City Council Workshop

WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL September 22, 2020 ATTENDANCE The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 5 PM. Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Susan Barry, City Clerk Mary Cutrufello, Planning Intern Alyssa MacLeod, Communications Specialist Chelsea Petersen, Administrative Services Director Emily Shively, City Planner Bob Streetar, Community Development Director Bill Sullivan, Chief of Police Julie Williams, Recreation Superintendent Kevin Wold, Fire Chief ADVISORY BODY INTERVIEWS: Parks and Recreation Commission The City Council interviewed persons interested in filling two vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Commission: Mark Giannini and Freddie Jiles. GLENBROOK SPECIAL AREA PLAN Community Development Director Streetar provided an overview of the boundaries, history, and current zoning for the Glenbrook Avenue area, north of Highway 36 and west of Highway 120. He explained that the area was developed in a piecemeal fashion that created land use conflicts, future access issues, and offers no parks or open space for families in the area. Council Member Swedberg asked that businesses in that area direct commercial vehicles to the Hadley Avenue interchange to access the highway, rather than using residential streets. Community Development Director Streetar provided an overview of special area plans and stated that they provide a vision for an area. Council Member Zabel noted that other special area plans in the city were for primarily undeveloped areas, whereas, the Glenbrook area is developed. Community Development Director Streetar commented on issues that are created when land uses vary and the importance of having a defined plan for the area to aid property owners in determining what, if any, investments to make to their property and gives them the ability to weigh options. He added that once completed, the City Council would decide if the plan is implemented. WORKSHOP September 22 2020 Page Two Council Member Zabel asked how the uncertainty of a plan for the Highway 120 and 36 intersection could impact the Glenbrook special area plan. Community Development Director Streetar explained that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) would need to take city’s special area plan into consideration. In response to a question from Council Member Swedberg, Community Development Director Streetar explained that the Glenbrook area developed as it did because there was no uniform vision when development began in the 1940s. In response to a question from Council Member Zabel, Community Development Director Streetar reviewed the proposed timeframe for preparing the special area plan: beginning June of 2021, process to take 12 to 16 months, including the public engagement component, at an estimated cost of $75- 100,000, based on what can be performed in-house. In response to a question from Council Member Olson about the urgency to develop a plan, Community Development Director Streetar cited the importance of having a plan in place for MnDOT and Washington County to utilize when developing plans for the Highways 120 and 36 intersection. Mayor Reinke agreed that having a plan in place would help guide the MnDOT intersection plan. Council Member Zabel supported bringing the matter back in two to four weeks. Council Member Swedberg agreed. She also expressed concern with staff doing the small area plan and the bike and pedestrian plan simultaneously. Community Development Director Streetar stated that he wouldn’t bring forth a project that could not be handled by his department. Mayor Reinke suggested bringing the matter back to the next work session. Council Member Olson asked whether eminent domain would be used to acquire properties in the area. Community Development Director Streetar explained that property that is rezoned would remain at its current zoning until sold and then the new zoning would apply. 2021 PRELIMINARY LEVY City Administrator Volkers reviewed proposed levy amounts and suggested setting a preliminary levy of 3.6 percent or 3.12 percent. Council Member Zabel asked about keeping the preliminary levy at 4 percent as it included adding fire staff. He recollected the issues that arose last year when adopting the 2020 levy and did not want a repeat of the same. WORKSHOP September 22 2020 Page Three City Administrator Volkers noted that staff would continue to dig into of the budget to identify where modifications could be made. Council Member Ingebrigtson suggested 3.99 percent. Council Member Swedberg supported 4 percent but only as the preliminary number. Council Members Olson and Zabel agreed. Mayor Reinke indicated that 3.9 percent sounded more favorable. City Administrator Volkers reminded that property values would need to be factored in as well. Department heads were invited to weigh in with any comments on the proposed levy; none were heard. It was the consensus of the City Council to set a preliminary levy of 3.9 percent and for staff to continue efforts to reduce the budget. CARES ACT EXPENDITURES UPDATE Administrative Services Director Petersen reviewed the latest expenditure report for CARES Act funds. She noted that some remaining expenditures included: touchless faucets and drinking fountains in certain areas, work station modifications/barriers, portable sound equipment, technology, ambulance, donation to the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf (CCEFS), and law enforcement costs. City Administrator Volkers noted, that per past discussion, she would email the City Council about any proposed purchases of $25,000 or over and asked them to expect emails in the near future about potential purchases. In response