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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-04 WSCOUNCIL WORK SESSION. MINNUTES . FEBRUARY 11, 2004 @ 5:00 PM FIRE STATION NO.2 In attendance: Mayor Robert Johnson and Council Members Laurie Rieb, Mark Bellows, David Luick, and Wendy Wulff. Also in attendance: City Administrator Robert A. Erickson, Assistant to City Administrator Brian Anderson, Assistant Fire Chief Jim Kill, Operations and Maintenance Director Don Volk, City Engineer Keith Nelson, Finance Director Dennis Feller, EKS Representative .Dave Edmunds, WSB Representative. Bret Weiss, Park and Recreation Director Steve Michaud, and Sathe & Associates Representative Greg Albrecht. Tour of Fire Station No. 2 Assistant Fire Chief Jim Kill provided the Council with a tour of newly remodeled Fire Station No. 2. The remodeling project included removing paneling and installing drywall, painting the meeting and day rooms, refurbishing the bathrooms, replacing the countertop and kitchen appliances, replacing light fixtures, window blinds and furniture, and replacing the old generator and apparatus bay doors. Council was informed the total project came in on budget and cost $104,040. The Council was impressed with the remodeling project and commended staff for their work. 1. Item # 2 Update -Draft Speed Hump Policy Mr. Volk provided the Council with a brief background description of speed humps as outlined in the Speed Hump memo in the work session packet.. He then outlined the major changes to the most recent draft of .the Speed Hump Policy including property owners who pay for the installation of speed humps will also be required to pay for their removal at the same time. In addition, the City would collect $2,000 upfront to pay for a neighborhood traffic study that ensures the proposed speed humps will not negatively affect adjacent neighborhoods. Mr. Volk then stated that most cities discourage the installation of speed humps and install them only if they are necessary. Mayor Johnson then inquired about a legal opinion regarding the City's liability for installing speed humps that could inadvertently reduce emergency vehicle response time. Mr. Erickson stated that staff would research that along with asking the school bus companies for their input regarding speed humps and bus service. Direction: Council directed staff to provide a response regarding bus operations and emergency vehicle response liability at the next work session. 2. Item # 1 Update - Sathe & Associates Staff was asked to leave the .room while Council received an update on the City Administrator search process from Mr. Albrecht. • Direction: No direction required. 3. Item # 3 Discussion Regarding Amended DNR Water Appropriation Permit Mr. Erickson informed the Council that the. DNR has now required the City to implement a tiered or block water rate structure in order for well #17 to go online. Mayor Johnson stated that it's a conservation measure they are requiring of all cities and it doesn't appear to be avoidable. Mr. Erickson then distributed a tiered water user rates memo and spreadsheet created by staff that illustrated how much water consumption single family and townhouse units historically have used and how they will be affected by the tiered water rate structure. Mr. Feller recommended setting tier 1 for usage under 30,000 gallons and tier 2 for usage over 30,000 gallons. He explained that during the first quarter for both the dry year of 2003 and the wet year of 2002 showed .the same percentage of housing units using 26,000 - 30,000 gallons and 31,000 - 35,000 gallons, 93% and 97% respectively. In addition, Mr. Erickson stated that staff has looked at other cities tiered rate structures and have found this tier threshold is consistent with theirs. Mr. Feller then went over the proposed price structure for each tier and proposed that prices remain at $0.84/1,000 gallons for tier 1 and $1.00/1,000 gallons for tier 2. Council agreed with staffs findings for setting tier 1 at 0-30,000 gallons and tier 2 at 31,000+ gallons, and increasing the price to $1.000/1,000 gallons in tier 2 is reasonable and justifiable. Council Member Wulff then inquired ..about how .the additional revenue would be allocated. Mr. Erickson stated the funds could be used towards a new water tower and other water related infrastructure. Council Member Luick felt that citizens might construe the additional revenue as a tax instead of a water rate increase. Mr. Erickson stated. that money could be directed back into conservation programs such as drilling irrigation wells • for Homeowner Associations, which would help reduce the peak. The Council agreed with staff's research and preliminary recommendations. Direction: Council agreed with staff's recommendations and would like the recommendations to be brought forward at the next Work Session along with the public education water conservation program for the new water rates. 4. Item # 4 Presentation Burnsville Surface Water Treatment Plant Proposal Mr. Edmunds distributed a report to the Council that provided background information on Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. and outlined their surface water plant proposal. The proposal includes the construction of a 4-6 million gallon per day (MGD) surface water treatment plant in Burnsville that could potentially serve Burnsville, Savage, and Lakeville if approved. Along with several other characteristics outlined in the council packet, proposed financing would come from the State of Minnesota (50%), EKS (25%), and City Partners (25%). Mr. Nelson explained to the Council the plant could help Lakeville reduce their well interference claims, as it would be able to serve the residents in the northwest section of the City by pumping less water out of the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer. Council Member Wulff then stated the City would be saving money being the plant would take place of at least one new municipal well and would help reduce the overall peak demand. Council Member Luick then inquired about the possibilities of the plants future expansion. • Mr. Edmund explained the initial plant would probably be a 4 MGD plant with the capabilities of expanding to at least a 6 MGD plant in the future, depending on the State's interest. Council Member Rieb inquired about the City's cost. Mr. Erickson stated the City would not be