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1995-03-21MINUTES- COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING- MARCH 21, 1995 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Members present Mayor Bob Polston, Councilmember Liz Jensen, Andrea Ahrens, Mark Hanus. Phyllis Jessen was absent and excused. Also present: City Manager Ed Shukle, LMCD Representative Tom Reese, Rita Peterson, Jim Baer. City Manager Ed Shukle introduced the topic of HRA vacancies. He indicated that there were currently two vacancies on the HRA board. He introduced Jim Baer who has applied for one of the vacancies. The City Council interviewed Mr. Baer. Following the interview, the Council thanked Mr. Baer for his interest in the City of Mound and indicated that the City Council will be appointing representatives to the HRA at its next regular meeting. The City Manager indicated that the other candidate, Donna Christensen, could not attend the Committee of the Whole meeting. It was suggested that an interview with Mrs. Christensen be held at 7:15 PM, Tuesday, March 28th, prior to the regular City Council meeting. Tom Reese, LMCD Representative, was present to update the Council on activities of the LMCD. He pointed out that the current executive director, Gene Strommen, has resigned to become the administrator of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. He asked the Council for input on the type of qualifications that the new executive director position should include. He also indicated that the advertisement had been put together late that day and had already been advertised in the metropolitan newspapers. It was also to be advertised in other publications. The City Manager asked if the LMCD Board had considered utilizing an executive recruitment firm. Reese indicated that this idea had not been talked about. Also discussed was the proposed lake walk in Wayzata that is currently undergoing consideration by the LMCD Board. Discussion then focused on a proposed public lands/commons task force. The City Manager had indicated that at the last COW meeting, Councilmember Hanus had suggested that a task force be put together to look at the overall public lands/commons program, Hanus stated specifically that he would like to have a task force look at ideas or suggestions regarding shoreline commons usage and dock program usage. Hanus suggested that a program be created so that it is more harmonious with less regulation. Discussion focused on what the problems are with the commons program. Hanus suggested that there were problems from City residents and non-residents. He would like suggestions on how to ease the frustration of those who use and fund the program. In essence, people are not happy with the program. It was suggested that if a task force was formed, that it look at the commons that are applied to the docks program, focusing on what is irritating to the users of the program. Discussion then focused on the number of persons that could serve on the task force, the number suggested was twelve, with five abutters that have shared docks, three abutters who do not share docks, three non abutters and MINUTES- COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE- MARCH 21, 1995 one person at large. The charge of the task force is as follows: To discuss the level of frustration with the dock program and look at the impact of this frustration and make suggestions on how the program could be improved. It was suggested that an article be placed in the Laker for the April 3rd issue advertising that the City is creating a task force for the purpose stated above and that interviews would be held on May 2, 1995, 7:30 PM, at Mound City Hall, with official appointments to be made at the May 9, 1995 regular Council meeting. It is the intent to have the task force meet over a six month period with recommendations made back to the City Council by 12-31- 95. The task force will be staffed by City Staff for the purpose of minute taking and answering questions about the existing program and the ordinances that govern the program. This matter will be placed on the regular meeting of March 28th with an official resolution for establishment of a task force. John Cameron, City Engineer, was present to review the proposed preliminary alignment of the new Auditor's Road under the proposed Auditor's Road Improvement project. He reviewed the right-of-way and potential acquisition of properties along that right-of-way. Questions focused on what is the limit on what the City can bond for under MSA beyond what is already allocated within the MSA fund. Also discussed was Hennepin County's reaction to the relocation of Hennepin County Road 15 and the desire for having this improvement included within the County's Capital Improvement program. The direction was to have the City Engineer check or] the bonding issue with the State Municipal Aid office and have the City Manager contact Hennepin County regarding assurance on getting this proposed relocation of County Road 15 on the County's Capital Improvement program. It is intended that this matter will come before the City Council at its meeting on April 11, 1995, with a proposed right-of-way plan which can be approved by the City Council and submitted to the State Municipal Aid office. The City Manager outlined some concerns with regard to the compost site. The existing compost site had been located at the Public Works storage area behind the Minnetrista City Hall for a number of years. With the combination of the City of Mound and City of Minnetrista on public works storage at the site and the shrinking of the site, due to material that needs to be stored there as well as a buffer between the storage area and the southerly properties, there is not enough room to use this site for compost as it had been in the past. The City Manager asked the City Council if they still felt the obligation to provide the citizens of Mound with a compost site. The consensus was that the City Council believed that this was an important service and suggested other alternatives be looked at, The City Manager indicated that alternatives had been explored and that one alternative would be to have the private garbage haulers who currently take leaves and yard waste continue to do this and 2 MINUTES- COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE- MARCH 21, 1995 charge residents directly for this service. Another idea, which seemed to be more acceptable to the City Council, was to have the leaves in the spring and fall dropped at the Lost Lake Site where there will be a brush drop off and to have these leaves and yard waste tub grinded and then have the material hauled to the Minnetrista site and/or the cemetery. As long as the grinder will be there to grind up brush, it could be used for leaves as well. This could be done in May and in October, which would require residents to have their materials dropped at this site during those two months only. Another suggestion the City Manager made was that the recycling coordinator had been in contact with Hennepin County Parks who suggested that perhaps materials could be dropped at the Lake Minnetonka Regional Park. The City Manager indicated that staff was following up on this idea, which might be an even better suggestion versus the tub grinding. The City Council also discussed the idea of charging non residents and thought this was a good idea. Also the City Manager recommended that the lawn services and other haulers not be allowed to drop leaves and yard waste at the Lost Lake site during the months that it would be open for this purpose should that be the alternative selected. The City Council agreed with this idea. The matter will be pursued and the Council will be kept informed. Goal setting was continued until the next meeting. Since there was no further business to be discussed, it was noted that the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 199§, 7:30 PM, Mound City Hall. Upon motion by Ahrens, seconded by Jensen and carried unanimously, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Ed Sh~kle City Manager ES:Is 3