Nowthen City Council Workshop meeting, November 9, 2017
City CouncilThursday, November 9, 2017
Agenda
Not on file
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not on file
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
One-line summary
Council held a workshop focused on code enforcement process changes, comprehensive plan land use mapping/outreach, and road improvement planning, with several items handled by consensus (including returning the 5-year road plan for rework and setting a January 8 open house).
What was on the agenda
16 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
- Withdrawn
1.aGreg & Linda Lindgren and Brent Hedberg lot split request (22851 Jarvis St.)
Request for a lot split to split off 10 acres from a 25.67 parcel.
The requested lot split to separate 10 acres from a 25.67-acre parcel was not heard because additional information requested by the planner had not been received; council consensus was to remove the item from the meeting agenda.
Removed from the meeting agenda by consensus because requested additional information had not been received.
- Lindgren/Hedberg lot split
p. 1City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Greg & Linda Lindgren and Brent Hedberg (22851 Jarvis St. 06-33- 25-22-0001) - Request for a lot split to split off 10 acres from a 25.67 parcel - No additional information that Stockman requested has come in. The consensus is to remove this from the meeting agenda. - Tabled
1.bCode enforcement process / City code amendment (sample pre-notice letter; citation process)
Discussed a sample letter to send before an Administrative Notice/Citation, potential ordinance/process changes, and timeframes; council discussed roles (Deputy Clerk) and deferring edits.
Council reviewed a proposed pre-notice letter and discussed changing the city’s code enforcement process, including who should send the initial letter and how ordinances and timelines would be referenced. Council agreed to table the administrative citation process change item and remove it from the agenda, planning to revisit it in December along with the related code enforcement process/city code amendment discussion.
Council later agreed to table and remove from the agenda for discussion in December along with item 4.d.
- Code enforcement process and administrative citation program
p. 1City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Code Enforcement Process/City Code Amendment - Stockman presented a sample letter that would go out before the actual Administrative Notice and Administrative Citation.p. 1City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Pilon would like to see some changes to the letter. He would also like the Council to look at it and bring it up next month instead of ironing it out tonight.p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - Draft for discussion Administration Citation Program Process Change - The Council consensus was to table this and remove it from the agenda for discussion in December along with item 1.b. Code Enforcement Process/City Code Amendment. - No action
1.cCode enforcement updates
No updates were given.
- Code enforcement
p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)c). Code Enforcement Updates - No updates were given. - Discussion only
1.dComprehensive plan update discussion (commercial/industrial land use and park & trail plan)
Discussed draft map and outreach letter for possible commercial/light manufacturing expansion areas, resident feedback, and open house scheduling; also discussed park & trail dedication fee clarification to return to P&Z.
The planner reported attending a meeting about the sale of the Bearman Wildlife Management Area, telling the DNR the City would like to obtain the property and discussing wetland/upland constraints. The property was described as going to auction on December 18 with a minimum bid based on county figures, and staff described a sequence if it does not sell, including a later 75% offering to neighbors and a possible legislative request for a variance from state statutes if it still does not sell.
Council and staff discussed a draft land use map and outreach letter describing possible commercial/light manufacturing expansion areas and emphasized the map was for resident feedback rather than a final expansion decision. Residents spoke against being included in possible expansion areas, and council discussed whether all potential areas should be shown at once. Council directed specific edits to the draft map and scheduled an open house for January 8, 2018 at 6:00 PM at City Hall, with staff to update the map and adjust the letter before mailing.
Staff asked to bring the Park and Trail Dedication Fee back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion and clarification, stating it had been applied to newly created lots rather than existing lots. Council consensus was to return the issue to the commission and recommend ordinance changes to align with the intended approach.
Workshop discussion with council consensus on map edits and scheduling an open house; no formal vote recorded.
- 2040 Comprehensive Plan land use map outreach
- Park and Trail Dedication Fee clarification
p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Comp Plan Update Discussion - Commercial Industrial Land Use and Park & Trail Plan -Pilon said that the map is just a draft to get residents feedback and get their input and see what they think to help guide the Council.p. 4City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)The Council consensus is to have Stockman remove the area north of 201st Ave, include adding an area onto the South East side of CR 22 and Nowthen Blvd. (past the church), some area West of Nowthen Blvd on the South side of CR 22 and to include a strip from the border of Elk River along 181st Ave to Baugh St.p. 4City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)The Open House will be scheduled for Monday, January 8th at 6:00 PM at the City Hall.p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Stockman is also asking that the Park and Trail Dedication Fee be brought back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion and final clarification.p. 2City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Council consensus is to bring this back to the Planning and Zoning Commission and recommended changes to the ordinance to the intent. - Continued
2.aRCA - Five (5) year Road Improvement Plan
Discussed proposed five-year road plan, assessment policy, feasibility needs, and funding; council sent plan back to Road & Bridge Committee to rework with $400,000/year target and 50% assessment.
Council reviewed a proposed five-year road improvement plan and debated priorities such as overlays in Pinnaker Lake Estates and Krypton St., how to address Old Viking Blvd., and whether the city can fund the plan without significant levy increases or higher assessments. Discussion included concerns about overlay performance on roads with crack filling and the need for feasibility studies before assessing residents. Council consensus was to send the five-year plan back to the Road and Bridge Committee to rework it around $400,000 per year and a 50% assessment, and Breyen indicated he would revise the 2018 overlay RCA to request feasibility studies for Old Viking Blvd. and Pinnaker Lake Estates.
Returned to committee for rework and to come back with revised plan parameters.
- Five-year road improvement plan and assessments
p. 4City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - Five (5) year Road Improvement Plan - Breyen said that the Engineer Nelson and Glaze went out and looked at all the roads.p. 5City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Reighard said just looking at the numbers alone, where are we going to come up with the money. How do we propose to pay for this? It is an average of $341,000 per year that they would have to put in the Road Improvement Fund to cover the cost of this proposed five (5) year plan.p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Council consensus is to send the 5 year Road Improvement Plan back to the Road and Bridge Committee to rework the plan and come back with a plan of improvements of $400,000 per year with a 50% assessment amount. - Discussion only
2.bRCA - 2018 Overlay Recommendation
Engineer and council discussion about feasibility study and overlay options (Old Viking Blvd. and Pinnaker Lake Estates).
Council reviewed a proposed five-year road improvement plan and debated priorities such as overlays in Pinnaker Lake Estates and Krypton St., how to address Old Viking Blvd., and whether the city can fund the plan without significant levy increases or higher assessments. Discussion included concerns about overlay performance on roads with crack filling and the need for feasibility studies before assessing residents. Council consensus was to send the five-year plan back to the Road and Bridge Committee to rework it around $400,000 per year and a 50% assessment, and Breyen indicated he would revise the 2018 overlay RCA to request feasibility studies for Old Viking Blvd. and Pinnaker Lake Estates.
Breyen stated he would revise the RCA and submit back to council; no approval vote recorded in the minutes.
- 2018 overlays feasibility study (Old Viking Blvd., Pinnaker Lake Estates)
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - 2018 Overlay Recommendation - Breyen will revise the RCA to request a feasibility study of Old Viking Blvd. and Pinnaker Lake Estates with a 2 inch overlay and submit it back to the Council on Tuesday. - Outcome unrecorded
3Consent agenda (items 1.1 through 1.10 listed)
Listed consent agenda items; minutes note comments/questions but do not record an approval motion or vote.
Minutes list the consent agenda items but do not show a motion/vote to approve them.
- Consent agenda
p. 6City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)3). Consent Agenda: 1.1 Approve the October 5, 2017 Workshop and October 10, 2017 City Council Meeting Minutes 1.2 Financial Report 1.3 Approve All Audited Bills Claim # 435 through Claim # 482, plus Net Distribution reports dated October 2nd, 10th, 13th, and 30th, 2017 1.4 Adopt Resolution 2017-14 - Approving the Clas…p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)1.7 Approve Sheriff's 2018 Contract - Contract for 2018 is $226,848 1.8 RCA - Purchase of Land Use Signs for city use 1.9 RCA - Appoint Al Viall to the URRWMO 1.10 RCA - Acknowledging the generosity and Donation of A&B Welding & Construction, Inc., of Nowthen A few comment and questions were made about the Consent Agen… - Discussion only
4.aCity Assessor contract (Anoka County vs. Erik Skogquist & Mary Wells)
Discussion with county representative and contractor about contract terms, liability, workload, and potential city costs.
Council heard from Anoka County and from Mary Wells about assessor contracting, including the county’s typical five-year cycle required by statute and potential cost exposure if assessment shortcomings are not addressed. The private contractor referenced contract language intended to hold the city harmless for liabilities arising from the assessors’ performance, and participants discussed workload and capacity in other cities. No decision was recorded in these workshop minutes.
Discussion only; no selection or vote recorded in these minutes.
- City assessor contracting
p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)a). City Assessor Contract - Anoka County or Erik Skogquist & Mary Wells - Alex Guggenberger from Anoka County said the County typically goes with a 5 year contract because per the statute they have to see all properties every 5 years.p. 7City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Mary Wells said that item #11 in their contract will hold the City harmless against any and all liability, loss, costs, damages and expenses which the municipality may incur or be required to pay arising out of the City Assessors' performance or failure to adequately perform their obligation pursuant to the contract. - Approved
4.bRCA - Recreational skating area
Council selected rink size and option from drawing #2.
Council reached consensus to proceed with a 100-foot square skating rink as shown on drawing #2 (option B).
Approved by council consensus (no vote recorded).
- Recreational skating rink
p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - Recreational Skating Area - The Council consensus is to go with a 100 ft. square rink as shown on drawing #2 (option B). - Tabled
4.cResearch: neighboring cities policy for use/rental of hockey rink and warming house
Requested additional operational information (hours, pay, training/skills).
Council requested more information from neighboring cities about rink and warming house operations, including attendant hours, pay, and required training or skills. The item was tabled pending additional information.
Tabled for additional information.
- Hockey rink and warming house policies
p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Research - Neighboring Cities Policy for use and rental of Hockey Rink and Warming House. - Pilon would like additional information such as the hours the warming house attendants work, what are they paid, what kind of training or skills they are required to have, etc. This will be tabled for additional information. - Tabled
4.dRCA - Draft for discussion Administration Citation Program Process Change
Discussion item connected to code enforcement process; removed for December discussion.
Council reviewed a proposed pre-notice letter and discussed changing the city’s code enforcement process, including who should send the initial letter and how ordinances and timelines would be referenced. Council agreed to table the administrative citation process change item and remove it from the agenda, planning to revisit it in December along with the related code enforcement process/city code amendment discussion.
Tabled and removed from the agenda for discussion in December with item 1.b.
- Code enforcement process and administrative citation program
p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - Draft for discussion Administration Citation Program Process Change - The Council consensus was to table this and remove it from the agenda for discussion in December along with item 1.b. Code Enforcement Process/City Code Amendment. - Discussion only
4.eRCA - Nowthen Heritage Festival request for waiver of park and City Hall reservation fees/deposits (Sept. 22, 2018)
Discussion included coordination concerns about fire station issues and request to contact Captain Chad Sacre in future.
Council discussed a request to waive park and City Hall reservation fees and deposits associated with the September 22, 2018 Nowthen Heritage Festival. Reighard noted the Fire Department Open House is not part of the festival and asked that the festival committee coordinate with Captain Chad Sacre due to issues the prior year at the fire station. The minutes do not record a vote on the waiver request.
RCA discussed; minutes do not record a motion/vote granting or denying the waiver request.
- Nowthen Heritage Festival fee/deposit waiver request
p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)RCA - Nowthen Heritage Festival request for waiver of Park and City Hall reservation fees and deposits associated with the September 22, 2018 Nowthen Heritage Festival.p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Reighard said that the Fire Dept Open House is not part of the Heritage Festival. He said that there were some issues last year at the Fire Station and he requests that the Heritage Festival Committee be in contact with Captain Chad Sacre in the future. - Approved
4.fEmployee reviews
Discussed employee performance and compensation history; council agreed to complete review forms, submit them to staff, and schedule an employee review meeting.
Council discussed employee performance and compensation history, including a statement that employees had received only a 3% raise in the last 10 years and concerns about retaining staff. Council consensus was to complete the review forms, submit them to staff, and schedule an employee review meeting.
Approved by council consensus (no vote recorded).
- Employee reviews and compensation discussion
p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Employee Reviews - Bettinger feels all the employees are doing a fine job and the Council should move forward with giving them a raise. They have only received a 3% raise in the last 10 years.p. 8City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)The Council consensus is to complete the forms submit them to staff and schedule an employee review meeting. - Approved
4.gSchedule comprehensive plan workshop/open house
Set date/time for open house.
Council and staff discussed a draft land use map and outreach letter describing possible commercial/light manufacturing expansion areas and emphasized the map was for resident feedback rather than a final expansion decision. Residents spoke against being included in possible expansion areas, and council discussed whether all potential areas should be shown at once. Council directed specific edits to the draft map and scheduled an open house for January 8, 2018 at 6:00 PM at City Hall, with staff to update the map and adjust the letter before mailing.
Set by discussion/consensus (no vote recorded).
- 2040 Comprehensive Plan land use map outreach
p. 9City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)g). Schedule Comprehensive Plan Workshop/Open House - January 8, 2018 @ 6:00 PM. - No action
4.hSchedule final budget workshop(s)
Council indicated no changes to proposed budget; no additional workshops scheduled; remove from council agenda.
Council reported no changes to the proposed budget and decided not to schedule additional final budget workshops, directing that the item be removed from the council agenda.
No additional workshops to be scheduled; item removed from council agenda.
- Budget workshop scheduling
p. 9City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Schedule Final Budget Workshop(s) - No one had any changes to the proposed budget. No additional workshops will be scheduled. Remove from the Council Agenda. - No action
5Introduction of new items / adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.
p. 9City Council Workshop — 2017-11-09 Workshop Minutes (2017-11-09)Meeting Adjourned at 10:15 PM
Sources
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
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