City Council Workshop

WORKSHOP OAKDALE CITY COUNCIL September 28, 2021 The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 5:02 PM. Present: Mayor Paul Reinke Council Members: Jake Ingebrigtson Susan Olson Colleen Swedberg Kevin Zabel Also Present: Christina Volkers, City Administrator Jim Thomson, City Attorney Brian Bachmeier, Public Works Director/City Engineer Susan Barry, City Clerk Nick Newton, Police Chief Erin Perdu, Interim City Planner Shannon Reidlinger, Senior Community Development Specialist Kevin Wold, Fire Chief Jason Zimmerman, Finance Director Jason Graf, Center Based Planning and Design Paul Omodt, Omodt and Associates Critical Communication John Shardlow, Stantec Designs PROPOSED POLICY UPDATE: PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FINANCING Finance Director Zimmerman reviewed a request to update Policy FR-010: Public Improvement Project Financing to address calculating interest rates and amortizing principle assessment balances. The City Council supported bringing the proposed changes to the October 12 City Council meeting for formal adoption. POLICE DEPARTMENT TASERS Police Chief Newton presented a request to enter into a five-year agreement with Axon to purchase 14 Tasers using forfeiture funds for the initial purchase and for any associated costs in 2022. In response to questions from the City Council, Police Chief Newton noted that the five-year warranty would commence in January 2022 and would cover all but a part on the handle. City Administrator Volkers indicated that she would ask City Attorney Thomson whether the City Council would approve the purchase of the Tasers or would need to approve the purchase agreement or authorize signing of the agreement as is the typical procedure. WORKSHOP September 28, 2021 Page Two AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS Finance Director Zimmerman provided an overview of the city’s receipt of the initial portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, allowed uses for the funds, revenue loss, and reporting and federal and single auditing requirements. He added that there would then be broad latitude for using the funds. Finance Director Zimmermann noted that the City Council would need to adopt a resolution declaring revenue loss and a policy relating to a single audit process before October 31. Finance Director Zimmerman further noted that funds would likely be maintained in a separate fund and reported to the Department of the Treasury as required. He explained that $2.7 million from the state the city received in 2019 and 2020 for the Highway 36 and Hadley Avenue interchange project is calculated as the biggest part of revenue loss and he explained how it would be reported in the audit. Staff was directed to bring forth the associated resolution and policies for adoption prior to the October 31 deadline. COUNCIL TOPICS Council Pay Council Member Swedberg asked that the City Council pay be adjusted as it last done 14 years ago. Mayor Reinke explained that per statutes, adjustments for City Council pay would not become effective until January 2023, following the 2022 general election. The council is interested in discussing this matter in early 2022. Park Signs Council Member Swedberg expressed concern with the deterioration of the new park signs in the Oakdale Nature Preserve. Staff was directed to look into the matter. Electronic Message Board The City Council discussed options for where the single-sided electronic message board, previously located at Hadley Avenue and Highway 36 and currently in storage, could be installed. Former Marina on Tanners Lake In response to an inquiry from Council Member Zabel about the status of the former marina business on Tanners Lake, Police Chief Newton indicated that the Washington County Sheriff’s WORKSHOP September 28, 2021 Page Three Department planned to use the structure for training in October, after which the building would be taken down. GREENWAY COMP PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENT City Attorney Thomson provided an overview of past actions taken by the City Council relating to the Bus Rapid Transit stations at Greenway and at Helmo. He then reviewed the actions needed by the City Council to amend the Comprehensive Plan and rezone a 2.5 acre parcel relating to the Greenway Station Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD). In response to a question from Council Member Ingebrigtson, City Attorney Thomson explained that the Comprehensive Plan amendment would provide a consistent zoning classification for the site. He noted that the proposed code amendment provides a grandfather clause that protects the existing land uses. In response to a comment from Interim City Planner Perdu relating to the expansion of an existing business, City Attorney Thomson stated that cities have the discretion to include language in the ordinance to allow expansion and expansion of nonconforming uses as well as if the business is sold and the use remains unchanged. He further stated that nonconforming uses would be allowed to continue into perpetuity; however, new uses would need to meet the zoning code. Mayor Reinke noted that a business owner of 6592 Hudson Boulevard wants to replace two Quonset hut structures with a larger structure. Interim City Planner added that the property owner would need to get special approval from the city being that is non-conforming use. Staff was directed to add “expansion” to the proposed rezoning ordinance. Jason Graf, Center Based Planning and Design, indicated that zoning on one of the parcels would permit multi-family housing. He also commented that the city’s goal is to give current property owners more options for their respective sites and to identify uses that are conducive to transit. Mr. Graf added that the area shown as commercial and multi-family could be zoned mixed use. Mayor Reinke noted that the owner of United Rental plans to develop multi-family. John Shardlow, Stantec Designs, suggested including language “and similar uses.” Council Member Olson supported setting all trails at eight feet in width. Council Member Zabel noted that the city’s Comprehensive Plan stated 10 foot wide trails. Staff was directed to modify the Greenway Station BRTOD to denote trails eight feet in width if possible. WORKSHOP September 28, 2021 Page Four In response to a question from Council Member Olson on the urgency to rezone the site, City Administrator Volkers reviewed the timeline of the project dating back to 2018 when neighborhood input was sought, among many other discussions with the community. However, the updates were not followed through on and was not updated in the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Reinke added that the owner of United Rentals has a purchase agreement in process. Council Member Zabel commented on the significant change in city’s vision for the site over the past few years. Staff was directed to bring forth the necessary code amendments, including noted language modifications, to a future meeting for formal action. COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT FOR LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX The City Council continued to discuss a proposed agreement with Omodt and Associates for the development of informational materials for the city’s proposed Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) and when best to start communication efforts. Paul Omodt, Omodt and Associates, indicated that the preference is to seek buy-in and to build up trust for the sales tax over time, hence the need to start the communications soon. City Administrator Volkers added that a long-term strategy would be developed and include details such as development of informational materials, web site design, etc. The City Council approved the city entering into an agreement dated with Omodt and Associates for crisis management and general communications strategy and assistance. City Administrator Volkers will revise the options for a public information campaign for the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) and get two comprehensive quotes. EV READY COMMUNITY STUDY Senior Community Development Specialist Reidlinger provided an overview of ways the city could become an EV (electric vehicle) ready community, including incentivizing developers. The City Council supported further evaluation and implementation of action items identified by the Environmental Management Commission without mandates to developers. The workshop recessed at 6:52 PM. The workshop reconvened at 7:46 PM. MODIFYING SPEED LIMITS WORKSHOP September 28, 2021 Page Five Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier provided an overview of the city’s authority to establish local speed limits. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE Public Works Director/City Engineer Bachmeier provided the following updates: • Public Works crews and vehicles prepared for winter. • New water filtration plant operational since July 15; structure awaiting final construction elements. Landscaping completed by November. Mayor Reinke requested that staff provide an update on PFOA/PFOS and the White Bear Lake lawsuit at a future workshop. ADJOURNMENT The workshop adjourned at 8:06. Respectfully submitted, Susan Barry, City Clerk