HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-23-1994 SpecialMINUTES
COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
MAY 23, 1994
A special study session meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by
Mayor Tierney at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room of the Public Safety Building, 3400
Plymouth Blvd., on May 23, 1994.
PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Anderson, Granath, Helliwell, and
Lymangood, and Morrison.
ABSENT: Councilmember Edson.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Public
Works Director Moore, Public Safety Director Gerdes, Park Director Blank, Finance
Director Hahn, City Attorney Barnard, and Kurt Hoffman.
SETTLEMENT OF PENDING LITIGATION - PLYMOUTH v W.J.
CAVANAUGH
The City Council went into closed session at 7:15 p.m. to discuss with the City
Attorney settlement of pending litigation in the case of Plymouth v. W.J.
Cavanaugh. The Council returned to open session at 8:29 p.m.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Lymangood, seconded by
Councilmember Granath, to table the settlement of pending litigation, Plymouth
v. W.J. Cavanaugh, to June 6.
Motion carried, six ayes.
WEST MEDICINE LAKE PARK
Barry Warner, consultant from Barton Ashman, and Erica Urban, 30 year
resident and member of the focus group for development of the plan, were
present.
Park Director Blank presented information on the layout and development
history of the West Medicine Lake area neighborhood. He stated that expense
is the primary deterrent from developing the park in this location. He proposed
bidding the project for development of the West Medicine Lake Park in
December, with groundbreaking in spring. He stated that priorities for
development of this park include a clean safe swimming beach, wildlife
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May 23, 1994
Page 2
preserve, less asphalt, less boat traffic, and the greatest public participation of
any park development project.
Councilmember Lymangood asked the net difference between road alignment
options A and B.
Mr. Warner explained that the difference relates to the lake perspective.
Park Director Blank stated the acquisition of homes is another factor to be
considered if 18th Avenue were left as is. Two homes would then be in the
park; however, removal of the homes changed that element.
Councihnember Anderson asked about the roadway location.
Mr. Warner stated that realignment of the road will move the road southerly
where the creek is less wide.
Mayor Tierney asked if the road would cross wetlands.
Mr. Warner said yes, but there would be mitigation of about one acre upstream
and closer to the basin. He stated this mitigation will improve conditions of
sediment that exist now as well as make it more attractive.
Mayor Tierney asked for comparison of this proposal with the Parkers Lake
Park.
Mr. Warner provided examples of building materials and structures, as well as
creek crossings. He stated the building would be the focal point, affording
views to lake. The lower level would provide year round access to the lake,
while the upper level would have community meeting or social use. He stated
the uses would be similar to Parkers Lake but larger and more flexible, as well
as reflective of the surroundings.
Park Director Blank said the public hearings identified pleasure skating as a
high priority for winter and beach use for summer. The upper level could be
used for senior citizens and wedding reception functions. No funding is yet
provided or identified for the building.
City Manager Johnson stated that the Council has never acted on any aspect of
this park, but the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission has made
recommendations on the development.
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May 23, 1994
Page 3
Park Director Blank stated that acquisition of property for this proposed park
dates back to 1980.
Councihnember Lymangood stated he supports the plan that retains the most
wetlands. He believes that a suburban type of park is being attempted in an
area that is not appropriate. This includes placement of a road in the alternate
plan.
Councihnember Granath asked how many parking places there are.
Park Director Blank said that there are 40.
Mr. Warner stated the new plan would be about 150 spaces based on demand.
He stated this is not currently a natural area; itis cultured rather than natural
landscape. Under the plan, the City would take on a management of the area in
order to nurture deteriorated areas back to healthy land. The project will also
return some of the wetland areas. He described the roadway as having a
parkway feel - not a typical residential street.
Park Director Blank stated there is sewer and water in place under where the
new road will go; an abandoned road bed already exists.
Public Works Director Moore said that ice was cut and shipped from that
location at one time.
Mr. Warner said this roadway alignment if the most logical location.
Councilmember Anderson stated concerns about excessive costs when
developing roads over marshland areas, and cited I-394 construction as an
example.
Mr. Warner stated these issues are addressed in the plan.
Park Director Blank stated the sanitary sewer and water lines will remain in
place. The traffic level will largely be affected by whether a beach is opened at
the site. The staff report addresses potential traffic patterns.
Councihnember Anderson asked Ms. Urban if she is aware there will be
increased traffic if the beach is developed.
Ms. Urban stated there were fears that the land could possibly have been
purchased for private development, which also would increase traffic. She
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May 23, 1994
Page 4
stated the additional traffic may affect residents further down the road, but until
development occurs, traffic is an unknown factor.
Park Director Blank said much study has been on traffic and parking. They
tried to anticipate future needs. The issue of traffic focuses on the public's
request for a beach. Also, a curved road with a median is a good speed
deterrent.
Public Works Director Moore stated this is a public road serving this quadrant
of the City, and traffic is always going to be somewhat of a problem.
Mr. Warner said a 4 -way stop sign intersection is another option to deter traffic.
Some Minneapolis parkways have seasonal stop signs that are removed in the
off-peak seasons.
Councilmember Morrison asked where the major crossing areas to the nature
areas would be located.
Mr. Warner stated a looping trail would be one option, with crossings and
neighborhood access in the southern and southwestern areas of the park. The
accesses would have standard marking and signage.
Councilmember Anderson expressed concern about the increased traffic
projections.
