City Council

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes City Council The council chambers will have limited seating, with audience chairs being set up at least six feet apart. There will be an overflow area where the meeting can be watched in the Cloverleaf Farms Room, also with chairs set up at least six feet apart. Wednesday, February 23, 2022 7:30 PM Council Chambers Councilmember Smith will be joining the meeting virtually from the lobby of Fitger's Hotel, 600 E. Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802 1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR The meeting was called to order at 7:35PM by Mayor Sanders followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Roll Call. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Tim Sanders, Councilmembers Julie Jeppson, Chris Massoglia, Richard Paul, Jess Robertson and Jason Smith (attending remotely 600 E. Superior Street, Duluth MN). Adjunct Member Drew Brown. ABSENT: Councilmember Wes Hovland. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Michelle Wolfe; Community Development Director Erik Thorvig; City Planner Sheila Sellman; Public Works Director Jon Haukaas; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Brian Podany; Finance Director Joe Huss; City Engineer Dan Schluender; City Attorney Chris Nelson; Communications Manager Ben Hayle; Director of Administration Cassandra Tabor; Deputy HR Director Sheri Chesness; and Senior Management Analyst Lisa Derr. Present: 6 - Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Massoglia, Councilmember Smith and Mayor Sanders 4. AWARDS - PRESENTATIONS - ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS 4.-1 2021 Citizen Award Recognitions City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Podany stated each year the Blaine Police Department recognizes citizens in the community that have gone above and beyond what is expected of them to positively impact their fellow citizens and/or law enforcement agency. The citizens are nominated by Blaine Police Department staff. He presented Joshua Patterson and Patrick Garen (not in attendance) with a Life Saving Award for helping to prevent a suicidal female from jumping off a bridge in September of 2021. He then presented Hope Milton with a Citizen Recognition Award for assisting an officer to restrain a confrontational person until more help arrived last October. A round of applause and standing ovation was offered by all in attendance. Mayor Sanders thanked these individuals for being good citizens and for going above and beyond in order to help officers that were in need of assistance. He stated these citizens were what made Blaine such a great community. 5. COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Sanders reported he would be attending the Guns N Hoses Hockey game on Friday, March 4. Councilmember Jeppson stated she was part of the Blaine/Ham Lake Rotary Club and explained last week she learned retired SBM firefighter Becky Booker would be receiving an award. 6. OPEN FORUM Mayor Sanders opened the Open Forum at 7:53PM. There being no input, Mayor Sanders closed the Open Forum at 7:53PM. 7. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The agenda was adopted as presented. 8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Jeppson, that the following be approved: A roll call vote was taken. Motion adopted unanimously. Aye: 6 - Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Massoglia, Councilmember Smith and Mayor Sanders 8.-1 Schedule of Bills Paid City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 Attachments: February 4, 2022 Bills Paid February 4, 2022 Subset of Bills Paid February 11, 2022 Bills Paid February 11, 2022 Subset of Bills Paid 8.-2 Approval of Minutes Attachments: 02-07-22 Closed Workshop - City Manager Review - Labor Negotiations 02-07-22 Workshop Minutes 02-07-22 Council Minutes 02-07-22 Closed EDA Workshop - Potential Purchase - 8839 Central Avenue NE 8.-3 Granting Final Plat Approval to Subdivide Approximately 14.24 Acres into 29 Lots and 2 Outlots to be Known as Julian Meadows at 12551 Lever Street NE. (Capital Trust Development LLC) (Case File No. 22-0008/SLK) Attachments: Attachments 8.-4 Receive Feasibility Report and Order Public Hearing for the 89th Avenue and Davenport Street Area Reconstructions, Improvement Project No. 22-05 Attachments: 89th Ave-Davenport St Area Location Map FINAL Report -89th & Davenport 2022-02-07.pdf 8.-5 Declare Cost to be Assessed, Order Preparation and Call for Hearing on Proposed Assessment for 132nd Lane and Hastings Street Area Rehabilitations, Improvement Project No. 21-07 Attachments: Location Map Assessment Map.pdf 21-07 Assessment Calculations - Final.pdf 8.-6 Declare Cost to be Assessed, Order Preparation and Call for Hearing on Proposed Assessment for 99th Avenue and 101st Avenue Rehabilitations, Improvement Project No. 21-08 City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 Attachments: Location Map 21-08 Proposed Assessment Roll.pdf Assessable Parcels Map.pdf 8.-7 Approve Payment to AXON Enterprise Inc. for Annual Contract Renewal 8.-8 Approve Payment to Insight Public Sector for Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Annual License Renewal 8.-9 Ratification of LELS Local 477 (Deputy Chief) Labor Agreement for 2021-2024 Attachments: 2021-2023 Agreement 8.-10 Second Reading Ordinance Deleting Chapter 58 - Personnel of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Blaine Attachments: Chapter 58 Personnel 8.-11 Second Reading Amending Sec. 50-115. Discharge of Deadly Weapon Limited; Archery Permit; Special Permit at Funerals; Hunting with Firearm, of the City Code of the City of Blaine 9. 7:30 P.M. - PUBLIC HEARING AND ITEMS PUBLISHED FOR A CERTAIN TIME None. 10. DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS None. 11. ADMINISTRATION 11.-1 Authorize a Professional Services Contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. for Design and Construction Administration of 99th Ave and Baltimore Street Intersection Improvements Attachments: RFP - 99th Ave Roundabout at Baltimore Street Public Works Director Haukaas stated in 2020, city staff submitted a grant application under the Minnesota Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvements Plan (HSIP) to construct a roundabout at City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 99th Ave and Baltimore Street to improve the flow of traffic on and off TH65 at this location. The city was awarded $1.53 million toward construction of these improvements in 2022 as it was believed that the PEL Study and initial design work would be completed by that time. The project was originally conceived to be part of the Trunk Highway (TH) 65 Improvements. The continued study work determined that the intersection improvements were independent of the highway project and would be beneficial to construct prior to other TH65 work. The study also took much longer than originally planned and the city was in danger of losing the grant due to the extended timeline. Mr. Haukaas reported staff requested a timeline extension to expend the HSIP funds which was granted by the Met Council Transportation Advisory Board. The program rules only allow for a one-year extension. In order to preserve this federal funding, the city must act quickly to ensure a project is initiated prior to June 30, 2023. An RFP was sent to several firms in the city’s Engineering Transportation Services pool. Three of four firms contacted returned proposals. These were Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH), TKDA, and WSB. All three firms submitted complete detailed proposals with highly qualified staff. Ultimately, staff recommends the Council accept the proposal from WSB because it was the most robust of the three proposals and it provides the best value to perform this work. Councilmember Paul questioned if a roundabout would work at this intersection. Mr. Haukaas stated staff has looked at how traffic interacts in this area and explained the roundabout would be on the frontage road and will have to receive traffic from a future grade separated intersection. He reported staff does believe the roundabout was the right solution for this intersection. Moved by Councilmember Jeppson, seconded by Councilmember Massoglia, that Motion 22-044, “Authorize a Professional Services Contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. for Design and Construction Administration of 99th Avenue and Baltimore Street Intersection Improvements,” be approved. A roll call vote was taken. Motion adopted unanimously. Aye: 6 - Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Massoglia, Councilmember Smith and Mayor Sanders 11.-2 Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to Enter into a Contract with WSB Engineering for Professional Engineering Services for the Public Works Drainage Improvements, Improvement Project No. 22-50 Attachments: WSB 22-50 PW Drainage Proposal City Engineer Schluender stated the Engineering Department has City of Blaine Page 5 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 identified the need for drainage improvements at public works. In 2021, the city contracted WSB Engineering to complete a study on potential drainage improvements at the main public works building and the Xylite Street public works site. A Drainage Improvements Summary report was prepared as part of this study which identified permanent improvements at the main public works building and temporary improvements at the Xylite Street site. The permanent improvements at the main public works building include converting an existing storage bay into a sediment accumulation area, adding a new storage bay, and expanding the parking lot. The temporary improvements at Xylite Street include installing perimeter control at the existing curb cuts in the lot which will prevent polluted runoff from exiting the site. These improvements are necessary to bring the city of Blaine’s public works facilities into compliance with the newly updated MS4 permit. Currently, these sites are in violation of the MS4 permit. Staff has reviewed the proposal, compared it with previous proposals for similar projects, and determined that the fees are justified and reasonable. If the City Council authorizes the contract, a kick-off meeting will be held the week of February 28th to begin preparation of design of the project. Plans and Specifications would be brought for Council Approval in May. Moved by Councilmember Jeppson, seconded by Councilmember Robertson, that Motion 22-045, “Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to Enter into a Contract with WSB Engineering for Professional Engineering Services for the Public Works Drainage Improvements,” be approved. A roll call vote was taken. Motion adopted unanimously. Aye: 6 - Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Massoglia, Councilmember Smith and Mayor Sanders 12. OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Jeppson reported a Facebook Live Town Hall meeting would be held on February 24 and would focus on development. Community Development Director Thorvig reported Kwik Trip would be holding a grand opening on February 24. Councilmember Paul stated 89th Avenue was in poor condition at this time. Mr. Haukaas stated this was the case and noted 89th Avenue had a poor ride quality at this time from the transverse cracking that has occurred this winter. He indicated the tenting on this roadway was being researched by the state. 13. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Jeppson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:07PM. City of Blaine Page 6 City Council Minutes February 23, 2022 A roll call vote was taken. Motion adopted unanimously. Aye: 6 - Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, Councilmember Massoglia, Councilmember Smith and Mayor Sanders City of Blaine Page 7