City Council Workshop

SPECIAL WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL May 18, 2021 The City Council held a special workshop on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota, for the purpose of holding an annual meeting with the members of the city’s advisory bodies; a second workshop followed to discuss the recruitment of police chief. The meeting began at 5:00 PM. Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Susan Barry, City Clerk Alyssa MacLeod, Communications Specialist Chelsea Petersen, Administrative Services Director Economic Development Commission Also Present: Mark Landis, Economic Development Commission Chair Dave Halper, Economic Development Commissioner Gary Livingston, Economic Development Commissioner (virtual) Frank Orsello, Economic Development Commissioner Stacie Penn, Economic Development Commissioner Gary Severson, Economic Development Commissioner Lynn Stafford, Economic Development Commissioner Robert Stiglich, Economic Development Commissioner Erin Voca, Economic Development Commissioner Holly Koep, Economic Development Commissioner Linnea Graffunder-Bartels, Senior Community Development Specialist Bob Streetar, Community Development Director The City Council and the Economic Development Commission held their annual meeting. They discussed the local option sales tax the city is pursuing for the police and public works facilities, the impact of COVID on the business community, and the many development projects happening in the city. Environmental Management Commission Also Present: Keith Miller, Environmental Management Commission Chair Noah Gerding, Environmental Management Commission Vice Chair Bonnie Wilson, Environmental Management Commissioner Shannon Reidlinger, Senior Community Development Specialist Bob Streetar, Community Development Director WORKSHOP May 18, 2021 Page Two The City Council and the Environmental Management Commission held their annual meeting. They discussed the commission’s 2021 work plan: remaining at Level 5 of the GreenStep Cities program; focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and solar; electric vehicles; reducing waste, business recycling, and multi-family recycling; water conservation and adopt-a-drain program; bike and pedestrian trail connectivity; and working with Communications Specialist MacLeod on an editorial calendar to promote programs and provide information to the community. Mayor Reinke noted that he had talked with Xcel Energy about the potential of doing an electric vehicle pilot program by Helmo Station. Planning Commission Also Present: Bob Boullianne, Planning Commissioner Dallas Pierson, Planning Commissioner Emily Shively, City Planner Bob Streetar, Community Development Director The City Council and the Planning Commission held their annual meeting. They discussed the status of the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project, to consider code amendment for electric vehicle charging stations in multi-housing developments, and increase in traffic from new developments at Willowbrooke and 4Front. Parks and Recreation Commission Also Present: Paul Lockhart, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Jenny Cook, Parks and Recreation Commission Vice Chair Janet Cunningham, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Glen Giacoletto, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Freddie Jiles, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steve Meyer, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Jeff Koesling, Parks Superintendent Julie Williams, Recreation Superintendent The City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed upgrading a few ballfields each year to address safety and erosion; the need for more benches at the Oakdale Bark Park, perhaps memorial benches or another type of pet memorial; the need for a marker identifying Armstrong Park; and the need for a crosswalk on Helmo Avenue at 17th or 18th streets by Eastside Park. Parks Superintendent Koesling noted that the only maintenance performed at Armstrong Park was to keep a trail mowed and added that the park is located on a pipeline easement. WORKSHOP May 18, 2021 Page Three Parks Superintendent Koesling commented on the components of ballfield maintenance and restoring fields after play has occurred on wet fields. Tree Board Also Present: Nick Kantola, Tree Board Chair Marge Sagstetter, Tree Board Vice Chair Glen Giacoletto, Tree Board Member Stan Karwoski, Tree Board Member Dallas Pierson, Tree Board Member Cathy Schreifels, Tree Board Member The City Council and the Tree Board held their annual meeting. The Tree Board commented on continuing to utilize the pre-registration process for the annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway that was used for this years’ event; planting trees at the Oakdale Bark Park; outreach efforts including appearing on the Oakdale Update cable show and staffing information tables at the farmers market and the indoor market; and the completion of the Tree Trek program where QR codes are placed at species in the Oakdale Nature Preserve as an educational resource. The Tree Board was not planning a buckthorn removal event in 2021. The City Council and the Tree Board discussed the forest garden in the Oakdale Nature Preserve. The Tree Board reviewed the original plan and commented on plans to rejuvenate the garden and to add signage, a map, and also markers by the 80 plants in the garden. The Tree Board explained that the Maplewood/ Oakdale Lions Club maintains a portion of the garden and has been in the process of removing buckthorn and refreshing their section; it was noted that the Lions Club offered to provide funding for the plant signage. Tree Board Vice Chair Sagstetter commented on an extensive native seed library available at the Discovery Center from seeds provided by Council Member Swedberg. Tree Board Member Karwoski commented on the complexity of the design and long-term vision of the forest garden and suggested that if the maintenance of the garden becomes too involved, the plantings could be removed and trees planted. Police Chief Recruitment Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Susan Barry, City Clerk Sharon Klumpp, BakerTilly WORKSHOP May 18, 2021 Page Four The City Council, the City Administrator and Sharon Klumpp, Director with BakerTilly, discussed the recruitment plan for chief of police. City Administrator Volkers asked the City Council to identify the qualities they would like to see in a Chief of Police. Ms. Klumpp reviewed proposed questions for candidates. In response to a question, City Administrator Volkers reviewed options for an interim Chief of Police, if needed. The workshop adjourned at 8:18 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk