HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 11-16-2011Approved Minutes
City of Plymouth
Planning Commission Meeting
November 16, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Dick Kobussen, Nathan
Robinson, Scott Nelson, Bryan Oakley and Marc Anderson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Gordon Petrash
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Public Works Director Doran Cote,
Park and Recreation Director Diane Evans, and Office Support Representative Janice Bergstrom
1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC FORUM
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Commissioner Robinson, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the
November 16, 2011 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 2, 2011 PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the
November 2, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION
approved.
B. PHOENIX SIGNS (2011086)
MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the
request by Phoenix Signs for a variance to expand an existing off-site directional sign at 3015
Harbor Lane N. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2011087)
Chair Davis introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for the 2012 — 2016 Capital
Improvement Program.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 16, 2011
Page 2
Public Works Director Cote gave an overview of projects and funding sources for each
department. He discussed the central equipment report.
Commissioner Nelson noted the priority column shows non -applicable, and asked if that column
is ever used.
Public Works Director Cote said that element of the software has the ability to prioritize projects
but has not been used.
Commissioner Kobussen asked if there are two fire vehicle SUV's and if they will be replaced in
two years.
Public Works Director Cote explained 10 -CE -032 and 10 -CE -030 are two different vehicles
which would be replaced only if a grant is available.
Commissioner Kobussen asked what a regenerative air sweeper is.
Public Works Director Cote explained the typical sweeper has brooms and brushes, and the
regenerative air sweeper is like a large vacuum cleaner which picks up the smaller material the
big sweepers can't pick up.
Public Works Director Cote reviewed the projects for the facilities management. He pointed out
the salt covering system for the maintenance facility is in significant disrepair and is in the
design phase to be constructed next year. Public Works Director Cote said the rooftop parking
deck for public safety is no longer water proof and has cracking and spalling. He said they have
an estimate of $460,000 for replacement.
Public Works Director Cote briefly discussed the IT projects, which are all replacement projects.
He noted one of the larger projects would be the portable 800 MHz radio units used by public
safety as the technology we have is no longer going to be supported by Hennepin County. Public
Works Director Cote said these would be replaced either by a grant or through funding set aside
for the replacements.
Commissioner Robinson asked how many of the public safety radios would be replaced.
Public Works Director Cote said there are approximately 100 units to be replaced.
Public Works Director Cote reviewed park and recreation projects and said the larger projects are
for land acquisition, such as the Greenway land acquisition. He added that Park and Recreation
Director Evans has done a significant amount of work in reprogramming and prioritizing the
projects. Public Works Director Cote said replacement of the Plymouth Creek Fieldhouse turf is
scheduled for 2012, and will be funded 50150 through a grant and city funds.
Commissioner Anderson asked why the City is replacing the Lifetime Fitness parking lot.
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November 16, 2011
Page 3
Park and Recreation Director Evans said the City has a public/private partnership with Lifetime
as their building is on city property. She said as part of the ground lease for the facility, Lifetime
and the City collaborate on some of the repairs such as lighting and parking lot repairs.
Commissioner Nelson asked for clarification on sharing the costs.
Park and Recreation Director Evans explained some items are shared 50/50, some are entirely
Lifetime's responsibility, and some are city items.
Commissioner Kobussen asked the likelihood of the Cheshire Lane trail crossing occurring
in 2012.
Park and Recreation Director Evans said that trail crossing would be concluded with the Trillium
Woods development. She said that development is moving forward and she anticipates the trail
crossing at Cheshire Lane next year.
Chair Davis asked about the project for the Hilde Performance Center, noting we just did a big
upgrade there.
Park and Recreation Director Evans said the Hilde renovation is broken into two phases. Phase I
was for the internal infrastructure, and Phase II will be for enhancements to Plymouth Boulevard
and access from Plymouth Boulevard.
Commissioner Anderson asked if the school district participates in the use of the Lifetime
facility and if they participate in any costs.
Park and Recreation Director Evans stated the Wayzata School District is a partner and as part of
the agreement they submitted $1.2 million for the development of the facility. She said that was
their only responsibility other than some internal things tied to the swimming pool.
Public Works Director Cote discussed the sanitary sewer projects.
Commissioner Anderson said the city spends the money to oversize pipe for the trunk sewer and
then charge later on for that kind of work. He asked where the credit comes into the budget.
