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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK - September 28, 2010 CITYOF ~ NDO~EF{~ :,:Zb 0 '. JJ . ,~', ,'. J -4. \\. ., 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. ' ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304, (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 , WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING - SEPTEMBER 28,2010 MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, September 28,2010,6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Sheri Bukkila, Don Jacobson, Mike Knight and Julie Trude Councilmember absent: None Park Commission Members present: Chair Ted Butler, Bull Hupp, Tony Kowalewski, Jim Lindahl, Mark Miskowiec, Shan Rarnnath and Shaun Van Vark Also present: Director of Public Works/City Engineer, Dave Berkowitz Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas City Administrator, Jim Dickinson Others 0 BUS TOUR Mr. Berkowitz indicated the bus tour will focus mainly on Parks and Public Works items. . PRAIRIE KNOLL PARK (FIELD USAGE) Mr. Berkowitz stated parks maintenance staff is concemed about excessive field usage and they have found other parks that could be used for practice as an alternative so they can preserve the primary fields for games. Councilmember Trude would like to use other fields for practices. She indicated she did not want to upset the football parents by not allowing them to park on Prairie Road. Mayor Gamache did not see why the parents cannot park in the north lot and walk to the football field. He noted that he has not seen both parking lots full all the time so there is no reason to park on Prairie Road. He thought some people were just being lazy and creating dangerous situations by parking on Prairie Road. Councilmember Trude stated she drives by this park frequently and both lots have been full with people parking on the main road. If the residents did not complain and want no parking on the side streets then the people going to the park would not need to park on Prairie Road. She stated ifthey ban parking on Prairie Road then people will start to park across the street on a different 0 side road and make for more dangerous situations than they have now. Mr. Haas reviewed some of the other parks that are not being used at all for practice fields for football and other sports. '. 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2010 Page 2 Mr. Haas reviewed some of the other parks that are not being used at all for practice fields for football and other sports. . PROPOSED DOG PARK LOCATION/10-23 (ANDOVER STATION NORTH) The bus tour went to Andover Station North and the Council left the bus to look at the potential parcel of land to be used as a dog park. There was agreement with the Council that this would be a good place for the proposed dog park. . 2011 PROPOSED STREET RECONSTRUCTION/WATER MAIN POTENTIAL The bus tour went to the 2011 proposed street reconstruction site. Councilmember Bukkila wondered why the road needed to be redone because it did not look that bad. Mr. Berkowitz indicated there were a lot of alligator cracking patterns and the road has been repeatedly repatched. He noted the concrete curb will remain. . HAWKRIDGE PARK 0 The bus tour went to Hawkridge Park where they looked at the park development being done. Mr. Berkowitz noted they planted grass seed and hoping they do not get a hard frost so the grass germinates and will grow. The Council thought the park reconstmction was going well and looked really nice. . 2010 STREET RECONSTRUCTION The bus tour went to the 2010 street reconstruction site and indicated a nice job was done. On the way back to City Hall, the Council drove by Sunshine Park where the permanent skate park location is proposed. Councilmember Bukkila stated one potential problem will be kids will congregate in the woods and not at the skate park and there will be potential problems. She wondered if there is any other flat area in the park they could look at to locate the skate park at. Mr. Haas did not believe there is. He stated they tried to place it in an area where law enforcement could drive by and see what is going on. Councilmember Bukkila stated the problems will not occur at the skate park but in 0 the trees nearby. The Council retumed to City Hall for the Joint meeting. --------------- 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes-September 28,2010 Page 3 JOINT MEETING WITH PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION The Joint Meeting ofthe City Council and Park & Recreation Commission was called to order at 7:03 p.m. . CONSIDER LOCATION OF DOG PARK/10-23 The City Council is requested to consider the Andover Station North Ball Field Complex as the location ofthe dog park as recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission. Mr. Rob & Mrs. Jen Frisbee were at the meeting along with other residents that support a dog park in Andover. Chair Butler of the Park and Recreation Commission reviewed the possible locations in the City the Commission reviewed for a dog park. Commissioner Hupp stated at Andover Station North the fencing will separate the dog park from the rest of the activity areas. 0 Chair Butler continued to review the parks they looked at for the potential dog park and the pros and cons about each one. Councilmember Knight asked if fencing would be in the location proposed so the dogs carmot get in the area where people will be located. Chair Butler stated that is correct and explained there would also be gates needed where openings exist to keep the dogs in the proposed park. Mr. Haas noted there will only be one entrance. Motion by Jacobson, seconded by Bukkila, that after considering the recommendation ofthe Park and Recreation Commission the Council recommends the Andover EDA approve the location of the dog park be located in Andover Station North subject to private funds being raised for fencing and it's installation. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Rob Frisbee and Mrs. Jen Frisbee thought this was a good recommendation and felt this would be a great place for a dog park and a good thing for the City. Mayor Gamache asked if they have looked at Petsmart or Petco for funding for the park. Mrs. Frisbee stated they have looked at Menards for the fencing. Mr. Frisbee stated they have not started fund raising efforts yet since they do not know the details yet and need to figure out what the costs will be before they start fund raising. 0 Councilmember Knight thought there should be some signage made to indicate where the dog park will be located. - 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2010 Page 4 Councilmember Trude thought they needed to make sure the Andover Baseball Association is notified ofthis to see if there are any concems with a dog park at Andover Station North. . CONSIDER LOCATION OF SKATE PARK The City Council is requested to consider Sunshine Park as the location of the proposed permanent skate park as recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission. Chair Butler stated they would like to move the skate park permanently to Sunshine Park. Commissioner Van Vark explained to the Council the reason why they need to have a permanent skate park located in Andover. Councilmember Jacobson asked if they put the skate park in at Sunshine Park will they need to remove the equipment each season. Commissioner Van Vark indicated they would not because this would be a dedicated area and would not need to be moved for other activities. Councilmember Knight stated without a fence he would be worried about liability issues with the 0 equipment being used when the park is closed. Commissioner Van Vark stated they would post hours the park will be open and there could be lighting installed. Mr. Dickinson stated he would prefer to have set times and because it is in the open it can be viewed at all hours for activity. Commissioner Van Vark noted that even the skate parks that have fencing usually do not get locked after hours. Councilmember Trude wondered if they needed a paved trail to the park because this may encourage kids to use the trail for activities. Councilmember Bukkila stated the trees by the park concerned her and since they are within fifteen feet ofthe skate park. She thought this will be troublesome. The Commission did not think the trees would be a problem and brush by the skate park could be cleared out to give a better view ofthe skate park from Crosstown Boulevard. Councilmember Bukkila asked what the long term maintenance on the skate park is going to be and how are they going to fit this into the budget. Chair Butler stated this would be looked at in the same way as maintenance to other parks. He thought in the future skate park equipment would be appropriate to add to the CIP plan for equipment replacement like other park items. Mr. Haas explained how the Parks Commission would maintain and replace the equipment. 0 Chair Butler stated they are recommending the skate park be placed at Sunshine Park with the proposed concrete surface and allocating dollars for some equipment replacement. The budget would total $70,000. 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes-September 28,2010 Page 5 Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Trude, that the City Council concurred with the Park and Recreation Commission on the budget, location and installation of a skate park in 2011 with a concrete pad and no fence. Councilmember Trude noted there is a resident in the audience who was concemed if the skate park would have been located next to their yard where the hockey rinks have been constructed. The resident stated the hockey rinks are very close to his property and he would prefer not to have activity there all year round. Councilmember Bukkila's concem is with the brush and vegetation around the skate park and would like to have it removed. Mr. Dickinson summarized the direction ofthe Council relative to the motion, no fencing, be conscious of visibility and a firm budget of$70,000. Being conscious of visibility may require some brush removal. Motion carried unanimously. . DISCUSS USE OF FIELDS & MAINTENANCE CONCERNS 0 Mr. Berkowitz stated field over use continues to be a concem of Public Works staff. Staff would like to discuss options with the City Council on reducing field use to preserve the turf quality for games. Mr. Berkowitz stated there is a concem with the field use, especially at Prairie Knoll Park. He noted they would like to work with the Football Association on using altemative fields at other parks for practice to give the main fields some more rest. Mayor Gamache indicated it did not look like they were having field problems at Andover Station North or Sunshine Park but Prairie Knoll Park is a concern. Commissioner Hupp thought the middle of the field looked the worst because the water seems to pond in there when it rains. He did not think the field was graded properly. Mr. Haas indicated they did regrade and crown the field when they resodded the field but there has been so much activity at Prairie Knoll Park that it has not had time to grow properly. Mr. Berkowitz stated they could look at altemative material for the field if needed. He wondered iffootball could move further to the sidelines to allow the middle to recover. Mr. Haas indicated the Andover Football Association knows the concems .and are willing to make adjustments if needed. Councilmember Trude did not think it was all football's fault. She thought lacrosse and soccer 0 were just as rough, if not more, than football and something should be done for all the different sports using the fields. -~~ ~~ ----~~ II 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2010 Page 6 The Council discussed with the Park Commission, staff and the Football Association altematives