HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992/02/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular 4b
MINUTES
LONG-RANGE PLANNING SESSION
111 r ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL
February 4, 1992
The meeting was called to order at 7:180 p.m. by Mayor Lyle Hanks.
Councilmembers present: Jeff Jacobs, Allen Friedman, Larry Mitchell , Gail Dorfman
and Lyle Hanks.
Staff present: City Manager, Deputy City Attorney, Director of Community Development
Planning Coordinator, Director of Public Works, Administrative Assistant, Director
of Inspectional Services, and Assistant to the City Manager.
The Human Rights Commission was present for an hour long discussion with the
Council on the Commission's recently completed Demographic Study. The Council
complimented the Commission on its work.
Wide-ranging discussion occurred regarding the role of the Commission and activities
that the Commission might undertake that were supportive of that role. The advisory
nature of the Commission's role was noted.
David Kroos of Boarman & Assoc. was present to update the Council on the status
of the proposed Police facility. It was agreed that Kroos would evaluate whether
the firing range in City Hall could be renovated and thus not have to be included
III in the new facility. Kroos is to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of
retaining the existing facility as well as the cost benefit of such an approach.
In addition staff is to evaluate parking stall requirements for Police/Fire
facilities and share that information with the Council and Kroos.
The Council discussed various subjects pertaining to the proposed zoning ordinance:
The City Manager noted four items relative to the proposed zoning ordinance
were before Council : amortization, architectural control ordinance, technical
corrections/clarifications and unresolved zoning designations. He said the
memo from the City Attorney answered a question posed by the Council , namely
the Council may amortize certain non-conforming uses and allow other non-conforming
uses to remain with certain conditions.
The Deputy City Attorney said staff was conducting a thorough analysis of this
matter so that in no way could amortization be construed as arbitrary and capricious
should it be done.
Councilmember Mitchell felt the approach was quite conservative and he viewed
amortization as a tool , long-term, to change the three areas under consideration.
The City Manager said the next item was the architectural control ordinance,
the heart of which is as proposed reduction in Class 1 materials from 60% to
25% minimum, not on major streets or near residential , setting forth standards
for exterior surfaces, set the Council as a review body for any appeals. It
IIIPwas the consensus of Council this was a step in the right direction and important
to put in place as soon as possible.
The City Manager said technical corrections/clarifications dealt with fees
in the special permit process.
Finally, the status of the four unresolved zoning designations was discussed:
Edgewood industrial park/Eliot View neighborhood; Cooper Theater site; Texas/I-394''
site; and 3050 Inglewood. No changes were being recommended from those previously
proposed.
Mayor Hanks felt it important a meeting be held so that the residents and industrial
park people understand what is being proposed in this proposed ordinance covering
the Edgewood industrial park/Eliot View neighborhood. He did not believe it
was fully understood. He felt all concerned should be "walked through" the
proposal . He said the industrial property owners were willing to have their
deeds reflect restrictions, but it was important for all elements to be in
an ordinance to protect the neighborhood. Councilmember Mitchell felt this
was well worth a "walk through" meeting, that time should be set aside for
a discussion in order to really hear both parties' reactions. He felt it was
imperative that as many of the affected parties attend such a meeting, not
just representatives of the two groups.
Councilmember Mitchell will work with staff to pull such a meeting together.
It was noted this was not intended as a negotiating meeting; rather, educational .
It was reported the Cooper Theater representatives had agreed to the Office
zoning designation.
On Texas/I-394, Mayor Hanks referenced a letter from Mr . Florence. Councilmember
Mitchell said the east end is R-2 (housing). The office building is grandfathered
in. The discussion focused on the remaining 7 properties and their zoning. The Planning
Coordinator said that in the RB zoning, the only commercial will be office.
He was somewhat confused as to what the issue now was. The Planning Commission
had agreed RB vas more reasonable in that he protected the existing office
use without opening it up to wider scale commercial use. He had spoken to Mr.
Florence who gave the impression he wanted additional commercial held back.
Councilmember Mitchell said what we had was a buffer problem. Now the proposal
was R-2 and RB. He asked what were the potentials under RB. The Planning Coordinator
responded high density residential and office.
It was the ccnsensus to leave the zoning RB.
3050 Inglewood is currently zoned R-4, but under the proposed ordinance office
is not permitted. It was the consensus to remain R-4.
The Council reviewed a memorandum from the Director of Inspections relating
to the incorporation of the 1990 State Building Code into the City Code. This
item will be slated for the Feb. 18 Council meeting. A question from Councilmember
Friedman will be researched by Director McPhee.
A memorandum from Bob Larson was reviewed regarding the lack of a franchise
with Northern States Power Co. It was agreed that the City would correspond
with NSP inquiring as to their intention regarding their commitment to underground-
ing.
Council seemed supportive of the course of action contained in Jim Grube's memoran-
dum pertaining to water levels along Minnehaha Creek as the Spring thaw approaches.
The CDBG funding process was reviewed and the Council requested a "menu" of
possible uses for CDBG monies.
Selected wine and beer license fees were the subject of a memorandum from the
City Clerk in response to a request from Councilmember Meland. Upon review of
the memorandum, the Council seemed inclined to make no changes in the existing
fee structure.
The City Manager briefed the Council on organizational alignment that he proposed
upon the retirement of Harvey McPhee. This proposal had been contained in a
memorandum from the Manager to the Council which was provided in advance of
the meeting. The Council discussed the proposal and seemed supportive of it.
The April 1992 Long-Range Planning retreat was discussed. The Council indicated
that it would like to spend Thursday evening discussing City Manager evaluation
and 'subsequently engage in a nominal group technique on Friday. Councilmember
Friedman expressed his willingness to lead the nominal group technique and it
was agreed that he would have further discussions with the City Manager relating
to such an approach.
A letter from interim chair Linda Trummer of the Community Ed Advisory Council
was reviewed and the Council agreed that it would send the revised Joint Powers
- Governance Agreement to the School Board prior to enacting it. In addition,
the Council appeared in agreement that it would not appoint an interim representative
to the Community Education Advisory Council . Such appointments will be made after the
Joint Powers - Governance Agreement is enacted.
The City Manager informed the Council that he had learned of a Friday, Feb.
7 deadline for application for Federal money to expand facilities such as the
Environmental Center building at Westwood Nature Center. The Manager indicated
that it was his intent to have such an application submitted. The Council asked
if matching funds were a requirement of such a grant and also asked as to whether
the monies could be used for facilities such as the house at Westwood. The Manager
indicated he would provide follow-up answers to those questions.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
// Dwyk
Bill Dixon
Recording Secretary