HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.d. Minutes of July 14, 2004 City Council Work SessionROSEMOUNT CITY PROCEEDINGS
1r �Ci CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
JULY 14, 2004
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a City Council Work Session was held on Wednesday,
July 14, 2004 at 7:07 p.m. at the Rosemount Community Center.
Mayor Droste and Council Members Strayton, Riley, Shoe- Corrigan, and DeBettignies were
present. Also in attendance were City Administrator Verbrugge, Assistant Administrator
Weitzel, Parks & Recreation Director Schultz, Police Chief Kalstabakken, Communications
Coordinator Cox, Finance Director May, City Engineer Brotzler, and Community Development
Director Lindquist.
Mayor Droste called the meeting to order. The Wiklund Property Preservation was moved to the
top of the agenda.
Wiklund Property Preservation
Parks & Recreation Director Schultz invited Aina Wiklund and her attorney to the table for
discussion. Schultz noted it was a goal of the land owner to preserve all 25 acres. They are not in
favor of including a road easement on the northern border of the property. The Wiklund site
would be a connection to a greenway into Lebanon Hills Park in the Dakota County Park system.
DNR - Metro Greenways is proposing to contribute $125,000 and Dakota County would
contribute $250,000. Staff is recommending that the City contribute $100,000. Some restoration
has already begun on the land. It will have limited access to provide a wildlife preserve. A
management plan is requested and would go with the sale of the land if that ever did occur. The
Council had consensus to move ahead with supporting this land preservation as a DNR
conservation easement.
Facilities Task Force Report
Parks & Recreation Director Schultz presented the Community Facilities Task Force Report. The
members were: Forrest Krogh, Philip Harris, Meghan Cockrerill, Matt Kearney, Mike Winter,
Dana Brodt, Tim Wynne, Heidi Grange, Mindy Andreason, Tom Caravello, Smokey Vitek, Mike
Eliason, and Phil Sterner. Tim Wynne and Dana Brodt were present to help explain the report to
City Council. Mr. Wynne said this has been a learning experience. He knows there is a shortage
of ice time and each year it gets harder and harder to fill the needs. The Task Force had a good
variety of members represented from seniors to high school age kids. Further study is needed to
determine priorities. An on -line survey could be considered. The Task Force identified five
facility needs: 1) a senior center, 2) indoor ice, 3) cultural/arts center, 4) aquatic center, and 5)'
teen center. The short term goals include hiring a senior coordinator and using existing buildings
for senior activity programming for the 164 participating seniors. Mayor Droste recommended
starting , an Arts Commission of three members which might grow into an art society
organization. It was suggested that a coffee shop might be incorporated into an art center or
library. A teen center was considered, but there are not many long standing successes to model
after. Council Member De$ettignies was familiar with a Rap Center which offered activities and
counseling which helped curb vandalism. Council noted the Report is a valuable tool for
planning.
2005 Budget Discussion
City Administrator Verbrugge reviewed the process for determining the budget for 2005. Staff
and Council have gone through a Key Financial Strategies program. Direction from Council has
been to stay below the 2004 tax rate. This is accomplished in the proposed budget which has the
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JULY 14, 2004
tax rate declining at 1.5% for 2005. The preliminary budget shows a possible $130,000 levy
increase to match the 2004 tax rate. Property valuation is increasing, so residents will still see an
increase in their taxes. The County has not determined the final numbers to estimate property
taxes at this time, Rosemount lost $350,000 in 2004 and could lose almost $500,000 in 2005 of
the Market Value Homestead Credit. Finance Director May noted that the levy amount depends
on a formula. The City may lower the requested levy amount but the City cannot increase the
amount after the preliminary levy is set. In the past the City has typically levied the amount
necessary rather than call for the maximum amount. The Operating Budget was presented
showing that salary is 65% of the total budget. A pay equity review will be conducted this year.
Health insurance is another large expense. Capitol improvements increased the budget 13 %. The
land purchase for a library site is outside the general levy. It is proposed that a bond sale may be
used for financing the library land purchase. Community Development Director said that the
Brockway development would not create any Tax Increment Financing'(TIF) until 2006. Mayor
Droste suggested that the population growth is up 6.5% and the proposed increase of 13% for the
levy is too high. Droste noted that many of the added streets are private streets with home owner
associations and will not need city maintenance. Four new positions are recommended by staff
and council asked for facts or reports showing why they are needed. City Engineer Brotzler
reviewed needs for public works. Verbrugge requested a special council meeting the week of
August 23 rd .
Hiring Practices
Assistant Administrator Weitzel recommended a change to the hiring process to reduce the
vacancy time of open positions. Staff requested that the City Administrator be given the ability
to initiate the recruitment process and make a final hiring decision of all budgeted non-
supervisory employees. Three Council Members were in agreement with the change and two
were not. Council directed staff to prepare some language for consideration at a future time that
reflected consensus with the recommendation.
PUD Approval Process
Community Development Director Lindquist recommended a change ` to the way the City
processes the PUD rezoning process. Staff recommends the Planned Unit Development (PUD)
zoning be clearly attached to the property. This will change the information required at the start
of the PUD applications during the concept plan review. This will allow better decisions to be
made regarding storm water, traffic, and grading which in turn helps the Planning Commission
and City Council evaluate whether they would support reguiding the property land use. Some
developers may consider the added expenditure at the outset of a project a hardship, but staff
believes that the complexity of projects warrants the requirement. This will require some
amendments to the zoning regulations which will be brought before City Council for
consideration. City Council was in agreement with this process change.
UPDATES
Lebanon Hills Park Storm Water Management
City Administrator Verbrugge updated City Council on the storm water management of Lebanon
Hills Park which was addressed at the Utilities Commission meeting. The City of Eagan has
identified Rosemount as a contributing party to their drainage issue along Cliff Road. Dakota
County has the expectation that Rosemount will help pay for part of the cost of that project.
Rosemount staff and Utilities Commission established that Rosemount's storm water does not
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impact that area. Verbrugge suggested a letter be sent to the Mayor of Eagan with supporting
data and City Council agreed that would be appropriate.
Metropolitan Council Sewer and Storm Water
City Administrator Verbrugge attended a meeting on July 13, 2004 at Metropolitan Council
MCES. MCES will need easements in Rosemount to lay pipe to the Mississippi River.
Rosemount has researched and proven that sewage can be mixed with effluent. Metropolitan
Council is asking for $5 million dollars to help pay for the project. A news release has been
issued by MCES.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk Jentink
The City Council's Agenda Packet is Clerk's File 2004 -27.
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