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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-15 WSCITY OF LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES January 12, 2015 Mayor Little called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room at City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Little, Council Members LaBeau and Davis. Council Member Anderson participated via video conference. Absent: Council Member Swecker Staff present: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Allyn Kuennen, Assistant City Administrator; Brett Altergott, Parks and Recreation Director; David Olson, Community and Economic Development Director; Chris Petree, Public Works Director; Zach Johnson, City Engineer; Judi Hawkins, Deputy City Clerk 2. Citizen Comments: None 3. Lake Marion Power Boat Races The Twin City Power Boat Association (TCPBA) presented details of a proposal to host a power boat race on Lake Marion as part of the 2015 Pan-O-Prog. TCPBA representatives Brian Tabara and Brett Cummings stated that after receiving an overview in July 2014 the Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Marion HOA both endorsed the event. The TCPBA hosts several speedboat events each year. Casperson Park boat launch which is operated by the City would be used as the staging area; however, the Dakota County Sheriffs Dept. has jurisdiction over the lake and would also need to give their approval. The power boats race at speeds up to 135 MPH. Rescue boats, divers, and paramedics are available for immediate response in the event of any problems. Council Member Anderson asked how this would affect homeowners on the lake and asked about the timeline for the day of the event. Races typically start at noon and last about 3.5 hours with a one-hour break. The course is strictly regulated to a 5/8 -mile oval. The lake would not be totally shut down for the event but buoys insure other boats do not enter the course. Anderson stated that most of the shoreline of Lake Marion is private homes so other than Casperson and Antlers Park there is not a lot of area for spectators. He suggested that from a safety standpoint maybe the boat launch access should be totally closed. Council member LaBeau asked about boats creating a wake; it was stated that because the boats operate mostly just above the water this is not an issue. Event organizers would plan to finish Saturday heats in time for people to get to the parade then hold the finals on Sunday. LaBeau Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 2 asked if the community is prepared to handle the additional traffic from Pan-O-Prog and this event; Anderson also commented that parking and traffic in neighborhoods could be an issue. Council members expressed support of the TCPBA conducting power boat races on Lake Marion on July 11 and 12 in conjunction with 2015 Pan-O-Prog. 4. North Creek Greenway Trail Update Mr. Altergott stated that in 2012 the City of Lakeville and Dakota County submitted a grant application for Transportation Enhancement funds through the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) of the Metropolitan Council. A grant of $899,410 was awarded for the North Creek Greenway Trail, including a trail from 1731 Street W. south to the Farmington border. Council had previously allocated $100,000 for design and engineering of the trail. Easements will be required from a private property owner. There are basically three options: 1. In order to not lose Federal funding and keep the application moving forward a grant extension request was filed. If the extension is approved, construction would need to begin as soon as possible; however, Federal reimbursement could be delayed until 2019. 2. In order to maintain the 2015 construction schedule and the current funding requirements, the City would need to begin a condemnation process for the easement. 3. If the extension request is denied and if the county is not able to acquire the easement from the property owner prior to April 1, 2015, and the City does not pursue condemnation, the project would forfeit the federal funding. Al Singer, Dakota County Land Conservation Manager, provided visuals for the Council. The county has been working on two easements - one is a greenway easement that would include the trail and the other is a shoreland easement. Design and engineering and an agreement with the landowner were needed for the appraisal, which was recently received and is being reviewed. The County is optimistic that an agreement with the property owner can be reached. Met Council will fund 75% of the project; the rest will be funded by the County CIP. State funds will assist with the shoreland aspect. Mr. Altergott stated that MnDOT has indicated support for the project and believes that if some additional time is allowed, the easements can be acquired. Council Member LaBeau stated that she is not generally in favor of building more trails because of ongoing future trail maintenance costs and lack of use. She also believes people are frustrated with the amount of money spent on the Lake Marion connecting trail. Singer stated that when the trail is complete it will be designated as a regional trail and taken over by Dakota County. LaBeau would like to be assured that the trails would be completed and there would not be any additional future City expense. Singer stated that the City would still be responsible for the underlying fee but if the County can Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 3 come to an agreement with the property owner there are easements in place to construct the trail to the Farmington border. This piece is the only gap in being able to have a continuous trail that would then be designated as a regional trail. Mr. Kuennen asked if there is a way to reduce the trail maintenance. Mr. Singer stated that the JPA between the county and the city will address the maintenance. The portion in Lakeville would be from the Cobblestone development at the Apple Valley border south to the Brandtjen development at the Farmington border. Council asked for clarification on approved funding and directed staff to continue to pursue the grant extension. 