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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK September 14, 1999 , êaæek /O/öJqq CIty of ANDOVER Special City Council Workshop, Tuesday, September 14,1999 . . agenda Andover Public Works . 1785 Crosstown Blvd NW . Call t~ Order - 7:00 PM . Discussion Items ·7:00 - I. . Presentation! Association ofM~tròpolitan Mwücipalities 7:15 . 2. EDA Meeting a:) . Approve Minutes . minutes b.) Review Andover Station Projects' '. 8:00 -' 3. Results of Water Survey/99-15 rslt9915 Adjoul11l11ent ) .~ -. -- -- ------ h·__ . -..-- ~- C!DYlcay fUt {;) 1'1.-'1 CITY of ANDOVER SPECIAL ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 14,1999 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jack McKelvey on September 14, 1999,7:14 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Don Jacobson, Julie Johnson, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel Councilmembers absent: None Also present: City Engineer, Scott Erickson Public Works Superintendent, Frank Stone Public Works, Water, Brian Kraabel Community Development Director, Dave Carlberg City Administrator, Richard Fursman Others PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITIES The following represented the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities: John Weaver, President; Eugene Ranieri, Executive Director; and Roger Peterson, Deputy Director. Mr. Ranieri explained AMM was founded in 1975 and represents the metropolitan cities in monitoring the Metropolitan Council, in working with the League of Minnesota Cities and being involved with the legislative process. There are 75 members, which is 88 percent of the cities in the metropolitan region. There are four major policy committees: transportation, metropolitan agencies, housing and economic development and revenue, each with about 25 people per committee. They have a budget of about $400,000 per year from dues. Dues are a percentage of a city's dues for the League of Minnesota Cities. AMM has the ability to appoint people to the advisory committees, which provides input from the cities and counties. A major committee is the one working with highway transportation in determining how the money from the federal government is spent. They also provide weekly reports to the cities during the legislative session summarizing what is happening on those issues of interest to them. That information is also available on their web site. An annual newsletter summarizes their annual meeting. They provide opportunities for people from the cities to meet people from other cities through regional forums, etc., and they deal with those issues of importance to the cities such as the stadium issue, camera cops, livable communities, etc. A lobbyist is hired during the legislative session to represent the cities. There is also discussion of working together on subregional planning. A list of salaries for elected officials, a survey of all jobs for cities in the metropolitan region and salary and benefit packages are provided. Every two years they do a municipal license and permit survey to find out what everyone is charging for fees and license permits. AMM exists to serve cities and to be at their disposal. .~"_... ~) Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - September 14, 1999 Page 2 (Presentation/Association of Metropolitan Municipalities. Continued) Mr. Weaver related how AMM has been working to protect cities on the issue of final plat authority and economic development. The counties would like over that authority, but AMM believes that authority belongs with the local unit of government. Mr. Fursman stated an issue Andover would like addressed in the next legislative session is that oflocal governmental aids. Andover has only two percent of its valuation in commercial, yet it is a net contributor to the fiscal disparities. With limited levies and with local government aid being limited and with no commercial to speak of, how does Andover continue to grow and provide services? Mr. Ranieri encouraged the City to talk with its legislative representatives about the problem. He didn't anticipate there would be much change in the local government aids in the next session because it is not an appropriation session. Mr. Peterson stated the governor will be working on property tax reform and make a proposal for the 2001 legislature. They don't think they will do anything in the 2000 legislature, though they will continue to lobby for additional local government aid. Councilmember Jacobson asked how does the group vote. Mr. Peterson explained all cities have one vote except Bloomington, which has two votes, St. Paul which has five votes, and Minneapolis which has eight votes. It is weighted on 50,000 population. Right now the suburban vote outweighs the vote of the interior cities. Fees for Andover would be $5,757 per year, which is about 5 I percent of the League dues. The Council asked about the position of AMM when the cities have opposing views, which is the case regarding the Livable Communities Act. Andover is one of the few cities that does not belong. Mr. Ranieri stated the majority of the communities did join the livable communities. One of the things AMM did when they felt that Act was going to go through was to add a provision that compliance would be totally voluntary. On the issue of fiscal disparities, some cities depend on it, while others are hurt by it. There will be compromises on all issues, and in some cases they may not come to a consensus or not take a position. Councilmember Jacobson wondered why the City should belong to AMM when it has other organizations that lobby for it. Mr. Weaver explained they deal exclusively with metropolitan cities. The League of Minnesota Cities does not get involved with the Metropolitan Council, but AMM focuses on it. The AMM has tremendous power and works on behalf of the cities. Mr. Peterson explained AMM was fonned at the request of the League of Minnesota Cities to represent the metropolitan cities because their out-state members did not want their dues spent on lobbyists to deal with metropolitan issues. AMM is the only regional organization to constantly monitor the Metropolitan Council. The livable communities act is only one out of 70+ policies they have. He wasn't sure there are any organizations that have 100 percent agreement by its members. Mr. Ranieri also noted another challenging issue will be elected versus non-elected members of the Metropolitan Council. AMM is not taking a position but has come up with a list of criteria when dealing with the Metropolitan Council as either an elected or appointed body. They do draft -' r~ . I 1__- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - September /4. 