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1995-02-21MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 1995 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Members present: Mayor Bob Polston, Councilmembers Hanus, Jensen and Ahrens. Absent and excused: Jessen. Also present: City Manager, Ed Shukle; Building Official, Jon Sutherland; Parks Director, Jim Fackler; Mike Looby, Director of Community Education and Services; Bert Haglund, TSP/EOS Architects; Doc Meier, Senior Citizens Representative to Community Center Task Force; Peter Meyer, Park and Open Space Commission and citizen representative to Community Center Task Force and Tom Casey, Parks and Open Space Commissioner. City Manager Ed Shukle introduced Mike Looby and Bert Haglund to discuss the findings and recommendations of the Westonka Community Center Task Force regarding the existing community center. Looby presented the concept of a new community center that would replace the existing community center. He indicated that the school board had established a task force: "The purpose of this committee shall be to determine the best use of the Westonka Community Center and the wisest expenditure of funds to provide for the required code upgrades, necessary maintenance and desired building modifications to meet school district and community needs." The task force was made up of persons representing the school district, the Hockey Association, cities of Mound and Minnetrista, the Westonka Senior Center, Westonka Community Action Network and other interested citizens. The task force reviewed and evaluated the existing community center and came up with different options that could be pursued. Upon review of these options, the task force recommended an option which included the demolition of the entire Westonka Community Center Building and the construction of a new community center building at the existing site. The existing Pond Arena would remain and be incorporated into a new community center facility. The facility would serve both the existing and new programs with a number of uses that were recreationally oriented. This option was reviewed by the school district board in early January of this year, and the school board's direction was to conduct a community survey which would determine the public support within the school district and area cities for such a community center facility. Should the survey indicate that there is little interest and support in such a facility, then the next option to be pursued would be to demolish a portion of the existing 1939 building and implement fire safety accessibility and maintenance improvements in the remainder of the existing building. It would also require remodeling to relocate existing programs from the 1939 building. It was emphasized by Loob¥ and Haglund of TSP/EOS Architecture that the task force had evaluated the facility that currently exists and whether the $1.9 million ought to be spent on bringing this building up to fire safety and accessibility codes. The task force, by an 1 1 to 1 vote recommended that this was not a realistic option to pursue. Hence, the MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 1995 new community center option became the number one option with the demolition of a portion of the existing 1939 building becoming a second option. Looby emphasized the need for a community survey and asked the City Council to spend up to $1500 for participation in the community survey. The City Council expressed an interest in developing the survey with the task force and others working with Decision Resources, Inc. Ltd., who is the professional research firm that would do the actual survey. Also discussed were financing options with regard to option number one. The City Council indicated that they would like to tour the existing facility and arrangements were going to be made with Mr. Looby with regard to taking tours of the facility prior to the next regular council meeting. This item will appear on the February 28, 1995 agenda as a request from the task force to have the City Council agree to spend up to $1500 to participate in the community survey. Ed Shukle, City Manager, Jim Fackler, Parks Director and Jori Sutherland, Building Official, reviewed the Public Lands Permit process for structures that are located on public lands and/or commons. The City Manager explained that over the last two years the City of Mound has taken an aggressive approach to dealing with obstructions on public lands. He emphasized that we require permits and that permits expire and then are up for renewal. In some instances, the City Council has directed that obstructions be removed from the public lands and/or commons. Fackler reviewed the various ordinances, City Code and resolutions that have dealt with the authority and responsibility of the City in administering a Public Lands Permit process. He also reviewed the structures and encroachments that have been inventoried by staff on the public lands and discussed the various methods by which the staff evaluates the structures and encroachments on these public lands. Sutherland also discussed the application of the Uniform Building Code as it applied to new stairways being proposed on the public lands. The decision flow chart was also reviewed in terms of how structures fit within the flow chart and whether they should be allowed or not allowed. Also discussed were recently approved permits and permits upcoming to be approved by the Council. The City Manager summarized the City's role and responsibility with regard to the Public Land Permit process and requested that if there were to be changes in the way that staff deals with this process, that now is a good time to look at the process and discuss any changes that might be made. Councilmember Mark Hanus asked to discuss his proposal with regard to not only the Public Lands Permit process, but also the overall program of the Commons Docks. He made two suggestions: 1) Place a moratorium on the adoption of any new policies or procedures relating to the Commons or Dock programs until the City Council can determine if it wishes to apply current policies or adopt changes. Also a moratorium on the current proactive commons inventory activities by staff would be in order until the Council determines if the current method is desired. 