08-11-15 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2015
Present: Mayor Harris and Council Members, Clausen, Fonnest, Schmidgall and Snope,
City Manager Tom Burt, Finance Director Sue Virnig, Physical Development Director Marc
Nevinski; Director of Parks and Recreation Rick Birno, Planning Manager Jason
Zimmerman, Associate Planner/Grant Writer Emily Goellner, and Administrative Assistant
Judy Nally.
The meeting began at 6:32 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Xcel Energy Power Outages
Representatives from Xcel Energy, Michelle Swanson, Troy Browen, Mary Santori, and
Grania McKiernan gave a PowerPoint presentation which included topics regarding, storm
response efforts, planning, execution, communication, restoration progression, outage
restoration priorities, storm readiness, and outage reporting.
The Council discussed priority levels, burying power lines, tree trimming around power
lines, infrastructure repair and replacement, and reporting street light outages.
After discussion by the Council, staff was requested to place an article in the newsletter
and on the website about power outages and reporting methods. The article will also
contain information about residents registering their cell phone number to help Xcel better
determine the affected outage area, and how residents can register with medical needs as
a priority customer.
Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism Imitative
Ethan Roberts, Minnesota Jewish Community Relations Council, requested Council
support for the Mayor to sign the initiative statement.
The Council suggested that Minnesota Jewish Community Relations Council request
support from the League of Minnesota Cities. Some Council Members felt that the focus
should be on anti-discrimination as a broader issue and not on specific groups or
organizations. Some expressed concern about setting a precedent in dealing with specific
issues.
A majority of the Council supported the Mayor signing the Anti-Semitism initiative. The
Council consensus was to request the Human Rights Commission make a
recommendation on how the Council should consider anti-discrimination requests from
individual groups in the future.
Brookview Community Center Replacement - Pre-design Check-in
Director of Parks and Recreation Rick Birno and Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA)
representative Glen Waguespack reviewed the conceptual site plan and indoor kids' play
option site plan as recommended by the Open Space and Recreation Commission.
The Council discussed the indoor play area, the open space play area, meeting rooms,
possible teen area, costs, possible project over-run, infrastructure, running track, splash
pad, reciprocal agreements with other recreation facilities at other cities, public/private
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August 11, 2015 — Page 2
partnerships, holding a referendum, when designs will be available, when a decision has
to be made regarding the cost of a new community center, and residential and business
tax implications.
Some Council Members expressed concern over the proposed cost and suggested
additions be phased in over time.
The Council consensus was to support the addition of an indoor kids' play area but keep
costs down. Staff was requested to bring back an updated plan and cost projections at the
next Council/Manager meeting.
Elected Officials Code of Conduct and Ethics
Due to the time this item will discussed at a future Council/Manager meeting.
Planned Unit Development (PUD) Approval Process
Associate Planner/Grant Writer Emily Goellner reviewed plans to simplify and clarify the
PUD amendment process, including increasing the number of minor amendments, adding
an administrative amendment process and clarifying the public purpose
recommendations.
The Council consensus was to support amending the PUD process. Staff will prepare the
text amendments for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council. The
Council also recommended adding public art as a public purpose.
Bikeways and Golden Valley Bike Plan
Physical Development Director Marc Nevinski outlined the current bikeway and bike plan
which does not include the current Hennepin County plan. He stated that the bikeway/bike
plan will be included in the Comprehensive Plan update.
The Council had questions regarding a bikeway/bike committee, funding opportunities,
hiring a consultant to prepare a bikeway/bike plan, the process for adding City/County
bikeways, bike standards, guidelines and policy.
Kelley Yeman, Hennepin County representative, reviewed plans for the striping/stenciling
of Golden Valley Road and Winnetka Avenue.
The Council consensus was to request Hennepin County stencil bike lanes on Golden
Valley Road and Winnetka Avenue. The Council requested staff hire a consultant to
update the bikeway/bike lane plan and develop a process to establish a Bike Advisory
Committee in 2016.
Golden Valley Road Parking Concept Plan
Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman reviewed the Golden Valley Road station park and
ride concept plan.
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August 11, 2015 — Page 3
The Council had questions regarding parking, bus traffic and drop-off area, possible
Minneapolis Park Board land swap, the Plymouth Avenue station, bike path connections,
environmental review and the municipal consent process.
The Council supported the Golden Valley Road Station Park and Ride Concept plan.
Mayor Harris, Council Member Snope and staff will meet with the Minneapolis Park Board.
Biennial 2016-2017 Proposed General Fund Budget
The Council asked questions about the proposed 2016-2017 budget for Mayor & Council
Division, City Manager Division, Transfers Out, Administrative Services Division, Legal
Division, Insurance Division, Revenues, Fund Balance, tax impact on properties, and
considered a water rate increase.
The Council by consensus directed staff to prepare an agreement with Best & Flanagan to
extend the legal services for the City and Housing and Redevelopment Authority for a
period of one year.
The Council by consensus authorized the staff recommendations for the funds received for
the Golden Hills decertification.
Board/Commission Vacancies
The Council discussed the vacancies on the Human Services Fund, Human Rights
Commission and Open Space and Recreation Commission. Staff was requested to
schedule board/commission interviews for September 8 and September 16 beginning
around 5 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 10:42 pm.
Judy Nally
Administrative Assistant