (7) Commission Members 5, Appoint Chairperson & Vice-Chair for 2004 6. Other Business 7. Adjournment 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755·5100 FAX (763) 755·8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING PARK AND RECREATION BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEWS - JANUARY 6,2004 The Andover City Council interviewed eight candidates for the positions on the Park and Recreation Board and the Planning Commission. Mayor Gamache started the interviews at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A. Councilmembers present: Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel, Julie Trude Councilmember absent: None Also present: Others Dave Blackstad Mr. Blackstad introduced himself to the Council and stated he is reapplying for the position of Commissioner on the Park and Recreation Board Councilmember Jacobson asked in terms of the Park Commission and the City Council, what are they doing wrong on both sides. Mr. Blackstad stated the relationship between the City Council and Park Commission has improved and the Park Commission is now closer to knowing what the Council is looking for and the Commission is more cognoscente and there is less tension. He believes they have made some big steps in the right direction in regard to the trail fees and park fund and also with planning the parks and trying to get them in with the development, which will help. He thought those were the items that have improved over the last few years. Councilmember Jacobson asked what needs improvements. Mr. Blackstad stated he thought they need to stick to the plan. With the park dedication fees, there is an inflation factor built in and they need to stay on top of this. The maintenance end, they need to add a guy to improve the maintenance. He stated the Capital Improvement Plan budget could be improved a little. Councilmember Knight asked what the prime issue is ahead of them. Mr. Blackstad stated with the addition of the Community Center, they need to make sure they get the lights up at Sunshine Park and plan for another softball complex. The lights at Sunshine Park will be a temporary fIx and will on1y add one game a night. He suggested they take the lights and move those to fields nine and ten and then put new lights up at Sunshine Park. He stated field three could be lighted at some future time. Mayor Gamache asked how often the Park Commission and City Council should get together. Mr, Blackstad stated he thought twice a year was good. He thought spring and fall would be good times to meet for the budget. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 2 Councilmember Orttel asked what kind of changes in use patterns he saw for their park system. Mr. Blackstad stated he thought they would continue to see a big demand in organized sports and they are going to see lacrosse start to improve their numbers. LaCrosse and Soccer would increase along with football. He still sees the need to improve and expand the trail system to connect the neighborhoods. Councilmember Trude stated in Andover their Associations have developed and have so much power and she wondered how the Park Commission could facilitate the Associations. She wondered if they could improve relations with them in some way. Mr. Blackstad stated he would like to attend some of their meetings and find out the problems so the City and Park Commission could try to solve them. Councilmember Trude asked if they should internalize scheduling. Mr. Blackstad stated he thought things were working out as is. He stated years ago when they took more of direct action with it, it was actually worse. He noted there will always be issues with scheduling. Mr, Blackstad stated he would like to see some of the parks in the MUSA area made into baseball fields because they will have irrigation. Councilmember Jacobson asked as they begin looking at the Civic Center and the expansion of the number of parks in the future, what would be his personal feeling with the City having a Park and Recreation Supervisor to handle all of the scheduling and take care of a lot of stuff the Park Commission does now. Mr. Blackstad stated Baseball, Softball, Football and Soccer already have a system in place for scheduling and ninety-nine percent of the time it works and to pull that away from them, the City might see some resentment from the groups. What he would like to see the Park Coordinator do is to set up another complex for baseball and softball and the Coordinator could take this over and generate revenue for the City. He stated they do not have the room for adults to play ball in Andover and he would like to see that happen. Mr. Blackstad stated he enjoyed working with the City and parks and this has been a passion he has had since he was a child. He enjoyed working with the City staff and working with different groups to try to accomplish different goals. He thought they had a big challenge ahead of them with the Community Center. He stated that once this is built, they need to make sure they are still taking care of the park needs. Jonathan Jasper Jonathan Jasper introduced himself to the Council and stated he is reapplying for the position of Commissioner on the Planning Commission. Councilmember Trude stated Mr. Jasper has had a year on the Planning Commission and she wondered ifhe enjoyed the experience and if he thought the group has worked well together. Mr. Jasper stated he has enjoyed it and he frods it interesting. His intention going in was to get more involved in the City and he thought he has and that he has learned a lot about the City and the Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 3 process, He thought the Commission worked well together and worked very hard. Councilmember Trude asked