City Council

MAHTOMEDI CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 5, 2016 Mayor Jud Marshall convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. with Council members Timothy Deans, Joel Schilling, Richard Brainerd and Lael Ramaley in attendance. City Administrator Scott Neilson, City Attorney Jay Karlovich, City Engineer Chris LaBounty, Public Works Director Bruce Thielen, Fire Chief Terry Fischer and City Clerk Mary Solie were also in attendance. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AGENDA Council member Deans moved and Council member Brainerd seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Council member Ramaley moved and Council member Schilling seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 4. PRESENTATIONS Jamie DeBilzan was sworn in as a new firefighter by Fire Chief Terry Fischer. Natalie Fleischhacker, who completed her probation period, was introduced by Public Works Director Bruce Thielen. 4a. Melissa Taphorn, Washington County HRA- Piccadilly Square Update Ms. Taphorn said the HRA has changed their name to Washington County Community Development Agency, now with the newly hired Community Development Director. Ms. Taphorn said Piccadilly Square is about 65% completed and is on schedule for the October 1, 2016 opening. She said there is a lot of interest with about 20% of the units leased at this time. Shelter Corporation will be the managing company. Ms. Taphorn was asked if they are comfortable with the amount of units leased at this time. She said this is about average and as it gets closer, the applications will increase. She said there will be open houses held in the near future. 5. DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE Steve Wolgamot was present to say his first Neighbor Ways path is in place. It is across the property near the Ramsey Building at the corner of Quail and Highway 244, Council member Schilling asked if the Parks Commission should be aware of this. Public Works Director Thielen said Mr. Wolgamot is welcome to attend their meeting. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -2- JULY 5, 2016 6. CONSENT AGENDA Council member Ramaley moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. a. APPROVAL-Acknowledge Completion of Probationary Period for Maintenance Operator Natalie Fleischhacker. Public Works Director Bruce Thielen recommended the City Council acknowledge the completion of the probationary period for Maintenance Operator Natalie Fleischhacker. Ms. Fleischhacker’s six-month probationary period ended July 4, 2016. Effective July 5, 2016, Public Works Director Thielen recommended her compensation be adjusted accordingly. b. APPOINTMENT-Election Judges for the August 9, 2016 Primary Election and the November 8, 2016 General Election. The roster of election judges for the August 9, 2016 Primary Election and the November 8, 2016 General Election were approved. c. APPROVAL-Authorize Feasibility Study for 2017 Street Improvement. The City Council authorized the Feasibility Study for the 2017 Street Improvement Project. d. APPROVAL –Hiring of Paid On Call Firefighter/EMT. Fire Chief Fischer recommended the hiring of Brandon Sunberg as a Paid On Call Firefighter/EMT. The hiring is contingent on successful completion of the City’s psychological assessment, criminal background check, and physical exam. e. APPROVAL – Acknowledge Completion of Probationary Period for Firefighter/EMT. Fire Chief Fischer recommended the City Council acknowledge the completion of the probationary period for Firefighter/EMT Jaime DeBilzan and change her employment status to a Paid On-Call Firefighter/EMT. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS-None CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -3- JULY 5, 2016 8a. DISCUSSION – Advisory Bicycle Lanes. Administrator Neilson said this is a follow-up item regarding the City’s interest in the installation of advisory bike lanes on Birchwood Road/Hall Avenue and Warner Avenue South. City Engineer Chris LaBounty said Advisory Bike lanes were discussed previously at a City Council meeting. He said the Advisory Lane is an experimental roadway striping and signing at this time. It is used where there is insufficient space for a full bike lane. It is marked as a dashed line on each side of the road with the center lane shared by vehicles. Vehicles may use the dashed portion of the roadway if there are no bicycles in the bike lane. They are currently found in Minneapolis, Edina and Richfield. He said some of the considerations to be aware of when looking at the advisory lanes are traffic volumes, roadway widths and parking. Council member Schilling said he had asked previously for crash data on Birchwood Road and Warner Avenue. Engineer LaBounty said there have been no reported accidents on Birchwood Road and there have been five reported on Warner Avenue South. He said that’s not to say there have not been more, but maybe just not reported. Council member Schilling said his initial reaction is the need for education on how to navigate the roadway, as it may be hard to figure out as there are not many marked bike lanes in this area. Council member Brainerd said getting the traffic data is important and how do we tie it in with future trails and piece it all together. Engineer LaBounty said the traffic data could be collected, determine the road width and see what information the Safe Routes to School application provides. Council member Ramaley said Birchwood and Willernie are big unknowns. Mayor Marshall asked a Washington County Deputy what this thoughts were on doing the advisory lanes. The deputy said he didn’t think they would be a good idea for South Warner, with all the bus traffic and cars going both ways in the area of the elementary school. Council member Schilling asked what problem we are trying to solve by installing the advisory lanes. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -4- JULY 5, 2016 8a. Continued. Council member Deans said we need to talk with Birchwood, Willernie and Pine Springs to see if they have any interest in working with the City to provide these lanes. If not, then that would be the end of the discussion. Council member Schilling said he agreed with the deputy about South Warner. There is no way I would agree to that. He said this is beginning to cost a lot of money. Engineer LaBounty said the Council could consider directing staff to prepare a study of Birchwood Road and South Warner and prepare a Request to Experiment or direct staff to review proposed trail improvements on road facilities with the 2018 Street Improvement Project feasibility report. Council member Ramaley said even gathering the data for this is not financially sound. There was general consensus to do traffic counts on Birchwood Road and talk with Birchwood to see if they have any interest in this and wait for the School District to finalize the Safe Routes to School grant. 8b. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Streetlight Banners for Long Lake Road. Administrator Neilson said in 2014, the Long Lake Road Street Improvement Project was completed. As part of this project, new street lights were installed in the median. The street light poles have the capability of having banners attached to them. City banners will spruce up the street and provide a welcoming effect to the commercial area. City staff provided three examples of banners for the Council to choose from. The City Public Works and Office Staff assisted in the design of what the banners could look like. The estimated cost of the project ranges from $2,500 to $3,000 with funds available in the Street Department budget. Council member Ramaley said she like design #3 and asked if the “Welcome” from #1 could be used on #3. Council member Brainerd asked what the long term plan is. Could they be placed anywhere else? Administrator Neilson said the only light poles the City’s owns are the ones on Long Lake Road. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -5- JULY 5, 2016 8b. Continued. Council member Schilling agreed with Council member Ramaley’ s choice and said maybe we could ask the Lions for money if we were to do more banners. There was general consensus to use design #3 and the “Welcome” from design #1. 8c. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Bill List Council member Ramaley moved and Council member Schilling seconded the motion to approve the bills as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 9. REPORT FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Administrator Neilson said he is looking at holding an open house for the advisory commissions. It was suggested to schedule it for the end of September. Administrator Neilson said Don Lifto will be donating a “Little Library” to the City and it will be installed at City Hall near the mailboxes. Administrator Neilson said the ordinance regarding the opting out of health care dwellings will be discussed at the August Planning Commission meeting. 10. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL Council member Brainerd asked if there has been any information about composting by Washington County. Administrator Neilson said he had been contacted by the County to participate in a survey regarding composting and is still waiting for the final survey results. Council member Ramaley asked if there are any openings on any commissions. There is one opening on the Finance Commission. 11. CLOSED SESSION – None Scheduled CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -6- JULY 5, 2016 12. ADJOURNMENT Council member Schilling moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The motion was unanimously approved. ATTESTED: APPROVED: ___________________________ ___________________________ MARY SOLIE, CITY CLERK JUD MARSHALL, MAYOR