HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984/10/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES
STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL
October 22, 1984
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the study session to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were
Councilmen Ron Backes, Thomas Duffy, Larry Mitchell, Jerry Martin
and Keith Meland. Also present were the City Manager, Director of
City Development, Chief of Police, City Clerk and a staff member from
the Inspections Department.
2. Presentation from Human Rights Commission - Domestic Abuse Program
Mr. Joe Casey, Human Rights Commission, presented the Council with
information concerning domestic abuse programs. He provided some details
on current programs in Hopkins and Duluth and explained that currently
St. Louis Park victims of domestic abuse are directed to facilities
in Hopkins or Minneapolis. The Council discussed the issue and the
associated subject of mandatory arrest vs. officer discretion. Councilman
Duffy asked 'now programs such as the one in Duluth were being funded.
Mr. Casey responded that he was uncertain of all the details, but
would like to go ahead with more investigation so that he could provide
the Council with more information at a later date. Council approved
Mr. Casey's request to allow the Human Rights Commission to continue
their study of this issue.
3. Report on insurance negotiations
The City Manager reported to Council that the issue of securing insurance
for the City was a bit unusual. It has proven difficult in the past
to obtain bids for a wide variety of City insurance needs from one
vendor. It was the manager's view that the City might obtain a favorable
rate by attempting to negotiate with the existing vendor to cover
all of the City's basic insurance needs. Council authorized the manager
to proceed with the negotiations.
4. Status report: Water & Sewer rate study
The manager reported to Council that it would not be possible to complete
a rate study by the first of December. He suggested that a target
date in February or March, 1985 would be more realistic and would
allow the completion of a more accurate and thorough report. Council
approved the manager's recommendation and asked to have the report
completed by mid- to late February, 1985.
5• Sign Ordinance
Sharon Klumpp, Assistant to the City Manager, provided Council with a report
on the status of the new sign ordinance and the following issues were dis-
cussed: a) it was agreed to adopt Table A as a general provision; b) It
was agreed to consider institutional signs in residential districts
on a special permit basis and to retain the 60 sq. ft. per face
as a maximum signage area; c) it was agreed to measure billboards
and on-site free-standing signs from the base of the sign or the
adjacent curb to determine the height; d) it was agreed that one
free-standing sign per road frontage should be allowed and that
portable signs should be treated as permanent signs; e) there
was some question as to whether it is legal to impose a date before
which political signs would not be allowed within the City limits;
f) it was agreed under the enforcement section to strike
the word "amortization"; g) there was a clarification over the
licensing procedure for sign installers; h) it was agreed that
permit fees for signs and billboards should be treated equitably.
Ms. Klumpp informed the Council that it was her intent to notify
local businesses through publicity in the TwinWest Chamber of
Commerce publication, 920-3000 and City water bills. General informa-
tional meetings are se or ecember 5 and 6 and Ms. Klumpp discussed
the format for the meetings with Council.
6. Billboard on Highway 12/County Road 18
Staff reported to Council that there was no record of the permit
for the original billboard installed on the property adjacent
to the former Naegele's (now Edwards) restaurant. It was reported
that the existing billboard does not meet current setback requirements
and appears to be 390 ft. to the east of another billboard positioned
in the same general area. The City Manager recommended and Council
concurred that staff should go out in the field and physically
measure the distance between signs and report back to Council
with the findings.
J. Charter amendment
By consensus, the Council agreed that terminology such as "A" and
"B" or "1" and "2" should be used to identify the separate candidates
running for the Council -at -Large seats.
8. Ordinance dealing with public hearings for taxicab licenses
The City Manager reported that the City Attorney had recommended
that the language of the existing ordinance not be changed.
9. Ordinance dealing with underground utilities
Following a discussion of the need to underground electric, telephone
and cable television utilitiy wires, it was agreed that staff
would prepare copies of the franchise agreement and the current
ordinance and distribute those to Council prior to the next study
session.
10• Goal Setting
The City Manager reported on the status of the goal setting program
which had been initiated last spring. Councilman Backes suggested
that since Council sets policies, it may be difficult as a body
for them to actually get involved in
policies. At the suggestion of Mayo
agreed to return with ideas from staff
at a study session in November.
11. City Manager comments
the implementation of those
Mayor Hanks, the City Manager
for Council's consideration
The manager provided Council with an update report on the study
of Inspectional Services. He also informed them of his methods
for gathering plans and suggestions for Rotary -funded City improvement
and for ideas for future staff meetings. He closed out his comments
by providing Council with information about pocket -sized calculators
that could be imprinted with the City logo and distributed to
visiting dignitaries.
12. Mayor's comments
The Mayor reported to Council that he had received a letter from
Senator Linda Berglin concerning industrial revenue bonds for
nursing home groups. He also reported that he had received letters
from Barbara Larson regarding 1810 Idaho Ave.; from a concerned
citizen regarding the property at Flag Ave. and County Road 18;
and from the Metropolitan Council regarding a request for information
for the name of a contact person in St. Louis Park. The Mayor
suggested that the City Manager should be the person for future
contacts with the Metropolitan Council.
13. Adjournment
The study session adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cris Gears
Administrative Assistant