City Council Workshop

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes City Council Workshop Thursday, February 8, 2018 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; Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Public Works Director Jon Haukaas; Finance Director Joe Huss; Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Bob Therres; City Engineer Jean Keely; Assistant City Engineer Dan Schluender; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Communications Technician Roark Haver; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. Present: 5 - Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Garvais, Councilmember Jeppson, Mayor Ryan, and Councilmember Swanson Absent: 2 - Councilmember Clark, and Councilmember King 3 New Business 3-1 REVIEW SANITARY SEWER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Attachments: Trunk_SanitarySewer_Blaine _22x34 _Comp San Swe Rpt 2018 01 25 Assistant City Engineer Schluender stated the City has been working with our consulting engineer SEH to prepare an update to the 2005 Sanitary Sewer Comprehensive Plan. A draft update has been prepared with a map. Staff presented a summary of the proposed updates including sewer district areas, trunk line capacity, and options for service to non-service areas. It was noted the final Sanitary Sewer Comprehensive Plan update will be included as an appendix in the Sanitary Sewer portion of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Hovland requested further information on the sewer lines in District City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes February 8, 2018 7. Mr. Schluender reviewed a map and discussed the sewer lines in District 7. Councilmember Garvais questioned how the City measured its capacity levels. Mr. Schluender stated tests were run at the City’s lift stations to measure capacity levels. He reported the City was completing these tests on a regular basis. Councilmember Hovland indicated he still did not understand where the City’s pinch points were. Mr. Schluender discussed the 2005 Sanitary Sewer Plan map noting the pinch points in comparison to the current pinch points. Councilmember Hovland stated the City may have to consider line replacements in the future instead of simply rerouting these areas in order to alleviate the pinch points, especially for the older sewer lines. Mr. Schluender commented that the size of a line is not always the solution, but rather could be the line depth and location. Councilmember Hovland commented on how the City will continue to redevelop over time and how this would impact density. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer explained the sewer plan was a function of the City’s land use plan. He reported that as the land use plan was updated, the sewer plan was adjusted accordingly in order to meet all density changes. Councilmember Garvais questioned how the City managed changes to the sewer plan through redevelopment. Mr. Schluender reported developers were responsible for upgrades to the sewer system if their development impacted the sewer lines downstream. Councilmember Hovland asked if Public Works had noticed any changes to the sewer system since beginning the slip lining program. City Engineer Keely indicated the system has far less roots in the lines that had previously caused backups. She reported the City does not have an I&I problem. Councilmember Swanson inquired if the proposed plan had taken into account the two new schools that would be coming online. Mr. Schluender reported the schools had been included in the plan. Mayor Ryan questioned how the numerous sump pumps in the City were impacting the City’s sewer plan. Mr. Schluender indicated, by code, sump pumps were to be discharged into the yard. Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres commented if this becomes an issue the City will receive feedback from Met Council. He stated currently percentages from the City have met all Met Council goals for the time being. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes February 8, 2018 Council thanked staff for the update on the Sanitary Sewer Plan. Discussed. 3-2 UPDATE ON BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY LANDSCAPING Attachments: BWS Landscaping Gate_Rev1.pdf BWS e-mail responses.pdf 1-10-18 BWS e-mail.pdf Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres stated in October of 2017 the City Council discussed doing additional landscaping at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS) as part of the wetland restoration that was done in 2017. As part of the discussion, Council asked staff to set up a meeting with the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Committee to see if there was interest in doing a reimbursement program. Staff received several responses from Committee members on this proposal. The committee members representing the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) commented that the NRCB was not in favor of a reimbursement program. A comment was received that residents on Naples Circle may have covenants/easements that will not allow them to plant trees on their property. Based on the comments from the committee, there does not seem to be consensus that a reimbursement program would work. Staff asked if the Council wanted to proceed with the reimbursement program. Councilmember Swanson stated he did not support the City pursuing a reimbursement program. He explained the gate area had to be done and wanted to be certain no wetland credits were lost through the landscaping. Mr. Therres stated only a 40-foot buffer would be used for the landscaping. He anticipated only one wetland credit would be lost through the proposed landscaping. Mayor Ryan stated he wanted the gate area landscaped and he wanted to see this done well. Councilmember Garvais stated he was not in favor of putting trees back in the wetland area. He understood the City should have better communicated with the neighbors to the wetland sanctuary, however, he encouraged the adjacent residents to plant trees in their yards rather than replanting within the wetland sanctuary. He did not support the City losing wetland credits through extensive tree plantings. Councilmember Hovland agreed with Councilmember Garvais. He suggested the buffer be reduced from 40 feet to 20 feet. He noted this would reduce the expense for the landscaping along with the loss of wetland credits. He stated he was not in favor of planting trees on private property. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes February 8, 2018 Councilmember Jeppson indicated there was a lack of communication between the City and the neighbors on this project and for this reason some reparation had to be done. She stated she wanted to see the gate area landscaped along with a buffer area of 20 to 40 feet. She did not support giving residents any amount of money for tree replacement. Mayor Ryan stated he feared it would set a bad precedent to give residents money for trees. Councilmember Garvais questioned what the difference was between putting the trees on private property versus City property. Councilmember Swanson asked if planting wetland specific trees would eliminate the loss of wetland credits. Mr. Therres stated there were wetland trees that would do well in the buffer area. However, these were the types of trees the neighbors opposed in their proposal. He explained he would have to further investigate if planting wetland trees would eliminate the loss of wetland credits. City Manager Arneson asked if the Council would support staff presenting a proposed landscaping plan and a proposal for the gated area along with a 20-foot buffer for action at an upcoming Council meeting. Councilmember Garvais requested the gate area be presented separately from the buffer area. He explained he did not support any tree replanting’s along the buffer area. Mayor Ryan asked what kind of gate staff would be proposing. Mr. Therres explained a black metal gate was being suggested. Council consensus was to direct staff to pursue a landscaping plan for the gated area along with a 20-foot buffer for consideration at an upcoming Council meeting. Staff was also directed to provide further information regarding how the wetland credits would be impacted. Discussed; direction given to staff. 3-3 LOCAL SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE Attachments: Draft Dec 2017.pdf Draft Figures.pdf City Engineer Keely stated the Local Surface Water Management Plan is required of all Metro area municipalities. It is part of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes February 8, 2018 and establishes standards, goals and policies for managing surface waters and stormwater runoff. Staff reviewed the updates being proposed for the Local Surface Water Management Plan and requested feedback from the Council. Councilmember Hovland asked how many water ways flowed through the City of Blaine and into other communities. Ms. Keely commented there were no waterways flowing through the City. She stated all stormwater ponds and ditch systems began in Blaine and flowed out to neighboring communities. Councilmember Hovland questioned if any other unfunded mandates would be coming down to the City regarding stormwater pond and surface water management. Ms. Keely stated she was unaware of any additional unfunded mandates, but noted Water Resources Manager Rebecca Haug may have more information on this topic with the next MS4 permitting cycle. Mayor Ryan commented on how the stormwater pond in his backyard has flooded three out of the last four years and how this has impacted his neighbors. He said he had spoken to County Engineer Doug Fischer. Ms. Keely indicated she would follow up with Mr. Fischer regarding this matter. Council thanked staff for the thorough report on the Local Surface Water Management Plan. Discussed. Other Business Mayor Ryan reported the State has verbally approved a two year funding package for TH65 in the amount of $300,000 and $400,000. Councilmember Swanson requested a letter be sent to local and State representatives regarding the use of Skype for City Council meetings. Discussed; direction given to staff. ADJOURN The Workshop was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 5