HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03-20-2001 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
March 20, 2001
A Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at 5:30
p.m. in the Police Department Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on March 20, 2001.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers Johnson, Hewitt, Stein, Black, Slavik
Harstad.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Ahrens, Finance Director
Hahn, Finance Manager Jacobson, Financial Analyst Kohn, Park and Recreation Director Blank,
Community Development Director Hurlburt, City Engineer Faulkner, and Office Support
Representative Sanderson.
Surface Water Utility Fee Rate Structure
Financial Analyst Kohn reported that at the February 13, 2001 Special City Council meeting, the
Council discussed many different items pertaining to the Surface Water Utility Fee Rate
Structure. There was one major outstanding issue that needed to be addressed. This issue is the
amount of the fee and what expenditures would be covered by this fee. In addition, the Council
needs to decide whether the school districts should be charged at all or possibly be deferred to a
future time.
He stated that this fee would cover operating costs and future capital costs. He then shared with
Council the cashflow and funding requirements. He stated that the operating costs would be
1,250,000, and a fee based on the rate of $3.25/month/single-family home would generate $1.5
million. This fee would cover all activities in the Water Resources Management Plan.
Councilmember Johnson asked what kind of scope the other cities had for their Surface Water
Management Plans and what items are included in their fees.
Financial Analyst Kohn replied that he would provide the information that he received from
cities, i.e. Burnsville and Lakeville.
Councilmember Johnson then asked whether the $120,000 for lake studies was part of the Plan.
Financial Analyst Kohn replied that this money was part of the Plan.
Mayor Tierney asked if the fee would be ongoing. Financial Analyst Kohn responded that for
quite a number of years this would be ongoing. He explained that currently, only three lakes in
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of March 20, 2001
Page 2 of 5
Plymouth are proposed for funding and in the future there may be the need to address other
lakes.
Councilmember Harstad indicated his support for having the school districts pay the fee.
City Manager Johnson responded that the main reason for deferring the school districts would be
because their fiscal year starts on July lsi and that they have budgets in place for the year. He
also clarified that the thought was to possibly defer the fee for the first year then re-evaluate it.
Councilmember Johnson asked if the school districts would be able to legally levy additional
dollars under the State cap.
City Manager Johnson replied that it is doubtful because of the complicated levy laws.
Councilmember Harstad asked if watershed membership dues are mandatory or voluntary.
Councilmember Black replied that it is a joint powers agreement among cities. She believes the
agreement is voluntary, but if the City signs the agreement, the dues would be mandatory.
Councilmember Harstad suggested that the City assume a leadership role with the lake cleanup
projects. He would like to opt out of the Watershed District in order that the City could take
ownership of projects and hire its own contractors. He is also concerned about the duplication of
projects and studies with the watershed districts.
Mayor Tierney replied that the City pays the dues and the watershed identifies projects and seeks
bonding and funding for the projects. She mentioned that if the City weren't part of the
Watershed District, it would be paying a large sum of money to fund projects. She asked how
much of the Bassett Creek Watershed dues are included in the City's plan.
Finance Manager Jacobson responded that all of the watershed dues are included in the plan.
The dues are based on population and tax capacity.
Councilmember Black asked if Councilmember Harstad was implying that the City should opt
out of the Bassett Creek Watershed District. Councilmember Harstad voiced that he is more
concerned about water surfaces within Plymouth and less concerned about Bassett Creek outside
of Plymouth. Councilmember Black stated this is currently being discussed. She stated that the
City would be paying more by implementing their own project. Plymouth is at the head of the
watershed and all of the other cities would have to contribute to the City's project under the
current policy because it would be affecting their city as well.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of March 20, 2001
Page 3 of 5
Councilmember Harstad asked if the City utilized the Bassett Creek Watershed's plan, what
would happen to the City's plan. City Manager Johnson responded that both of the plans are
very similar and that they need to be coordinated with each other. He also commented that it
would probably be in the best interest of the City to stay with the Watershed District because
over the years, Plymouth has been paying dues and assisting other projects throughout the
district. In addition, the City's lakes are high priority, and the other cities in the district would
assist with funding identified projects.
Councilmember Stein asked who decides what type of improvements are made to the lakes.
Councilmember Black replied that has not been determined yet. City Manager Johnson added
that since the City is such a big part of the Bassett Creek Watershed District, they would
probably not implement projects that Plymouth did not support.
Mayor Tierney commented on the importance of having Plymouth representation on the Bassett
Creek Watershed District.
Councilmember Black stated that the Council will be reviewing the Joint Powers Agreement
before approval.
Financial Analyst Kohn stated he would not encourage the City to grant appeals from the surface
water fee to single-family homes. However, the City could grant appeals for commercial
property based on impervious surface coverage. Councilmember Harstad commented that the
100,000 that has been allowed per year for appeals is too conservative.
Financial Analyst Kohn addressed the Council about the incentives of the plan and explained that
Public Works staff has compiled a summary of possible incentives or utility fee relief programs.
He added that there are a lot of ideas to work through and also that Public Works Director Moore
had suggested that this should be adopted separately so that periodic changes could be made. He
stated that these incentives are aimed toward reducing the amount of runoff and increasing the
quality of water run-off.
Financial Analyst Kohn discussed with the Council the implementation schedule with the actual
billing to begin in August. A majority of the Council gave their approval of $3.25/month per
single-family home fee. Regarding the school districts, the majority of the Council agreed that
both public and private schools should be deferred for the first year of the program.
Motion was made by Councilmember Hewitt, and seconded by Councilmember Black, to set
May 22, 2001 as date of hearing on the proposed Surface Water Utility Fee (this includes
3.25/month/single-family home and deferring the charge to both public and private schools for
the first year of the program). With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of March 20, 2001
Page 4 of 5
Hilde Performance Center
Park and Recreation Director Blank brought before the Council a small model of the proposed
Hilde Performance Center. He explained that the center is in the concept design stage. Al Hilde
has met with the architects and construction managers to review the building and the cost
estimates. Mr. Hilde has directed that the project move forward to the final design. The City
now needs to proceed with publishing the Environmental Assessment Worksheet which would
ultimately be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the Council.
He stated there are a few items that are being discussed with Mr. Hilde and the architect
including the type of roof and the budget. The roof is proposed to be an arched or curved roof.
He stated currently the costs of the project are slightly over the $1,000,000 budget. However, the
construction manager is confident that the project would be completed within the budget. If the
costs exceed the budget, the Plymouth Civic League would be responsible for those costs.
He illustrated the proposed site drawings of the facility that included the first and lower level
floor layouts. Park and Recreation Director Blank mentioned that under the current budget, the
upper level would be completely finished, and the lower level would be unfinished. The
construction manager has indicated that finishing the lower level later would cost $68,500 and
the elevator would cost $80,000. However, Mr. Hilde would not be paying for the elevator or for
the finished lower level. He stated if the lower level were to remain unfinished and utilized
simply for storage, then the elevator would not be required. If the lower level would be utilized
for more than storage purposes, the elevator should be installed.
Park and Recreation Director Blank suggested that the lower level include two bathrooms, make-
up and changing rooms, storage, and humidity control. The level would include a walk -out
toward the Millennium Garden, to the east. The City would be responsible for landscaping the
site, paying the building permit fee, and providing sewer and water to the site. Public Works
Director Moore has provided a budget estimate of $124,000 for sewer and water extension, and
the Capital Improvement Program includes $150,000 for the project.
He stated the City intends to conduct an open house on the project for adjacent property owners.
Community Development Director Hurlburt stated staff would notify property owners within
750 feet of the site of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet process.
Councilmember Johnson asked who would own the facility. Park and Recreation Director Blank
replied it would be owned by the City.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of March 20, 2001
Page 5 of 5
Councilmember Slavik asked if the $150,000 in the Capital Improvement budget would cover
the landscaping and building permit costs. City Manager Johnson replied the costs may exceed
that amount. However, the Council could control the spending.
Councilmember Slavik asked if the Council would be signing a final contract for the facility.
Park and Recreation Director Blank replied after the final plan and design is prepared, a final
contract would be presented to the Council for their approval.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Tierney adjourned
Iadjou_ ,
ned the,, meeting at 6:37 p.m.
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Heidi Sanderson, Office Support Representative