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 14, 2019 6:15 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:15 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; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Brian Podany; Finance Director Joe Huss; Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Bob Therres; City Engineer Dan Schluender; Water Resources Manager Rebecca Haug; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; Communications Technician Roark Haver; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. Present: 6 - Councilmember Garvais, Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, and Councilmember Hovland Absent: 1 - Councilmember Jeppson 3 New Business 3-1 ANOKA COUNTY 2019 PROJECT UPDATES Attachments: Blaine Projects City Engineer Schluender stated the Anoka County Highway Department has identified several projects within the City of Blaine that are scheduled for construction in 2019. Staff has requested that the County provide an update to the City Council on the scope of the projects along with the project schedules. Information will be provided on the following projects: 1. 125th Avenue from Lexington Avenue to Opal Street 2. Intersection signalization at Lexington Avenue and Woodland Parkway City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes February 14, 2019 3. Intersection signalization at Radisson Road and Xylite Street Mr. Schluender reported each of these projects will generate a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) as the project scope and cost shares are developed with design. These agreements will be brought separately to the City Council for approval as each project nears the bidding/construction stage. Joe McPherson, Assistant County Engineer, thanked the Council for their time. He provided further comment on the projects the County would be completing in Blaine in 2019 and discussed the signals that would be installed jointly with the City. He reported the County would be preordering the steel for these signals this spring. Councilmember Hovland requested further information regarding the proposed medians along Main Street and commented how medians would increase the cost of the project. Mr. McPherson discussed locations for the planned medians and explained why the County believed they were necessary to separate and slow traffic prior to the intersection. Councilmember Hovland encouraged the County consider a roundabout at Radisson Road and 35W. He discussed the heavy amount of truck traffic that used this route and commented a roundabout may assist in improving full-turning movements in this area and requested the County review options for this intersection. Mayor Ryan thanked Mr. McPherson for his presentation and attendance at the meeting. Discussed. 3-2 NORTH METRO MAYORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP City Manager Arneson introduced Jill Brown and Troy Olsen from the North Metro Mayors Association (NMMA). Ms. Brown provided the Council with an overview of the services and benefits of NMMA. She discussed the history of this organization noting the cities that came together believed they would be able to achieve more if working together. She noted there were currently 15 cities working together collectively along with 15 community partners. She reported most of her energy was spent down at the Capitol advocating on behalf of the cities. Troy Olsen, Lobbyist for North Metro Mayors Association, introduced himself to the Council and discussed the work he did on behalf of this organization. He described the strong voice this organization had at the Capitol. He reviewed the legislative action plan for 2019 noting Highway 65 was a main focus. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes February 14, 2019 Mayor Ryan commented that this organization was for both Councilmembers and Mayors. He explained this organization worked well to represent the north metro area at the Capitol. He shared his concern that not being a member of this organization would be detrimental to the community and described how he had worked to lobby for State funding for the Association. He commented further on how he believes there was power in numbers. Mr. Olsen discussed the benefits of the Corridors for Commerce program. Councilmember Paul asked if the State was considering funding Highway 65. Mr. Olsen stated this project was gaining a lot of momentum at this time. He reported the funding for the study was a step in the right direction. Public Works Director Haukaas commented on a series of meetings that would be held at Blaine City Hall for the Highway 65 corridor. He noted the first meeting would be held on Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. for Public Officials followed by a public open house at the National Sports Center on Monday, March 18. Mayor Ryan thanked Mr. Olsen and Ms. Brown for their presentation. Discussed. 