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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-22 SP ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – JANUARY 22, 2025 MINUTES The Andover City Council Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Jamie Barthel, on January 22, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Rick Engelhardt (arrived at 7:45 p.m.), Scott Schue, and Jonathan Shafto Councilmembers absent: None INTERVIEWS OF PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION, PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION, AND NATURE PRESERVE COMMISSION Jonathan Weinhold - Planning & Zoning Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Mr. Weinhold and asked him to tell the Council about himself and why he is interested in being on the Commission. Mr. Weinhold introduced himself and gave the Council a brief background. He shared he has been an Andover resident for 10 years and has seen how much Andover has grown and changed over the years. He said he wants to get more involved with the City as he is already an active member of the community. He shared he has a degree in Urban Studies and Planning and has worked in banking which has allowed him the opportunity to participate in a lot of volunteer work. He noted he is more interested in the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Weinhold if he has watched any past Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Mr. Weinhold said he has attended Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, but they were not for Andover. Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Weinhold what sets him apart from other applicants. Mr. Weinhold said he knows this City like the back of his hand as he grew up in Ham Lake and has always lived around the area. He added he also knows the people who live in the City. He stated he has seen the City change over the years and wants to help add to this change. Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Weinhold how he would feel if the Council disagreed with the recommendation of the Commission. Mr. Weinhold said he would not take the Council’s disagreement personally. He noted people have different opinions and perspectives and as long as Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 2 he feels as though he put his best effort towards his recommendation then he will be okay with the outcome. Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Weinhold how he would approach a PUD request. Mr. Weinhold explained there would be a few factors he would want to consider including geography, environmental impacts, and traffic impacts. He said he would also want to think about the residents and what they want. Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Weinhold if he has any ideas of projects that he would like to bring forward if he was appointed to one of the commissions. Mr. Weinhold shared there is a bike path leading to Coon Creek that dead ends that he would love to add a bridge to. Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Weinhold his opinion on what kind of density Andover should have in the future. Mr. Weinhold shared he is from Ham Lake which wants to stay very rural, and Andover is more dense and has some diversity because of its density. He noted there is an opportunity to add more density to the City as long as they are smart about doing it. He added that traffic would be a consideration for adding any density. Mayor Barthel thanked Mr. Weinhold for applying for the Planning and Zoning and Park and Recreation Commissions. Emily Honer - Park & Recreation Commission Councilmember Shafto recused himself from this interview. Mayor Barthel welcomed Ms. Honer and asked her to tell the Council about herself and why she is interested in being on the Commission. Ms. Honer introduced herself and gave the Council a brief background. She shared she finds it very important to be a part of the community you live in and take an active role in government. She said she has been looking into Commissions and the Park and Recreation Commission seems to be the most obvious choice for her as she is a frequent user of the parks. She added she works for the State government and has a level of understanding for how government works. She noted she loves the city’s parks and facilities and does not want to see these amenities go downhill. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Honer which Andover park is her favorite. Ms. Honer said she lives next to Sunshine Park so she visits this one the most often; however, Bunker Hills is her favorite. Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Honer if she has watched any past Park and Recreation meetings or read any of their minutes. Ms. Honer shared she has reviewed the past six months' worth of agendas for the Commission and saw that there are a lot of projects that are currently being reviewed. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 3 Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Honer how she would feel if the Council disagreed with the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Commission. Ms. Honer explained she has experience with these kinds of situations in her line of work. She shared in her role as the State Nutrition Director for the Minnesota Department of Education and she often has to present to elected officials to explain programs and sometimes they are not received in the way she would like; however, there are many factors that play into the decision. She said she would not take the Council’s decision personally as there are so many factors that go into every decision. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Honer if she had any suggestions of special projects that she would like to see done with the Park and Recreation Commission. Ms. Honer stated she does not have any special projects in mind; however, there are so many things that she loves about the city’s current parks that she wants to help maintain. She noted she is an avid runner and when she runs in other cities, she has noticed that Andover is the only city that has outhouses during the summer available for use. She said small things like this are what she would like to help add to. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Honer what makes her stand out from other applicants. Ms. Honer shared that she feels her experience working in government sets her apart as she understands the process and the work that goes into making decisions for the community. Ms. Honer asked what traits the Council is looking for in a potential Commissioner. Councilmember Schue said he would be looking for someone who could offer a fresh perspective and have experience using the parks. Mayor Barthel said the most important trait he would look for is someone who would understand what is best for the greater good of all park users and not just focus on the loudest voices. He added he would also like this person to be able to take future costs and impacts into account when making decisions. Mayor Barthel thanked Ms. Honer for applying for the Park and Recreation Commission. Liza Shafto - Park & Recreation Commission Councilmember Shafto recused himself from this interview. Mayor Barthel welcomed Ms. Shafto and asked her to tell the Council about herself and why she is interested in being on the Commission. Ms. Shafto introduced herself and gave the Council a brief background. She shared why she is interested in joining the Park and Recreation Commission. Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Shafto how she would feel if the Council disagreed with her recommendation. She shared while she may be disappointed that she put in a lot of work and effort, she would understand that the Council made the decision that they thought was best. She added she would also look at any kind of denial as a denial for the time being and it could come back forward at a later date. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 4 Mayor Barthel noted in the next few years the funding for parks will decrease dramatically due to less new developments in the City. He asked Ms. Shafto how she sees the focus shifting for the Park and Recreation Commission now that funding will not be as abundant as it used to be. Ms. Shafto said she sees the Commission having to refocus its efforts to maintenance. She noted there are a lot of small neighborhood parks that they could focus on maintaining rather than new parks. She added the Park and Recreation Commission could also aid staff in planning community events. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Shafto what Andover park is her favorite. Ms. Shafto stated her three favorite parks are Pine Hills North, Kelsey Round Lake, and Hidden Creek. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Shafto what kinds of things she would like to see the Park and Recreation Commission continue to do in coming years or start doing. Ms. Shafto noted that Fun Fest is a great event as well as the tree lighting event. She suggested having more ADA parks. Ms. Shafto asked what they are looking for in a Commissioner. Councilmember Schue said he is looking for a balance of people who already have experience on the Commission who understand what is going on and people who would have a fresh perspective. Mayor Barthel said he is looking for someone who has institutional knowledge of parks, as well as someone who understands the future financial impacts of decisions being made. Mayor Barthel thanked Ms. Shafto for applying for the Park and Recreation Commission. Tony Bird - Planning & Zoning Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Mr. Bird and asked him to tell the Council about himself and why he is interested in being on the Commission. Mr. Bird introduced himself and gave the Council a brief background. He shared he and his wife moved to Andover three years ago with their three children. He explained land use is super important, especially as he thinks about his children and their futures. He noted there are currently big concerns with affordability and as they look towards the next generation, there is a lot of work they can do now that will help the next generation be able to afford housing. Councilmember Shafto noted he had seen Mr. Bird at past Planning and Zoning meetings. He asked Mr. Bird what his takeaways were from attending these meetings. Mr. Bird noted what stood out to him was how much work goes into each request, such as a request for a home hair salon. He added he favors relatively limited government. Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Bird what some of his ideas are in regard to the affordability of housing. Mr. Bird explained he read through the minutes from the meeting with the Met Council. He noted he believes they will need to encourage development from a supply and demand perspective, and it is important that they navigate this effectively. He said there are a lot of limits Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 5 in Andover right now for development due to the limits with the sewer system. He shared ideas of quicker permitting and having more relaxed standards on apartments and multi-family homes. Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Bird how he would handle the Council disagreeing with his and the Commission’s recommendation. Mr. Bird noted that you have to be respectful of people and listen to their concerns. He said he assumes those who will be appointed to the Commission are those that will make the best recommendations for the Council. Mayor Barthel said he is not looking to appoint someone on any Commission just because he thinks they will agree with him. He stated he is looking for someone to look at each decision from all sides. Mr. Bird explained another reason he is interested in joining the Planning and Zoning Commission is because he is someone who has a relatively good job and was able to buy a house; however, with the current market, he is not able to upgrade his house and he is frustrated by this. He noted that being on this Commission would allow him to help his community and feel like he is doing something for the good. Councilmember Shafto said he is looking for a Commissioner who is knowledgeable and will be critical of the information that is being presented to them. He noted the developers that come into the City are trying to make money, which is not a bad thing; however, the developer will have a much different viewpoint than residents. He asked Mr. Bird what sets him apart from the other applicants for the Commission. Mr. Bird explained he works for a company that sells products to Target and he manages a $130,000,000 business. He said in his career he wears a lot of hats and has learned the influence of sales. He stated he has a well-rounded background and his career has aspects of politics that is beneficial experience for him when navigating these types of decisions. Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Bird what interested him in attending a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Mr. Bird said he is very concerned for the future of his children and the next generation and wants to help set up the City for the long term. Mayor Barthel thanked Mr. Bird for applying for the Planning and Zoning Commission. Nichole Hayden - Planning & Zoning Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Ms. Hayden and asked her to tell the Council about herself and why she is interested in being on the Commission. Ms. Hayden introduced herself and gave the Council a brief background. She shared she is a realtor, and she is very passionate about creating housing in the City. She noted developers often come to the Commission first and she would love to be a part of this decision-making process. She added she would also want to hear the perspectives of others who live in the community. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 6 Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Hayden if she had watched any past Planning and Zoning Commission meetings or read their minutes. Ms. Hayden shared she just watched the most recent Planning and Zoning meeting today. Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Hayden if she had any key takeaways from watching this meeting. Ms. Hayden said she was not surprised that people who lived in the surrounding area came forward to voice concerns about the potential development that was being discussed. She noted this demonstrates that people truly care about what is happening in their community. She added she is an advocate for more housing, and she appreciated the perspectives of the neighbors and the developers. She said she is supportive of the development project that was being discussed at this meeting. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Hayden how she would feel if the Council disagreed with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation. Ms. Hayden noted she is a realtor and works really hard without being paid so she understands how this would feel. She added she has served in an advisory role in the past and she understands that her role would be to use her expertise to make the best recommendation to the Council for them to ultimately make the best decision. She stated she would also want to continue to push ideas forward and figure out what was next. Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Hayden how she would handle a situation, like the development that was discussed at the most recent Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where she is supportive of a project, but a majority of the residents are against it. Ms. Hayden explained people will have their own formed opinions about different things that are typically rooted in something, and she would want to ask questions to get to the root of someone’s opinions. She said she would also explain the context of the decision and the long-term reasons of why something like this development is good for the community as a whole. She stated she would also want to hear people out with their concerns and fears and figure out how to address these things throughout the process. She noted she would also want to invite the residents to continue to be a part of the planning process. Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Hayden what unique skill she has that she could bring to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Ms. Hayden shared she has a positive opinion on growth and development which she thinks will be unique. She added her real estate background and involvement in the real estate community also sets her apart as she can bring State and metro area research to the Commission. She noted she is also a newer resident to the City and has a fresh perspective. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Hayden to share one thing she really likes about Andover and one thing she thinks could be improved. Ms. Hayden explained she feels very connected to the people in her neighborhood and Andover has a very small-town feel. She added she also loves being so close to nature. She noted she would like to see the City have a nice coffee shop or more grocery stores. She said she would not want Andover to become a city as large as Riverdale or Coon Rapids; however, she sees many opportunities for small businesses. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 7 Mayor Barthel thanked Ms. Hayden for applying for the Planning and Zoning Commission. Kim Kovich - Nature Preserve Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Mr. Kovich and asked him to tell the Council about himself and why he is interested in being on the Commission. Mr. Kovich introduced himself and gave the Council a brief background. He stated he has been with the Nature Preserve Commission for 17 years and he is an original member. He noted there is a lot of energy in the group, and they are getting a lot done. He said he, as well as the other Commissioners, are all on the Commission because they want to see nature saved and used by the community. Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Kovich what his biggest highlight has been over his 17 years with the Nature Preserve Commission. Mr. Kovich shared it was when they were finally able to secure all four properties. He explained at the time in the market, their $2,000,000 was not going to get them much; however, when the market flipped, they were able to acquire all four properties. He added they got an outpouring of support from the community. Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Kovich how he would feel if the Council said no to something he or the Commission proposed. Mr. Kovich noted the Council has all of the control. He said it is important that the Council is upfront with the Commission as he would not want to waste a lot of time working on something that is not going to happen. He stated he has been doing this for a long time and has been told no and he has always been understanding. Mayor Barthel asked Mr. Kovich for some examples of things he would like to see the Nature Preserve do over the next few years. Mr. Kovich said he would like to see them expand what they have. He added there are also opportunities available to get funding for these nature preserves that he would like to look into. He stated they are not looking at buying new preserves; however, they are looking at adding to the preserves that they already have. Mayor Barthel added that it would also be nice to add parking lots for these nature preserves. Mayor Barthel thanked Mr. Kovich for applying for the Nature Preserve Commission. Mark Tubman - Planning & Zoning Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Mr. Tubman and asked him to tell the Council about himself and why he is interested in being on the Commission. Mr. Tubman introduced himself and gave the Council a brief background. He shared he moved from Blaine to Andover because of how different Andover is from all of the surrounding cities. He said Andover was the first place that he has lived that felt worth the long-term investment. He Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 8 added he sees so much potential in Andover and he wants to protect some of the unique features of the