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10-14-08 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes October 14, 2008 Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer. City Manager Tom Burt, Finance Director Sue Virnig, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, City Engineer Jeff Oliver and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre. The meeting began at 6:47 pm in the Council Conference Room. Golden Valley Envision Awards Program Connection Project Board Member Helene Johnson reported that the Board had reviewed this idea forwarded by the City Council and developed a simple program that would recognize community members who are involved in improving the quality of life in Golden Valley. The Board would like to recognize individuals or groups who further one of the six Envision categories: Development, Transportation, Community Engagement, Environment, Recreation or Government. The Council supported the idea but suggested that the recognition be from the Connection Project Board rather than the City Council, though still presented at a Council Meeting. Other suggestions were that the form be revised to nominate individuals or groups, that nominators should highlight the Envision goal promoted by the group/individual and that the work of award winners be showcased at City Hall. Suggested names were the Bridge of Excellence Award, the Golden Valor Award or the Envision Award, shortened to a "Visi". The Council supported the Connection Project initiating this award and asked to be provided with updated materials about the award when it is finalized. Minneapolis - Joint Water Commission Water Task Force Final Report Scott Harder of the Environmental Financial Group has served as a consultant to the Joint Water Commission as it met with the City of Minneapolis to move the governance of the Minneapolis water system to a regional model. He provided background on the Task Force, which was created under the last water purchase agreement between the Joint Water Commission and the City of Minneapolis. It has representatives from Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Crystal and New Hope and was charged with studying policy issues identified through contract negotiations. Of special concern were: providing an emergency backup supply for the system, studying how to mix river and ground water that might occur with such a backup, and developing a regional governance system that changes the status of the Joint Water Commission and other wholesale customers of the Minneapolis water system from customers to partners in a regional system. The Task Force met over a three-year period and recommended a governance model and positions on addressing interconnection, conservation, emergency backup, water supply planning, drought strategies and ways to involve other current and potential customers in a regional system. The recommendations are now under consideration at the City of Minneapolis, which must initiate changes to the existing governance system. A draft resolution has been developed for the other three participating cities to support continued work on a regional model of governance. The Council asked staff to place the resolution on a Regular Council Meeting agenda for consideration and to ask Scott Harder to make a formal presentation to the Council as part of that consideration. Council/Manager Meeting Minutes October 14, 2008 - Page 2 2009 Other Funds Proposed Budgets The Council reviewed proposed budgets for Conservation/Recycling, Storm Sewer and Vehicle Maintenance. Sue Virnig reported that no increase is proposed in either the Recycling or Storm Sewer fees for 2009. The Council asked questions but did not discuss changes to the proposed budgets. City of Minneapolis Resident Survey for Xerxes Avenue North Rehabilitation Jeannine Clancy, Jeff Oliver and the City's consulting traffic engineer Mike Kotila outlined reasons the staff does not recommend proceeding with installation of traffic humps on Xerxes Avenue North between Golden Valley Road and Glenwood Parkway. If a survey of residents suggested by the City of Minneapolis is conducted, staff recommended expanding the explanation of possible negative impacts of speed humps. One negative impact would be the staff recommendation that maintenance on Xerxes be turned over to the City of Minneapolis, including snow and ice control, if speed humps are installed. Staff suggested that instead of surveying residents about speed humps Golden Valley should work with the City of Minneapolis to consider other traffic calming methods such as narrowing or restriping the streets and allowing parking that will slow traffic. The Council supported taking the latter approach. Reset November 6 Council Meeting Date The first meeting in November was previously rescheduled due to the November 4 election. The Council decided to change the date from Thursday, November 6 to Monday, November 3. Set Date for Special Council/Manager Meeting to Review Draft Chapters of the Comprehensive Plan Tom Burt explained that staff recommends a special meeting for the Council to review draft chapters of the Comprehensive Plan before it is formally presented at a Regular Council Meeting. Staff and consultants would be available to address Council questions. The Council agreed to schedule a meeting on Thursday, October 30 at 5:30 pm. Brookview Task Force Recruitment Letter As previously directed by the Council, staff prepared a draft letter to invite participants to serve on a Task Force to plan for construction of an updated community center. The Council discussed the extent the letter should indicate the Council's desire to provide a more function community center that provides for the same programs/activities currently available and to what extent the national financial issues should influence the Council's approach to replacing Brookview. The Council decided to defer discussion of this topic to its workshop in January. Applewood Pointe Access on Douglas Drive Mike Kotila, the City's consulting traffic engineer, spoke to the Council's request to reconsider access at the proposed Applewood Pointe senior housing. The Preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) that came before the City Council had a single access on Golden Valley Road. An access on Douglas Drive was previously contemplated but removed at the request of the City and Hennepin County engineer. As part of the Preliminary PUD approval, the Council requested the staff to revisit the second access with Hennepin County. Staff has not contacted Hennepin County as it Council/Manager Meeting Minutes October 14, 2008 - Page 3 continues to recommend that there be no access on Douglas Drive. Mike Kotila explained that the facility can be adequately served, including truck deliveries and emergency services, by the Golden Valley Road access. He thinks the Douglas Drive access would present many safety conflicts for pedestrians and conflicts between northbound vehicles seeking to enter Applewood Pointe on Douglas Drive with vehicles turning north on Douglas Drive from Golden Valley Road. In addition the developer does not favor this option if it must provide additional right-of-way for a right-turn lane. The Council decided not to pursue a Douglas Drive access point for this project with Hennepin County. Added Agenda Item District 281 Referendum - Mike Freiberg asked if Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner could make a presentation to the City Council about the District 281 Referendum at the next Council Meeting. The Council agreed to place this item on the agenda. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm. Jeanne Andre Assistant City Manager