City Council Agenda & Minutes

North Oaks City Council Meeting Minutes North Oaks City Council Chambers February 20, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Councilor Wolter called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. • Mayor Wolter noted the purpose of the joint meeting between City, NOHOA and North Oaks Company is to plan and have a brainstorming session on what they can work on together for the betterment of the Community as a whole. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Krista Wolter, Councilors Sara Shah, Andrew Gaspard, Grover Sayre, Mark Azman Staff Present: Administrator Kevin Kress, Attorney Bridget Nason, Planning Commission Chair Dave Cremons NOHOA: Executive Director Amanda Mason, Engineer Kristie Elfering, NOHOA Board President Andrew Hawkins, NOHOA Boardmembers Julia Hupperts, Alan Hammel, Becky Oertel, Damien Lepoutre, Ted Risdall, North Oaks President Mark Houge, Rowcal Assistant Stacey Sweeny (via zoom) Others Present: NineNorth Videographer A quorum was declared present. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Wolter led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Shah, seconded by Sayre, to approve agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 5. NEW BUSINESS 5a. Joint discussion with City Council and NOHOA Concepts for Alignment: 1. What process(es) should NOHOA & City implement to ensure good collaboration? • Hawkins spoke on infrastructure as complete development. How to maintain during turnover from North Oaks Company as they finish their planned development and role within the City. NOHOA handles roads and City handles utilities so must collaborate together. Would like to figure how to streamline the annualized process of maintaining roads. With 2 million in road infrastructure, wants to be sure that they repair utilities as dig up roads. Would like to streamline what is the preferred way to keep in tune with each other. • Wolter wants to know if a better way such as a working sub group of both parties to discuss areas of overlap. 1 Minutes of the City Council Meeting February 20, 2025 • LePoutre states a crossover within subgroups is important to include City and provide updates. Gaspard is on NEST, Cremons is on road committee. • Houge from North Oaks Company mentioned that Forestry could be better utilized between all groups. • Hammel wondered how to better clarify what the roles of both entities. A “here is where you go to for xxxx” type document. Suggests written process that identifies where to go for what .i.e. Stroll, new member guide, City website, etc. It was noted the confusion of having multiple websites both City, NOHOA and Sub-associations. • It was noted if may be useful to have a regular City / NOHOA staff meeting as well – including engineers, City and NOHOA staff. 2. Should City-NOHOA coordinate communication and how? • Wolter noted that Brad Brekke presented to safe/security meeting and well as the City Council which talks about the different ways to communicate with residents. He is gathering information from both City and NOHOA to see what is currently out there and where can streamline in the areas of social media, newsletters, publications, and apps such as Rave. • Planning Commission Kingston noted that Becky Oertel has put together some good information as part of the NOHOA governance committee that would be good to be shared with Stroll or other avenues. • Hawkins suggested a join communications task force with both City and NOHOA – and put together an action plan and bring it back to us. • It was mentioned that the Shoreview Press is the official publication for both NOHOA bylaws changes and City legal notices due to the publication being issued twice a month, which is helpful for time sensitive issues and required public hearing notices. It was noted that a portion of North Oaks only receives the White Bear Press, not Shoreview Press. • Cremons noted it would be relevant to put together a joint City/NOHOA letter in the North Oaks news as a display of unity and our efforts to try to streamline and help residents. • LePoutre noted having a single means of communication of information / articles would be helpful….i.e. North Oaks News. 3. How do the two entities work together to define a long-term vision for North Oaks? • Sayre noted the importance of having a shared vision. Form committee, communicate to make it easier for residents and having both buildings. He feels that would be good to own the current City Hall building, which could also generate some rent and income. He would also like to see a permanent year round sports facility, and feels Southpointe could be better utilized: fitness center, pickleball – with a small fee for resident use. He would also love to have capability to provide own water and reduce the rates for residents. Also noted that educating citizens on what needs to happen to clear roadsides is important to safety. • To reach this goal: 1) How