City Council

Minutes Woodbury City Council Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Pursuant to the due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting was duly held virtually and at the Woodbury City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road, on the 30th day of September 2020. Call to Order Mayor Anne Burt called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Burt welcomed those listening and attending. She said members of the public may attend the meeting but will be required to comply with social distancing parameters as determined by the City. Members of the public may also join the meeting using a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Public comments will be accepted during the meeting both in person and by using the link to the virtual meeting to join the meeting and then submit your questions via the online Q&A feature within the meeting. Questions regarding the meeting will also be taken between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. via email council@woodburymn.gov or call 651-714-3524 and leaving a voicemail message. Pledge of the Flag Audience, staff, and Council pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Roll Call Upon roll call the following were present: Mayor Anne Burt, Councilmembers: Andrea Date, Amy Scoggins, Steve Morris, and Jennifer Santini. Absent: None Others Present: Kimberlee K. Blaeser, City Clerk; Clinton Gridley, City Administrator; and Janelle Schmitz, Community Development Director. Special Order of Business A. ICMA 2020 Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management City Administrator Clinton Gridley stated that the International City/County Management Association Center for Performance Analytics presented the City of Woodbury with a Certificate of Excellence award, their highest level of recognition. This award honors Woodbury’s extensive efforts in the area of performance management and data reporting. In total, only 25 cities and counties received a Certificate of Excellence in 2020. Woodbury was the only City in Minnesota to be so recognized. Woodbury has received this recognition every year since 2011. In 2010, the City received the Certificate of Distinction and in 2009, the City received the Certificate of Achievement. The certificate program assesses a local government’s performance management program and encourages analysis of results by comparing to peers and gauging performance over time. Performance management aids in cost reduction, program prioritization and quality improvement. It also encourages accountability and transparency. Criteria for the Certificate of Excellence included:  Data collection and verification  Training and support  Public reporting  Accountability and process improvement  Networking  Leadership Thanks to Assistant City Administrator Angela Gorall who leads this effort. She produces the report and does a fantastic job. Mayor Burt thought this was one of the most outstanding things the City of Woodbury does. She thanked staff. B. Code Compliance Month Proclamation Mayor Burt read the proclamation and declared October 2020 to be Code Compliance Month in the City of Woodbury. Open Forum The Open Forum is a portion of the Council meeting where a maximum of three persons will be allowed to address the Council on subjects, which are not a part of the meeting agenda. Persons wishing to speak must complete a sign-up sheet prior to the start of the  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 meeting. Give the sign-up sheet to any staff person. Speakers are limited to two minutes each. The Council will listen attentively to comments but, in most instances, will not respond at the meeting. Typically, replies to the concerns expressed will be made via letter or phone call within a week. Consent Agenda All items listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and an affirmative vote by roll call of a majority of the members present. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which event, the items will be removed from the consent agenda and considered a separate subject of discussion by the Council. Item A Approval of Council Minutes – September 9, 2020 Item B To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-170 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota renaming Bailey Lake Park to Fair haven Park. Item C METRO Gold Line, Resolution Identifying City Priorities. This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda and moved to the Discussion portion of the meeting. Item D To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-172 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota authorizing the City to accept grant funds from the Minnesota Investment Fund and the Innovative Business Development Public Infrastructure program, business subsidies that would benefit Kindeva Drug Delivery, LP. Item E To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-173 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota approving the 2020 HOME Subrecipient Agreement with the Dakota County Community Development Agency. Item F To approve the Woodbury Central (Chick-fil-A), Final Plat, Project No. 04-2020-00413 subject to the conditions as outline in Council Letter 20-220. 1. The original Planned Unit Development, Conditional Use Permit and Site and Building plan approvals remains in full force and effect. 