07-13-10 CM Minutes
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2010
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer,
City Manager Tom Burt, Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Finance Director Sue
Virnig, City Engineer Jeff Oliver, Environmental Coordinator AI Lundstrom, Park and
Recreation Director Rick Jacobson and Assistant City Manager Jeanne Andre.
The meeting began at 7:10 pm in the Council Conference Room.
2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Sue Virnig introduced MMKR Auditor Bill Lauer. He provided an overview of the
components of the audit, including internal controls, compliance, Minnesota laws
compliance and special purpose reports. He noted that the Report provides an
unqualified opinion. The only citation is due to the small size of the staff, segregation of
duties is not as extensive as recommended. He reviewed the Management Report with
the Council and took questions.
Honeywell Little League Expansion
The Council received an update from staff on the status of the project and discussed
fund raising with Little League officers. The City has received the Hennepin County
contract, which requires that the City front the funds for the ballfields, with the County to
reimburse up to $400,000. The City Attorney has determined that the purchase
agreement for the property requires that Honeywell pay for necessary environmental
remediation. Staff is working on a contract for design services, and is revising it to
include all of the required services, including soil borings, survey work and construction
observation. The goal is to have this contract equal the proposed Little League
contribution of $67,500. The City has negotiated with Hennepin County to extend the
construction deadline from April of 2011 to the fall of 2011.
Little League officers noted that they started fundraising six weeks ago and have
collected $5000 to date. They requested the City to front the design costs, with Little
League to collect its full contribution within a year. They asked if the Council would
consider any changes to the sign ordinance to allow them to have permanent signs
and/or scoreboard signage with advertisements. The Council determined that the
contracts with Hennepin County and the design consultant could go on the next Council
agenda.
2011-12 Pavement Management Program
Jeannine Clancy and Jeff Oliver presented preliminary design issues that have been
identified for the 2011-12 pavement management area that the Council may need to
address as the project moves forward. These include:
. The City needs to purchase an easement for the placement of a reconstructed
storm sewer between Circle Down and Radisson Road. There is no easement for
the existing storm sewer in this location, which is in very poor condition.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2010 - page 2
. A resident has expressed opposition to the proposed intersection design for
Turnpike and Lawn Terrace. The staff supports changing the intersection
geometrics to make it safer.
. A petition has been circulated opposing concrete curb and gutter and sidewalk
for a portion of the project. The Council asked that the current policy related to
concrete curb and gutter be provided to the residents.
. A mill and overlay of some of the MnDOT-constructed cui de sacs (Circle Down
and Colonial Drive) is proposed as part of this project, as well as Welcome
Circle, which was previously reconstructed.
. Turners Crossroad may be removed from the project if construction in this area
conflicts with the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services sanitary sewer
interceptor project.
Douglas Drive Financing and Proposed Xcel Franchise Fee Ordinance
Jeannine Clancy noted that the Council has previously discussed implementing an
electrical franchise fee to fund the City portion of the reconstruction of Douglas Drive
from Highway 55 to Medicine Lake Road, which Hennepin County plans to put it its
2016 Capital Improvement Program.
Working with Xcel and the attorney for the Suburban Rate Authority, staff has revised
the rate structure previously discussed with the Council, providing for flat fee user rates
of $2 per month for residential customers and small commercial/industrial customers
with larger flat fees for large and demand commercial/industrial customers. The fees as
recommended would generate approximately $630,000 per year. Staff suggested a
schedule with first consideration of the ordinance in August if the Council decides to
proceed. Public hearings would be required, and staff also recommended that a
background article be included in the next CityNews to explain the proposed fee to the
public. If the City adopts the ordinance, Xcel is provided 60 days to implement the fees.
The Council concurred with setting the initial public hearing on August 17.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
AI Lundstrom reported that an inventory of trees on public property has been
undertaken to better understand the possible impact of the emerald ash borer on City
trees. Based on experience in Michigan, after an initial infestation is discovered, there
is usually only a three to five year period before the infestation becomes widespread.
Staff has developed a Management Plan based on a partial inventory of publically
owned trees, and plans to finish the inventory in the winter. The staff has interpolated
that there are 3000 public ash trees and developed the Management Plan to provide for
the orderly removal of all ash trees on public property.
Significant discussion occurred on the City's current management of boulevard trees.
Since the City has never had a boulevard tree planting program, most boulevard trees
in Golden Valley have been planted by the property owners. However for public safety
and tree health reasons, City crews have trimmed up the lower branches of the trees to
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2010 - page 3
clear the understory on a 15-year cycle. It also has a contract for removal of deadwood
on boulevard trees, so that trees and limbs are less likely to go down in a storm and
create a hazard. Since the City did not originally plant the boulevard trees, staff does
not propose to replace them, although the City would remove boulevard trees under the
proposed plan. A current program with the City of Plymouth allows Golden Valley
residents to purchase trees at a reduced rate.
The proposed plan calls for the removal of all public Ash trees over a 15 year period.
Depending on the degree of infestation, the plan may need to be modified over time.
Staff has proposed the 15-year schedule to spread the budgetary cost while still
aggressively removing vulnerable trees. The Plan currently budgets for replacement of
trees in parks and at the golf course, with the Brookview Golf budget covering the latter.
It is estimated that 50 of every 200 Ash trees removed from public property will be
replaced in this way.
The Council directed staff to bring the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan forward for
formal Council consideration. However the Council would like to get legal opinions on
responsibilities for boulevard trees to determine if the City should continue maintenance
of boulevard trees and not replace privately planted trees. Based on this further
discussion they would like to educate the public on the policies adopted and the
rationale behind those policies.
Biennial 2011-12 Proposed General Fund Budget
Tom Burt provided an overview of the budget, which provides for a .34% increase in
2011. The budget includes an allowance for salary increases, but he is unable to
recommend an amount until there are settlements in other cities and further
negotiations with the unions. Staff is reduced the equivalent of 2 FTE, some by attrition.
He is also recommending dropping the most expensive health option. The Council
discussed benefits and negative impacts of pay increases or no pay increases and
layoffs or no layoffs, as well as levying for lost state aid. The proposed budget levies to
the maximum of the anticipated levy limit, but does not include any specially allowed
levies.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.
Jeanne Andre
Assistant City Manager