5. CSAH 50 Lane Use / Economic Development Update Mr. Petree stated that since Council was last updated on economic development and preliminary engineering study for the section of CR 50 between Dodd Blvd. and Ipava Avenue staff has had an opportunity to have listening sessions with the affected business owners in that corridor. Also included in the sessions were representatives of the consulting groups and project management team of Hoisington-Koegler, SRF, and Dakota County. Options outlined for the business and property owners included: • A full width roadway with trails on both sides and shoulders; • A full -width roadway with trails on both sides, shoulders, and relocating the railroad to the south; • A narrowed roadway with minimum widths that would still meet State Aid requirements for roadway design, relocating some of the trails and sidewalks, and considering options for limiting access from CR 50 for the businesses while providing some type of backage road for access; and • In addition to the narrowed roadway described in #3 above, relocating the railroad. Staff and the management team, as well as the property owners, agreed that the most feasible option would be to narrow the roadway and provide other access options for the business owners via a backage road or some other means. The object of the meetings with the business owners was to provide them an opportunity to see the various options for roadway design and to gain a better understanding of their long-range business plans, which might include expansion, relocation, redevelopment, etc. Staff believes the meetings were very successful and will meet with the business owners again in February. An update will be provided to Council at the February work session. Council Member LaBeau stated that she has had several conversations with the affected businesses who expressed their appreciation at being asked for their opinions on this very important topic. Council Member Anderson also thanked Mr. Petree for his diligence. Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 4 6. Dodd Boulevard Signage Update At a previous work session Council requested that Dakota County Transportation look at other signage possibilities on Dodd Blvd. Chris Petree presented a response from Mark Krebsbach, Dakota County Transportation Director and County Engineer. The County's response stated that County staff had conducted a review of the signage along the 2 -lane stretch of CR 9/Dodd Blvd. between CR 50 and CR 60/185' Street, taking into consideration the actual roadway conditions on Dodd and applicable portions of the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD), the guiding signage document. Based on the guidelines the county determined there were no signs that could be applied to the roadway. The county also conducted a review of signage in other areas and removed what was not warranted. City staff continues to work with the County on other improvements in the area including the closure of 1901 Street to the east and worked with the developer to place barriers to limit cut - through traffic. The access to Dodd Blvd. from Inca Avenue into the Century Ridge townhomes was also barricaded and closed by the County. The County maintenance staff has also assured the City that Dodd Blvd. is a priority for snow and ice removal efforts. Mr. Kuennen added that staff met with the ISD 194 Superintendent who is educating LNHS students to use the Ipava Avenue school access rather than Dodd Blvd., and to drive safely. Anderson stated that he is disappointed in the response from the County and believes they are sacrificing safety in order to stay within their standards; however he appreciates Dodd being a priority for snow and ice removal. He does not believe they have done everything possible and may discuss this with the County Commissioner. Council Member LaBeau concurred. 7. Flagstaff Avenue and 179th Street Intersection Evaluation Mr. Petree stated that in response to residents' traffic and safety concerns SRF has completed a Flagstaff Avenue/179th St. Intersection Traffic Control Evaluation Update and Traffic Safety Study. As staff was preparing to conduct the study this fall, some accidents occurred at the intersection. The original evaluation was completed in December 2010 by SRF, as a result of citizens' concerns at the time the new Farmington High School was opened. The original study suggested no changes in traffic control at the intersection at that time, but recommended continued monitoring. A designated southbound turn lane has been added on Flagstaff Ave. The first component of the study was to do an analysis of the City's accident records from that intersection. It was found that the existing traffic control and operation were not contributing factors; the vast majority of accidents were caused by driver error. The second component studied traffic volumes; it was found that there is significantly more traffic on Flagstaff