2016-01-04 Council Workshop minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Workshop - Goalsetting Session
Monday, January 4, 2016
Pursuant to due call and notice, a workshop meeting of the Mendota Heights City Council was
held at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Krebsbach called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Councilmembers present included
Duggan, Norton, Petschel, Povolny.
Staff present included City Administrator Marlc McNeill, Assistant to the City Administrator
Tamara Schutta, Planner Nolan Wall, Public Works Director John Mazzitello, Finance Director
Kristen Schabacker, Recreation Program Coordinator Sloan Wallgren, and City Clerlc Lorri
Smith.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS 1NDUSTRIAL DISTRICT STUDY RESULTS
Planner Wall introduced consultant Phil Carlson of Stantec. They reviewed the study results of
the Industrial District Redevelopment Area Plan.
Staff discussed the ongoing tasks that were developed for the Industrial District which included
keeping the area zoned for office use, preserving the area's roadway network, staying current
with changes in the requirements of industrial and office uses and adjusting policies accordingly,
and continuing to work with the owners, managers, and tenants to keep the park successful.
Tasks for the next five to ten years were outlined, which included exploring ways to capitalize on
the new Vikings facility, reviewing parlcing standards, and studying the broadband and
technology infrastructure available.
2016 tasks were reviewed which included exploring the potential revisions to the uses allowed in
the park, studying traffic and circulation in the vicinity of Pilot Knob Road, conducting a
pedestrian and bike study to improve the trail system, and continue commercial land uses and
zoning design on the Bourne site and change it if the market warrants it.
Councilmember Povolny stated he would like to see the Bourne site developed for residential
use.
Mayor Krebsbach noted that she would like to see permitted uses in the district to be aligned
with the airport regulations, distinguishing daycares and removing these from allowed uses in the
district, parking regulations and trails to be reviewed, and possible rezoning of the Bourne site.
She also supported exploring re-guiding the land adjacent to the TH 55 corridor to be residential.
Planner Wall stated that the action items will be brought forward to the City Council for their
approval and staff will begin working on the other items.
AUAR FOR VIKINGS DEVELOPMENT
Phil Carlson, representing Stantec, outlined for the Council the Scoping Environmental
Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) in the City
of Eagan. The site is located at the southeast corner of I-494 and Lone Oak Parkway. Mr.
Carlson stated that this Scoping EAW was submitted for the City's review and comment as part
of the AUAR.
The Minnesota Vikings are proposing to develop new facilities for the team, including an
athletic/recreational complex with a stadium and corporate facilities. The mixed-use, phased-in
project will include new residential and commercial development, trails and open space.
The AUAR will evaluate three development scenarios with varying magnitudes of intensity of
land uses. A proposed site plan depicting full build-out of the development was reviewed.
Councilmembers discussed the noise and transportation impacts of this development. Mayor
Krebsbach suggested that the City look at issues the City of Eden Prairie and Mankato had with
this type of development, including both the negatives and the positives.
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
This item will be discussed at an upcoming workshop.
DISCUSSION OF PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
The Council discussed the Larson Greenhouse and the Mendota Motel sites as possible new
developments and how these two sites could be marketed together for one development. The
total acreage is approximately 5.4 acres. Challenges of the site include environmental issues,
power lines on the south side, and a steep embankment on the east side.
Planner Wall stated that there may be financial incentives available through the State of MN and
Dakota County.
Regarding development on the Bourne property, Councilmember Petschel stated she would like
to see a cost/benefit analysis for commercial and residentiai development on this site.
RENTAL HOUSING LICENSING
Planner Nolan Wall and Chief of Police Milce Aschenbrener reviewed the City's current rental
housing regulations, which requires a license for all singie-family dwelling units in the R-1
District. It was noted that there may be units in other zones of the city that are being rented.
Staff discussed the impacts of the changing housing market and the quality of life issues
associated with those changes.
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Staff stated the need to get a scope of the rental housing market in Mendota Heights, review what
the City can do to regulate it, and get a vision from the Council on what a residential use should
look like. They discussed potential solutions to the rental housing issues which include possible
inspections and regulating the density of rental units. It was noted that educating the public on
any changes to the rental housing licensing would be key.
For the workshop meeting scheduled for May, the Council directed that staff return with ideas
and the viability of the toois available to regulate rental housing units, and the impacts this will
have on the current staff workload.
DEPARTMENT STUDIES FOR ENGINEERING AND POLICE DEPARTMENT
These items will be discussed at the January 5, 2016 Council meeting.
POLLiNATOR FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES
Sloan Wallgren introduced Stephanie Levine and Pat Hinderscheid representing the Park and
Recreation Commission, and Mike Pratell, a resident of Mendota Heights and a student at the
University of Minnesota Duluth, to speak on this item. Research has shown that the pollinator
population is declining nationwide due to the loss of habitat, the simplification of landscapes,
and the increased use of neonicotinoid systemic insecticides. The Parlcs a�d Recreation
Commission recommended the Council declare the City as a Pollinator-Friendly City.
Action steps the City could take to become a Pollinator-Friendly City include ensuring all future
plantings on city property are pollinator-friendly, educating the public through the Heights
Highlights, placing links on the city's website to pollinator-friendly websites, individuals
working to establish a plant sharing program, worlcing with Great River Greening to plant
pollinator-friendly plants, and for the City to continue to not use neonicotinoid systemic
insecticides.
The proposed resolution declaring the City to be a pollinator-friendly community will be placed
on the January 5, 2016 Council agenda for consideration.
INFLOW 1NFILTRATION SUMP PUMP STRATEGY
Public Works Director John Mazzitello discussed the implementation of a program to require
residents to disconnect any sump pumps that are draining into the sanitary sewer system. It was
noted that this is a requirement of the Minnesota State Plumbing Code and the Mendota Heights
City Code. By correcting these discharges, it is expected that our total flow contribution to the
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) will be greatly reduced.
January 4, 2016 Council Workshop —Goalsetting Session Page 3 of 4
Mr. Mazzitello will return to the February 9th Councii workshop with proposed costs for a
consultant to complete the inspections. By general consensus, the Council agreed that the
plumbing permit fee should be waived for residents correcting their sump pumps within the
required timeline.
2016 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
This item will be reviewed at the next City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Krebsbach adjourned the meeting at 6:00 PM.
Sandra Krebsbac
Mayor
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Lorri Smith
City Clerk
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