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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984/03/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA March 12, 1984 1. Call to Order The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Present were Council members Thomas Duffy, Jerry Martin, Larry Mitchell and Richard Strohl. 2. Communications from the Mayor The Mayor announced the legislative breakfast will be held Friday, March 16 at 7:00 a.m. The Mayor also discussed a letter he received from Gov. Perpich regarding a vacant position on the Metropolitan Council. The Mayor asked for recom- mendations. 3. Communications from the City Manager The City Manager proposed a tentative plan to hold a concert at the Rec- reation Center on Saturday, May 26 from 7:30-11:30 p.m. The City Manager identified the concert as an opportunity for the City to make money and to provide a service. The proposed bands are Susman and Lawrence and Fairchild. The City would sell tickets for $6.50 and $5.50 and would need to sell a minimum of 1200 tickets in order to break even. The City could generate $5,700 in profit if the maximum 2,500 tickets were sold. The Police Dept. would provide the necessary crowd control, although the City Manager foresaw no potential problems considering the type of youths the band would attract. The marketing strategy and the desire for advance sale of tickets were also discussed. 4. Sign Ordinance Sharon Klumpp, Assistant to the City Manager, made a presentation to Council which identified the issues and the most stringent to least stringent alternatives. a. Coordination of signs on multi -tenant buildings - There was consensus among the Council members to achieve conformance while simultaneously encouraging quality. b. Directional signs - The Council recognized the importance of permit- ting directional signs in setbacks as long as they were necessary. Councilman Duffy did not support any advertising on directional signs. The other Council members agreed. c. Height - There were no concerns to change the height provision. d. Lighting - There were no concerns toward lighting; except as abuttingq roadways would be affected. e. Number of signs on a lot - Ernie Peterson explained that one sign is presently allowed for motor fuel stations and supported expanding that policy to other businesses. City Council study session minutes March 12, 1984 2• Councilman Duffy supported the alternative which restricts the number of signs on a lot. There was support to regulate the number of free-standing signs. Staff was directed to develop further language, including a definition of a "lot." f. Painted wall signs - Councilman Duffy voiced his opposition to pain- ted wall signs since they are permanent and when painted over, are not totally concealed. Councilman Duffy agreed with the other Council mem- bers who agreed they do not have any difficulty with those signs which presently exist. g. Reader boards - Automatic reader boards were identified as the trend for the future. Manual vs. automatic (not "flashing signs") reader boards were discussed. h. Real estate signs - Sharon Klumpp explained the real estate sign matrix. In response to a concern from Councilman Mitchell, Ernie Peterson pointed out there is no time limitation for real estate signs. Councilman Duffy was concerned that the square foot provision appeared liberal. Councilman Martin did not agree. Councilman Duffy identified the need to define the types of real estate signs, i.e., lawn signs and banners and also residential and commercial. Staff was directed to develop further language. i. Sculptures - Councilman Duffy favored the alternative to exclude sculptures in the calculation of sign areas. He also pointed out that it is difficult to define what a sculpture is. The consensus of the Council was to exclude sculptures in sign areas, permit in setbacks and permit lighting in certain districts. Staff was directed to develop further language. j. Supergraphics - Councilman Duffy discussed the difficulty in defining supergraphics. Bill Thibault read the definition and explained that as long as the supergraphics does not possess the characteristics of a sign or achieve the intent of a sign, it is considered a super graphic. Staff was directed to develop further language. k. Temporary signs - Mayor Hanks favored the frequency of temporary signs to a two-week period. Staff was directed to develop further language. City Council study session minutes March 12, 1984 3. 1. Window signs - There was a consensus among the Council members to permit-commun4t54 service signs, -without regulation. Councilman Duffy said it would be difficult to enforce. Councilman Mar- tin commented that if it were strictly enforced, there would be no com- munity signs displayed. m. Amortization - Amortization has been limited by MS Section 173.17. The Council identified amortization as cost prohibitive and did not feel the citizens would be willing to pay to remove the signs. The Council supported alternative "a" which reads as follows: "Eliminate non -conforming signs created by the proposed ordinance by requiring signs to conform with the ordinance whenever (1) the sign face is changed, or (2) there is a change in occupancy." 4. Report from Liquor Committee The report from the liquor committee was postponed because two of the members were not present. 5. Sale of City -owned land o icy or ax- or e1 ed Land Councilman Mitchell recognized the need to identify the options with respect to the sale of City -owned land, i.e., open sale, closed sale, notification, etc. The Mayor directed staff to review City -owned land and examine the policy for sale of tax -forfeited land. The Council favored delaying the process toward the sale of City -owned land. 9:00 p.m. Councilman Strohl left the chambers. 6. Communications Plan The Council recognized the need to move forward with a full-scale public relations campaign. Mayor Hanks and Councilman Martin supported a greater emphasis locally than nationally. 7. Water Management Committee raised a as to Councilman Mitchell /question, / the need to maintain the water ban. The Director of Public Works identified the most critical time from 3 p.m. to 9 P.M. The Council supported a water ban from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and elimination Of the odd -even water ban. i City Council study session March 12, 1984 4. 8. Goal Setting The City Manager suggested that a plan identifying how the goals shall be achieved should be incorporated into goal setting. The City Manager asked whether the council would like any staff members present. The Mayor favored having department heads present for at least part of the session. Mayor Hanks supported the idea of setting goals on an annual basis. A date for the goal setting session will be set when the full Council is present. The Mayor commended the "Meet the Council Brochure." The Fiscal Fitness Report was distributed and favorably accepted. 9. Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carmen Kapl art/ Recording Secretary