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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-2012 Council Minutes ` ' � , MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Lili Tod McMillan and Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Aaron Printup, and David Rahn. Representing Staff were City Administrator Jessica Loftus, City Clerk Lin Vee, Finance Director Ron Olson, Assistant City Administrator of Long-Term Strategic Planning Michael Gaffron, Planning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, City Attorney Soren Mattick, and Recorder Jackie Youn�. Mayor McMillan called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA McMillan noted there will not be an LMCD report tonight. Item Nos. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, I 1, and 12 were added to the Consent Agenda. Item No. 3 was removed from the Consent Agenda. Bremer moved,Franchot seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES *2. REGULAR COUNCIL TRUTH-IN-TAXATION MEETING OF DECEMBER 12,2011 Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Truth-in-Taxation meeting of'Decemberl2,2011, as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 3. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 12,2011 McMillan requested the minutes of December 12, 2011, be corrected to read as follows: (One) Page 9, Mayor/Council report, "McMillan noted in 2011 there were 24 City Council meetings, 16 work sessions...'; (Two) Page 10, Item No. 11, Fund Balance, "McMillan noted the General Fund Reserve had a minimum of 45 percent and asked if anything in excess of 50 percent goes into the Community Investment Fund." Franchot moved,Rahn seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono City Council meeting of December 12,2011,as amended. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PRESENTATIOIV 4. FOREST LAKE CHANNEL- CSAA 19 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, HENNEPIN COUNTY Jim Archer, Hennepin County Transportation Department, was present. _-----__..__.____..—_-_ ________._.._._ Page 1 of 7 ------ � � MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (4. FOREST LAKE CHANNEL- CSAH 19 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, Continued) Archer stated the Hennepin County Transportation Department is planning to replace the North Shore Drive bridge over the channel that links Forest Lake to West Arm. Construction is planned for the summer of 2012. The bridge was originally constructed in 1928 and has far exceeded both its design and service life. The current sufficiency rating of the structure is 24.4,which makes the structure structurally deficient and the worst bridge on Hennepin County's rating system. Archer displayed some pictures of the bridge and noted that the bridge currently has narrow shoulders and is located on a curve. In addition,the substructure is canted, there is substantial corrosion on the girders, and the deck is becoming deteriorated. Archer indicated the design considerations being looked at are a higher vertical clearance for boat traffic and a wider structure to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Hennepin County Transportation Department will be attempting to limit the impacts of construction on adjacent property owners, the water body, and users. Cost is a factor in the design. There are also some steep embankments and existing utilities that will need to be taken into consideration. Water patrol issues will be addressed during the construction phase. The proposed design for the new bridge is a three span concrete slab to allow for maximum boat clearance and piers that will be placed outside the channel to reduce impacts on boat traffic. As a result of those improvements,the structure will be lengthened by 32 feet,the roadway approach will be improved, and some architectural features will be added to the bridge. There is an open house scheduled for Thursday,January 26. Letters have been sent to the residents of Forest Lake and other adjacent property owners. The project is currently in detailed engineering and will need to undergo a federal review process, which is roughly a four week process. Following that review process,the project will then be put out for bids,with construction anticipated to start sometime in June. The project should be completed in October. Archer indicated there will not be many impacts to users before or after construction. During construction they do anticipate a detour around the north side of Forest Lake along CSAH 151. There wi(1 be impacts to boat traffic during construction. Archer indicated they hope to have a flag person on the construction crew to stop boat traffic during certain periods of construction but that they hope to keep the channel open part of the time. They will maintain channel usage for emergency patrol. The duration of the detour would be June through October. Archer noted there is no cost to the City at this time but that the Hennepin County Transportation Department still has to determine what items will be funded through the federal review process. Archer stated they hope to have the final plans to Orono Staff sometime in February for comment and then the City Council would be approving the project following that comment period. Rahn asked how long the bridge would be closed at any one time to boat traffic. Archer indicated he is not sure at this time but that the adjacent property owners would be given advance notice of any closures. They will be avoiding closures on major holidays and weekends. — ---- T_.__.— Page 2 of 7 — --------__._._.___.____—__ l MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. (4. FOREST LAKE CHANNEL-CSAH l9 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, Continued) Rahn concurred the channel should not be closed over the weekends. Franchot asked how wide the new bridge would be. Gaffron stated the bridge would perhaps be 8 to 12 feet wider than what it is currently. Archer indicated that it would be approximately 12 feet wider than what it currently is. The classification for the new bridge will be suburban and it will be striped for two lanes. They do not anticipate a pedestrian sidewalk being added but the bridge will be wider to accommodate pedestrian and bike traffic. Rahn commented it will be a huge improvement over what currently exists. Archer stated they will be able to provide additional information on the various aspects of the project at the public hearing. Schoenzeit asked if the channel clearance would be the same. Archer indicated they would be gaining approximately two inches in height. Schoenzeit commented the wider shoulders are appreciated. Archer noted all easement issues have already been settled. Kempf asked whether a picture of the bridge would be available by the time of the public hearing. Archer indicated there should be some visual representations ready by the public hearing. Archer noted there will also be some vegetation removed in the area of the bridge. Schoenzeit asked whether there will be any improvements made to the roadway or shoulders. Archer stated they are restrained slightly on improvements to the roadway since it is a bridge replacement and not a highway improvement project. There will be some restoration to the slopes on either side of the bridge to tie into tl�e proposed shoulder. The City Council took no formal action on this item. LMCD REPORT-ANDREW MCDERMOTT,REPRESENTATIVE None PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS-LIZZ LEVANG,REPRESENTATIVE Levang noted there are seven applications on the January 17"' Planning Commission agenda, and those include subdivisions, CUPs and hardcover variances. The Planning Commission met in a work session last week to discuss report formats and to discuss the recommendations of the Hardcover Task Force. _._______.._____....---.___._.._______ _�.__-_._—_ — Page 3 of 7 � MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ralph Kempf, 3675 Togo Road, stated the Navarre work group has met and discussed some ideas for the Navarre area. Kempf indicated he would like to present one of those ideas to the Council tonight. Kempf displayed an aerial photo of Navarre. The outlined area indicated the Navarre water tower and treatment plant. To the north of that area is a little water tower park. Kempf noted that almost all the way around the water tower area it is either residential or park ]and with the exception to the south of some commercial buildings. Kempf displayed a picture of the water tower park and noted that there is a 10-foot chain link fence around the water tower area, which gives it a very industrial appearance. Kempf next displayed a picture of a lattice fence covered with Virginia creeper. The group's proposal is that they would like to plant some of the Virginia creeper around the chain link fence. The Virginia creeper would provide some screening during the summer and fall. If the Public Works Department felt it was an appropriate plant to use,the costs would be basically zero. The Navarre work group has compiled some volunteers who are ready, able,and willing to do projects such as this. The Virginia creeper would not required irrigation and that they do have volunteers to water it until it is established. McMillan commented in her view it is a good idea and concurred that the Public Works Department will need to approve the project. Kempf reported the group has met approximately a half dozen times and has developed a mission statement. McMillan stated any time the group would like to be on the City Council agenda as a special item, they can contact City Hall. Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve the planting of Virginia Creeper along the fence at the water tower park in Navarre subject to the approval of the Public Works Department. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT *5. #07-3334 KEVIN AND DENISE REILLY,3405 HIGH LANE- PRELIMINARY PLAT- EXTENSION RESOLUTION NO.6107 Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6107, a Resolution Granting a One-Year Extension to the Effective Period of Preliminary Plat Approval Established Per Resolution No. 5716. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. -- Page 4 of 7 -- ____--- --- ------ MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT *6. REQUEST FOR PAYMENT NO. 1 AND FINAL-FOX STREET SEWER EXTENSION Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve Request for Payment No. 1 and final for the Fox Street Sewer Extension,RPU,Inc., in the amount of$15,250. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Rahn noted the City Council will be interviewing applicants for the Public Works Director/City Engineer position, and that in his view it is extremely important to distinguish how the consulting engineer will be utilized as opposed to the city engineer. The contract states that City Staff will ask when consulting services are required. Rahn stated in his opinion there should be one person, such as the city administrator, that determines when the consulting engineer should be utilized. Rahn commented there have been some instances in the past where there is a tendency to lean on the consulting engineer more than what is really necessary. Loftus noted the City received 20 applications for this position and that the committee will be interviewing the top seven applicants on Friday. McMillan indicated she drafted a thank you letter to Mike Huddy for his work on the Big Island Committee and that she would like the entire City Council to sign it. McMillan reported there was a public hearing in December on the Xcel transmission and substation upgrade project along Highway 6 and Highway 12. There were Orono citizens in attendance that spoke and expressed their concerns to the PUC. McMillan indicated that she, along with Jessica Loftus and Mike Gaffron, met last Wednesday with some representatives from Xcel to discuss in more detail the mitigation of the substation,which was the