HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/11/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES
STUDY SESSION
111 ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL
Monday, November 8, 1993
1 . Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 6 :35 p.m. by Mayor Lyle Hanks .
2 . Roll call
The following Councilmembers were present at roll call : Jeff
Jacobs, George Haun, Gail Dorfman, Keith Meland and Lyle Hanks .
Larry Mitchell arrived at 7 :55 p.m.
Also present were the City Manager (Mr . Meyer) , Director of
Community Development (Mr . Hagen) , Finance Director (Mrs .
McBride) , Fire Chief (Mr. Gill) and Communications Coordinator
(Mrs . Schwartz) .
1 . Honeywell partnership
Susan Nelson and Doug Yaeger of Honeywell, briefly discussed with
Council the concept of a City/School District/Honeywell
partnership. Honeywell views its involvement as a collaborator in
the areas of strategic planning, assistance in meeting the needs
of the community and creating a community in which people want to
live.
Councilmember Meland said he was aware of a partnership between
Honeywell and Community Education. He asked about the status of
that .
In answer to a question from Councilmember Jacobs as to what was
in this for Honeywell, Mr. Yaeger responded the company views it
as an opportunity to share its expertise with the City and
creates an investment in the children today who will be the
citizens of tomorrow.
Councilmember Dorfman addressed flexibility and asked if
involvement with Honeywell would preclude the City' s combining
with other groups . Mr. Yaeger said they would encourage that .
The consensus was to proceed with exploration of the partnership.
2 . Proposed water/sewer rate increase
Mrs . McBride briefly reviewed the report staff intended to
present to Council on November 15 for formal action.
Councilmember Meland said he could not support any increase . He
111 felt any increase was merely a subsidy to the Metropolitan Waste
Control Commission as it develops systems in outlying
Study Session minutes
Nov. 8 , 1993
communities . He felt those communities should pay for their
systems just like St . Louis Park did when its system was built . III
It was the consensus to place the item on the November 15, 1993
Council agenda for action.
3 . Police/Fire pension increase
Mrs . McBride briefly reviewed her report noting the 1993
Legislature had approved an increase in the pension multiplier
for members of the PERA Police and Fire Funds . Without approval
in benefits by the City Council, employees who are former members
of relief associations would retire at a lower benefit level from
those police/fire employees who have been members of the PERA
Police and Fire Fund from the beginning.
It was the consensus to place this item on the November 15, 1993
Council agenda for action.
4 . Mutual Aid with Hopkins and Golden Val1eY
Fire Chief Bob Gill briefly reviewed his report . Council was in
agreement that this was a good program to pursue . A formal ,
agreement between the three cities will be targeted for January
1994 .
5 . Fire Department Management study update
Council reviewed Chief Gill ' s report and the proposal for
restructuring of the department . No action was required at this
time.
6 . Combining City/School newsletters
Lynn Schwartz was present to discuss her report . Councilmembers
Dorfman and Haun were concerned about the City losing its
identity should the publications be combined. It was suggested a
mockup of a potential combined publication be shared with
Council . Ms . Schwartz said the School Board would be discussing
the matter the next week.
7. Customer Service program
Ms . Schwartz reviewed the report from the committee suggesting
enhancements to the program. Several Councilmembers had a problem
with the wording of the section entitled "Define each party' s
responsibilities for achieving the City' s customer service goals
- City Council . " It was the consensus this language could be
softened to some extent .
Study session minutes
Nov. 8, 1993
111 8 . Excelsior Blvd. design details
Mr . Hagen showed slides of a variety of streetscape concepts
emerging from a meeting with Excelsior Blvd . /France Ave .
residents . Slides were of sidewalk surfacing, lighting,
signalization, center islands, bus stops and benches . In answer
to a question about who would pay, Mr. Hagen said that has not
been determined.
Mayor Hanks referred to recent streetscapes created in
Robbinsdale and Hopkins and felt a professional in streetscapes
should be hired to oversee any project . He did not feel an
architect had the necessary expertise for a project of this
scope.
It was the consensus staff proceed with a search for a
consultant .
9 . Special permits
This report discussed the status of old special permits and lists
alternatives available for dealing with non-conformities under
the new zoning ordinance.
Councilmember Mitchell asked how many old special permits were
affected. Mr. Hagen say about 200 .
Mayor Hanks was concerned that in tough economic times, he would
not want to see businesses leave the City because of conformance
problems .
Councilmember Mitchell asked about legal implications . Mr. Hagen
referred to the Conversion Process (3) which discussed several
options .
It was the consensus this was a very complex issue with a number
of philosophical implications, and that staff should continue to
work on it . Also, conformance was desirable but not at the
expense of putting people out of business
Mr. Meyer mentioned a recent meeting with bankers who had noted
that a label of legal non-conforming use was not necessarily
restrictive as far as financing is concerned. Their policy is to
view each request individually.
10 . Driveway setbacks from intersections
This item was referred to a study session because at a recent
meeting an applicant had requested reduction in the required
setback for driveways from 50 to 30 feet in commercial districts .
111 Rationale for maintaining the larger distance was discussed.
Study session minutes
Nov. 8 , 1993
Councilmember Mitchell asked why the applicant did not request a
variance rather than an ordinance change. Mr. Hagen was not sure .
No action was required at this time.
11 . Alternative uses for revenue bond fees
Up to the present, revenue bond fees have been earmarked for
rehabilitation or redevelopment more or less on a request basis .
It was felt it was time to establish a policy as to how the fees
should be spent .
Staff presented in its report a lengthy list of possibilities .
Councilmember Mitchell was opposed to a suggestion to fund a
staff person to assist multi-family housing owners in securing
State, Federal and private grants and loans . He suggested the
exploration of Community Education as a funding source , for
example in the multi-family area, for social and enforcement
programs such as the Cop Shop.
Councilmember Jacobs suggested not getting completely locked in
to all the areas suggested, perhaps leaving some open-ended.
Staff seeks further input from Council; therefore, no action was
required.
12 . Department study for 1994
Staff was suggesting study of Community Development, Inspections
and Office Services in 1994 . The budget shows $30 , 000 for a
study.
It was the consensus this matter should be on the Nov. 15 agenda
for formal action.
13 . Board/commission term expirations
Mayor Hanks requested all board/commission members interested in
reappointment be interviewed prior to the Dec. 6 Council meeting.
14 . Study sessions
With two Councilmembers out of town most of January, February and
March, he was suggesting that study sessions for those months be
held prior to the regularly-scheduled first meeting of the month.
15 . City Manager 6-month evaluation
This matter was discussed in a closed session.
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