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, July 21, 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; Budget/Fiscal Analyst Ward Brown; Economic Development Authority Coordinator Erik Thorvig; Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Charlie Smith; Communications Technician Roark Haver; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; City Clerk Catherine Sorensen; and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 5 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Bourke, and Councilmember Herbst Absent: 2 - Councilmember Clark, and Councilmember King 3 New Business 3-1 WS 16-41 POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE EDA HOME LOAN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Economic Development Authority Coordinator Thorvig stated the EDA Home Loan Improvement program currently has 61 outstanding loans totaling $528,085. He stated the account has $2,773,500 in cash and investments available. He stated the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) administers the program and the Community Reinvestment Fund services the loan. He stated CEE suggested modifying the program and staff is proposing the Council increase the loan amount maximum from $25,000 to $50,000 and remove the income cap. Mayor Ryan commented 5% is fair. City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 21, 2016 Councilmember Herbst asked if the percentage could be changed at any time. Economic Development Authority Coordinator Thorvig replied yes. Councilmember Bourke suggested 1% over the prime rate. Finance Director Huss stated the EDA Home Loan is almost a last resort loan for residents and some go into default. Councilmember Bourke commented 5% would cover defaults. Councilmember Hovland asked about the 20-year term. Finance Director Huss replied 20 years is the maximum, allows flexibility and offers lower monthly payments Councilmember Swanson asked if the loan is with the resident or with the property. Economic Development Authority Coordinator Thorvig stated the loan is with the property. Council consensus on staff recommendation. Discussed 3-2 WS 16-42 ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR LAWN SPRINKLING RESTRICTIONS Public Services Manager Therres stated one of the requirements the City needs for final approval from the Department of Natural Resources for the additional wells is to implement a water conservation plan. He stated staff is suggesting a year round odd/even sprinkling restriction program. Councilmember Herbst asked if the sprinkling times can be altered. Public Services Manager Therres replied the City can adjust the sprinkling time. He noted that the City has not issued any sprinkling citations in the past. He stated the ordinance could be in place by this fall. Council consensus on staff recommendation. Discussed 3-3 WS 16-43 HIGHWAY 35W SIGNAGE (SOUND WALL) Planning and Community Development Director Schafer stated MnDOT is proposing a lane expansion project on 35W that includes a 20-foot sound wall on the east side of 35W in front of residential properties on 95th Avenue and Lexington Avenue, and Rasmussen Business College. He noted Rasmussen has a freestanding sign on the northwest corner of their property and if a wall is constructed, their sign and building visibility would be reduced. He stated staff is recommending a code amendment for commercial and industrial properties along 35W that are impacted by sound walls, ramps or bridges will City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 21, 2016 have the ability to raise their business signs above the obstruction. Councilmember Hovland asked if MnDOT gives financial help for raising commercial signs. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer replied MnDOT would pay if they are buying right-of-way. Council consensus on staff recommendation. Discussed 3-4 WS 16-44 UPDATE ON CENTENNIAL TRAFFIC PLAN Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Chris Olson stated the Police Department and Centennial School District have formulated plans for traffic changes that will help the flow of traffic starting this fall. He stated there will be less interaction between the school buses and the cars. He stated the Police Department will provide heavy monitoring of traffic for the first two weeks. He stated a crosswalk may be needed on 103rd Lane and National Street. Informational: no action required 3-5 WS 16-45 2017 BUDGET UPDATE - DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS Finance Director Huss stated Council direction is to have the same overall levy tax rate of 35.901%. He stated levy funds are directed to debt service, EDA, PMP, and the General Fund. He noted Anoka County slightly reduced property valuations. He gave an overview of the department funding requests that include Traffic Commission; SBM contract; Comprehensive Plan; ten new positions (HR Technician, three Patrol Officers, Records Technician; two CSO’s, Crime Analyst, Traffic Engineer, and Recreation Manager); 3% wage increase; cafeteria benefits; and Step increases. He gave an overview of the budget calendar. Councilmember Swanson commented he does not see the benefit of having a Crime Analyst for just the City. He stated there would be benefit if other cities in Anoka County would share a Crime Analyst. Councilmember Bourke asked if the SBM requested amount includes the new truck. Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View Fire Chief Smith replied the proposed amount is for operating costs. Councilmember Herbst suggested moving $250,000 to the Pavement Management Program from Unrestricted Funds. Councilmember Swanson requested a revised fund statement on revenue. Discussed City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final July 21, 2016 Other Business None. None. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4