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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 06/12/2018 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JUNE 12, 2018 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief James DeMann, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Katie O'Connor Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and H(5:30) I. 2019-2028 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Finance Manager Kotchevar presented on the ten year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The plan is systematic planning, scheduling, and financing of capital projects. The City maintains its infrastructure, continues a strong pay-as-you-go program, uses one-time revenues for one- time expenses, maintains stable debt levels, and has maintained the bond rating. Kotchevar stated the overall CIP has $282,002,981 in proposed projects, 2.1 percent higher than the previous CIP. The revenue is fairly stable over the ten year CIP. There will be one- time revenue available in 2022 due to some special assessment debts that will be paid off. In 2019-2020 there are some higher expenses due to the Light Rail Transit(LRT) and Fire Department self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA). Additionally, there will be higher expenses in 2024 for larger pavement projects. Last year the City updated the ten year utility rate study, which is consistent in the CIP. Kotchevar stated revenue sources include liquor operations, city center rental income, antenna revenue, storm fund loan repayment, tax levy, Moore House rental income, and other one-time revenue. The department CIP requested projects total is $27,362,000, a 24 percent increase. Some of the Parks and Recreation projects include new trails and sidewalks, trail maintenance, play equipment replacement, parks parking lot maintenance, Flying Cloud fields regrading, hard court maintenance, and Miller Park light conversion. Council Member Aho inquired if the Miller Park light conversion savings would justify completing it sooner than 2021. Parks and Recreation Director Lotthammer responded the operating cost comparison has yet to be made, and due to the lack of analysis of these new products, there is a level of comfort in waiting. City Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 2018 Page 2 Council Member Case inquired when the Council should expect to learn more of the specifics of CIP projects. Lotthammer responded the Council could begin hearing about projects during the planning and approval process. Case responded that it would be beneficial to have high-level detail of these projects to answer residents' questions. Kotchevar added prior to the December Council meeting, Council Members will receive a draft CIP book including a detailed description of each project. City Manager Getschow added Council will learn of projects from the CIP as well as Council meetings when projects seek approval. Kotchevar noted some of the projects are included in the previous CIP update book. Aho inquired if the new trails and sidewalks are to complete the build out. Lotthammer responded the City will be close to completing the build out,but some of the sidewalks and trails are to connect with LRT stations. Kotchevar presented some of the Fire Department larger projects, which include radio replacement; SCBA Equipment; a software system to control cameras, doors, and security; camera upgrades; and ballistic vests. Case inquired if ballistic vests will be part of the Fire Department uniforms. Esbensen replied every apparatus will have four on board for situational uses. Kotchevar presented some of the Engineering projects, which include LRT project improvements, Birch Island Road, West 70t" Street, and a yard waste drop off site. Public Works Director Ellis added the Yard Waste program is a new drop off site for branches, logs, sticks, and leaves taking place at the Maintenance Outdoor Storage Site (MOSS). Kotchevar presented the Police Department CIP projects, which include squad car video system, Tasers, body cameras, and rifles. Mayor Tyra-Lukens inquired about projects working towards reducing carbon emissions or utilizing alternative energy sources. Getschow noted the City will present solar projects to the Council in upcoming months and will be signing up for offsite programs to utilize renewable electricity. These projects are not included in the CIP, because building maintenance utilizes the facilities annual fund. The City strives to do sustainable building projects. Council Member Nelson inquired about the bulb replacement of Xcel Energy street lights and decorative street lights. Ellis stated the City owns the decorative street lights and they are almost 100 percent converted to light emitting diode (LED)bulbs. Xcel will start converting the remaining street lights to LED in the upcoming days. Kotchevar stated engineering funding sources come from other forms of government, grants, assessments, and City sources. A few of the projects' funding has yet to be identified. Ellis added the vast majority of the pavement management project funds comes from franchise fees. For the first time, there are some complete reconstruction of roads in the CIP. City Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 2018 Page 3 Aho inquired if the City is researching new technologies or cutting-edge materials for infrastructure. Ellis replied the state does a remarkable job testing new materials. The City is looking into trying soy-based rejuvenators for pavement and the City has been utilizing