HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-28-10 WSMinutes
Lakeville City Council Work Session
June 28, 2010
In attendance: Mayor Holly Dahl
Council Member Mark Bellows
Council Member Laurie Rieb
Council Member Kerrin Swecker
Council Member Kevin Miller
Staff: Steve Mielke, City Administrator
Dennis Feller, Finance Director
Dave Olson, Community and Economic Development Director
Daryl Morey, Planning Director
Sue Palm, Communications Manager
Char Friedges, City Clerk
Judi Hawkins, Deputy City Clerk
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.
ITEM #1 — Community and Business Survey Results
City Administrator Steve Mielke introduced representatives Dr. Bill Morris and Mr. Peter
Leatherman from Decision Resources. At their April 2010 work session, Council directed
Decision Resources to conduct two separate surveys within the City. One survey was of
400 randomly selected households and the other was of 294 randomly selected businesses
in the community. Both surveys were conducted in May and June and were completed
with only a 2.5% non - response rate. The survey is accurate to within ( + / -) 4% and
provides a valid measure of public perceptions regarding taxes, budgeting, and
prioritization of City services. The results will assist the Council with decision - making
regarding the financial and economic issues as the 2011 -2012 budget is prepared. The
City has not yet received their full report and additional information is forthcoming.
Dr. Morris and Mr. Leatherman presented the survey results and their analysis of the data.
Several items were highlighted:
• Suburbanization has not occurred as much in Lakeville as in other areas of the county,
which contributes to the city maintaining its small town atmosphere.
• 85% of the respondents gave the city in general a "good or excellent" score; of those,
40% said there was "nothing" they don't like.
• Only 8% have plans to move out of the city in the next five years. The reasons most
often given were that they are going to a warmer climate or downsizing.
City Council Work Session Minutes
June 28, 2010
Page -2-
• The most significant areas of lower City service ratings were in outdoor ice rinks and
road maintenance.
• There has been a gradual increase since 2001 in the percentage of people who are giving
an "excellent" rating to essential services (police, fire, stormwater, etc.).
• Asked if they would support a tax increase to maintain services at their current level,
38% said they would be in favor while 57% were opposed. Dr. Morris labeled this a
"moderately hostile tax climate ".
• Residents appear to prefer to receive their communication in print, with 70% reading
"Messages" and 74% reading newspapers; electronic communication was third.
• The analysis of the results shows the overall number of city boosters has gone from 18%
to 40 %, which is significantly above the norm of metro area communities.
• It is recommended that internet capability and service be increased in the next few years
in order to deliver the service that will be required, especially by the younger families.
Council members requested a copy of comparisons to previous years.
The business community survey was conducted with approximately 3% not responding.
• The largest business base is the service industry, followed by retail and manufacturing.
40% of businesses surveyed are members of the Chamber of Commerce.
• When asked why they located in Lakeville, the overwhelming response was "location ".
85% feel the business climate is good or excellent.
• Asked what they liked least, 51 % said there was nothing they don't like. Only 3% plan
to move in the next five years.
• Asked if they would support a tax increase to maintain services at their current level,
only 11 % would be in favor, with 68% opposed. Again, Dr. Morris called this a
"moderately hostile tax climate ".
• When asked if they would favor or oppose cuts in City services if they would reduce
their current City business property taxes, 41 % indicated that they would favor cuts.
• Overall, the business community showed a very high satisfaction rating and feels the
business atmosphere is good or excellent. They are mostly concerned about taxes,
though not as concerned as businesses in other communities.
• Lakeville is very unique in that the business community and the residents have very
similar satisfaction levels.
After analyzing the data, Decision Resources recommends improving communications,
especially to the business community, and increasing awareness of the breakdown of taxes
and the reality of what percentage actually goes to city services.
Decision Resources will be invited to a future Council meeting to present their complete
survey results to the community.
City Council Work Session Minutes
June 28, 2010 Page -3-
ITEM #2 — Social Media Policy
Communications Manager Sue Palm provided information on the use of social media tools
in government. Social media are tools for sharing and discussing information via the
Internet for the purpose of improving interaction between the City and the public, thereby
reaching the residents who may not use traditional methods of communication.
Many government agencies have adopted policies and standards for implementing various
avenues of social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. The suggested policies
recommend only two or three people would be authorized to post messages or respond to
comments on the site.
The Council was provided with the following draft policies and guidelines for their
consideration:
• Lakeville Social Media Policy
• Facebook Standards
• Employee Policy for City Social Media Use
• City Council Policy for City Social Media Use
• Implementation Proposal
Council Members asked how much additional staff time and oversight this will involve.
Lakeville Liquors' social media page will be launched initially as a test site and should
provide an assessment of how staff is able to handle the additional work load. Every
comment will not require a response but the site will need to be monitored daily. City
Attorney Roger Knutson has recommended approval of the draft policies received by
Council prior to moving forward.
Council directed staff to use the proposed policies to proceed with creating and launching
a Lakeville Liquors Facebook page and to assess the value and process during the next two
months.
ITEM #3 — Tattoo /Body Piercing Ordinance Revisions
Lakeville City Code currently requires that the person operating a tattoo or body piercing
establishment or any person engaging in these practices, be licensed by the City of
Lakeville. At the March 22, 2010 work session, Council was informed of a bill being
proposed in the Legislature which for the first time would require tattoo and body piercing
establishments to be licensed by the State. That bill has since been signed into law and
will become effective July 1, 2010. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will be
responsible for implementing the law. There is only one business in Lakeville that
currently holds a tattoo /body piercing license.
