1996-08-20MINUTEg-COMMITTEE OF TIlE WHOLE-AUGUST 20, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Members present: Mayor Bob Polston;
Councilmembers: Andrea Ahrens, Mark Hanus, Liz Jensen and Phyllis Jessen. Also Present: Gino
Businaro, Finance Director;Craig Mertz, City Prosecuting Attorney; and Ed Shukle, City Manager.
The following interested individuals were also present: Bev Botko, Bill Netka, Dorothy Netka, Ken
Custer, Fi Yin Moy, Bill Darling, Janis Geffre, Tom Casey, Marty Johnson, Marie Johnson, Peter
Meyer, Mike Mueller, Sr., Phil Lansing, Dave Deters, Roger Beckel and Lorrie Ham.
Central Business District (CBD) Parking
Ed Shukle, City Manager, introduced this issue. He indicated that the assessment year of July 1,
1995 through June 30, 1996 had passed and it was now time to prepare the assessment roll for the
parking maintenance program in Mound's downtown area. He indicated that a "preliminary roll"
had been prepared and sent out to all of the members of the parking district for review and comment.
He indicated that questions, comments and concerns had been raised by members and that staff
attempted to address those prior to official notices being sent out regarding the public hearing
scheduled for October 8, 1996. Shukle explained that after the public hearing held in the fall of
1995, the City Council had asked that a review of the existing CBD formula be undertaken with
representatives of the CBD program and that recommendations be made on how the formula could
be modified to address ongoing concerns of the members. He reported that meetings were held in
early 1996 with two persons representing providers of parking and two persons representing non-
providers of parking. Also attending the meetings were Councilmember Hanus, Gino Businaro, and
Ed Shukle. Shukle continued by stating that although the meetings were well intended, no
meaningful results were reached. This information was reported to the Committee of the Whole at
its June 1996 meeting and it was City Council consensus to leave the existing formula in place until
the Mound Visions program was implemented which may alleviate some or all of the concerns of
CBD members and the City of Mound.
Councilmember Hanus, who served on the subcommittee of the CBD, reviewed a memorandum he
distributed to those present regarding his observations of the dilemma surrounding the CBD
program. He presented 4 sample options to the Council:
Leave everything as is.
Leave everything as is except reduce credits to $. 10 per foot as it relates to
credits for providers of parking.
Eliminate the entire program.
Retain only the maintenance portion of the program.
Mayor Polston then offered a suggestion to those present. He stated that he realized that there were
many concerns of CBD parking members about the existing formula, credits received by providers
of parking, costs of the program, adequate or inadequate parking needs, etc. He suggested that in
order to deal with these concerns at this point, it would be logical that the City of Mound pick up the
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costs of the sealcoating of the parking lots done in 1995 at a cost of $9,700 which would reduce the
overall assessment for this assessment year. Furthermore, he suggested that the City Planner, City
Economic Development Coordinator, City Manager and other City staff develop a scope for a master
plan on the parking needs and requirements that the downtown area will be facing with the
implementation of the Mound Visions program. Once that scope for a master parking plan is
developed, he suggested that it be taken through the Planning Commission. Input from the CBD
parking members would also be a part of the Planning Commission's discussions. Ultimately,
recommendations would be brought back to the City Council for their review and decision. He also
expressed that it is important that the people present at this meeting not be sitting together again a
year from now expressing the same frustration that they were voicing this evening.
Bill Netka said that the costs of maintenance was only one of the issues. His major concerns
revolved around the credits issue to the providers of parking and the numbers that each property has
listed that are plugged into the CBD formula.
Mayor Polston assured Mr. Netka that these issues would be looked at in the development of the
master plan and future assessment formulas. For purposes of moving off this agenda item and
moving to other items before the Council this evening, Mayor Polston indicated that his suggestion
was something he would like the rest of the City Council to consider.
Upon discussion of Mayor Polston's suggestion, the consensus was to accept his proposal which was
for the City to pick up the cost of sealcoating the parking lots and to direct the staff to proceed with
the development of a master plan for parking needs and requirements with the implementation of
the Mound Visions program and to work with the Planning Commission and members of the CBD
parking program to present recommendations to the City Council on the future of the parking
program. Shukle pointed out that the City is now into another assessment year and would need to
make some decisions related to snowplowing and the hiring of the contractor for that task. The City
Council indicated that staff should proceed as in the past regarding snowplowing. The Council
thanked those persons in attendance who were interested in this issue for attending and is looking
forward to their input as we move forward.
park and Open Space Commission
Members of the Park and Open Space Commission were in attendance regarding their concerns
about communication between the Commission and the City Council via the Council representative.
They feel that the Council Representative does not express the viewpoints of the Commission to the
Council on park and open space matters. Chair Tom Casey stated that Andrea Ahrens does not
present properly the message the Commission is trying to convey. Bill Darling, Vice-Chair stated
that having the Council just "read the minutes" isn't good enough. He commented that Ahrens tends
to arrive late to Commission meetings and leaves early from those meetings. He stated that this has
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been a common occun'ence over the past 18 months.
Bev Botko indicated that at the last Commission meeting, she was upset about the resolution
distributed to the Commission at the beginning of the meeting by the Chair and Vice-Chair regarding
the tabling of items related to public lands permit applications and the ultimatum given to the City
Council. She voiced her displeasure regarding this action and indicated she had voted against it.
Peter Meyer indicated that he feels that the Commission has been circumvented by the Council for
some time.
Ahrens defended herself by stating that she feels that telling the Council to read the Commission
minutes is satisfactory for finding out what the Commission was thinking about when they make
their recommendations.
Janis Geffre stated that she did not believe that it was proper for the Council Representative to leave
the meeting to talk to applicants who had been voted down by the Commission on issues. She stated
that it makes the Commission feel uncomfortable about their actions.
Commission members were asking the Council for specific direction related to work rules and how
communication between the Commission and Council can be improved. The Council was not
interested in developing work rules for the Commission.
There was no consensus on what to do with these concerns and the Council then moved on to the
next item on the agenda.
Manufactured Home Park - County Road 110 West
Shukle introduced Craig Mertz, City Prosecuting Attorney, regarding the manufactured home park
on County Road 110 West. Mertz distributed copies of a "Non-Conforming Use Permit" that he had
drafted and reviewed with City staff and Steve Coddon, owner of the park. He stated that tenants
of the park are currently being prosecuted by the City for violations related to expansion of the non-
conforming use. Specifically, those violations relate to the building of decks and sheds. Also
complicating the non-conforming use is the lack of a storm shelter for the park which is required
under state law.
After some discussion, it was the consensus to conduct more research and bring the matter to the
September 17, 1996 Committee of the Whole meeting.
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Lineal Footage Breakdown for LMCD Commercial Dock License
Councilmember Hanus is still concerned about the estimated lineal footage for the City of Mound
related to its dock program and license under the LMCD. Following some discussion, it was the
consensus to invite Tom Reese, LMCD Representative, to the September 17, 1996 Committee of the
Whole Meeting to share his views on this issue and the pending case in Minnetonka Beach where
a property owner is threatening to sue the City of Minnetonka Beach and the LMCD. Also
expressed as a concern is the additional dockage that is proposed under the Lost Lake Improvement
Project and what that does to the overall count of lineal footage and allowable number of docks.
Councilmember Jensen expressed her concern that she wants to keep the dock program going. She
further stated that she does not want to go into an extensive level of detail in obtaining data related
to the exact amount of lineal footage the City has. She does not believe this is necessary.
Outdoor Skating Rink Update
Shuk/e updated the Council on this matter. He stated that meetings have been held with the school
district, hockey representatives, Peter Meyer and city staff. Until the school board makes a decision
regarding the future of the community center, this matter has been put on hold. Shukle stated that
in order to install a rink properly, a survey and design, estimated to cost $2,000 should be
undertaken. He indicated that the Community Education department could staff the rink for
supervisory purposes but would call upon the city to maintain the rink with its equipment and
employees. Shukle stated that he informed the school district representatives and hockey
representatives that the City would only be interested in participating in this project if it is
understood that the rink would be for public skating only and would not be available for hockey use.
Hanus stated that he had a problem with spending dollars on property that the City has no control
over. He prefers to see the City develop a public skating area, as has been discussed, in the Lost
Lake area once the channel is dredged and further development of that area takes place.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority_ (HRA)
Shukle explained the need for new members on the HRA board due to resignations and lack of
interest from the public in serving on the board. Jessen suggested that the City Council become the
HRA since economic development is going to occur which may require more involvement by the
HRA through its authority to issue Tax Increment Financing bonds. Council consensus was to
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become the HRA which could meet prior to the first regular City Council meeting of each month.
The City Manager was directed to request the City Attorney to analyze this alternative and to
indicate how this could be established. In addition, he was asked to have the City Attorney present
the benefits of creating an Economic Development Authority (EDA) and/or a Port Authority to
further economic opportunities for downtown Mound.
Ideas for Dedicating Project or Facility to Len Kopp
Since the recent death of Len Kopp, former City Manager between 1960 and 1981, it was suggested
that ideas be discussed on dedicating a project or facility to Mr. Kopp. One idea was to have a
sculpture erected in the proposed greenway area near the proposed fishing pier along the realigned
Auditor's Road. Another idea was to rename Auditor's Road as Leonard Kopp Road. More
discussion will occur on this topic as the Mound Visions project proceeds.
Other Business
Hanus introduced the idea of an "economic development revolving loan program" which he is
familiar with in the City of Mapleton, Minnesota. More research will be done on this matter by city
staff.
It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole is Tuesday, September 17, 1996,
7:30 p.m.
Upon motion by Ahrens, seconded by Hanus and carded unanimously, the meeting was adjourned
at 11:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Manager
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