3-3 JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH COON CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT FOR PLEASURE CREEK IRON ENHANCED SAND FILTER Attachments: 60% Design Plans Pleasure Creek IESF Mr. Schluender reported Water Resource Manager Rebecca Haug would be presenting this item to the Council. He noted Jon Janke from the Coon Creek Watershed District (CCWD) was present to take questions or comments. Ms. Haug stated the City has an Iron Enhanced Sand Filter (IESF) in the Centennial Greens Park which was constructed through a partnership with the Anoka Conservation District and Rice Creek Watershed District. The IESF treats dissolved phosphorus which is the chemical that supports rapid algal growth and reproduction. With the installation of the IESF in the Centennial Greens Park, monitoring has been completed by the partners and has proven to be effective at removing phosphorus. The IESF is being maintained by the City by raking it on a regular basis during the summer months. As long as the system is maintained, it is projected to last up to 30 years before needing reconstruction. Ms. Haug reported the City has an opportunity to partner with CCWD to construct City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes February 14, 2019 another IESF in the Pleasure Creek neighborhood near the intersection of Clover Leaf Parkway and East Pleasure Creek Parkway. This project would take the design a step further by adding a substance called bio-char to the mix. Bio-char functions to remove E. coli, which is the bacteria found in animal waste. E. coli contamination is a problem in the Pleasure Creek watershed. The funding for the project will be through a combination of grant funds from the Clean Water Fund Watershed Based funding, CCWD and the City. She requested feedback from the Council and noted staff was seeking direction to proceed with the JPA with CCWD. Councilmember Hovland asked if there had been any work done to identify how E. coli was getting into these systems. Ms. Haug stated there was a lot of water fowl in this area which would increase the level of E. coli. She reported the City has sent information to the neighbors in the area to discourage them from feeding the water fowl and to clean up after their pets. She provided further comment on how the Bio-Char system would remove E. coli from the system. Mayor Ryan stated he believed the new system would be a good thing. Councilmember Hovland agreed. Councilmember Swanson asked if this project was within the City’s budget. Ms. Haug reported this was the case. Councilmember Robertson questioned how the new system would look. Ms. Haug reviewed a picture of the new system noting the size with the Council. Council consensus was to direct staff to proceed with this project. 3-4 UPDATE ON CITY HALL IMPROVEMENTS Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation Floor Plan - 1st Floor Floor Plan - 2nd Floor Floor Plan - 3rd Floor Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres reported the City has seen tremendous growth in population and valuation since it moved into its current facilities in 2002 and is running out of space in City Hall. Two of the places we are seeing the most immediate issues are in Police and Building Inspections. In November 2017 the City Council authorized a space needs study for the Current City Hall/Police facilities asking for a plan to maximize our existing space (Short-term Improvements) and a plan for moving into the existing unused third floor space (Long-term Improvements). When the space needs plan was presented the consensus of the City Council was to do all the improvements as one project. City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes February 14, 2019 Mr. Therres explained these improvements have an estimated cost of approximately $3.8 million. The space needs study also identified a need for an additional garage for storage of City vehicles based out of City Hall. The estimated cost of this garage is between $1.25 and $2.25 million. During workshop discussions last fall, the Council decided not to pursue the new garage at this time but gave staff the go ahead to get RFPs for the design of the City Hall Improvements at an estimated cost of $200,000 to $250,000. Council also indicated interest in using Capital Improvement Bonds to finance this project. He commented further on the short-term and long-term concept designs that were being planned for City Hall and reviewed the project timeline. Staff requested feedback on how to proceed. Councilmember Hovland asked if the bonding process required a public hearing. Finance Director Huss discussed the bonding process in further detail with the Council which would require a public hearing. Councilmember Hovland expressed concern with increasing the City’s levy and how this would impact residents long-term. Mr. Huss reported the levy was reviewed and considered by the Council on a yearly basis. Councilmember Garvais stated he did not believe the Council would be able to stay at the current tax rate given the large number of projects the City would be completing in the coming years. Mayor Ryan questioned if the quote included furnishings. Mr. Therres reported the estimate does include soft costs. Mr. Arneson reported this item would be coming before the Council for approval on February 21. Discussed. Other Business City Clerk Sorensen explained the City Council interviewed applicants for Boards and Commission on February 11 and 12 and provided a copy of the interview schedule and applications to the Council. She reported the Council would be approving the appointments at the first Council meeting in March. Informational; no action required. ADJOURN The Workshop was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. City of Blaine Page 5