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, October 8, 2015 6:00 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Public Discussion - Extension of Lever Street Utilities NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:00 p.m. 2 Roll Call Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Clark Arneson; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Public Services Manager Bob Therres; Finance Director Joe Huss; Financial Analyst Ward Brown; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Chris Olson; Police Captain Dan Szykulski; City Engineer Jean Keely; Communications Technician Roark Haver; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. Present: 6 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Bourke, Councilmember Herbst, and Councilmember King Absent: 1 - Councilmember Clark 3 New Business 3-1 WS 15-51 PUBLIC DISCUSSION - UTILITY EXTENSION TO LEVER STREET AND 125TH AVENUE Councilmember Herbst stated he will be abstaining from all discussion on this project due to the fact that he resides in the neighborhood and participation could be a considered a potential a conflict of interest. Councilmember Herbst left the meeting room. Public Services Manager Therres stated Council had previously discussed accelerating the extension of the trunk utilities associated with the Parkside City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 8, 2015 North plat within the Lever Street alignment to the north side of 125th Avenue. He stated staff prepared three options which include (1) developer driven; (2) Council initiates the project and defines the scope; or (3) Council receives a petition from property owners with a requested project scope and initiates a project. He noted all options would install trunk utilities from 123rd Circle to the north side of 125th Avenue along the Lever Street alignment. He stated the cost of the project initially would be covered by the City’s Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Utility funds, and as each property develops they would pay their share of the project cost through a connection charge or assessment allocated to each property. Councilmember Swanson asked what would trigger the developer to move to phase two. Public Services Manager Therres replied he did not know and that the developer determines when phase two starts. Councilmember Bourke clarified a property owner initiated petition would not require a super majority vote from the Council. Public Services Manager Therres reply compfirmed. Councilmember Swanson asked for clarification on the assessment process. Public Services Manager Therres stated the estimated costs would be spread to the benefiting properties. He noted assessments are due after the project is built. City Engineer Keely was asked by Councilmember Swanson to read the Northeast Area Assessment Policy and copies were distributed to the audience. Councilmember King asked if the developer is on track to do the work in 2016. Public Services Manager Therres replied the developer continues to plan the work for 2016. Councilmember Bourke asked if assessments charges would be per front foot. Public Services Manager Therres replied a feasibility study has not been done for the area. He noted it could be a combination of trunk area charges, water charges and front footage. Councilmember Hovland asked if there will be extra charges past 125th Avenue. Public Services Manager Therres replied there are no extra charges. Councilmember Hovland commented that nobody would purchase the property without the utilities extension. Ron Tamplyn, 4601 125th Avenue NE, stated he would prefer to let the developer do the work. John Caldwell, 4801 125th Avenue NE, asked if the watershed is involved in the project. He noted his neighbors are experiencing flooding on their properties. He commented there should not be damages to the existing City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 8, 2015 properties from new development. He is requesting a plan before the land is developed. Mayor Ryan commented the street’s base was just built three months ago. City Manager Arneson stated staff will be out to assess the flooding this fall. John Peterson, 2281 County Road B, Roseville, stated he owns the 37 acres on the west side of Lever Street and would be in favor of extending the utilities in 2016. Daniel Fish, 12860 Lever Street NE, stated he is not in favor of extending the utilities north of 125th Avenue. He commented the longer the process takes the better. Molly Klaas, 12551 Lever Street NE, stated she is not in favor of extending the utilities to 125th Avenue and would prefer to delay the process as long as possible. John Bruggeman, 13101 Lever Street NE, stated he is in favor of extending the utilities to 125th Avenue. Tony Capra, 10991 Edison Street, stated he is in favor of extending the utilities. He commented he would like to see the utilities be installed sooner as he has been waiting since 2010. Mr. Caldwell stated he is not in favor of extending the utilities. Public Services Manager Therres commented on the petition process that Council looks for more than 50% of property owners to sign the petition and then Council would act on the petition. Mayor Ryan commented a petition project is usually used. He noted the City has not received a request from the developer for the utility. Public Services Manager Therres stated the cost to property owners will be the same regardless of what process is used to extend the utilities. Mayor Ryan commented Harpers Street had a situation and the residents met with the developer and the City on the costs, which were overbearing and out of line and that the project was postponed. Councilmember King stated he would like to see a development driven project done in 2016. Councilmember Bourke requested a timeline be set for the utility extension. Councilmember Swanson asked when the developer would have to decide to City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 8, 2015 start phase two. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer commented Paxmar currently has 50 lots to sell. He stated the developer could decide by June or July of 2016 whether to develop the property, adding if the developer develops even one additional lot than phase two is activated. Public Services Manager Therres commented for planning purposes, staff would need to hear from the developer by March or April to develop the property. Public Services Manager Therres commented staff will keep the residents informed on the process and timing of the proposed utility extension. Discussed ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 6:41 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4