do they work together to define it, and 2) do we have things that we’d like to see as a future vision for the community. Page |2 2 Minutes of the City Council Meeting February 20, 2025 • Shah would love to see the water quality of Pleasant Lake brought back. • Hawkins noted water quality and control of most high importance. • Lepoutre would like a vision with focus on the environment. Do we want the lake to be nature, or do we want it to be free of all grasses, etc. Do we want no lights, or lights in our community. Well maintained trees, or natural environment. If we want more safety, we may need to change the roads. We have a very diverse City with diverse age populations, what needs to be there to meet all needs. • Wolter noted a comprehensive approach to ensuring we are no redoing and spending efficiently on both sides. • Cremons noted residents would probably say a priority is keeping the environment of the City as good, or better than it is now. He noted if the goal is to sustain environmental vision, we may need to take a hard look at septic systems. • Hawkins noted in the Community survey from several years ago: safety & security, natural environment, trails were top items. Feels that when asking the Community comes up with common themes: Environmental stewardship and natural resources is common for many in community. • Houge noted that keeping up property values is also a factor to consider when spending money on infrastructure. • Berchenko noted that using the data from tonight, to refocus to prioritize in a 2nd session is needed. • Sayre thinks it’s a very useful session to start big picture and high level. • It was noted that the 10 year Comprehensive Plan revisions will start this year, and is due in 2028. Would be good to have the Vision of the City defined before the Comp Plan is revised. • In regards to City / NOHOA office space, Kingston noted that this is not a City identity building, asks to consider a task force to look at future of shared offices and whether a build out of new building near entry is a viable option. 4. What are our independent/joint enforcement priorities and ways to execute on these? • Cremons mentioned some points of collaboration. He was approached by Bill Long re: NOHOA ASC issues with residents wanting to build in setbacks. Will be working on a common set of rules for both sides to help both sides to clarify setbacks and make a few adjustments/clarifications to City Ordinances if needed. • Kress noted an example is that retaining walls are allowed in setback by City, but NOHOA does not. Fences are allowed by City. Spring Farm development regulations have allowed going into setback for patios if abuts green space. City has also had to grant setback variances due to lack of septic replacement locations. • Hawkins noted that NOHOA can only fine people, or prohibit them from using shared spaces if violate NOHOA policies. The City has more authority to enforce regulations. Suggest putting a list of these issues together on who regulates and enforce what common regulations: doing work on shorelines, pet issues, parking infractions, noise, lighting. Both should agree on what is important to be enforced with our limited resources. • Dave Loegering from Planning Commission feels that brainstorming is great, but looking to see an action with memorandum of understanding between NOHOA and the City. Work together to leverage the competencies of the City, funding, projects. NOHOA put Page |3 3 Minutes of the City Council Meeting February 20, 2025 together process and initiatives and then re-use the process over and over. Continue focus on maintaining privacy and moving forward. 5. What is the process for the new Public Works Director role at the City to interface with NOHOA and its private contractors? • Kress introduced Corey Triemert, the new City Public Works director. He noted there has been a joint powers agreement for many years with White Bear Township for them to maintain all infrastructure of public sewer and water systems. City staff has worked an agreement to keep access to White Bear water for the Community, however they wanted to be done maintaining our North Oaks systems. City was unable to find another City to take on this maintenance, therefore has hired our own staff person to address issues 24 x 7. Corey is in process of meeting with all surrounding Cities to establish some agreements for utilizing resources in emergencies. • Wolter noted that most people have no idea how many homes within North Oaks are serviced by City utilities. Approximately 800 homes with 14 lift stations. Would love to eliminate some of the lift stations if possible. There is hardly any collaboration between public works and infrastructure in surrounding Cities. Safe drinking water and ability to flush toilet is taken for granted, infrastructure resources is key. • Kress also noted that some homes are being threatened by insurance companies that they are not close enough