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05-09-05 Worksession CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Special Worksession May 9,2005 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:03 p.m. Members Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Bill Kilian; Susan Rosenberg; Fred Wroge; and Sue Sandahl. Staff Present: Steven Devich, City Manager; Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; Brad Sveum, Acting Fire Services Director; Bill Fillmore, Municipal Liquor Operations Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety Director; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant to City Manager; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; Kristin Asher, Assistant City Engineer; Bruce Nordquist, Housing and Redevelopment Manager; and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary. Item#1 City Manager Devich reviewed the collaborative structure, the various reports and studies and the proposed new HSSC model, including a budget. Camillo DeSantis, Community Council Member, discussed common themes regarding the HSSC transition discussions, HSSC Mission Statement and recommendations and rationale on re- establishing the Research and Planning Council (RPC) without delay. If the main function of the collaborative is RPC, it should move forward to keep the human services links. Council Member Wroge stated he met with Edwina Garcia and John Garry at HSSC. He said he is undecided on whether to plan for the future or be sure to keep the current services so they're not lost. He added he did not yet understand the financial aspects. Council Member Wroge asked about Richfield doing their own research and planning program to supply services. Council Member Rosenberg stated research and planning are needed to determine demographics. Mr. DeSantis said it is clear that funding will be lost so resources need to be reviewed and adjustments made. Rose Jost, Bloomington Public Health, said the amount of the funding decrease is unknown. Staffing options are limited due to budget issues. The intake line needs to be publicized to link agencies. Special Worksession Minutes -2- May 9, 2005 Beth Fagin, Community Council Co-Chair, stated the City and Hennepin County staff time is billable hours which is a lost revenue and has affected the service to agencies. The calls received are 15% from Richfield residents. The Community Council has questioned if the telephone is the best way to make contacts and the best use of resources. It was determined that having a person "on the ground" was better. Phone calls may be reduced due to MIRA getting information to residents. City Manager Devich stated the research and planning coordination appears to be the foundation with everything else emanating from there. Another consideration is the resource center service due to the potential loss of LCTS funding. Having the cities fund these activities is extremely costly. In the beginning, only research and planning were provided, not services. If one city withdraws, the collaborative suffers a severe loss. Council Member Wroge asked about the qualifications and salary of the Planner and Team Facilitator. Mr. DeSantis said the planner is a research specialist and the facilitator could be a social worker. Council Member Kilian said everything can't be done so there should be a prioritization with associated costs because to be effective, there needs to be planning on the front end. Mr. DeSantis explained how prioritizing worked in the past and suggested that model could be used again. Council Member Sandahl stated that if the experts say services cannot be provided without research and planning, that needs to be considered. Connections have been developed and there needs to be a way to make it continue to work. City Manager Devich asked the City Council if Richfield should continue to be part of the HSSC with the other cities (Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Hennepin County). Council Member Wroge asked what would happen if the RPC ended and the cities had their own operation. Mr. DeSantis stated Hennepin County wanted cities to advise them on their local needs. Every community needs to provide reports to the county. Council Member Kilian said Richfield would still need to work with the County, either on their own or with the collaborative. City Manager Devich explained the City's funding is being leveraged to be part of the collaborative. If the collaborative disintegrates, Richfield will not benefit from Hennepin County funding. Mayor Kirsch said the collaborative cannot fall apart, the funding leverage is important. Council Member Wroge asked about the other cities' commitment. City Manager Devich said Bloomington appeared likely to continue as well as Eden Prairie. Richfield was the most undecided. City Manager Devich stated it appears to make sense not to hire another Executive Director but rather a planning professional. Mr. DeSantis requested the City Council consider the role of the RPC and Community Council. City Manager Devich stated updates will be provided at future City Council meetings. Special Worksession Minutes -3- May 9, 2005 Item # 2 City Manager Devich stated City staff is considering roundabouts as a solution at two intersections in Richfield, 66th Street/Portland Avenue and 66th Street/17th Avenue. Discussion should include the possible ramifications of roundabouts and the need for a public involvement process. Ken Johnson, MnDOT Metro Design, made a powerpoint presentation, "Roundabouts: It's Time for Minnesota". (Clerk's File No. C-408.) Mr. Johnson said that currently MnDOT has approved one-lane roundabouts and the two lane roundabout moratorium should be lifted this summer. He said when the roundabout was first introduced, there was skeptical