10-04-99 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Study Session
October 4, 1999
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg; Russ Susag
(arrived at 7:07 p.m.); and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present:Steven Devich, Acting City Manager; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk;
Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer,
Recreation Services Director; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; and Frank White, Special
Programs Manager.
Item # IANNUAL MEETING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION
The following Planning Commission members were present:
Brenda Bjorklund, Chair
Dan Linnihan
BillKilian
MarkTolvstad
The Planning Commission and City Council discussed Planning Commission
activities regarding the following:
x
Vacancies on Planning Commission
x
PASSS
x
Comprehensive Plan
Study Session Minutes-2-October 4, 1999
x
Interchange West
x
Housing mix issues
x
Richfield Rediscovered
x
Communications
x
Affordable housing issues
x
Recreation and Community Center
x
Enterprise facilitation
x
Small business issues
x
Airport mitigation area issues
x
Chamber of Commerce role
x
Innovative business reinvestment
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated concerns about the increased
traffic on 68th Street due to the Woodlake Centre project and the lack of public pedestrian
access from 68th Street to 66th Street between Lyndale Avenue and Nicollet Avenue. He
suggested that the Comprehensive Plan require that there be no increase in traffic in
residential areas as a result of development.
The Planning Commission indicated it would review this issue in looking at the
transportation section of the Comprehensive Plan.
Item # IIPRESENTATION FROM FOURTH OF JULY COMMITTEE
John Bjostad, President of the Richfield Fourth of July Committee, Inc. and Tom
Rublein, Vice President, presented a detailed report to the City Council on the 1999
celebration, past practices and future needs of the celebration including the following:
x
Review of 1999 events
x
Fund raising efforts and results
x
Financial report and status
x
Request to City Council for increased financial support
Discussion followed regarding fund raising efforts, the hope for increased support
from the Chamber of Commerce, sponsors, City budget issues and expectations for the
event.
Item #IIIDISCUSSION OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR I-494/I-35W
INTERCHANGE. S.S. LETTER NO. 33
Acting City Manager Devich reviewed S.S. Letter No. 33 regarding design
alternatives for improvements to the I-494/I-35W interchange.
Study Session Minutes-3-October 4, 1999
Transportation Engineer Foley reviewed and discussed drawings of the four I-494/I-
35W interchange design alternatives. He presented and discussed the I-494/I-35W
interchange problems and design evaluation criteria.
Public Works Director Eastling discussed public policy and funding considerations.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, asked about the costs to Richfield
related to the project.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed various funding formulas and possible
funding sources.
Item #IVDISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE, SECTION
840.01 REGARDING HOURS OF CITY PARKS. S.S. LETTER NO. 34
Acting City Manager Devich reviewed S.S. Letter No. 34 regarding a proposal to
amend the City code to change the park closing time from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. at certain
City parks.
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer stated that the proposal came as a result
of feedback from neighborhood park meetings expressing concerns about noise, loitering
and vandalism after dark in the parks.
It was the consensus of the City Council that consideration of this item be
scheduled for a future regular City Council Meeting agenda.
Item #VSTATUS OF AIRPORT RELATED ISSUES. S.S. LETTER NO. 35
Acting City Manager Devich reviewed S.S. Letter No. 35 regarding the status of the
following airport issues:
x
Governor’s Task Force Meetings
x
Part 150 Program update
x
Low Frequency Noise Policy Committee
x
Rich Acres Golf Course Farewell Event
x
Cedar Avenue redevelopment area newsletter and update
Study Session Minutes-4-October 4, 1999
Item #VIDISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL BY ST. ANN’S RESIDENCE, INC. TO
UTILIZE TAX EXEMPT FINANCING. S.S. LETTER NO. 36
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed S.S. Letter No. 36 regarding
the proposal of St. Ann’s Residence, Inc. to utilize $2.2 million of tax exempt financing to
refinance various residential properties in Roseville, Maplewood, St. Paul and Richfield
that provide housing for adults with developmental disabilities. He indicated the City has a
cap of $10 million in tax exempt financing. He reviewed the existing and future
commitments for the tax exempt financing.He indicated Richfield did not appear to have
the ability to act as an issuer of the tax exempt debt but could serve as a “host” with
another City issuing the debt and the Richfield City Council holding a public hearing to
consider the adoption of a resolution in support of the financing.
Tom Mayfield, Midwest Healthcare Capital, representing St. Ann’s, discussed the
tax exempt financing issues and indicated they would pay any out of pocket expenses.
Acting City Manager Devich stated that the City could act as a “host” City to allow
another city to issue the debt for St. Ann’s.
Discussion followed regarding the percentage of tax exempt property in the City.
It was the consensus of the City Council that staff bring this issue back to the City
Council with a recommendation for action.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:37 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberSteven L. Devich
City ClerkActing City Manager