2022-12-20 City Council Minutes - work session CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 4:00 pm. Councilmembers Mazzitello, Miller,
and Paper were present.
Staff in attendance included City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Public Works Director Ryan
Ruzek, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson, Parks and Recreation Manager Meredith
Lawrence, Community Development Director Tim Benetti, Natural Resource Coordinator Krista
Spreiter, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, and City Clerk Christine Lusian.
Council member-elect Sally Lorberbaum was also present.
RIVER TO RIVER GREENWAY
Tony Wotzka and Chris Klatt from Dakota County provided background on the River to River
Greenway and presented a proposed plan looking for direction from council on developing final
construction plans. From this discussion with council on improvement details, the plan will be
updated and presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission and Natural Resources
Commission for comments and recommendations.
Project objectives include identifying an underpass of Trunk Highway 149/Dodd Road and
potential alternative alignments in Valley Park while improving safety and accessibility of
geenway alignments by addressing curve and steep grade issues; improving connections to local
trails and sidewalks; improving and adding elements like wayfinding, landscaping and
interpretive signage, and improving water quality and habitat in the corridor.
Components of the plan include an underpass Dodd Road (underpass —increased safety,
accessibility, connections), Valley Park (increased safety, accessibility, horizontal geometry, trail
loop,priority one and two from master plan), between Valley Park and Lilydale (increased
safety, accessibility, loop, neighborhood), Tree survey of high value and poor condition trees,
Valley Park natural resources, Interstate Valley Creek streambank stabilization (reconnect creek
to floodplain, erosion issues). River to river geenway natural resource management plan.
Greenway vegetation restoration cost-share—state grant funded with county and city
contributions and county ongoing maintenance.
Schedule for the plan is preliminary design in 2022, engagement and final design in 2023,
construction in 2024, and underpass in 2026.
Mayor would like, the to work with Ih(,. county. Ma/zitello,(:xpresscd
("'011CCHIS With ADA compliance, 1�csidcnts expressed concerns with trail widening, trec rootand
kvildlile. disturbance, lack ol'ongoing rnanagement and rnaintenance.
LAKI"I'VIEW PW)JIVIRTY SALF
Discussion on options for city-owned lot on Lakeview Avenue PID 272840005090, Options
include, but,not limited to, selling land 1*(.)r development, vacate right of way, obtain an appraisal,
and solicit purchase offers. A family member ofthe former property owner Would like to
rUrchasc the land back.
Mazzitello expressed concern about condemnation and if it was not condemned should be
offered back to the family; he believes VINDOT is in error.
MEETINGTiMES
City Administrator explained that the city council from time to time considers changing the start
time of regular city council meetings. She noted that councilmember-elect Lorberbaum
requests city council start meetings later due to her work schedule. Lorberbaum proposes that
workshops begin at 5pm and regular meetings begin at 7pm. Paper is not in favor. Miller is in
favor. Lorberbaum in favor.
Mazzitello reiterated the purpose of workshops—to work through and discuss. He would like
better notes and audio recorded, but not televised (2020 work session as an example).
Mayor proposed to try 5pm start times for workshops and 7prn start times for regular meetings,
although a resolution is needed first and can be passed in January; time change will begin in
February.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
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ATTEST:
.....................Jerk