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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK August 29, 2006 o ~. ,.. O!. NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US City Council Workshop Tuesday, August 29, 2006 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order - 6:00 p.m. 2. Open Space Referendum Discussion 3. 2007 Proposed Budget & 2007 Tax Levy Review 0 4. 2007-2011 Capital Improvement Plan Review 5. Other Business 6. Adjournment o o ~ GuJ...,< LLh.-t +-Ie/) 9 -I '1- 0(.. ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP-AUGUST 29,2006 MINUTES The Workshop of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, August 29,2006, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Councilmember absent: Also present: Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Ken Orttel, Julie Trude None City Administrator Jim Dickinson City Planner, Courtney Bednarz Assistant Finance Director, Lee Brezinka Others OPEN SPACE REFERENDUM DISCUSSION o City Administrator Dickinson explained an Andover Council 2005-2006 goal is to explore open space preservation. Questions relative to open space were integrated into the recent community survey conducted by Decision Resources, Inc., which indicated that there is strong support for the City to purchase open space for the purpose of preservation. The survey also indicates that residents would be supportive of an increase in property taxes to support open space preservation in the amount of $20.60 on an annual basis. Council's discussion over these results has lead to the potential consideration of an open space referendum as part of the November 27 General Election. In response to that discussion the Council created the "Open Space Task Force" on July 18,2006 to prepare a report for presentation to the Council on September 5,2006. (Councilmember Trude arrived at 6:05 p.m.) Councilmember Jacobson asked on the sample ballot question, the third line, air quality is not mentioned anywhere else. He thought they were reserving land and he wondered where air quality came into this and what would be the intent of the air quality cause. Mayor Gamache stated reading through the sample ballots and trust, for public land documents, there are two things that stand out. One is water quality and air quality is the other. What they are indicating to people is if they are not building more homes, roads and traffic, air quality will be o better. They are protecting their open space to preserve quality. It is something people support. Councilmember Jacobson thought by indicating air quality, someone may come in and ask for something they did not intend. He wondered how they will say no to a request. Councilmember Orttel thought it is great if they could get these results out of open space, but he thought having this o o o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 2 in the provision will confuse people. Mr. Dickinson stated this is a point that is valid because if it is on a ballot as a question, it can be challenged by someone. Councilmember Jacobson wondered if they could use "to enhance air quality". The Open Space Task Force introduced themselves to the Council. Mr. Doug Falk stated he is always interested in being involved in the city and added he would like to see the urban area constrained to allow open space to remain in the rural areas. Mr. Lyle Bradley stated anything they do on land or water has a direct effect on air quality. He has been interested in this issue for years and he is happy Andover is looking into this. Any decision the Council makes would have an effect on people fifty years down the road. Mr. Mark Miskowiec thought anything to preserve land is a good idea. He thought iflarger cities are doing this, Andover should be able to do it also. Mr. Winslow Holasek stated he has always been interested in what happens in Andover. Ms. Rosella Sonsteby thought they are coming up with this at the wrong time. People are losing their jobs and homes and she thought there is plenty ofland that Andover has now. She indicated she is against this. Mayor Gamache stated that is the reason they are bringing this to a referendum to give the people the ability to approve or deny this. Councilmember Trude stated the question is not clear how it is written regarding air quality. Councilmember Jacobson stated on the commonly asked question sheet, item two, they are also talking about the trail system. He thought they should add "and to enhance the trail system" to this. Councilmember Orttel thought the primary issue is to obtain open space and they will connect trails to it. He stated if they build trails, there will not be any money for land. Mr. Dickinson stated the money will be for land and through this they can connect regional trails to this. Councilmember Trude stated she would like that added so people are not confused. Mayor Gamache stated this was discussed in the Task Force meetings. The trails will be different than the trails they already have and is a way to tie the existing trails together. They want to preserve the land the way it is but they also want the land to be used. Councilmember Trude stated they need to answer the question, "Will the money be 'used to pave trails?" She wondered what the role of trails with open space is. She stated they need to explain o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 3 how they plan to enhance the trails in the common questions. Mayor Gamache stated there are other ways they pay for trails. The intent of this is to buy land. Councilmember Orttel stated a lot of the open space does not need access; the idea is to leave areas open. He thought they could reword the question to say "To access the open space". Mr. Holasek stated trails have two purposes, transportation and nature. Mr. Falk asked if they could add in not to have a paved trail because they want to keep it natural. Councilmember Trude stated they do not know what they are going to do with the trails because she understood paved trails are less obtrusive to nature. Mayor Gamache reviewed how else they will raise money to purchase open space besides taxes. Councilmember Orttel asked if they could bond off the proceeds of the original bond. Mr. Dickinson stated they could. o Ms. Rosella Sonsteby asked if this is just to buy land or to build trails also. Mayor Gamache explained what they would like to do but they will not be paved transportation trails. Councilmember Jacobson asked how much it will cost to put this on the ballot. Mr. Dickinson stated the County has not told him what it will cost but he figured it will be minimal. Councilmember Jacobson asked if it will pass on a simple majority. Mr. Dickinson stated that is correct. Councilmember Trude thought it would be a good idea to show this to people who do not know anything about it and see what they would say. Mr. Dickinson explained how the task force came up with the ballot question. Councilmember Trude thought better wording would be to say "And to offer Nature Trails" instead of "To enhance the trail system". Mr. Dickinson stated the only problem with that is if they purchased land that they had planned to put a transportation trail on before even purchasing the land, there may be a problem putting a transportation trail on the land after purchase with the open space money. Councilmember Orttel stated they should word it to say "To enhance the use and accessibility of the o Nature Trail". Councilmember Jacobson thought the committee should work through this issue. Mayor Gamache thought the reason they worded this to say "enhance the trail" is to indicate different o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 4 things could be done with this. The goal is to keep the open space and the trails will be the last thing. Mr. Dickinson explained to the Council the language that is required by State Statute and the changes that were made to the ballot question as a result. There was discussion about how confusing the description of the amount of the tax was at the bottom of the ballot question. There was a consensus that the statement relating the amount to the value of homes should be added back if legally permissible. Mayor Gamache asked Mr. Dickinson to look into this further. Councilmember Orttel stated this is not going to be sold at the ballot box; it will be sold before then so he did not think the wording will make that much difference. Mr. Dickinson indicated they will work to bring this information to the next Task Force meeting for discussion and review. 2007 PROPOSED BUDGET & 2007 TAX LEVY REVIEW o City Administrator Dickinson explained the Council has a number of reviews for the 2007 Proposed Budget that will be supported by the 2007 Tax Levy. At the last meeting only a few questions remained. Mr. Dickinson reviewed the questions with the Council for discussion. Councilmember Knight stated he would like to have Laura Landes go out and promote public services more each month. Community School Budget Councilmember Jacobson asked if there is any indication from Community Ed if they did not provide $43,000 a year, would they drop the programs or would it continue. He asked what is being provided for this money. Mr. Dickinson explained what is provided. Councilmember Jacobson thought this is one area they should look at. Councilmember Orttel stated they need to review this to see if there are duplications. Councilmember Trude stated the School District indicates they would try to do the best they could if they did not get the money. Mr. Dickinson stated the School District would have to work with the levy dollars provided for this community if there is not a donation from the City. o Councilmember Jacobson would like to see a letter indicating what would be done if Andover did not contribute money. Councilmember Trude stated she will not support moving $43,000 from the Community Ed program. o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 5 Councilmember Knight asked where the change in medical came in. The Council discussed salaries and benefits with staff. Mr. Dickinson indicated the 2007 percentage of salary increases will be 4.65% which includes steps and cost of living increases. Councilmember Trude asked if they need additional police in 2007. She thought it was a want, not a need. Mr. Dickinson stated by the end of 2006 they will need one additional police officer. Councilmember Jacobson wondered how many lobbying associations the City needs. Mayor Gamache indicated AMM said they may be able to get someone on the board from the Council. Mayor Gamache indicated all of the surrounding communities are in the AMM. Mr. Dickinson indicated this is in the 2007 budget. o Mr. Dickinson stated there will be an increase in health insurance and they may be able to get some money for Youth First. Councilmember Trude stated she wants to make