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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-09 WSIn attendance: Staff: The meeting was called to order at 6 :00 pm. ITEM #1 Lakeville Grove Cemetery Minutes Lakeville City Council Work Session June 22, 2009 Mayor Holly Dahl Council Member Mark Bellows Council Member Laurie Rieb Council Member Kerrin Swecker Council Member Kevin Miller Steve Mielke, City Administrator Dennis Feller, Finance Director Daryl Morey, Planning Director Frank Dempsey, Associate Planner Judi Hawkins, Deputy City Clerk Finance Director Dennis Feller provided the Council with a history of Lakeville Grove Cemetery and possible options for the cemetery's future maintenance and operation. The two remaining cemetery board members are nearing retirement but wish to first have a plan established for the future of the cemetery. There are approximately 500 plots remaining, which is an eight to ten year supply. Also, there are living people who have purchased Tots and expect to be buried near their loved ones. Advantages and disadvantages of several possible options were discussed. State statute allows for the County to maintain a cemetery which is abandoned, however, concern exists that it will not be maintained to acceptable standards. It was suggested that a new cemetery be built in Eureka Township and joined with Lakeville Grove under the guidance of one association. Council Member Bellows suggested consideration of constructing a cremation mausoleum if there is enough open space. This might produce revenue for maintenance. Council did not express an interest in having the City assume responsibility of the Lakeville Grove Cemetery and directed staff to speak to the County staff about the County taking over. City Council Work Session Minutes June 22, 2009 Page 2- ITEM #2 Fire Relief Association Update Finance Director Dennis Feller provided an update to the Council regarding the effect the financial markets have had on Fire Relief pension funds. The economy is forcing a possible 10 -15% reduction in benefit levels to meet the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Fire Relief Association. This change would need to be approved by both parties which will necessitate reestablishing a framework for benefit levels. Possible financial scenarios are changeable will depend on the economy and the markets in the coming years. City staff and the Public Safety Committee of the City Council have met with the Fire Relief Association representatives and discussed possible funding and benefit options. The Fire Relief board members felt it would be very difficult to convince the firefighters to agree to reduce pensions voluntarily; however, a tax levy will be needed to continue at the current level. The pension is a one -time lump sum payment to retired firefighters who are at least 50 years old, and is based on a fixed amount multiplied by years of service. The City wishes to have the firefighters receive a fair settlement for their service, but also desires to be fair to the taxpayers. The Public Safety Committee of the City Council will meet with the Fire Relief Board next week to discuss pension benefit funding. ITEM #3 Southwest Industrial Area Zoning Enforcement Planning Director Daryl Morey provided an update to Council on the plan for addressing ordinance violations at several industrial businesses along Kenrick Avenue, south of County Road 70. Violations involving four businesses were reviewed and discussed by the City Council at their January 29, 2009 work session. Staff has been working with the businesses to bring their properties into compliance and while there has been some progress the progress has been slow and much remains to be completed. Associate Planner Frank Dempsey stated he has worked with representatives of the four businesses with the ordinance violations Manders Diesel Repair, Dunham Rental, Stellar Concrete Masonry, and Midland Equipment to establish a timeline for compliance. He provided a brief update on his discussions with the business representatives. He stated that Manders' representatives have stated that the poor economy is preventing them from constructing a storage building at this time; Dunham is requesting to keep the dozen or so semi- trailers he has used for storage since the 1970's; Stellar is in the process of submitting complete conditional use permit amendment application materials; and Midland will install their replacement landscaping in the fall. City Council Work Session Minutes June 22, 2009 Page -3- Council directed staff to continue to work with the property owners to prepare a business plan establishing a timeline for meeting ordinance requirements prior to the City pursuing legal action. Council agreed to allow Dunham to keep the existing semi trailers consistent with previous staff agreement on grandfather rights. ITEM #4 Argonne East Special Study Area Planning Director Daryl Morey reported that the Comprehensive Plan Update was approved by the Met. Council on June 10, 2009. As part of their approval of the 2008 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the City Council designated a special study area east of Argonne Village and south of 175 Street. As part of the special study, property owners were invited to a neighborhood open house on March 12t to discuss the study and its goals and objectives. In a survey of property owners, most of them indicated a preference for the properties in the study area to be guided for low density residential land use. Much of the discussions at the open house centered on the Lundquist and Fay properties on the south side of 175t Street. Neither of the two property owners had a strong opinion of how their property should be guided. Staff recommends the Fay and Lundquist properties be re- guided to low density residential land use consistent with the remainder of the properties in the study area. Re- guiding of the Fay and Lundquist properties from commercial to low density residential land uses would require that a Comprehensive Plan amendment be submitted to the Met. Council. Staff will notify all of the property owners in the study area of the Council's recommendation and prepare a Comprehensive Plan amendment to have the Fay and Lundquist properties re- guided to low density residential. Mr. Ron Gerk, 175t Street, was present and expressed concerns about the proposed road as depicted in the sketch. Mr. Mielke stated that there is no final road plan at this time. ITEM #5 School District 194 Pool Discussions City Administrator Steve Mielke informed the Council that the City of Lakeville will be invited to participate on a task force to study pool needs in District 194. The Minnesota Department of Education recently informed ISD 194 that the district will not be able to use lease levy financing for the pool design required to meet the district's curricular and competition needs. Mr. Mielke reviewed the history of pool issues relative to the needs and attempts to get a pool built. Council members discussed a possible community survey to determine support for a pool referendum. Currently the recreational swimming needs of the community are being met by the existing school pools and the Lifetime Fitness facility, but the competition needs are not being met. Council recommends the City participate in the pool task force which is being formed. City Council Work Session Minutes June 22, 2009 Page -4- ITEM #6a Council Board and Committee Appointments Council Board and Committee appointments were discussed. A resolution will be brought to the July 6, 2009 City Council meeting for consideration. ITEM #6b Mayor Term of Office Consideration of this topic in 2006 resulted in public input and a tie vote by the Council. Mayor Dahl feels that running for office every two years puts undue pressure and expense on the candidate and the community. If the ordinance were revised, it would take effect no sooner than 2010, with the next mayoral term. Staff will survey other cities for input and opinions. ITEM #6c Interagency Committee and Board Reports There were no reports at this time. ITEM #7 Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm. Respectfully submitted,