Public Works Director Moore responded that the increase would be less than
1,000 vehicles per day. He stated that as additional land is developed, traffic
will increase. Even with no park development, the traffic would increase from
3,300 to 6,370 vehicles per day.
Councilmember Helliwell believes that the new road alignment will be safer
than the present layout. She asked if the proposed waterfalls are created or
natural.
Mr. Warner said that some dredging would be done to achieve the past
condition that has deteriorated from illegal dumping and use. Also, storm water
would be treated before it goes into the lake. The waterfall would occur at a
point where creek narrows, and it is contingent on receipt of a permit from the
DNR and other agencies.
Mayor Tierney asked the purpose of the waterfall.
Mr. Warner stated it would be primarily aesthetic.
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May 23, 1994
Page 5
Public Works Director Moore added that it would also help alleviate the
potential of upstream flooding.
In response to a question by Councilmember Morrison, Director Blank
explained that the Council will be requested to adopt the master plan, followed
by direction to move forward with design and permitting procedures.
Councilmember Morrison asked how firm the master plan approval would be.
Park Director Blank said the purpose of the master plan is to develop a
consistent plan for the area. If, for example, the DNR denied the permit for the
beach construction, staff would return to the Council and proposed elimination
of the beach in the design.
Councilmember Helliwell expressed concerns about the beach. She does not
like to see the lake carved out, and expressed concern about water quality.
Mayor Tierney stated people use the area for a beach now.
Park Director Blank stated that beach was closed because the City couldn't
afford a lifeguard at the beach during certain hours for risk management
reasons.
Mr. Warner said the DNR's primary concern is that the lake profile not be
changed in this area because it is seen as a primary shelf for fish spawning.
Development of the beach would not change the grading of the shelf area, and
there would be only shallow excavation. This will not be a large excavation
project since the beach goes back about 500 feet, but only drops 30 inches.
Councilmember Morrison asked if the Council should be approving the master
plan now because additional facts and public input may lead to a different
design conclusion.
City Manager Johnson stated it is the Council's decision whether to proceed.
Park Director Blank stated the Council would be stating goals and guidelines for
development of the park. The project could be discontinued if so desired by the
Council.
Councilmember Helliwell expressed concerns about the costs of dredging.
Mr. Warner explained this is not a major element of the project.
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May 23, 1994
Page 6
Park Director Blank stated neighborhoods and commissions could be notified of
the progress on the project and could provide comment at public hearings.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by
Councilmember Granath, to establish a public hearing on the West Medicine
Lake Park Master Plan for June 20 to allow adequate time for public notice of
the project.
Motion carried, six ayes.
Mr. Warner stated that if the Council authorizes proceeding with the project in
June, the detailed design and environmental permits would take 3 to 4 months.
Councilmember Lymangood stated he wants this park to open without a tax
increase to fund the annual operating expense.
City Manager Johnson stated the City has done similar projects without a tax
increase.
EMPLOYEE SURVEY
Councilmember Helliwell suggested that an employee survey be tabled until
fall. She feels that none of the survey proposals offer a clear idea of what to
do.
Assistant Manager Lueckert stated a survey would only work if the Council has
a clear idea of what is wanted, and needs to be done on a regular basis to gauge
progress.
Councilmember Helliwell stated that the meeting with the City Manager last
week was positive, and she would like to table the survey.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Helliwell, seconded by Councilmember
Lymangood, to table the employee survey.
Councilmember Morrison expressed an interest in seeing the results of the
earlier survey conducted about four years ago.
Assistant Manager Lueckert stated that unrealistic expectations resulted from the
earlier survey.
Motion to table carried, six ayes.
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May 23, 1994
Page 7
SUMMER STUDY SESSION SCHEDULE
Councilmember Helliwell suggested canceling the study session scheduled for
June 25 to discuss the wetlands ordinance.
City Manager Johnson stated that with the temporary ordinance in place, staff
may not have much more information by that time to present or discuss with the
Council.
Mayor Tierney suggested using that date for inviting an outside speaker from
another community, or visiting another community on the wetland ordinance
topic.
Councilmember Helliwell asked the time frame for the ordinance
City Manager Johnson said it will be completed by September.
Councilmember Anderson supported tabling the study session on the wetlands
ordinance.
Mayor Tierney stated she would like information on what other communities
with wetland ordinances have experienced.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by
Councilmember Helliwell, to cancel the study session scheduled for June 27.
Councilmember Helliwell stated she would like to consider specific wetland
ordinance proposals at a future study session, rather than reviewing general
information.
Motion carried, six ayes.
City Manager Johnson suggested that budget study sessions and the City
Manager review session be done during August.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Lymangood, seconded by
Councilmember Anderson, to schedule three study sessions in August: August
8, 22, and 29 for consideration of the 1995 budget.
Motion carried, six ayes.
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May 23, 1994
Page 8
MOTION was made by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by
Councilmember Morrison, to add to the June 13 study session the discussion of
a process for City Manager evaluation to be conducted in August.
Motion carried, six ayes.
A brief discussion was held on the requests for proposals for City Attorney
services. Councilmember Lymangood stated that Manager Johnson believes the
City Council should decide whether to have criminal and civil counsel separate
or provided by the same firm.
MOTION was made by Councilmember Anderson, seconded by
Councilmember Granath, to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Motion carried, six ayes.