HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005/10/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session 7CTY OFFICIAL MINUTES
T. LCITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
RK October 17, 2005
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, Jim Brimeyer Phil Finkelstein, Paul
Omodt, Susan Sanger, and Sue Santa.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), Director of Technology and Support Services (Mr.
Pires), Finance Director(Ms. McGann), Park Superintendent(Mr. Beane), Park Recreation
Superintendent(Mr. Birno), Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin), and Recording Secretary(Ms.
Stegora-Peterson).
1. 2006-2010 Capital Improvement Program
Ms. McGann introduced the Capital Improvement Plan and indicated they would discuss
utility rates at the next meeting. She noted that the overall budget is balanced.
Technology
Mr. Pires indicated the Technology fund included items such as computers, hardware and software,
network replacement, the telephone system, the radio system (which is being replaced this year)
and cable television. The wireless program was a separate project,with separate financing.
Mr. Harmening asked what the methodology was used for technology replacement? Mr.
Pires replied the program is for replacement every three years. The network infrastructure
has a 20 year lifespan. Cable television was somewhere in between. Phones had a five year
life. The radio system can last"forever" and was moving to the 800 MHz system. The FCC
is requiring stations to go digital before 2009, which would require a change in equipment.
Councilmember Sanger asked if it was in the budget to make the website more interactive?
Will the wireless program require funding for new equipment and was that in the budget?
Mr. Pires replied they had funding for website improvements. They will come before the
Council with ideas such as web casting Council meetings. They are always replacing
wireless equipment. Going WiFi would require different kids of equipment to be compatible.
There would be no net cost because they were all programmed.
Councilmember Finkelstein asked if funding would come from the Enterprise fund? Ms.
McGann replied if it goes forward, there would be internal loans, and the logical place would
be from the Development fund.
Councilmember Finkelstein asked if revenue had been lost from the fund and if it affected the
Capital Improvement Program? Mr. Pires replied replacement of equipment was the same. If
they went to a formal process, they would end up with more money on the capital side.
Study Session Minutes -2- October 17, 2005
Parks and Recreation
Ms. McGann indicated that the Park and Rec. replacement of equipment information was in
the staff report.
Mr. Beane stated that playgrounds with high-use probably won't last 13 years,which is the
manufacturer recommendation. They check structures one or two times a year. This plan
was put into place when they did major park inventory five years ago.
Councilmember Finkelstein asked if they used the market value homestead credit or fund out
-of the general fund? Ms. McGann replied yes, or the general obligation fund.
Councilmember Santa asked if this reflected enhancement to the Rec. Center? Mr. Beane
replied next year was the first step. There has been significant damage from skateboards.
Another piece will be an aquatic park done in 2007 or 2008.
Mayor Jacobs asked if they would have drop slides? Mr. Beane replied that was fluid. They
were working with consultants on concepts and were getting ready to do upgrades.
Mayor Jacobs stated he had talked with kids who expressed interest in having exercise bikes
or a running track.
Councilmember Santa asked about the Minnehaha Creek Visioning Process city-owned land
along Minnehaha Creek, if there was a budget to study that property? Mr. Beane replied they
had not been made aware of anything. Mr. Harmening added nothing had been programmed.
They were unsure what would be done with the property.
Public Works
Ms. McGann moved along to the Public Works presentation.
Mr. Rardin discussed asset management planning and reviewed several handouts. They were
determining the use life cycle on the assets. An investigation will be done on sewers using
cameras. This would affect maintenance if there were significant problems. They do not have
their asset plans fully developed, which was the goal. He discussed the software programs used
for tracking inventory and reviewed asset management plans including: guardrails, sanitary
sewers, sanitary lift stations and sewer project main line rehabilitation. He reviewed the sanitary
system plans and discussed the nsk and how it was coordinated with pavement management.
Councilmember Brimeyer asked if inflation was factored in? Mr. Rardin replied to a small degree.
Study Session Minutes -3- October 17, 2005
Councilmember Finkelstein asked about Novartis? Mr. Rardin responded that would be
discussed at the next meeting.
Councilmember Santa asked if warranties were tracked for equipment? Mr. Rardin replied it
was tracked through their software.
Mr. Rardin reviewed the filter rehabs done on six plants.
Councilmember Sanger asked if they planned to paint the water tower at Louisiana and Cedar
Lake Road? Mr. Rardin responded it was planned for 2007. They do inspections prior to
that time to look for structural problems.
Councilmember Finkelstein suggested they use the tower as a public art project.
Mr. Rardin reviewed the storm water plan, which was still in the inventory process.
Councilmember Santa asked if that included outlets to the creek? Mr. Rardin responded
when it was done, it would have catch basins,ponds, lift station and storm ponds.
Councilmember Sanger noted they often receive complaints about flooding and staff has
indicated that they were working, but there was not enough capacity. Should there be funds
in the budget to expand the capacity? Mr. Rardin replied that the Council needed to discuss
that and determine if they wanted more funding there.
Councilmember Sanger suggested that be considered in the long term.
Ms. McGann stated they would be presenting options at the next meeting to pay for what was listed.
Mr. Rardin stated there was not enough funding to handle the flood program. There were too
many unknowns to get it done in 2006.
Mr. Rardin discussed City Hall inventory and pavement management. There are eight areas
of the city and the first project was completed in 2005. They inspected pavements and rated
them to come up with a plan(maintenance, renewal and reconstruction). $150-200,000 was
budgeted for chip sealing. The balance of the budget was on renewal and reconstruction.
Councilmember Santa commented that the pavement management project completed went
well and staff did a great job working with residents.
Mr. Rardin indicated there would be some fine-tuning done on the program.
Councilmember Sanger asked how they prioritized the projects? Mr. Rardin replied they split
each ward into two areas, to touch everyone routinely and get around the city quickly. They
balanced mileage in each section, then ran the street value ratings and came up with averages
and started in the worst area. Chip seals and rehabilitation would be done four years apart.
Study Session Minutes -4- October 17, 2005
Mr. Rardin indicated that 20%of the city streets are a higher level (MSA). They program
city projects driven by redevelopment or Council request. They have a list of possible sites
for pedestrian improvements or intersection improvements. Some were in the capital
improvement program. The total price of the interchange at Highway 7 and Wooddale is $18
million. He hoped they could access from the Development fund.
Mr. Rardin discussed a handout on MnDOT interchange programs, approximately$5.6 million.
Councilmember Sanger asked if the $18 million included separate crossings for the trail?
Mr. Rardin replied no, Three Rivers Park District had a separate application in for those.
The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
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