City Council Work Session Minutes
June 28, 2010 Page -4-
Lakeville's current ordinance requires that health and sanitation conditions be met and
requires the City to conduct a random inspection of each facility each year to insure
compliance. The license holder must also have the facility inspected annually by a health
professional. An establishment operating in the City of Lakeville may be exempt from the
new statute if the City Code meets or exceeds the provisions of the State law. With the
State Statute now including additional health and safety standards that are not listed in the
City Code, this will not be the case. By repealing Lakeville's ordinance the City would
relinquish control and standards to the State and would no longer have the responsibility of
compliance inspections.
Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance repealing Title 3, Chapter 18, of the
Lakeville City Code in its entirety.
ITEM #4 — Kenrick Avenue Connection Project
City staff has initiated discussions with landowners in order to extend Kenrick Avenue
between the Highway 50 business district at175` Street and the TimberCrest commercial
area at 181 Street, east of the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks. Staff believes this is an
important link in the City's transportation plan and will provide the residents from this area
with an additional outlet. The property owner, Fortune Realty, is in favor of the project
and has agreed in concept to the resulting special assessments that the project would
entail, deferring with interest until the adjoining lots are sold. Other businesses are also
supportive. Construction of the improvement project would be scheduled for 2011. The
preliminary cost estimate for the project is $1,873,000. This will result in debt service of
approximately $158,000 per year for 20 years, beginning in 2012.
Council directed staff to place the assessment agreement on a future agenda and to proceed
with informing residents and business owners who will be affected by the roadway
improvement project.
ITEM #5 — Review Application for Designation of Transit Improvement Areas
Community and Economic Development Director Dave Olson stated that the Minnesota
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is soliciting applications
for designations of Transit Improvement Areas (TIA). These designations are created to
allow local units of government to be eligible to apply for state loans to assist in the
funding of projects to "increase the effectiveness of transit" by incorporating commercial,
residential, or mixed use development in the areas along transit lines. The State has not
funded this program; however, federal funds are increasingly availability for transit and
sustainable communities. DEED has also been asked to consider approving designations of
TIAs to allow local units of government to seek other sources of funding for these types of
projects.
City Council Work Session Minutes
June 28, 2010 Page -5-
Due to the number of inquires being received regarding the possible development of
properties adjacent to the Cedar Avenue Park and Ride on 181" Street, staff is suggesting
that the City submit an application for designation of a TIA for the Cedar Park and Ride,
even though there are no specific projects proposed at this time. Water and sewer services
will have to come through another property to get to this area, which may impede
development in the near future. DEED has indicated that there will likely be future
opportunities for designations of TIAs, particularly if State funding is appropriated for this
program in the future.
Council directed staff to prepare a resolution for Council consideration at the July 16`
Council meeting which would authorize submittal of an application for designation of a
Transit Improvement Area for the Lakeville Cedar Park and Ride.
ITEM #6 — MUSA Extension Review
Planning Director Daryl Morey gave a historic overview of Lakeville's Comprehensive Plan
which establishes MUSA staging areas. This policy of timing allows management of the
rate and location of development while maintaining an adequate land supply.
A recent analysis of available single family and townhome lots within the current MUSA
identifies 783 preliminary platted available single family lots and townhome units that have
not been final platted and developed. In addition staff identified 439 single family lots and
419 townhome units for a total of 858 lots /units currently available for construction. A
total of 1,831 acres of undeveloped, un- platted, residentially zoned land is also available
within the current MUSA. These figures do not include Spirit of Brandtjen Farms. Using a
ten -year average, there is approximately a 6 -7 year surplus of available single family lots
and an 18 -year surplus of townhome units. Some of the townhome lots could possibly be
re- platted or re- guided for single family homes. The first of these anticipated re -plats has
been submitted recently.
Staff is recommending that due to the large surplus of residentially zoned land within the
current MUSA that is available for new home construction, there is no need at this time to
open additional MUSA expansion areas. Staff suggests a follow -up study be conducted in
2011 which would include commercial and industrial properties within MUSA Expansion
Area A. The Planning Commission reviewed this information at their June 3, 2010 meeting
and concurred with staff's recommendation not to bring MUSA Expansion Area A into the
current MUSA in 2010.
Council Members inquired if smaller parcels could be brought in if an adjacent parcel is in
the MUSA. When this policy was originally adopted in 2005, it was intended that all or
none of Area A would be added. Staff believes that some extenuating circumstances could
potentially be considered, i.e., Lakeville South High School property was brought in for the
purpose of public use.
City Council Work Session Minutes
June 28, 2010
Page -6-
Rick Murray, Real Estate Coordinator for Builders Mortgage, was present and stated that his
company has received inquiries regarding more single family lots near Heritage Walk.
Their property is adjoined on two sides by property which is inside the MUSA. He would
appreciate Council consideration of bringing their property into the MUSA.
Council directed staff to follow the Planning Commission's recommendation for staff to
notify each property owner within MUSA Expansion Area A of the Council's decision
regarding the study.
ITEM #7 — Interagency Committee and Board Reports
• ALF — Jeff Cyzson will take over Susan Long's duties as Allina Paramedics Supervisor
• DCC — Three Executive Director finalists are undergoing background checks.
• 1 -35 Solutions Alliance — Developing a new set of priorities. A draft has just become
available. They are again planning fall candidate forums.
• Cedar Corridor Improvement Group — Doing some studies for the long term. There
may possibly be a presentation at the July work session.
• HiPP — There has been some discussion on reinventing the group and going back to
its original intent. There may be some associated costs; staff will keep Council
informed of any proposals coming forward.
ITEM #8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.
Respectfully submitted,