2019-05-16 Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Held May 16, 2019
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the City Council, City of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was held at the City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Councilmembers Duggan, Paper and
Petschel were also present. Councilor Miller was absent.
City staff present included Mark McNeill, City Administrator; Community Development Director
Tim Benetti; Ryan Ruzek, Public Works Director; and Lorri Smith, City Clerk.
REVIEW OF 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Community Development Director Tim Benetti reviewed the proposed 2040 Comprehensive
Plan which is required to be updated every 10 years. He reviewed the purpose and the sections of
the plans contained therein:
• Introduction & Background
• Land Use
• Transportation,
• Parks and Open Space
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Natural Resources
• Resilience
• Critical Area Plan (Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area)
• Implementation
• INTRODUCTION
-Councilor Paper suggested that the history of the city that is included in this chapter also be
included on the city's website.
-Page 1-6, Councilor Duggan requested that the words `and vibration' be included at the end of
the last paragraph regarding the airport. Councilor Petschel noted that there is no recognized
measurement for vibration. The Councilors agree to include those words in the document.
-Page 140, Duggan suggested that `support' be changed to `plan' for a mix of housing
affordability.
-Page 1-12, Councilor Duggan suggested the words `in Minnesota' be added to the sentence
regarding Fort Snelling, the first American fort.
-Page 1-13, Councilors noted that St. Peter's Church was built in 1840 and not 1853 as stated.
-Page 1-17, Councilors suggested that the first sentence be changed to read "....and adopting the
first Noise Attenuation Ordinance in the metro area."
-Page 1-18, Councilor Duggan requested that it be noted in the first paragraph that Pilot Knob is
a landmark that is include on the National Historic Register.
-Page 1-23, Councilors suggested that the date of the water system transfer to St. Paul Regional
Water Services, which was in 2016, be noted.
• LAND USE
Page 2-1:
-Policy 2-1-1: Councilor Petschel suggested changing the statement `Continue to develop' to
"Land Use, housing, transportation shall develop...."
-Policy 2-1-2: Councilors suggested deleting the last section.
-Policy 2-1-4: Councilors agreed to change `or as required' to `or as called for'.
-Policy 2-1-5: Councilor Petschel questioned why this policy was needed. Director Benetti
replied that it is to meet growth demands.
Page 2-2
-Policy 2-3-1: use available resources, whose objectives, Councilor Petschel noted, does not
have to be onerous
-Policy 2-4-5: Councilors agreed to take out this paragraph.
• FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES
-Page 2.8, Councilors suggested medium density should not exceed 5.9 units per acre.
Revising the High density category was discussed, but not agreed upon. Suggestion was made to
have staff determine or estimate the density calculations of existing high density sites (R-3
Multi -Family and other similar zoned developments) throughout the city.
-Figure 2-5, Director Benetti discussed the Future Land Use Map and noted the zoning changes
to be made. —Friendly Hills, Monet Court, etc.
• TRANSPORTATION
-Page 3.1;
-policy 3.1.1—Councilor Petschel suggested that this policy needs to be more strongly worded;
-policy 3.1.2 -Councilor Petschel suggested a statement be included stating that the city will work
with MnDOT and Dakota County Highway Department to solve any Dodd Road traffic issues,
possibly creating a regional task force; policy 3.1.3 -addition `will be incorporated'.
-Page 3.8, the Councilors asked for a definition of HCM, as referenced to in the first paragraph.
May 16, 2019 City Council Work Session page 2 of 3
-Page 3.16, Councilors suggested language be added stating the city will pursue park and ride
facilities.
-Page 3-21, Aircraft Noise Policy 3.3.5, Councilor Petschel suggesting removing this.
• PARKS AND TRAILS
No changes proposed.
HOUSING
-Page 5-1, Councilor Duggan suggested wording in the first sentence to read `may also be
measured'.
-Page 5-2, Policy 5.2.1 iv. -change to read `support the development of .
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
-Page 6-4, Economic Overview, the second paragraph should be changed to read `should be
consistently used'.
• NATURAL RESOURCES
No changes proposed.
• RESILIENCE
-Page 8-12, Policy 8.7.1. — Councilors agreed to delete.
• CRITICAL AREA
No changes proposed.
• IMPLEMENTATION
No changes proposed.
It was noted that the City Council will discuss this plan at the June 4, 2019 City Council meeting.
It will not be a public hearing, but public comments will be taken.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 pm.
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
Neil Garlock, Mayor
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