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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-02 WS`r, CITY OF LAKEVILLE COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2002 Present.• Mayor Bob Johnson, Council Members David Luick, Mark Bellows and Laurie Rieb; City Administrator Bob Erickson; Assistant to City Administrator John Hennen; Community and Economic Development Director Dave Olson; Chief of Police Dave Martens; Lt. Tom Vonhof; Director of Operations and Maintenance Don Volk; Cable Coordinator Jeff Lueders; Finance Director Dennis Feller; and Deputy Clerk Judi Hawkins. Absent: Council Member Lynette Mulvihill. ITEM NO. 1. REVIEW RESULTS OF COMMUNITY SURVEY. Dr. Bill Morris of Decision Resources presented the Executive Summary and analyzed the results of the 2001 Community Survey. Dr. Morris will also make a presentation to key staff on Tuesday, January 22nd and a public presentation at the February 4, 2002 City Council meeting. • Results of the survey were uniformly positive with major increases in citizen approval across the board, and a reversal of some downward trends that were apparent in the 1997 and 1999 surveys. Dr. Morris distributed graphics that compares results of the 2001 and 1999 surveys. Some highlighted results included: Location, available housing, good schools and rural/small town community were the most stated reasons for selection of the community as a place to live. 92% rated the quality of life positively. What people like most about the community are the location and the small town ambiance. What people like least is the growth and perceived crowding. Twenty percent stated there is "nothing" they dislike about the city. There was an increase in people who feel Lakeville is "home" rather than just a place to live and a significant increase in community identity. Police protection is viewed as positive by 91% and excellent by 38%, an increase of 15% over 1999. Fire protection is viewed as positive by 87% and excellent by 37%, an increase in excellent of 18% over 1999. Park Maintenance is viewed as positive by 90%, an increase of 20%, and excellent in excellent by 36%, an increase of 16% over 1999. Street repair and maintenance received an 80% positive rating. This is contrary to all other trends and is at the top of all cities in the Metro area. The current norm is 53%. Bob E. attributes this to the aggressive pavement management program and the elimination of the special assessment for seal coating. Eighty-four percent of residents gave snow plowing a positive rating. City Council Wlork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -2- • Of the 39% of respondents who have obtained a building permit in the last five years, 81% rated the Inspection Dept. excellent or good, also at the top in the Metro area for high growth communities. City services were given better marks than 50% of municipalities where respondents previously lived. Thirty-two percent of these comments came from former Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan residents. Avast majority (92%) feels safe in their neighborhood walking alone at night and 72% would feel safe in any other part of the City. Juvenile delinquency and gangs are seen as the greatest public safety problems by 24%, showing a drop from 26% in 1999 and 43% in 1997. Dr. Morris stated that 67% of residents feel code enforcement is adequate, with 40% being the norm in the metro area. An overwhelming 81 % agreed with the City's policy on storage of recreational vehicles. Most respondents (72%) approve of the job being done by the Mayor and City Council, as well as City staff. Another 16% were unsure in each instance. Approval of the park system increased significantly in every category. Usage was also up significantly. Regarding a community center, 70% would support the construction and operation of a center and 69% approve of its being built with public/private partnership. Bob E. stated that the median comfort level of $30.80 in property tax increases would not be • adequate financial support. Bob also feels that the opposition to a public tax increase for the purpose of building a community center has been impacted by the school district's impending referendum. An increase of 23% (55°'o to 78%) feel that appropriate emphasis is being placed on the environment by the-City. Seventy-eight percent is first amongst all Metro cities. An increase of 13% (35% to 48%) feel that there would be an opportunity for them to offer input on zoning. Bob E. attributes this to the mailing of 13,000 informational Comprehensive Plan brochures and live broadcasts of the Planning Commission meetings. For future preferred development, single family homes remained high with a 10% increase. Professional/business offices and retail stores/shops also increased by 20- 21%. Dr. Morris stated that of the survey respondents 31% desired additional restaurants and were very specific regarding what type of establishment they desire. Most residents continue to shop in the Apple Valley area. ThisWeek/Life & Times is the primary source of local information for residents, with 82% reporting that they regularly read the "Messages" page. Lakeville is the most connected city in the Metro area with 84% of residents having Internet access, an increase of 20% from 1999. A total of 71% are cable TV subscribers, however, only 8% are frequent Channel 16 viewers. Only 24% felt that they would be at all likely to utilize bus service to the Twin Cities; • 64% would oppose a tax increase for public transit. City Council Fork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -3- • Only one or two other communities have a similar or higher median income ($78,600) for its residents. According to the survey, 23% of residents earn over $100,000. Dr. Morris felt that what stands out most with the survey is the consistency of residents' satisfaction with their community in general and the value people put on the small town ambiance of Lakeville. Even though the City Council has likely given up some viewership to the Planning Commission, better communication has ensued and has paid dividends. Bob E. feels it has been beneficial for residents to observe the interaction between developers, City staff and the .Planning Commission members. Council directed staff to include the public presentation of the 2001 Community Survey on the February 4, 2002 City Council agenda. ITEM NO.2. DISCUSS COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR SEX OFFENDERS. Police Chief Dave Martens and Lt. Tom Vonhof were present to discuss with Council the effect that "Katie's Law" has had on notification to the community regarding predatory sex offenders in the community. Lakeville Police were recently notified that two Level II offenders were likely to move into the community. Because of the law that was passed as a result of the abduction and murder of Katie Poirier, information on Level II and Level • III sex offenders can now be shared with the public. Lt. Vonhof stated that the Lakeville Police Dept currently monitors 44 sex offenders living or working in the community. Of the 44, all but one fall into the Level I category, the group considered the least likely to offend. The one Level II offender living in the community is a moderate risk to re- offend. All day care facilities, schools, scout groups, etc. within an appropriate radius have been notified. Level III offenders require acommunity-wide notification, not to frighten the public, but to inform. If a Level III offender were to move into the community, the Police would notify any appropriate group they felt could be vulnerable. A brochure was put together by the police to use as an educational tool. The Dept. of Corrections has a computerized database of the 11,000 known sex offenders currently in the State of Minnesota. Several sex offenders were charged last year with failing to register, as required by state statute. Lakeville Police detectives visit the offenders at their homes or their workplace to acknowledge their presence in the community. Council directed the Police Dept. to continue their efforts regarding the management of predatory sex offenders in the community. ITEM NO. 3. OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS SITE CLEAN UP AND INFLOW AND • INFILTRATION SANITARY SEWER REPAIRS. City Council Fork Session Minutes January 74, 2002----------------------------------------------------------------------Page -4 __ Director of Operations and Maintenance Don Volk stated that while the sale of the existing Public Works facility was being discussed, it came to light that many years ago debris from day to day maintenance operations was disposed of by being buried in the back yard of ,the Public Works building. This was a widely accepted. practice a few decades ago. Included in the buried waste is wood, appliances and discarded bituminous, but fortunately there appears to be no petroleum products. Staff feels it is important to clean up the site prior to selling it, however, the estimated cost of $30,400 is not budgeted. Removal of the waste is prudent and responsible and will make the site environmentally safe for future uses. Don V. is working with Barb Moeller, Environmental Resources Coordinator on the cleanup. Trucks hauling the debris to the landfill will pick up clean fill from an Apple Valley site at no cost on their return trip. Don stated that the mild winter has allowed the site evaluation and clean up to begin. Staff is recommending City Council amend the budget in order to complete the cleanup at the current Public Works site. Don Volk also showed a video illustrating the breakage and repair of vitrified clay pipes (VCP). There are 134,000 linear feet of vitrified clay pipe within the City that were installed before 1975 and now have become very brittle with age. The Utility Dept. is in the process of televising all the pipes to identify where cracks and leaks exist and to repair them with new non-intrusive sewer pipe liner technology. Repairs will prevent inflow and infiltration and reduce the effect of both ground water and surface water on the sewer system. Staff is recommending that all needed repairs be addressed this year, however, the cost is estimated to be $25,500 over budget. Staff is recommending that City Council amend the budget by transferring the balance from the sewer operating fund to accomplish needed repairs. Council directed staff to prepare resolutions which would amend the 2002 budget in order to complete the cleanup of the Public Works Facility site and to transfer $25,500 from the sewer fund to accomplish repairs of the VCP sewer pipes within the City, and to place these resolutions on a future City Council agenda for consideration. ITEM NO. 4. STATUS UPDATE OF EMPIRE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION. Economic and Community Development Director Dave Olson stated that based on population trends, the Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant will be at capacity by 2005. The agencies that have been working together on an expansion plan are Lakeville, Apple Valley, Farmington, Rosemount, Empire Township and Dakota .County. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (VICES) is proposing to expand the treatment plant from 12 million gallons/day to 24 million gallons/day. The MCES is also • proposing to discontinue the discharge of effluent (treated wastewater) into the Vermillion River, and instead construct a pipe which would carry it to the Mississippi City Council 1~ork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -S- .River. Secondary impacts are also expected as a result of increased development in the Vermillion Watershed. Dakota County is currently studying models for stormwater management. The involved entities, in addition to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Met Council, have determined that it is in the best interests of the various entities and the environment to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the respective roles and responsibilities of each entity. The management plan attempts to control the rate and volume. Dave O. stated that the MOU would not commit the City of Lakeville to anything that is not currently being done. Failure to approve the plan would put the City at risk of being denied future sewer extension permits. City Attorney Roger Knutson has reviewed the document. If the document is approved by the City Council at a regular meeting in February or March the time line would be to issue an EAW in June and go through the necessary steps to issue a permit to expand the treatment plant by December. Council Member Luick suggested that more emphasis needs to be placed on flow rates rather than just volume. Council indicated that they are in general agreement with the intent and contents of the Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and directed staff to place the MOU on a regular Council agenda for consideration in February or March. • ITEM NO. 5. DISCUSS DAKOTA COUNTY EAST/WEST CORRIDOR STUDY PROCESS. Dave Olson distributed a map illustrating proposed Dakota County east/west corridors. Dakota County is being asked to include 170th Street east of Pilot Knob Road to the corridor study and they have stated that funding is available. The City of Farmington is also emphasizing the extension of 195th Street from Pilot Knob to Highway 3. Staff is suggesting a joint meeting of the Planning Commissions of Lakeville, Farmington and Empire Township. Dakota County will eventually present proposed plans at public open houses. Preservation of a right of way corridor in the near future is crucial to assure future alignments. Council directed staff to assist with the scheduling of a joint meeting with the Planning Commissions from Lakeville, Farmington and Empire Township to discuss the proposed east/west corridor and to continue to keep the Council apprised on the review process for the east/west corridor study. ITEM NO. 6. REVIEW REPLACEMENT OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM. • Cable Coordinator Jeff Lueders updated the Mayor and City Council Members on staff s efforts to resolve the deficiencies of the audio/visual equipment in the Council Chambers City Council Wlork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -6- and Cable Dept. control room. A majority of the equipment was installed at the time the City Hall was built (1990) and an upgrade of a few items was completed in 1996. Staff has determined that Wold Architects and EPA Audio Visual; Inc. (EPA) would be a more affordable group for consulting and redesign services than Orfield, the original designer. Jeff stated that he has worked with Wold and EPA previously and is confident in their abilities. The upgrade would be paid for by the use of franchise fees. Improvements would include new camera angles for better coverage of the meetings, a master clock, DVD capabilities, anetwork-linked computer at the podium, tape free playback capabilities, and flat screen monitors installed in the dais. Jeff L. stated that Bloomington Educational TV is an interested buyer of the existing equipment to be removed. In the absence of Council Member Mulvihill, City Administrator Bob E. passed along her comments that she felt the new equipment was needed and she was looking forward to the improvements. Council directed staff to prepare an agreement with Wold Architects and EPA Audio Visual, Inc. not to exceed $13,125 for the design of improvements to the City Council Chambers audio-video and television broadcast systems and to place the agreement on the next City Council agenda for consideration. • ITEM NO. 7. LAKEVILLE FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION SERVICE CORRECTIVE ACTION. Finance Director Dennis Feller stated that in September, 2001, the Lakeville. Volunteer Fire Relief Association received a letter from the Office of the State Auditor explaining that a volunteer firefighter had been overpaid on the deferred payment of his pension benefits. Further, a conflicting interpretation by the current State Auditor determined that the Lakeville Fire Relief bylaws are in violation of Minnesota Statutes regarding the calculation of interest earned during the period of deferral. It was also determined that the firefighter had been paid in the same manner as all other retired fire fighters who had deferred payment of their pension and it would be unfair to single him out for reimbursement of the overpayment. The State Auditor's attorney has stated that funds from the Fire Relief General Fund can be used to reimburse the Pension Fund for the overpayment. In order to prevent similar situations in the future, the Fire Relief Association bylaws must be revised and brought into compliance with all State and Federal laws, effective January 1, 2000. Council directed staff to reimburse the Lakeville Fire Relief Pension Fund with funds from the Fire Relief General Fund and to place amendment of the Fire Relief Association bylaws on the February 4, 2002 City Council agenda for . consideration. City Council Work Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -7- • ITEM NO. 8. CONSIDER ACQUISITION OF MCLEOD USA PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF DODD BLVD. AND FLAGSTAFF AVE. Dennis F. informed the City Council that McLeod USA has abandoned plans to build a telecommunications facility on 1.3-acre parcel on the southwest corner of Dodd Blvd. and Flagstaff Avenue. The City of Lakeville sold the property to McLeod in May, 2001 at a price of $85,110. After closing costs the net sale was $80,021 and funds were appropriated to the Building Fund. McLeod is now offering to sell the property back to the City for $50,000. City Engineer Keith N. has suggested that when Dodd Blvd. is upgraded in the future the property can be used as a site for a storm water holding pond. Council directed staff to proceed with the purchase of the property from McLeod USA in the amount of $50,000 with funds from the Storm Water Trunk Fund. ITEM NO.9. DISCUSS PROPOSED LEADERSHIP LAKEVILLE PROGRAM. City Administrator Bob E. described the Leadership Lakeville program as a means to seed