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Thursday, November 9, 2017
Agenda
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What was on the agenda.
Packet
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The supporting materials council 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).
16 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
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.
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.
1.cCode enforcement updates
No updates were given.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
5Introduction of new items / adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
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