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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Minutes of the April 11, 2016 Work Session ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS APRIL 11, 2016 1 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a work session of the Rosemount City Council was held on Monday, April 11, 2016 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount. Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members DeBettignies, Nelson, Demuth and Weisensel. Staff present included City Administrator Johnson, City Clerk Hadler, Public Works Director Wrase, Community Development Director Lindquist, City Planner Klatt, Finance Director May, and Planner Nemcek. Guests included Ken Kerns and Janet Dalgleish, of the University of Minnesota, and two members of the Westport neighborhood. DISCUSSION 2.a. Remedial Investigation of UMore Park 2016 Ken Kerns, Assistant Vice President for University Health and Safety for the University of Minnesota, gave an overview of the Remedial Investigation that will take place during the summer. The University is looking for a comprehensive environmental assessment of the property to identify and assess risks to the environment and human health. The assessment will include soil borings, test pit excavation, and groundwater monitoring wells, in search of contaminants. The investigation will focus on ten areas of known or potential contamination identified through prior studies. Mr. Kerns provided brief details about each of the ten sites. The investigation is scheduled to begin in May 2016. The final report will be a consensus document that incorporates the results from previous studies and the findings will be used to identify and assess potential response action alternatives. The MPCA has stated this report should fulfill most future assessment needs. There will be a public meeting on April 26th, from 6 – 8 pm, at the Rosemount Community Center, to inform the community and take feedback. The University is considering physical hazard abatement to remove dangerous structures located on the site. They will be applying for FUDS (Formerly Utilized Defense Sites) funding from the Corps of Engineers. Council members and staff discussed various issues around the study and the community meeting. 2. b. Private Streets Policy Community Development Director Lindquist gave a brief overview on earlier discussions regarding a Private Streets Policy, which outlines the process through which City could take ownership of a street that is currently privately owned, at the owner’s request. There is one neighborhood that is interested, depending on what the final policy decision is. Staff had drafted the policy last year that outlines various standards for road construction, requirements for right-of-ways, etc., but the policy has not yet been adopted. 6.b. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS APRIL 11, 2016 2 Staff again is asking whether the Council would like to adopt the policy as drafted, adopt the policy with amendments, or continue without a policy. Council members and staff discussed the difficulties of maintaining roads that do not meet the conditions outlined in the draft policy, the costs of implementing the policy, and which streets in the city might qualify. The policy states that all expenses would be picked up by the homeowners who make the request. Ms. Lindquist stated that the City gets a number of these requests. Council member Nelson stated he would want the policy to state it is only allowed for single-family homes. Council member DeBettignies asked if the streets had been evaluated by staff to gauge their condition. Mr. Wrase stated that according to the road plans, they are built to City standards, but they have not been graded. Mr. Wrase stated that the roads are only 10 years old. A resident of Westport neighborhood stated they had been seal-coated recently. Another resident of Westport noted the roads have very little traffic and the neighborhood has a single refuse hauler. Council members were generally supportive of the policy with modifications; including single family home requirement and language to resolve road-throughput issue at Westport. Staff will bring a modified policy to the Council in early May. 2.c. City Council Compensation City Administrator Johnson gave a brief overview of data that had been provided by staff in the packet about other cities’ council wages. If the Council decided to make any changes, they would not become effective until after the November election. The City Attorney has stated that the City cannot create a compensation ordinance that increases as a percentage over time, and must set exact dollar amounts. Council member DeBettignies is not supportive of acting on the issue. Council members were generally in agreement with that point. UPDATES 3.a. Youth Commission Appointments City Administrator Johnson gave a brief overview of the options moving forward with the youth commission appointments. Council members were generally supportive of hosting a pizza party “meet and greet” event as an alternative to personal interviews. The party will be scheduled May 9th before the City Council Work Session, from 3:30 – 5:30 pm, at the Steeple Center. A back-up meeting will be set for prior to the May 3rd Council meeting for those applicants who are not available to attend on the 9th. Appointments may take place at the second meeting in May. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS APRIL 11, 2016 3 3.b. Relief Association Benefit Request City Administrator Johnson gave a brief overview regarding a request from the Relief Association for a $100 increase per year of service in pension benefits. Finance Director May has reviewed their financial projections and agrees they show appropriate funding levels. Mr. Johnson stated that he is in support of the increase due to the fact that the Association’s goal to reach a $7500 retirement benefit has been in place for over 10 years. He noted that we are the only fire department that still does not have full- time paid staff. Mr. Johnson asked what other information the Council would like to see if they are to move forward. Mayor Droste would like to see complete data on fire department wages, and comparisons with other cities. He stated that there were 30 applicants for 5 open positions. Council member Weisensel would like to see the City achieve a $0 city contribution. Mr. May stated that while the City could potentially do that, it might have to come back at some point to cover a shortfall, which could cause significant fluctuations over time. Mr. Johnson stated that the City should be looking at the data each year to make sure the projections are in line. Council and staff discussed the impact on the municipal contributions based on various changes to levy levels. Council member Nelson inquired how the vesting works. Staff explained fire department members are partially vested after 10 years and fully vested after 20 years. Mr. Johnson stated that staff would bring back additional information on total compensation. 3.c. County Social Services Presentation City Administrator Johnson provided an overview of the presentation that was shown at a recent County Mayor & Managers meeting. Mr. Kelly Harder, of Dakota County, had offered to come to speak to Councils about his presentation. Mr. Johnson stated this would be good for all Commissioners to see, as well as One Rosemount members. Mayor Droste suggested a Thursday evening at the Steeple or Community Center. Council member Demuth inquired what Council thought the City could do with regard to poverty in the community. Mayor Droste stated that the City can be cognizant of the issues and the environment that we create. Ms. Lindquist stated that it is important to maintain a certain inventory of affordable housing. Council member Weisensel inquired about next steps after the presentation. Mayor Droste pointed him toward a presentation slide that lays out things that can be done. Council member Weisensel inquired about the sustainability facet of the issue, and stated we should invite the Sustainability/Environmental Task Force. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS APRIL 11, 2016 4 3.d. Dakota Fieldhouse City Administrator Johnson discussed a letter that was submitted by Northland Real Estate Group. The letter inquires about City funding for certain project costs related to the proposed Dakota Fieldhouse. Mr. Johnson outlined the statutory requirements for giving private enterprises business subsidies and stated that the City needs much more information before considering any requests. Mr. Dan Corley, of the Dakota Fieldhouse project, has received the application paperwork necessary, but will not have this back for a few weeks. Mr. Johnson will speak further with Mr. Corley about these points. 3. e. Establishment of Task Forces City Administrator Johnson stated that the task forces need organizing documents created. Mr. Johnson stated that the Public Works Department will likely provide support for the Environmental/Sustainability Task Force but it is undecided which specific staff person would fulfill this role. Council member Demuth stated that at least two of the task force members are interested in storm water quality and the task force might be better served if they are able to do something that they are passionate about. Council member Nelson was in support of allowing task force members to assist in choosing the issues they will work on. City Administrator Johnson suggested educating the Task Forces on the various data that the City has already obtained. Council members discussed the benefits and drawbacks of STAR Communities, the importance of narrowing the scope of the task forces, allowing task forces to determine the direction, and importance of data to drive decisions. Mayor Droste stated he would work with Council member Demuth to draft a document and organize a meeting of the Council to finalize it by the first week in May. 3. f. Assistant City Engineer Contract City Administrator Johnson stated the current Assistant City Engineer contract with WSB goes through June 1st. There has been some discussion about hiring a regular full-time employee; however, at this time staff does not recommend moving away from that contract. This is because there is already another new staff person coming into the department, as well as it will be the beginning of the construction season. Mr. Wrase outlined the expenses paid to WSB and which were billed back to developers. Staff recommends extending the contract at least through the fall or the end of the year. Council members were generally supportive of this plan. 3.g. Other items by Council or Staff ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS APRIL 11, 2016 5 City Administrator Johnson asked if Council members are interested in attending the Metro Cities meeting. Council members DeBettignies and Nelson stated they would attend. Mayor Droste stated that Inver Hills is hosting a gala event on the 21st and DCTC has an event on the 28th. Community Development Director Lindquist inquired about the Council’s interest in market-rate apartments. Mayor Droste stated there is a need for market-rate apartments across the metro area. Council member Nelson stated he will be attending the Prayer meeting tomorrow. He also attended the fire meeting. He inquired about a bike tour to some of the parks with the Park & Rec Commission. Mayor Droste discussed the new MVTA director. There is an event at the high school tomorrow and Council is invited. Mayor Droste showed an example of the City of Eagan’s quarterly Business Newsletter and suggested the City do something similar. Mayor Droste signed up for the Mayor’s Conservation Water Challenge. Mayor Droste discussed comments from a Metro Cities meeting he attended regarding proposed bills at the Legislature. Mayor Droste discussed takeaways from a recent Regional Mayors meeting he attended; focus on amenities, transit and connections, corporate offices are downsizing, focus on internet-proof-type businesses, and senior citizens moving to where their kids are. Mayor Droste discussed Citizen’s League handout about the structure of the Metropolitan Council. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste, second by DeBettignies, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:09 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Clarissa Hadler, City Clerk