that can be made in the future to preserve the play fields. Councilmember Trude suggested they continue to work informally with the different associations on finding alternative fields for practice. . DISCUSS USE OF FREE SKATING RINKS The City Council is requested to discuss the use of free skating rinks that are located aroUnd the community to determine if there is a potential to eliminate rinks that get minimal use. Mr. Haas stated Terrace Park and Shady Knoll Park are two ofthe parks they are looking at eliminating the free skating rinks. He stated Shady Knoll Park residents are close enough to the City Hall complex area to skate. He stated Pleasant Oaks really needs a rink since there is nothing else around there. Mayor Gamache suggested the City look at the existing hockey and free skate rinks in the same location and get them going and then from there to go to the other rinks and maintain them. 0 Council consensus was not to eliminate the rinks, but lower the priority of maintenance. . DISCUSS PUBLIC WORKS CAMPUS RINKS Mr. Tony Howard, representing the Andover Youth Hockey Association (A YHA) has requested to discuss the Public Works Campus Rinks with the City Council and Park and Recreation Commission. Mr. Howard presented his request to the Council and Commission. Councilmember Bukkila stated she did not know they were going to build the warming house and thought they were going to rent a trailer this year. She wondered if the cost would be cheaper to rent one for the first couple of years rather than build one. Mr. Howard stated the cost is $3,500 for a temporary warming house and the one they had at Hawkridge Park barely held everyone for just free skating. He noted there are two rinks including a free skate rink so they would need to rent two trailers for all the people that will be using the rinks. Mr. Howard reviewed the donations he has received along with donated labor for the site work. Councilmember Trude asked if the rinks are done. Mr. Howard stated they need to finish the fencing, which was donated. They also have to get the transformer in for the lights. 0 Councilmember Trude noted the association has donated over $65,000 to this project and needed help from the Park Commission to finish up the warming house in the amount of$50,000 or so. ~ - -- --- 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2010 Page 7 Councilmember Bukkila thoughtthe Park Commission should give their input on this item before it continues. Mayor Gamache stated this is not necessarily a park so does it fit within the scope for park dedication funding from the Park Commission. Mr. Dickinson reviewed with the Council how the City can help fund the ice rinks, ifthat is ultimately the direction. Chair Butler wished Mr. Howard would have come to the Park Commission earlier in the year so they could have been more proactive with this. Mr. Howard explained the need arose since the fundraising didn't meet its goal. Councilmember Bukkila thought Mr. Howard took on a great project but since this was not initiated within the City within the budget framework she is not ready to step out of the box yet. Councilmember Trude stated she is because she knows that Mr. Howard can make things happen and she has seen what he has done at the Community Center. She noted the Council has helped out the Baseball Association with their building and felt they should help out with this also. Commissioner Van Vark thought the funds for this could be recaptured in the future from the Hockey Association. 0 Mayor Gamache asked what the drop dead date is to get the material purchased. Mr. Howard stated it would be nice to get it going within the next month because they are looking at ice mid December. He stated he has always been about the kids and getting things done for them. He stated he knows of a company that can spread concrete for $1 per square foot and he will pour it for cost for the skate park and asked the Park Commission ifthey could help them get the warming house built. Chair Butler stated he did not know what is required of the City for a bid process. Mr. Dickinson stated this would be considered a fOlmal donation to the City and they would work through appropriate processes. The City would likely need to procure the materials. Chair Butler stated he would be willing to look at using some of the miscellaneous project funds to help out but he did not want to drop the projected fund balance below $50,000 as that would set a bad precedent. Mr. Frank Kellogg discussed what the Hockey Association has done in the City and for the Community Center. He stated the only component not subsidized in the Community Center is the Hockey Association. They are self sufficient operationally. He stated Mr. Howard is doing this for the kids. Commissioner Kowalewski stated they have to look at every aspect of all the associations. He stated they have helped with baseball, football and soccer and he thought they needed to help out 0 the hockey association also. Chair Butler agreed with the sentiments being made but they have $15,000 in miscellaneous project funds that could be used. He would propose using $23,000 from the Park Capital Improvement Fund to get this going and leave it to the Hockey Association to get it going. The additional $8,000 would be from the park improvement fund balance. 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28,2010 Page 8 Commissioner Hupp stated he liked the idea if there is a way to work it out but he wondered how fast they could get this appropriated and wondered if they would get reimbursed for the money given. Chair Butler did not expect this paid back to the City since it will be enjoyed by all of the residents and they do not expect to be paid back by the other associations for helping them out with fields. He thought they should use the $23,000 and have the Hockey Association look at ways others could help to fund this project also. Councilmember Jacobson suggested the Park Commission discuss this further to decide what they want to do and make a motion to bring forward to the City Council for review and approval. He did not think a workshop was the place to do this for the Council. The Council concurred. The Council recessed at 9:30 p.m. The Park Commission continued to discuss their budget and the request by the Andover Hockey Association and what they could possibly provide for the hockey association to continue on their rinks. Discussion centered on Mr. Howard's offer to provide the skate park concrete pad at cost. 0 Motion by Miskowiec, seconded by Hupp, to recommend to the City Council an allocation not to exceed $35,000 from the park improvement fund to assist with the construction of the Public Works campus rinks warming house. Funds to be provided is $15,000 from annual miscellaneous projects, $8,000 available park improvement fund balance and $12,000 from a donation of service to pour the skate board park concrete pad. Motion carried unanimously. The Council reconvened at 9:45 p.m. The Park Commission adjoumed at 9:50 p.m. COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE PRESENTATION Frank Kellogg and Erick Sutherland updated the Council on the Community Center programs and services that are being provided to the residents. The Council indicated the Community Center is operating well and acknowledged Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Kellogg for their continued efforts. 2010 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT The 2010 Budget and Levy was the outcome of a number of budget workshops with the Council, 0 numerous staff meetings, a December 1, 2009 Public Hearing and adopted on December 15, 2009. 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2010 Page 9 The 2010 Budget includes a total property tax levy of $10,856,299: $7,631,494 (70.3%) operational levy, $1,900,566 (17.5%) debt service levy, and $1,324,239 (12.2%) capital levy. The 2010 gross levy reflects a 2.48% increase over 2009. Mr. Dickinson updated the Council on the progress of the 2010 General Fund budget and investment portfolio. REVIEW "DRAFT" 2011-2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AdministrationlFinance along with all other City departments has completed the process of developing a "Draft 2011-2015 CIP". As part of the process, staff worked with various committees and commissions to assist them in completing their work. The CIP will be brought to Public Hearing on October 19, 2010. 2011 SPECIAL REVENUE, DEBT SERVICE, CAPITAL PROJECTS, ENTERPRISE & INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS BUDGET DISTRIBUTION 0 The Council has had a number of reviews of the 2011 Proposed General Fund Budget that will be supported by the 2011 Tax Levy. The Council did adopt at the September 7,2010 regular Council meeting a Preliminary 2011 Budget with a total property tax levy of $10,856,299. The Council has the right to reduce or keep constant this levy until the final certification dated of December 29,2010. The proposed levy will result in a zero percent (0%) increase in the gross tax levy. 2011 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Mr. Dickinson updated the Council on 2011 Budget Development. Mr. Dickinson updated the Council on health insurance negotiations. OTHER TOPICS . Serendipity Purchase Mr. Dickinson indicated they have had a couple of groups looking at acquiring Serendipity. This is an upscale restaurant that would like to purchase but wants a liquor license and there is a problem because ofthe school within the restriction area. He stated a variance would be unlikely 0 so they would need to look at the code to see if they would want to change it. Councilmember Trude thought this was not zoned School Zone but a Shopping Zone so the restriction should not apply. ........... 0 Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - September 28,2010 Page 10 Mr. Dickinson asked ifthey are being too restrictive. Mayor Gamache thought they were and tried to get it changed before. Mr. Dickinson suggested the Council reduce this to five hundred feet or make schools and churches equivalent to 400 feet. Councilmember Trude stated she would rather write a definition that is more narrow rather than change the footage. She stated the school is in a shopping district and should not apply like a school zoning. Councilmember Knight asked how they compare to other cities. Mr. Dickinson stated Blaine is at 500 feet, and many ofthe other surrounding cities do not address it in their code. Mayor Gamache stated he would support 400 feet to match churches. . Cardinal Ridge Second Addition/Scott Allen Mr. Dickinson stated Scott Allen is the City IT Coordinator and they do not have any negotiations going on. Mr. Allen has come forward to him asking a question regarding his property. It is assessed for five lots and the problem is the one lot he cannot plot it because of the platting Woodland Crossings. Mr. Allen was unable to work out a deal with the developer to acquire the necessary frontage. 0 Mr. Dickinson reviewed the information with the Council. He noted Mr. Allen is trying to sell the property and someone may be interested in buying the first two lots but the others are more difficult to sell without the one lot. Councilmember Trude thought the City should have taken the necessary frontage as right-of- way. The Council thought Mr. Allen should consult a specialist outside of the City. Mr. Dickinson asked ifhe could bring in someone from outside of the City to talk to Mr. Allen to avoid a . potential public perception concern. The Council felt that was all right. Mr. Dickinson stated he would look at a neighboring City to see if someone could work with Mr. Allen on this. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Bukkila, seconded by Jacobson to adjoum at 11:10 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary Q