HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-06 PACKET 03.A.COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Special Meeting
March 2, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
1 .
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
Special Meeting on March 2, 2011 at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80 Street
South. Mayor Myron Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Jen Peterson,
Council Member Dave Thiede, Council Member Derrick Lehrke, and Council Member
Justin Olsen.
The following were absent: None.
Also present: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Robin
Roland, Finance Director; and Zac Dockter, Recreation and Ice Arena Manager.
The following School District representatives were present: Mark Porter,
Superintendent of Schools, and School Board Members Marsha Adou, Ron Kath,
Leslee Boyd, and Laurie Johnson.
JOINT MEETING WITH THE SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Mayor Bailey stated that the purpose of this joint meeting was to provide the School
District with an update on the Public Safety /City Hall facility, Community Center, the City
Council goals, and to discuss community -based recreation.
Public Safety /City Hall Facility
Mayor Bailey reviewed the handouts on the new Public Safety /City Hall facility and
noting that 85% of the cost of the new facility is for Public Safety.
City Administrator Schroeder stated the new Public Safety /City Hall facility would be
located in the East Ravine, north of the existing Washington County South Service
Center. Mr. Schroeder reviewed the project timetable stating that the design
development stage would be completed April 6; we expect to obtain bids on June 15;
ask the City Council to award bids in late August, early September; and would move to
the new building in late -2012.
Cottage Grove City Council 2
March 2, 2011 Special Meeting
Mayor Bailey pointed out that the location, Ravine Parkway, is also the proposed site for
the community center, library, and fire station. He stated that the City Council has
decided not to include a police gun range in the project.
Community Center
Mayor Bailey reviewed the Community Center Task Force's final recommendation to the
City Council. He stated that a market study undertaken by the City and the YMCA,
found that a majority of the survey respondents favored a partnership between the City
and the YMCA to develop a facility. That included support for City financing of a facility.
He stated that 19% of the respondents were willing to pay $40 or more per year for a
community center.
Ron Kath, a member of the Community Center Task Force, stated that the Task Force
was in favor of the Ravine location for a Community Center. He stated they were not
eliminating the other two (2) locations (Norris Square and Fire Station #2) from
consideration.
Council Member Olsen stated that at one of the meetings that he attended a month or
two ago, it appeared to him that the YMCA had a significant interest in the Ravine site
and asked if the Task Force discussed that at their last night? Mr. Kath responded the
Task Force did discuss that but it is something that the City Council and Staff would
have to work out with the YMCA.
Council Member Olsen stated that the City and School District need to coordinate the
timing on holding a referendum because of the assumption that the School District
would have to hold a referendum in the near future.
City's Transportation Plan
Mayor Bailey stated that the City Council would formally consider adopting the City of
Cottage Grove 2030 Comprehensive Plan "Future Vision 2030" as approved by the
Metropolitan Council on January 13, 2011. An element of the plan addresses the future
roadway system.
2011 City Council Goals
Mayor Bailey highlighted the City Council's Goals for 2011 on Governance, Fiscal
Stability, Commercial and Industrial Development, Transportation and Transit, Housing
Development, and Public Facilities.
Mark Porter stated the School District is in the midst of their strategic planning process
and they are recruiting individuals to assist in developing a strategic plan to guide the
Cottage Grove City Council
March 2, 2011 Special Meeting
School District's efforts for the next five (5) years. Council Member Peterson stated she
would be interested in serving as a civic leader.
Communitv -Based Recreation
Recreation and Ice Arena Manager Dockter highlighted an issue that he, the City of
Woodbury, and Community Education have been trying to resolve relating to the use of
recreational facilities. He stated that he is providing this to the City Council and School
Board for informational purposes only.
Recreation and Ice Arena Manager Dockter stated that the current facility use policy
gives equal priority of facility scheduling to both ERAA and CGAA. There is a lot of
conflict amongst residents of Woodbury concerning the scheduling process. The results
seem to be splitting the community and have become a large concern. Both Woodbury
and Cottage Grove feel in -house programs are suffering in that those programs receive
low priority on usage /scheduling of fields as compared to the traveling programs.
Although that concern is minimal in Cottage Grove, future growth of the community will
elevate the same type of conflicts in Cottage Grove. The cities of Woodbury and
Cottage Grove as well as the School's Community Education department have met to
discuss the idea of reviewing the facility use policies to create a greater focus on
community based in -house programming versus school -based programming. This
change could improve facility - scheduling processes as well as create a more unified
community.
The special meeting adjourned to the regular meeting
Prepared by,
Caron M. Stransky
City Clerk