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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-08-04 WS ~F _ -. In attendance: Mayor Robert Johnson and Council Members .Laurie Rieb, Mark Bellows, David Luick, and Wendy Wulff. Also in attendance: City Administrator Robert Erickson, Assistant to City Administrator Brian Anderson, Director of Planning Daryl Morey, City Engineer Keith Nelson, Operations and Maintenance Director Don Volk, Finance Director Dennis Feller, Pubic Information Coordinator Sue Palm, and Fire Chief AI Braun. Item #1 Discussion -Home Pride Addition/Ixonia Avenue Extension Mr. Morey provided the Council with a .historical background of the issues pertaining to the proposed Home Pride Addition preliminary plat located on the west side of Ixonia Avenue, north of 185th Street. He stated that Home Pride Developments, Inc. has submitted a preliminary plat application requesting the subdivision of the existing parcel into three lots. In order to achieve frontage on a public street as required by the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, Ixonia Avenue must be extended to serve the subject property. The existing northerly segment of Ixonia Avenue, extending south from 180th Street, is an urban section roadway with a temporary turnaround. The existing segment of Ixonia Avenue extending north from 185th Street is a 2,300 foot long, rural section cul-de-sac. Ixonia Avenue is designated to be connected between 180th and 185th Streets as a minor collector in the City's Transportation Plan. The City Council agreed that the proposed preliminary plat is premature unless Ixonia Avenue is constructed to an urban minor collector street standard between 180th and 185th Streets consistent with the Transportation Plan. The City Council would not support a public improvement project to upgrade the rural segment of Ixonia Avenue to an urban section with sanitary sewer and water extensions unless all of the affected property owners agreed to be assessed for the improvement project. Item #2 Discussion - (Micro) Auto Dealership Zoning Study Mr. Morey addressed Council by stating that staff had been contacted by Borton Volvo to locate on a 3.7 acre parcel located west of I-35 and the new Bumper to Bumper auto parts store and Crystal Lake Automotive, and north of CSAH 46. The property is zoned C-3, General Commercial District,. which allows motor vehicle sales as a conditional use provided the outdoor display area does not exceed 30% of the gross floor area of the principal building. The Zoning Ordinance currently allows motor vehicles sales with outdoor display areas exceeding 30% of the gross floor area of the principal building as a conditional use in the C-2 District. l~ Staff is suggesting that the impacts of amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow higher end, • lower intensity new car dealerships in the C-3 District be studied to determine if specific performance standards could be established to accommodate new car dealerships with a Limited product line and limited outdoor display/storage needs. Staff has received an agreement for professional services with Schnell & Madson, Inc. to prepare a study of this nature at a cost not exceed $7,500. The City Council concurred that it would not be prudent to expend money for this zoning study, considering the ramifications this change in the zoning ordinance could have on dealerships throughout the community. They also agreed that there is an opportunity for Volvo, or any other automobile dealership, to locate on vacant C-2 zoned land at Cedar Avenue and CSAH 50. Item #3 Review -Zoning Ordinance Update Phase 2 Mr. Morey presented to Council three revisions to the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment that were recommended by the Planning Commission at their March 4, 2004 meeting as follows: 1. The proposed modification to the definition of "Family" and the proposed addition of the definition "Family, Functional" was removed from the amendment and will be reviewed at a future date. 2. Revised the wording concerning guest parking location and screening for townhouse developments. 3. Added the I-1 District conditional use permit rollover from the C-W District (this was inadvertently eliminated with the July 17, 2000 Zoning Ordinance Update). Mayor Johnson asked Council Members if they had any questions related to the Zoning and Sign Ordinance amendments recommended by staff and the Planning Commission. Council Member Wulff questioned the need for the proposed restrictions on existing animal feedlots if there are not any currently located within the city. Mr. Morey stated that our planning consultant is recommending the wording as a precautionary measure. There were no further questions. Mr. Morey stated that the proposed Zoning and Sign Ordinance amendments would be forwarded to the City Council for formal action at their April 5, 2004 regular meeting. Item #4 Review -Proposal for Official Mapping of 1-35/Co. Rd. 701nterchange Area Mr. Nelson presented the I-35/Co. Rd. 70 interchange map to the Council and informed them it has been a tedious but productive process as the City is currently working with MN DOT on performing Corsim traffic analysis, which will be completed in about three months. When this analysis is complete, the County can submit an interchange access request to MN DOT, which is expected to be completed within 1'/ years. Once the interchange access request is approved by MN DOT, staff will recommend that Council authorize an official mapping of the project. In addition, Mr. Nelson stated this project has received preliminary approval for TEA 21 funding for 2007. Council and staff then discussed options for hosting an informational open house, similar to the one held for Co. Rd. 50, to brief the public on the status of the project. The Council agreed with staff's outline of the project and recommendations. • -2- Item #5 • Update -Well #17 Water Appropriation Amendment Proposed Tiered Water Rate Structure Mr. Feller briefly outlined the information from the packet by stating that staff is recommending Council adopt atwo-tiered water rate structure. Tier one would be set at $0.84/1,000 gal. for consumption under 30,000 gallons of usage per quarter and tier two would be set at $1.00/1,000 gal. for consumption over 30,000 gallons of usage. The two-tiered water rate structure is required by the DNR in order for the City to receive their water appropriation permit, which allows them to drill additional municipal wells. In addition, Mr. Feller outlined all additional water rates that apply to irrigation meters, commercial properties, and multi-unit dwellings. The Council agreed with the proposed tiered rate structure and felt it would encourage water conservation. Council agreed to have the proposed two-tiered water rate structure brought forward at the March 15`" Council Meeting for adoption. Public Education on Water Conservation Program Ms. Palm outlined her packet to the Council and stated that the water conservation campaign needs to inform residents of the odd-even watering restriction and the :two-tiered water rate structure. The comprehensive plan informing residents of the two changes includes putting material on the web site., messages page, cable channel, press releases, mailings, and door hangers. She states this approach has worked well in previous information campaigns executed by the City. Council agreed with the materials outlined in the proposed public education program. Ifem #6 Update -Draft Speed Hump Policy Mr. Volk addressed the .Council and stated they inquired about two remaining issues from the February 11t" Work Session. The first was the City's liability in regards to reducing the emergency vehicle response time due to installation of speed humps. The second was the inquiry about the bus company's response to speed humps. Mr. Volk stated that after some research the City could not accrue excess liable for installing speed humps that may inadvertently reduce emergency vehicle response time. He went on' to state that if the City follows uniform traffic control standards, which it historically has, then no additional liability could be assessed to the City for the installation of speed humps. Mr. Volk then informed the Council that local bus companies stated speed humps would be construed as a nuisance and they would slow down route time and cause damage to their vehicles. Bus companies also stated they would circumvent their routes around .speed humps for these reasons. City's around the country are adopting similar policies to help manage and warrant speed humps on municipal roads. It was then decided that Mr. Volk would call ISD 194 Director of Business Services Lonnie Smith and ask him to request a written response from Schmitty and Sons School Bus Company. In addition, the Mayor will officially request at a future Council Meeting that staff send a copy of the draft speed hump policy to the Vermilion Springs residents, Schmitty and Sons, ALF, Fire Department, and the Police Department for their input. n -3- . ,. Item #7 • Update - 2003 ISO Fire Insurance Classification Mr. Anderson addressed the Council by stating Lakeville's fire insurance rating score improved by 3.19% in the 2003 Public Protection Classification performed on the City. However, it was not enough to move Lakeville's rating from a four to a three. Therefore, Lakeville's fire insurance rating continues to be Class 4/9, which is positive considering Lakeville is a growing community with a paid on call fire department. Mr. Anderson went on to explain the rating process and listed several recommendations that Lakeville could execute to increase their rating in the future. Chief Braun went on to state that many of the recommendations were not cost beneficial, but that certain steps would be taken to improve the fire rating. Item #8 Update -City Official Exchange Program (Council Member Wendy Wulff) Council Member Wulff outlined her agenda with New Ulm Council Member Ruth Ann Webster in the Walking a Mile City Official Exchange Program. She briefly stated she would be visiting New Ulm April 6th, and that Ms. Webster would be visiting Lakeville April 19th. Council Member Wulff then stated the places she would be showing Ms. Webster and the individuals they would be meeting. Ms. Webster is primarily interested in Lakeville's business .economic development. Ms. Webster will also be attending the April 19th Council Meeting to better understand how Lakeville conducts their meetings. Item #9 Interviews -Planning Commission and Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Committee. Council interviewed five candidates for the committee vacancies from 7:00 - 8:15. Other Business No other business was discussed. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. .Respectfully/Submitted, Brian J. Anderson Assistant to City Administrator -4-