2) Form a task force to address both programs and make recommendations either to maintain the current MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 1995 programs or to offer potential changes. The City Council agreed not to go back and try to change the process that has been in place with regard to previous applications. However, they did ask that the discussion with regard to a moratorium be placed on the March 14, 1955 agenda for discussion, In the meantime, any applications that are currently in process will be dealt with under the existing process. Any applications that come prior to March 14th will be put on hold until there is a decision with regard to putting a moratorium on the Public Lands Permit process. With regard to the task force, the Council agreed that further discussion is necessary and that the Council discuss this matter at its next Committee of the Whole meeting; specifically, to deal with the creation of a task force as to membership, staffing, etc., as well as giving a clear cut direction to such a task force as it pertains to image, useability and use of the public lands and/or commons. The issue of ice skating rinks and the other current issues before the Parks and Open Space Commission was briefly discussed. The City Manager indicated that Carolyn Schmidt, Chair of the Parks and Open Space Commission had expressed an interest in discussing the ice skating rinks and other current issues with the City Council. Ms. Schmidt, however, had called late Tuesday afternoon and indicated that she would be unable to attend and perhaps one other member of the commission could attend and discuss this matter with the Council. City Manager briefly explained that due to the public interest in ice skating rinks; specifically, at Mound Bay Park there had been some interest by the Commission to establish a permanent ice skating rink at that location. The Commission has had a number of discussions with regard to this matter and believes that there ought to be money budgeted for this purpose in future years. A rink such as the one in Wayzata has been discussed with having a permanent warming house facility, toilets, etc. City Manager explained that if the Commission felt that strongly about a permanent type of ice skating rink, that they should develop a plan and have a comprehensive look at existing city property that could accommodate such a rink besides the lake area at Mound Bay Park. There had been some concerns from staff as it relates to maintenance, security, etc., relating to the Mound Bay Park lake area. Also concerns were expressed about what could be made as improvements to the Depot that would possibly prohibit a permanent warming house facility, due to certain ordinances and restrictions. Therefore, a comprehensive look needs to be taken at all of the existing city park property and/or school district property where such a facility might work to the overall city parks and recreation program. The City Council suggested that a survey through the city newsletter be conducted to determine the public's interest and what they would like to see with regard to outdoor skating rinks. The survey idea will be pursued with the Parks and Open Space Commission. No other comments were made by Peter Meyer or Tom Casey, who were present, from the Parks and Open Space Commission. Iol MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 1995 Proposed guidelines for planting on commons and public lands was put on hold due to the discussion with regard to the moratorium and the task force relating to Public Lands and/or Commons. City Manager Ed Shukle requested that the Council discuss a site for the annual spring clean up day which is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 1995. He explained that the City has now moved the public works materials from the Lost Lake property and the Lost Lake property is now open for development pursuant to the Mound Visions Program. He explained that the public's perception is that this site is now going to be used for commercial and/or park use and that perhaps we should look for a different site. Other sites mentioned were the parking lot along Auditor's Road, and the area behind the old Mound Bank. He cautioned, however, that both sites were limited in size compared to the Lost Lake area and probably would not accommodate all of the things that have been collected on the clean up day. The City Council discussed the matter and agreed that the Lost Lake site could be used on a temporary basis only with the understanding that the material collected would have to be removed right after the clean up day ended. Also discussed were possible compost sites within the City of Mound and Minnetrista. The city manager explained that the public works storage facility at Minnetrista that is now being jointly shared by Mound and Minnetrista, is limited in size for the use as a public works storage facility and a compost area. This matter was discussed and the city manager, was asked to continue to pursue the issue working with Minnetrista on an appropriate site. Goal setting was continued until the next C.O.W. meeting. Other business discussed was the idea of bringing back the crosswalk at the House of Moy and taking a look at the existing crosswalk at the Pond Arena. This matter was presented by Mayor Bob Polston. He presented a document entitled, "Pedestrian Crosswalks in Downtown Mound, Minnesota" which had been prepared by Michael Durrell, an individual who has been interested in the re-instatement of the former crosswalk at the House of Moy. The Council discussed the matter in detail and at first glance Mayor Polston had recommended that the issue be brought to the February 28, 1995 agenda. Councilmember Jensen indicated that she will be absent from that meeting. Councilmember Jessen will also be absent and won't be returning from vacation until the Committee of the Whole meeting in April. Jensen explained that this matter received a great deal of attention, study, etc., and if the topic is going to be reopened for discussion, it should be discussed before a full Counci. After considerable discussion regarding when it should be on a regular meeting agenda, the Council consensus was to bring the matter for discussion to the March 14, 1995 regular meeting. Mayor Polston asked that the city manager prepare a resolution for that meeting to ask Hennepin County to reinstate the crosswalk near the House of /02. MINUTES - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING - FEBRUARY 21, 1995 Moy Restaurant, approximately 10 - 20 feet easterly from where it existed previously, and also to have the County look at the number of crossings per day at the Pond Arena crosswalk. The city manager was asked to make copies of pertinent information from the city's crosswalk file which could be added to the material that was presented by Mayor Polston. {Please note that Mayor Polston contacted the city manager on Wednesday, February 22, 1995 and indicated that perhaps this matter ought to be placed on the agenda where all five councilmembers would be present. If this is the case, the Council could have it on the April 25, 1995 regular meeting agenda. It is scheduled for the March 14th meeting and the City Council may or may not discuss it at that time based upon Mayor Polston's call to the city manager on February 22nd.} There being no other business, it was noted that the next Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 1995, at 7:30 pm. Upon motion by Jensen, seconded by Ahrens, and carried unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 PM. _j~ectfully submitted, Ed S~ City Manager ES:Is Io3