10-13-09 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
October 13, 2009
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer, City
Manager Tom Burt, Finance Director Sue Virnig, Recreation Supervisors Brian Erickson and
Andy Soltvedt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Chief of Fire and Inspections Mark
Kuhnly and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre.
The meeting began at 6:40 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Hennepin Youth Sports Program Grants
Tom Burt and Jerry Sandler, Chair of the Open Space and Recreation Commission (OSRC),
provided background information on grant funds available to assist with constructing youth
ballfields. Grant applications are due on November 2. They reported that there is no
specified local match, and since this is the first round of applications it is unclear what
criterion will be used for funding.
The OSRC created a subcommittee on ballfields to work with youth athletic associations to
understand their wants and needs and reflect on how city ballfield facilities could better
serve them. The associations most interested in additional fields include the Little League,
Girls Softball and Phoenix Soccer. The subcommittee recommended that additional Little
League fields south of the Honeywell Field should be the initial grant request, although
softball and soccer fields are also needed, and the subcommittee suggested that funding for
soccer and softball fields should be sought in 2010. Pat Dale of the Little League
Association expressed willingness to spearhead fundraising for a local match. The
subcommittee recommended requesting funds to construct two additional fields south of the
existing field, anticipating a 25 percent local match. The subcommittee secured an estimate
of cost for construction of the fields, without certain necessary components such as parking
and seating. They circulated a sketch of the fields prepared by a ballfield consultant for the
Little League. Tom Burt estimated the project would cost $400,000 to $500,000.
The Council expressed concerns about keeping the land for a future water treatment facility
and securing adequate parking if the baseball facility is expanded. The Little League
Association said it is working on getting District 281 permission to use the Sandburg parking
lot and with Honeywell to get an easement on the adjacent industrial facility for parking. Mr.
Sandler stated that the possibility of constructing fields as an interim use had been
discussed and is acceptable to the subcommittee.
The Council agreed to consider, at its next Council Meeting, submission of a grant for the
construction of two ballfields south of the existing Honeywell Little League field, with local
match to be secured by the Little League Association.
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan
Mark Kuhnly reviewed the plan included in the agenda packet and provided background on
its creation through the North Suburban Emergency Management Association. He explained
that it is meant to guide city operations if the flu season brings extensive absenteeism which
could limit the provision of city services and potentially limit public meetings. He has
provided the Plan to the City Council so it can understand the priorities and processes that
would be followed if a pandemic occurs.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
October 13, 2009 - Page 2
Discussion Regarding Golden Valley Roadway Functional Classifications
This item was deferred to a subsequent meeting in order to address Council questions that
arose in advance of the meeting in response to the memo in the agenda packet.
2010-2011 Proposed Budget - Other Funds
The Council reviewed the proposed budgets for the Water and Sewer and Vehicle
Maintenance enterprise funds. Staff addressed Council questions. The Council directed
staff to remove Utility Building Flooring from 6980, Capital Assets, for 2010. The Council
reinforced its request to review the fund balance for the Sewer and Water enterprise fund.
Sue Virnig distributed the proposed Utility Bill Rates for 2010. The rates are proposed to
take effect starting with the April 1 billing cycle. She explained that in response to the
mandate for water conservation rates, the lowest residential and commercial water billing
unit will be reduced to 1000 gallons and a $6 access fee will be added. Irrigation fees will
also be instituted.
2010 Master Fee Schedule
Staff presented the draft master fee schedule for Council review prior to considering it at a
Council Meeting. Tom Burt reported that if the Council desires to raise the cigarette
licensing free, a public hearing must be called in advance of considering the fee increase.
The Council requested that a public hearing for cigarette licensing be called and asked
questions about the draft resolution. Sue Virnig indicated that she would find out more
information about gasoline station licensing, including how gasoline nozzles are tested and
who conducts the test.
Discussion Regarding 2011 Pavement Management Program
In response to previous Council direction to reconsider the schedule for reconstructing
streets in the Pavement Management Program each year, the engineering staff provided
options to proceed with the previously established program to reconstruct 4.4 miles of
roadway in 2011 or break the project into two parts, with 2.4 miles in 2011 and 2.1 miles in
2012. Sue Virnig distributed a spread sheet showing the bonding levy impact for each of the
options. The Council directed the staff to proceed with the option to construct 2.4 miles in
2011, and revisit the schedule again next year. If not further amended, the PMP would then
be extended until 2015.
Update on Envision Connection Project
Mayor Loomis reported that the Connection Project is working on the concept of a
Community Foundation that would serve as a conduit for charitable giving for many Golden
Valley activities. The Connection Project Board wants to discuss the concept with other
Golden Valley groups before making a formal presentation to the City Council, but does not
want to proceed if the Council has concerns about this approach. The Council was
supportive of informal discussions prior to a presentation to the City Council.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager