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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-30-98 WSt CITY OF LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES JUNE 30,1998 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Zaun at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall North Meeting Room. Individuals in attendance were: Mayor Zaun, Council Members Holberg, Mulvihill, Ryan and Sindt; Robert Erickson, City Administrator; Dave Martens, Police Chief; Don Volk, Director of Operations and Maintenance; Lieutenant Greg Style; Jeff Cotten, Animal Control Officer; Heidi Hamilton, Environmental Engineer; John Hennen, Administrative Assistant; Robert Nicholson, Vermillion River Watershed Management Organization Advisory Commission Representative; Karen Christofferson, Public Policy Director of the Builders Association; Gene Ranieri, John Weaver, Tom Egan and Cheryl Budewitz of the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities; Joni Hubred, Lakeville Life & Times; and Jon Lloyd, SunCurrent. ITEM NO. 1 - iJpdate on Vermillion River Watershed Management Organization AdvisorX Committee. Heidi Hamilton informed Council Members that the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) are requiring all Watershed Management Organizations (WMO) to revise their management plans • by January 1, 2000. The Vermillion River WMO is utilizing an advisory committee to provide input throughout the plan development process. Bob Nicholson is serving as Lakeville's representative and Heidi Hamilton as the alternate. Mr. Nicholson indicated that the group has met on two occasions. A survey of the committee members indicated that there is a significant interest amongst the members regarding the effects Empire Waste Water Treatment Plant has on the river and the preservation of existing trout stream resources. Committee members also discussed the funding necessary to complete the revision of the management plan. Council Member Sindt asked if the Vermillion River WMO has legal access to the river. Ms. Hamilton indicated they do not, however, .because landowners abutting the river have a strong interest in the preservation of the amenity, staff does not believe it would be difficult for the Vermillion River WMO to get approval to access the river. The Council directed staff to determine if minutes are taken at the advisory committee meetings, if so, the Council would like to receive copies of the minutes to be kept apprised of the management plan revisions. ITEM NO. 2 - Presentation by Builders Association of the Twin Cities regarding dwindling land su~~ly and affordable housing in the Twin Cities. Karen Christofferson of the Builders Association presented a ten minute video to the Council-which • depicted the Twin Cities dwindling land supply and affordable housing issues. The tape was created as an educational tool which illustrates how a young couple struggles to afford to purchase a single family home. Mayor Zaun indicated that the City is in the process of updating the • City Council Work Session Minutes -June 30, 1998 Page Two Comprehensive Plan and is about to reconvene the Strategic Growth Management Task Force. Mayor Zaun indicated the Task Force could address the issue of affordable housing as part of their work plan. Mr. Erickson indicated that because of levy limits cities such as Farmington have to increase minimum lot sizes/standards in residential zoning districts in order to increase tax base to pay for services. Ms. Christofferson indicated that she doesn't necessarily agree that a large lot is needed to construct a larger home. Ms. Christofferson did indicate that she would be willing to meet with the Growth Management Task Force and discuss design standards. The Council directed staff to have the Strategic Growth Management Task Force address the issues of affordable housing and minimum lot size standards when they reconvene in the fall. ITEM N0.3 -Presentation by Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMMI to discuss Lakeville's membership and participation. Mayor Tom Egan of Eagan highlighted numerous benefits of belonging to the AMM, such as being associated with a group which exchanges diverse ideas amongst the members along with acting as a problem-solving group. Mr. Eagan introduced Gene Ranieri who has recently been hired as the • Executive Director of the AMM. Mr. Ranieri highlighted a number of reasons why the City of Lakeville should consider becoming a member including: 1) representation at the Legislature, 2) the ability to appoint individuals to key boards and commissions in the Metropolitan Area, and 3) because of the relationships AMM has developed with agencies such as the Metropolitan Council, League of Minnesota Cities and the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Council Members and AMM representatives discussed membership dues. Mr. Ranieri indicated that the fees are determined by population and estimates that Lakeville's membership fee for 1999 would be approximately $7,500 with a possible 2-3% increase in the year 2000. Discussion occurred regarding how the group is perceived at the Legislature. Mr. Ranieri indicated that AMM plans on being aggressive and proactive at the Legislature. Council Member Sindt asked if any type of surveys were completed by Legislatures regarding their thoughts of AMM. Mr. Ranieri indicated that there was a survey completed in 1997 and plans are to complete another at the end of the 1999 Legislative session. Mayor Zaun indicated that this ~ matter would be brought before the Council for their consideration as part of the 1999 and 2000 Budget process. ITEM N0.4 -Status update on Police Department building expansion. • Chief Martens indicated the purpose of the update was to keep the Council up-to-speed with the renovation/building expansion. In the building expansion review process, it was found that it would be very expensive per square foot to stay within the existing footprint of the building. Expanding City Council Work Session Minutes -June 30, 1998 . Page Three the building to the north will address the shortage of space in the evidence, storage and booking areas and will also potentially add an additional ten years of usefulness to the building. The renovation is also proposed to include a physical fitness