Texas Under Seal (TSU). The City's pavement management goal is an average pavement condition index rating of very good or excellent. The City invests in the pavement by maintaining it with sealcoat and overlay and prolonging the life of the streets. Butcher Wickstrom inquired what impact the coating that is preemptively applied for snow storms has on the streets. Ellis replied chloride deteriorates the roads, but the City is reducing the impact by pretreating before a storm so ice cannot bond to the road. Kotchevar stated the facilities internal service fund is funded by all departments. The larger projects in the CIP are replacing the roof on the maintenance facility and the Police Department facilities remodel. The park improvement fund significant projects are Staring Lake Park shelter reconstruction, Riley Lake improvements phase II, and Cedar Hills Park development phase IL The economic development fund significant projects are entry monument signs, LRT station area improvements, LRT project improvements, and City west entry monument art. Butcher Wickstrom inquired how many signs the $650,000 entry monument fund includes. Community Development Director Jeremiah replied it includes five,but two of those are underfunded. The City is currently out to bid for the 494 westbound sign. Aho inquired about the fund balance increasing for the park improvement fund. Lotthammer replied there has been a recent influx of developments that contribute to park dedication fees. Kotchevar stated the City has $3 million housing tax increment financing (TIF) dollars available and $1.5 million more in the future. Jeremiah added these are pooled housing TIF dollars. Tyra-Lukens inquired if TIF funds have to be used on housing. Jeremiah responded housing TIF dollars have to be used on affordable housing but can be used anywhere in the City. TIF dollars have to be tied to the specific project. Kotchevar stated information technology projects total $2,968,000. Tyra-Lukens inquired if the Garden Room audio/video (AV) upgrades are becoming necessary for rentals. Getschow responded a permanent AV system will make the rental more desirable. Aho inquired whether the fiber implementation is to own the fiber. Getschow replied most of the facilities are linked with fiber. This is for some redundancy and to fill in gaps. Kotchevar stated the City has over $35 million dollars in debt outstanding. If the City didn't issue anymore debt, the City would be done paying debt by 2034. The annual debt levy of the City Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 2018 Page 4 City is five percent of the general fund budget. Tyra-Lukens stated she hopes the City would not be reluctant to use debt to increase value in the City by investing in buildings and infrastructure. Kotchevar added future debt considerations are to replace fire engines, fire tower 41 project, police facilities remodel, and the ground storage reservoir project. Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30) II. OPEN PODIUM A. JOHN MALLO— GUNS John Mallow, 14000 Forest Hill Road, thanks Council for bringing forth the gun resolution. There have been more students killed at school than those deployed in the military this year. How do we enforce guns security in homes with children? B. MICHAEL TATE— GUNS Michael Tate, 8352 Town Center Drive, said last year he was in Las Vegas when an active shooter incident was taking place. There has to be something that can be done to start preventing these incidents. We have a responsibility at a local level. C. TIM JAMISON—FIREARMS ZONING Tim Jamison, 18727 Magenta Bay,believes that the moratorium would send the wrong message of the goal, and the three uses should not be combined. This is not a problem in Eden Prairie. D. JOAN HOWE-PULLIS —COMMONBOND Joan Howe-Pulls, 8101 Curtis Lane, speaks with others in support of the Trail Point Ridge housing development. They support the much needed housing for people to live in Eden Prairie. Common Bond has a proven track record. E. ROB ROZANSKI—FIREARMS ZONING Rob Rozanski, 19186 Poplar Circle, believes this ordinance should not be passed with firearms in the moratorium. He doesn't believe gun sales have been a threat to health, welfare, or the safety of Eden Prairie residents. F. WILLIAM BALLANTYNE William Ballantyne, 11908 Hamilton Court, believes firearms dealers in Eden Prairie are very responsible, as well as their employees. Gander uses a lot of discretion when selling guns and waits eight days for a thorough criminal background check. He doesn't believe the ordinance is needed. City Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 2018 Page 5 G. JAMES ALLISON James Allison, 8639 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis, stated according to former President Obama's study, 30,000 people per year die by guns,but two thirds are suicide. There are many incidents that good people with guns prevent. More gun control will mean less people will have access to guns to defend themselves. H. DAINE STRAUSE Diane Strause, Saint Paul resident, stated some of the cities with the most stringent gun laws have the most gun violence. Restricting gun laws will restrict people from defending their family. When sales are restricted, revenue is cut. I. LISA SINNID Lisa Sinnid, Stacy resident, stated gun shops within the City does not make Eden Prairie less safe. St. Paul and Minnesota do not have gun shops, yet they have the highest crime rates. This Council has not provided cause, and she finds it curious alcohol is not included in the moratorium. III. ADJOURNMENT