main concern for the majority of the citizens living in the area. McMillan noted tlle City Council has seen Mike Gaffron's letter to the Public Utilities Commission addressing those concerns and that she would like to thank both Jessica Loftus and Mike Gaffron for their work on the Xcel project. The City has enjoyed a good working relationship with Xcel up to this point on the project and she is hopeful that working relationship will continue going forward. McMillan noted she also attended a mayors' meeting today with a presentation by the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council has basically just finished their last round of comprehensive plans and they have recently received the new census data. The Metropolitan Council was asked why everyone has to submit their comprehensive plans in a year before the census. The Metropolitan Council indicated the state legislature dictates when comprehensive plans are due. In order to change that timeline, it would require new legislation. McMillan stated the Metropolitan Council was off on their forecasts. They had forecasted for 2010 total households at just over 1,198,000, which was seven percent more than what it actually turned out to be. They had also forecasted 155,000 people more than what was demonstrated from the census. From 1990 to 2000, there was a net gain of 300,000 jobs; and from 2000 to 2010,there was a net loss of 64,000 jobs. McMillan indicated the Metropolitan Council is talking about changing their forecasts so it is less formula driven and oriented more towards corridor planning. ___ ____. _._,.__ Page 5 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT *7. UTILITY AGREEMENTS - CREEKSIDE AND GLENDALE COVE Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve the Creekside and Glendale Cove Sanitary Sewer and Water Service Agreements with the City of Long Lake. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 8. ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT Loftus stated the City received nine applications for the consulting engineer position and that the Council interviewed four firms. The City Council selected Bolton &Menk and then directed Staff to prepare an agreement for their consideration. The agreement has been reviewed by attorneys on both sides. Loftus noted the staff inemo included a comment about transitioning between Bonestroo and Bolton & Menk. There is a staff ineeting tomorrow to discuss some of the technical issues associated with that transition. There are currently two projects that have been recently approved by the Council -the Old Crystal Bay Road overlay and the Wayzata Boulevard sanitary sewer. It is Staffs opinion that it would make sense to have Bonestroo continue working on those projects through the bidding process and then have Bolton & Menk take over on the construction management portion of the project. Printup asked what the status is of the Stubbs Bay Ravine and Ivy Place projects. Gaffron noted bids were just opened on the Stubbs Bay Ravine project and will be before the City Council at their next meeting. The Carmen's Bay project and the Stubbs Bay Ravine project should be completed this year and it is Staffs feeling that it would be difficult to switch at this point. Bonestroo has been working on the projects for over a year and both projects include grant funding. Bremer asked if there was any reason to start the to-be-hired Public Works Director/City Engineer prior to entering into the engineering services agreement. Council was comfortable with moving forward on the engineering services agreement. Bremer noted in Section 3, Page 4, Subparagraph 7,the agreement talks about city approved travel and subsistence and asked if that relates to their travel to and from different projects around the City. Mattick stated that was part of Bolton &Menk's proposal and that it would cover that type of travel. Mattick noted they did not negotiate any new financial terms into the contract that were not already contemplated in the RFP. Printup moved,Rahn seconded,to approve the agreement for city engineering services between Bolton & Menk and the City of Orono,and declaring all new projects and work eligible for transfer wilt go to Bolton & Menk. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. *9. ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS-RESOLUTION NO. 6108 Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6108,a Resolution Designating Selected Appointments for the year 2012. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. --------.._-------------____— Page 6 of 7 ---__ MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,January 9,2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. X 10. SELECTION OF DATE FOR 2012 LOCAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to establish Wednesday,April 18,2012,at 7:00 p.m.,as the date and time for the 2012 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. *11. GOAL SETTING PROCESS FOR 2012 Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve the goal setting process for 2012 and approving the facilitator expense not to exceed $2,500. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT None *12. LICENSES & PERMITS Residential Kennel Licenses 1. Jane Kline and Steve Bell 4455 West Branch Road 2. Gregg Rutter 900 Dakota Avenue Liquor Licenses 3. Club on Sale and Sunday Liquor Spring Hill Golf Club Jeffrey Kringen 725 Sixth Avenue North Bremer moved, Franchot seconded, to approve the above listed licenses. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. *13. BILLS Bremer moved,Franchot seconded,to approve payment of the All Funds Account. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. ADJOURNMENT Bremer moved,Rahn seconded,to adjourn the Orono City Council meeting at 7:50 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: �'Yp�,� �+`�' �'-''�'"' d`-�. � ��"�Q.z.. �� Linda S. Vee, City Clerk Lili Tod McMillan, Mayor ___.____.----------_._..___ _ _--...�__. Page 7 of 7 ----