HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-07 WSMinutes
City of Lakeville
City Council Work Session
Monday, February 12, 2007
5:0o p.m.
In attendance: Mayor Holly Dahl and Council Members David Luick, Laurie Rieb, Wendy Wulff,
and Mark Bellows.
Also in attendance: City Administrator Steve Mielke, Assistant to City Administrator Brian
Anderson, City Engineer Keith Nelson, Parks and Rec. Director Steve Michaud, Finance Director
Dennis Feller, Economic Development Director Dave Olson, John Caruso, Lifetime Fitness
Representatives Bahram Akradi, Abdi Javidan, and Jason Thunstrom, and President of the
Lakeville Fire Relief Association Ed Pung.
1. Interview John Caruso for Arts Board
City Council interviewed Mr. John Caruso and then decided to appoint Ms Ann Huhn to the
Arts Center Board.
2. Lifetime Fitness Programming Discussion
Mr. Mielke informed the City Council that Lifetime Fitness was interested in removing the two
racket ball courts they had originally agreed to build in exchange for a larger teen center in their
Lifetime Fitness club that is currently being constructed on 185th and Dodd Blvd. Mr. Akradi
stated that it was an oversight on his part that the two racket ball courts were ever left in the
Lakeville plan. Racket ball across the nation has been declining in popularity and Lifetime is
concentrating bracket ball courts at only certain facilities. In order to operate a successful racket
ball program, there needs to be at least eight courts in order to host leagues.
The teen center expansion is geared towards those ages eight to thirteen who go to the gym with
their parents but are two old for the child center and not old enough to work out. With the high
population of children in Lakeville, Lifetime Fitness felt it was a much better use of space to
eliminate the racket ball courts and expand the teen center that will be filled with activities such
as ping pong, air hockey, danceworks, and other entertainment activities.
As a condition to their proposed change, Lifetime has agreed to send out letters to all members
who have recently signed up informing them of the change. In addition, letters have been sent
out to those currently using the Burnsville facility to redirect them to a Lifetime facility that
supports a racket ball program being that facility is scheduled to close one week prior to
Lakeville's opening. City Council supported their proposed change as they felt it was in the best
interest of the City.
3. Farmington Sanitary Sewer Agreement
Mr. Nelson addressed the City Council by stating that following direction received at the City
Council Work Session on September 14, 2006, staff has continued negotiations with the City of
Farmington. A draft Joint Powers Agreement between Farmington and Lakeville has been
developed and provides for the design, construction, and maintenance of a trunk sanitary sewer
interceptor to serve Lakeville's Farmington Outlet Sewer District. Initially, Farmington planned
to construct sewer along Flagstaff Avenue from the MCES Interceptor south of CR 5o to tooth
Street, and a subsequent project would extend the pipe to Lakeville's border just north of 200th
Street. Due to the uncertainty of when the pipe would be constructed from Flagstaff to the
Lakeville border, who would design and acquire right of way, and what the actual construction
cost would be, staff and our City Attorney thought it would be more desirable to construct the
pipe now as one project. The drawback is that this may bring pressure to guide this area for
development sooner than desired.
The City will have to define a 2030 MUSA for our upcoming Comprehensive Plan. Based on
discussion with NAC, anticipated land necessary to accommodate the projected growth may
include this entire area plus portions west of I -35. The City will also have to show staged growth
in 5 year increments within the 2030 MUSA. This area could be staged as early as 2015
depending on land use and density to meet the projected population estimates.
An alternative to the interceptor sewer would be a lift station at the proposed meter location
with a force main extending along Cedar Avenue to the MCES pipe at 215th Street. SEH
estimated this cost at $2,920,000. Lakeville's maximum cost in accordance with Alternative 2
would not exceed $2,920,000, and could be less if bids are under estimate.
City staff has met with the Metropolitan Council on several occasions since the Elko -New
Market Interceptor was proposed back in 2002. Several studies and options were evaluated for
this facility and one option included a MCES lift station, force main, and gravity sewer along
Flagstaff Avenue to serve Farmington and Lakeville's Farmington Outlet. At our last meeting
with Met Council, we received the attached handout "City of Lakeville Cost Sharing Discussion."
Before discussion on this item began transit was brought in as part of the negotiation. No
agreement was reached.
Mr. Feller stated that financing for the City's $2.9m portion would come from the sale of 25 year
bonds. Partnering with Farmington to install the infrastructure now would be a win /win for
everyone being the City would not have the liability or have to pay for the operating expense,
which has been estimated to cost $50,000 per year for a project this large.
Mr. Mielke informed the City Council that from a community development perspective, there
will be pressure to open up the area around the Farmington outlet once this sewer line is
installed. However, this area can be managed through the City's comp plan update that has
already started. Never the less, the City will be pressured to open up that area once this sewer
line is installed and must be managed through good growth management. In addition, the City
should expect the Met Council to bring up transit while negotiating this sewer line. To the City's
advantage, the Met Council will need to pull permits from Lakeville in order to install a trunk
line out to Elko /New Market.