Avenue Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 5 (8,000 vehicles a day) than 179' Street (2,000 vehicles a day). Intersection sight distances were also studied. Based on the current design, with stop signs on 179' Street only, it was determined that the sight distances are adequate; however, there is a significant amount of speeding which provides a challenge for safe left turns. Based on the components, it was found that an all -way stop control (AWSC) or traffic signal were not warranted at this time. Four safety strategies are being recommended: 1) install driver feedback signs on Flagstaff; 2) install "gate posted" stop signs in the median on 179' Street; 3) conduct public outreach to improve drivers' awareness of the intersection; and 4) enhance enforcement by both Lakeville and Farmington Police Departments. LaBeau asked if the neighborhood has been contacted about the items being discussed or the study results. Johnson stated that the neighbors are aware of the study but have not yet received the results. Davis also asked if Council could be kept informed about the residents' response. Petree stated both public outreach and enhanced enforcement could be done with minimal expense. Driver feedback signs are each about $10-12,000 and could be funded with pavement management funds. There may also be opportunities for collaboration between Lakeville and Farmington Police Departments. Petree will be contacting the residents in the near future. 8. School Road Safety Technical Committee Judy Kelliher, ISD 194 School Board Member and a member of the School Road Safety Task Force, was present. Allyn Kuennen stated that as part of the discussion of the SRS Task Force report, it was suggested that a Coordinated Technical Working Group consisting of Dakota County, City, and School District staff. The Technical working group would research and develop potential solutions to address vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; coordinate the application and management of federal, state and local grants such as Safe Routes to Schools whenever possible, consider interagency cooperation regarding transportation improvements, school district boundaries and development trends, and coordinate safety issues that periodically arise, as needed. Staff is seeking Council direction on forming a committee. LaBeau is concerned about the traffic at and near Orchard Lake Elementary on the curves with no shoulders. Kelliher stated that traffic flow at schools with just one entrance is challenging. Two-mile busing standards have caused additional traffic since parents are more likely to drop off and pick up their children. Kelliher stated that school transportation policies may be reviewed and reconsidered. LaBeau stated that the cost of clearing trails for students adds costs for the City and she would support whatever policy is most cost effective for the taxpayers. Council Work Session January 12, 2015 9. 2015 Legislative Priorities Page 6 Kuennen presented the draft 2015 Legislative Priorities and highlighted changes from the previous year. LaBeau would like to ask the Legislature to reconsider requiring sprinkler systems in larger homes; Davis would prefer it remain as adopted in an effort to promote public safety. Kuennen stated that proposed legislation will clarify the existing regulation. Mayor Little believes that without being united on the sprinkler policy it would be best to not take an official position in the Legislative Priorities. Mr. Miller highlighted the ban on discussion of the Dan Patch policy and stated that some Northfield officials are attempting to create support for the corridor. Little suggested that discussions be limited to the actual design and/or functionality. Anderson agrees with Lakeville's current position and would not support or advocate any additional uses for the Dan Patch rail corridor. LaBeau suggested a policy of support for not funding any studying, planning, design or engineering, and removing the reference to banning discussion. Mr. Kuennen suggested adding "within Lakeville". Little suggested that Lakeville begin preparing for possible off -sale Sunday liquor and that the policy opposing it be removed. Anderson believes that in support of the Liquor Director's analysis that there is no financial gain in being open on Sundays the City should continue the policy of opposing Sunday off -sale. LaBeau suggested a statement saying "does not support" rather than "opposes". The Liquor Director and the MMBA continue to oppose Sunday off -sale liquor based on trends in other states which show that total sales did not significantly increase but were spread out over seven days rather than six, while increasing operating costs. There is also opposition from private smaller liquor business owners, and police organizations; however, if the laws change the City will need to be prepared. Anderson stated that one of the top priorities of the I-35 Solutions Alliance is to rebuild the I35 bridge out of Burnsville and add a lane on 35-W to Co. Rd. 70. He believes the language in Lakeville's Legislative Priorities should align with and support the priorities of the I-35 Alliance. Council and staff would support narrowing the number of priorities to 10 or less in future years. 