acceptance. Council Member Kilian said the two potential areas in Richfield would address safety issues and left turn solutions. City Manager Devich added that traffic movement would improve without delays with increased safety. Council Member Wroge asked about safety for children crossing the street. Mr. Johnson said the traffic is more likely to stop because it is moving slower through the roundabout. Council Member Kilian stated the roundabout appears residential-friendly. The City Council consensus was to have staff move forward with the review and analysis of roundabouts. City Manager Devich stated Cedar Point would be the first site for a roundabout. Public Works Director Eastling added that both intersections have the same land needs but there are ADA considerations as well as Hennepin County concerns. Item # 3 City Manager Devich stated that due to the significant potential changes associated with the Cedar Avenue/66th Street/Trunk Highway 77 entrance/exit ramps and the Cedar Point development, the City Council should be aware of the limited access in regards to the City's municipal liquor store at 6600 Cedar Avenue. Municipal Liquor Operations Director Fillmore made a presentation regarding the proposed roadway changes, limited access of patrons to the store and possible relocation site on 66th Street/17th Avenue. The current location is marketable for re-sale for a service area not a convenience service. Mayor Kirsch said the Cedar store was built for a multi-use purpose in case it was discontinued as a liquor store. Council Member Kilian said a roundabout would make access easier and a variety of opinions are needed regarding the current location and a possible relocation site. Municipal Liquor Operations Director Fillmore said staff is requesting Council direction to pursue consultants that could offer suggestions in alternative sites for store relocation which could also include some participation of an architectural firm. Special Worksession Minutes -4- May 9,2005 City Manager Devich stated staff met with Nigel Finney, MAC Executive Director, regarding the purchase of the eight homes to be mitigated. Mayor Kirsch said the proposed relocation site would facilitate that process. Council Member Kilian suggested information be provided with the pluses and minuses and associated costs regarding the liquor stores current site and proposed relocation site. Council Member Sandahl asked about the liquor store being within the Cedar Point redevelopment project. Municipal Liquor Operations Director Fillmore explained the store becomes a tenant with less money being made and a limited future. Council Member Wroge asked about the City building the store and owning it since Target will own their building. City Manager Devich stated Ryan Company wants ownership. Community Development Director Palmborg explained Ryan Company stated they would want to be made whole if the municipal liquor store came into the development. City staff expressed concern about identification, location and access if the store was in the development. The store was better off as a free-standing building rather than in a center. City Manager Devich added that Ryan Company was not interested in the liquor store being in a certain corner of the development. Community Development Director Palmborg stated the preference was also to not have the liquor store by the Mt. Calvary school but rather on the other side of 66th Street. The City Council consensus was to pursue consultants that could offer suggestions in alternative sites for store relocation which could also include some participation of an architectural firm including associated costs, options on the current location and street configuration. Item # 4 Mayor Kirsch asked Tom Rublein, task force chair, to review the recommendations of the task force. Mr. Rublein reported the current City Hall should be maintained as a safe and structurally sound facility with a minimal expenditure; only those repairs essential to meet this recommendation should be made at this time. Mr. Rublein suggested a new task force be created that has a large enough representation of the community to work with an architect to come to a consensus for a building design, financing and location. The building should be constructed in three years. Mr. Rublein added the architect should not be the driving force, some independence needs to be maintained. Council Member Wroge suggested architects with experience with Police Departments should be considered. Council Member Sandahl said a new task force is needed to move forward with this new set of considerations. Council Member Kilian stated there appears to be two major issues, site selection and building requirements, so two task forces or one task force with a subcommittee should be considered. Special Worksession Minutes -5- May 9,2005 Council Member Wroge said the biggest challenge is the site selection and should be the first consideration. He believes one task force is sufficient. Mayor Kirsch said the task force could request assistance. The City Council consensus was to reassemble a new City Hall Task Force modeled after the last process with the charge of recommending a site selection and building criteria. Council Member Wroge added the task force members need to understand the time commitment that will be necessary. Item # 5 City Manager Devich provided an overview of the Wireless Fidelity and Wimax systems. He reviewed the City of Chaska system and funding source, including the infrastructure investment and customer service issues. The system was eventually contracted out due to the higher costs than anticipated. He also reviewed the differences between Wi-Fi and Wimax. City Manager Devich said he was uncertain which system the City of Minneapolis was implementing but it was through a private company. City Manager Devich stated Eden Prairie decided not to pursue Wi-Fi because technology changes so fast and it may not be a good public investment. City Manager Devich added several cities are currently in a wait-and-see mode to determine if they should partner with a private company. Council Member Wroge asked about security issues. City Manager Devich said there are some security concerns. Council Member Kilian said through this technology, the internet could be made more affordable to the public, as well as lower costs for alarm system. This appears to be an opportunity to provide a really good service at a lower cost. Council Member Sandahl asked about the differences between Wi-Fi and Wimax. City Manager Devich said the difference is in the signal related to distance. Council Member Wroge asked about the 5% the City receives from the Time Warner cable television charges. City Manager Devich explained the 5% is off the majority of the cable bill and the City uses the funds to subsidize the General Fund for public information-type work. Council Member Sandahl expressed concern about investing in a technology that may be replaced. City Manager Devich stated the Southwest Suburban Cable Commission (SWSCC) could research this matter. If the City is to continue research, a consultant may need to be hired. Council Member Kilian suggested staff meet with the City of Minneapolis regarding piggybacking with them. He said constituents have mentioned to him that they'd like this alternative. Mayor Kirsch expressed support for working with the SWSCC. He added the City should not get into the technology business and preferred it to be a private enterprise. Special Worksession Minutes -6- May 9,2005 Council Member Sandahl expressed support for talking with Minneapolis. She added staff should not spend a lot of time and money on this matter but stay aware so the City does not fall behind. The City Council consensus was to have staff meet with the City of Minneapolis and the SWSCC to discuss the Wi-Fi and Wimax systems. Item # 6 Council Member Sandahl said the City should consider providing some funding to the History Center because of the Family-Friendly Initiative focus to educate children and the City's upcoming Centennial Celebration. David Butler, History Center Building Chair, reviewed what has been done at the History Center and Bartholomew House; including fundraising efforts. Lisa Plank, History Center Director, reviewed the vision of the History Center, including programming focusing on families during the summer. Council Member Kilian asked about Richfield school children doing tours. Ms. Plank said currently second and third graders participate and there are plans to expand to other grades. Council Member Sandahl suggested the $10,000 request from the Historical Society be reduced to $5,000 due to City budget issues. The $5,000 would be with a match from citizens. The City will be calling upon the Historical Society during the Centennial Celebration. Council Member Rosenberg expressed support for the $5,000 donation because the Historical Society is a valuable resource. City Manager Devich stated an "Out & About" show will be made in the History Center before their grand opening. The City Council consensus was to amend the May 10 City Council agenda to include formal action to authorize a $5,000 donation with a match from the citizens to the Richfield History Center and amend the 2005 budget as appropriate. Item # 7 Public Safety Director Scott provided an update on community out-reach efforts including various activities and meetings with several groups to communicate pro-actively on immigration status concerns as well as Police and City services. He said positive feedback has been received on these efforts. The City Council consensus was to continue the community out-reach communication and provide updates to the City Council. Council Member Rosenberg invited the City Council to attend the May 17 town meeting sponsored by the Human Rights Commission regarding diversity and immigration status concerns. The City Council requested the May 17 town meeting be posted as a Special City Council meeting. Council Member Kilian asked how it is determined if the efforts to make people feel comfortable with City services and/or Police contacts have been successful with the desired results. Special Worksession Minutes -7- May 9,2005 Council Member Rosenberg said this is probably not a quantitative result but a sense that it is successful. If people are made to feel like they belong and if the fear of a Police presence at activities are overcome, the desired results have been achieved. The ISAIAH group wants the immigration status ordinance codified so there is some support of future City Council Members and staff. Council Member Wroge stated there is a group of people who believe the law is the law, yet social justice says to look the other way. He added it appears a subculture of economics is also being created. Council Member Kilian said people need to feel comfortable in the community. Council Member Sandahl suggested promoting the positive outcomes. Mayor Kirsch said education on the laws should continue. Council Member Rosenberg said race is also an issue. Everyone in every race should feel comfortable. Council Member Sandahl stated a possible ordinance on immigration status would be fine. City Manager Devich announced the City Council/City staff strategic planning session is scheduled for June 20 at 8:00 a.m. at the Hampton Inn. f!A;~~ Cheryl K mhol Recording Secretary The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:23 P~~. U Date Approved: Mav 24. 2005 ~d' , Marti~ .IKlrs . Ma~br' ;< '\ .' .>{' /\ ut:;#.. /Ie'. ,lI"'.o."'.. , ) ~'I/"'I!f' ". Steven L. Devich City Manager ~,>....- ~ i (. ~.~}'4~,_ J.