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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-18CITY OF LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES February 26, 2018 1. Council Member LaBeau called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Lake Marion Conference Room. Members present: Mayor Anderson (by telephone), Council Members Davis, Hellier, LaBeau, Wheeler Members absent: None Staff present: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Assistant City Administrator, Allyn Kuennen; Dave Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Jerilyn Erickson, Finance Director; Chris Petree, Public Works Director; Emily Ball, Forester; Tamara Wallace, Deputy Clerk 2. Citizen Comments There were no citizen comments. 3. Downtown Development Guide Update Brian Harjes with HKGi planning consulting firm, presented the proposed Land Use and Development Concepts for Downtown Lakeville, as well as potential improvements in both Parks & Open Space and transportation. The presentation highlighted various opportunities and ideas to expand the usability of the downtown district to include: a festival park/ plaza, a destination playground, small splash pad/ play fountain, moveable seating, a permanent farmer's market pavilion, Lake Marion greenway connection, and the integration of public art throughout downtown. Mr. Harjes also outlined various downtown reinvestment initiatives such as establishing performance targets, promoting downtown businesses collectively, leveraging the Lakeville Area Arts Center, encouraging pedestrian -oriented building designs, and branding. The Council reviewed the proposal designs and discussed potential infrastructure changes to reduce traffic to the surrounding downtown Lakeville neighborhoods, highlighting accessibility from Lake Marion to downtown, high density housing of three to four stories, addressing increased parking demands and zoning requirements, signage enhancements, and ideas to attract businesses to come to Lakeville. Next steps will include review of the plan by both the Economic Development and Planning Commissions, followed by a community meeting on March 6 as part of the Comprehensive Plan process. Staff hopes to bring an updated draft plan back to the April work session meeting. City Council Work Session Minutes, February 26, 2018 Page 2 4. Utility Rate Study Northland Public Finance provided the Council with an update on the results of the Utility Rate Study currently underway, which examines the following policy considerations: financial management targets, existing debt, new debt, the water trunk fund, growth assumptions, conservation, monthly vs. quarter billing, and rate structures. Staff is seeking Council direction on the desire to change the rate structure as it relates to water conservation, distribution of costs between residential versus other customer types, as well as special discounts; and outlined a proposed timeline for discussion of these items at future work session meetings. The Council reviewed several items in the report including the possible need for a second water treatment facility down the line, antenna rentals, and the current utility structure which includes a lower rate but a higher connection fee. The Council would like to see additional verbiage regarding the enterprise and utility funds under the policy considerations and asked that staff provide the Finance Committee with the study/ findings for comment. 5. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Plan and Shade Tree Ordinance Discussion Ms. Ball and Mr. Petree presented a proposal to establish both a management plan and City ordinance to address the recently discovered Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation, in an effort to proactively monitor this growing concern. Staff has identified approximately 2,500 City -owned ash trees affected and another 10,000 on private property (single-family, multi -family, schools, and commercial). The proposed management plan seeks to outline best practices to discover and control infested ash trees, ultimately either treating them with insecticide or flagging them for removal. The proposed ordinance outlines control measures for trees with disease such as Oak wilt, Dutch elm, and EAB; and provides City staff with the means to inspect these trees on both public and private property. Initially the EAB management plan would be funded through the present environmental resources fee and would include public outreach and education on the issue to local businesses, the school district, and residents to ensure best practices are known. The ordinance also seeks to encourage private residents to treat and/ or remove EAB infested trees on their property; through inspections, staff would identify problem trees and leave a door hanger providing the resident with more information on how to address the abatement of the tree. Though a new process to the City, diseased tree control programs have been underway in many nearby cities including Apple Valley, Eagan, and Burnsville. Staff is seeking direction and support to present the EAB management plan at a future Council meeting for formal adoption. The Council reviewed the proposed shade tree management plan and expressed some concern over the enforcement policy of the EAB ordinance on private property; specifically, the anticipated tree removal costs to the owner should multiple diseased trees be found on their property. The Council would like staff to find ways to incentivize and/ or offset these potential City Council Work Session Minutes, February 26, 2018 Page 3 costs to the property owner, research the ability to collect competitive bids to offer a special flat rate to residents, and brainstorm a potentially softer enforcement approach that would allow flexibility, or a deferred assessment paid over a period. 6. Transportation Update Mr. Petree provided a transportation update which included the following construction projects: continuation of the County Road 50 project which is set to begin again in mid-April through the fall, miscellaneous street reconstruction projects, and a neighborhood meeting to be held on March 8 concerning the County Road 50 closure from Cedar to Holyoke Avenue. 7. Council Review of Appreciation Dinner Script Ms. Wallace provided the Council with a copy of the script for the upcoming Advisory Appreciation Dinner held on Wednesday, March 14 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. 8. Committee/ City Administrator Updates Mr. Miller reported that staff has been approached by Senator Matt Little's office about requesting dollars through the bonding bill to cover updates needed at Ames Arena; staff is still presently working on strategy for this funding. Council members discussed their attendance at upcoming meetings. 9. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 10:02 p.m. Re Tamara W�lljce, Deputy Clerk IN Df ' Anderson,