City. Councilmember Shafto asked Mr. Tubman how he would approach a PUD request from both the developer’s and the community’s perspective. Mr. Tubman shared he has family that are luxury home builders, so he understands the development process. He stated he is pro-development; however, one of the challenges he sees is not wanting Andover to become a city like Blaine when it comes to development. He noted he believes they should keep big box builders out of the City and to stick with local, Minnesota builders as much as possible as these people would have more of an investment into the community. He explained that working with local builders will help everyone understand the reasoning behind the decisions made. He added this would also be in the builder's best interest to do high-quality work to help their brand. He explained that 58% of the City’s revenue comes from property taxes and zoning is an important part of this. Councilmember Schue asked Mr. Tubman how he would feel if the Council disagreed with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation. Mr. Tubman explained if the Council is denying something then there is something in the proposal that does not meet the standards of the City. He noted the Council is the ultimate decision-maker in the process so as long as they have presented their findings it is up to the Council to make the decision. He added as a realtor, he also has experience putting in a lot of effort into showing people homes who never end up purchasing through him and he did not get paid, so he can understand what it would be like to put in a lot of effort to make a recommendation to the Council that may not go the way he hopes. Councilmember Engelhardt asked Mr. Tubman how he would explain tax increases and changes to residents when they are a result of zoning changes. Mr. Tubman explained the City has the necessary services that they need to provide and by remaining a smaller community, they lose out on the scale of economies. Councilmember Engelhardt asked Mr. Tubman his opinion on the density requirements from the Met Council. Mr. Tubman reiterated he is pro-development and he has no problem with development; however, it comes down to how it is done and what kind of market they are in. He said they need to develop responsibly. Mayor Barthel thanked Mr. Tubman for applying for the Planning and Zoning Commission. Tiffany Strabala - Planning & Zoning Commission Mayor Barthel welcomed Ms. Strabala and asked her to tell the Council about herself and why she is interested in being on the Commission. Ms. Strabala introduced herself and gave the Council a brief background. She shared she watches most of the Planning and Zoning Commission meetings as she likes to see the planning and zoning process. She said she cares about her community and what kind of development comes to the City. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 9 Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Strabala how she would approach a project with both the residents and the developer in mind. Ms. Strabala said she would want to have all of the facts before making a decision. She added she would also want to get a feel for the area that they are discussing and would visit the area if she was not already familiar with it. She explained she would want to balance the concerns of the residents with the City’s zoning codes and the developer's goals. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Strabala how she would feel if the Council disagreed with her recommendation on a project. Ms. Strabala stated she would want to honor those in positions of authority and if the Council has the final say then she would respect their decision. She said she may want to ask the Council for their reasoning for her own curiosity. Councilmember Engelhardt asked Ms. Strabala how she would encourage involvement for residents to attend Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Ms. Strabala said she would share as much as she could with the community about how important it is to have their voices heard and to know what is coming into the City. Mayor Barthel asked Ms. Strabala what some potential issues are that she could see in the future for the City. Ms. Strabala explained she is concerned with what is going on at the Capitol and how the City’s hands are being tied as to what they can and cannot do. She said she would like to see more local control for planning and zoning. She added she likes how the City preserves wetlands and natural resources. She noted there are many residents in the City who have lived here for decades and are likely frustrated with the amount of development coming into the City and caring for these people’s emotions and concerns is important to her. Councilmember Shafto asked Ms. Strabala what unique skills she would bring to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Ms. Strabala shared she deeply cares for this City and is well aware of the issues facing the City. She added she invests a lot into Andover with her time and resources. She noted she is also very active within the community and likes to share exciting things that are happening within the community. Councilmember Schue asked Ms. Strabala to share one thing she really likes about Andover and one thing she dislikes about Andover. Ms. Strabala said she really likes the intimate feel of Andover. She noted while there are shops and restaurants in the City, it still has a small-town feel. She explained she would like to improve the Hanson Boulevard area. She added she also wants to ensure that the elderly of the community have somewhere to go to be taken care of. Councilmember Engelhardt asked Ms. Strabala what services Andover is missing. Ms. Strabala said the City has very few restaurants and she would like to see more. Mayor Barthel thanked Ms. Strabala for applying for the Planning and Zoning Commission. Andover City Council Special Meeting Interviews for Commission Openings Minutes – January 22, 2025 Page 10 DELIBERATION Councilmember Shafto recused himself from the Park and Recreation Commission deliberation. The City Council discussed applicants for City Commissions. The City Council reached a consensus to appoint Jonathan Gwinn, Kim Kovich, and Emily Thomsen to the Nature Preserve Commission, to appoint Chuck Naughton, Scott Hudson, and Jonathan Weinhold to the Planning and Zoning Commission, with Roger Grout as an alternate, and to appoint Kristin Lackie, Liza Shafto, and Ryan Dawson to the Park and Recreation Commission, with Emily Honer as an alternate. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Barthel declared the Special Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ava Major, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.