HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/10/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
October 11, 1993
1 . Call to order
Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 8 : 15 p.m.
2 . Roll call
The following Councilmembers were present : Jeff Jacobs, George
Haun, Allen Friedman, Keith Meland, Larry Mitchell, Gail Dorfman
and Lyle Hanks .
Also present were the City Manager (Mr . Meyer) , Director of
Community Development (Mr. Hagen) and Director of Public Works
(Mr. Grube) . Personnel Officer Wally Wysopal arrived later.
Twin Cities & Western Railroad
Mr. Clay was present representing the railroad. The railroad was
interested in restructuring some of its trackage in St . Louis
Park and while this would address some of the problems with
switching, it would also mean additional trains traveling through
the City ' s residential neighborhoods . A number of questions
remained unanswered and it was the consensus more information was
needed.
Criteria for evaluating off-sale liquor licenses
Councilmember Jacobs questioned proposed ordinance language being
consistent with State law. He did not want the City to seem
arbitrary.
Councilmember Dorfman felt the present procedure of looking at
police reports and investigating applicants for licenses was
doing the job.
Relative to measuring distances between stores harked back to the
previous problems the City had with billboard locations .
Councilmember Mitchell asked how the City would handle legal
challenges .
The consensus was that if Council uses discretion in approving
licenses , additional language added to the ordinance was
unnecessary.
No action was taken.
Number of unrelated adults in homes
1
Councilmember Mitchell felt the problem here was the problems
caused in a neighborhood - additional traffic, additional parked
vehicles, etc.
Council was not of a mind to explore any changes at this time .
III
Special permits
This item concerned special permits that became void when the
previous zoning ordinance was dissolved in Dec . 1992 . The
question is whether to permit re-establishment of special permits
granted under the previous zoning ordinance or let property
owners opt to special permit coverage under the new zoning
ordinance . Proposed language changes in the ordinance would
permit an applicant to maintain a business as a legally
conforming land use, not as a non-conforming use.
It was the consensus that proposed ordinance language be brought
back to Council for consideration.
Excelsior Blvd. corridor planning process
Councilmember Haun felt it was important to undertake the
planning process .
It was the consensus of Council to direct staff to organize a
meeting of owners and tenants of property in the Excelsior Blvd.
corridor to seek input relating to design details and to
implement a process for soliciting participation in the land use
and street profile planning.
III
Water tower design options
After reviewing the booklet from Public Works , it was the
consensus of Council that staff seeks bids for a hydropillar
tower and a waterspheroid tower with a capacity for 1 million
gallons of water.
General Mills offer to supply water
General Mills uses water for cooling during production of some of
its products . The company wishes to avoid excessive disposal
costs which would be levied 'by the Department of Natural
Resources and MPCA. Excessive water is currently discharged into
Bassett Creek and increased fees are anticipated.
With the past history of water problems in the City, Council was
concerned it might be opening the City up for new concerns .
Mr . Grube said there would be operational savings if the City
were interested in getting involved.
Mayor Hanks said he would like to see comment from the PCA and
have some information on testing procedures.
III
2
Mr. Grube said the Department of Health has agreed to working
with the City on water quality, testing, etc .
Parkshore Place traffic controls
111 Residents of Parkshore Place had met with representatives of the
City in September to discuss residents ' concerns about traffic
volumes and speeds along Park Center Blvd. They were seeking
pedestrian-activated traffic signals at Parkshore Place/Target
driveways .
Staff was directed to proceed with a study, returning to Council
with recommendations .
MnDOT houses on Quentin Ave.
During construction of I - 394 , MnDOT purchased a number of
properties to be used as field construction offices . Inspection
by City staff indicates it may be more economical to demolish the
homes and sell the vacant parcels now that MnDOT has abandoned
the homes .
Council consensus was that staff examine the ' options available
and communicate with the neighborhood if it elects to purchase
the properties from MnDOT.
Discussion of 1994 wage and benefits program
Wally Wysopal , Personnel Officer, joined the meeting to discuss
his report on 1994 wage and benefits.
Councilmember Mitchell was interested in seeing comparison
figures with the private sector. If changes in the City' s plan
need to be made, this process will have to be started a couple of
years in advance of implementation.
Vehicle policy
Mr. Meyer reviewed State law relating to City vehicle policies
and proposed to Council some changes relative to the City
Manager' s car
Council authorized that a revised policy be brought to a formal
meeting.
Unfunded mandates/LMC policies for 1994
Information was passed out on the referenced items . Mayor Hanks
asked Council to look them over and pass any ideas along to him.
Budget comments
Director of Finance Mac McBride joined the meeting to briefly go
over her memo showing proposed reductions which would reduce the
draw on the City' s fund balances .
3
Hi-speed bus
Council reviewed the City Manager' s report on a hi-speed bus idea
as an alternative until decisions are made re light rail transit .
It was Council consensus to attend any meetings and support the
concept but not to pay any monies in support at this time .
Cable Attorney
To clarify, Council reiterated its intention to have the cable
attorney provide up to three hours ' of her time to address the
items as previously assigned by the Council .
Community Builders
Consensus was there was insufficient information to discuss this
item at this time.
The meeting adjourned at 10 : 15 p.m.
51/011-)
ecording Secretary
4
5