City Council Workshop

10801 Town Square Dr. City of Blaine Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop *While this is a public meeting where interested persons are welcome to attend, it is a work session for Council and staff to discuss issues before them. It is not for the purpose of receiving public input. Thursday, November 21, 2013 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Meeting Number 13-58 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Clark Arneson, City Manager; Patrick Sweeney, City Attorney; Bryan Schafer, Planning Director; Bob Therres, Public Services Manager; Joe Huss, Finance Director; Chris Olson, Police Chief/Safety Services Manager; Nyle Zikmund, Fire Chief; Jerome Krieger, Park & Recreation Program Supervisor; Roark Haver, Communications Technician; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 7 - Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Kolb, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Herbst, Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, and Councilmember Swanson 3 WS 13-73 LEXINGTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX UPDATE Sponsors: City Council Attachments: SKMBT_C65213111412530 Lex Athletic Cplx Estimate Comparison 11-14-13 Public Services Manager Therres stated Lexington Athletic Park (LAC) is a 38.5 acre park located on Lexington Avenue adjacent to the Woodland Village development. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger gave an overview of the proposed Lexington Athletic Park (LAC). He stated the LAC is proposed to have two lighted baseball fields, two lighted multi-purpose fields, two non-lighted multi-purpose fields, two lighted tennis courts, a lighted pickle ball court, a basketball court, a playground, picnic shelter, and a building that would include concessions, multi-purpose room/warming house, meeting room, election polling place, restrooms and storage space for equipment and City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final November 21, 2013 machinery. He noted that the site plan has been revised to add additional parking spaces in the northwest portion of the park which will cause the basketball and tennis courts to shift northward. He commented that pathways will connect to the neighborhood. Councilmember Bourke arrived at 6:36 p.m. Councilmember Clark asked if the building is two stories and how will the second level be used. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger replied yes and the second level would be used for storage. Councilmember Hovland questioned the parking lot locations compared to where the ball fields are located. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger replied that all of the lighted areas are on the west side of the park and the park is designed around the wetlands. Councilmember Kolb stated the plan was to have more meeting space. He asked if the City has recovered enough fields. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger stated the park was initially planned for three ball fields, but will have only two due to wetlands. He stated the lighted fields will allow two games to be played at night. He noted that the lights have to be off by 11:00 p.m. Councilmember Clark asked for clarification on the BBC field and games per night. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger replied if the game starts at 6:00 p.m. only one game can be played before it gets dark. He noted the teams are fighting for field time. He stated games are played on fields 1, 5, and 6, seven days per week. Councilmember Hovland commented there is a park on Able Street that has a backstop and room to install a ball field. Councilmember Kolb asked if more meeting space could be included in the concession building. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger replied storage space is needed for equipment. Councilmember Bourke asked for the square footage of the meeting space. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Krieger replied approximate 900 square feet. Council discussion continued on the need for storage at LAC. Public Services Manager Therres gave an overview of the proposed LAC budget. He gave three alternatives for the Council to consider which includes bid the project with different alternates; eliminating items from the plan and build them at another time; build as shown and borrow money from the CIP. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final November 21, 2013 Councilmember Herbst stated he does not want to delay the building of the park. Councilmember Bourke asked if the LAC would be income producing. Public Services Manager Therres replied yes, with the field usage fees and concessions. Councilmember Clark questioned if the Park Dedication Fees are competitive. Park & Recreation Program Supervisor Therres replied the Park Board’s recommendation is 10% increase in residential and 7% increase in commercial. Councilmember Kolb asked staff for a listing of the building’s details and amenities. Council consensus is to proceed with the proposed design City Manager Arneson commented that the contractor pool is smaller than in 2008 and costs are higher. Discussed 1 WS 13-71 2014 GENERAL FUND BUDGET UPDATE Sponsors: Huss Finance Director Huss presented the preliminary General Fund Budget and Tax Levy for Certification to the County which was adopted on September 5, 2013. He noted the balancing provisions could take the form of additional, non-tax levy revenue; expenditure reductions; additional use of unrestricted reserves; or a combination of the three sources. He stated $455,554 is projected for unrestricted reserves at year end. He stated the 2014 Levy is 36.739%; the 2014 EDA Levy is 0.284%; and the preliminary 2014 budget has a projected gap of ($359,090). Council discussion continued on property taxes; the projected unrestricted reserves and the projected gap. Discussed 2 WS 13-72 2014 PROPOSED SENIOR HOUSING BUDGET Sponsors: Huss City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final November 21, 2013 Not Discussed ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m. City of Blaine Page 4