sure the Community Center program is funded for after school activities. Councilmember Orttel indicated the program does not include the entire City and he could not see justifying funding the project if it did not include the entire City. He thought they should charge a minimal fee for children after school. Mayor Gamache asked what they are doing with the School District wanting to use the Community Center. Mr. Dickinson explained what the Community Center is planning to do to help out the School District. Councilmember Trude thought the kids need predictability and need to come after school. She indicated that this stops juvenile delinquency in the community. Motion by Councilmember Jacobson, Seconded by Councilmember Trude, to hold initial hearing date for Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. with continuation"for Tuesday, December 19,2006 at 7:00 p.m. for the Truth in Taxation Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. 2007-2011 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REVIEW City Administrator Dickinson stated city departments have prepared a proposed 2007 -2011 ClP for the Council's review. There are also various rate analysis and cash flow projections used during the process. o Mr. Dickinson reviewed the proposed projects with the Council. Councilmember Jacobson stated on page 59 of the ClP Plan, it talks about $385,000 for Andover Station North Ball Fields. It indicates $300,000 to light the field and he wondered if they indicated they were going to light the fields right away. Mr. Dickinson stated they are not. o o o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 6 Councilmember Trude stated she is concerned with the concession stand the Baseball Association proposed. She asked if it is between lighting and a building, which would they want. Mr. Brezinka indicated the Baseball Association donated around $70,000 with another possible $20,000 before the end of the year. Mr. Dickinson thought the shell of the building will be around $100,000. Mayor Gamache thought they will have a lot of volunteers to help finish the building. Mr. Dickinson indicated the City is providing the water and sewer there. Councilmember Jacobson stated on page 83, Lunds Evergreen 4th and 5th Additions, was this the only one for 2007. Mr. Dickinson stated they have not updated the ClP since last discussion. Councilmember Knight stated on pages 47, replacing vehicles, why are they going to spend $40,000 on a new Fire Chief vehicle. Councilmember Jacobson stated it is slated to be replaced in 2010. Mr. Dickinson stated at the point of possible replacement they will review the costs and determine if it will be wise to replace the vehicle or keep it. Councilmember Jacobson stated on page 72, it shows $400,000 for the Crosstown Boulevard Trunk Sewer Line. He wondered why they are doing this now. Mr. Dickinson stated this was integrated early and if Crosstown were reconstructed, they would put it in then. Councilmember Jacobson stated it will be put in but no one will pay for it except the City. Mr. Dickinson stated that is correct. He thought this needed to be looked at and possibly pulled out further. Councilmember Jacobson stated the Rural Reserve and bringing up the main sewer line, what year will that occur. Mr. Dickinson stated it will take 18 months to 2 years from start to finish. He stated . the way the economy is, he did not see the Rural Reserve would be coming in anytime soon. Mayor Gamache stated a resident wondered if there were any emergency plans for bringing people to the Community Center in an emergency situation. He wondered if they need to set up an official plan for major catastrophes. He wondered if there is any money in Home Land Security funds to do something like this. Mr. Dickinson indicated they already have an emergency plan in effect for such catastrophes. OTHER BUSINESS Post Office Window Support Councilmember Trude thought in new developments they should have an ordinance for locked mailboxes. The Council discussed why the Andover Post Office does not have a window and why the Post Office put a window at Super America. The Council thought staff should check into this further and indicated the City Council would support putting in a window at the Andover Post Office. o Regular Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - August 29, 2006 Page 7 Septic System Update Mr. Dickinson indicated the owner has a blocked septic system. He reviewed what happened with the Council. Park Renaming Item for the City Council Agenda Mr. Dickinson stated Renaming of Parks and Trails will be on the September 5, 2006 City Council agenda. He reviewed what will be in the staff report. Joint Meeting with Parks Commission Mr. Dickinson stated they will be discussing some policy issues with the Park Commission. He indicated he will get the Council an agenda as soon as possible for this meeting. Councilmember Trude asked if they are going to get anything done at Crosstown and Nightingale. Mr. Dickinson stated it is in the plans for 2007. o Councilmember Knight stated regarding the bow hunting, will this be something the City will consider doing. Councilmember Orttel stated they are going to have a public hearing regarding this and he thought the residents will probably be against it from what he has heard. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Orttel, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary o