HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-18 MINUTES (SPECIAL MEETING)COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Special Meeting
July 18, 2012
CALL TO ORDER — Special Meeting
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
Special Meeting on July 18, 2012 at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80 Street South,
Cottage Grove. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Derrick Lehrke, Council
Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jen Peterson, and Council Member Dave Thiede.
The following were absent: None.
Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk;
Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer; Robin Roland, Finance Director; John Burbank, Senior
Planner; Les Burshten, Public Works Director; Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director,
and Danette Parr, Economic Development Director.
Mayor Bailey presided over the Special Meeting.
Upper Ravine District Major Roadway Special Assessment Study Update
The City Council reviewed the Upper Ravine District Major Roadway Special
Assessment Study prepared by Stantec Consulting. The report updates the East
Ravine Major Roadway Special Assessment Study conducted in 2006 and
incorporates updated construction or reconstruction costs for major roadways within
the Upper Ravine District. The Special Assessment Study includes street
improvements to Jamaica Avenue from 70 Street to Military Road; Ravine Parkway
from Keats Avenue to 65 Street; Keats Avenue from 70 Street to the Cottage
Grove /Woodbury border; and the abandonment of Military Road from Keats
Avenue to the Cottage Grove /Woodbury border.
Mayor Bailey stated that it would be interesting to know the difference between the
2006 to 2012 fees per acre. That way when he gets calls from landowners, he would
be able to respond to them. Finance Director Roland stated that she could put
together a report for the Council.
Cottage Grove City Council
July 18, 2012 Special Meeting
2. Infrastructure Maintenance Task Force Draft Policy Review
The City Council reviewed the changes included in the redlined version of the revised
Infrastructure Maintenance Task Force (IMTF) policy included in the Agenda
Packet. The Public Works Commission and the Infrastructure Maintenance Task
Force (IMTF) recommends that the City Council approve the revised policy.
Finance Director Roland stated that since there was some interest in allowing partial
payments, she would do some research to find out whether it would be feasible today
with the technology that we currently have available to us.
3. Parks and Recreation Referendum Projects
The City Council reviewed the four (4) projects being considered for funding through
a referendum during the November General Election:
• Hamlet Park Expansion /Renovation
• Thompson Grove Pool Building Renovation
• Outdoor Family Aquatic Center
• Land Acquisition for Future Sports Complex
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter stated that Staff has been working to produce
sufficient data that would give the City Council and the Parks, Recreation, and
Natural Resources Commission the ability to make a sound decision in regards to
proceeding with ballot question(s). That data would be derived from the following
resources:
• Hamlet Park Feasibility Study (Included in the Agenda Packet)
• Thompson Grove Pool Building Concept Design and Cost Estimate
• Parks and Recreation Referendum Community Survey
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter then highlighted the preliminary results of the
community survey being undertaken.
City Administrator Schroeder stated that according to the firm conducting the survey,
they would not recommend holding an odd -year election and depending on the final
outcome of the survey, the land acquisition project would appear to be off the table.
The City Council then discussed the proposed cost to market the referendum, the
preliminary results of the survey underway, the upside /downside of placing questions
on the ballot, the three (3) remaining projects on the table, and whether any of the
projects could be completed in phases, such as Hamlet Park or the indoor play center.
Cottage Grove City Council
July 18, 2012 Special Meeting
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter asked the City Council if they needed him to
do more research between now and the Joint City Council /Parks, Recreation and
Natural Resources Commission meeting scheduled on August 8th.
Council Member Olsen stated that the preliminary results make it appear that the land
acquisition question would probably be eliminated.
Mayor Bailey recommended that the Community Center Task Force be invited to
attend the Joint City Council and Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources
Commission meeting.
The Special Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Prepared by,
Caron M. Stransky
City Clerk