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, March 12, 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; City Engineer Jean Keely; Police Captain Dan Szykulski; Communications Technician Roark Haver; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; City Clerk Catherine Sorensen; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 6 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Herbst, and Councilmember King Absent: 1 - Councilmember Clark 3 New Business 3-2 WS 15-11 NORTH METRO MAYORS ASSOCIATION City Manager Arneson introduced Jill Brown, Executive Director of North Metro Mayors Association (NMMA). Ms. Brown gave an overview of NMMA’s city members, associations and community partners. She also gave an overview of NMMA’s past projects. Jim Dickinson, NMMA Operating Chair and Andover City Administrator stated NMMA gives the northern cities’ perspective to the State. He stated NMMA’s major focus is on transportation improvements (Highway 35W and Highway 10) and getting more revenue in the State Highway Fund. He stated the member cities bring issues forward to NMMA such as the trucking industry with weights and lengths of trucks. City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final March 12, 2015 Kathi Hemken, President of NMMA and Mayor of New Hope, stated NMMA listens to its members. Mayor Ryan commented Councilmembers can attend the NMMA’s meetings. He noted the City’s biggest issues are the Met Council’s Thrive 2040 housing plan and Highway 65. He commented there used to be several businesses from Blaine that were partners with NMMA. Councilmember Herbst stated Blaine was a member of NMMA for a long time, but dropped out when issues were not addressed. He commented the Met Council’s Thrive 2040 will cause problems for all cities. He asked about the annual membership cost. City Manager Arneson replied membership in the past had been $28,000 annually. Councilmember Hovland stated Highway 65 is a major concern and MnDOT seems to be stonewalling projects on Highway 65. He stated another issue the City has is with the reconstruction of 105th Avenue. Councilmember Swanson stated in the past NMMA was too focused on fundraising. He noted that Blaine has been the driving force behind the 35W coalition. He stated he does not want the City to become a member again and then quit again. Councilmember Bourke commented the Council is frugal with the taxpayer’s money. Councilmember King asked how fees are calculated and how actions are reported back to membership. Ms. Brown replied dues are based on population, but capped at $25,000 so Blaine would see a slight savings from the past. She stated NMMA contracts are annually and meeting minutes are distributed monthly. Mayor Ryan commented NMMA was very involved with the input on the building of Highway 610. Councilmember Herbst asked if the City has funds to cover the membership fee. City Manager Arneson replied funds from 2014 could be used to cover the membership fee. Mr. Dickenson replied since it is the middle of March the NMMA membership fee for 2015 would be prorated. Council consensus was to consider the benefits of participating again and respond to NMMA in the near future. Discussed City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final March 12, 2015 3-1 WS 14-67 WSB PRESENTATION ON 105TH AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 14-11 Public Services Manager Therres stated WSB & Associates, Inc. is the authorized contractor for preliminary and final design for the reconstruction of 105th Avenue from TH 65 to Radisson Road. He stated WSB will present a 30% preliminary design, corridor access management, findings of soil borings, design elements of constructing a pedestrian tunnel, and streetscape elements to enhance the pedestrian movement throughout the project corridor. He noted a second open house is scheduled for March 25, 2015. He introduced Derek Schmidt, Project Manager and Nick Hentges, Lead Designer of WSB & Associates, Inc. Mr. Hentges stated the new plan includes removing the walk from Davenport to the east end of the National Sports Center property, closed the west entrance to the soccer complex parking lot, connected the trail on the north side to the north/south trail, redesigned the entrance to the fields and golf course, and removed the entrance to the Sports Center maintenance facility. Councilmember Swanson asked about an entrance to the City’s owned property. Mr. Hentges replied there is an entrance for that lot. Mr. Hentges gave an overview of the proposed landscape plan, which includes small plantings, trees and possibly monuments or statues in the median, walks with lights and banners. Councilmember Bourke asked about the walks that were removed. Mr. Hentges replied the walk from the main entrance to Davenport was removed. Councilmember Herbst commented what if a median was removed from the plan. Mr. Hentges replied the median is a refuge for pedestrians. He stated the focus was on the speed of the road. Councilmember Hovland commented the highest pedestrian usage is during tournaments and at that time, there could be groups of thirty people trying to cross. He stated a median will not provide a safe crossing. Mr. Hentges replied a median provides dedicated left turn lanes, signage and landscaping. He noted a pedestrian crossing tends to slow traffic. Mayor Ryan stated when large events take place it can be chaotic. He noted visitors do not know where to drive on the road. Councilmember Herbst asked how pedestrians would be funneled to the crosswalks. Mr. Schmidt stated fencing along the walks would channelize pedestrians to the cross walks. Councilmember Hovland asked about a separate road for the City’s owned City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final March 12, 2015 property. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer replied with the rebuild of 105th a separate road is no longer needed. Councilmember Hovland stated it is important to channelize the pedestrians to cross the road at designated crossing locations. City Manager Arneson commented a box culvert would cost over $1 million dollars and the road would have to be raised by 9½ feet high for a length of 1,000 feet. Mayor Ryan asked if a bridge would cost more. Mr. Schmidt replied the major cost is side slopes and retaining walls. He stated the bridge is not the expense, it’s the ramping on both sides to get to the bridge. City Manager Arneson noted a funding bill was presented to the Legislature. Mr. Hentges stated a roundabout is an option to slow traffic down; although the Sports Center would have to rework one of their fields. Councilmember Hovland commented a roundabout would be small and he is concerned about semi-trucks and buses having trouble maneuvering. City Manager Arneson asked if the road could have a posted speed of 40 miles per hour. Mr. Hentges stated the road would be built for 40 mile an hour speed, but not posted as 40. MNDOT would do a speed study after construction to set the speed limit. Councilmember Herbst suggested the City petition the County to post a lower speed limit with a flashing speed sign. He noted the flashing speed sign has worked in other areas within the City. City Engineer Keely stated a roundabout will slow the traffic down. She stated additional lighting would be needed for a roundabout. Councilmember Swanson commented roundabouts are not safe for pedestrians. He stated he will not support a roundabout on this environment. Councilmember King commented roundabouts slow traffic and people may change their driving route due to the lower speed. Councilmember Hovland commented roundabouts create problems. Councilmember Bourke commented he agrees that roundabouts slow traffic. Councilmember Herbst commented the businesses do not have an issue with the speed on the road. Mr. Schmidt stated roundabouts average 15 to 20 miles per hour speed. He stated pedestrian crossings are before the roundabout. He noted that the pedestrian crossings at lighted intersections are larger due to all of the lanes City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final March 12, 2015 that intersect. Councilmember Hovland commented too many stop signs cause drivers to gun their cars. He asked if there are any studies on departure speeds from roundabouts. Mr. Schmidt replied he is not aware of any studies available. Public Services Manager Therres stated the City conducted a speed study on the roundabout on Davenport and found that people are obeying the speed limits going in and coming out. City Manager Arneson asked how the Police Department would man a roundabout during events. Captain Szykulski replied a roundabout may need two officers on each side of the roundabout. Councilmember Swanson requested studies on heavily used roundabouts. City Engineer Keely stated the Sports Center representatives were in favor of a roundabout and the trails would connect well. She noted the Sports Center is proposing a new right in/right out entrance to 109th Avenue. City Manager Arneson noted the project funding would be $3 million from the City and $3 million from the State. He noted that the City needs to proceed with the project without knowing if the State funds will come through. City Engineer Keely stated the proposed plan includes sod and trees in the median. She noted that MAC is aware of the proposed road improvements. City Manager Arneson stated a meeting will be scheduled with MAC. Council direction was to further the roundabout concept to create a 40 MPH design. Discussed 3-3 ORD 15-2312 FIRST READING LICENSING AND REGULATION OF THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE City Clerk Sorensen stated the City currently has 22 enterprise licenses and four of them are home-based occupations. She stated staff conducted an informal survey of metro area cities and found no other cities limit the number of enterprise licenses. She stated Robbinsdale limits the number of full time massage therapists at one location to 15; no other responses have been received. She stated staff is proposing limiting the number of licenses based on population such as one license for every 2,000, excluding home-based licenses. She noted that the current population of 62,018 would allow for 31 licenses. City of Blaine Page 5 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final March 12, 2015 Councilmember Hovland stated he is concerned about excluding the home-based businesses otherwise more home-based businesses could open. Councilmember Herbst asked if the City’s fees are covering the inspections. City Clerk Sorensen replied the fees were increased at the beginning of the year to help cover the increased staff time of issuing massage-related licenses. City Clerk Sorensen stated the code amendment includes other updates including hours of operation, hearings, and including additional accredited institutions. Police Captain Szykulski commented in the past, there was one business that had questionable service and that they are no longer in business. He noted the businesses are inspected annually. Mayor Ryan stated most of the work is within the Licensing Department. Council consensus was to bring forward an amendment for consideration limiting the number of massage enterprise licenses to one license per 2,500 residents and to not exclude the home-based businesses. Discussed and Forwarded to the City Council due back on 4/16/2015 4 Other Business City Manager Arneson stated questionnaires will be sent to five candidates for City Attorney on March 13, 2015 and for their return response within a week. Councilmember Swanson gave a review of the questions on the questionnaire. City Clerk Sorensen gave an overview of proposed legislation establishing an early voting system and said the League of Minnesota cities is requesting councils adopt a resolution of support. Council direction was to include the resolution of support on the March 19 Council meeting for adoption. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 6