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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK October 24, 2006 o o o 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US City Council Workshop Tuesday, October 24,2006 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order - 6:00 p.m. 2. Natural Resource Topics - Engineering a. Status of Oak Wilt in Andover (DNR) b. Conservation Development Presentation (City ofLino Lakes) 3. Railroad Quiet Zones Update/06-1 0 - Engineering 4. Discuss Crosstown Boulevard Turnback/06-13 - Engineering 5. 2007-2011 CIP Updates/Trail System Discussion -Administration/Engineering 6. 2007 Budget Update/Enterprise Funds and Community Center - Administration 7. Charitable Gambling Ordinance Research Update - Administration 8. Other Business 9. Adjourmnent o o o CA:Jv~ Cl.Jl..; l,l.h.-l r\e-f\ 1\ - <{ -0\0 ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP - OCTOBER 24, 2006 MINUTES The Workshop of the Andover City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Orttel, October 24, 2006,6:05 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Julie Trude, Ken Orttel, and Mayor Gamache (arrived 6:07 p.m.) None City Administrator, Jim Dickinson; City Engineer Dave Berkowitz; Kameron Kytonen; Recreational Facilities Manager Erick Sutherland; Others Councilmember absent: Also present: APPROVE AGENDA The Agenda was approved as presented. NATURAL RESOURCE TOPICS A. STATUS OF OAK WILT IN ANDOVER (DNR) Kameron Kytonen stated the DNR, Division of Forestry, was taking additional measures to help communities develop and/or enhance forestry programs, specifically related to the control of shade tree diseases, such as oak wilt. Acting Mayor Orttel turned the meeting over to Mayor Gamache. Dick Haskett, Rice Creek Resources, gave an update on oak wilt within the City. He indicated the City is in a high threat area. He noted the City might want to consider regulating fire wood coming into the City, be aware of tree disease activity in nearby communities, watch for statutory and program changes, educate residents and contractors, and monitor enforcement. Councilmember Orttel suggested educating the residents and developers more on oak wilt and how to prevent it. Mayor Gamache recommended the City work with surrounding communities to coordinate efforts in the control and prevention of oak wilt. He suggested when new residents move into the City they be sent a DVD and information sheet regarding oak wilt including when and when not to prune oak trees. B. CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION (CITY OF LINO o Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - October 24, 2006 Page 2 LAKES) Kameron Kytonen stated there have been previous discussions between the City Council and staff to discuss information on Conservation Development, which is a form of development that makes conserving and/or enhancing natural resources a high priority and may offer economic incentives to developers while achieving public benefits. Marty Asleson, City of Lino Lakes, summarized the City of Lino Lakes experience with Conservation Development. Councilmember Trude suggested Council look at some of the Conservation Developments in Lino Lakes. RAILROAD QUIET ZONES/06-10 o City Engineer Berkowitz stated wayside horns may be a feasible option to reduce noise pollution through the City at two railroad crossings caused by train horns. To determine if wayside horns are a feasible option, a diagnostic meeting must be completed. He noted City staff, SEH and Railroad Controls are currently in the process of setting up the diagnostic meeting. Once the meeting has been held the estimated costs would be determined at which time staff would present the information to the City Council for discussion. He indicated funding options would be from Municipal State Aid and/or the City's Road and Bridge fund. Crosstown is not currently a County or Municipal State Aid road. If the City was to accept the road as a tumback, the City could then designate this segment as an MSA designation making improvements of the road eligible for MSA funding. He stated staff has checked with Coon Rapids about the status of their quiet zones. He indicated Coon Rapids has finished all of their quiet zones, which would go into effect on November 1,2006. He indicated Coon Rapids anticipated the cost per crossing would be $50,000.00 to $75,000.00. However, when everything was done, the five crossings Coon Rapids put in cost over $500,000.00. City Administrator Dickinson noted if they went with the horns, they could be financed over time. He stated if Council wanted to do this, staff would work on a plan. Councilmember Knight stated if they put up the horns, he wanted to make absolutely sure they were going to work. City Administrator Dickinson noted the railroad would want a specific maintenance plan set up for maintaining the horns. o DISCUSS CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD TURNBACK/06-13 City Engineer Berkowitz requested Council discuss the Crosstown Boulevard Turnback project. He indicated the Anoka County Highway Department has notified staff that they were beginning the process to tumback Crosstown Boulevard NW from Hanson Boulevard NW to 161 sj Avenue NW to o Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - October 24, 2006 Page 3 the City in the next few weeks. He reviewed what had been done to date. Councilmember Orttel asked if it was possible to widen and shoulder the street in the future when it would be State Aid eligible. City Engineer Berkowitz responded that was a possibility. 