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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK - July 20, 2010 C I T Y o F 0 NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US i City Council Workshop Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order - Immediately After Regular City Council Meeting. 2. 2011-2015 Capital Improvement Plan - Focus on State Aid Road Improvements & City Utility System Improvements - Administration/Public Works 3. 2010 Budget Implementation Progress Report - Administration 4. 2011 Budget Development Discussion - Administration 0 5. Other Topics 6. Adjournrnent 0 0 ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING - JULY 20, 2010 MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, July 20,2010,9:05 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Sheri Bukkila, Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Julie Trude Councilmembers absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson Director of Public Works/City Engineer, David Berkowitz 2011- 2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN - FOCUS ON STATE AID ROAD IMPROVEMENTS & CITY UTILITY SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Berkowitz stated this item is in reference to the 2011-2015 CIP development. The items they want to review are specifically related to the State Aid projects and how water projects impact those same projects. Councilmember Jacobson stated on page 21, extending the sewer along Bunker Lake Boulevard and over to County Road 7 which is through Ms. Sonsteby's property and he is going to assume 0 it is put in the budget for $740,000 but that we will only do the project if we received a petition from Ms. Sonsteby. Mr. Berkowitz showed a map to the Council and asked if they want to put in the water pipe at the same time as the road reconstruction or at a future date. Mr. Berkowitz reviewed the South Coon Creek project that staff would like to see be reconstructed in 2012. He noted a water loop is critical under South Coon Creek for the overall system in the short and long term. Mr. Dickinson stated various projects, including the Clear Well, 2.8 million contained in the CIP particularly serves new growth in the community. Mr. Dickinson stated they need to cut back on project and operational costs and the only way they can do that right now is to cut City improvements and he hopes that will buy eight to ten years and if he can get ten years out of the water tower rehab this is a good deal. Councilmember Knight stated he would be surprised if they see significant population growth in Andover. Mr. Dickinson stated in order to maintain the system in the next ten years they need to make wise decisions. If they can improve functionality and efficiency oftheir system that is paramount with their CIP investments because they need to find ways to reduce operating costs. They do not want to make too much of an expenditure for it and not getting any efficiencies back out of it and that is why they are rethinking the demolition of the water tower. Mr. Berkowitz stated they would like to go to a one tier system sooner than later but understands 0 tl1at it is not realistic at this point. He feels this is a medium step that gets them in the right direction. Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes -. July 20, 2010 Page 2 0 Councilmember Jacobson asked by doing the improvement would it help with the water pressure problem in the south part of the city and the public safety problem. Mr. Berkowitz stated it would not help completely but by having a redundant water system to serve the west side of town would be very helpful. Councilmember Knight asked what they were projecting for population growth numbers in the area they are talking about. It was indicated there would not be a lot. Mr. Berkowitz stated there would not be a lot of development but they are establishing redundant service and reducing some issues that are happening with pressure in certain areas of the City. Councilmember Trude wondered if it would help if they had more rate payers. Mr. Dickinson indicated it would. Councilmember Trude thought they may be charging too much for hook up cOlmections and ifthey lowered the cost maybe more people would hook up. Mr. Dickinson stated more rate payers would help, but lowering the hook up costs, he stated by doing that there is a cost shift and the burden moves from development to usage rate to pay for long tenn improvements. When they start talking about where do they want that to be, do they want it on the rate payer or on the development to pay for it. Past practice and theory has been. that development pays for itself. Mr. Dickinson thought it maybe time to have an outside fiscal party come in and evaluate the 0 rate plan. Councilmember Jacobson asked what would happen if they went to Anoka and Coon Rapids to see if they would let Andover tap into their systems and integrate. Mr. Brian Krabel stated they are taking water of different qualities and that adds different issues to the way water would need to be treated by the system. Councilmember Jacobson wondered if getting help from adjoining cities for five years would that help immediate problems. Councilmember Trude asked Mr. Berkowitz to look into the potential to let Anoka service pmi of their City for water. Staff discussed with the Council the options for running