Loading...
2024 06 18 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the City Council Work Session Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 5:00 p.m. Councihnembers Lorberbaum, Mazzitello, Miller, and Paper were also present. Other in attendance were City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek, Park and Recreation Director/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, Community Development Manager Sarah Madden, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Assistant City Engineer Lucas Ritchie, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer. City Attorney Amy Schmidt arrived about 6:50 pm. I-35E VEGETATION REMOVAL Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek reported that MNDOT had mowed vegetation along the I-35E corridor. Residents had reached out to the city regarding the vegetation removal and staff requested a response from MNDOT. MNDOT had sent a letter stating the work was done to improve sightlines, maintenance to repair collapsed drains, gain access to utility lines, and safety issues for workers and highway traffic. MNDOT reported that most of the vegetation removed was invasive buckthorn or honeysuckle. Vegetation from Highway 13 to 494 was mowed. The most impact for residents was from Eagle Ridge, around southbound 35E, to the westbound Highway 62 area. Public Works Director Ruzek reviewed options to improve the area that was mowed including a construction of a sound wall. MNDOT has stated that the area from Marie Avenue to Lexington Avenue is priority ranked 97 out of 172 sites for a noise wall. To install a noise wall, the city would need to commit 10% of the cost share (estimated at $500,000) at the time of application. MNDOT funds one wall per year. Applications for a noise wall have been approved up until 2029. Staff could begin applying for the noise barrier wall, if the Council so desired. Mr. Ruzek continued that there is a Community Roadside Landscape Partnership Program, which is a reimbursement program for communities to install landscaping. The program for Mendota Heights would need to be evaluated by MNDOT due to liability, safety and access issues related to the freeway. MNDOT would prepare a landscape plan for the City. The program reimburses the City for the plant material and not equipment or labor. June 18, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Work Session Page -1 Staff asked Council for direction on applying for either of the programs, discuss other ideas, or to see if they wanted more information. Discussion was held regarding the right -of --way in general, the noise barrier wall, and the Roadside Landscape Partnership Program. Mayor Levine suggested looking into a sound barrier product that had been used at Two Rivers High School that was put along a chain link fence. Mr. Ruzek said that MnDOT would need to give the City permission to install the product on their fence. The price of the product was discussed. Councilor Paper asked what area needed the most attention. Mr. Ruzek replied that most comments came from the Eagle Ridge Condo Association, Victoria Townhomes around to Summit Avenue. The view and the noise were the biggest concerns with the mowing of the vegetation. It was the consensus of the Council to seek avegetative/landscape plan design from MnDOT and gather more information about the Community Roadside Landscape Partnership Program. Also, MnDOT should be asked if a sound barrier product could be installed on their fence, if so, a product should be researched as to cost and effectiveness. A resident in the audience asked if vines could be planted on their side of the right -of --way. Mr. Ruzek said if planted it would be done at their own risk as it is not city right-of-way. DODD ROAD TRAIL — WESLEY LANE TO MARIE AVENLIE Mayor Levine commented that she had received an email from a resident inquiring about a trail on Dodd Road between Wesley Lane and Marie Avenue. Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek reported that staff were seeking direction on pursuing a trail connection along the east side of Dodd Road between Wesley Lane and Marie Avenue. Previous councils have reviewed the trail gap connection in 2018 and 2019. It had been determined at that time, that the trail gap was not desirable due to concerns raised by residents and logistical challenges with acquiring easements. He noted that should the council choose to move forward, staff would hire a consultant that has expertise in easement acquisitions to support the project. Cost estimates for the project have been updated by staff. The trail gap would be eligible for state aid funds. It is estimated that right -of --way acquisitions would cost about $70,000, trail construction costs about $470,000 and there would be indirect costs. The engineers' estimate for the project is $600,000. This is more than what is in our state aid fund but would be feasible. MnDOT right -of --way requirements were discussed. Mr. Ruzek reported that the trail was previously designed, MnDOT requirements are still the same, and Dodd Road would be narrowed to reduce the impact to the property owners adjacent Dodd Road. MnDOT said they need 16 feet from the centerline to the curb line and if the trail was built, the city June 1$ 2024, Mendota Heights Council Work Session Page -2 would move the curb line as narrow as