2007-2011 CIP UPDATESffRAIL SYSTEM DISCUSSION City Engineer Berkowitz requested Council review the proposed trail map and direct staff on trail improvements for the 2007-2011 Capital Improvement Plan. Councilmember Trude suggested whoever is writing the newsletter, should put in an update on the Hanson Boulevard trail. Councilmember Knight stated they should try and have a crossing up by the schools and City Hall. Councilmember Trude stated she supported the trail on the north side of Crosstown. She indicated there are a lot of children walking in this area all year long. o Councilmember Jacobson asked if they could have some trails in the City that were not blacktopped. The consensus of Council was to do the traiI on the north side of Crosstown. Councilmember Trude asked if they could look at six-foot trails instead of eight-foot trails. City Engineer Berkowitz responded they could not go less than eight-foot trails. He indicted if the trails were classified as a sidewalk, they could go down to five feet. City Administrator Dickinson noted once you get below eight feet, it is so labor intensive there was no cost savings. Councilmember Trude stated if a trail is really expensive, they might want to look at putting in a sidewalk instead of a trail. Mayor Gamache indicated they could put a sidewalk on one side and a trail on the other side. City Engineer Berkowitz stated they could do a comparison, but noted the trail fee would not be used for a sidewalk. Councilmember Orttel stated they could change the ordinance, which would allow trail fees to pay for sidewalks. o 2007 BUDGET UPDATElENTERPRISE FUNDS AND COMMUNITY CENTER City Administrator Dickinson stated the Council has had a number of reviews of the 2007 Proposed Budget that would be supported by the 2007 Tax Levy. At the last meeting, only a few questions o o o Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - October 24, 2006 Page 4 remained and those questions will be addressed through the discussion. Councilmember Jacobson asked for next year would the buildings be self-sufficient. City Administrator Dickinson responded the City is still going to have to subsidize until 2009, when everything would be cut in half, if not more. Councilmember Jacobson stated he is concerned the City would be subsidizing this for the next five years with taxpayer money. City Administrator Dickinson responded there would always be some services that are subsidized because the City would be providing a community service. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland updated the Council on the Community Center budget. He indicated in the future they could increase revenues in the advertising area. Councilmember Knight stated they might want to think about charging a nominal amount for the room fees, even if the organization is non-profit. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland noted they could charge a small annual fee for room rental. Councilmember Orttel stated he would like to see more daytime room rentals by profit organizations. Councilmember Jacobson stated he is not opposed to the fee, based on what the fee would be. Mayor Gamache suggested they figure out what it is costing in staff time to set up the rooms, how much revenue they are receiving from the room rental fee, and then Council could determine if the City should continue to subsidize this. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland noted the rooms are being used so much that they also have to consider the replacement of the chairs and tables. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland stated their largest expense is utilities. Councilmember Trude noted Dean Hanson is the only person who gave $100,000.00. She believes Council had wanted a room named after him. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland responded Conference Room A was actually the Hanson room and they would put a plaque by this room in acknowledgement. City Administrator Dickinson summarized the 2007 Enterprise Funds budget. CHARITABLE GAMBLING ORDINANCE RESEARCH UPDATE City Administrator Dickinson stated the City has a Gambling Ordinance that guides charitable gambling within the City. At a recent meeting, the Council was asked to review the Ordinance by a local sports association. At the October 3, 2006 Council meeting, the Council directed staff to survey some other communities. He summarized what other communities are doing. Councilmember Jacobson stated the issue is that they need more facilities. o Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - October 24, 2006 Page 5 Councilmember Knight recommended they sit down with the associations to discuss this. Recreational Facilities Manager Sutherland noted there are only so many facilities the associations could manage due to staffing. Councilmember Knight stated he had a concern that ultimately the bar owner has the last say as to which association he wants. Mayor Gamache suggested they set it that no one could have a monopoly. Council agreed they would continue to limit the amount of associations in a facility. Councilmember Jacobson suggested they have a public hearing to get the public's opinion. Mayor Gamache noted some of the cities who have a lot more establishments, limit it to three. Council reached the consensus to leave the Ordinance alone for further research. o OTHER BUSINESS A. Community Center Financing City Administrator Dickinson stated they are in a bit of a struggle on the bond financing. He stated they are in contact with the IRS and bond counsel regarding this issue. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Orttel, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Altman, Recording Secretary Q