2. Prior to the release of the Final Plat, all permanent easements and rights-of-way (ROW) necessary for existing and proposed street and utility improvements shall be granted to the City at no cost. 3. The Applicant shall be financially responsible for 100 percent of all storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water main area and connection charges applicable to the property. Item G To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-174 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota reenrolling the City of Woodbury in the Livable Communities Act Program and acknowledging 2021-2030 housing goals. Item H To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-175 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to execute an engineering consulting services contract with WSB & Associates, Inc. for construction administration services for the Spancil Hill Utility & Street Improvements Project (Private Construction). Item I To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-176 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota authorizing acceptance of the Best Management Practice Cost Share Program Grant from Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District to the City of Woodbury for an additional $7,000 and approving a budget amendment. Page 2 of 7  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Item J To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-177 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota for the assessment of Utility Charges for Glen View Farms 3rd Addition. Item K To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-178 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota appointing election judges for the State General Election on November 3, 2020. Item L To adopt a motion approving: 1. A Council Workshop Dinner on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to be held in the Cherry Conference Room, Second Floor, Woodbury City Hall; and 2. A Council Workshop meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. to be held in the City Council Chambers, Second Floor, Woodbury City Hall. Item M To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-179 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota establishing the Administration and Finance Department changes. Item N To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-180 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota allowing additional election changes pursuant to IRS Notice 2020-29 and addition of a grace period associated with the City of Woodbury Cafeteria Plan (Flexible Spending Account). Item O The abstract of bills includes payments made from the operating or project budgets for expenses of the city. The expenditures are from all funds of the city. Any purchased contracts requiring signature of the mayor and City Administrator is hereby approved. Staff recommends approval of the abstract of bills for September 4, 2020 in the amount of $1,132,753.68, September 11, 2020 in the amount of $677,960.92 and September 18, 2020 in the amount of $1,797,843.44. Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Date, to approve the Consent Agenda items, with the Exception of Item C that has been moved to the discussion portion of the meeting. Voting via voice: Andrea Date – aye Amy Scoggins – aye Steve Morris – aye Jennifer Santini – aye Anne Burt – aye Public Hearings A. Andiamo Woodbury LLC dba Andiamo Italian Ristorante, 1750 Weir Drive, Suite 15, On Sale Intoxicating Liquor License including Sunday and Patio Sales Mayor Burt declared the public hearing open and recognized City Clerk Kimberlee Blaeser to give the background. Ms. Blaeser explained that Andiamo Woodbury LLC dba Andiamo Italian Ristorante has submitted a request for an On Sale Intoxicating Liquor License including Sunday and Patio Sales for their establishment to be located at 1750 Weir Drive, Suite 15. The sole owner of Andiamo Woodbury LLC is Ramon Ruiz. As required by City Code, a criminal history check as it pertains to liquor licensing was conducted on Mr. Ruiz and reports on Mr. Ruiz are clear. City staff will provide the applicant with a copy of our City ordinance and alcohol violation policy which is included in our Protect Your Business manual. The applicant has submitted the license fee and background investigation fee. The City attorney has reviewed the application and has found it to be in order. Staff recommended Council approve an On Sale Intoxicating Liquor License including Sunday and Patio Sales to Andiamo Woodbury LLC dba Andiamo Italian Ristorante located at 1750 Weir Drive, Suite 15. Opening on October 8. Page 3 of 7  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Ramon Ruiz said the restaurant was opening on October 8 th and they were very excited to join the community. He thanked the Council for its consideration. Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, to close the public hearing. Voting in Favor: Date, Scoggins, Morris, Santini, Burt Absent: None Mayor Burt opened opportunity for discussion and questions from the Council. Councilmember Scoggins said she is excited for the restaurant to open. Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Date, to approve an On Sale Intoxicating Liquor License including Sunday and Patio Sales to Andiamo Woodbury LLC dba Andiamo Italian Ristorante located at 1750 Weir Drive, Suite 15. Voting in Favor: Date, Scoggins, Morris, Santini, Burt Absent: None Discussion A. Setting the Preliminary 2021 Property Tax Levy, Authorizing the Cancellation or Changes to Certain Debt Levies and Establishing the Date for the Public Meeting for the Property Tax Levy and Budget Adoption City Administrator Clinton Gridley explained that Minnesota Statutes require that the City Council adopt a 2021 preliminary levy and budget for purposes of the required Truth in Taxation public meeting. The Council will have the option to decrease the tax levy prior to adoption in December, but can not increase the tax levy above the amount adopted tonight. The action must take place by September 30, 2020. He said the City’s budget is pretty close to a full year process and provided a brief summary of the 2021 budget. Mr. Gridley said the City had seen a series of overlapping crises including water quality (PFAS), pandemic, economic and fiscal fallout due to the pandemic, race and equity justice, mental health and climate. Governance has never been more a part of people’s lives than now which creates many challenges and reactions. Because on-line learning, shopping and working has accelerated, the City has had to rethink how to handle work and home, housing, health, aging spaces, office places, and acceptable and unacceptable risk. Also, the need for complete cities including commercial, open and built spaces, streets and sub-division design, affordability, parks and trails, regionalism, arts and social sectors, and transit and safety. Mr. Gridley talked about the budget development process and the five guiding principles including mission, vision, values, metrics and financial. He said the City’s fiscal health was based on a balanced budget, managed cash flow, high revenue collection rates, strong general fund balance to expenditures, growth in property values and low revenue risks. The City has a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s since 2009. The City received a Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting award from Government Finance Officers Association since 2001. The City also received a Performance Measurement Certificate of Excellence from International City/County Management Association since 2011. Mr. Gridley talked about citizen satisfaction and noted Woodbury had been chosen as one of the 50 best places to live by Money Magazine in 2020. He also discussed the growing population and 11 risk areas. Mr. Gridley shared the 2021 budget highlights. He discussed the total revenues and total expenditures. He said the 2021 budget expenditure drivers included flat or declining non-tax revenues, street reconstruction, parks and trails replacement, personnel, service demands from a growing population, and water and sewer costs. Mr. Gridley discussed the 2021 budget revenues and 2021 property values. He talked about the 2021 tax rate including falling tax rates, tax rate comparison, 15-year levy changes, variable annual property tax impacts and residential city property tax changes. In summary, there is a 3.8% increase in median value homes, 0.7% property tax rate drop, 4.9% levy increase, and net increase of 1.38 FTEs. Mayor Burt opened opportunity for discussion and questions from the Council. Councilmember Scoggins said this was her 16th year and the budget and property taxes were still confusing. She said some years the numbers had gone down, but her personal property taxes went up. She said the formula was set by the state and it was unfortunate that it could not be more straightforward. She thanked staff for their work. Councilmember Morris noted the budget workshop that went until 11:15 p.m. where in the end the Council was essentially trying to find $7,500. He thought it spoke to the level of the fiscally conservative nature of the Council and staff. He was happy with what the City got for the dollars spent. Page 4 of 7  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-181 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota approving a preliminary tax levy and budget for 2021 for purposes of the truth-in-taxation public meeting. Voting via voice: Andrea Date – aye Amy Scoggins – aye Steve Morris – aye Jennifer Santini – aye Anne Burt – aye Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-182 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota authorizing the County Auditor of Washington County to cancel or change certain ad valorem debt levies for 2021. Voting via voice: Andrea Date – aye Amy Scoggins – aye Steve Morris – aye Jennifer Santini – aye Anne Burt – aye Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-183 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota approving the preliminary 2021 HRA tax levy for purposes of the truth-in-taxation public meeting. Voting via voice: Andrea Date – aye Amy Scoggins – aye Steve Morris – aye Jennifer Santini – aye Anne Burt – aye Councilmember Scoggins moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, to confirm that the Truth-in-Taxation public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. Voting in Favor: Date, Scoggins, Morris, Santini, Burt Absent: None B. Consent Agenda Item C. METRO Gold Line, Resolution Identifying City Priorities Mayor Burt pulled this item to share what the Council had learned. Community Development Director Janelle Schmitz reviewed the discussion from the July 22 nd Council Workshop. She said the METRO Gold Line is an all-day bi-directional bus rapid transit service between the cities of Saint Paul and Woodbury. Woodbury will have three stations including Tamarack Station, Woodbury Theatre and the I-494 Station. Staff has completed its review of the 60% plans and sent comments to the Gold Line project office. The Gold Line project office was beginning work on the 90% plan and would be done in the spring. Opening is anticipated for 2024. Page 5 of 7  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Ms. Schmitz talked about the public process and input including City Council Workshops, City Council