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, April 10, 2014 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Meeting Number 14-21 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Bob Therres, Acting City Manager, Patrick Sweeney, City Attorney; Bryan Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director; Joe Huss, Finance Director; Chris Olson, Police Chief/Safety Services Manager; Jim Hafner, Storm Water Manager; Ward Brown, Financial Analyst; Roark Haver, Communications Technician; Al Thorp, Senior Engineering Technician; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 7 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Kolb, and Councilmember Herbst City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 1 WS 14-14 2015 STORM DRAINAGE FUND BUDGET DISCUSSION Sponsors: Huss Attachments: 2015 Stormwater Fund Finance Director Huss gave an overview of the 2013 year-end storm drainage fund; 2014 adopted budget and operating projection; 2014 projects and priorities; and 5-year budget model. He noted the City’s goal is to limit the quantity of storm water introduced into the system and improve the quality of the water entering the system. He gave an overview of Blaine’s existing system and infrastructure that includes 184 miles of storm sewer, 30 miles of ditches, 8500 catch basins, 437 ponds on 650 acres, 237 miles of City streets. Councilmember Clark arrived at 6:32 p.m. Finance Director Huss stated 2013 final unaudited operating income of $47,000 and year-end reserve of $1,078,000. He noted the contractual maintenance was higher and capital projects costs was lower than budgeted. Storm Water Manager Hafner commented a carryover project from 2013 is a volume reduction project in Belmont Acres. Finance Director Huss noted there are six future challenges that need funding in the 5-year plan. He noted the storm water fund is projected to increase from $575,000 in 2014 to $850,000 in 2017 and $800,000 in 2018. He stated the 2014 budget projection does not include a rate increase. He gave an overview of the storm water fund prioritization. He gave an overview of fees charged by neighboring cities, cities of the same size as Blaine and noted that Blaine has the lowest fee. Mayor Ryan asked about ditch cleaning and pond cleaning. Storm Water Manager Hafner replied ponds have not needed cleaning yet due to their depth. Mayor Ryan asked if a report is made to the DNR. Storm Water Manager Hafner replied the City inspects the ponds and records the information, but does not have to report. Councilmember Bourke asked about the storm water permit. Storm Water Manager Hafner replied the permit allows storm water to be discharged beyond the City’s boundaries. He stated storm water is treated before it goes into the system and is part of the permit. Councilmember Bourke asked if a reserve is necessary in the storm water fund. Finance Director Huss replied a reserve is needed to cover operating costs and annual depreciation. He commented it avoids borrowing money to cover projects. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 Councilmember Herbst commented reserves are needed especially when pond cleaning is necessary. Councilmember Swanson asked for the details on cleaning ponds. Storm Water Manager Hafner replied sediment needs to be cleaned out, and then clean soil and vegetation are brought in. Councilmember Bourke asked about the Golden Lake project. Storm Water Manager Hafner replied iron and phosphorus will be removed from water. Storm Water Manager Hafner commented the City has to be proactive to stay ahead of infrastructure failures. Finance Director Huss stated the City has received bills from the Rice Creek Water Shed District for project work over a three-year period. He noted the Storm Sewer Fund will need to cover these costs. Finance Director Huss stated the proposed budget and priority plan that matches the current revenue stream will be brought back to Council to a Workshop in May. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 2 WS 14-15 COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE Sponsors: Therres Attachments: Community Center Update- 4-10-14.ppt Acting City Manager Therres stated staff has gathered data from other cities’ community centers including budgets, amenities, debt service, and staffing. He gave an overview of the history and shared information gathered from New Brighton, Shoreview, Maplewood, Maple Grove, and Andover. Councilmember Hovland arrived at 7:01 p.m. Acting City Manager Therres summarized that none are self-sufficient and all require an annual subsidy at various levels. He stated those cities listed were aware of the need for subsidy, but built because of residents’ request. He commented next steps include setting a task force, set role of task force, budget for task force work and time line for task force to report to Council. Councilmember Swanson stated the task force should be tasked with researching amenities and options for a community center. He commented the needs of the seniors must be taken into account. Councilmember Bourke commented Blaine has the most active athletic groups. He commented the Council does not want a special interest group working on the community center. He stated he is concerned that all community centers need to be subsidized. Councilmember Herbst commented the senior center should be moved into the community center. Councilmember Swanson replied the seniors do not want to move. Councilmember Hovland commented the community center should include a senior center. Councilmember Kolb commented the community center would need to be on the ballot for 2014 for 2016 build. She commented the task force would need to be funded to get the project started. Mayor Ryan commented the Schwan’s Sports Arena has never been subsidized by the City. Councilmember Clark commented that not all of the athletic groups have the same resources. He asked how much funds should be budgeted and where would the funds come from. City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 Councilmember Bourke commented he would like the task force process to be similar to how the City’s Comprehensive Plan was organized. Acting City Manager Therres stated next steps would be