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CITY OF SHOREWOOD CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
• MONDAY, MARCH 29,1999 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
A. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Love; Councilmembers Lizee and Zerby; Administrator Jim Hurm;
Planning Director Brad Nielsen; City Engineer Larry Brown, Finance Director Al
Rolek, and City Attorney Tim Keane.
Absent: Councilmembers Stover and Garfunkel.
B. Review Agenda
The agenda was accepted as presented.
2. DISCUSSION ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
• A. Community Facilities Chapter
Planning Director Nielsen recapped the content of the Community Facilities chapter, including
but not limited to: sanitary sewer; city water; storm sewer; parks and recreation; and public
safety. Nielsen stated that the City water policy is the most urgent. The current policy has been
written down, needs to be studied, and possibly changed before June. Nielsen presented the
water policy prior to 1995, the water policy included in the 1995 Comprehensive Plan, and the
current water policy. Nielsen then requested that the current policy, with any changes, be
incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan.
Mayor Love asked if the current policy has been easy to discuss with the public when they
present questions.
Planning Director Nielsen replied that the current Ordinance is very convoluted and needs to be
rewritten. The actual policies, however, are fairly clear, although developers are not in
agreement with the fee for new lots ($10,000), finding it excessive as in comparison to the fee for
existing lots to hookup ($5,000).
Mayor Love stated that he is in favor of allowing for expansion of the City water system and
believes the current policy seems to result in contractors not using City water due to the fees.
• Planning Director Nielsen stated that if all feasible lots were to hook up to City water, and
average of $7,500 per lot would be the minimum required. Nielsen then explained how the
$10,000 minimum was arrived at and agreed that some discussion may be needed.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
. MARCH 29,1999 - PAGE 2
Administrator Hurm stated that the fee of $10,000 is actually accurate for fees needed when new
lots are put on the City water system.
Engineer Brown stated that the breakdown for new lots could be re -figured, but the fee would
probably not change significantly.
Finance Director Rolek explained that while not making the City a lot of money, the City water
system does remain in the "black."
Councilmember Lizee asked if any of the funds went into repair and replacement.
Finance Director Rolek answered that the bottom line does encompass repair, replacement, and
upkeep.
Mayor Love again stressed the importance of offering incentives for new lots, as opposed to the
current policy which seems to penalize new lots unfairly.
Administrator Hurm reiterated that when the study was done, the fees were found to be accurate.
• Engineer Brown suggested that a new study be done to see if these fees are still accurate.
Councilmember Lizee and Mayor Love both expressed concern about more private wells being
drilled as opposed to hooking up to City water.
Mayor Love also expressed disagreement with the point that one person could stop an entire
street from connecting to City water. He suggested a balance needs to be reached between forced
connection and approval by all residents.
Councilmember Lizee questioned if road reconstruction follows the water system at all, so new
connections could be added when the road was already dug up.
Engineer Brown stated that it is not, as expansion of the City water system was put on hold since
no policy exists for the water system.
Mayor Love stated that more information is needed regarding water rates, road reconstruction
plans, and cost structure of hookups versus new lots. Mayor Love requested a time line to give
direction to the Planning Commission.
Planning Director Nielsen stated that public meetings were tentatively scheduled for May.
Mayor Love stated that a full Council should be in attendance before more specific direction can
• be given to the Planning Commission, and asked if Staff has enough direction for now. Planning
Director Nielsen stated that Staff can gather the additional information that has been requested.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
MARCH 29,1999 - PAGE 3
Mayor Love noted that the issue will come back to the City Council in April, when more Council
members are present.
Councilmember Lizee asked if TIFing (Tax Increment Financing) the City Water System would
be feasible.
Attorney Keane replied that these options have been constantly changing and he can have more
information on the current TIF procedures for the April meeting.
Mayor Love requested that another study be done regarding undergrounding of utilities in
conjunction with road rebuilding.
Mayor Love suggested moving to Executive Session, and leaving items 2B and 2C until more
Council members are present.
Planning Director Nielsen stated that some written comments were received, and Staff can act on
these and have updated information for the April meeting.
At 8:15 pm Mayor Love called a 10 minute recess, after which Council convened in
Executive Session to discuss litigation matters with the City Attorney.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
E