2023-01-17 City Council Minutes - work sessionCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 4:30 pm. Councilmembers Lorberbaum 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, and City Clerk Christine Lusian.
ROGERS LAKE SKATEPARK RENOVATION
Park and Recreation Manager Meredith Lawrence reviewed the City Council’s direction from the
2023 budget meetings to replace the existing skate park at Roger’s Lake with a modular park and
concrete base within the budget of $300,000. Lawrence gave the City Council a project update
that included work with the City’s skate park design and engineering consultants in addition to
working with the City’s Skate Park subcommittee.
Lawrence explained that the city’s design consultant took the feedback received from the
subcommittee and designed a proposed modular feature skate park with a concrete pad within the
budget provided. The renderings were then shared with the subcommittee for initial input on the
design. The subcommittee asked staff to pursue a full concrete park instead of the proposed
modular park.
Lawrence stated that staff asked the city’s design consultant to provide a rendering of a full
concrete park within the budget of $300,000. Given the existing parameters, a full-concrete park
would be approximately a third of the size of the existing skate park and half the size of a new
modular feature skate park. Lawrence noted that with a full concrete skate park a 2023 build
would not be feasible, so the project construction would need to be pushed to a future year.
Staff asked the Council for direction on next steps.
The City Council shared concerns regarding the new skate park being considerably smaller than
the existing park, as well as a lack of features compared to what residents were used to if a full
concrete park was pursued.
Councilor Paper noted that the skate park in Mendota Heights is meant to be for residents to
learn how to skate and is not intended to be a regional draw. He noted that there is not a lot of
parking at this site and if the skate park becomes the preferred location of skaters throughout the
metro area, there will be an issue with capacity. He felt a modular park would meet the priorities
of the park and would benefit the residents of Mendota Heights, which is the top priority.
Mayor Levine commented that the Council heard from residents in 2020 that the existing
modular feature skate park was unique and was loved by the community. She stated she would
like to see staff move forward with a modular skate park on a concrete pad, based on the
$300,000 budget and would like to see the new park built in 2023.
Councilor Paper noted the one change he would like to see would be the inclusion of the skatelite
surface in comparison to the steel surface. He noted that this would have a better feel for skaters,
would provide a noise dampening mechanism, and would provide the same surface that is
currently at the park.
Staff noted that the modular skatelite surface would need more maintenance than the steel
surface and overall, a modular park would need more maintenance overtime than a concrete
park. In addition, the skatelite surface would cost more than the steel surface. The City Council
was comfortable with this. Staff noted that a maintenance plan would be included in the final
proposal to the City Council.
The City Council advised staff to proceed with a concrete base and modular features and asked
staff to engage the community via a survey based on this direction.
IVY FALLS EAST STREET REHABILITATION
Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek updated Council on the project close out and contract status.
The project was not completed on time and the city incurred additional costs as a result. Options
to move forward include absorbing the additional costs, negotiating the additional costs with the
contractor, and mediation.
The Mayor and City Council requested the cost of mediation.
HIRING REFERRAL PROGRAM
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson explained the proposed hiring referral program
that would incentivize existing staff to help the city recruit qualified candidates for open
positions. The Mayor and Councilors Lorberbaum and Paper expressed support for the proposal
and suggested looking at different incentive amounts dependent upon the position being
recruited.
Staff were directed to proceed with a hiring referral program.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ANTI-NEPOTISM POLICY
Mayor Levine asked to discuss family and relatives of city council members serving on city
advisory commissions. She noted that community members have expressed concern to her on
the matter.
Councilor Lorberbaum would like to move forward without a policy and handle each situation
individually when it arises. Levine recommends that commissions be filled by community
members who are not already first order relatives of the council.
The Council will continue the conversation with the whole council group present.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Levine adjourned the meeting at 5:42p.m.
____________________________________
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Christine Lusian, City Clerk