City Council Workshop

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes City Council Workshop Monday, October 7, 2019 6:00 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 Michelle Wolfe; Community Development Director Erik Thorvig; 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 Planner Lori Johnson; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Senior Engineering Technician Al Thorp; Recreation Manager Nate Monahan; Communications Technician Roark Haver; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. Present: 7 - Councilmember Garvais, Councilmember Jeppson, Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Swanson, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Paul, and Councilmember Hovland 3 New Business 3-1 PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS, AND TRANSIENT MERCHANTS CODE AMENDMENT Attachments: Peddlers Solicitors and Transient Merchants City Clerk Sorensen stated staff is recommending amendments to the current Peddlers, Solicitors, and Transient Merchants ordinance by repealing the current code in its entirety and replacing based on the League of Minnesota Cities model ordinance. City Attorney Sweeney discussed how the City’s Ordinance could be challenged based on case law and recommended the Council consider changing to the League of Minnesota Cities model ordinance. City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes October 7, 2019 Councilmember Hovland asked how the ordinance addressed non-profit fundraising efforts such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, and sports teams. Ms. Sorensen reported these types of groups would not be required to register with the City and would not be responsible for receiving a peddlers license. Discussion was held regarding political campaigning. Councilmember Robertson recommended staff include an article in the City newsletter this fall to inform the public how political candidates are an exception to soliciting. Council consensus was to bring this item forward for first reading and for staff to include a newsletter/social media article regarding political canvassing. 3-2 SOUTHERN BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY RESTORATION AND COMMUNICATION PLAN Attachments: BWS Southern Portion BWS Restoration Notice Water Resources Manager Haug stated at the August 12, 2019 City Council Workshop, staff presented information about the unique grant opportunity to finish the restoration work at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary utilizing grant dollars from the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund through a partnership with Great River Greening. During the workshop, staff indicated that a communication and restoration plan would be developed and brought back to the Council. After the Council meeting, staff met with Great River Greening and Critical Connections Ecological Services to develop the communication and restoration plan. Further comment was provided regarding the proposed communication plan. Councilmember Hovland discussed the City’s long-range goals for the wetland sanctuary. He asked how the wetland sanctuary would be maintained long-term. Ms. Haug stated it was her understanding the northern portion of the wetland sanctuary was put into a wetland bank to assist with funding future maintenance and trails. She reported permits with the State show the City has a funding source in place for maintenance for the next 20 years. Councilmember Jeppson asked if the southern portion of the wetland sanctuary would be restored right up to property lines. Ms. Haug explained the City could take this action however, with the southern portion, the City could be more flexible. She reported staff has discussed leaving a 20-foot buffer. Councilmember Robertson questioned if the surveyors would be clearly marking property lines in order to make adjacent property owners aware of the areas that would be cleared. Ms. Haug stated this was the plan and noted the surveying would be completed when the weather permits. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes October 7, 2019 Councilmember Robertson thanked staff for being so considerate to all of the neighbors living near this project. Informational: no action required 3-3 UPDATE ON DOCK AND BUFFER REMOVAL COMMUNICATION Attachments: Photos Street Sweepings Ms. Haug stated at the August 12, 2019 City Council Workshop, staff was directed to start an education and communication plan for informing residents of the safety and environmental issues with docks and buffer removals on stormwater ponds. Since the meeting, staff has worked with NorthMetro TV on a series of videos. The first video explains what a stormwater pond is. The second video focuses on what cannot be put on a stormwater pond such as docks, rip rap, and sand. The third video focuses on the enforcement process the city is proposing to take. Each video covers the safety hazards of recreating in stormwater ponds. Ms. Haug reported the City has also been working with Coon Creek Watershed District, Rice Creek Watershed District and the Anoka Conservation District to help inform the public about the hazards of recreating in stormwater pond. The City was able to collect street sweepings and create visuals of what goes into stormwater ponds which been effective visual tools. Through the partnerships with the Watershed Districts and the Anoka Conservation District the message is able to be conveyed to a broader audience. Councilmember Hovland expressed concern with the fact the homes within The Lakes were not properly managing this situation. Ms. Haug commented the homeowners surrounding The Lakes and Laddie Lake were not a concern to the City but rather it was all other stormwater ponds in the City. Mayor Ryan discussed how homeowners were landscaping right up to the stormwater ponds and then these areas were becoming flooded during large rain events. Ms. Haug stated she had received calls from residents with this exact concern and the City was working to educate the public on buffer removal and stormwater ponds. Councilmember Robertson questioned how the City addressed residents who were violating the dock and buffer rules. Ms. Haug stated letters were sent and after a third violation a citation would be sent. Mayor Ryan commented he was proud of the fact the City was working to get all stormwater runoff into a ponding system for filtering. City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes October 7, 2019 Informational: no action required OTHER BUSINESS Public Works Director Haukaas updated the Council on a utility maintenance program mailing that would occur soon from the National League of Cities. Mayor Ryan commented on the Veterans Memorial Park Civil War monument that would be unveiled later in October. Safety Services Manager/Police Chief Podany updated the Council on several parking concerns that would be brought to the Traffic Commission for further discussion. Mayor Ryan thanked the Police Department for doing a great job to keep the City and Northtown Mall safe. ADJOURN The Workshop was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 4