area in the existing evidence laboratory and enhance the security of the prisoner exchange area. Mr. Erickson indicated that staff has not yet completed a cost benefit analysis on the project. Mr. Erickson indicated that a decision has to be made if the physical fitness area is appropriate in the building or would the Council rather have a contractual agreement with a health club. Mr. Erickson also indicated that it may be appropriate to revisit the issue regarding constructing an accessory building on-site to store items such as snowmobiles, auto parts, etc. Chief Martens indicated that the majority of police departments have physical fitness areas. All Minneapolis precincts have some type of exercise area. Council Member Holberg questioned if the firefighters would then want exercise equipment if the Police Department were allowed to have such equipment. Council Member Mulvihill indicated that the Washington County Sheriff's Department, where she is employed, has exercise equipment in their facility. Council Member Sindt asked if there is any liability associated with physical fitness areas and if there is any type of physical requirements which police officers have to meet. Mr. Erickson indicated that the Council should provide feedback to himself or the Chief regarding the physical fitness area. • The Council shall provide feedback to the City Administrator or the Police Chief on the physical fitness area and staff will provide estimated costs of the renovation/expansion at a future Work Session meeting. ITEM NO. S -Review ordinance amendment concerning dangerous and potentiallX dangerous dogs. Chief Martens informed Council that Governor Carlson recently approved a law requiring .only cities in Dakota County to be responsible for the registration of dangerous dogs. Chief Martens highlighted specific changes in the proposed ordinance amendment which include the addition of a definition of a dangerous dog along with some minor amendments. Mr. Erickson indicated that the cities must also invest money in signs and placards regarding the identification of dangerous dogs. Mr. Erickson indicated the law is reminiscent of the tobacco ordinance where the County doesn't want to administer the program and places the responsibility on the individual cities. Council Member Mulvihill indicated the City should question the legality of this law. Mr. Erickson indicated that this is another unfunded mandate placed on the cities. Council directed staff to place the ordinance amendment concerning dangerous dogs on the July 20th City Council meeting and also directed staff to have the attorney's office draft a resolution • for the City Councils consideration regarding Lakeville's thoughts on the unfunded mandate placed on cities by Dakota County. City Council Work Session Minutes -June 30, 1998 Page Four ITEM N0.6 -Review seed limit study for 205th Street. Director of Operations and Maintenance Don Volk provided an historical synopsis of the events which took place regarding authorized speed zones on 205th Street since 1995. The authorized speed zone in 1995 was 50 mph from Kenrick Avenue to Jupiter Avenue and 45 mph from Jupiter Avenue to Dodd Boulevard. After the establishment of a trail and crosswalks on 205th Street, staff felt the speeds would be justifiably lower on 205th Street, however, after the speed survey was completed by MnDOT, data showed that speeds did not change significantly. MnDOT recommended that the current speed zones remain. City staff appealed to the Commissioner of Transportation to re-evaluate the speed authorization with the intent of reducing the 50 mph speed zone to 45 mph. The appeal was denied. Mr. Erickson indicated that the impetus to reduce the speed zone came from residents in the area at three neighborhood meetings which were held to discuss the 205th Street trail. The residents number one concern was the speed of the vehicles on the road and the safety for their children. Mr. Erickson questioned how staff should present this information to the residents. Council Member Sindt suggested having a representative from MnDOT attend a meeting to present the information to the residents. Council Member Holberg recommends an article be placed in Messages regarding the new law on stopping at pedestrian crossings. Mr. Volk recommends borrowing the speed notification trailer from the State Highway Patrol and placing the trailer along 205th Street. Council Member Mulvihill asked if the speed limit signs could be highlighted to be more visible. There are three pedestrian crossings located on 205th Street. Mr. Erickson indicated that SRF previously indicated that installing a stop sign at either the Antlers Park or Juno Trail pedestrian crossing to slow down the traffic along 205th Street might beneficial. The Council directed staff to place an article in Messages regarding the new law on stopping at pedestrian crossings, utilize the speed notification trailer from the State Highway Patrol and install it along 205th Street and have SRF complete traffic counts at the pedestrian crossings to determine the most appropriate location to install a stop sign to slow down traffic along 205th Street. ITEM N0.7 -Consider a~~ointment of City Health Officer. Mr. Hennen indicated that Council and staff discussed the appointment of a City Health Officer to inspect possible future adult use and tattoo and/or body piercing establishments at the June 17, 1997 City Council Work Session. The City Attorney has prepared a draft contract agreement for services • rendered as required in performance of the duties as Health Officer. At previous Work Sessions, the Council and staff discussed the possibility of appointing an individual who lives and has a medical practice in Lakeville as the City Health Officer. z~ City Council Work Session Minutes -June 30, 1998 Page Five At this time, staff is recommending that the Council wait on appointing a City Health Officer until there is a need for such an individual. Appointing an individual now may be premature. The Council concluded that appointing a City Health Officer is unnecessary at this time and would consider it at the time a tattoo/body piercing business submits an application to the Ciry. The Work Session adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ohn Hennen Administrative Assistant •