07-06-98 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
July 6, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
City Council
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Russ Susag; Kristal Stokes, Michael Sandahl
and Susan Rosenberg.
Staff Present :James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative Services
Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Michael Eastling, Public Works
Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; William
Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; Frank White, Special Programs
Manager; Lil Hipp, Community Center Manager; and Tom Foley,
Transportation Engineer.
Item #1ANNUAL MEETING WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 32
Community Services Commission
Members Present:
Arnold Auchstetter
William Sharkey
Robert Dietl
Maureen Scaglia
Carolyn Krohn
Denise Schaefer
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 32 regarding the opportunity
for the Community Services Commission to discuss current issues with the City Council.
Study Session Minutes-2-July 6, 1998
Community Services Commissioner Scaglia discussed the status of the following
issues:
x
Multi-purpose Community Center Facility
x
Ballfield Replacement Project
x
Master Park Plan
George Watson, Brauer and Associates, reviewed the status of the requests for
proposals (RFP) from consultants for conduct of a feasibility study regarding a multi-purpose
community center facility. He indicated this process should be completed by mid December.
City Manager Prosser indicated a separate feasibility study would be done by
Ehlers/Publicorp regarding financing and by Connoisseur Restaurant Management, Inc.
regarding the banquet facility.
Commissioner Scaglia discussed the importance of marketing the multi-purpose
facility to the community.
Council Member Susag asked about potential locations for a multi-purpose facility.
Mr. Watson stated that the location would most likely be in or near Veterans Memorial
Park.
Council Member Susag asked what would happen to the existing community center if
a new facility is built.
City Manager Prosser indicated that the options would include continued use as a
community center, utilize the building for other City uses, or sell the property. He stated the
Community Services Commission and Council would need to analyze the options and the
City will have to obtain a legal opinion regarding any deed restrictions on the property.
Mr. Watson reviewed the status of the Ballfield Replacement Project and process.
City Manager Prosser reviewed some of the operational issues related to the
replacement ballfields.
Council Member Rosenberg asked about the status of the Fairwood/Monroe Park
issues.
Mr. Watson stated a neighborhood meeting was held on June 27 and consensus was
arrived at regarding the “Overall Plan”. He stated the next neighborhood meeting is
scheduled for July 16 and would focus on playground equipment. He reviewed the issue of
the replacement of the Monroe Park building structure and indicated the replacement would
probably be located in Fairwood Park.
Mr. Watson reviewed the status of planning for tree replanting at Veterans Memorial
Park.
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed the status of the Richfield Lake
Area Redevelopment Planning process.
Study Session Minutes-3-July 6, 1998
City Manager Prosser suggested that the Community Services Commission receive a
presentation on the Richfield Lake Area Master Plan at their August meeting.
Council Member Susag asked about the impact of the Richfield Lake Area plan on the
parks in the area and drainage ponds.
Community Development Director Palmborg stated that the plan did not envision any
changes to the play area on the west side of Richfield Lake or Bob’s Park. He indicated
possible future changes in housing might impact Garfield Park. He reviewed the storm water
ponding treatment concept.
Commissioner Auchstetter asked how the City Council defined the role of the
Community Services Commission - visionary, cost, funding focus, or all three.
Council Member Sandahl stated that the Commission in its advisory capacity can
pretty much define their own role and should look at costs, alternatives, funding and
programming.
Council Member Stokes asked for a report on Hat Trick Hockey.
Administrative Services Director Devich stated a request has been submitted for a
report from Hat Trick Hockey.
City Manager Prosser discussed the Richfield Maintenance Facility Task Force Public
Information Meeting notice which will be mailed to residents.
Item #IIPRESENTATION OF 1997 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL
REPORT.STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 33
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 33 regarding the
presentation of the 1997 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and discussion of the
1997 financial audit by the firm of Deloitte & Touche.
Amy Allen, Audit Manager, Deloitte & Touche, reviewed and answered questions
about graphs and charts regarding the following:
x
Performance Ratios
Debt medians
Enterprise medians
x
Comparative Financial Indicators
Fund balance to revenues
Debt per capita
Debt Service to revenues
x
General Obligation Bond Ratings
x
Management Practices to Avoid
x
Minnesota State General Expenditures for Fiscal Years 1997 and 1996
x
Selected Comparison Ratios Regarding Number of Full Time Employees
Study Session Minutes-4-July 6, 1998
x
General Fund Revenues
x
General Fund Expenditures
x
Debt Service Schedule
x
Water, Sewer, and Recycling Utility Fund Comparisons
x
Water and Sanitary Sewer Rate for Cities using Lime Softening
x
Debt as a Percent of Market Value
x
Enterprise Funds
Council Member Susag made several suggestions to the auditors regarding additional
footnotes to clarify the charts and graphs.
Council Member Sandahl made several suggestions to the auditors to simplify the
materials to make it easier for the public to understand the information.
Jim Platz, Senior Auditor, Deloitte & Touche reviewed the Independent Auditors’
Report and Opinion, Annual Financial Report Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards
Report, Data Collection Form for Reporting on Audits, and the Management Letter regarding
administrative and operating matters.
Mr. Platz stressed the need for a review of the sewer fund for fee increases to
eliminate operating loses and address the upcoming loss of revenue from the Metropolitan
Council for the interceptor system purchase. He also stressed the need to evaluate current
computer and building operating systems for year 2000 compliance.
Discussion followed regarding the auditors providing financial briefing papers for the
City Council to use in discussing and explaining financial issues to residents.
Item #IIIDISCUSSION OF RYAN DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF PENN AND SIXTY-
SIXTH STREET (PASSS) AREA RELATED TO PREPARING
REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS. STUDY SESSION LETTER NO. 34
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed Study Session Letter No. 34
regarding the study by Ryan Development of the Penn and 66th Street area for the purposes
of preparing redevelopment proposals. He discussed and presented the following issues:
x
How much land is going to be involved in redevelopment
He reviewed a map depicting the proposed PASSS Redevelopment Area. He
stated it was expanded from the 1989 PASSS District because the half block
development format envisioned in 1989 is no longer workable.
x
How the residents, property owners and businesses in the area will be
involved in the planning process
He stated that City staff and Ryan representatives are having discussions with the
Mediation Center which would be hired to assist the process including:
x
Assessing the preferences of adjacent residential users
x
Helping residents and business people to participate in the creation of
redevelopment plans
Study Session Minutes-5-July 6, 1998
x
Communicate why the project is important and that commercial
development will occur
x
Answer questions and provide information to businesses located in the area
x
The use of tax increment financing (TIF) to assist the financing of
redevelopment and renovation in the area.
He stated a basic principal which will be part of the feasibility process is that tax
increment financing would be made available on an as needed basis for plan
implementation.
Council Member Sandahl suggested the map should be labeled as study area.
Mayor Kirsch suggested the previous PASSS boundaries also be depicted on the
map.
Discussion followed regarding communications and the role of residents and
businesses in the process.
Item #IVDISCUSSION OF STATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ITEMS. STUDY
SESSION LETTER NO. 35
City Manager Prosser reviewed Study Session Letter No. 35 regarding recent
developments related to the following airport issues:
x
Runway 4-22
x
Closing of Standish Avenue
x
Proposed Runway 17-35
x
Minneapolis Position
x
Richfield CARE Team
x
MASAC Meeting
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:35 p.m.
Date Approved: _______________________________________________
Martin J. Kirsch, Mayor
____________________________________________________________
Thomas P. Ferber, City ClerkJames D. Prosser, City Manager