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, August 21, 2014 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Meeting Number 14-44 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. 2 Roll Call Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Clark Arneson, City Manager, Patrick Sweeney, City Attorney; Bryan Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director; Bob Therres, Public Services Manager; Joe Huss, Finance Director; Chris Olson, Police Chief/Safety Services Manager; Jean Keely, City Engineer; Roark Haver, Communications Technician; Jason Sundeen, Senior Engineering Technician; Catherine Sorensen, City Clerk and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 7 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Kolb, and Councilmember Herbst 3 New Business City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final August 21, 2014 3-1 WS 14-35 FLOWERFIELD ROAD EAST OF LEXINGTON AVENUE (Postponed 8/7/14) Sponsors: Therres Attachments: Flowerfield Rd Aerial.pdf Public Services Manager Therres stated Council asked staff to look at widening Flowerfield Road east of Lexington Avenue. He stated Tom Lundgren; one of five property owners on Flowerfield Road is requesting urban improvements to the existing 24 foot wide paved rural road. He stated the pavement management rating for the road is 63 and should be considered for a future overlay prior to reconstruction. He stated in order to proceed with a public improvement program, the neighborhood would have to petition for street reconstruction or the Council would have to initiate a project. He stated constructing an urban street would require soil corrections to widen the road which will have wetland and ditch impacts, flood plain fill mitigation, and storm drainage improvements. He stated that the contractor for the Weston Woods development is required to repair any damaged roadway and has offered to reconstruct the entire road at their cost to match the existing 24 foot wide rural section. He noted that if a public improvement project is considered, the developer may request to leave the roadway as is until the public project is constructed. City Manager Arneson commented a culvert improvement project was approved at the last Council meeting. He noted that there is no funding source for the project. Councilmember Hovland commented that with the new development going in the traffic will increase on that road. Mayor Ryan commented an improvement project could wait for two to three years until the development construction is completed. Discussed City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final August 21, 2014 3-2 RES 14-155 COMMUNITY CENTER TASK FORCE UPDATE Public Services Manager Therres introduced Todd Olson, Chair, Community Center Task Force. Mr. Olson stated the Community Center Task Force (CCTF) has 31 members, vice-chair and chair. The CCTF has met throughout the summer and toured three metro area community centers (Andover, Shoreview, and Maple Grove). He noted that Andover had cut a running track from their project and regretted that decision. He stated the CCTF has proposed budget request for consultant/architect, surveys and need analysis. Councilmember Swanson asked how active are the task force members? Mr. Olson replied approximately 20 are active. Finance Director Huss stated a public hearing will be needed for the budget request. He noted that staff proposes to use Capital Improvement Fund and the project would have the ability to include costs in a bond offering. Councilmember Bourke stated he is concerned about the amount of the proposed budget request and he wants to see a commitment from the CCTF. He suggested doing a survey first. Mr. Olson replied a survey would be first to get input from the residents on their needs and wants in a community center. Councilmember Kolb commented a survey was conducted for the City’s open space and the consultant narrowed down the questions. She noted the CCTF should not write the survey. She commented a consultant should be brought on right away in order to avoid mistakes. Councilmember Clark commented the CCTF is a diverse group with varied interests for a community center. Councilmember Hovland commented he agrees a survey needs to have clear and concise questions. Mayor Ryan commented a community center is a year round business and it has to pay for itself. Councilmember Bourke asked if the proposed budget is approved, does it mean all Councilmembers are in favor of a community center. City Manager Arneson replied no. Councilmember Clark suggested approving just the survey. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final August 21, 2014 City Manager Arneson asked how much involvement does the Council want to have with the CCTF. Councilmember Swanson suggested just staff should be involved. Mayor Ryan commented the three school districts need to be represented on the CCTF. Councilmember Swanson noted that at National Night Out, residents were asking for a progress status on the community center. He commented the residents he spoke to were in favor of a community center. Councilmember Herbst commented the City needs to be transparent on the community center that it will cost the tax payers money. Councilmember Kolb stated the last time the City proposed a community center; residents voted it down due to the fact that community centers’ budgets run in the red. City Manager Arneson stated the Council will be informed on the survey development and staff will interview all consultants. He noted that the consultant contracts would be held by the City. Discussed OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Ryan stated Mystic Auto is zoned heavy industrial and is not allowed sales. He noted that the owner has to use someone else’s license and it costs him $100. He suggested including sales as a permitted use in heavy industrial zoning. Councilmember Swanson requested Council review of the City’s rental property ordinance. He stated how many rental licenses can a person hold and is there a limit of rental properties that are in a row. Councilmember Herbst requested Council review of the City’s rental fee schedule. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4