HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-20CITY OF LAKEVILLE
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
September 28, 2020
1. Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Members present: Mayor Anderson, Council Members Hellier, Lee, and Volk
Members absent: Wheeler
Staff present: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Allyn Kuennen, Assistant City Administrator;
Jerilyn Erickson, Finance Director; Paul Oehme, Public Works Director; Dave Olson,
Community & Economic Development Director; Tamara Wallace, Deputy Clerk
2. Citizen Comments
Tyler Greens, 17715 Kettering Trail
Expressed concern with a recent street assessment statement he received.
3. CARES Funding Allocations
Ms. Erickson provided an update on the City of Lakeville Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) funds intended to help governments with the impacts of COVID-19. The
City's allocated amount is $4,846,900 which must be used no later than November 15, 2020 - any
unused funds must be returned to the County. However, staff has recently been informed of two
exceptions to this deadline: eligible payroll expenses incurred through November 15 as well items
ordered for delivery prior to November 15 that are delayed due to supply chain disruption.
Staff has also identified another eligible expense following the August 24 work session meeting in
which staff presented potential uses for the CARES funds broken down into three levels of
confidence as to whether the expenses would qualify. Earlier, one of the expenses that was placed
within the low confidence tier was the inclusion of all public safety expenses. Based on new
guidance released September 21, 2020 by the Department of Treasury Office of Inspector
General, all public safety expenses (both police and fire) incurred March 1 - November 15, 2020
have been moved to the "high confidence" category for eligibility.
The City Council clarified the request from Lakeville Arenas, discussed the school district's
request for CARES dollars based on their sustained loss, and whether the County would be
providing funding to the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and Lakeville Convention & Visitor's
Bureau (CVB). Mr. Olson provided an update on the small business grant program; staff is
currently in the process of completing round one of the grant approvals and indicated they do
not feel all dollars allocated to the first round of business grants will be used.
City Council Work Session Minutes, September 28, 2020 Page 2
The Council also reviewed the previous grant applications from Fairview Hospital and 360
Communities and approved the request from Lakeville Arenas for $16,447 of direct/ indirect
expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19.
4. Crosswalk Policy
The City regularly receives questions from residents for enhancements to intersections including
the installation of crosswalks. Staff feels the implementation of a formal Crosswalk Policy would
help establish framework for when a crosswalk should be installed and ensure there is a
consistent approach for improving uncontrolled crossing locations. Mr. Oehme presented the
draft Crosswalk Policy which outlines best management practices to establish the need and
eligibility to install a crosswalk. Some of the considerations to enhance a particular intersection
include existing field conditions, surrounding land uses, system connectivity, local/ regional
destinations/ access, and existing/ future pedestrian and vehicle volumes.
The Council discussed the best practices matrix provided in the draft policy and clarified the
average daily speeds, how the policy would assist resident's concern, cost to implement the policy,
specific process to make a change to a crosswalk based on a resident's complaint, future updates
to the best practices based on MnDOT changes, the City's ability to make adjustments to the
policy in the future, guidance on how long a traffic study would be valid once obtained, and safe
routes to schools. Staff will revise the draft Crosswalk Policy to include the additions/ suggestions
presented by the Council and bring it to a future Council meeting for formal approval.
5. Transportation Update
Mr. Oehme provided a transportation update which included the following construction projects:
County Road 70 reconstruction, Dodd Boulevard/Heritage Drive three quarter access, 2020 Street
Reconstruction project, various mill and overlay projects, 170''' Street project from Flagstaff to
Pilot Knob, 1791 Street, the Lakeville North High School parking lot improvements, and
miscellaneous roadway projects throughout the City.
6. Ordinance Amendment Relating to Nuisance Abatement
Staff is seeking to change an existing City Code regarding Public Nuisances (Title 4, Chapter 1) to
allow the ability to abate a public safety issue on private property in situations of emergency.
Examples of these public safety concerns could be a tree at risk of falling over, hazardous
materials, or abandoned equipment; presently the City is only able to address these concerns
through court order. Under the proposed City code change, the City Administrator/ designee
would determine if the violation was an emergency based on whether the issue threatened the
public's safety/ health/ welfare and would notify the property owner in writing to attempt to
mitigate the issue. However, should the property owner not immediately address the issue, the
City Council would be allowed to order summary enforcement giving the City the ability to
City Council Work Session Minutes, September 28, 2020 Page 3
address the emergency, and assess the cost back to the property owner. This process would be
reserved for extreme circumstances in which the property owner did not mitigate a violation that
posed risk to public safety. The property owner would have the ability to request a hearing in
instances in which abatement costs exceed $3,000.
The Council extensively talked about the owner notification methods as well as the variations
between the previously passed Shade Tree Ordinance which similarly grants the City permission
to go on private property. The Council asked staff to adjust the Public Nuisance Code
amendments so they were consistent with the Shade Tree Ordinance; staff will make these
adjustments and bring this item back to a future Council meeting for formal approval.
7. Marketing of the City -owned Property at Kenwood Trail and Icenic Way
Mr. Olson provided background on a 2015 Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Dakota County
which included the acquisition of nine commercial and residential properties to expand County
Road 50 to a four -lane divided highway from County Road 60 to County Road 9. The acquisition
of the properties was funded 55/45 with Dakota County funding the majority of the project.
Following the expansion and road improvements, the City retained 2.5 acres of the property
located at the intersection of Kenwood Trail and Icenic Way. The land was previously appraised
at a value of $785,000 in July 2019, and after putting off the sale of the property in the spring due
to COVID-19, staff is asking the Council for direction on whether to move forward with hiring a
commercial real estate broker to market the property. The EDC met on September 22 and
unanimously agreed to seek proposals from commercial real estate brokers.
The Council clarified what the property is zoned for as well as prohibitable uses and was in
support of moving forward with obtaining proposals from commercial real estate brokers.
8. Lakeville Grove Cemetery
City staff has been in contact with the caretaker of Lakeville Grove Cemetery who has expressed
an interest in retiring from his current role. In response, several local churches came together to
establish a board that would ultimately take over the operations and management of the
cemetery; however, the current owner and board members have expressed concern with the
limited land for the cemetery's expansion. Staff has identified city -owned land adjacent to the
cemetery that would allow expansion of its property. Preliminarily staff would like to know if the
Council would be interested in transferring this property to the cemetery under terms still yet
decided. The Council was provided with a map of the potential expansion.
Barry Fick, Vice President/ Secretary -Treasurer of the Lakeville Grove Cemetery Board
Indicated the board is working through next steps and has been in touch with various insurance
agencies to address potential coverage for vandalism. Based on Council feedback tonight, the
City Council Work Session Minutes, September 28, 2020 Page 4
group would ultimately develop a long-term plan on how to use the additional land. Mr. Fick
also talked about incorporating some history of the cemetery (founding members for example) as
an educational piece to the community.
The Council was in support of moving forward with staffs suggestion to transfer the adjacent
land to Lakeville Grove Cemetery. Staff will work with the board to determine terms and bring
this item to a future City Council meeting for formal approval.
9. COVID-19 City Operations Update
In December of each year there is a Truth & Taxation public hearing that the Council sets once
the preliminary tax levy is established. Notices to residents regarding the hearing are provided by
the County; due to COVID-19 the County would like to know whether this year cities would like
to offer an option for residents to watch this hearing virtually. Staff is asking Council whether
they would like to continue forward with the current hybrid meeting format which offers a virtual
option for meeting participation and comment.
The Council agreed that considering uncertainties and the current Governor's order on public
spaces, it made sense to move forward with the existing hybrid format through December of this
year, and revisit this in the new year.
10. Items for Future Discussion
• Procedures to implement policies and subsequent evaluations (possible retreat topic)
• Setting a January City Council retreat date
• Credit River Township is going to apply to incorporate as a city and is wondering if
Lakeville would take up a resolution in support of this.
11. Committee/ City Administrator Updates
Council Member Lee gave an update on the Conversations on Race working group which has met
three times with a fourth meeting taking place Wednesday, September 30. The working group
has primarily talked about the format for the community discussion with the first possible talk
taking place on Saturday, November 14. Council Member Lee also wished to thank the Lakeville
Fire Department and Lakeville Lions for a successful drive-thru breakfast fundraiser held on
September 25.
Council Member Volk attended the public safety committee meeting where they discussed
looking at the current food truck policy. The committee agreed it would be best to reserve these
conversations for input of the full Council, perhaps at the annual City Council retreat. The
committee also discussed the residential speed limits and the process for tobacco hearings.
City Council Work Session Minutes, September 28, 2020 Page 5
Council Member Hellier attended the Lakeville Chamber meeting where the guest speaker was a
doctor from Northfield Hospital who discussed COVID-19, what the medical field is preparing
for as fall approaches, and some COVID-19 preventative measures.
Mayor Anderson provided updates on the Regional Council of Mayor's which is currently still
meeting virtually and working on future speakers. In the month of October, the group will
continue to meet with DEED Commissioner Steve Grove but will also have guest speaker Angie
Dickinson, Broadband Director for the State of Minnesota.
Mr. Miller reminded that absentee voting is currently taking place at City Hall and gave an
update on recruitment for the liquor store director which has received 26 applications.
Interviews for the position will be taking place soon with the hope to bring someone on board by
mid-November.
12. The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
submitted,
LJ 0 K
Tamara allace, Deputy City Clerk Douglas P. Anderson, Mayor