if they should be looking at some things for goal setting. Mr. Jasper stated some of the things he is concerned with are the multiple housing. He stated that they do need diversity in their housing but they need to watch it. Councilmember Orttel stated they have tried to meet with the Planning Commission and he wondered if they could further this some to reach their goals. Mr. Jasper stated this has been discussed at the Planning Commission and they feel they need a little more feedback from the City Council. He thought it was helpful to meet from time to time. He thought the Planning Commission raised most of Ihe issues that needed to be raised. Councilmember Knight stated the Planning Commission needs to be autonomous as an organization. Mr. Jasper stated they did not want the City Council to tell them what to approve and not approve but they would like to know how the City Council views items. Mayor Gamache asked what Mr. Jasper saw as a long term issue that the Planning & Zoning Commission should focus on more. Mr. Jasper stated one of the real big issues is going to be the development of the farmland north of City Hal1. He thought this is a big challenge for the City, Looking at something like that is important because it is a big jewel in the City. Councilmember Jacobson asked what Mr. Jasper's concept of the Planning part of the Commission is. Mr. Jasper stated he thinks they spend a great deal oftime looking at specific issues and problems without the big thinking of what they should do. He looks at what he wants the City to be and how they can get there. He thought this was real important for the City. Councilmember Trude stated maybe they should be doing more strategic planning. Mr. Jasper stated they should do projects but they should also look at one, five and ten year plans and how they want the City to develop. Councilmember Jacobson asked if this was something the Planning Commission could do on their own, Mr. Jasper stated they could not do this on their own. Councilmember Knight stated they need to react to what comes to them and then do the planning from that. Councilmember Trude stated the Planning Commission did a really good job on the multi family Ordinance. Mr. Jasper stated he has enjoyed this and learned a lot. He thinks he has been heard on the Commission but he does not think he has dominated the Commission. He thought the City had a lot of experience and knowledge on the Commission. The on1y thing that has concerned him is that there are not any women on the Commission and he thought this could be changed in the future. Councilmember Knight thought the meetings have become very professional and he appreciated that. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 4 The meeting recessed at 6:59 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:0B p.m. Ms. Brandv Skonsen!!: Ms. Brandy Skonseng introduced herself to the Council and stated she was applying for the position on the Park & Recreation Commission. Councilmember Jacobson asked why Ms. Skonseng wanted to be an active partner in the community. Ms. Skonseng stated she moved from Coon Rapids and she never knew what was going on there and she would like to know what is exactly going on and be a member. Councilmember Jacobson asked what experience and background she would bring to the Park Commission. Ms. Skonseng stated she would be a fresh new member coming in with new ideas and suggestions. Councilmember Knight asked for her background. Ms. Skonseng stated she is a real estate agent in Coon Rapids and Andover and she has heard good things about the school district and she has a two and a half year old child. What concerned her are all the new development and the roads. Mayor Gamache asked from the two years in the community what she likes about the park system and what she would like changed. Ms. Skonseng stated they frequent the City Hall Park and it is very clean without graffiti and there is not any profanity. She does not see any teenagers hanging out trying to cause problems. She stated they like this park so much that they have not gone to any of the other parks. Councilmember Orttel asked what would be the number one thing changed or expanded in the parks in the City. Ms. Skonseng stated she would like to see more bike paths than what they have and expanding more on the park itself, such as the equipment. Councilmember Trude asked if she has had a chance to watch any of the Park Commission meetings. Ms. Skonseng stated she watched two meetings last year. Councilmember Trude asked if there was anything in those meetings that she thought she would want to work on. Ms. Skonseng stated there are a lot of good topics brought up and issues not normally thought about. Councilmember Trude asked if she had any comments on the Community Center and does she have a conflict with meeting twice a month. Ms. Skonseng stated she did not. Mr. Ernest J. Bedor Mayor Garoache introduced Mr. Ernest J. Bedor to the Council and stated he is applying for the position on the Park & Recreation Commission. Councilmember Trude asked how long has he lived in the City. Mr. Bedor stated he has lived here Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 5 since 1987. Councilmember Trude asked ifhe had a certain activity he liked to do. Mr. Bedor stated he laid sod at Sunshine Park and his daughter plays softball. He has been involved with city sports for a long time. He thought they need more basketball courts in the City. Councilmember Trude stated she has heard this comment. Councilmember Orttel asked what the most important issue is in the city related to parks. Mr. Bedor stated while driving around the city he has noticed many of the parks have been maintained well. The biggest issue is trying to get