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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/20/2008CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 20, 2008 CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Jeannine Churchill at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Jeannine Churchill, Tom Melander, Tim Burke, Keith Diekmann, David Schindler, Frank Blundetto and Thomas Helgeson Members Absent: None. Staff Present: City Planner Tom Lovelace, Assistant City Engineer David Bennett,. Assistant City Administrator Charles Grawe, and Department Assistant Barbara Wolff 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Churchill asked if there were any changes to the agenda. There being none, she called for approval of the agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Melander moved, seconded by Commissioner Burke to approve the agenda. The motion carried 7-0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2008 Chair Churchill asked if there were any changes to the minutes. There being none, she called for approval of the minutes. MOTION: Commissioner Burke moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, to recommend approval of the minutes of the February 6, 2008, meeting. The motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Helgeson and Commissioner Blundetto abstained. 4. 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE/ACTIONS --NONE-- 5. CONSENT ITEM --NONE-- v`. PI;BLIC IIEARi.~~G A. 2008-2012 Capital Improvements Program -Consideration of adoption of 5- year Capital Improvements Program as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2008 agenda & minutes\022008m.doc Assistant City Administrator Charles Grawe addressed the Planning Commission. Grawe explained that the Capital hnprovements Program is a planning document used as a tool-for budgeting. It is brought to the Planning Commission every year and is a continuous, fluid document. The City uses this document to keep track of all the capital assets it has and plan appropriately for acquisition using afive-year window. The CIP helps City departments focus the resources that will be needed to continue to provide the services currently supplied by the City. The CIP also allows departments to find ways to reduce costs of providing those services. Grawe highlighted some of the sections in the CIP. The "Vehicle Replacement Schedule" lists significant pieces of equipment and/or vehicles that each department has. It lists what the City owns and the cost at the time of purchase. Also, it lists in what year the items maybe replaced and the cost to the City. Using the fire department as an example, the City will need a fourth fire station in the not too distant future. So, the plan shows the cost of acquiring the land and the construction of that building. The CIP also shows the funding sources. for all projects, which is important for both the Finance Deparhnent and policy makers. The City must carry debt that will not fluctuate greatly over time, otherwise the taxpayers may have fluetuating tax bills year to year. The City attempts to be consistent so that there are not many unforeseen costs. There are a number of different funding sources other than taxpayer dollars. The City issues debt and then pays it back over time, using the following sources: • Equipment Certificate Bonds -Short-term, four to five years out • General Obligation Bonds -Larger prof ects such as building expansions, park improvements • 2007 Referendum Bonds -These were approved but the City hasn't actually begun the projects so that they haven't. shown up on tax payer statements • Net Revenue Bonds • Enterprise Funds -Independent businesses that the City runs, such as the liquor stores • Ice Arena Funds • Lebanon Cemetery Fund • City Hall -The old city hall is leased to the Dakota County Technical College • Future Capital Projects Fund -Surplus from any operating budget • -Golf Course Fund • Public Educational Government Access Fund -Money that the City receives through the cable system • Storm Water Fund • Tax Increment Fund • Utilities Fund -Water and sewer • General Fund • A series of funds that received from other entities that are participating in projects directly with the City or otherwise funding S:\planning\PIANCOMM\2008 agenda & minutes\022008m.doc • Other Donations Special Assessments -The developer or the land owner that benefits from the improvement pays for the improvement The Projects by Category pertains to buildings and land. The City needs to ensure that potential building projects align with the Comprehensive Plan and are consistent with the zoning and subdivision ordinances. Examples include replacing the Valleywood clubhouse, acquiring land for Fire Station #4, construction of Fire Station #4, replacing the community center roof, and expansion of Lebanon Cemetery. Grawe stood for questions. Commissioner Helgeson asked if there is value in reviewing declining property values and how that may affect the Capital Improvements strategies, and are the numbers adjusted for inflation? Grawe answered that property values are stated by the Dakota County. The most recent numbers given by the County stated very minimal growth, but not declining values. At some point, if the County Assessing Services does decide that property values are declining, City departments will have to scale back expenses by changing the way the City does business, or by making things last longer, or foregoing purchasing of equipment. Each department will need to deploy whichever strategy is most appropriate to try to meet that objective. This Capital hmprovements Program document is simply a projection of what it is going to cost the City to do business in the future as the City does it today.. The City expects things to change and for departments to respond appropriately. The numbers are approximately adjusted for inflation. Chair Churchill, hearing no further comments from the audience or the Commission, stated that it is not generally the policy of the Commission to act on an item the same evening as the public hearing but the Commission will act on this item this evening. Chair Churchill asked for a motion of approval. MOTION: Commissioner Helgeson moved, seconded by Commissioner Burke, to recommend approval of the Capital Improvements Program. The motion carried 7-0. 7. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS --NONE-- 8. OTHER BUSINESS A. Review of upcoming Schedule and other Updates City Planner Tom Lovelace reminded the Commission of the upcoming Comprehensive Planning session at ~3v p.m. in the Regent Conference Room on vJeanesday, March 5, 2v08. Also, on March 12, 2008, there will be an informal work session for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan which will be held at 7 p.m. in the Jonathon Conference Room. S:\planning\PC.ANCOMM\2008 agenda & minutes\022008m.doc 9. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further comments from the Planning Staff or Planning Commission, Chair Churchill asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Commissioner Burke moved, seconded by Commissioner Helgeson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 p.m. The motion carried 7-0. S;\planning\PLANCOMM\2008 agenda & minutes\022008m.doc