HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Minutes of the October 20 Special Work Session ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 20, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a work session of the Rosemount City Council was held on
Tuesday, October 20, 2015, beginning at 8:24 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145th
Street West, Rosemount.
Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with council members Weisensel, DeBettignies, Demuth, and
Nelson in attendance. Staff members in attendance included City Administrator Johnson, Director of Public
Works Wrase, Assistant City Engineer Hatcher, Fire Chief Schroeder, Chief of Police Scott, Parks and
Recreation Director Schultz and City Clerk Hadler. Community member Jeanne Schwartz, of Rosemount
Area Arts Council, was also in attendance.
DISCUSSION
2.A. Rosemount Area Arts Council Service Agreement
Park and Recreation Director Schultz discussed the service agreement with Rosemount Area Arts Council
(RAAC) that addresses the use of the new Activity Center. There will be RAAC volunteers at the building,
though the space will not be able to serve the role of a welcome center as the former “Front Porch” had. In
return for RAAC providing services, the organization will receive rent-free use of city facilities, as has been
done in the past. Mr. Schultz outlined some potential uses of RAAC volunteers, including accepting program
registrations, giving directions, liaison with staff, and providing programming in the building. RAAC has
asked this year that the city provide 4 pages in the Park and Recreation brochure, but they are willing to pay
for the extra 3 pages. This page purchase is not something that is offered to other organizations. This might
lead to other organizations to ask for this, as well. Staff is currently working with RAAC to get their facility
requests. Mr. Schultz gave a summary of construction activities.
Mayor Droste inquired what hours the building would be open. Mr. Schultz stated it would be open 8 am –
10 pm and later if there is an event.
Mayor Droste asked Ms. Schwartz if she has any comments. She stated that their organization is ready to
participate.
Council member Demuth inquired of Ms. Schwartz if RAAC might be interested in creating activities for
youth, to alleviate some of the after school traffic at the library. Ms. Schwartz stated she would take that
request to the next RAAC meeting.
Council member Weisensel stated that the city should look to balance the use of the building for RAAC with
the uses that are paid. Ms. Schwartz stated that there aren’t a lot of Saturday evenings that will have RAAC
events, which will leave the facility open for paid events.
Council member DeBettignies asked for clarification on item 6 in the agreement. Mr. Schultz stated peddlers
who would like to sell something at their events would need to be approved by RAAC.
Council member Weisensel inquired how the Front Porch can be replicated to some degree. Mr. Schultz
replied that they will work on something. Ms. Schwartz stated that particular service had very low demand.
2.B. Rain Gardens
City Engineer / Public Works Director Wrase gave a summary of the issue. He discussed the wetlands and
structural treatment devices at the Danbury project. Staff has found 15 potential candidate areas that might
be good places for rain gardens. Rain gardens are more efficient than structural treatment devices or sump
manholes. Only a portion of the runoff would be able to be treated by the rain gardens, so the sump
6.b.
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 20, 2015
structures would still be necessary. The rain gardens would be located in the right-of-way, but would require
some maintenance by the resident or a neighborhood group.
Council members and staff discussed the functions and performance of rain gardens, the potential of
flooding into yards, and project costs.
Council member Demuth inquired what is happening with the stormwater currently. Mr. Wrase responded it
is collected in the gutters and sent to the wetlands. Ms. Demuth asked if the City is responsible for
maintaining the wetlands. Mr. Wrase responded that the ponds are part of the stormwater management
system, so the City may need to dredge them at some point in the future.
Mr. Wrase outlined the next steps; including letters to residents and finalizing the number and location of rain
gardens.
2.C. Private Streets – Review Draft Policy
Public Works Director Wrase gave a summary of the topic. The draft policy was written in response to a
request by Council and lays out the recommended standards necessary to be able to make a private street into
a public street. Mr. Wrase outlined a number of concerns with the construction of private streets the City
needs to consider when considering requests by residents to make their streets public. He outlined a few
benefits that might be perceived by residents and what a few neighboring communities have done.
Based on the draft policy Mr. Wrase and Community Development Director Lindquist feel there are few, if
any, streets that would qualify to be made into public streets. Council members and staff discussed various
neighborhoods, whether the policy has merit, and whether private roads should be allowed during
development.
Council members Weisensel, DeBettignies, and Nelson are not in favor of the policy. Council member
Demuth is in favor of the policy, to support Ms. Lindquist when she gets calls on the subject. Mayor Droste
would like more information.
2.D. Alarm Ordinance
Chief of Police Scott gave an overview of the current alarm ordinance and proposed updates. He gave a brief
history of how the ordinance was implemented in the past. The proposed ordinance decriminalizes false
alarms and is comparable to those of neighboring communities.
City Administrator Johnson asked if Council members were in support of the changes. There was general
support for the proposed changes.
Fire Chief Schroeder stated there is a need for a requirement for information regarding keyholder contact
information, because the city might be liable if an alarm system needs to be taken offline and something
happens.
UPDATES
Council member Nelson will be out of town for the December 7th work session and inquired about moving
to the 8th. Council member Weisensel is not available the 8th – 10th.
Council member Demuth will not be at the November 2nd Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 20, 2015
There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste,
second by Demuth, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Clarissa Hadler, City Clerk