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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4A 01 06 2020 City Council Minutes 1 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 6, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Briggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Councilors Thompson, Burkart, Braid, and Erickson. City Manager Wedel was absent. Also, in attendance were Assistant City Manager Olson, City Attorney Schwarzhoff, Fire Chief Steinhaus, Police Chief Frazer, Finance Director Erickson, Public Works Director/City Engineer Brotzler, Community Development Director McCabe, and City Clerk Orlofsky. PUBLIC FORUM Briggs: Reviewed the process for the public forum and explained that items scheduled for public hearing or items for which a public hearing has been held, but no final action is taken are not eligi- ble for discussion on the public forum. Police Chief Frazer, addressed the City Council in regards to the Federal law change for licensed Tobacco Retailers. On December 20, 2019, the Federal law changed the legal purchasing age for tobacco from 18 to the age of 21. All licensees in the Prior Lake have been notified of this change. Dave Chromy, 16731 HWY 13 S, Chair of the EDA, addressed the City Council about the Pur- chase Agreement with The Beard Group, Inc. City Staff and the Beard Group have been working on a project for the last year and a half. This project should address several goals for the City, add more retail space, bring more residential density and market-rate apartments, redevelop underuti- lized properties, create more public on and off-street parking spaces, and it would help bring a new VFW Club facility to the downtown. To facilitate this project, The Beard Group must obtain two downtown parcels. The Beard Group has asked the EDA to enter into a purchase agreement whereby the EDA would purchase the 4656 Pleasant Street property from The Beard Group if the development project does not move forward. The EDA and Beard Group have entered into a simi- lar agreement for the Sebastian Automotive property. Since funding has already been obligated to the Automotive property, the EDA does not have the funds to guarantee the purchase of the Pleasant Street property. City Council approval is required to approve these funds will be guaran- teed if necessary. If the redevelopment project did not move forward, the earliest the EDA would need to purchase this property is January of 2022. The EDA is looking for the City Council’s sup- port to facilitate this project, and he is here to answer any questions the City Council may have. The EDA thanks the City Council for the support in past years, and they look forward to working together to help keep Prior Lake a vibrant and welcoming community. Ed Speiker, Prior Lake VFW, addressed the City Council in regards to the Purchase Agreement with the Beard Group, Inc. The VFW is in support of this redevelopment project and would also like to ask the City Council for their support. 2 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY BURKART, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 2, 2019 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MOTION BY BRAID, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA Olson: Reviewed the items on the consent agenda. A. Approved of Claims Listing B. Approved November Fire Department Report C. 2020 Official City Calendar D. Adopted Resolution No. 20-001 - Approving the City of Prior Lake 2019 Pay Equity Report E. Approved 2020 Massage Therapy License Renewals F. Approved the Combination of the Community Safety Advisory Committee and the Citizen Engagement Committee into the Community Engagement Committee and Update the Citizen Engagement Committee Bylaws to Reflect these changes, and approve the Elimination of the Community Safety and Traffic Safety Advisory Com- mittee Bylaws G. Adopted Resolution No. 20-002 - Appointing Members to serve on the Community Engagement Committee H. Adopted Resolution No. 20-003 - Authorizing the City Clerk and Assistant City Manager to Establish 2020 Election Absentee Ballot Board I. Approved an Encroachment Agreement with Jason and Rebekah Clark to Allow an Existing Fence to Remain on City Property J. Adopted Resolution No. 20-004 - Approving Designating Investment and Banking Authority on Behalf of the City of Prior Lake 3 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes K. Adopted Resolution No. 20-005 – To Approve the Subdivision of a property located at 15930 Sunfish Trail L. Approved November Animal Report M. Adopted Resolution No. 20-006 - Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Enter into Grant Contract with the Metropolitan Council to Fund a City-Run Rebate/Dis- count Program for Residential Irrigation “Smart-Controllers” N. Adopted Resolution No. 20-007 – Accepting the Feasibility Report and Scheduling a Public Hearing to Consider the 2020 Mill and Overlay Project, City Project (STR20-000001) O. Adopted Resolution No. 20-011 - Approving Plans and Specifications and Authoriz- ing Advertisement for Bids for the 2020 Mill and Overlay Improvement Project (STR20-0000001) MOTION BY BURKART, SECOND BY THOMPSON, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. PRESENTATIONS 6A. No Presentation Scheduled PUBLIC HEARINGS 7A. No Public Hearings Scheduled OLD BUSINESS 8A. No Old Business Scheduled NEW BUSINESS 9A. Annual City Council Appointments Olson provided the background information. Thompson: Thanked all the volunteers who committed to help with all of these committees. Burkart: Requested to add the Suburban Transit Association to the list. Briggs: Stated he would be in support of adding the Suburban Transit Association to the list and inviting a resident to serve this group. Briggs asked if all the transportation items should be consolidated. Burkart: Appreciated the feedback. He pointed out the distinction between transportation and transit. Transportation is more infrastructure-focused, and transit focused on mass transit. The two don’t necessarily meet. 4 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECONDED BY BRAID, TO APPROVE THE COUNCIL APPOINT- MENTS. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 9B. Approval of Contract for Lobbying Fees – SCALE Olson provided the background information. Braid: Wanted the taxpayers of Prior Lake to know that the City Council is working hard to pro- tect their tax dollars with this item. The Council’s commitment to move forward with changing the state law to have statutory authority to charge these fees is important. It helps the City’s pro- spect to change that state law and works towards making developers pay their fair share. The $25 million dollar gap that the City would currently have in infrastructure funding would not fall on the shoulders of the existing taxpayers of Prior Lake. Because of all these reasons, Braid will be in favor of this. Burkart: Kuddos to the Mayor for the leadership role he has taken with this challenge to reach equanimity between all the parties involved related to growth. This is something that Burkart has been in favor of for a long time. This will be an uphill battle, as there are some powerful inter- ests involved in the capital. The City has done well to add accuracy to the conversation, but the City needs concrete, consistent, timely lobbying efforts to help this move forward. If people in the community have questions about this, he urges them to reach out to the City Council to get answers. Briggs: Applauds the Council for their wisdom. This Council stood unified and supported this cause. When this was shared with SCALE, it was unified that they would step in and pick up 100% of the costs of the lobbying fee. It was the leadership and the strength of this City Council that he believes demonstrated that they could and will lead Scott County that those costs are not born by existing taxpayers. MOTION BY BURKART, SECONDED BY BRAID, TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR LOB- BYING FEES. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 5 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes 9C. Adopt Resolution No. 20-009 – Authorizing the EDA to Enter into a Real Estate Pur- chase Agreement with the Beard Group, Inc. McCabe provided the background information on the Real Estate Purchase Agreement with the Beard Group, Inc. Erickson: Clarified that Beard Group, Inc. is purchasing the home, but this agreement guaran- tees the purchase for the bank. Would this commit a future Council? McCabe: Explained that this is correct. These funds would come from the EDA budget in 2022. Schwarzhoff: Explained that yes, that is what is occurring. Just as the City enters into any multi-year contract, you are committing the City Council to commit to this contract. Braid: Asked how these properties get acquired and about how it’s the total purchase price, not just one individual property. McCabe: Explained that the redevelopment area includes many different areas and property ownerships. It has taken a while to get to this point, but this would involve the City-owned park- ing lot on Colorado Street, the three parcels of the current VFW site, the Pleasant Street home, and the current Sebastion Automotive site, and the City-owned parking lots. The City will work with Northland Securities to determine the base evaluation of all properties and estimate future improvements. Briggs: Asked Director McCabe to comment on what some might consider a gap between the taxable valuation and what the purchase agreement has in it for a number. McCabe: Explained the Scott County estimated market value of $184,300, and the purchase price that the property owner has agreed to pay is $350,000. There is a gap because of the value of this property to the developer and to the development to make this happen. In meeting with the developers, they feel the comparable of $350,000 is reasonable; if this were on the open market, it would have a significantly higher price tag. Briggs: Added that it was also important to note that there is an interested seller for this parcel. Erickson: Mentioned that transit funds were used to acquire the city parking lots in this area for a park and ride. How would that be addressed? McCabe: Explained that he has already had conversations with Minnesota Valley Transit Au- thority. There are two parcels that this would apply to, and the funds would need to be made whole. As apart of this acquisition process, those funds would be reimbursed to MVTA, who is Prior Lake’s transit provider, and they would use those funds for transit projects in Prior Lake or Scott County. Braid: Properties are bought and sold on market value, not what the taxation value is. This is one of the biggest projects the City has seen, and we have heard from the VFW that their build- ing needs repairs and for more room. This project will help them get there. He is in support of this project. MOTION BY BRAID, SECONDED BY BURKART, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 20-009 – AUTHORIZING THE EDA TO ENER INTO A REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE BEARD GROUP, INC. 6 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. 9D. Adopt Resolution No. 20-010 – Approving the Purchase of Property at 4662 Dakota Street SE and Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Execute the Purchase Agree- ment McCabe presented the background information. Thompson: Asked where would these funds come from as this project was not budgeted. McCabe: Explained that the Finance Officer would determine appropriate funding sources for this project. Braid: Added that having a willing seller come forward for this property is important. The City tried to purchase this property years ago and an unwilling seller. If the City does move forward, he would be looking at areas to cut funding to make this work. He does understand Thomp- son’s concerns about the budget, but he does think this makes sense to support our downtown businesses. He would be comfortable supporting the $275,000. Erickson: Added that he would support the $275,000. He thinks it’s a good idea for the City to buy it because we have a willing seller; however, that does not mean that it is a reason for the property to be marked up. Thompson: Does not like the idea of using reserves for this. She has concerns about how the City will find the funding to purchase this house. She does see the benefit of purchasing the home, but she needs to understand where this $275,000 will come from. ERICKSON MOVED, BRAID SECONDED, TO DIRECT STAFF TO COME UP WITH A COUN- TER OFFER OF $275,000, AND TO COME BACK WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. REMOVED CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 10A. 2020 Official City Calendar Briggs: Asked for the July 6, 2020 meeting be slated as a tentative meeting just as the meeting in December is posted. It would provide flexibility for the City Manager to have a meeting if the agenda items stack up. 7 DRAFT 01 06 2020 City Council Meeting Minutes MOTION BY BRIGGS, SECONDED BY ERICKSON, TO POST THE 1ST MEETING IN JULY AS TENTATIVE MEETING. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. OTHER BUSINESS / COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Erickson: SCALE Meeting in December. Braid: 12/9 PC Meeting, EDA Meeting, December SCALE meeting, 12/10 Scott County Quarterly Meeting, and shopped local Burkart: 12/16 Suburban Transit Authority, 12/18 Unified Transit Management Planning Commit- tee Thompson: 12/2 Agenda Review with Wedel, 12/10 Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed Meeting, 12/16 Accepted gifts to the Prior Lake Fire Department, 12/18 Chamber Christmas Party at The Pointe Briggs: 12/10 Scott County Quarterly Meeting, 12/12 Local Government Innovation Awards, 12/13 SCALE meeting Olson: 12/7 Tip-A-Cop, Absentee Voting begins 1/17 for the Presidential Primary on 3/3. 12A. OTHER BUSINESS 13A. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY THOMPSON, SECOND BY BRAID, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:09 P.M. VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ ☒ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ The motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, _____________________________ Lori Olson, Assistant City Manager