for the Council to activate a task force. Councilmember Clark suggested the task force include one City staff member. Councilmember Kolb commented a subsidy would have to be transparent. Councilmember Swanson commented the community is younger and wealthier now. Councilmember Kolb commented the task force will be charged with finding a location. Richard Burke, 13001 Hastings Street, stated he has lived in the City for 14 years. He commented his four children are involved in all sports and his family has to travel to several cities to play sports. He stated tying the seniors with the youth would work. Darrell Ecklund, 10804 Pierce Street NE, stated the Highlands Ranch Community Association in Colorado charges homeowners an association fee that includes four recreation centers. He gave an overview of the amenities and programs Highlands’ offers. Councilmember Kolb commented the park’s staff is shorthanded. Acting City Manager Therres stated a summary will be drafted and calls to task force members will be made. City of Blaine Page 5 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 4 WS 14-17 FINN FARM/PAXMAR DISCUSSION Sponsors: Schafer Planning Director Schafer gave an overview of the general concept level drawings from PaxMar Development for the 140-acre Finn Farm. He stated the concept includes land use, street design, project actions and timing. He noted next steps include EAW preparation and applications for zoning. He commented the Land Use Comparison 2030 Plan is for CC, MDR, HDR, LDR, and Open Space (No Industrial). He noted that a comp plan amendment will be needed. He stated there is an issue with the connection to Lever Street. He stated that the road should not be a parkway because the preliminary traffic study showed 800 to 1,000 vehicles per day using the street. He commented staff is ok with abandoning the parkway. He stated the street could be a standard MSA street with a sidewalk on one side and a trail on the other. He noted there is no design for the MDR. Councilmember Hovland asked if more commercial could be added to the development. Planning Director Schafer replied we do not want to saturate the development with commercial and there will be commercial across the street. PaxMar Development representative commented currently there is no anchor for the commercial area. Councilmember Kolb commented she is concerned that the plan keeps changing. Councilmember Swanson asked how the removal of the industrial would be made up within the City. Planning Director Schafer replied the industrial will not be made up. He commented originally the land was zoned industrial and it will not work in this area. Mayor Ryan commented the community wants a theater and another fitness center. Planning Director Schafer gave an overview on utility extensions and timing. He stated the development is sectioned into three phases. Councilmember Kolb stated there are no parks for the development and asked if the Lexington Athletic Complex would cover this development. Planning Director Schafer commented the open space will be dug out for water. He noted that the Lever Street intersection will be a wetland mitigation project. Planning Director Schafer gave an overview of the project schedule and nine action items to be done in order for site work to begin on September 1. City of Blaine Page 6 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 Councilmember Clark asked for the depth of the commercial area. Don Jensen, PaxMar Development representative replied the depth is approximately 300 feet. He commented a medium sized grocery store could fit. Planning Director Schafer commented the National Market Center would be comparable to this commercial area. Council discussion on cul-de-sacs. Councilmember Herbst commented that usually higher end homes are built on cul-de-sacs. Mayor Ryan asked about sewer capacity for the development. Planning Director Schafer replied for 514 units the will be enough sewer capacity. Councilmember Clark asked if 121st is an MSA route. Planning Director Schafer replied he will have to research 121st. Council discussion on MDR. Councilmember Kolb asked for the development’s name. Mr. Jensen replied the development will be named Parkside North. 3 WS 14-16 DISCUSSION ON RFP FOR LEGAL SERVICES Sponsors: Arneson Acting City Manager Therres stated the City signed a Legal Services Retainer Agreement with Sweeney, Murphy & Sweeney for a five year period commencing on April 1, 2009 with an option to extend for an additional 5 years. Councilmember Hovland stated he wants RFPs to go out for all City contracts. Councilmember Swanson stated the RFP was done with the option of extending the contract for 5 years. He noted the City runs the risk of higher costs with an RFP. Councilmember Bourke commented the City needs to be consistent with RFPs. Council discussion on garbage service. Acting City Manager Therres stated an RFP will be sent. City of Blaine Page 7 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final April 10, 2014 OTHER BUSINESS Acting City Manager Therres gave an overview of the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) meeting. He stated the RCWD would be satisfied with the proposed project work. He noted the RCWD has sent the City a draft proposal. Acting City Manager Therres stated staff is reviewing the plans for Ball Road, comments will be submitted back to Walmart for updating and the item is scheduled to be on the May 15, 2014 Council agenda. Councilmember Hovland commented he wants to have a neighborhood meeting at the end of April. Council discussion on restricting hours on Walmart. It was noted that the new Walmart in Roseville has restricted hours. Acting City Manager Therres stated staff will schedule an open house style neighborhood meeting at the end of April. Councilmember Hovland asked for a status on the planning of the City’s anniversary celebration. Councilmember Kolb stated Shari Kunza, Program Supervisor, Parks and Recreation has volunteered to help the committee. She noted that people are being recommended to Shari to be on the committee. She commented a logo has been created and posted on the City’s website. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 8:40 p.m. City of Blaine Page 8