HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 12-12-1994 Special 1MINUTES
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 1994
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Center, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on
December 12, 1994.
PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Anderson, Edson, Granath, Helliwell, and
Lymangood. Tim Wold was also present.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Public Works
Director Moore, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Public Safety Director
Gerdes, Park Director Blank, and City Clerk Ahrens.
ITEM A CONCEPT PLAN FOR NEW 284 HIGH SCHOOL
Park Director Blank presented the Concept Plan for the new School District 284
High School site. The four-story building is proposed for 3,200 students. He said
the major wetlands, three NURP ponds, and 20+ acres of hard wood forest are on
the portion of the property owned by the school district. Seven ballfields and eight
soccer fields are proposed on the site. He explained the proposed land split with
the City owning about 64.7 acres, and the School District owning about 98.7
acres. The City has included $1,216,000 in the 1994 Capital Improvement
Program for the park area. The estimated City cost for the property is $783,675,
in addition to park dedication fees from the Soo Line East and Soo Line West
developments.
Director Blank said that the plan approval is scheduled for Council consideration
on January 3. The split of the property ownership between the City and School
District would then be approved, followed by development of plans and
specifications. Finally, a joint powers agreement would be drafted to determine
cost sharing and facility sharing between the District and City.
Mayor Tierney asked if indoor ice is proposed on the site as the City receives many
requests for hockey rinks.
Director Blank said there are currently no plans for indoor ice.
Councilmember Lymangood asked how maintenance of the parking lots, buildings,
and fields will be shared.
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December 12, 1994
Page 2
Director Blank said that will be addressed in the joint powers agreement.
ITEM B STATUS OF ELM CREEK INTERCEPTOR
Community Development Director Hurlburt updated the Council on the status of
the Elm Creek Interceptor project. Staff recently attended a public hearing at a
Metropolitan Council subcommittee meeting and supported work on the
Interceptor. Staff also testified in support of a detailed analysis of transportation
issues, and addressed the conditions presented by the Met Council regarding a
cluster planning process. She said that while the cities of Plymouth, Brooklyn
Park, Maple Grove, and Medina need to coordinate their planning efforts, staff has
concerns about the scope and timing of the proposed cluster planning process.
The Met Council will now consider the project in its full capital budget.
The Met Council will consider limiting the Interceptor planning expenditures to no
more than $100,000 through March. By that time, the cities of Plymouth, Maple
Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Medina are to come back with an agreement for cluster
planning - or the Met Council will stop the project.
Director Hurlburt said the Elm Creek Interceptor is no longer solely an issue about
sewers. It has become politically sensitive and affordable housing has become the
main issue. Maple Grove has received press coverage regarding a lack of
affordable housing, and this assumption has been extended to other suburbs. She
described Plymouth's affordable housing efforts including the housing maintenance
program, Section 8 program, joint project with the Plymouth Housing Alliance,
and recent Towne Square project. Plymouth does significantly better than Maple
Grove in the area of affordable housing and providing a variety of housing types.
Plymouth also expends most of its CDBG funds in the area of housing. This
information will be detailed at an upcoming study session when a complete report
on housing in the City is presented. This information will be shared with the Met
Council, but they are primarily concerned with whether cities are shutting out
future affordable housing opportunities.
Manager Johnson said that from an engineering perspective, it is possible for
Plymouth to serve the northwestern area of the City from the existing sewer
system with lift stations, rather than from the Elm Creek Interceptor.
Director Moore said that the estimated cost for the Elm Creek Interceptor project
is $44 million.
Councilmember Lymangood asked what would be the added expense if Plymouth
served the northwestern area from the existing sewer system.
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December 12, 1994
Page 3
Manager Johnson said the additional cost would probably be about $500 per lot
and could be assessed as an area charge.
Councilmember Lymangood said another option is to not request extension of the
MUSA. The availability of sewer then it not an issue.
Councilmember Helliwell suggested that a survey of property owners living
outside of the MUSA asking about their plans for future development may be
interesting.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Lau ie F. Ahrens
City Clerk