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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-02 PACKET 03.A.W k , " -0-717- COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION Special Joint Meeting April 21, 2010 The Cottage Grove City Council and the Public Works Commission of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a Special Meeting on April 21, 2010, at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80 Street South. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Cottage Grove City Council Members: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Jen Peterson, Council Member Justin Olsen. The following were absent: Council Member Mark Grossklaus and Council Member Pat Rice. Public Works Commission Members Present: Ken Boyden, Gary Kjellberg, Chistopher Lethgo, William Royce, Alex Chernayaev, Bob Dornsbach and Jason Field. Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Howard Blin, Community Development Director; Les Burshen, Public Works Director; Harry Taylor, Public Works Supervisor; and Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer; and Robin Roland, Finance Director. Mayor Bailey presided over the meeting. Mayor Bailey stated the purpose of the Special Meeting was to meet with members of the Public Works Commission. He stated that the Council held a retreat in January, 2010 where the Council reviewed and amended the City's goals and vision. Mayor Bailey reviewed the 2010 City Council Goals: 1. Governance. a. Broadened the Environmental Task Force to Commission status. Increased membership from seven (7) to nine (9) members. b. Continue performance measures and benchmarks to which the organization can measure attainment, implement accountability measures for each department tied to the Council visioning goals including monthly department reporting to Council. 2. Commercial and Industrial Development. a. International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The Economic Development Authority (EDA) is sending representatives of the EDA and the City to the shopping center convention to be held in late May. Those attending are Mayor Bailey, Council Member Olsen, City Administrator Schroeder and Community Development Director Blin to meet with prospective developers noting that currently they have 15 appointments scheduled. Cottage Grove City Council r� April 21, 2010 Special Meeting G b. The EDA has a new website called growthpartners.com and shoploco.com for businesses to advertise themselves and specials. The City also started a Facebook page and the idea is to keep communication flowing. c. Provide for enhanced cohesiveness between the City and the Chamber of Commerce. d. Provide for continued development in the industrial park, redevelopment of the Gateway District and planning for the Cottage View and infill sites including the Rodeo and Majestic redevelopment opportunities. City Administrator Schroeder stated that the City now owns a 3.5 acre parcel in the industrial park. 3. Housing Development. a. Mayor Bailey stated that developers are saying that people want smaller lot sizes, smaller homes, but more amenities. The value of the new homes should not go down because people want the bells and whistles. Therefore, Council has authorized staff to talk about what we can do from a density standpoint because they have to make money, we need to grow, but we also do not want shabby developments. b. Provide opportunities for multi - family units within developments. Inform developers that we are willing to negotiate on density, noting that we have not actually said "we are willing to go down to a certain lot size ". c. Commissioner Boyden expressed concern that manholes are not always in the center of the road. Supervisor Taylor stated in areas whether there are a lot of storm sewer piping, manholes tend to be placed off center. d. Commissioner Boyden stated he was opposed to the placement of 28 -foot road widths in residential developments. 4. Fiscal Stability a. Mayor Bailey stated nothing has changed except the Sustainability Task Force project, which we will apply for grants. b. Commissioner Kjellberg questioned whether there have been any layoffs due to the loss of funding from the State. Mayor Bailey stated that years ago staff saw this coming and started weaning ourselves from state funding. 5. Transportation and Transit a. Provide continued support of the Wakota and Hastings bridge coalitions and the Red Rock Rail and High Speed Rail initiatives. The Wakota bridge is scheduled to be completed in July 2010. This summer T.H. 61 will be "white topped" from 70 Street south to approximately T.H. 95 and a couple of the existing accesses will be closed. b. The City is moving forward with the Pavement Management project in River Acres area this year. Washington County has funding to complete a feasibility study of the Langdon Area, and is something the Commission will see by the end of the year. c. The next pavement management project will be in the Pine Coulee and the area east of Jamaica Avenue between 80`" Street north to approximately Indian Boulevard. d. 65`" Street will get an overlay this year and Washington County will complete a total reconstruction out five -to -seven years. Once that is completed, the City plans to takeover 65 Street and Washington County would takeover Jamaica Avenue. 6. Public Facilities a. The Community Center Task Force continues to move forward. We are at the point now where they have feasibility information that says here is what the City of Cottage Grove could support, both from a size and financial standpoint. Cottage Grove City Council April 21, 2010 Special Meeting b. At the same time, the Council has given specific direction to Staff to move forward with the City Hall /Public Safety complex. By the end of May 2010 we will have a space needs analysis completed. Commissioner Boyden stated that the Public Safety Department should be a separate from the City Hall or Community Center. You don't want them to be so close that there could be other conflicting things going out and the police officers cannot get out of the facility or called off the street because there is a disturbance at the community center. 7. Other Issues Mayor Bailey and City Engineer Levitt provided an update on the 3M incinerator and the PFC water issues. Council Member Olsen acknowledged that National Public Works Week this year is May 16 through May 22. The Special Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Caron Stransky, City Clerk