02-15-12 CM Minutes Council/Manager Meeting Minu#es
February 15, 2012
Present: Mayor Harris and Council Members, Clausen, Freiberg, Pentel and Scanlon, City
Manager Tom Burt, Finance Director Sue Virnig, Police Chiefi Stacy Carlson, Director of
Public Works Jeannine Clancy, City Engineer Jeff Oliver, EIT Mark Ray and City Planner
Joe Hogeboom. Also present were City Attorney Allen Barnard, Dave MacGillivray from
Springsted Inc„ Hennepin County Commissioners Mike Opat and Mark Stenglein, Bill
Cook from Metropolitan Council Environmental Services and Administrative Assistant Lisa
Wittman.
The meeting began at 6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room.
Goal Setting Follow-up
a. FinancialOutlook
Tom Burt introduced Dave MacGillivray, Chairman of Springsted, Inc. Mr. MacGillivray
showed the Council a PowerPoint presentation which provided an overall outlook of the
financial condition for the City to help set priorities for the upcoming years. MacGillivray
discussed upcoming projects and purchases and how they affect the City's financial
outlook. He also discussed debt structure and debt repayment, tax capacity and property
taxes. He referred to the City's Aaa credit rating and explained the criteria involved in
receiving that rating and available interest rates for that rating.
After the presentation the Council discussed how the Gity's debt would increase, other
financing options, and the potential re-evaluating of service levels. Sue Virnig noted that
the Golden Hills TIF District will be decertified in 2015 and that property value will be
spread throughout the City.
b. 2013/2014 Pavement Management Program
Jeannine Glancy explained that per Council request, staff has investigated modifications
to the Pavement Management Program to address current economic conditions. The
potential modifications include restructuring the currently adopted 2013 program into two
separate construction seasons, She noted that splitting the 2013 program into two projects
will subsequentty move future projects back one year.
The Council discussed their concerns about splitting the 2013 program including the debt,
the effect on assessments and the cost of construction and responsiveness to residents.
After discussion, Burt stated that this item will be coming back to the Council in June as
part of the budgeting process.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Sanitary Sewer- 1-GV-461 Reliever
Project
Jeannine Glaney introduced Bill Cook from Metropolitan Cauncil Enviranmental Services
(MCES), who came to the meeting to update the Council on the status of the reliever
project route and proposed sehedule.
Jeff Oliver stated that the praject is on schedule to start construction in April or early May
and gave the Council copies of the construction agreement for#heir review.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2012 — Page 2
Mr. Cook referred to a map of the project area and discussed the proposed lift station
located on the west side of TH100 which will connect to St. Louis Park. He discussed the
tunneling under I-394 and noted that the time frame for the project will be approximately
four to five months; however the lift station site will take approximately one year to
complete. Clancy added #hat the project will be done in conjunction with the Circle Down
Pavement Management Program.
Mr. Cook answered questions from the Council regarding the alignment, traffic impact and
communication to the residents.
Clancy stated that the construction agreements will be on the February 21 City Council
agenda for cansideration.
Police Communications Plan
Stacy Carlson reviewed with the Council several of the ways the Police Departm�nt has
planned to communicate with residents in 2012. She informed the Council of an upcoming
session regarding the rules around use of force which includes borrowing a use of force
simulator from Hennepin County that puts users through scenarios and use of force
considerations. She discussed a number of items in the communicatians plan including:
the Citizen's Academy, the bike rodeo, the Police and Fire open house, Police in the Park,
safety camp, bike-a-longs, Nite to Unite, master safety camp and car seat safety checks.
She stated that the Police Department is exploring a one-way facebook page and will be
working on the development of a comment card this year to mail to people wha have had
contact with officers. She added that the Police Department also has a crime blog and will
continue to work with the media and have articles in every CityNews newsletter.
Mayor Harris asked if there is a way to publicize the POST Board report or results to help
with any negative perceptions. Carlson explained that there isn't a report received from
the POST Board. It is really more of an audit procedure. She added that their 2011 Annual
Report will be on the February 21 regular Council meeting agenda.
Draft Traffic Sign Management Policy
Mark Ray explained that there is a new edition of Minnesota's Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (MUTCD) which sets the standards for traffic control signs. He showed
the Council a sample of a new street sign and discussed the cost of the signs and the
inventory database the City keeps.
Council Member Pentel asked what will happen with the old signs. Jeannine Clancy stated
that the pavement management contractors salvage the signs per their construction
contract. She added that they are also considering selling the old signs which are replaced
by staff at either Valley Days or Mighty Tidy Day.
Mayor Harris asked about the timeline for replacing signs. Ray stated that replacement will
start in the pavement management project areas and signs will be replaced throughout the
rest of the City as funds allow. He estimated that it will take approximately five years to
replace all the signs in the City. Harris said he would like to know the total cost of
replacing all signs in one year.
Council/Manager Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2012 — Page 3
Review Letter to Hennepin County Board Regarding Bottineau Transitway Draft
Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Booklet
Hennepin County Commissioners Mike Opat and Mark Stenglein were in attendance to
listen to the Council's concerns and answer questions about the potential D1 transitway
route alignment through Golden Valley.
The Council asked the Commissianers if they understand how Golden Valley residents
feel about the proposed transitway and how much influenee that will have on the County's
decision. The Commissioners agreed that Golden Valley's concerns will have a lot of
influence on the project.
The Council expressed the following concerns to the Commissioners: having transit
oriented development if there is no parking available at a stop in Golden Valley, the actual
cost of the proposed D1 alignment particularly the significant environmental casts
involved, the effect on property values, the division of the neighborhood, having to amend
the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Map and potentially losing park land to a park
and ride facility or lot.
Joe Hogeboom reviewed the draft letter ta the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
with the Council. After discussion the Council consensus was to strengthen the letter to
better state that the Couneil, while in favar of light rail, has significant concerns about the
proposed D1 alignment.
City Attorney Overview
Allen Barnard reviewed current laws, policies and/or procedures regarding conflict of
interest, data practices, gift law, open meeting law, records retention, payments to
501(c)(3) and public information on lawsuits.
Council Challenge to Raise Food for Minnesota Food Share Month
Mayor Harris asked the Council if they would be interested in participating in a challenge
with St. Louis Park to raise food for Minnesota Food Share Month. Due to the recent
PRISM food drive, the Cauncil consensus was not to participate in the challenge at this
time.
The meeting adjourned at 11:03 pm.
Lisa Wittman
Administrative Assistant