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, October 6, 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; Budget/Fiscal Analyst Ward Brown; Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Chris Olson; City Engineer Jean Keely; Utility Billing Supervisor Kyle Howard; 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 3-1 WS 16-58 ORDINANCE REVISION OF SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS Public Services Manager Therres stated the City’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 74-82(a)(11) requires sidewalks to be constructed along both sides of arterial and collector streets. He stated the City reviews each proposed subdivision and street reconstruction project to determine the pedestrian needs of the area and connectivity to existing or planned sidewalk and trail systems. He commented several subdivisions have concrete sidewalk on one side of a residential collector street and a bituminous trail on the other side. He noted the policy is old. Councilmember Swanson asked how the ordinance affects neighborhoods that do not want sidewalks. Public Services Manager Therres variations will be consider by Council. City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 6, 2016 Councilmember Bourke commented Jefferson Street needs to be readdressed. Discussed 3-2 WS 16-59 COMPUTER/DEVICE USER POLICY DISCUSSION City Manager Arneson stated this policy is to protect the City’s interests by defining acceptable use of City technology and to protect the employees by providing clear direction on acceptable use of technology. He noted the City’s interests include concerns of legal liability and data security. Councilmember King stated he requested staff review and update the policy. He inquired about staff and Councilmembers using City equipment at home and if the City pays for internet or phone service. City Manager Arneson noted the City pays for three Councilmembers’ internet service. Discussed 3-3 WS 16-60 2017 PROPOSED SANITATION UTILITY FUND BUDGET Finance Director Huss stated January 1, 2016 marked the beginning of a new 5.5-year contract with Walter’s. He stated the most significant change for the Sanitation Fund in 2016 was the increase in disposal fees which increased to $75 per ton and will increase an additional $2 per ton per year through in 2021. He stated the Council agreed to refrain from adding a fourth tier to the Sanitation fee schedule for 2016 until a new fee schedule and enhanced recycling efforts could be evaluated from data received from Walters. He stated the sanitation fund is an enterprise fund and operates similar to a business. He noted FFOA recommendation is for the fund balance to be at $500,000. Mike Moroz, Walters Recycling & Refuse, gave an overview of the data gathered from January to mid-September 2016. He stated 946.2 tons dumped as of September 23, 2016 and forecasted disposal cost for the full year is estimated at over $90,000. He commented a significant percentage of bulky items picked up are coming from neighboring cities, residents operating a business out of their home; frequent/consistent users of unlimited service; no other city in the metro area has unlimited service. He gave an overview of Blaine compared to other cities. He gave an overview of implications/conclusions which include safety and retention issue for Walter’s drivers, Blaine residents paying for surrounding cities’ waste, negative visual image, missed opportunity for recycling, and more pick-ups for residents using small containers. Councilmember Clark asked how many homes are frequent abusers. Mr. Walters replied 20-30. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 6, 2016 Finance Director Huss gave an overview of structuring a fourth tier that included limiting the number of containers, resident pays for bulk items separate directly to Walters, or private. Councilmember Bourke suggested Walters offering the waste bag for residents to purchase to dispose of bulk items. Councilmember Bourke asked how other contracts are handled. Mr. Walters replied the bulk items are billed separately. Mike Moroz suggested limiting the bulk items per household. Councilmember Swanson suggested changing the name from unlimited to something else. Mayor Ryan suggested residents that have unreasonable bulk items should pay a fee. Councilmember Hovland stated he does not want to penalize the residents who are not abusing the unlimited. Councilmember Swanson suggested changing the name to premium instead of unlimited. Councilmember King asked about the households that have once in a while or special occasion over flow. Mr. Walters replied the drivers pick it up for free. He noted Walter’s charge for large items in other cities. Councilmember Bourke suggested anything over X-pounds will have a service fee. Mr. Walters replied bulk items run $15-20 dollars and can be billed to the homeowner. Councilmember Clark stated he agrees with a name change from unlimited. He requested staff come back with a plan that could be effective January 1 or sooner. He noted a plan is needed for the 1% of abusers. He commented he wants to keep the service for those that do not abuse. Finance Director Huss stated the bulk items put the drivers at risk. He suggested one time per quarter could be designated as bulk item pick up or residents use coupons for bulk items. Council consensus on keeping the three tier system. Councilmember Clark commented 99% of the residents should not see a change. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final October 6, 2016 Mr. Walters commented he could offer residents a discount for roll-offs. Discussed OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Ryan requested a workshop on the Pulte development and the Watershed District. City Manager Arneson stated the Pulte development at 112th and Lexington has a rain garden that overflowed into the street and into residents’ yard. He stated the engineer stated drain tile is needed. He noted rain gardens work when they are properly constructed and there will be 20 more constructed in the development. Councilmember Hovland requested sign enforcement for political signs for placement and size. He stated he has noticed a lot of violations and some are ridicules such as signs on the corner that are inches from the curb. City Clerk Sorensen commented there is State Statute that there is no limit on size or the number of signs. City Manager Arneson commented resident complaints and signs that are obstructing drivers’ visibility are addressed. City Clerk Sorensen stated agenda item 10.3 of the Council Regular meeting agenda is postponed. City Manager Arneson suggested postponing Council Workshop on November 10, 2016 due to Veteran’s Day on November 11, 2016. Discussed ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4