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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/08/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session 4a MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA August 9, 1993 1 . Call to order Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 7 : 00 p.m. 2 . Roll call The following Councilmembers were present at roll call : Jeff Jacobs, George Haun, Gail Dorfman, Allen Friedman, Keith Meland and Lyle Hanks. Also present were the City Manager (Mr. Meyer) , Assistant to the City Manager (Mr. Larson) , Director of Public Works (Mr. Grube) Director of Community Development (Mr. Hagen) , Fire Chief (Mr. Gill) , Police Chief (Mr. Mitchell) and MIS Coordinator (Mr. Pires) . 1 . Fire Management study Les Adams, consultant with Carroll Buracker Assoc. , was present to briefly review the results of the Fire Management Study. At the conclusion of his remarks, Mayor Hanks asked if the next step were for a study group to be formed to discuss the findings in , greater detail . Mr. Meyer said that was the plan. 2 . Operation Rescue Police Chief Mitchell brief Council on Operation Rescue which occurred in the City during July. 3 . Residential picketing ordinance Councilmember Friedman, who had asked this be developed and placed on the agenda noted that the ordinance was to afford protection for all citizens and was not targeted at any one group of individuals. Councilmember Haun asked about employees picketing a business. Mr. Meyer said this was aimed at picketing of private homes, not businesses. It was the consensus of Council to place the ordinance on the August 16, 1993 Council agenda for first reading. 4 . STS consultants STS Consultants had been requested to attend the meeting to 1 . discuss the removal of soils from the Wilkins Pontiac site and the overrun incurred therein. Of concern was the escalation of contract costs from $53, 000 to approximately $114, 000 . A lengthy discussion followed regarding the slab, soil conditions and III exactly what was involved in a project like this . Councilmember Haun said he would like to see a breakdown of time and materials. Councilmember Friedman concurred, stating he was unsure of what the City was paying for. In answer to a question from Mr. Meyer as to what was unforeseen by the consultants, the consultant said unbeknownst to them were pits under the hydraulic lifts which were filled with oil and sludge, not discovered until they began removal of the soil . 5 . Special permits in re new Zoning Ordinance; Georgraphic dispersion of liquor licenses Mr. Hagen said two questions were under consideration: (1) Should a liquor store be precluded from occupying space at 8916 Hwy. 7 because a previously-issued special permit (before passage of new Zoning Ordinance in Dec. 1992) did not permit one; and (2) Whether a spacing requirement on liquor stores should be imposed. Councilmember Meland noted that some years ago there were some 16 licenses in the City and perhaps because some of them were so close together, about 8 had gone out of business. Councilmember Friedman asked how many could be in the City. Mr. Hanks responded that was up to the Council . Mr. Meyer said the majority of conditions contained in previously-issued special permits are addressed in the new Zoning Ordinance. He suggested Council might wish to act on future liquor license requests on an individual basis on each one' s merits rather than on special permit considerations. 6 . Sub-standard condition of Housing Authority-owned structure Mr. Hagen referenced staff ' s report . Consensus of the Council was that it was undesirable to have such a sub-standard structure left standing in the City. Mr. Hagen noted HUD has funds available for redevelopment of the parcel . It was agreed that staff bring a resolution to the September 7, 1993 meeting ordering the abatement of the structure. 7 . Joint Powers Agreement with Golden Valley This item concerns a proposed project in the Minneapolis West Business Center (MEPC) on property that straddles St . Louis Park and Golden Valley. Mr. Meyer wanted to alert Council to several IIIissues including what sort of mechanism should be in place for 2. plan reviewal . Mayor Hanks asked about annexation by St . Louis Park of Golden alley' s portion of the property. Mr. Meyer said that had been 111 discussed, but the Golden Valley City Manager was not in favor of that course. Councilmember Friedman foresaw problems with 1/2 a building on fire, each city sharing 1/2 a liquor license, police service to 1/2 of a premises, etc. Mr. Meyer stated that it was staff ' s intent to have St. Louis Park provide all services, issue licenses and permits and to retain all fees and as much of the taxes as possible. Mayor Hanks felt a Joint Powers Agreement was necessary; Councilmember Meland asked if the League of Minnesota Cities had any suggestions to offer. Mr. Meyer responded that the League had been contacted. Council directed staff to continue negotiations along the lines outlined above. 8 . Examination of future Excelsior Blvd. /T.H. 100 interchange options Traffic consultants Dick Koppy and John Davies were present to discuss this item. Mr. Grube gave a lengthy presentation on various options for years 2004-2005 and for year 2015 . He shared a number of schematics with the Council . A major concern was the project somehow getting boxed in as the redevelopment proceeds and in turn causing large problems in the future when complex interchange designs must be addressed. Councilmember Friedman said he was having a big problem with project costs -- who is paying what? Mr. Meyer discussed the project schedule generally and noted that figures would not be available until the scope of the project is determined. 9 . City ordinance governing parking of certain motor vehicles and trailers on or near residential use districts This item was on the agenda because of a resident ' s complaint about a construction vehicle parked near his home. Staff was offering additional language to the existing ordinance, i .e. , inclusion of hours of work during which construction-related motor vehicles may be present . Council authorized preparation of such language in addition to the ordinance and that it be placed on the August 16 formal agenda for action. 10 . MTC maintenance agreements 3. The two draft agreements concerned: (1) Bus stop agreement for MTC Capital Improvement Project (for bus stop sign - replacement/installation; and (2) a maintenance agreement regarding bus service, bus zones and bus stop signs . It was the consensus to place the two agreements on the August formal Council agenda. 11 . Overhead electrical services - Zoning ordinance interpretation request . Mayor Hanks felt that if any electrical lines are undergrounded, then all should be. He preferred this be addressed by the Zoning Ordinance. Councilmember Jacobs felt the City had been somewhat inconsistent on this issue and that it needed to be looked at more fully. Council requested staff to prepare an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. 12 . Cable TV attorney Mr. Larson provided an update on this item. Councilmember Friedman thought the FCC regulated rates. Mr. Larson responded it regulates only the lowest level of rates . Councilmember Friedman asked what would the City be auditing; Mr. Larson said programming and services. It was the consensus of Council that this item with staff ' s recommendation come to the September 7 formal Council agenda. 13 . Contract for garbage, recycling and yard waste It was the consensus that staff negotiate a new three-year contract with Woodlake and present a report at a regular Council meeting. 14 . Additions to Council agendas The Council agreed it would like to see item descriptions included on agendas. 15 . Communication re propose development on W. 26th St . - John Smith The Council decided to do nothing about the proposal at this time . 16 . Limitation of dogs on a premises Councilmember Haun stated he had a request from a resident to provide for a variance to our existing ordinance limiting the 4. number of dogs at a residence to three . He added that some communities allow residents to register additional dogs. The consensus of Council was to not provide for any variance from the current ordinance. 17 . Pic-A-Pop Mr. Hagen distributed a memo wherein Suburban Plumbing Companies would be requesting access to the former Pic-A-Pop site to do some soil borings in conjunction with redevelopment of the property. Council authorized the item to be placed on the August 16 EDA agenda for action. The meeting adjourned at 10 :40 p.m. 6) ati(4/ May R cording Secretary 111 5.