to a question from Council Member Zabel on the eligibility of the portable sound equipment, Administrative Services Director Petersen noted that it would be used by the Recreation Department to better amplify sound at outdoor events and other more highly attended events to promote social distancing. City Administrator Volkers informed the City Council that all potential purchases are being researched to get clear guidance on eligibility. Mayor Reinke asked whether the donation to CCEFS is eligible. City Administrator Volkers confirmed that the donation is eligible. Council Member Zabel asked that future CARES Act reports provide detail on funds remaining with the city and those that will be provided elsewhere, like to CCEFS. FUTURE OF THE TREE BOARD WORKSHOP September 22 2020 Page Four City Administrator Volkers indicated that the majority of the City Council supported merging the Tree Board with a city commission in 2021. Council Member Zabel supported it merging with the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) as it would be a more natural fit and the Tree Board Chair, Nick Kantola, is a valuable forestry resource and already serves on the EMC. He noted that he would also support merging it with the Parks and Recreation Commission. Council Member Olson agreed. Council Member Swedberg shared that Tree Board members would like the Tree Board retained, but if that does not occur, to have it absorbed by the Environmental Management Commission. She asked whether the number of members of the commission selected would be expanded to allow for Tree Board members to be absorbed. Council Member Zabel noted that any Tree Board members not already serving on a commission should be encouraged to apply to be considered when vacancies occur. Community Development Director Streetar asked that the City Council consider the department that would carry out the Tree Board policies when deciding which commission might absorb it. In response to a question from Council Member Olson about how the dissolution of the Tree Board discussion arose, Council Member Zabel commented on difficulties relating to filling vacancies and administering the meetings. Staff was directed to bring the matter back to the City Council on October 13. The City Council recessed the workshop at 6:46 PM. The meeting reconvened at 7:24 PM. COUNCIL TOPICS Ballot Challenges Council Member Ingebrigtson inquired about ballot challenges. City Attorney Thomson explained the process for contesting vote totals at the local level. Interview Questions for Tree Board Council Member Swedberg asked that questions be created for staff to utilize for Tree Board applicant interviews. Oakdale Nature Preserve Music Board WORKSHOP September 22 2020 Page Five Council Member Swedberg inquired about creating a policy defining what outside groups may put into city parks and that require maintenance, such as the music board installed in the Oakdale Nature Preserve. City Administrator Volkers indicated that some other communities only allow items that can be maintained by Public Works staff. She added that staff would come back with a proposed policy. Assessments In response to a question from Council Member Swedberg, City Administrator Volkers responded that Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier would contact Council Member Swedberg to explain the city’s policy for assessing corner lots. Business News Mayor Reinke announced that Furlong’s Liquor, 4777 Geneva Avenue, would soon be under new ownership. Attorney Thomson added that the new license holder would operate under the current license until such time as the license transfer is approved by the city. Mayor Reinke announced that Marc Cove was leaving Platinum Bank. Bridge Ownership Council Member Ingebrigtson thanked Mayor Reinke on successful negotiations with the City of Woodbury relating to bridge ownership. Security Cameras Council Member Olson expressed a concern with security cameras in the city. Police Chief Sullivan explained that at least 50 cameras have been in place in parks and city buildings for a number of years and 15 more were recently added to provide added security, particularly around City Hall. He further explained that camera footage is reviewed only as needed and not continually monitored. Chief Sullivan added that the cameras provide a valuable resource for law enforcement and safety measure for the city’s infrastructure. He further added that the recent upgrade was paid for with forfeiture funds, including the cameras at Tanners Park, which were initially listed under equipment certificates. Council Member Olson asked if the Police Department was still receiving social distancing complaints relating to COVID-19. Chief Sullivan said that not as many calls were coming in. WORKSHOP September 22 2020 Page Six Council Member Zabel commented on the different funding models used for the cameras. Chief Sullivan stated that after his discussion with the City Council in June to add cameras to address blind spots in select areas, the funding model needed to be changed. Council Member Zabel asked that the City Council be provided with details on camera locations in the city and where future cameras might be added. Chief Sullivan replied that the cameras are an operational decision of the Police Department. He added that its common practice to have cameras on public facilities and that there should be no expectation of privacy in public areas. In response to a question from Council Member Zabel, Chief Sullivan indicated that the Police Department’s annual report for 2019 would be provided to the City Council upon its completion. ADJOURNMENT The workshop adjourned at 7:54 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk