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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWK - May 24, 20119 LWOW Y 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV City Council Workshop Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Conference Rooms A & B 1. Call to Order— 6:00 p.m. 2. Update LRRWMO - Engineering 3. Discuss Emerald Ash Bore Draft Management Plan/10 -32 —Engineering 4. Discuss Fencing for Tower #1 (Rose Park) /City Project 11 -14 -Engineering 5. 2011 -2012 Council Goals Discussion © 6. 2011 Budget Implementation Progress & March 2011 Investment Report 7. 2012 -2016 CIP Discussion— Sanitary Sewer System Financial Projections 8. 2012 Budget Development Discussion 9. Administrative Update - Verbal 10. Other Topics 11. Adjournment E I i ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING — MAY 24, 2011 MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Julie Trade, May 24, 2011, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Sheri Bukkila, Mike Knight, Mayor Mike Gamache (arrived 6:19 P.M-) Councilmember absent: Don Jacobson Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson Director of Public Works /City Engineer, Dave Berkowitz Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas Natural Resource Technician, Kameron Kytonen Others UPDATE LOWER RUM RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION ( LRRWMO) Mr. Haas referenced his memorandum providing an update regarding the status of the LRRWMO. He noted Mr. Bruce Perry, his alternate for the organization, was present. Mr. Haas referenced the bullet points in the memo. Councilmember Knight inquired what the motivation at the State level was. Mr. Haas responded it is to have cleaner water. The State wants to make sure the cities are not just discharging water down the river without treating it first. He added there can no longer be discharges to the Rum River from this day forward. Also, a storm sewer pipe cannot be put into the river from here on out. Councilmember Trade suggested standards be made consistent through the communities on the LRRWMO. She mentioned the design standards the TAC developed. Mr. Berkowitz explained the standards have been forwarded to the Coon Creek Watershed District. He noted the design standards developed by the TAC will make it easier for developers to plan and there is a good chance that ponds would be smaller. He added the biggest concern is infiltration. The soils in the ponds will be part of the criteria. Councilmember Bukkila asked how information would travel from the Council to the LRRWMO and then disseminated back to the Council. Mr. Berkowitz explained the LRRWMO will make a decision whether they agree with what the TAC is presenting. Mr. Haas will bring the information back to the Council. He explained there is one Councilmember on the TAC as well as one Staff. © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — May 24, 2011 Page 2 Mr. Berkowitz explained stormwater can be a tricky subject to deal with. He said the City is fortunate in that it has been designed right. The system functioned well, and there was no flooding during the last weekend of storms. Councilmember Knight questioned the budget in general. Mr. Berkowitz explained the State is putting more pressure on water districts to do more. If a lake is classified with unclean water, they want the watershed to step in. This is one of the lowest funded watersheds in the metro area. The budget for this watershed is $30,000 to $40,000 per year. It is regulated by the Board of Water and Sewer Resources (BWSR), of which the members are appointed by the legislature. Mr. Haas summarized the Council will consider more involvement in the TAC. He said he will bring an update of TAC and the LRRWMO to the June Council workshop. DISCUSS EMERALD ASH BORE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN/ 10 -32 Mr. Kytonen updated the Council regarding the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an insect that attacks all species of ash trees and has been found in Minneapolis. He presented the EAB Management Plan drafted by staff and summarized the main points. Councilmember Trude stated she supports the plan. The insect is not in the city yet, and it is unknown how much damage this can do. There is no known way to control the onset. A plan will help educate the residents. Councilmember Bukkila questioned how long it takes to kill a tree from the time of infestation. Mr. Kytonen answered it takes three to five years. Mayor Gamache noted some cities are taking the trees down. He asked if that will stop infestation. Mr. Kytonen explained by taking trees down and replanting smaller trees, it limits the places for breeding. It is less expensive to deal with smaller trees. Discussion took place on what the next steps should be. Consensus was reached to educate the residents as one of the first steps. Information and photos of the pest will be in the newsletter for identification. Other methods to communicate with homeowners will be sought and used. The policy will be brought to a Council meeting for approval. DISCUSS FENCING FOR TOWER #1 (ROSE PARK) /CITY PROJECT I1 -14 Mr. Berkowitz reported that the painting and rehabilitation has begun on Tower #1, located in Rose © Park. He requested Council direction relating to the proposed fencing to be constructed around the perimeter to secure the storage tank and prevent vandalism. Consensus was reached to request three quotes and install the fence after the tower is painted. © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — May 24, 2011 Page 3 2011 -2012 COUNCIL GOALS DISCUSSION Mr. Dickinson explained that based on Council's discussions held at the March and April workshops, staff had refined and assembled the goals into the following categories: 1. Fiscal Goals; 2. Commercial /Residential Development/Redevelopment Goals; 3. Collaboration Goals; 4. Service Delivery Goals; and, 5. Livability/Image Goals. He noted the staff report also included Council value statements. Councilmember Trude stated she would like to discuss category #1, and would like to add "explore new revenue streams ". Councilmember Knight asked if a program could be set up to keep track of the progress in reaching each goal. Mr. Dickinson suggested that specific departments be approached to see how each goal can be met within their parameters. He added the next steps would be to identify what's being done to reach each goal. © Councilmember Knight asked about garbage hauling in the city in relation to goal #4. Discussion took place regarding the feasibility of having a certain day for garbage pick up throughout the city with different haulers, or choosing one hauler for the city. The impact of garbage trucks on the streets was discussed. The consensus was to work toward a goal of having one garbage pick up day in the City. Councilmember Trude mentioned the allocation of community education funds should stay within youth programming. She also noted she would support trail expansion using levy funds. Mr. Dickinson stated these items will be covered as part of the budget decision. 