1999 Page 3 (Presentation/Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, Continued) legislation and get legislators to support it, as well as work closely with the League of Minnesota Cities during the legislative session. The Council felt they may want to know more information before making a decision. They thanked the representatives for their input. No further action was taken. The Council recessed at 7:44 for an EDA meeting; reconvened at 8:4 I p.m. RESULTS OF WATER SURVEY/IP99-15 Mr. Kraabel noted the results of the water survey in which 1650 out of 4200 responded. It was surprising that those who had a problem with water quality were not concentrated in areas but interspersed throughout the system, as was those who did not have a problem. About 58 percent felt the water is acceptable, and 48 percent felt it is not. Of those, 73 percent did not want to pay for any water treatment. Mr. Erickson explained that the project cost of $ I 6 per month for water treatment would be adjusted once the bond was paid off, which would probably be after 20 years. Councilmember Jacobson felt it is a lot to ask the residents to pay $16 per month for 20 years. He suggested rather than a water treatment plant, the City provide other opportunities for the residents to treat the water themselves similar to what Connexus Energy does or to work with water treatment companies to provide discounted equipment to the residents. He assumed those residents who do not have a problem with the water quality have already done something about the problem. Councilmember Orttel felt the City's problem is not only what the residents think about the water quality, but changes that other governmental agencies may makeregarding water quality. If Andover's water supply no longer falls within the guidelines, such as the lowering of the acceptable level of radium, then it will have no choice but to install a water treatment plant. The City will be required to provide water in a purified state according to the state or federal guidelines. Mr. Kraabel acknowledged the rules are changing all the time. The proposal is now to keep the radium level at .5, which would probably shut down three Andover wells. They will also be dropping the levels of arsenic. If both are dropped, Andover will have to treat the water. Councilmember Jacobson felt that if the federal government changes the rules, everybody will be affected. In the mean time, he still preferred that the City provide a discounted rate to the residents to treat the water themselves. Councilmember Orttel agreed but felt that long-term plans for a water treatment plant should be in place. Now he felt a priority is to acquire the land. Mr. Erickson stated one of the problems with treatment is that different treatment plants are needed to treat different things. Staff will be attending classes on the different ways and costs to treat radium and will be coming back with options. Mr. Fursman stated there is also a maintenance issue, as the water coming through the system is degrading the pipes. A water treatment plant would more than likely extend the life of the system. -> ~ -- - -- -- - -~~-~----"'r---- -- c"- ,--' Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - September 14, 1999 Page 4 (Results of Water SurveyIIP99-15, Continued) Mr. Kraabel had bottles of water from a water service line to a house, from the bottom of the water tank and one brought in by a resident, all of which had very visible residue in the water. Even if the water is treated by the residents to their satisfaction, it isn't protecting the system. In addition, once the government drops the levels down, the City will no longer be in compliance and will be forced to treat the water. The Council continued to discuss the issue and generally agreed that a water treatment plant at this time is not economically practical, that a plan for water treatment should be prepared in case the government changes the standards, that the City should begin searching for the land for the treatment plant, and that the City should provide information for the residents as to how they can treat their water and list vendors that supply that equipment. The City would remain disassociated from the vendors but would simply provide a listing of them. It was also suggested that the federal legislators be contacted about the radium level issue and the effects on those few communities like Andover that have a radium issue. It was agreed that the proposals this evening should be publicized in an article in the newsletter to inform the residents of the decision made at this time. Mr. Kraabel presented a brochure that will be sent to all users on the water system. The Department of Health is requiring a consumer confidence water quality report be given to residents by October 15. That report plus other information is included in the brochure. He stated about 3 to 3.5 acres of land would be needed for a treatment plant. Mr. Fursman stated he would investigate the possibility of using TIF funds to purchase that land. SCHOOLS Mayor McKelvey reported he was approached by the Superintendent of School District 11 to find two sites of 65 to 75 acres within the City of Andover on which to build a new high school. The Council discussed the possible needs ofthe school district and possible sites within the City. No decisions were made. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Johnson, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, \Y~~~¿ Marcella A. Peach, Recording Secretary -. -~ - -- - - -- - - -