HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986/04/14 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
April 14, 1986
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll call
The following members were present at roll call: Ronald Backes, Thomas Duffy,
Allen Friedman, Keith Meland, Larry Mitchell, David Strand, Lyle Hanks.
3. West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board
The Council interviewed Meg Grove for a position on the West Hennepin Human
Services Planning Board.
4. Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Councilman Strand stated that as indicated in the staff report, five out
of the seven Councilmembers could serve on the NRA, thereby alleviating
time commitment concerns. He also stated that the survey completed by the
City of Fridley found the Council's role as the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority an acceptable practice in other communities. He stated that in
reviewing the minutes of 1985, the HRA addressed significant issues such
as tax increment financing, subsidized housing, elderly housing and rental
studies, issues that an elected body should address and be responsible for.
Councilman Duffy pointed out that he found an error on the survey with regard
to the City of Bloomington. Mayor Hanks stated that as the first Mayor to
appoint a Council member to the HRA, he is aware of two prevailing thoughts
in the community with respect to the Authority. One is that citizens should
have their say. The second is that the HRA should be directly accountable
to the residents.
The Mayor recommended that a public hearing be held for citizen reaction
on this issue. He also recommended that how any change would be implemented
should be reviewed.
Councilman Backes questioned the timeliness of implementing a change in
terms of existing development in the City and the potential implications
to a developer in dealing with a new body and if the new body negates
action of the previous body. He stressed the importance for everyone to
come up to speed on the issues and raised concern for the existing Authority
members.
Councilman Duffy stated that the Housing and Redevelopment Authority currently
has three good citizens and raised concern for a potential effective date.
He recommended that should the Council take the position that they should
serve as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Council appoint Council
members at the time the citizens' terms expire.
Councilman Strand pointed out that one citizen was appointed as recently
as last year; therefore full Council on the HRA would not take effect for
four and one-half years. He recommended that either the Council serve as
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the HRA or to leave the body the same.
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Councilman Friedman recommended that a matrix or balance sheet be developed
outlining the pluses and minuses of each side. He commented that perhaps
the Council could make a list and someone could put the list together. He
also recommended that the survey be updated for accuracy.
Councilman Meland commented that the commercial development that has occurred
within the City probably would have developed anyway with or without the
Council serving on the HRA. He raised concern with the continuation of a
strong housing program particularly for low-income people as there is a
strong potential for the Council to weaken to neighborhood concerns. He
pointed out that the Amhurst development is a prime example of the Council
weakening to neighborhood concerns. He stated that the original proposal
was of a much higher density than the project that exists today.
Councilman Strand raised concern with the current process. He stated that
by the time the permit process reaches the City Council, it is virtually
too late for the Council to turn down a project.
Councilman Mitchell recommended that either the HRA be composed of an all
citizens board or all City Council members.
The City Council set April 28 as a meeting date to discuss the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority and to identify problems and to brainstorm on solutions
for those problems. Staff was directed to prepare a report on the pluses
and minuses for both sides to be made available to the City Council following
the brainstorming session.
5. Dog kennels
The City Council directed staff to develop a draft ordinance on dog kennels
to be made available to the City Council by May 2, 1986 for discussion
at a subsequent study session.
6. Traffic signal assessment policy
Following discussion as to whether the City should handle traffic signal
assessments on a case-by-case basis or whether a policy should be developed,
the City Council directed staff to continue with the development of a traffic
signal assessment policy and work it through the five year Capital Improvement
Program. The City Council directed staff to bring this item to a City Council
meeting.
1. Proposed project information sign
City staff was directed to look at uniform standards regarding letter size,
size dimension and design and to clarify language regarding who determines
the beginning of construction and the end of construction. It was recommended
that the City consider a paragraph for its protection regarding that the
City reserves the right to remove project information signs. g g
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7. Purchase of properties
The City Council directed staff to review what options would be available
and present them to a City Council study session with a neighborhood meeting
anticipated to follow.
8. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
The City Council recommended that all new appointments should be interviewed
by the City Council prior to their consideration at a regular City Council
meeting. Reappointments would not require an interview by the Council, but
could be placed directly on a City Council agenda at its regular meeting.
9. Neighborhood associations
Councilman Strand recommended that the brochure be more of a "how to" manual
and include the petition process and the nuts and bolts of forming a neighbor-
hood association.
Public meeting on proposed City/Reilly Tar & Chemical agreement
The Council discussed the public
directed staff to remove the St.
The City Council also recommended
to five to seven minutes in order to
Adjournment
meeting set for April 17, 1986. The Council
Louis Park fact sheet from the press packet.
that the presenter's limit their presentation
reduce the total presentation time.
The study session adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Carmen Kaplan
Recording Secretary