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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK January 27, 2004 ~ Q/..l...I C I T Y o F LJU±b.n a -11-4 NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER. MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Special City Council Workshop Miscellaneous Items Tuesday, January 27, 2004 Conference Room A & B 1. Call to Order -7:00 p.m. 2. Consider Future Water System Improvement Projects - Engineering 3. County Road Improvement Policy - Planning/Finance/Engineering 4. Discuss At-Grade CrossingIBunker Lake Blvd. & Prairie Road!04-7 - Engineering 5. Discuss Tax Abatement Zone - Administration 6. Discuss a Business Recognition Program (Council Goal) - Planning 7. Update on 1049 Andover Blvd! Abatement Process - Planning/Building 8. Cul-De-Sac Requirements - Engineering 9, IdentifY Potential Park and Ride Facilities (Council Goal) - Planning 10. Update on City Entrance Signs - Planning II. Other Business 12. Adjournment CITY o F NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755·5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US SPECIAL ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP - JANUARY 27, 2004 MINUTES The Special Council Workshop of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, January 27, 2004, 7:03 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, MinnesotL Councilmembers present: Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel, Julie Trude Councilmember absent: None. Also present: City Engineer, Dave Berkowitz City Finance Director, Jim Dickinson Community Development Director, Will Neumeister City Administrator, John Erar Others CONSIDER FUTURE WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS City Engineer Berkowitz explained there are three main items that are driving the need for water system improvements, They include: I) federally mandated water quality issues such as radium standards, 2) water supply for the east side of the system during peak demand and 3) the possibility and/or need for future water treatment for the east side of the system. The City's water distribution system consists of2 zones connected by one common point where an altitude valve is located. The altitude valve opens when the water tower on the east side of the City drops to a low level, which is typically during times of high water demand. This allows treated water from the west side to go to the eastern portion of the system. Treated water is in the entire system for approximately nine months each calendar year. The east side consists of two wells, Well No. I and Well No. 2. Well No.2 is currentlyutilizedon1y during peak water demand times primarily in the summer months, Well No.1 is not used at this point because the well is pumping sand and the well production is on1y pumping at a maximum 600 gallons per minute. Wells 3 through 8 are on the west side of the system. Wells 4 through 8 go directly to the treatment plant and meet all federal water quality standards. Well No.3 is the on1y well on the west side that does not meet the federal water quality standards, due to levels of radium. This well in on1y utilized during peak demand. At least one additional well is needed in 2004 as identified in the 2004-2008 CIP on the east side of the system due to the fact that Well No.1 is no longer feasible to utilize. Staff is recommending a Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2004 Page 2 well be drilled in or near Terrace Park (near Well No. 2 location) to either blend with Well No.2 to lower the radium of abandoned Well No.2 and utilize on1ythe new well. A second well in Terrace Park should be considered in 2005 to meet high peak demand for the east side. Motion by Orttel, Seconded by Knight, to hire an engineering consultant to analyze the different improvements to determine the most feasible solution to the issues described. Motion carried unanimously. COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENT POLICY Finaoce Director Dickinson explained the Council has recently begun to see the challenges of allowing new development adjacent to County roads. The reality of what the future holds is that Anoka County will be placing greater burdens on City taxpayers and new developments to pay for the needed roadway improvements. Looking long-term, the cost of constructing arterial road improvements to haodle the increased traffic in the future may also become something that Anoka County will look to the City to provide in terms of additional funding support. These issues have been effectively handled in other communities and counties in the Metropolitan area for maoy years. Other cities have approached these issues by performing studies and preparing cost estimates to determine what the short-term (aod long-term) minimum needed roadway improvements would be as a result of continuing development in the MUSA areas. They have changed their subdivision ordinances to establish a "trunk road charge" that would be collected at the time of platting of the property. Where this has been done, the city has established that the new development is generating the needed roadway improvements and will have to pay for a proportionate share of the costs of building the fmal collector and arterial roadway system that is needed. Where this type of approach has not been used, the City and the County will find that they are beginning to run short of money to build the needed improvements. The establishment of a trunk road charge has made it fair and equitable, which avoids making the last developer coming into an area pay for all the needed improvements. Also, the City and/or the County are not depleting their MSA fund accounts or diverting other funding sources that are needed for routine roadway maintenance, Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Orttel, to direct staff to survey what other communities are doing, to fmd out if there are any legal court cases involved and to come back to the Council with that information. Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSS AT-GRADE CROSSING/BUNKER IAKE BLVD. & PRAIRIE ROADI04-7 City Engineer Berkowitz explained that one of the Council's goals for 2003-2004 is to establish a safe crossing from the City's trail system to Bunker Hills Regional Park. The location for the Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2004 Page 3 crossing that is considered is an at-grade/traffic signal crossing at Bunker Lake Boulevard NW and Prairie Road NW. Also, a trail extension would be constructed along the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard NW tying the trail system together. At the December 2003 City Council workshop, there was a discussion about funding this project. City staff suggested advanced funding where the County would pay their portion of the project back to the City over a period of time. The County Engineer stated this was not an option because the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard NW and Prairie Road NW was not a high priority for the County. Since that time, staff met with County Engineer Fischer and Nick Eoloff, Anoka County Parks Department to discuss the project. Mr. Fischer mentioned that the County might be willing to contribute some funds to the project. The dollar amount that was mentioned was $50,000, with the estimated cost for the traffic signal and road improvements at $250,000 to $300,000. The Anoka County Parks Department would like to utilize the $100,000 matching DNR grant by constructing a trail from Prairie Road NW to the railroad tracks on the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard NW and an internal connection trail. This will tie the City's trail system with the Bunker Hills Regional Park trail system and create a safe pedestrian crossing at Bunker Lake Boulevard NW and Prairie Road NW. Motion by Knight, Seconded by Orttel, to move forward with the project by engaging a consultant. Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSS TAXABATEMENT ZONE City Administrator Erar explained the City Council has discussed the possibility of using a tax abatement strategy to fund County road improvements in specific locations where County and City funding is currently unavailable. Tax abatement can be used to "provide or help acquire or construct public facilities" to the extent allowed under the law. In light of current legislation an entity can abate up to $100,000 per year or 5-percent of the entity's annual levy, whichever is greater. The City can pursue tax abatement as singular jurisdiction or in cooperation with another qualifYing tax entity. The County pays the abatement to the City's general fund without identifYing the amount of abatement. The abated tax is subtracted from the City tax levy, thus reducing the collected tax for general government purposes and instead designating the abated tax for a specific, qualifying public purpose. , Mr. Erar further explained he had has several discussions with County Administrator McLinden and Maureen Devine, Division Manager for Property Records and Taxation. Their comments suggest that while the County would be willing to consider a public project underwritten by tax abatement, the County's participation is limited to projects that could be characterized as being of countywide "significance". County staff indicated they did not feel that the Andover-YMCA Community Center transportation issue met their definition in this regard. Further, Mr. McLinden indicated that the "- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2004 Page 4 County Board's original legislative position towards tax abatement was one of opposition. He stated it should be noted that the City could pursue a tax abatement strategy on its own to fund a local County road improvement without County tax abatement participation. However, there is no guarantee that the County would allow such an improvement on a County roadway that did meet specific County Highway requirements or in circumstances where they did not support the improvement as a matter of County transportation policy. Consensus of the Council was to move forward with this item, continue filling out the application for tax abatement and to bring it back to the City Council February 3, 2004. DISCUSS A BUSINESS RECOGNITION PROGRAM (COUNCIL GOAL) Community Development Director Neumeister explained staff has put together some information regarding the possibilities for an Andover Business Recognition Program. Megan Wald, Associate Planner for the City ofRarnsey, provided staffwith some information on what the City ofRarnsey is currently doing for their local business reco~tion and Economic Development programs. Mr. Neumeister further explained the various programs that could be started include: monthly business recognition, business appreciation day golf tournament, business of the year award, business network meeting, business registration program and business connection newsletter. Each of these will take staff time and energy to bring to fruition. This could take a few years to get some of these going and take time to keep them up-to-date. Consensus of the Council was to continue the golftournament, development network meetings, and establish business recognition in the City newsletter. UPDATE ON 1049 ANDOVER BOULEVARD/ABATEMENT PROCESS Community Development Director Neumeister explained some time ago, the Council asked for an update on the condition of the old train station located at 1049 Andover Boulevard. Staff visited the site with the assistance of the Anoka County Sheriff's Deputies on Wednesday, December 31,2003. The City Building Official and Code Enforcement Officer have written reports regarding their inspection. The City Code Enforcement Officer has indicated that the property is in violation of the Zoning Ordinance regulations prohibiting: A) Junk Vehicle Storage; B) Abandoned Vehicle Storage; and C) Exterior Storage of Materials. The Code Enforcement staff will be taking action on these immediately. Assistant City Attorney Sullivan has outlined the following options that are available to abate public nuisance properties: 1) issue criminal citations; 2) attempt to abate the nuisance by application of the procedures outlined in the City Code (Section 4); 3) treat the property as a hazardous structure and proceed according to state statute under Section 463.15; or 4) acquire the property through eminent domain. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2004 Page 5 Consensus of the Council was to follow up with option 3 and have the City Attorney follow up. CUL-DE-SAC REQUIREMENTS City Engineer Berkowitz explained the maximum length that is allowed in City Code 11-3-3 G and it has been requested to discuss this item as to how or why the maximum cul-de-sac length is 500 feet. Although staffwas unable to find any meeting minutes or past documentation, the maximum length was established primarily due to fIre access and public safety. Cul-de-sacs that exceed the maximum allowed length require a variance. For the variance to be allowed, the developer has to prove an undue hardship. The Fire and Sheriff's Departments have always indicated that every home should have a second access. Consensus of the Council was to keep the maximum length for cul-de-sacs at 500 feet. IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARK AND RIDE FACILITIES (COUNCIL GOAL) Community Development Director Neumeister explained one of the 2003-2004 Council goals is to identify, negotiate use and publicize potential Park and Ride facilities within the community. The 2000 Census has indicated that eight-percent of Andover residents participate in car pools, and two- percent of residents utilize public transportation. Currently, there are no dedicated park and ride facilities within the City. There is an "unofficial" car pool lot located at Wild Iris Park near Bunker Lake and Round Lake Boulevards where there are often four or five vehicles parked on an average day. It is assumed that most of these 1,145 residents (eight percent of workers 16 years and older) use the park and ride located at Riverdale in Coon Rapids and participate in car pools to commute into the central cities. In 1997, the Council directed staff to research the feasibility of establishing an MTC bus route in Andover. It was found that to establish a bus route during peak hours, the City would need to levy $225,000-$275,000 per year. A full service route would cost $680,000-$700,000 per year (1997 dollars). The Council did not indicate a strong desire to pursue this and directed staff to research other options. Mr. Neumeister further explained there are currently four bus routes, which connect from the Park and Ride lot at Riverdale to Downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul via Highway 10. Buses may travel along the shoulders of Highway 10 thereby circumventing traffic congestion and reducing the amount of time spent commuting. MTC routes 85R and 851 serve residents along the Anoka/Andover border along Bunker and Round Lake Boulevards. The Anoka Traveler Dial-A-Ride operates in Andover on weekdays during peak hours. For a fee of $4.00 residents may travel to a fixed route connecting residents mm a Park and Ride lot in Andover to the Riverdale Transit Station or other destinations with in Anoka County. There may also be the possibility of extending the Northstar bus route into Andover. ~ - Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27. 2004 Page 6 He explained Grace Lutheran Church, Riverdale Assembly of God and Andover Station are potential locations for Park and Ride facilities. Staffhas come up with other ideas including: 1) entering into an agreement with local churches or other properties with large parking lots to establish a Park and Ride facility. The City would pay for a portion of the maintenance of the Park and Ride facility located on private property; 2) actively promoting car pools, perhaps creating a message board on the City's website where residents can interact and leave their destination and contact information. Car pool users would utilize existing public and private parking facilities. There would be little or no cost to the City. Anoka County and the Metropolitan Council have indicated that there is no funding available to assist with Park and Ride facilities. The Metropolitan Council does not have an assistance program established through state funds, but project funding has been dedicated for the next six years out. This may raise the possibility of planning for a Park and Ride facility as park of Andover Station North. Consensus of the Council was to research locations and bring back to the Council at the next meeting. UPDATE ON CITY ENTRANCE SIGNS Community Development Director Neumeister explained the 2004-2006 CIP has budgeted funds through the EDA for the installation of permanent masonry-type monument signs at the seven major entrances into the City. The actual number will depend on the cost of the project. There are 18 locations that will have a metal sign featuring the city logo and updated population information. These metal signs will be the same size as the current green Andover signs and will serve as a replacement. Mr. Neumeister further explained staff is currently in the process of creating four designs for the permanent masonry signs. These designs will be sent out to sign companies for bids. Once staff knows the cost of these signs, the four design options and cost estimates will be brought to the EDA in March for their selection. The plan is to have three to four of these signs installed in the summer/fall 2004. He stated there are four design options for the metal signs. These signs wills be installed using the existing signposts. The signs will have a green background with a white reflective logo, wording, and the updated population. Staff recommends option number three featuring the "Welcome To" above the City logo. Consensus of the Council was to use option number three, but remove "City of', make "Welcome To" bigger and make "Andover" bigger. The Council directed staff to fmalize the design and bring back to Council. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2004 Page 7 OTHER BUSINESS ITEMS . Community Center Pledge Forms Council Member Knight stated City staff and Council Members need to be careful about pledging money to the project. City Administrator Erar stated the YMCA does not understand the distinction between non-profit and public organizations. Employees may make anonymous donations and are still able to get tax benefits. He did not feel comfortable getting into it. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Orttel, Seconded by Knight, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Robin Leslie, Recording Secretary