kids to use the parks. He would like to see some programs developed during the day for kids in the summer. Mayor Gamache asked what his thoughts were on the Community Center plan. Mr. Bedor stated the softball program is concerned because they are taking away the fields and they will not light the fields at Sunshine Park. Councilmember Trude stated they are going to light the fields at Sunshine Park to replace the fields lost. Mr. Bedor stated they do need a hockey rink and there will be activities for both the adults and kids. He has not done a lot oftlúnking about the Community Center. Councilmember Jacobson asked what special skill or abilities he would bring to the park commission that would help them function better. Mr. Bedor stated he is an intelligent person and has the ability to understand issues and he would work hard at it and take it seriously and do the best he can do. Councilmember Trude slated she was thinking about the comment made about the Community Center and the ball playing. Why can they not get the Associations interested in the Community Center. Mr. Bedor stated he thought there was a lot of suspicion about hockey and there was talk about why the Community Center could not be placed somewhere else in the City, Mr. Bedor slated his contribution to the City would be to try to help the City and make a contribution to the welfare of the City. Mr. Randv Chum lev Mr. Churn1ey introduced himself to the Council and stated he is applying for the position on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilmember Jacobson stated they have a number of people who are applying for a limited amount of spots. He wondered why Mr. Churn1ey would be good for the position. Mr. Churn1ey stated he moved to Andover in 1993 and he watches a lot of the meetings and he thought this would be a way to get out and put his two cents in. Councilmember Jacobson asked if he was not selected for the Planning & Zoning Commission, would he be interested in being on the Park Commission. Mr. Churn1ey stated he would be because it would be a way to get his foot in the door and learn more. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 6 Councilmember Knight asked if there were any issues that intrigued him. Mr. Churn1ey stated he does not have any issues but he would like to get involved in the Community. Mayor Gamache asked if the changes he has seen have been good or bad and what would he like to see. Mr. Churn1ey stated for the most part it is going good but traffic is getting really bad. Some of the changes have been for the better. Councilmember Orttel asked how Mr. Churn1ey would maintain some sort of consistency in making decisions. Mr. Chumley described what he normally does in business and how this would relate to making decisions. Councilmember Trude asked if when making a decision, would he look at the big picture or only go by the rules. Mr. Churn1ey stated he would try to look at the entire picture and base his decisions on what was best. Councilmember Trude stated there is some room for flexibility in the City and asked if there are some things he has seen that he would like to change. Mr. Chumley stated the only disappointment he has had is the new lots are getting smaller and he would like bigger lots, Councilmember Orttel stated most of the lots have gotten bigger but they are utilizing more of the property. Councilmember Trude asked if they would consider him for the Park Commission is there anything that would interest him. Mr. Churn1ey stated he would like to be involved in either one. Councilmember Trude asked if there was something he liked about the park system or what he would like to improve. Mr. Chumley stated he would like more, larger parks. Mr. Churn1ey stated they love Andover and plan on staying in Andover and he would like to get involved in the community in some way. Mr. Ken Sicfert Mr. Siefert introduced himself to the Council and stated he is applying for the position on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilmember Trude asked if Mr. Siefert has watched any of the Planning & Zoning meetings. Mr. Siefert stated he has. Councilmember Trude asked ifhe has seen things that he likes in the City. Mr. Siefert stated he thought the corridor was going in the right direction. He stated the area should be a mixed use in with the retail. Councilmember Knight asked how he saw the role of Planning & Zoning. Mr. Siefert stated he has talked to people who have been on the Planning Commission and he thought being on the Commission is helping to plan the city and guide the City Council. He thought it was a necessary function in trying to help the community. Councilmember Orttel asked why he wanted to be on the Planning Commission. Mr. Siefert stated he has lived in Andover for ten years and it is growing and he questions why things are done and he Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 7 would like to be part of the process. Mayor Gamache stated Mr. Siefert is a member of the Minnesota Shopping Center Association. How does he use that Association. Mr. Siefert stated he keeps the local affiliation with the people they work with. Mayor Gamache asked if he would expect any conflicts of interest. Mr, Siefert stated he would not. Councilmember Jacobson asked if he would be interested for a position on the Park Commission Mr. Siefert stated he would. Councilmember Jacobson asked as the City develops, they are getting more requests from developers to put in more townhomes, does he have an opinion on this and what he envisions for Andover. Mr. Siefert stated there is a need for all of it and population density is defInitely on a developer's mind because that is where they make their money but he preferred the larger lots. Councilmember Trude