water lines in connecting developments. Mr. Berkowitz indicated he would like to do the South Coon Creek project in 2011 but thought they needed more time to get the plan set up and the costs set before approaching the neighborhood. Councilmember Trude did not think it made sense to run a line in an area where no one is going to hook up. She wondered ifthere was an alternative route to this. Mayor Gamache did not see any other option other than to do this project. Councilmember Trude asked ifthey could analyze this project more before they approve it. Mr. i 0 Berkowitz stated SEH already reviewed the area and recOlmnended this as an improvement they Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2010 Page 3 0 should make and so now we are starting to work on this. Mr. Berkowitz noted South Coon Creek should have been reconstructed five years ago and he has been putting it off but now it will need to be reconstructed in 2012 because the street has gotten really bad, tlley would just like to add the water line to the project. Councilmember Jacobson suggested they have another engineering film look at the project to see if this is the right thing to do at this time and if it is still consistent with previous suggestions. Mr. Holasek asked if there would be a projected cost to install the watermain in five years instead of at the time of road reconstruct. Mr. Berkowitz stated it would likely be about thiliy percent more for the water main and then to rip up the road again and reconstruct it could be double the cost or $1,400,000. Mr. Berkowitz stated he could probably get the same engineer in to reevaluate the project to see if this is still the right thing to do. Mr. Berkowitz updated the Council on other road reconstruction projects within the City. 2010 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT 0 Mr. Dickinson stated they are on target, things are going well and they are staying within their guidelines. 2011 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION Mr. Dickinson stated the primary issues are they had to make some modifications in the debt area to free up for the operational side. Under staffing, there has been no new staffing requests for the coming year and ifhe has a first request in staffing, if funding was available, he would request first to recall the public works employee. He noted under salary, they are indicating a freeze yet for 2011. He stated if funding were available, the first item he would recommend to the Council is to approve steps and then to look at a cost of living increase. Personnel related items: Last month he talked to Council about the Federal Health Care Refoml and what the League ofMN Cities recommendation was. Mr. Dickinson stated he sat down with the City's broker and evaluated the League ofMN Cities recommendation and they do not believe it. He stated the League made that broad statement by looking at numerous cities within Milmesota that have actual caps on how much can be paid out in life time health insurance claims and they are currently not under that. He stated their contract will not be impacted because of that type of issue. He believed he could bring the number in under 12% by marketing the plan to different companies. 0 Community School funding has been removed from the budget and the School District did not --- ~ ~ Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes -July 20,2010 Page 4 0 argue too much about it but encouraged the City to continue funding through the next school year at minimum. Mr. Dickinson recommended cutting the funding in half. He wondered if they should contribute half or none at all in the coming year. Mayor Gamache was fine with contributing half of the funding for the next school year. Councilmember Trude thought they should send a letter to the school principals informing them of the change by the City. Councilmember Jacobson stated he heard a rumor that starting in January 2011 employees will have to pay income taxes on heath care costs. Mr. Dickinson stated they would if it is considered excessive, such as a Cadillac health insurance plan and they are not close to that based on their costs. Mr. Dickinson stated they are working on the Sheriffs Contract and will bring the contract through for approval. OTHER TOPICS Mr. Berkowitz reviewed the reconstruction of the Bunker Lake Boulevard project with the Council. The Council felt they should connect the trail to the construction cut off area. They did not want 0 to pay for the costs of a median or for street lights. The Council also felt they should let development cover the costs for the turn lane. Mr. Berkowitz stated there is a possibility of installing lights at 138th Avenue N of Bunker Lake Boulevard but they would need to pay for half of each ofthe County's legs along with the cost for the power. Mr. Berkowitz asked ifthey should assess sewer and water to the Sonsteby development now or when it is developed. Councilmember Jacobson thought sewer and water assessment should be billed to the Sonsteby land when it is developed. Councilmember Trude thought they should discuss this with Ms. Sonsteby's son first before a decision is made. Mr. Berkowitz indicated they planned on meeting with the Sonsteby family regarding the plans. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Bukkila, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary Q