10-12-10 CM MinutesCouncil/Manager Meeting Minutes
October 12, 2010
Present: Mayor Loomis and Council Members Freiberg, Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer, City
Manager Tom Burt, Assistant HRA Director Jeanne Andre, Finance Director Sue Virnig,
Public Works Director Jeannine Clancy, Police Chief Stacy Altonen, Park and Recreation
Director Rick Jacobson, Golf Operations Manager Ben Disch, Director of Planning and
Development Mark Grimes, City Planner Joe Hogeboom, and Administrative Assistant Lisa
Wittman.
The meeting began at 6:40 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Bottineau Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study Update
County Commissioner Mark Stenglein introduced Joe Gladke from the County's
Engineering and Transit Planning Division. Gladke gave a PowerPoint presentation
updating the Council on the Bottineau Transitway Alternatives Analysis Study. He referred
to a map of the 2030 Transitway System Plan and discussed the project development of
various transitways and the next steps and general timeline of the Bottineau transitway He
focused on the Golden Valley Road station characteristics and noted that there is a
preliminary estimate of 500 to 1,500 station boardings per day which is a combination of
walk-up, pick-up/drop-off and feeder bus transfers. He discussed noise and vibration and
explained that those issues will be considered in the next phase of the study. He discussed
the feasibility of a Highway 55 station and noted the limited service area, the potential of
limited connections the proximity to the Highway 55/Penn Avenue station and the grade
challenges as reasons why a station at this location is unlikely. He explained that the next
phase of the study will include an environmental impact study and that the County is at a
point where decisions will need to be made between the proposed D1 and D2 alignments.
The Council agreed that they would like to have a meeting or open house in order to hear
resident's opinions, especially if they are being asked to sign a resolution of support. They
suggested having a meeting or open house at St. Margaret Mary Church. Gladke said he
would be willing to host meetings and/or open houses.
Jeannine Clancy noted that the City's expectation is that the project will pay all of the utility
and sidewalk costs associated with the Bottineau Transitway. Gladke agreed and stated
that is also his assumption. He added that ultimately the Metropolitan Council wants to see
agreement from all of the cities involved.
The Council discussed the inclusion of a park and ride facility and how apick-up/drop-off
area would work. They asked if there will be an opportunity to see what the station/platform
area might look like. Gladke stated that they are in the process of having animation done in
order to show how the station could look and informed the Council that he will keep them
updated on the progress of the study at future Council/Manager meetings.
Proposed Ordinance Amendment -Section 2.22 -Domestic Partnership
Registration
Stacy Altonen stated that the Human Rights Commission has approved a draft domestic
partnership registration ordinance. The Commission has agreed that the proposed
ordinance as written is now ready to be sent to the Council for consideration.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
October 12, 2010 -Page 2
The Council directed staff to remove from the ordinance Subdivision 3(E) regarding the
designation of family registration status.
Council Member Shaffer noted that the information provided on the application for the
domestic partnership status registry is public information and suggested that that be made
clear in the ordinance or on the application itself. Tom Burt indicated that the ordinance
would be placed on the agenda of an upcoming Regular Council Meeting for formal
consideration by the Council.
Dog Licenses
Stacy Altonen explained that the City currently licenses approximately 600 dogs per year
and the $6.00 annual registration fee does not offset the staff time involved in documenting
and tracking registrations.
The Council discussed if it makes sense to raise the registration fee, the helpfulness of
having dogs licensed and if other cities have been rescinding their dog license ordinances.
Altonen said she thought if the fee were raised even fewer people would register their dogs
and that some other cities have rescinded their dog license ordinances. The Council
agreed that it would consider rescinding the dog license registration ordinance at an
upcoming meeting.
Tom Burt stated that an ordinance discontinuing dog license registration will be placed on
an upcoming City Council agenda.
Official Zoning Map Amendments
Mark Grimes reminded the Council that the Comprehensive Plan update was approved in
May. He explained that by law, Zoning Map designations must correspond with the
General Land Use Plan Map designations within one year of its approval by the
Metropolitan Council.
Joe Hogeboom referred to a map of the areas that are required to be rezoned. He
explained that if the City Council favors leaving the parcels in their existing zoning
categories, then the General Land Use Plan Map must be revised to reflect that decision.
The Council discussed various issues regarding rezoning the properties such as the land
uses and height allowed in various zoning districts and the density that would be allowed
under certain zoning designations. They also discussed what they thought the market
would support or would want to see in the various areas. There was a lengthy discussion
regarding Area 5 (southeast corner of Winnetka Avenue and Highway 55) and Area 6
(southwest corner of Glenwood Avenue and Highway 55) on the map and if those areas
would be an appropriate location for higher density or if they should be rezoned and
redesignated to a lower density category. The Council also discussed traffic and access
issues in those areas.
Mayor Loomis expressed concern over making significant changes in zoning designations
without any input from the property owners or nearby residents.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
October 12, 2010 -Page 3
The Council suggested having an open house for residents to try and explain the potential
changes and impacts that the rezoning of these properties could have on issues such as
land use, building height, density, traffic, etc. Tom Burt noted that it would be difficult to
have an open house because the City doesn't have good traffic data for the various types
of land uses that could potentially be proposed.
The Council came to the consensus that it is important to get input from residents and that
they would like to go through the public hearing process to either rezone the properties or
designate them differently on the General Land Use Plan map. Mayor Loomis stated that
she would like the public hearings on the various areas to come to the City Council at
different times and not all at one Council meeting.
Tom Burt said staff will review the traffic issues as they relate to various land uses and
clarify the potential changes that the properties in question may undergo and that this item
will come back to a future Council/Manager meeting for further discussion.
2011-2012 Proposed Budget -Other Funds
The Council reviewed the proposed budgets for the Water and Sewer and Brookview Golf
Course enterprise funds and the Vehicle Maintenance Internal Service Fund. Staff
addressed Council questions regarding specific projects. There was also discussion on
potential ways to increase the number of golf patrons at Brookview.
2011-2012 Capital Improvement Program
Sue Virnig explained that the proposed CIP would go to the Planning Commission for
review at its second meeting in October and would come back to the Council at its
November Council/Manager Meeting with comments from the Planning Commission. They
discussed the expenses related to trail and sidewalk maintenance, safety repairs, ADA
compliance and reconstruction.
The Council directed staff to delay the purchase of a regenerative street sweeper for
another year
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.
Lisa Wittman
Administrative Assistant