making any financial commitments at this time and no estimated costs -2- .for the City have been determined. He then stated the EKS and City Partners needs to • find out if the State is at all interested in the project. It is very important this .project is conveyed as a regional water conservation project to the State. In addition, there are trunk water mains interconnecting Lakeville,- Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, and Farmington, which wilt contribute to the success of this project. Council Member Luick then inquired about the use of the plant in 15 years when mining operations are complete by EKS. Mr. Edmunds stated they would allow the reservoir to naturally fill up, allowing water to be pumped and treated by the plant. Also, water could be taken out of the Minnesota River and treated. However, those decisions will need to be made several years from now, but he assured the council that the plant would continue to treat water for municipal purposes. Direction: Mr. Nelson will give a presentation at the February 17th Council Meeting and present a Resolution Establishing a Beneficial Water Supply to Reduce Appropriation of Groundwater and Protect Natural Resources. 5. Item # 5 Presentation Feasibility Reports: a) Jacquard Avenue; b) CSAH 70 Sanitary Sewer Extension Mr. Nelson provided a brief overview of both projects to the Council and stated ISD #194 provided a letter of credit for the funding of Jacquard. They prefer to have the City oversee the construction of the Jacquard project and allow ISD #194 to reimburse the City for the project. Mr. Nelson then handed out a letter addressed to the City from DR Horton and stated additional funding will come from adjacent developers, referring to the letter they sent requesting the construction of Jacquard. Mr. Nelson stated that Jacquard should go out for bid very soon if it's going to be built this year. Mr. Erickson stated that Jacquard Avenue and CSAH 70 Sanitary Sewer Extension are two separate projects and one does not rely on the other. Mr. Erickson then suggested that WSB be allowed to complete the final plans and specification for Jacquard Avenue and allow staff to acquire the right-of-way access needed for -the project. Once the right- of-way acquisition has been completed, staff could then present the project to Council and recommend that a bid .date be set. The CSAH 70 Sanitary Sewer project can't move forward until the design is completed for the-Stone Borough development. The Council agreed with his suggestion.. Mr. Erickson handed out a cost estimate, prepared by WSB, to reconstruct 210t" Street from Dodd to Kensington. Mr. Erickson stated it would cost $4 million to reconstruct 210tH Street. He then stated that Dodd, Ipava, and CSAH 70 are also in need of reconstruction being the new community center will be located on Dodd and 185t" Street. Council Member Wulff stated that Dodd, Ipava, and CSAH 70 take priority over 210tH Street at this time. The other Council Members agreed. Direction: Council directed WSB to complete final plans and specifications for Jacquard Avenue. City staff will acquire the right-of-way access needed for the project. Once the right-of-way acquisition has been completed, staff will then present the project to the Council and recommend a bid date. The Council tentatively set their next Work Session for Monday, March 8t", 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall. That date will get approved at the February 17t" Council Meeting. -3- 6. Item # 6 Updafe on Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Granf Application Mr. Michaud provided the Council with an overview of the grant application that Lakeville proposed for the Dakota County Natural Areas Program. Dakota County reviewed 22 grant applications for the Natural Areas Grant Program and Lakeville's 17-acre proposal located north of the existing East Lake (Tutewohl Property) Community Park, ranked 4m overall. Mr. Michaud then outlined on his exhibit the location of the property and stated all the features of the property as outlined in the council packet. In addition, he stated that he received preliminary information from Dakota County that Lakeville would receive $625,000 to assist with the acquisition. The County Board will make the final recommendation at their upcoming February 17, 2004 meeting. The Council was very pleased with the high ranking of the proposal and staffs efforts in pursuing the favorable outcome. Direction: No direction required. 7. Item # 7 Lakeville Community Center ad hoc Committee Appointments Mr. Erickson provided the Council with a revised ad hoc committee list and stated that ISD #192 now has representative.. However, ISD #196 chose not to participate in the ad hoc committee at this time. The Council expressed their disappointment at which time Mr. Erickson suggested that Mayor Johnson could call the Chair of the Board in an attempt to receive participation from ISD #196. Council Member Luick then suggested that a member of the Ministerial group would be beneficial on the ad hoc committee. The Council concurred and Mr. Erickson stated he'd fulfill their request. The Councif felt the list represented awell-balanced group of community representatives who will fulfill the committee's purpose. Direction: Mr. Erickson will seek. an individual from the Ministerial group to serve on the ad hoc committee. Also, the newly revised list of Lakeville Community Center Ad Hoc Committee members will be considered for appointment by Council at the February 17 Council Meeting. 8. /fem # 8 Consider Resolution Supporting State Financial Assistance for the MN Zoo Mr. Erickson informed the Council that cities in Dakota County have been asked to show their support for the Minnesota Zoo's financial request and Apple Valley has already passed their resolution supporting such a request. He then informed- the Council there were no financial obligations involved in passing a similar resolution and that it was simply assisting the Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, and. our Legislators. Direction: Staff will prepare and Mayor Johnson will present the Resolution Supporting State Financial Assistance for the Minnesota Zoo at the February 17th Council Meeting. 9. Other Business No other business was discussed. 10. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brian J. Anderson Assistant to City Administrator -4-