asked if they were to look at him for Parks, is there something that would interest him. Mr. Siefert asked if the Park Commission would have a say on green space. Councilmember Trude stated the Park Commission will be looking at this in the coming years. Mr. Siefert stated he would be open to that. Mr. Siefert thought the City Council was doing a good job and watching the meetings is interesting and he appreciated the time. Mr. Devon Walton Mr. Devon Walton introduced himself to the Council and stated he is applying for the position on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilmember Jacobson asked Mr. Walton to convince him to pick him. Mr. Walton stated he would like to think that they might look his direction because of his enthusiasm to see Andover grow. He is excited to be a part of the growth. He tries to be involved in the youth of Andover and he would like to be a part of the development plans. Councilmember Knight asked if there was any particular thing he has visions of in tenns of where Andover should be going. Mr. Walton stated he has some affInity to traffic and how to route it. He stated they need to fmd a way to safely get people over Hanson to the schools and community center. He would like to try to help and look at traffic issues. Mayor Gamache asked if Mr. Walton has seen any of the Planning & Zoning meetings, Mr. Walton stated he has been to a few meetings. Mayor Gamache asked if he would have any scheduling conflicts. Mr. Walton stated he would not. Councilmember Orttel asked what Mr. Walton would see for the City as it becomes more developed. He would like to see more commercial growth, He would like to ease some of the traffic and he thought they were heavy in residential. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 8 Councilmember Trude asked if he would be interested in being on the Park Commission. Mr. Walton stated he would be open to either position but he would rather be on Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Walton stated his purpose was to be in a relationship with the City Council and the governing of Andover. He stated there is so much ground to be covered and an opportunity of a lifetime and he would like to be a part of it. Rex Greenwald Rex Greenwald introduced himself to the Council and slated he is reapplying for the position on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Gamache asked what Mr. Greenwald felt about his last year on the Planning Commission. Mr. Greenwald stated he has liked what was done last year for the City, Councilmember Jacobson asked what he thought needed changing on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Mr. Greenwald stated the essence ofit is the Planning & Zoning Commission is taking care of all of the public meetings and he thought Chairperson Daninger was doing a great job. Mr. Greenwald stated he is involved in the community and he watches the City Council meetings and does read through the minutes of the Council. Councilmember Knight thought the Planning & Zoning Commission handled the issues very well. Mr, Greenwald stated once the Community Center and the retail comes in across the road, they will need to deal with safety issues of pedestrian crossing. Discussion between the City Council Members ensued regarding who would be the best Commissioners for the Park Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion by Knight, seconded by Trude, to reappoint Commissioners Jasper and Greenwald to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmember Jacobson suggested as fIrSt runner up Mr. Siefert and second runner up Mr. Walton. Mayor Gamache thought they 5hould list the candidates and vote. Motion by Jacobson, seconded by Orttel, to appoint Mr. Bedor to the Parks Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Orttel, seconded by Gamache, to reappoint Mr. Blackstad to the Park Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 6, 2004 Page 9 Councilmember Jacobson asked if they should ask Dorrie Peterson if she wanted to come back to the Park Commission. Councilmember Ortte1 stated he did not think this was politically correct but they could reopen the application process again. Councilmember Knight stated he did not have a problem with reopening this. Motion by Jacobson to appoint Mr. Chumley to the Park Commission. Motion failed because there was not a second. Council member Trude stated she would rather see Mr. Walton. Councilmember Knight stated he would rather see Mr. Siefert. The Council voted on the candidates for the openings. Motion by Orttel, seconded by Jacobson, to select Mr. Siefert as first alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Knight, seconded by Orttel, to appoint Mr. Walton to the Park Commission. Commissioner Jacobson stated he would rather see him as a second alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission, Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Jacobson, seconded by Orttel, to select Mr. Chumley as first alternate to the Park Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gamache thought on the Planning & Zoning Chairperson Daninger has done a great job. He wondered if they should set a two-year term on the chair to allow others to be chair. Motion by Trude, seconded by Orttel, to reappoint Chairperson Daninger as Chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried 1In~nimously. Motion by Jacobson, seconded by Knight, to reappoint Chairperson Lindahl as Chair of the Park Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Orttel, seconded by Trude, to reappoint Commissioner Kirchoff as the Vice Chair to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Mr. Blackstad as the Vice Chair to the Park Commission. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary