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09-22-2003 CC MINJOINT I"IEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL AND THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT LIONS PARK CENTER PIONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 Members Present: Members Absent: Mayor I<linzing, Councilmembers Diem, Kuester, Motin, and Tveite None Staff Present: Also Present: City Administrator Pat Iadaers; Director of Planning Michele McPherson; City Engineer Terry Maurer; Street/Park Superintendent Phil Hals; Building and Environmental Administrator Steven Rohlf; and Recording Secretary Jessica Miller Park and Recreation Chair Peterson; Commissioners Anderson, Jackett, Kuester, Nystrom, Paige, and Polston-Hork Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and nodce thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Iadinzing. Consider 9/22/2003 Agenda COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE MOVED TO APPROVE THE COUNCIL AGENDA AS AMENDED: Mayor Klinzing added a proclamation under Other Business. Other Business and Staff Updates were moved prior to the Joint Meeting. COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. Consider Consent Agenda COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS: 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3o6, 9/15/03 COUNCIL MINUTES CHECK REGISTER MASSAGE THERAPIST LICENSE FOR KIMBERLY MCDONALD TRANSIENT MERCHANT LICENSE FOR SHANE RESCH AND BRIAN STEFFENS PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY AND CITY HALL/UTILITIES CHANGE ORDERS PAY ESTIMATES COUNCILMEMBER TYEITE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. City Council Minutes September 22, 2003 4. Open Mike Page 2 No one appeared for Open Mike. 5.1. Consider Hiring Consultant for Archaeological Modeling and Literature Search Building and Environmental Administrator Steven Rohlf stated that the Council allowed $5,000 in the Heritage Preservation Commission's (HPC) budget to do archaeological modeling and a literature search. Mar. Rohlf also stated that the HPC was successful in obtaining a grant for this work through a Federal Certified Local Government Grant and using the money the Council allowed and in-kind services as a match for this grant, the HPC has a total of $13,000 to retain the services of a professional archaeologist to coordinate the project. Mr. Rohlf stated that the city received four RFPs and that city and Sherburne County staff narrowed them down to two: St. Cloud State University and The 106 Group. Mr. Rohlf stated that the HPC is recommending St. Cloud State University to complete the work. Council_member Motin disclosed that his wife is a faculty member of St. Cloud State University but does not believe it is a conflict of interest. COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE MOVED TO APPROVE THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S (HPC) RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY TO COMPLETE THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MODELING AND A LITERATURE SEARCH USING THE $13,000 THE HPC HAS TO RETAIN THESE SERVICES. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.2. Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications and Ordering the Advertisement for Bids in the Matter of the Cascade Industrial Park Improvement of 2003. City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that plans and specifications for the Cascade Industrial Park improvements, which include storm drainage and street improvements, have been approved. Mr. Maurer stated that October 14, 2003 has been set as a bid opening date and it is anticipated that the bids will be presented to the Council on October 20, 2003 for consideration of award to the lowest responsible bidder. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 03-63 APPROVING THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS IN THE MATTER OF THE CASCADE INDUSTRIAL PARK IMPROVEMENT OF 2003. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 5.3. Consider County. Road 12/Twin Lakes Road Intersection Signal Warrant Study City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that Police Chief Jeff Beahen has spoken to him about the procedure to start installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of County Road 12 and Twin Lakes Road due to the large number of traffic accidents. Mr. Maurer stated that although three legs of the intersection are county jurisdiction and only one leg is city jurisdiction, most of the traffic that is causing the accident history is likely generated by the residential developments and/or commercial and industrial developments near the intersection. Mr. Maurer stated that his recommendation is for the city to undertake the warrant study to determine whether or not there are enough warrants met to justify the installation of a signal and if so, present that information to Sherburne County and discuss City Council Minutes Page 3 September 22, 2003 the most efficient way of getting a signal programmed and installed at the intersection. M_r. Maurer stated that if this issue is passed onto the county to complete the study, it may not get completed until next year. It was noted that the cost of preparing a signal justification report, including doing traffic counts and turning movement counts, along with accident record analysis and preparing the report, is approximately $3,000. If the city, expends this money and a signal is justified and installed at the intersection, it is hoped that the city could recoup their initial investment 'from the 25 percent of the project they should pay based on legs of the intersection. Councilmember Dietz questioned the close proximity of the signals at this intersection with the ones at Highway 169 and Zane Street. Mr. Maurer stated that this signal probably would not impact the Highway 169 signal but MnDot would have to tmae the signals appropriately. Counci.lmember Tveite questioned if the city has had conversations with the county regarding this signal. Mr. Maurer stated that there have not been any conversations since the road was built. Councilmember Tveite questioned what the county's response would be if the study comes back that a signal is justified. Mr. Maurer stated that the study is objective, therefore the findings of the study could not be disputed; however, the county could disagree with the timing of the signal installation. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER MOVED TO APPROVE THE EXPENDITURE OF $3,000 TO UNDERTAKE A WARRANT STUDY AT INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 12 AND TWIN LAKES ROAD TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ENOUGH WARRANTS TO JUSTIFY THE INSTALLATION OF A SIGNAL. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 7. Other Business Mayor Kdinzing presented the Council with a proclamation designating Clergy Appreciation Week. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 THROUGH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 AS CLERGY APPRECIATION WEEK IN ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA. COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 8. Staff Updates City Administrator Pat I~aers stated that the Main Street/Highway 10 preconstruction meeting is scheduled for September 23, 2003. He stated that the detour will begin the week of September 29 and the work will begin shordy thereafter. Mr. I~aers indicated that issues have been raised regarding the detour at Main Street and Highway 10. City Engineer Terry Maurer stated that detours will be put up and monitored to see if temporary stop signs are necessary. City Administrator Pat I~daers noted that Council approval is needed in order for staff to put up temporary stop signs and suggested that since the Council does not meet again until October 13 that staff be given approval to put up stop signs if necessary. COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE USE OF TEMPORARY STOP SIGNS FOR DETOURS IN THE MAIN STREET/HIGHWAY 10 AREA IF DEEMED NECESSARY BY STAFF. City Council ~[inutes Page 4 September 22, 2003 COUNCILMEMBER KUESTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. City Administrator Pat Klaers reminded the Council that the homecoming parade is Friday, September 26, 2003. The Council should meet at 5 p.m. at St. Andrews Church. City Administrator Pat Klaers stated that the Recreation Assistant that was hired for Facilities and Programming decided not to accept the position. Mr. Fdaers stated that staff is working on fdling this position. City Administrator Pat Klaers indicated that the city will be charged staffing expenses for use of the Litde Theater after 11 p.m. on meeting nights. It was noted that the Council will begin meeting in the Little Theater on Monday, October 20, 2003. It was also noted that the next meeting of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority on Monday, October 27 will be held in the Litde Theater. Councilmember Dietz advised the City Council and City Engineer Terry Maurer that he has heard many positive comments regarding the work crew on the 4th Street project. Mr. Maurer stated that he will be sure to pass this information on to the crew. The Council recessed at 7:05 p.m. and reconvened at 7:10 p.m. for a joint meeting with the Park and Recreation Commission. 6. Joint Meeting with the Park and Recreation Commission Park and Recreation Chair Peterson thanked the Council for allowing the joint meeting to occur. The Commission has been participating in the Comprehensive Plan Update and has been working on an update to the Master Park and Recreation Plan. The Commission is very interested in the greenway initiatives that are proposed in the draft comprehensive plan and feel that there is an opportunity for utilizing this initiative to preserve the characteristics of the community that attracted residents to move here. Chair Peterson introduced Hannah Dunevitz, a Regional Plant Ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources. Ms. Dunevitz provided an overview of green infrastructure principles, the biological survey of Sherburne County, the seven county metro area wildlife habitat inventory and reviewed alternatives for protecting environmentally sensitive land. She also talked about rare plants and animals that are located within the Elk River area. She stated that in order to implement a greenway plan, more detailed mapping is needed based on the lack of information that is available. Commissioner Paul Paige then spoke regarding the steps to implement the greenway concept. Mr. Paige stated that prior to approaching developers and getting community buy-in that there needs to be education, careful planning, and long-term commitment to the concept. There will be continual change to the community by development; however, City Council Minutes Page 5 September 22, 2003 development can be shaped by a commitment to the greenway concept. He stated that the greenway concept and green infrastructure overlaps with gray infrastructure (streets, storm sewer, sanitary, and water systems) and in fact can help reduce the cost of gray infrastructure such as storm water, pond, and piping. Mr. Paige went on to describe the how of the process, which includes detailed mapping that is flexible. It may require the city to purchase parcels that the community has identified as important but that protection can be acquired through the development process. Commissioner Kuester stated that the green infrastructure idea was a "wow idea", especially given that there is economic value and savings when natural resources are preserved. Chair Peterson stated that the Commission has spent dine educating themselves on the greenway concept and that education would need to occur with the wider community, especially developers. Councilmember Dietz asked if the tan lines depicted on the proposed greenway map were 'the key pieces of the greenway puzzle and also asked how it relates to the current trail map in its lack of connectivity. He also asked how the city could convince property owners not to develop their sites. Commissioner Paige stated that the intent is not to prohibit development but to work with developers to implement citywide goals for protecting natural resources and green~vays. Commissioner Anderson stated that there is difficulty in connecting neighborhood parks due to the fact that developments have occurred previously and are an impediment for establishing trail connections between neighborhood facilities. There was discussion regarding the speed of development north of County Road 33 if the zoning is changed to two and one-half acre minimums. Mayor Kdinzing stated that the geography of the land north of County Road 33 would prohibit "cookie cutter" two and one-half acre minimum developments. She stated that some developments would be four or five acres but that she did not want to force people to live within cluster developments if the landowner chose an alternative method of development. She felt that density bonuses were not appropriate but that there was an opportunity to preserve wetland areas and prohibit the use of wetlands for improper uses. She felt that the change in zoning north of County 33 would not become a crisis but could be an opportunity to implement the greenway concept. Commissioner Kuester stated that it would be important to identify land with public value and identify options for landowners and the city to preserve and protect the natural resources. Commissioner Paige stated that the greenway concept also applies to land within the sewer district, not just to land identified as low density residential. Councilmember Motto stated that through the mapping process we could identify sites to give preferences to encourage clustering. He asked what would happen if the exact corridor could not be created~ Mc. McPherson stated that the map would need to be flexible enough that the corridors could be adjusted on a site by site basis; however, ensuring that connectivity can exist. Commissioner Polston-Hork discussed the natural sensitive areas ordinance from St. Cloud as well as identified other projects the Commission looked at in their search to be educated regarding the greenway concept. Mike Nizolek, resident, stated that the city has an opportunity to negotiate with landowners such as Aggregate industries to identify clustering options that would allow for the protection of large forested areas or other significant natural features. Councilmember City Council Nfinutes Page 6 September 22, 2003 Tveite stated that he was supportive of the greenway concept and that the harsh reality was that the city may need to purchase property it feels would be invaluable to lose. Councilmember Kuester stated that she was also supportive of the greenway concept. it was the consensus of the Council that the Commission should continue to work on the greenway concept and continue its research and identify ways to prepare a more detailed map of the city's natural resources. 9. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor I(dinzmg adjourned the meeting of the Elk River City Council at 8:45 p.m. Jessica Miller Recording Secretary