and encourage leadership in the community. A graduate of a similar program in Helena, Montana, he stated that he also initiated a program in Fargo-Moorhead. The current • president of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce is a graduate of the northern Dakota County program that unfortunately did not continue for more than one year. The Farmington-Lakeville Rotary Club and the Lakeville Area Chamber have expressed interest and support and are represented on the Steering Committee. Dakota Electric Association has provided $3,500 as seed money to get the program underway. Leadership Lakeville is anticipated to grow and expand as members of the community learn and apply leadership skills. As the classes graduate, alumni are expected to become the momentum and motivation for continuation of the program. Council directed staff to pursue the Leadership Lakeville program. ITEM NO.10. DISCUSS SALE OF CITY PROPERTY ADJACENT TO DAKOTA HEIGHTS RESERVOIR. City Administrator Bob E. stated that residents in the Wyldewood Oaks subdivision have requested that a paved cul-de-sac be constructed at the end of Jacquard Path in order to eliminate people turning around in private driveways. The original developers of the plat have expressed an interest in the purchase of approximately two acres of city property north of Wyldewood Oaks. The Transportation Plan identifies Ixonia Avenue as the north/south connection and staff feels there would be negative reaction and opposition from neighbors if an attempt were made to connect Jacquard Path in Wyldewood Oaks • with Jacquard Path in Dakota Heights. Mayor Johnson also stated that he would be opposed to that connection. If the City Council decides to proceed with the sale of the City Council 1,TVork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -8- property, the Wyldewood Oaks developers would be willing to submit a proposal. Staff also feels that an informational neighborhood meeting would be appropriate. Council directed staff to hold a neighborhood meeting regarding the sale of approximately two acres of real property at Jacquard Path in the Wyldewood Oaks subdivision. ITEM NO. 11. SCHNIEDERMAN'S FURNITURE REQUEST REGARDING WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION CHARGES. Bob E. stated that he has had several conversations with Larry Schneiderman regarding HOM Furniture's development agreement and various credits and discounts on SAC charges received by HOM. Mr. Schneiderman believes that their furniture store was not given equal consideration and compensation for water and sewer connection credits. Staff has explained the various transportation issues and other circumstances associated with the HOM Furniture transaction, however, Mr. Schneiderman is asking for a refund of sewer and water connection charges collected in the conversion of the warehouse portion of their building to showroom space. Bob E. suggested that Mr. Schneiderman be invited to a work session in order for him to express his opinion to the City Council in a private setting. • Mayor Johnson offered to meet with Mr. Schneiderman personally to discuss his concerns. ITEM NO. 12. DISCUSS GRAVEL MINING ISSUES (BRANDTJEN PROPERTY AND EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. Empire Township has recently identified several sites outside of their Mineral Extraction Overlay District where extensive gravel mining operations may take place in the future. An amendment to their comprehensive plan would be required to allow expansion of the Mineral Extraction Overlay District. Staff was also contacted by a representative of the Brandtjen family regarding a gravel mining operation on their property south of Aggregate Industries, to be processed at the Nordic Square facility. City Council adopted an ordinance in May, 2001 temporarily prohibiting approval of new mining operations in MUSA Expansion Area B. Staff feels that protection of aggregate resources is of regional significance. The Minnesota Planning Environmental Quality Board (EQB) supports an EAW/EIS review process for the Empire project. It may be beneficial to direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Metropolitan Council to request funding from the Legislature to research in more detail the appropriate means to extract • valuable gravel resources considering existing and proposed residential growth in City Council Fork Session Minutes January 74, 2002 Page -9- Lakeville and surrounding communities prior to initiation of the EAW/EIS process. An extension of the gravel mining moratorium may also be appropriate. Council directed staff to prepare a resolution for consideration at the next Council meeting requesting the Metropolitan Council to complete a study of mineral extraction in Empire Township. ITEM NO. 13. DISCUSS POSSIBLE DATES FOR 2002 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT . Items for the 2002 City Council Retreat will include 2002-2006 CIP, the Park Dedication Budget and the Klamath Trail Feasibility Study. After some discussion it was decided to set the retreat date for February 25, 2002, beginning at 5:00 PM, or earlier, if possible. Staff will explore various possible sites to hold the meeting, including local restaurants. Council directed staff to place setting a date for a City Council Work Session/ Retreat on the next Council agenda for consideration. Staff will make arrangements for the meeting and keep Council Members informed of the details. ITEM NO. 14. OTHER BUSINESS. • City Administrator Bob E. discussed Governor Ventura's "Big Fix" plan for the State's budget. He feels it would be responsible to delay hiring new positions until after the Legislative session to determine the level of revenues that can be expected from the state. City Council agreed that a 60-day postponement would be in the best interest of all involved. Council directed staff to delay hiring of new positions until the 2002 legislative session adjourns. ITEM NO.15. ADJOURN. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, ,. J di R. Hawkins, Deputy Clerk C