HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2022CITY OF LAKEVILLE
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
January 24, 2022
1. Council Member/ Acting Mayor Hellier called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
Members present: Council Members Hellier, Bermel, Lee, and Volk
Members absent: Mayor Anderson (participated via Zoom)
Staff present: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Allyn Kuennen, Assistant City Administrator;
Jerilyn Erickson, Finance Director; John Hennen, Parks & Recreation Director; Paul Oehme,
Public Works Director; Tamara Wallace, Deputy Clerk
2. Moment of Silence and Flag Pledge.
3. Citizen Comments - none.
4. Bond Update
At the direction of the City's counsel (Dorsey & Whitney) and municipal advisor (Northland
Securities), staff is recommending the City refund the HRA2016A Bonds which would facilitate
the funding of a new outdoor rink at Hasse Arena. Tammy Omdal from Northland Securities
attended the work session meeting to explain how this strategy would both lift restrictions for
these bonds and add savings to debt service. Included in the Council's materials was a
Preliminary Finance Plan showing both the refunding of the HRA2016A Bonds through tax
abatement authority and the issuance of new bonds for the outdoor rink. Ms. Omdal also
provided an overview on the City's current Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with ISD 194 for the
repayment of the HRA2016 Bonds, which Dorsey & Whitney is currently updating. The
Lakeville Hockey Association and Heritage Figure Skating Club have both agreed to contribute a
total of $1.5 million towards construction costs for the new outdoor rink which is estimated at
$4.65 million.
Council clarified the school district's financial responsibility towards Hasse Arena under the
current and updated JPA, whether there was any flexibility in bond payments, and possible
additional funding sources such as options available through Dakota County. Ms. Erickson
indicated staff would be looking into corporate sponsorship, contributions from park dedication
fees, and the possibility of delaying some amenity installation to save on initial costs. The
Council also discussed bond issuance scenarios and timing for all projects included in the
City Council Work Session Minutes, January 24, 2022 Page 2
approved Park Bond Referendum, and whether strategically it made sense to issue bonds upfront
or over a period of 2-3 years.
Ms. Omdal and Ms. Erickson outlined next steps for the 2022B Bonds. The Council will hold a
public hearing for the Hasse Arena abatement project at the February 7 City Council meeting,
and adopt a resolution authorizing the issuance of tax abatement bonds as well as setting the sale
of bonds. The bond sale will take place on March 7 at 10 a.m. after which the Council will adopt
the resolution approving the bond sale and new JPA with ISD 194; the bonds will close April 5.
5. Review Antlers Community Park Schematic Concept Plan
Following approval of the City's Park Bond Referendum, staff has been working with WSB and
Tushie Montgomery to create a schematic concept for Antlers Park. Candace Amberg, landscape
architect with WSB, gave an overview of several plans that led to the preferred design concept
included in the Council packet, and provided background on what changes had been made since
the Antlers Park master plan was first approved in 2017. Ms. Amberg emphasized the desire to
include some of the historical aspects and references of the park (such as the themed railroad
walk and dance pavilion) and outlined shelter placement throughout the park, open lawn areas,
playground/ tot lots, picnic tables, incorporating a roundabout, adjustments to the pavilion,
entrance locations, parking/ traffic flow, walkway placement, and seating. The Parks, Recreation,
and Natural Resources Committee (PRNRC) reviewed the preferred Antlers Park Schematic Plan
at their January 19 meeting, and recommended moving forward with the plan as presented by
City Staff with the recommendation to not include a restaurant or concession stand area.
The Council discussed shelter locations, connectivity between the circular drop off area and
parking lot, snowmobile trails, the pedestrian walk and mailboxes on 202nd Street, ability to
install a splash pad/ other water features, how cost estimates have been impacted, ways to
incorporate winter activities/ year round use of the park, boat docking along the beach, parking
management, accessibility of the park, and the possibility to tie into the school district's fiber to
provide internet access to the shelters. The Council also extensively discussed whether to add
infrastructure for a possible restaurant in the future; as well as the 2011 Street access as it relates
to food truck entry/ exit, emergency vehicles, and neighborhood parking concerns.
Monica Joubert, PRNRC Member
As a new food truck owner, and long term resident of the neighborhood, Ms. Joubert wished to
see the 2011 Street access stay, and reiterated this would be great for emergency vehicles. She also
echoed the need to prioritize making the park as accessible as possible to all residents who wished
to come and enjoy it.
City Council Work Session Minutes, January 24, 2022 Page 3
Mr. Hennen provided an update on funding possibilities, grant opportunities, staff s intent to
reach out to various civic groups/ organizations, and Dakota County's commitment to pay
$300,000 for the Antlers Park trailhead. Staff will take the Council's suggestions and input back
to the architects at Tushie Montgomery and work with WSB to fine tune the design plan and cost
estimates for the project.
6. Electric Vehicle Charging Station Proposal
Staff has recently been in conversations with Energy Management Solutions and Carbon
Solutions Group (CSG) about participation in the DirtRoad Electric Vehicle Charging Program.
The program would see the installation of up to 36 public electric vehicle charging stations
located on 14 City -owned properties, and would provide the City with five electric vehicles at no
additional cost as part of Xcel Energy's Fleet Electric Vehicle Service Pilot Program. Jody
McDevitt, Director of Sales for Energy Management Solutions, was on hand to provide the
Council with an overview of the program, benefits to the host, contract/ deal structure, charging
spaces, license fees, revenue shares/ electric vehicle charging revenue, ten year cost savings, and
installation timeline.
The agreement would be a term of 10 years (two renewable five-year terms). During this term the
City is required to operate the five electric vehicles provided, and the City would generate
approximately $264,000 in electric vehicle charging revenue in the next 20 years. Under the
agreement CSG would be responsible for installing/ operating the charging infrastructure, any
costs associated with the design/ permitting/ equipment/ installation, and they would cover all
operating/ maintenance costs to the charging units. Staff indicated that participation in this
program would complement the GreenSteps Cities initiative as well as address several goals
outlined in the City's Strategic Plan.
The Council clarified whether there was any exclusivity in the agreement, protocol should CSG
go out of business, connector/ adapter capabilities, typical charge time for a vehicle, future
pricing structure for charging electric vehicles, charging station maintenance, possible uses for
the five electric vehicles within the City's current fleet, potential competition within the industry,
and whether the City has reached out to any other comparable companies to see what their
offerings would be. The Council was in support of moving forward with this program pending
contract review and approval by the City's attorney.
7. Items for Future Discussion
• Opioid settlement - how these funds could be used as well as an overall conversation on
opioid use and legislation.
City Council Work Session Minutes, January 24, 2022 Page 4
8.
a
Committee/ City Administrator Updates
Mayor Anderson - Thanked those Councilmembers able to attend the Municipal Legislative
Breakfast held Thursday, January 20; and reported he felt the MLC was on a good path towards
new housing legislation.
Councilmember Volk - A Lakeville resident of Ardmore Village reached out to indicate that new
construction housing is causing considerable increases in her rent; the management office has
cited the need to align with current market rates.
Councilmember Lee - At the January 25 Fire Relief meeting, the Board will be taking another
look at revised pension models. Assuming these new models are approved, the Board may bring
forward a proposal for higher pension levels.
While Councilmember Lee did not attend the I-35 Alliance meeting, City Engineer Zach Johnson
did update him that the group worked on their legislative priorities which include the expansion
of the MnPASS lane, expansion of County Road 50, as well as various accessibility/ mobility
updates to County Road 42.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Tamara Wallace, Deputy City Clerk
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Douglas P. Anderson, Mayor