HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.a. Minutes of the September 9, 2009 Work Session ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a work session of the Rosemount City Council was held on
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145 Street
West, Rosemount.
Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Members Bills, Shoe Corrigan and Weisensel
attending. Council Member Weisensel arrived at 6:52 p.m. Council Member DeBettignies was
absent. Staff members present included City Administrator Johnson, Director of Public Works /City
Engineer Brotzler, City Clerk Domeier and Finance Director May.
There were no changes proposed to the agenda.
DISCUSSION
2.A. Presentation on proposed transfer of land in Spring Lake Park Preserve from Dakota
County to the DNR for creation of a Wildlife Management Area
Tim Bremicker of the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Al Singer of Dakota
County were present to discuss the project and plans for the transfer of approximately 755 acres of
land in Spring Lake Park Preserve from Dakota County to the DNR. Mr. Bremicker explained more
about the purpose for having the area in a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Discussion was held
regarding the hunting, camping, public safety aspects, uses of the park and the proximity to the
industrial area of Rosemount. The City Council supported the project as proposed.
2.B. Dakota County Transportation Update
Dakota County Transportation Director /County Engineer Marks Krebsbach and Dakota County
Program Engineer Brian Sorenson were present to provide updates on current Dakota County
transportation activities.
Mr. Krebsbach provided an update on the Highway 52 corridor. He stated that there has been a
great effort by Dakota County and the affected counties since 2002 to make improvements on that
corridor from Rochester to St. Paul. He highlighted the projects that have been completed on the
corridor and provided more information about the proposed changes along with the funding
sources. Mr. Brotzler questioned if a meeting was held for an annual update of the corridor status.
Mr. Krebsbach replied that the group meets once a year in Zumbrota and that the City
representatives will be invited to the meeting in the late fall. Council Member Shoe Corrigan stated
that sharing information on projects will create a better partnership between the agencies. She
added that the City would be willing to draft a letter of support for the project should any lobbying
on the project take place.
Council Member Bills questioned the plans for the UMore area in coordination with the expected
growth of Rosemount. Mr. Krebsbach stated that currently they are looking out 25 to 30 years for
development. The County uses the City's comprehensive plan for planning the transportation
system.
Mr. Sorenson provided the City Council a design sheet on the full system interchange at 42/52. He
provided a brief overview on the interchange. He added that the traffic counts and land uses in
Rosemount will change so the County was comfortable adding a fourth loop to the 42/52
interchange. Further discussion was held on obtaining right -of -way from willing property owners
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
because the project was not at a point to condemn any properties. Dakota County will more actively
pursue those acquisitions. The group discussed the funding of the project.
Further discussion was held on the transportation bill, transit funding, transit issues in Rosemount,
and possible expansions and options for BRT in Rosemount and Dakota County.
Mr. Sorenson led the UMore discussion on the Rosemount /Empire /UMore Area Corridor Study.
He outlined the purpose and need for a study along with expected study outcomes provided in
handouts to the City Council. He also provided more information about the transportation system
study and the options proposed. Mr. Brotzler provided staff's recommendations and concerns on
the proposed options with the corridor study. Discussion was held regarding all the options. Mr.
Brotzler stated the county's goal was to have a corridor study done by the end of 2009 so that the
City Council could consider adoption of the study and move forward with the UMore planning
process. Mr. Sorenson stated that the City and County need to agree on a plan and have an idea in
place. Mr. Brotzler encouraged Council Members to share concerns about the study with either
Kim Lindquist or himself.
Mr. Sorenson stated that Dakota County is developing its transportation plan based on the
comprehensive plan updates completed by the communities within Dakota County. The County did
update its comprehensive plan last year and had minor modifications to the transportation plan.
They are overhauling the County transportation plan completely based upon projections and the
bigger issues identified within each communities 2030 Comprehensive Plan updates.. The cost
participation policy will be reviewed along with other policies. Mr. Sorenson added that they have
been working with CONDAC to focus on the bigger items including cost participation. Mr.
Sorenson stated they are looking at the routes that have regional importance and if the County
would be willing to or should consider whether there should be more County funding when it
comes time for improvements. Discussion was held on off system improvements.
Mr. Sorenson provided more information about new trail system requests along county roads and
the turn lane on County Road 38. Brian stated discussion have taken place on County
reimbursement to local governments for their efforts in maintaining trails and mowing County right
of -ways.