2011 BUDGET IMPLEMENTA TION PR OGRESS & MARCH 2011 INVESTMENT REPORT Mr. Dickinson presented the 2011 budget and levy numbers as well as the City Administration directives and departmental expectations for 2011. He noted there were sample resolutions put together by the County Collaboration Team. The County resolution was adopted today by the Anoka County Board. Discussion took place on investments and whether any funds are at banks that are financially troubled. Mr. Dickinson explained the funds are kept safe through security pledges. He noted some banks are fragile and having a City remove their finances could be detrimental to a bank, so that is one factor in moving funds. © 2 012-2 016 CIP DISCUSSION — SANITAR Y SE WER SYSTEMFINANCIAL PROJECTIONS Mr. Dickinson reviewed that in late March, staff distributed baseline worksheets to Department Heads as a 2012 -2016 CIP kick -off. Subsequent discussion has centered on the need for other © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — May 24, 2011 Page 4 committees and commissions to start their work. Mr. Dickinson requested Council begin discussion on the current sanitary sewer system financial projects and, in particular, the theory behind the sanitary sewer rate structure. He raised the issue of how commercial properties are billed for service and what the impact to the City would be if it was changed. If businesses were billed by water consumption, it would mean a loss of $150,000 based on billing in 2010. Business properties would save approximately $51,100 annually. Mayor Gamache stated he did not have an interest in changing the billing. The Council concurred. Consensus was reached to leave this as it is. 2012 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION Mr. Dickinson reported that Department Heads have started to focus on the 2012 annual operating budget development process and would like Council direction as to the preparation of the 2012 annual operating budget proceeds. He referenced the budget development guidelines as adopted at © the April 5, 2011 Council meeting and detailed in the staff report. He explained that the City will not receive the market value homestead credit for 2012/2013. There will likely be levy limits and there could be a mandatory salary freeze. He noted the possible government shut down will affect the City in licenses and permits. The larger impact will be at the schools if they are waiting for their government payment in August and it does not arrive in time. Mr. Dickinson noted that Open Space is looking at another property. There are no new staff requests for 2012. The City has been very conscious of spending money on staffing. He noted the City has reduced 10 positions since 2009. There will not be a cost of living increase this year in the proposed budget. He noted the City is considering changes in heath care insurance. In the law enforcement area, the staffing is adequate. Discussion took place regarding Council membership contributions and the function of Youth First and the Community Center. Further discussion ensued on the types of programs offered for children in the summer. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE Mr. Dickinson explained Clear Wire has backed away from tower sites. He noted the equipment has been installed at Rose Tower, but service is on hold until the rehabilitation is done. The towers at Shadowbrook, Hidden Creek and City Hall will not be used by Clearwire. © Mr. Dickinson indicated there is property for sale next to Prairie Knoll Park. If the City acquired this property, the parking area for the park could be expanded. It is a 2.5+ acre parcel. He asked if he should explore the feasibility of using this parcel. Consensus was reached to research the feasibility of this parcel being used for parking. © Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes — May 24, 2011 Page 5 Mr. Dickinson reported variances maybe available to consider again, the Planning and Zoning will be recommending the necessary code amendments. Mr. Dickinson stated he spoke with the City Attorney and has some draft language for the Hunting Discharge Ordinance. He would like to bring it forward to a Council meeting. Mr. Dickinson indicated there have been code enforcement violation questions at 13900 Goldenrod Street. Staff visited and found no code violations. Council consensus was reached that there is no interest in moving forward to address the issues raised. Mr. Dickinson stated the skate park project will likely be delayed. The product is built in Joplin, Missouri and many employees lost their homes in the recent tornadoes. He will keep the Council updated on this issue. Mr. Dickinson discussed the warming house next to City Hall. The exterior is not yet completed and the due date is June 1. The brick is not yet ordered, which most likely means the project will not be on time. A letter of warning and consequences will be issued. © Mr. Dickinson discussed a potential easement ownership issue at 167 Lane in Ham Lake. This is been an outstanding issue since 1994. Staff is working to get this resolved and an easement would be used for a turnaround. OTHER TOPICS None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Bukkila, Seconded by Knight, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Chris Moksnes, Recording Secretary S