to fire hydrants, in leiu of having to have a 2nd water source for fire suppression. He noted that St. Paul regional water may force us to test water. Important to have a good well water sampling through out community. Storm safety and policy between 2 entities on how to respond to storm issues is needed along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of who does what to address between City, NOHOA and NOC. • Kress noted we may need to hire another person to address concern over the different types of equipment used at the various stations, who is familiar with all of our systems, and how to use them all. • Hawkins noted Mel’s had a recent incident in which water being used from well for ice had a smell. They also have concern over well water testing throughout community. Would love to see more emphasis on water safety. 5b. Joint discussion with City Council and NOHOA 1) Natural Environment: a. Deer Control • Kress noted would still love to do an aerial count. There are 2 locations being addressed for deer removal, by the dump location and on a private property. There were 23 deer taken last Monday, but want to make sure they don’t overdo it. The issued DNR permit expires end of March 2025. In high years, North Oaks has taken 150 deer, in recent years we have not had many taken due to high expense involved in trapping. • We are on list for County aerial count if get more snow. b. Goose Management Page |4 4 Minutes of the City Council Meeting February 20, 2025 • Kress noted the need to collaborate on best methods for removing geese. Options include: egg painting in spring, netting April through August, as well as what lakes to do. May do a possible expansion of the program beyond Pleasant Lake. The USDA will likely come back in April to remove some geese. Hawkins noted NOHOA supports what is most effective and cost effective. • Kress also noted that we are keeping an eye on turkey population. He will attend an upcoming USDA meeting to discuss. • Sayre noted that Coyote is something that should also looked at. Program focuses on the aggressive ones. There is not a natural predator to keep them in check. c. Water Quality • City and NOHOA collaborating with Engineer on water quality along with top priorities. Kress noted if a problem is found with the well water, then they may be required to fix it and possibly put in City water, which is a huge undertaking. d. Stormwater Management • LePoutre mentioned a joint stormwater plan in conjunction with VLAWMO, NOC, St. Paul Regional Water, City, NOHOA is good place to start to put together a vision. e. Tree Health and Funding • Wolter noted that Steve with Mel’s would love to get access to the Ramsey County yardwaste site to drop off to tree waste. As a private contractor he can’t use the yard waste site. The City can possibly issue a letter which has been done in the past. • Hawkins noted that $55,000 was spent removing diseased trees last year, but there are many more that need to come down. Focusing on trees that impact road and safety hazards. 2. Infrastructure a. Master Infrastructure • Kress noted that this topic should be ready to discuss in draft form at the next meeting after additional staff and consultants from both sides work more on it. Will be looking to ensure there is a reasonable resident focus. • Look to confirm Mel’s services, do we need tweaks to public works. b. LPR status • Not discussed at this time. c. Operation Clearview to Improve Road Safety • Reminder that now is a good time to start addressing and clearing back roadside brush/trees. Clearview started as NOHOA policy, and then turned to City to help with residents identifying problem trees. The most effective process would be to have a single contractor go through and trim back roadsides for safety purposes. This is not a clear CUT, but a reasonable Clearview 5’ back, 12 feet up to allow for safe road passage for car, emergency vehicles, walkers. Page |5 5 Minutes of the City Council Meeting February 20, 2025 3) Office Space and Future Plans • Any future discussions on office space needs to be adjacent to road safety. • Kress noted it may be advantageous to bring in a 3rd party to bring alignment to leadership management for both City and NOHOA. Help determine what works, and what wouldn’t and why. There was general consensus from both Council and NOHOA for this approach of bringing in an independent person to help pull together important topics from each group and develop shared vision, priorities and action items. Will look to create an RFP from both sides. 6. ADJOURNMENT The target for the next joint meeting of the City Council/NOHOA is the target for the next May 13th at 6:00 p.m. is the target for the next meeting. MOTION by Shah, seconded by Azman, to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. ____________________________ _____________________________ Kevin Kress, City Administrator Krista Wolter, Mayor 3/4/2025 Date approved___________ Page |6 6