11-10-08 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
November 10, 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, Planning Director Mark Grimes, City Planner Joe Hogeboom and Assistant City
Manager Jeanne Andre.
The meeting began at 7: 15 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Parent /Child Play Time
Council Member Scanlon reported that she has been in contact with a number of
residents who would like to have a drop-in play time for parents and small children in a
large room that would allow for large motor activities. Similar programs are offered
through the recreation programs in St. Louis Park and Crystal at a fee of $2 per child.
Davis Community Center has open gym after school and on weekends, but parents are
interested in having a weekday, day-time program during the winter. The Golden Valley
Recreation Department has identified Friday as a time when Brookview has fewer
scheduled programs, however there is no good place to store large motor play
equipment at Brookview. The Council referred the request to the Open Space and
Recreation Commission, with a request that the Commission address this request at its
November meeting.
2009-2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Sue Virnig explained that the CIP is on the agenda for preliminary review and would
come back to the Council at its December Council/Manager Meeting with
recommendations from the Planning Commission, which will review it November 24.The
Council asked questions about various projects. Tom Burt explained that most
Brookview Building projects would be deferred, but funds for these projects would be
transferred to a new Brookview Fund, a reserve fund that would finance the
improvements through reconstruction of the community center in the future. Funds for a
program analysis for the Brookview reconstruction project were kept in the CIP pending
further Council discussion in 2009. Staff has recommended new priorities for installation
of building generators, as recent electrical outages demonstrated the inadequacy of the
existing generators. A new generator is recommended for City Hall and new switching
equipment for the Public Safety Building. Jeannine Clancy reported that the State of
Minnesota recently requested cities to identify state-aid projects which have enough
design work done to allow fast-tracking if infrastructure stimulus funding is authorized.
Projects submitted include Zane Avenue, Lindsey Avenue, Wayzata Boulevard
(southeast frontage road), the 169 collector/distributor system and various trails on
county roads
2009 Other Funds Proposed Budgets - Water and Sewer
The Council reviewed proposed budgets for the Water and Sanitary Sewer Funds and
asked questions about specific projects.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
November 10, 2008 - Page 2
Comprehensive Plan Review - land Use, Housing and Water Supply Chapters
and Height Limitations in the Medium Density (R-3) and High Density (R-4) Zoning
Districts
Mark Grimes reviewed a chart of sample apartment buildings in Golden Valley that
identified the density of the development and the current zoning. Based on this
information staff is recommending that the Comprehensive Plan retain the categories of
Low, Medium and High Density Housing but the categories be revised to include Low-
Density (under 5 units/acre), High Density (over 20 units/acre) and two Medium Density
classes, M-1 (5 to 11.9 units/acre) and M-2 (12 to 19.9 units /acre). He also
recommended that the height of multifamily buildings be limited, with requests for height
increases addressed through a variance or Planned Unit Development. Staff and
Council will review the way existing multifamily properties are guided and zoned to seek
consistency. The Council will also identify parcels where density could be increased if
redevelopment occurs.
Discussion of the Land Use, Housing and Water Supply Chapters of the
Comprehensive Plan was delayed until the December Council/Manager Meeting.
Former Vet Clinic Site -1201 South Turner's Crossroad
The Council discussed a letter from Larry D'Amico expressing his interest in installing
landscaping improvements at the former Vet Clinic site if existing debris, asphalt and
posts are removed by the HRA The Council suggested that D'Amico submit a plan
outlining D'Amico's proposed improvements and the related demolition costs he would
like the HRA to underwrite. The HRA would then determine if it would lease the property
and underwrite the cost of the demolition.
Proposed Franchise Fee with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy
Jeannine Clancy explained that current franchise agreements with Xcel and CenterPoint
would allow the establishment of franchise fees if the Council goes through the required
hearing process. A current Xcel surcharge for the Boone Avenue/General Mills
Boulevard project will expire in 2009. The memo in the agenda packet provided
information on franchise fees in other communities and sample franchise fees in line
with other communities and the Xcel surcharge currently in place. Staff asked for
Council direction on whether to initiate the franchise process with Xcel and CenterPoint,
and the desired fee structure if the process is noticed. The Council directed that staff
start the process to consider a franchise fee for services provided by Xcel Energy, with
the fee structure included in the agenda packet. The intent of the franchise fee would be
to underwrite the cost of undergrounding utilities, purchase easements to relocate
utilities, replace streetlights and other activities related to managing electrical service
expenses that come up during pavement management and redevelopment.
Property Maintenance Enforcement
Council Member Schaffer asked that this item be placed on the agenda to review the
administrative appeal process the Council has used for its property maintenance
program. Information on staff procedures for establishing compliance deadlines and
penalties for non-compliance was included in the agenda packet. After some
discussion there was no Council consensus to change the process.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
November 10, 2008 - Page 3
Council Email and Correspondence Policy
The Council discussed how to process emails and letters Council Members receive
regarding City business. The consensus was to have Council forward these
communications to staff. Communications relating to an upcoming agenda item will then
be included in the agenda packet with information on that topic. Letters on other topics
will not be included in the agenda to receive and file unless recommended by the
Mayor.
2009 Council Workshop
Tom Burt asked the Council if it would like to schedule its annual workshop, and if so, to
identify the topics and approach they would like to pursue. Due to the economy and
fiscal concerns, the Council requested that the topic be the long-term financial picture
for the City, including issues such as capital improvements, planning for the end of tax-
increment districts and the impact of fiscal disparities. The Council will work with Jeanne
Andre to identify possible dates for the workshop.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager