City Council Workshop

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop Thursday, June 9, 2016 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 Patrick Sweeney; Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Public Services Manager Bob Therres; Finance Director Joe Huss; Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Chris Olson; City Engineer Jean Keely; Budget/Fiscal Analyst Ward Brown; 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 3-1 WS 16-38 LAKES PARKWAY CROSSWALKS City Engineer Keely stated there are pedestrian crossing signs on all legs of the roundabout and there is a painted crosswalk at West Lake Boulevard. She stated there used to be a mid-block crossing over the bridge; although the City received complaints of visibility issues. She stated the City has received complaints that a crosswalk is needed for the beech. She stated an in-street pedestrian crossing sign costs $400 and can be used in an area with high pedestrian crossing. She suggested placing the free standing crossing signs in the bike lane. She stated a crosswalk at North Marina Circle can be added to the current striping contract and noted the ends of the median need to be adjusted for pedestrians to walk up on it for a landing place. Councilmember Bourke asked if the City has received any requests for City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final June 9, 2016 painted crosswalks in neighborhoods and schools. City Engineer Keely replied schools areas are already signed. She stated she has received a couple requests for crosswalks and one petition for Cloud Drive for speed humps and a crosswalk that she is preparing to bring to the Council. Mayor Ryan commented staff needs to prune the trees on Lakes Parkway to help with visibility. Public Services Manager Therres confirmed a crosswalk will be installed at North Marina and West Lakes and signed and suggested budgeting for more signs for future use. Discussed. 3-2 WS 16-37 2017 GENERAL FUND BUDGET DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Finance Director Huss stated the Council’s direction is to keep the same overall levy rate as 2016 at 35.901%. He gave an overview of the 2016 combined levies that included funds for the general fund, debt service and EDA. He noted no levy funds were included in the Pavement Management Program (PMP). He gave an overview of the 2017 levy preliminary tax rate of 35.901% will provide additional tax capacity. He gave an overview of the 2017 preliminary tax levy that includes funding for PMP, debt service, and EDA. He gave an overview of the 2017 EDA budget. He gave an overview of non-levy revenue which includes licenses/permits; intergovernmental; charges for services; fines/forfeits; and miscellaneous. Councilmember Hovland asked about the personnel wages savings due to the sale of the senior housing. Finance Director Huss replied the City did not have employees working at either of the buildings and noted expenses were paid from the EDA. Councilmember Herbst stated he would like to use the 2017 extra revenue for debt service or capital equipment purchases. He noted the median home value in the City is close to where it was in 2006. Councilmember Herbst inquired on the City bond debt service repayment. Finance Director Huss stated the City’s 15-year and older bonds will be paid off. He stated in five to seven years the City’s debt service amounts will stabilize. Finance Director Huss gave an overview of the 2017 expenditures and appropriations which includes department reviews and requests, worker compensation increase, 1% increase in salaries/wages, and contracts with Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View (SBM) Fire, City Attorney and fuel. Councilmember Herbst commented the salaries/wage increases will go against City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final June 9, 2016 the extra revenue. Councilmember Bourke suggested the extra revenue be used to hire two new police officers. City Manager Arneson stated he expects position requests for two police officers, Human Resources Technician, and a building inspector. He noted he had authorized overtime in Building Inspections a few months ago due to the increased activity and said it is being managed well. Finance Director Huss replied the increased building permit revenues cover any overtime costs. Councilmember Hovland inquired about the Pavement Management Program’s (PMP) progress. Finance Director Huss replied the PMP would be a good place to use additional levy funds. Mayor Ryan stated the City needs to consider closing the grass medians due to safety issues. He stated Radisson Road had to be closed earlier in the week in order to mow the grass and suggested replacing the grass with concrete for ease of maintenance. Councilmember Swanson requested an update on the SBM contract with MAC. City Manager Arneson replied in the past the City paid MAC $24,000 for the lease of the Airport Park land. He stated the City is no longer involved in a land lease. Finance Director Huss gave an overview of the proposed 2017 budget calendar. Councilmember Swanson suggested adding two more newsletters with funds from the Cable Commission. Mayor Ryan stated he has received complaint calls from the residents on Tippecanoe Street NE about the condition of the road. City Engineer Keely replied she has received calls as well and tells callers that sewer and water would have to be installed with the road improvement. Councilmember Herbst suggested the road should go under the Pavement Management Program as a rural road. Public Services Manager Therres stated the road could be temporarily improved that would hold for seven years until sewer and water are installed. Councilmember Swanson asked about the accuracy of the County’s estimated property values. Finance Director Huss replied the values can fluctuate. City Manager Arneson commented commercial and industrial tax appeals are up. Discussed. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final June 9, 2016 OTHER BUSINESS Police Officer Hiring City Manager Arneson commented it is a six-month process to hire police officers so if the Council is committed to including two officers in next year’s budget they would like to begin the process now. SBM Fire Department and Cities Meeting City Manager Arneson stated a joint workshop with SBM Fire, Fire Board and the cities of Spring Lake Park, Blaine and Mounds View will be held on June 14, 2016. Council Meeting - June 19, 2016 City Manager Arneson stated the Council Meeting on June 19, 2016 will be held at the Blaine High School Auditorium and will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the public hearing regarding the proposed temporary road closure at 7:30 p.m. He stated Councilmembers should contact the City Manager if they know of anyone wishing to give a PowerPoint presentation on behalf of a group. He suggested beginning the public hearing with staff giving an overview of what is a MSA road and options. He stated an engineering firm has been hired and will begin taking traffic counts of current activity on June 14, 2016. City Manager Arneson stated he will ask SBM Fire Chief Smith to attend the public hearing to address any potential fire response concerns. Councilmember Herbst asked if the City can reduce the speed to 25 miles on a MSA road. City Manager Arneson replied not without a State speed study. Public Services Manager Therres replied the City would actually need legislation to reduce the speed of the road. Mayor Ryan stated residents will want to know the outcome of any criminal proceedings against the impaired driver. He noted the Fire Department does use 119th Avenue to respond to calls unlike what was portrayed at the neighborhood meeting. City Engineer Keely noted if the road is closed, the State requires repayment of MSA funds through deductions from the next year’s funds. Mayor Ryan noted the City Code states the maximum length of a cul-de-sac can be no more than 500 feet from the centerline. Councilmember Bourke commented there are residents who are upset about traffic being diverted and there are many traffic issues throughout the City. City Engineer Keely noted 119th Avenue meets MSA minimum standards of 60 feet of right-of-way, 32 feet wide face-to-face, and is based on Minnesota City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final June 9, 2016 rules for an urban collector road with 30 miles per hour with less than 10,000 vehicles average daily travel. Councilmember Swanson asked why the City is having trouble filling the public works director position. City Manager Arneson replied the City expected more than 10 applications as well and noted staff advertised in several state associations and publications. He said a college degree is a requirement and may be a reason for the lower response. He said staff is meeting soon to review the job description for reposting. Discussed. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Adjourned. City of Blaine Page 5