possible. Storm -sewer would also need to be added which is a big expense for the project. There are four properties that easements would need to be acquired. Storm water design had not been part of the previous project plans. Councilor Miller commented he was in favor of a trail, but in the past, did not want to take property from the owners along Dodd Road. Councilor Paper expressed interested in a five-foot sidewalk as compared with the standard. Mr. Ruzek said putting in a sidewalk would set a precedent for the rest of the Dodd Road corridor. Councilor Miller stated that the way Dodd Road is platted makes it a challenge. The council discussed property owner property lines along Dodd Road and MnDOTnght-of--way requirements, replacing vegetation on property owners' property if a trail were to be built, and acquiring right -of way from property owners was discussed. Councilor Mazzitello stated that the City has a tradition of not acquiring right -of --way from property owners. Mayor Levine stated that the trail is needed as Dodd Road is a dangerous road and used by many walkers and bikers. It was the consensus that some kind of pedestrian connection was needed and research MnDOT's standards for making the connection five feet wide. If the connection could be brought down to five feet, staff could start gathering information for project planning. Information will be brought back to a future work session. SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Community Development Manager Madden reported she would like feedback from the Council on the updated amended draft ordinance for the short-term rental ordinance. It has been updated from the May 21 work session discussion. A couple of public comments have been received regarding the short-term rental ordinance. Changes that were made provided by City Council comments included: • Remove reference to the word "transient" when defming short-term rental guests • Include a reference to the Building Code provisions when defining the standards for qualifications as a bedroom • Remove the 5-night minimum stay requirement and replace with a restriction of no rental reservations more than 7 days per month (year-round) • Remove underage children from being exempt in occupancy calculations • Continue to limit the occupancy maximums to two person per bedroom, but add in a maximum number of bedrooms June 18, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Work Session Page -3 • Increase the minimum age of a rental occupant/guest to 25 • The new draft ordinance clarified the initial inspection language in the enforcement section Short-term rentals on cul-de-sacs were discussed because of the lack of on -street parking. The number of days for the stay at a short-term rental was discussed. The size/definition of the bedroom and number of occupants per bedroom were discussecL Councilor Mazzitello suggested adding to the ordinance a definition of a bedroom with the size of the bedroom being defined and the number of occupants would depend on the size of the bedroom. It was the consensus that there be a two -night minimum stay added to the ordinance. The maximum number of allowed occupants to be increased to 12 depending on the number of bedrooms with staff to figure out the math. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors were discussed. The new ordinance would apply to all short- term rentals in the city when it is enacted. Violations versus complaints was discussed. City Administrator Jacobson reported that administrative citations would be discussed in the future by the Council. A short-term rental complaint that is confirmed and validated would be a violation against the license and would need to be addressed. The short-term license would be an annual license and have a specific renewal date each year. An updated version of the ordinance will be brought back for the Council to consider at a future workshop. IVY HILLS PARK —BASKETBALL COURT Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek reported that the contractor for the Emerson/Sylvandale project was looking for as w to store materials for the street construction project. Staff suggested it could be located by the half basketball court at Ivy Hills Park. The contractor asked if material could be kept there permanently if the low area was filled in (up to 3 feet) by the half basketball court. Director Ruzek reported that the court gets minimal use at this time and that staff would look to upgrade the facility to a full court in the future. The contractor would remove the concrete slab and build up the area at no cost. The City would need to install a new concrete slab which would cost about $40,000. Storm sewer would also be installed. There is no funding source for the work. The Parks and Recreation Commission priority list for park improvements was discussed. It was the consensus of the Council to have the area filled in and the City could install a new concrete slab in the future after some community engagement. June 18, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Work Session Page -4 NALUINNOWI WIN 1 Mayor Levine asked for a motion to adjourn, a motion was made by Councilmember Mazzitello. Mayor Levine adjourned the work session meeting at 6:53 pm. ATTEST: Step ranie . Levine, Mayor Cr ncy Bauer, City Clerk June I8, 2024, Mendota Heights Council Work Session Page -5