The City Council was in favor of the project being it's the less expensive option for the City. By
waiting and installing their own line, the City would have that liability, several thousand in
annual operating expense, no possible funds from the Met Council, and the future increased cost
of building the needed sewer line. City Council direct staff to proceed with the JPA process with
Farmington and negotiations with the Met Council.
4. Park Dedication Ordinance
Mr. Michaud addressed the City Council by stating that staff had presented the Park Capital
Improvement Plan to the EDC on January 30th and the Parks, Recreation, and Natural
Resources Committee on January 31st. Both boards were complimentary of the effort to
complete a detailed, long -term plan and endorsed the notion as recommended by staff. The
discussion amongst both boards revolved around amount, timing, and the need for good
research as to the citizens' willingness to pay for future improvements. Both boards suggested
special emphasis be placed on developing meaningful questions in the upcoming survey to
provide that valuable information.
Some of the EDC members thought a significant referendum might be more prudent now, so as
to take advantage of land prices existing today because waiting will certainly be more expensive.
Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Committee members also supported a referendum,
but like the EDC, encouraged staff to include the necessary questions in this year's survey to
provide the Committee and City Council adequate information to formulate a sound approach to
funding future park acquisition development priorities.
Mr. Feller highlighted the financial component of the Park Capital Improvement Financing
Plan. Staff is recommending the Park Dedication Fees be increased by 9% in 2008 as outlined
in the packet. In addition, staff will seek community input as to the level of taxation they are
willing to support for Park improvements. Questions will be included in the upcoming
community survey to ascertain the tax level residents would be willing to support for park
acquisitions and improvements. Based on the outcome of the community survey, the Park
Improvement Plan would be resubmitted to the City Council in mid -2007 for their consideration
of a recommended financing option. City Council agreed with staffs recommendation and
directed staff to bring forth the Park Improvement Plan for consideration at the February loth
City Council meeting.
5. Fire Relief Bylaws
Mr. Feller informed the City Council that in the past several years the Minnesota Legislation has
approved pension legislation which affects the Lakeville Fire Relief Association. The Lakeville
Fire Relief Board of Directors retained the services of Minnesota Firefighter Pension
Consultants to assist with updating the By -laws to be in conformance with State and Federal
pension laws and regulations. Minnesota Firefighter Pension Consultants also provides the
Board with trustee training and ongoing support of pension issues.
Minnesota Firefighter Pension consultants have therefore provided a restated set of By -laws and
Articles of Incorporation of the Lakeville Fire Relief Association. The City Council supported the
recommendation as it updates the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation with current state
statute. They directed staff to bring forth the restated By -laws and Articles of Incorporation of
the Lakeville Fire Department Relief Association to an upcoming City council meeting for
consideration.
6. Downtown Action Plan Process
Mr. Olson addressed the City Council by stating that the recently approved Downtown
Development Guide included recommendations for its implementation. Included in these
recommendations is the development of an "annual Downtown Action Plan." The Annual
Action plan is to be a means of focusing on current actions to be taken. The guide suggests that
the Annual Action plan be prepared with the input of downtown stakeholders such as the
Lakeville Business Association, Art Center Board, Lake Marion Property Owners association, CP
Railway, and others. Staff is recommending that the City solicit input through publicizing
possible action items for the coming year through the use of Messages, Cable Channel 16, the
City's web site, and distributing the information via the list serve that was established during the
preparation of the development guide.
Mr. Olson then outlined the list of items that were to be considered for the 2007 Action Plan
which was previously approved in the Downtown Development Guide. In addition to the list,
Mr. Olson stated several new market driven projects currently taking place downtown that effect
items listed in the Downtown Development Guide. The City is currently working with the
property owners to create a plan that is a win /win for both the City and the property owner. Mr.
Mielke stated that the City must be flexible in regards to this plan as they are merely
recommendations and the details were to be dealt with as plans develop. Mr. Mielke stated that
some of these projects will require some sort of public financing in order to occur. City Council
agreed with the recommendations and directed staff to proceed with developing the 2007
Annual Action Plan and bringing it forth to a future City Council meeting for consideration.
7. 2007 Community Survey
Mr. Anderson informed the City Council that at the January 22 work session, City Council
reviewed the first draft of the 2007 Community Survey and made three recommendations to
staff. First, they felt the Community Survey should be considerably shorter in order to reduce
both the time it takes to complete the survey and the overall cost of the survey. Second, City
Council felt that questions inquiring about tax increases should be grouped together in order to
receive an accurate response. Third, City Council wanted staff to inquire about waste hauler
traffic and choices.
After a brief discussion regarding each of the three items, City Council agreed with the proposed
cuts made to the community survey and made a few minor changes. They also agreed that the
three tax increasing questions no longer needed to be grouped together being the survey has
been shortened considerably. Finally, they agreed that no questions were needed regarding
waste hauling The directed staff to continue working with Decision Resources on with the
community survey process.
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brian J. Anderson
Assistant to City Administrator