10. Committee and Inter -agency Council received a summary of current Committee and Inter -Agency appointments. LaBeau discussed the CVB appointment with Chamber president and they concurred that at this time there is not a need for a Council representative; periodic briefings would suffice. She also suggested that staff could represent the City at the Arenas Board and the DLBA meetings and provide occasional reports to the Council. LaBeau also believes council members gain a broader Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 7 understanding as members of the Personnel Committee and it is advantageous to rotate that position. She would like to continue to serve on the Public Safety and Liquor Committees. Anderson stated that the Arenas Board has discussed meeting on a quarterly rather than monthly basis. According to the bylaws a representative of ISD 194 and the Council should attend. Since he is no longer driving into the cities for work, he would relinquish his position on the I35 Solutions Alliance. Fire Relief could be represented by a Council member with available evening hours and a financial background. Anderson would be interested in serving on the Personnel Committee and the League of Minnesota Cities. Swecker currently serves on the ALF and DCC boards. LaBeau would be willing to serve on ALF along with Public Safety. Davis would like to stay on the Liquor and Personnel Committees to continue some projects that have been started. He would be willing to be the primary member of the Arenas board rather than the alternate, and believes his financial background and work schedule would benefit the Fire Relief board. He would continue to serve on the Airport Advisory board and as an alternate on the DLBA. LaBeau offered to serve as the DCC board alternate. In summary: LaBeau: Public Safety, Liquor Committee, ALF, DCC alternate Anderson: DLBA, Personnel Committee, League of Minnesota Cities, Dakota Mayors/ Managers alternate Davis: Liquor Committee, Personnel Committee, Airport Advisory Board, Arenas Board, Fire Relief, DLBA alternate Swecker: 135 Solutions Alliance, Public Safety, DCC, Arenas Board alternate, League of Minnesota Cities alternate Little: EDC, MLC, ALF alternate, and Dakota Mayors/Managers Staff will represent the City on the CVB 11. Review list of Planning Commission applicants LaBeau stated that expiration dates were moved to the end of March rather than the end of December several years ago in an effort to solicit additional candidates. She suggested that letters be sent to current advisory committee members whose terms are expiring to ask them to reapply for open positions if they are interested. They believe most committee members do not expect an automatic reappointment and would be willing to submit an application to be considered through the interview process. Davis agrees that advisory committee members whose terms are expiring would not object to being re -interviewed however, institutional knowledge is important in these positions. LaBeau Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 8 would also like the process to include soliciting input from committee chairs. Little prefers determining who should be interviewed for reappointment through a review of the applications. LaBeau stated the interview process illustrates the importance of the committee members' roles to the Council. Mayor Little suggested narrowing down the 10 Planning Commission candidates to five interviews. There could potentially be additional openings if other members do not wish to reapply. Anderson asked if historically every applicant has been interviewed. Little stated that there are other instances where applicants have not been invited to interview. He believes the vacancy should be filled soon. Anderson asked if it would be possible to add a second alternate position to the Planning Commission. Staff will consult the ordinance and check with legal counsel. Kuennen suggested that Council members declare their preferred candidates to determine if there is a consensus for interviews. Mayor Little requested that a certain candidate be eliminated from consideration in light of comments he has made in social media. After further review and discussion of the applications, Council members chose the following candidates to be interviewed on January 28: Matthew Edwards, Scott Einck, Chris Moates, Amy Sayers and Tom Thorstenson. Advisory committee and commission members whose terms are expiring will be invited to submit reappointment applications. Anderson had discussed his concerns with Miller and Little about changing the name of the Cable TV Board and its reorganization and renaming. Kuennen stated that staff believed there were opportunities to broaden the scope of the board to discuss issues other than franchise negotiations such as cell phone towers, fiber optics, development trends, etc. Current board members may or may not continue to serve on a revised board. Staff will bring more information back to the February work session. Davis stated that the board needs to have a broad scope including telecommunications, website, mobile, etc. LaBeau is concerned that ISD 194 will be putting together a school levy in May of this year and believes it would be most beneficial to the community if the City would work with the schools to coordinate a combination school levy and park referendum. LaBeau stated that the Met Council Land Use Advisory Committee is seeking new members and asked Council members to consider applying. Council Work Session January 12, 2015 Page 9 A retreat was suggested for the Council to revive Envision Lakeville, discuss school road safety task force, and the Parks Plan. Little believes it would be an opportunity to discuss policies. 12. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, J d' awkins, Deputy City Clerk Matt Little, Mayor