Meetings, Economic Development Authority meetings, City newsletter articles, City websites and social media posts. Ms. Schmitz also shared overall project costs, including Woodbury’s estimated share of the costs and maintenance obligations, and the proposed updated list of the City’s priorities for the Gold Line. Staff recommended Council adopt the attached resolution identifying the City of Woodbury priorities for the METRO Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit. Mayor Burt said that this project has been ongoing and it is very complex. The entire project cost is $520 million. She asked where Ramsey County’s and Washington County’s money is coming from. City Administrator Clinton Gridley said that because of the dissolution of the County Transit Improvement Board (CTIB), the counties had an opportunity to fund transit projects from sales tax. He said Washington County did institute a .25 percent sales tax. He said there is also a wheelage tax. Mr. Gridley said the two counties have been excellent partners. Mayor Burt said it took a lot of work to get the ownership issue of the Bielenberg – Helmo Bridge resolved and the City is not paying for the initial construction of the bridge. She said the City is essentially paying $174,000 capital cost plus $36,000 annual maintenance cost. Kim Wilson, 9146 Cambridge Alcove, said she had found that most people in Woodbury did not have a clear concept of this plan. She noted Nos. 3 and 8 on the Council’s priorities. Ms. Wilson said the feeder buses will be able to request green lights, essentially holding up other traffic. She also discussed the costs and project priorities. Mr. Gridley said the resolution includes Council’s aspirations and goals. The document had been an important policy to guide staff as it worked through this process. It was not a financial document. The City had devoted 15 years to this project and had advocated to be part of METRO transit planning from the beginning. Councilmember Morris said there were not any cities the size of Woodbury without public transportation infrastructure. Woodbury’s sustainability as a community is reliant on a delicate equation of places to shop, places to work and the community that supports them. A lot of the workforce comes from other places and some residents commute to other cities for work. He believed the Gold Line is critical for Woodbury to be able to continue to evolve. Councilmember Date moved, seconded by Councilmember Morris, To adopt the following resolution Resolution 20-171 Resolution of the City of Woodbury, Washington County, Minnesota identifying the City of Woodbury priorities for the METRO Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit. Voting via voice: Andrea Date – aye Amy Scoggins – aye Steve Morris – aye Jennifer Santini – aye Anne Burt – aye Additional Virtual Open Forum Comments The additional virtual open forum is a portion of the Council meeting where the City Council will allow persons (maximum of three), attending the Council meeting virtually, to address the Council on subjects which are not a part of the meeting agenda. Persons wishing to submit a question or comment virtually via the Q&A chat feature may do so on the right side of the live event screen. Please provide your name and address with your question for the official record. Transportation Report (2nd meeting of the month, May-October) Engineering Director Christopher Hartzell provided the following transportation report, along with some photographs: 2020 Roadway Rehabilitation  Includes the Savanna Oaks area.  Project is substantially complete. Page 6 of 7  City Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Bailey Road  Project includes expanding Bailey Road to a four-lane divided highway  New roundabout at Woodlane Drive and new signal at Benjamin Drive  Project is in Stage 3 Woodbury Drive and Local Roads  Woodbury Drive will be expanded from four lanes to a six-lane roadway  Tamarack Street will be reconstructed to a four-lane divided roadway  Rivertown Drive will be reduced from four lanes to a three-lane roadway  Commerce Drive and Hudson Road will receive pavement rehabilitation treatments I-94 East Metro Interchange  All ramps are now open with the exception of 10th Street  The Contractor has started a small reconstruction on Tamarack Road at Stephens Way to tie in to the new ramps  Pond excavation continues in the loops Future Roadway Projects and Transportation Planning  Check out www.woodburymn.gov/CIP.com  Check out www.woodburymn.gov/intouch.com Administrative Report City Administrator Clinton Gridley gave a verbal update of upcoming City meetings. Council Workshop Meeting of October 7, 2020 1. State of Minnesota Conceptual Drinking Water Supply Plan Council Meeting of October 14, 2020 1. Assessment hearing for Stephens Way (MSAS Route 143) Street Extension and Bielenberg Drive/Tamarack Road Intersection Improvements 2. Assessment hearing for Unpaid Special Charges – Property Cleanup 3. Math and Science Academy Conduit Debt Refinancing Other Meetings 1. Joint Parks and Natural Resources Commission and Audit and Investment Commissions, Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., Public safety Education Center and meeting will be held virtually on the Microsoft Teams Platform. Adjournment Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Scoggins, to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Voting in Favor: Date, Scoggins, Morris, Santini, Burt Absent: None Respectfully submitted, Kimberlee K. Blaeser, City Clerk Approved by the Woodbury City Council on October 14, 2020 Page 7 of 7