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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/11/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOfficial minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota Nov. 3, 2025 1. Call to order. Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. a. Pledge of allegiance b. Roll call Council members present: Margaret Rog, Lynette Dumalag, Sue Budd, Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris, Paul Baudhuin, Mayor Nadia Mohamed Council members absent: none Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), city attorney (Mr. Mattick), senior planner (Ms. Chamberlain), community development director and interim building and energy director (Ms. Barton), property maintenance and licensing manager (Mr. Pivec), sustainability specialist (Ms. Pottorff), housing manager (Ms. Olson), planning manager (Mr. Walther) Guest: Betsy Michaels, Trellis Company 2. Approve agenda. It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Dumalag, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 3. Presentations. a. Recognition of St. Louis Park’s 2025 Most Valued Tree (M.V.Tree) Mayor Mohamed presented the award to Carole Leonard. Ms. Pottorff noted the city council previously directed staff to explore strategies to promote tree preservation in St. Louis Park with a focus on mature trees. As a result, the natural resources division (parks and recreation department) and the sustainability division (building and energy department) collaborated to launch the city’s first M.V.Tree contest in June 2025. Through a variety of communications channels, St. Louis Park residents were invited to nominate a tree that is special to them. This tree may be located on their property, on another resident’s property, or on city-owned land. Nomination submissions required photos of the tree and a story about what makes it special. Staff received over 30 nominations. A review committee of city staff and members of the environment & sustainability commission narrowed down the nominations to four finalists and asked the public to vote for their favorite. Over 400 total votes were received, and the greatest number of votes went to the bur oak on West 24th Street (Ward 4), nominated by a group of young neighbors who wanted to show Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F City council meeting -2- Nov. 3, 2025 appreciation for the beloved majestic tree that “reminds us of a friendly, royal dragon that protects our neighborhood.” Carole Leonard, the property owner, was presented with a wooden plaque to display near the bur oak tree. Council Member Brausen noted that this tree is in Ward 4 and noted the tree is near his own neighborhood. He thanked staff for promoting this contest and the wonderful trees in this city. Council Member Rog added her congratulations. She congratulated the nominators on their use of poetic language to describe this beautiful tree. She asked why the addresses were not included in the report of the homeowners with trees involved in the contest. Ms. Pottorff stated this was a security measure. Council Member Baudhuin added this is a great idea and seems like something that will take off. He thanked all those who made nominations and congratulated all those who were nominated. Residents stated they nominated the tree because it is special and they enjoy walking by it. They thanked Ms. Leonard for letting them nominate her tree. Ms. Leonard added that she has lived in her house for 60 years. The bur oak was already very large when they moved into the house, and it has continued to grow. She thanked staff for the contest and said it was a great idea. b. Proclamation observing Veterans Day Mayor Mohamed read the proclamation into the record. Council Member Farris stated her father served in the Vietnam War and she felt so many veterans were not honored for what they had to endure, so it is amazing that the city is honoring them and respecting them on Veterans Day. c. Recognition of donations Mayor Mohamed recognized the $500 donation from the St Louis Park Rotary Club to be used for the 2025 “Shop with a Cop” event. Rotary president Kristine Martin stated it has been a wonderful year and she thanked the council for all they do for young people. Ms. Martin stated the gift is small and next year, the rotary plans to double it. Mayor Mohamed also recognized a $2000 donation from the St. Louis Park American Legion Post 282 to the police department for the 2025 “Shop with a Cop” event. Council Member Rog stated she had the pleasure of wrapping gifts for the event last year. She encouraged the city council members to participate in the event this year, noting the kids were very thoughtful shoppers. 4. Minutes. Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F City council meeting -3- Nov. 3, 2025 a. Minutes of Oct. 6, 2025, city council meeting b. Minutes of Oct. 6, 2025, special study session meeting Council Member Baudhuin requested a revision to his comments to read: “Western Europe” instead of “Eastern Europe.” It was moved by Council Member Rog, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to approve the Oct. 6, 2025, city council minutes as amended and the Oct. 6, 2025, special study session meeting minutes as amended. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Consent items. a. Approve city disbursements b. Resolution No. 25-140 accepting donations to the police department c. Resolution No. 25-141 authorizing application for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ReLeaf grant program Council Member Brausen noted the city disbursements are funds well spent. He called attention to the resolution approving acceptance of donations. He shared that he hopes the city will get the grant for the MN Department of Natural Resources ReLeaf grant program. He thanked staff for pursuing grants and resources to allow expansion of the city’s mission and reach. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve the consent items as listed; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 7-0. 6. Public hearings – none. 7. Regular business. a. Resolution approving Bickham Court planned unit development amendment – Ward 3 Ms. Chamberlain presented the staff report. Council Member Farris recused herself from the discussion and vote due to her professional relationship with Bickham Court. Ms. Chamberlain noted that Trellis Co. has applied for a planned unit development (PUD) amendment for the Bickham Court apartments on Louisiana Court. The request is to allow a new one-story building to provide resident services and community amenity space at the Bickham Court apartment complex. The new building is proposed to have an area of 2,640 square feet and will be in the northwest corner of the Bickham Court apartment complex. The project would also allow office space in one of the existing buildings to return to residential use. Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F City council meeting -4- Nov. 3, 2025 The proposed project requires an amendment to an existing PUD on the property, which was approved via Resolution No. 01-038. Council Member Rog expressed her concern about the lack of EV charging stations within this development and asked for clarity. Ms. Chamberlain stated that with parking requirements, staff look at the expanded use, and in this case, if there was expanded use and more parking added, then the EV charging stations would have been required. Ms. Chamberlain stated that because there was no additional parking required, EV chargers did not meet the threshold, so there were no EV charging stations included in the development. Council Member Rog noted that when considering decisions such as this, the council should bear in mind whether the number of EV charging stations could be increased to increase access to EV chargers. Council Member Budd stated she has spent time at Bickham Court. She is excited about the community space that includes a kitchen, plumbing and electrical; she is happy about these improvements. It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to adopt Resolution No. 25- 142, approving the Bickham Court planned unit development amendment – Ward 3. The motion passed 6-1 (Council Member Farris abstained). b. First reading of ordinance amendment to Appendix A – 2026 fee schedule adding cannabis/low-potency hemp edibles-related fees Mr. Pivec presented the staff report. Mr. Pivec noted that on March 17, 2025, the city council approved an ordinance amending the city code chapter 8, establishing cannabis and lower-potency hemp retail registration and related 2025 fees. The maximum allowable fee is set by the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). These fees are planned to remain the same from 2025 to 2026. This amendment will add the related cannabis/LPHE fees to Appendix A - 2026 fee schedule. If the first reading of the ordinance is approved, a second reading will be scheduled for Nov. 17, 2025. The effective date for the proposed change is Jan. 1, 2026. Council Member Rog asked why this is being added now and was not included when the original fee schedule was added. Mr. Pivec stated staff was not certain that OCM would be changing those fees at that time. Council Member Budd asked why the microbusiness fees and the mezzobusiness fees were the same on the renewal but not on the initial application. Mr. Pivec stated he will have staff check and report their findings back to the council. Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F City council meeting -5- Nov. 3, 2025 It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Baudhuin, to approve the first reading of the ordinance amendment to Appendix A – 2026 fee schedule, adding cannabis/low-potency hemp edibles-related fees and the second reading for Nov. 17, 2025 The motion passed 7-0. 8. Communications and announcements. Ms. Keller noted the first night of disco ball ice skating begins on Nov. 21st at 5:45 p.m. at the ROC and added there will be more opportunities throughout the winter for skating. Ms. Keller noted the Mayor of the Day essay contest deadline for submissions is Dec. 12, 2025, and more information is on the city website. Ms. Keller added that this is a great way to showcase our youth and make our city better. Council Member Rog noted the 4th annual Lenox Community Center Craft Fair will be held on Nov. 8, 2025, with over 40 artisans with unique goods. Council Member Baudhuin noted that several neighbors in the Bronx Park neighborhood put together a food drive on Halloween. Over the years, 20,000 lbs. of food items have been donated to STEP, along with thousands of dollars. Council Member Baudhuin thanked them and encouraged others to do this as well to support the local food shelf. Mayor Mohamed noted there is a government shutdown and issues with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She stated there are resources for people to reach out to, as well as to neighbors and the city, who can assist and guide those in need who are looking for support. Council Member Brausen noted that tomorrow is Election Day, and he encouraged all to get out and vote for city council and school board candidates. 9. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: 37C10A08-89B5-4E08-9DD2-84E158031B4F