City Council Workshop

WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL August 10, 2021 The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 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 Alyssa MacLeod, Communications Specialist Nick Newton, Police Captain Kevin Wold, Fire Chief Jason Zimmerman, Finance Director PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT: CHAPTER 13 – TEMPORARY STORAGE City Administrator Volkers reviewed a request to consider adoption of regulations relating to portable, on-demand storage devices. The City Council requested the following modifications: • In lieu approval granted by the building official, develop an online self-serve process for property owners to register storage devices. • Allow up to two containers per property at one time on approved surface; and allow containers to remain up to 60 days. (Preference of Code Enforcement staff was 30 days). • Remove list of items that cannot be used for storage. Staff was directed to post the proposed ordinance and bring the matter back to the regular meeting of August 24, 2021, for formal approval. ELEVATOR REPAIR AT SOUTH FIRE STATION Fire Chief Wold provided an overview of issues with the elevator at the south fire station located at 6633 – 15th Street and associated remedies. He explained that groundwater continues to enter the elevator shaft, thus, a sump pump (estimated cost $14,900) and repairs (estimated costs $58,577 to $62,789) were needed for the elevator to pass inspection and added that an insurance claim was not successful. Fire Chief Wold stated that the sump pump and repairs would properly address the issues for years to come. WORKSHOP August 10, 2021 Page Two The City Council supported the project for repair and replace and directed staff to bring the matter back to the regular meeting of August 24, 2021, for formal approval with funding sources identified. AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES Also Present: Bonnie Wilson, Oakdale Wellness 50+ Colleen Herman, Oakdale Wellness 50+ Bonnie Wilson, representing Oakdale Wellness 50+, asked for support from the City Council for Oakdale to be designated as an “Age Friendly Community.” She explained the benefits of the designation and ideas for promotion. Ms. Wilson added that a letter of support signed by Mayor Reinke would be needed. Staff was directed to bring the matter back to the regular meeting of August 24, 2021, for consideration. 2022 BUDGET Finance Director Zimmerman continued with his review of the proposed 2022 Budget. Police Captain Newton noted that the Police Department was proposing using Forfeiture Funds for equipment and training, which would draw down the fund. Police Captain Newton explained that body cameras could be acquired with a five-year lease. Council Member Zabel asked about the potential of trading in equipment sooner in order to keep up with changes in technology. Police Captain Newton indicated that he would look into including language that would provide for upgrades as new technology becomes available. Finance Director Zimmerman explained how staff was working toward eliminating city issued loans and establishing a vehicle and equipment replacement fund to no longer sell bonds for such purchases in the future. City Administrator Volkers added that a roster of the city’s 200+ vehicles and equipment was being developed. Finance Director Zimmerman noted that the only proposed expenditure adjustment was $325,000 relating to adjustments made per the classification and compensation study. Council Member Zabel stated that the City Council could determine whether to provide the class and comp study proposed adjustments over two years rather than over one year. WORKSHOP August 10, 2021 Page Three Mayor Reinke questioned whether the $325,000 should not be part of the preliminary levy. Council Member Zabel replied that the preliminary levy is typically set higher to allow flexibility in setting the final levy. City Administrator Volkers noted that staff would provide the City Council with levy calculations that include the $325,000 and another version without those funds. She also noted that a correction would be made to remove $440,000 included twice in error. The City Council discussed preliminary levy amounts. PET LICENSING In response to a City Council request, staff presented information on no longer requiring residents to obtain city issued pet licenses. The City Council supported the city no longer issuing pet licenses. Police Captain Newton asked that the new code include a requirement that pets wear ID tags. MIDAMERICA CONSULTING – PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier reviewed a proposal from MidAmerica Technical and Environmental Services to provide an independent review of reports prepared by 3M’s firm, Braun Engineering, relating to the new Public Works facility site at 32nd Street and Granada Avenue. He explained that MidAmerica would not provide recommendations or direction, 3M would have to provide an alternate plan. Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier added that the city could also contract with MidAmerica to monitor the facility for a determined period of time, whereas, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would monitor the site. In response to a question from Council Member Zabel, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier identified the funding source for the initial review as the Public Building Fund and the facility monitoring to the Building Maintenance Fund. In response to a question from City Administrator Volkers, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier noted that the property would transfer from 3M to the city after completion of the site mitigation. In response to a question from Council Member Olson, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier noted that vapor extraction at the site has been in process and properties in the vicinity were notified. Staff was directed to provide the site mitigation plan to the City Council. The City Council supported the MidAmerica proposal. WORKSHOP August 10, 2021 Page Four The work session recessed at 6:48 PM. The work session reconvened at 7:30 PM LAKE ELMO SEWER AGREEMENTS Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier reviewed a request to enter into agreements relating to Oakdale providing sanitary sewer service to 180 acres in Lake Elmo just east of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 13. He added that Lake Elmo would participate financially in the planned reconstruction of Lift Station 6 in Oakdale due to the added capacity and that the Lake Elmo City Council would be acting on the CSAH 13 project at their August meeting. In response to a question from Council Member Zabel, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier explained that charges paid by municipalities to the Metropolitan Council are determined by each city’s flow. In response to questions from the City Council, Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier explained that it would benefit Oakdale for Lake Elmo to participate in the lift station project as Oakdale’s costs would be reduced, that the true project cost (estimated at $625,000) would be known once bids were opened, and that Lake Elmo should need to pay a premium to Oakdale to go through two lift stations. Council Member Zabel stated that negotiations with the City of Lake Elmo should not have taken place as Lake Elmo was to approve a roundabout at Ideal Avenue and 40th, as supported by Oakdale, but ultimately approved a signaled intersection. Mayor Reinke noted that additional land and removal of trees would have been needed to accommodate a roundabout. Council Member Zabel stated that the Oakdale City Council supported the roundabout and he believed and understood that the sanitary sewer extension would not occur without Lake Elmo’s support of the roundabout. He added that he believed the matter should have been part of recent negotiations. Council Member Zabel stated that the sewer extension agreements should be contingent on Lake Elmo supporting the roundabout at Ideal Avenue and 40th Street. Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier estimated the cost to Oakdale to reconstruct the lift station to be $857,000 without Lake Elmo’s participation and $625,000 with their participation. Mayor Reinke indicated that Council Member Zabel’s opposition to approving the sewer agreements had been noted and the matter would be brought back on August 24. He added that the cost for the signalized intersection being installed in lieu of the roundabout would be covered by Maplewood Development. WORKSHOP August 10, 2021 Page Five Council Member Zabel indicated that Maplewood Development’s financial participation would equate to Lake Elmo contributing less and that Maplewood Development would pass those costs along to the end user. City Administrator Volkers noted that the agreements would be placed on the August 24 agenda only after the City of Lake Elmo first enters into the agreements. Mayor Reinke commented on the importance of moving the project along to not hold up Willowbrooke. COUNCIL TOPICS Face Masks Council Member Swedberg noted that face masks are required in Washington County buildings and wondered if Oakdale would be following suit. Greenway Station Proposal In response to a comment from Council Member Swedberg, City Administrator Volkers noted that a special workshop on the proposed Greenway Station would be set for the following week. Skin Cancer Council Member Olson encouraged everyone to have their skin checked for sun damage. Washington County Attorney In response to a comment from Council Member Olson, City Administrator Volkers noted that a request would be made for the Washington County Attorney to meet with the City Council. Zoom Meetings City Administrator Volkers recommended that City Council meetings offer Zoom only upon request. The City Council was in support. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk