City Council

MAHTOMEDI CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2018 Mayor Jud Marshall convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. with Council members Timothy Deans, Jeff Ledermann, Richard Brainerd and Steve Wolgamot in attendance. City Administrator Scott Neilson, City Attorney Jay Karlovich, City Engineer John Sachi, City Landscape Architect Candice Amberg, Public Works Director Bob Goebel, Planning Commission members Christine Ahmann Maples, Mike Hermann, Parks Commission members Charles Lindberg and Jeff Charlesworth, Julie Drennen, Conservation Minnesota, Washington County Commissioners Fran Miron and Stan Karowski and City Clerk Mary Solie were also in attendance. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AGENDA Consent item 6d. APPROVAL-FedEx adopting Long Lake Road was added to the agenda. Council member Deans moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was unanimously approved. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Council member Ledermann moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 4. PRESENTATIONS-None 5. DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE There was no discussion from the audience. 6. CONSENT AGENDA Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Ledermann seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. The motion was unanimously approved. a. APPROVAL-Acknowledge Completion of Orientation Period for Public Works Director. Public Works Director Bob Goebel’s six month anniversary is May 7, 2018. It is the opinion of the City Administrator that he has successfully adjusted to his position. Effective May 7, 2018, the City Administrator recommended the Council acknowledge the completion of the orientation period for Mr. Goebel and increase his compensation one step. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -2- MAY 1, 2017 6. CONSENT AGENDA-Continued. b. APPROVAL-Hiring of Temporary Seasonal Employees for Public Works. Public Works recommended and received approval for the hiring of three seasonal public works employees subject to successful completion of driver’s license check, drug test, criminal background check, and physical exam. c. APPROVAL-No Parking Resolution for Hickory Street. As part of the improvements on Hickory Street and Municipal State Aid approval for the project, the City is required to pass a resolution restricting parking on Hickory Street from 320’ east of Mahtomedi Avenue to Warner Avenue due to the proposed width of the roadway. d. APPROVAL-FedEx Adopting Long Lake Road.-added FedEx requested and received approval to adopt Long Lake Road. They will pick up trash twice a year and possibly more often if needed. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7a. CONSIDER APPROVAL – Park System Plan Amendment. City Administrator Neilson said the Park Commission recommended Council approval of the Park System Plan Amendment. The Park System Plan Amendment is meant to update the previous plans with relevant and modified information and will be included into the 2040 Comprehensive Plan as an appendix to supplement the individual chapters referencing parks, trails, and open space areas to avoid duplication. Planner Amberg said the park and open space system plan has been updated to define the varying classifications of parks and identifies each existing and proposed park with current classifications, descriptions, evaluations of the existing conditions, and development considerations for future improvements or development. Changes to new and proposed parks and open space systems are updated on the overall Park and Open Space Plan. Some park classifications were modified to reflect their purpose based on size and use. Examples include changing parks classified previously as Community Park to Special Use Park if they have a unique purpose or function, such as the beach sites. Some parks classified previously as a Neighborhood Park were changed to Open Space if they are not suitable for full development as a neighborhood park. The open space parks remain suitable for minimal development such as educational and interpretive elements, trails, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -3- MAY 1, 2017 7a. Continued. overlooks and the like. Parks that are highly important based on their location and service area within the City of Mahtomedi were additionally noted as a Key Recreational Park to keep at a high service level to adequately meet the needs of the residents. Additional considerations for the park and open space system include some desires from community members for a dog park, skate park, as well as considerations for pollinator sites and an emphasis for working cooperatively with the school district to retain recreational spaces in the city. The trail system plan has been updated to define the varying classifications of trail types and to reflect changes to the trail system with new trails, proposed future trails and desired pedestrian crossings in select areas of importance. Changes to new and proposed trails are updated on the overall Trail Map. Additional considerations for the trail system include the desire from the community for cross-country trails and a wayfinding and interpretive signage system throughout the community to provide proper guidance as well as to highlight areas of interest. The implementation considerations and related priorities were updated to reflect current needs and community values for providing a balanced park, trail and open space system, meant to be evaluated on an on-going basis as opportunities and ideals continue to change. Overall, priorities from the community reflect an emphasis on expanding the trail system by completing existing gaps and making strategic trail connections as highly important. Also of importance is ongoing protection of Katherine Abbott Park, updating Hallam Park to provide much needed recreational amenities to the northern portion of the city and maintaining the existing parks at a medium to high service level to meet the needs of the community. It was of less importance to develop additional parks or purchase additional lands to expand upon the existing park system. Various funding mechanisms were included for consideration and will need to be explored further to determine the resident’s willingness to implement any options that will lead to an increase in costs and taxes for individual residents. Council member Wolgamot said this plan is very well done. He said he would like to see an exercise component in some of the small parks. Council member Brainerd also commented the plan is very well done and said the Parks Commission put in a lot of work and thanked them for a job well done. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -4- MAY 1, 2017 7a. Continued. Council member Ledermann said the Council will need to seriously look at funding for the parks system. Mayor Marshall opened the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. Mike Hermann asked for clarification on the park classifications, what is the difference between special use and open space. Planner Amberg explained it’s the amenities how the park is used. Mayor Marshall closed the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve the 2017 Park System Plan Amendment. The motion was approved. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8a. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Resolution Approving Municipal Support for the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 12 (Stillwater Road/75th Street North) Safety and Management Project. Administrator Neilson said since January 2017, the City in coordination with Washington County, the City of Willernie, the City of Grant, and the Mahtomedi School District has engaged in preliminary design discussions for improvements to County Highway 12 from Wildwood Road to Jamaca Avenue. A recommended layout for proposed roadway and pedestrian improvements has been prepared and the County is requesting a Resolution of Support to move forward with development of the final plans and right of way acquisition for the construction of the project. The two phase project is in both the Washington County and City of Mahtomedi Capital Improvement Plan for 2019 and 2021. Council member Brainerd asked if there have been any major changes to the plan. He thanked the County for doing an outstanding job on this project. County Engineer Kent Peterson said no only a few minor changes. Council member Ledermann said the potential trail on the south side of County Road 12 is very important and thanked the County for looking into the possibility of completing it. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -5- MAY 1, 2017 8a. Continued. Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Deans seconded the motion to approve Resolution No. 2018-15 Approving Municipal Support for the CSAH 12 (Stillwater Road/75th Street North) Project. The motion was approved. 8b. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Discuss Proposal from Solar United Neighbors. Administrator Neilson said the Environmental Commission is recommending the City partner with Solar United Neighbors to work together to form a solar co-op with City residents. Solar United Neighbors provides the technical and administrative support, and the community partner promotes the solar co-op. The Commission is seeking approval from the Council to move forward with meetings with residents to find out if there is interest in the program. Council member Ledermann said the idea is to hold a couple of meetings to gauge interest in the solar roof tops in order to move forward. He said he would like to see a resolution of support for this program. Commission member Hermann said the group is a non-profit company which would give residents access to solar roof tops and to help with the process of the installing them. He also would like to see the City support this program. The goal is to get 30 participants to sign up. Commission member Maples said the co-op will identify how to put solar in the community and there will be no financial impact to the City. The co-op will help with the RFP’s once there are sufficient participants signed up. Conservation Minnesota Representative Julie Drennen, said Solar United Neighbors have worked with other cities Council member Brainerd said he likes the idea of solar, but has concerns about City liability. Representative Drennen said the group would like 30 participants to sign up but residents are not bound to the co-op. The homeowner would be liable if something does go wrong. Council member Ledermann said he wants to see the City promote and support the upcoming meetings later in the month. He would also like to see the City listed as a sponsor for the upcoming events. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -6- MAY 1, 2017 8b. Continued. Council member Wolgamot asked what a typical cost for installing solar panels is. Representative Drennen said $12,000 after rebates up to $25,000 with no rebates. Council member Ledermann moved and Council member Wolgamot seconded the motion to approve a resolution of city support for the Solar United Neighborhood information meeting on a residential rooftop solar co-op at the District Education Center on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. and the city be listed as a sponsor of the event and help promote the event. The motion was approved. 8c. CONSIDER APPROVAL-Bill List Council member Deans moved and Council member Brainerd seconded the motion to approve the bills as presented. The motion was unanimously approved. 9. REPORT FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Administrator Neilson said the City Forester will attend the next council meeting. The next Council Planning session is May 10th at 5:30 at the Public Works Building. He said the Rite of Spring was very successful and is waiting for the numbers on the hazardous waste collection and the unused medication drop off. He said the competitive bidding threshold was increased to $175,000. City Engineer Sachi provided an update on the upcoming city projects. 10. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL Council member Brainerd asked the County Commissioners if there is any updates on a compost site for the north part of the County. The Commissioners said they are still identifying sites and discussing the potential funding for it. Council member Wolgamot said there are bills in both the House and Senate for the Lake Links Trail with bipartisan support. 11. CLOSED SESSION – None Scheduled CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES -7- MAY 1, 2017 12. ADJOURNMENT Council member Brainerd moved and Council member Wolgamot 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