Public Works Director Cote said typically we apply the area charges to the raw development. He
said the developer installs the sanitary sewer they need and what serves other properties. Public
Works Director Cote said the part serving other properties is a credit against the area charge on
that particular development.
Commissioner Anderson asked about the refurbishing process for a lift station.
Public Works Director Cote said that depends on the lift station, as some need only minor repairs
and others are dismantled. He said all of the proposed projects need new controls, pumps and
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November 16, 2011
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telemetry. Public Works Director Cote said they review the lift station for corrosion and either
seal or replace with a new wet well.
Commissioner Oakley asked if the Met Council offers a reduction in fees or a reimbursement of
past fines for annual line cleaning.
Public Works Director Cote explained the Inflow and Infiltration Surcharge Program which
resulted in a surcharge against the City of Plymouth because we had clean water to get into our
sewer system. He said if we expend resources to get rid of that which they don't want that goes
as a credit against our surcharge.
Commissioner Anderson asked how many cities have infiltration to an unacceptable level.
Public Works Director Cote estimated a dozen cites exceed allowable flows. He added cities
such as Golden Valley and Orono, which have older clay piping and unsuitable soils, such as
clay, experienced this.
Public Works Director Cote discussed highlights of the street projects. He said the edge mill and
overlay projects are very large projects and are less than reconstruction but more than patching.
Public Works Director Cote said in the past this process was used on a trial basis, and he said
they had some really successful projects in 2010 with this new program.
Commissioner Anderson asked why the Co. Rd. 24 -
301h Avenue project, which has been around
a long time, is now pushed out to 2015.
Public Works Director Cote said this project has moved several times in the County's Capital
Improvement Program, and it was moved and eliminated with the Co. Rd. 101 projects. He said
it is now in the county CIP for 2015 if they have funding.
Commissioner Anderson asked if the $3 million is the city portion of the county project or the
total project cost.
Public Works Director Cote stated that is total cost of the right of -way acquisition, trail
construction and the street project.
Commissioner Anderson asked about cost and assessment to owners for the mill and overlay
projects.
Public Works Director Cote said the city assesses between 20 — 40% of the costs depending on
the project.
Commissioner Anderson noted the city has a lot of money for the Peony Lane — Schmidt Lake
Rd. to Co. Rd. 47 project and questioned why that wouldn't be done when a developer does a
project and has to build a road.
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Public Works Director Cote said the city is identifying the preferred alignment and how to fund
this project such as waiting for a development or to charge area assessments. Public Works
Director Cote said with Plymouth, Maple Grove, Medina and Corcoran developing, the need
may push this project to be constructed sooner than the development of the area.
Commissioner Nelson asked why the safety improvements for railroad crossings would be
delayed for seven years.
Public Works Director Cote explained the rail safety improvements are crossing gates. He said
the city has a partial train whistle ban, and to keep that ban we have to make systematic
improvements to existing crossings. Public Works Director Cote said these projects are eligible
for state funding, but due to an accident or situations statewide, we have continued to be bumped
down on the list for state funding.
Commissioner Anderson asked for an update on Co. Rd. 47 improvements and he said the
county would like to turn that project back to the city.
Public Works Director Cote said he has had no response to his inquiries to the county on the
status of improvements to Co. Rd. 47 nor to his cooperative "turn back" agreement he developed
to allow that to happen.
Public Works Director Cote briefly reviewed the transit projects which mirror what the Met
Council has in their CIP.
Chair Davis asked if there is a bus garage in Plymouth.
Public Works Director Cote said there is a bus garage in Minneapolis for our contract provider
buses.
Public Works Director Cote reviewed water and water resource projects. He said a project that
has been added is the rehabilitation of the water tower at Co. Rd. 6 and Xenium Lane, which will
include repainting and a new logo and lettering.
Commissioner Nelson said he did not observe projects affecting Medicine Lake, and asked if the
stream restoration projects are finished.
Public Works Director Cote said projects immediately adjacent to Medicine Lake are done, and
now they are addressing erosion and drainage problems further from the lake.
Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the
item.
MOTION by Commissioner Oakley, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the
proposed 2012 — 2016 Capital Improvement Program. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved
unanimously.
Approved
Planning Commission Minutes
November 16, 2011
Page 6
7. NEW BUSINESS
8. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Chair Davis, with no objection to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m.