Discussion was held about coordinating transit issues and working with the MVTA. Mr. Sorenson
and Mr. Krebsbach appreciated Rosemount's proactive approach for transportation needs.
2.C. Water and Sewer Utility Rates
Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brotzler requested feedback from the City Council on the
staff reports that have been provided for review.
Mayor Droste stated that the City's message should be that all cities are required to have a tiered rate
structure in an effort to manage water consumption. Council Member Bills stated it should be
highlighted that the City has not raised the water rates in 10 years.
Council Member Weisensel liked the concept of a second meter but also favored phasing out the
second meters. Mayor Droste stated that no other city allows second meters. Utilities
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
Commissioner Mulhern stated that 73 other Minnesota cities allow second meters. Mayor Droste
stated that the City was penalizing residents who did not utilize a second meter. He was concerned
about keeping second meters because of the capital cost to the residents. Further discussion was
held about the differences in rates with having a second meter or using a winter credit. Mr. Brotzler
stated that without a second meter and billing sewer based on winter quarter usage, the City would
need to have a minimum quarterly sewer charge in place to account for low or no usage by accounts
during the winter quarter.
Council Member Bills questioned the revenue from the different scenarios Mr. Brotzler explained
that staff projected out 10 -12 years noting that weather and development patterns could be variables
that could cause the usage to change. He added that any change in the historical uses would affect
the revenue and that the water and sewer rates will be reviewed annually. Further discussion was
held on the long term effects of water usage.
Mayor Droste questioned what the equitable proposal was to refund the users that currently have a
second meter. Mr. Brotzler explained the proposed reimbursement program and the credit to the
sewer charges. Council Member Shoe Corrigan was concerned that the credit would cause an
accounting nightmare Finance Director May explained that the credit would require a change in the
system. He expected that staff would receive a lot of criticism from the residents receiving the
refund. Mayor Droste suggested grandfathering in the second meters. Mr. May stated that the City
would need to have two different rates in place and that type of structure would be difficult for staff
to maintain. Considerable discussion was held regarding how to credit the second meter and
whether or not to grandfather in the second meters. Concerns were raised about the use of second
meters in the future and the impact on the City's water system and infrastructure.
Mayor Droste was concerned that residents are forced to purchase a second meter. Mr. May stated
that residents were given the option to make a personal choice on purchasing a second meter. He
added that 700 homes made that decision. It was never forced on residents but suggested to
residents as benefit if high water usage was expected.
Council Member Shoe Corrigan asked for the Utilities Commission recommendation. Utilities
Commissioner Mulhern stated that the Commission believes that residents should pay for the water
no matter how it is used. Mr. Brotzler summarized the Commission's recommendation as
summarized in the staff reports.
Council Member Shoe Corrigan did not support paying out $45,000 to undue a policy that was not
doing any harm. Mr. May stated that no matter what decision was made some residents would
benefit and some would not. He added that the City got rid of the sprinkler credit because residents
were manually reading their own meters and not providing the correct reading.
Mr. May stated that residents would not see the true impact of the new rates until the second and
third quarter next year. He added that while many metro cities do not have second meters the City
has not raised the rates for over 10 years. He wanted to educate the residents.
Discussion was held about the issue of conserving water and getting residents to change their water
usage habits. Debate was held about charging a higher rate for residents that had second meters.
ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
Council Member Shoe Corrigan was concerned about the fallout of ending the use of second
meters. Mayor Droste stated that from a public policy that long term there would be impacts on
paying for public infrastructure. The City Council discussed tabling the second meter discussion for
one year. Mayor Droste suggested that the City communicate that it is looking for a technical
solution on the second meters.
The consensus of the City Council was to make the water and sewer rate increases separate issues.
Staff will continue to inform residents that the City Council is considering moving away from
allowing second meters.
UPDATES
3.A. Updates by City Council /Staff
City Administrator Johnson stated he met with the new head of FTTH. FTTH has claimed that
promising investors are interested in purchasing the system and are aware of the City's requirements
for service. He stated that a conference call will be held in two weeks.
Mayor Droste received a complaint from a business owner on the Downtown beautification project.
He was concerned that business owners did not receive communication about the project. Public
Works Director /City Engineer Brotzler stated that the Senior Planner did send letters to business
owners about the project. Mr. Brotzler provided an update on the project. Mayor Droste requested
that business owners be kept up -to -date on the project.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Droste,
second by Bills, the meeting was adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk