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Home My WebLink About2003-02-08 Council Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2003 H:\City Hall Information\CITY GOVERNMENT\Council, Commissions & Committees\Council Information\Council Minutes\Previous Years\2003 - Need to PDF\02.08.03 Special Council Minutes.doc 1 The City Council met in special session on February 8, 2003 at City Hall in Corcoran, Minnesota. Present were Councilors Bucher, Gageby, Guenthner, Lymangood and Thomas. Also present were Planning Commissioners D. Andersen and Kluck, Administrator Vergin, Engineer Vander Top, and Planner Lindahl. Mayor Guenthner called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. MOTION by Lymangood, seconded by Bucher and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the addition of Review of Meeting – Summary / Action. Mayor Guenthner introduced Planner Lindahl and identified the purpose of the meeting was to address the long range goals and objectives required now that the Comprehensive Plan has been adopted. Administrator Vergin summarized the administrative tasks required to be undertaken as the City moves forward with the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. • Extend the moratorium currently in place until such time as the revised zoning and subdivision ordinances are adopted. • Complete the modifications to the current planning applications, with revisions in place by April. • Have the sign ordinance ready for Council and Planning Commission review in March and April, with consideration for adoption in May. • Adopt the Elm Creek 2nd Generation Plan as an interim Surface Water Management Plan, until such time as the City can create their own. The Met Council has indicated that the City has two years to create their own, once the 2nd Generation Plan is adopted. • Draft an Erosion Control Ordinance for consideration by the Planning Commission and Council in April and May, with adoption in May/June. • Participate in the Livable Communities Act. It is unclear at this time exactly what our role will be; therefore, Robin Caufman with the Met Council is doing some further research on this for the City. Administrator Vergin further identified items that the City is currently working on or will be pursuing in order deal with existing conditions and the protection of city investments. • Complete the NPDES Phase II Permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System). Currently completing the self assessment, then prepare a storm water pollution prevention program which will define best management practices and measurable goals. This will be presented to the Council for approval in March and forwarded to the MPCA upon approval. • The Facility Committee will be completing and presenting the council with a conclusion of their findings at the March 27th Council meeting regarding the possible expansion to the police facility within the city hall. • Staff will be working on a Master Street Maintenance Plan / Street Capital Improvement Plan. This plan will review current conditions of streets, identify the needs, set priorities and define budgets relative to seal coating, crack filling, gravel, drain tile, reconstruction and stabilization practices. We will also review and revise the existing Assessment Policy. Call to Order Agenda Approval Introduction of Planner Administrative Tasks CITY OF CORCORAN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2003 H:\City Hall Information\CITY GOVERNMENT\Council, Commissions & Committees\Council Information\Council Minutes\Previous Years\2003 - Need to PDF\02.08.03 Special Council Minutes.doc 2 • The Chisholm Trail improvement project will proceed forward this spring, with construction through the summer and the final assessment hearing in the fall. • Equipment Capital Improvement Plan – the Staff will be compiling data on all existing equipment, including date of purchase, cost at acquisition, life expectancy, present value and replacement cost. Staff will then review the future needs of the City. It is anticipated that this process will commence in March and will be completed when the budgeting process commences in July. Planner Lindahl provided an overview of the tasks that would need to be undertaken to provide zoning and subdivision ordinances consistent with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan. • Identify the problems. • Establish the objectives; what do you want Corcoran to look like, define “rural”. • Identify ordinances required to manage and protect the natural resource inventory. • Create area plans for the three districts, downtown, southwest and northeast. • Anticipate 5 workshops (4-hour meetings) – 1 for NRI; 3 for District Plans; and 1 for the summary of the Ordinances. Discussed the process and the need to keep the public involved in the process. Forms of communicating to the public could be via the web, broadcast emails, local newspaper and newsletters. It was questioned if the timeline was realistic, what happens if the city does not have this process completed within the defined parameters, what is the consequences, if any. Planner Lindahl indicated that she would check into this. Engineer Vander Top provided an overview of the remaining tasks required of the City and how they tied in with the tasks previously defined. • Prepare an Infrastructure Concept Plan. This would be coordinated with the land use plans. This would look at trunk utility needs; transportation; location of infrastructure; cost estimates; access and area fees; and staging of development. Infrastructure includes water, sewer and storm. • Prepare a Tier II Plan. This plan is required by the Met Council, per State Statute, prior to the City proceeding with any infrastructure. This is a complete plan identifying utilities, transportation and park and trails. • A Financial Plan would then be prepared to review the expenditures and revenues identified in the infrastructure concept plan, incorporate the use of TIF monies, re-establish the Economic Development Authority, identify any outside agencies that may be involved; and project the cash flow and financing options available to the City. Engineer Vander Top further noted that the time line for the Elm Creek Interceptor (ECI) to be at Corcoran’s border is 2005. However, this timeline can be affected by other outside influences, which would then have an impact on Corcoran’s timeline. Planning and Zoning Tasks Infrastructure Tasks CITY OF CORCORAN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2003 H:\City Hall Information\CITY GOVERNMENT\Council, Commissions & Committees\Council Information\Council Minutes\Previous Years\2003 - Need to PDF\02.08.03 Special Council Minutes.doc 3 Mayor Guenthner identified three factors affecting the process. There are the technical processes, which include the studies, establishing policies and preparing the analysis. There are the internal drivers or factors, the ability to do the work, staff commitment of time, and council and commission commitment of time. Then there are external factors such as the resources to do the work, costs that will be incurred, and outside timelines such as the EIC. An unidentified person in the audience questioned why the city was doing this, what is driving the city to develop. Another individual in the audience indicated that the city has been working on these issues for the past year and a half. Councilor Lymangood noted that this has actually been three years in the making, with over 40 + meetings. Mayor Guenthner stated that as elected officials they represent the citizens of the community and it is up to them to use reasonable judgment. In the past four years he has continued to receive feedback as being fair and inclusive of the public in the process. Administrator Vergin informed the group that the anticipated budget to complete the tasks as outlined would be approximately $200,000. There may be some grants that the city may be eligible to pursue for some of the defined tasks. Additional discussion included the following: Limited staff – volunteers would be welcomed. Limited budget – a donations list could be created, i.e. dry boards. Prefer special meetings for this process, not during regular council meetings. Extra evening meetings would be preferred over weekend meetings. Once the mechanical steps are completed, what mechanics will be in place to control the growth? Need to make sure that the proper tools are created to regulate and maintain the quality of life in Corcoran. Phasing Plan – this should be put in place and enforced, these are policy decisions for the council. How will the city respond to inquiries by land owners to accelerate development? The NRI will have a large impact on what areas can be developed. Concern that what is put into place today will be changed by future leaders. Need to be successful in the implementation and overall character of the City so that it is maintained. Sewer capacity is limited, and therefore will limit growth. Need to plan for the next generation, be stewards for the next generation taking care of the children and grandchildren. The strength of the concept plan will carry the plan. Mayor Guenthner called the next special meeting for February 20 at 8:00 p.m. to define the next steps involving the budget, time table and the inter -connective- ness and impacts that outside factors can have. MOTION by Bucher, seconded by Thomas and carried unanimously to adjourn, 11:20 a.m. _____________________________ Susan Vergin, City Administrator General Discussion Set Next Meeting Adjournment