City Council Workshop

10801 Town Square Drive 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, February 19, 2015 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A 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: City Manager Clark Arneson; City Attorney Thomas Sweeney; Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Public Services Manager Bob Therres; Finance Director Joe Huss; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Chris Olson; City Engineer Jean Keely; Communications Technician Roark Haver; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; City Clerk Catherine Sorensen; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 7 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Herbst, and Councilmember King 3 New Business City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 19, 2015 3-1 WS 15-08 UTILITY EXTENSION TO LEVER STREET AND 125TH AVENUE Public Services Manager Therres stated staff has prepared two options to construct, finance and estimated cost to extend trunk utilities within the Lever Street alignment to the north side of 125th Avenue. He stated option one is for the Council to initiate the project and define the scope; and option two is the Council receives a petition from property owners with a project scope to initiate a project. He noted option two allows the scope of the project to be defined by the parcel owners. He stated the cost of the project would be covered by the City’s Sanitary Sewer and Water Main utility Funds and repaid through a connection charge or assessment as each property develops. Councilmember Herbst abstained from commenting on this project due to a conflict of interest. Councilmember Swanson asked what would be covered in Phase II. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer replied staff does not know what Phase II will cover. Councilmember Swanson asked what costs will be covered by the developer. Public Services Manager Therres replied the oversizing will be covered. Councilmember Bourke asked where the commercial utilities would be run. Public Services Manager Therres replied utilities would be run to the west. Councilmember Bourke stated he is in favor of running the utilities the entire way. Mayor Ryan commented the City cannot justify the cost of the utilities with only a partial development. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer commented Lennar is in discussions with developers, but no agreement has been completed. He stated Lennar is committed and invested in the current plan. He commented Lennar may need a slight alignment change due to soil boring test results, which will be done in the spring. Councilmember Hovland commented that he does not think the plat will change. City Manager Arneson commented if a project is initiated, funds would have to be transferred from the Sewer Fund reserves to a Capital account and a fee increase will be needed in 2016. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 19, 2015 Councilmember King asked if any projects would be bumped if the funds are transferred. City Engineer Keely replied there are two projects slip lining and oversizing trunk lines that may be delayed. Councilmember Bourke asked if there are funds earmarked for this project. Public Services Manager Therres replied $200,000 is earmarked for the project. Finance Director Huss replied a rate increase or bonding will be needed to fund this project. Mayor Ryan commented Utility Funds would be earmarked for the next five years. He suggested a public meeting to hear from the residents on if they want the utilities. Councilmember King requested detailed financials for this project. He stated if the utilities are run the entire way, the development would move quicker. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer commented Lennar is preparing a grading package for the Council to review and approve. Councilmember Bourke asked if Pulte petitioned for the utilities; will Pulte pay for the entire project. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer replied no, the Pulte petition is for the group of landowners. Councilmember Clark asked if a petition is time specific. City Engineer Keely replied the Council can choose to assess immediately. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer replied no. Councilmember Clark commented this project is leap frogging a development. He stated there are no defined residents north of 125th. Councilmember Hovland requested staff create financing structures for Council to review. Council discussion on comparing the 109th project to this project. Councilmember Swanson stated he is in favor of the project if the City can finance the project. City Manager Arneson commented the Sewer Fund is the only source for funding. Councilmember Clark stated a financing plan is needed and he agrees a public hearing or informational meeting be held. Councilmember Hovland commented the developers want the utilities in before they start building. Council consensus to review financial costs before a public meeting is City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final February 19, 2015 scheduled. Discussed 3-2 WS 15-09 MEDICAL CANNABIS Planning and Community Development Director Schafer stated staff has prepared a companion code amendment to make retail distribution a conditional use permit. City Manager Arneson stated this topic will be discussed at a future Workshop. OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Swanson stated Comcast has paid off the Cable TV building. City Manager Arneson stated the City cannot issue a moratorium without conducting a study. Councilmember Swanson commented a moratorium is time limited. City Clerk Sorensen stated the Board of Review interviews are scheduled for February 23, 2015. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4