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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/04/18 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular MINUTES, CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA April 18, 1994 1 . Call to order Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 7 :30 p.m. 2 . Presentations Mayor Hanks read and presented Resolution 94-47 to Stan Currie in commemoration of his 40 years of service to the City as a police officer. Proclamations were presented for Caring Youth Day and Environmental Health Week. 3 . Roll call The following Councilmembers were present at roll call : Jeff Jacobs, George Haun, Robert Young, Gail Dorfman and Lyle Hanks . Also present were the City Manager (Mr . Meyer) ; Deputy City Attorney (Ms . Pace) ; Director of Community Development (Mr . Hagen) ; Director of Public Works (Mr. Grube) ; Director of Parks and Recreation (Mr. Gears) and Asst . to the City Manager (Mr. Larson) . 4 . Approval of minutes It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to approve the minutes of the April 4, 1994 study session. The motion passed 5-0 . It was moved by Councilmember Haun, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs , to approve the minutes of the April 4 , City Council meeting with the following changes : In the item on CDBG funding, Councilmember Dorfman wanted to clarify that the program can only fund direct services at a maximum level of 20% across the board and that the City is hopeful that will be the case and what is recommended this evening will stay as is . While it is hoped the City will come in under the 20% across the board, the County has yet to be heard from and there is no guarantee . Councilmember Young referred to item 6a, pg. 59 and requested that "not" be inserted in the 2nd line before "a good faith. " The motion passed 5-0 . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun to approve the minutes of the April 11, 1994 study session with the following corrections : In item 6 on the proposed elderly housing concept, Councilmember Dorfman said in addition to City 65 Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 looking for a mix of ages, it was her priority that the developer.- look at a mix of unit prices . Regarding the item on right-of-way acquisition, Shelard/Ford Rd . , Councilmember Young said the minutes should be corrected to reflect that he, not Mr. Grube, would continue talking with Equitable about possible right-of-way donation. Also in item 6, remarks attributed to him were actually those of Councilmember Latz . The motion passed 5-0 . 5 . Approval of agenda It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to approve the consent agenda. The motion passed 5-0 . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to approve the agenda with the addition of item 10b . Preliminary report : Councilmember Young' s visit with Equitable representative. The motion passed 5-0 . PUBLIC HEARINGS III 6a. Rogers Resolution 94-48 Conditional use permit Tom Williams , attorney for Rogers , briefly described their request . There being no one further wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it to a future date. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to adopt Resolution 94 -48 entitled "A resolution granting conditional use permit under Section 14 : 5-5 . 3 (D) (1) of the St . Louis Park Ordinance Code relating to zoning to permit modifications to a motor fuel station and motor vehicle service for property zoned C-2 Commercial District located at 5430 Minnetonka Blvd. " The motion passed 5-0 . Councilmember Dorfman referenced the Planning Commissions comments on traffic patterns and management and asked in what form this would come to Council . Mayor Hanks thought it best referred to a study session. II 66 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 6b. Amendment to Zoning Ordinance Amend point value for lilacs used as ornamental shrubs in bufferyard from 1 pt. to 6 pts. Tom Williams reviewed Rogers ' request . A lengthy discussion of lilac bushes and trees followed. Mayor Hanks did not want to amend the ordinance and that lilacs remain at 1 point . He felt the lilacs in place currently do a good job of holding the ground from washing into the street . He would like to see staff work with the applicant to come up with a landscape plan to enhance what is presently there . Councilmember Young asked what would be the basis of a compromise . Mr. Hagen said what would be attempted would be to look at what kind of variance could be approved to reduce the required number of plant units to a level at which it could be added to significantly but existing lilacs not removed. Mayor Hanks asked that variance application fees be waived as they have already paid to go through one process . There being no one further wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it at a future date . It was moved by Councilmember Haun, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to deny any change in the point value for lilacs . The motion passed 5-0 . 6c. Amoco Oil Conditional use permit : Modifica- Resolution 94-49 tions to motor fuel station, 4701 Excelsior Blvd. Richard Larson, representing Amoco, was present to answer questions . Mayor Hanks noted that landscape considerations would be delayed until a decision has been made on the Excelsior Blvd . streetscape. There being no one further wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it at a future date . It was moved by Councilmember Haun, seconded by Councilmember 67 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 Jacobs, to adopt Resolution 94-49 entitled "A resolution granting conditional use permit under Section 14 : 5-5 . 2 (D) (1) of the St . Louis Park Ordinance Code relating to zoning to permit a motor fuel station , specifically to install new pump islands , dispensers and canopy and to revise the driveway for property zoned C-1 Commercial District located at 4701 Excelsior Blvd. " The motion passed 5-0 . 6d. Cable TV franchise ordinance First reading of ordinance regulating basic rates, equipment and installation Attorney Susan Miles was present . She commented that new, recent FCC regulations are in the works, none of which affect the matter before Council this evening. There being no one further wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it at a future date. It was moved by Councilmember Dorfman, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve first reading, set second for May 2, 1994 and authorize summary publication. The motion passed 5-0 . Mayor Hanks asked if staff had sent a letter to Paragon Cable relating to the transfer. Mr. Larson said staff would be handling that . PETITIONS, REQUESTS, COMMUNICATIONS None . RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 8a. Minneapolis trail system Thru Cedar Lake corridor Mr . Meyer read a statement from absent City Councilmember Friedman expressing his opposition to any action on this item being taken tonight . Lynne Carper, president of Lake Forest Homeowners Assoc. , spoke . He said it is the current position of the Executive Committee of the Association that they are opposed to the building of a ramp or any access to the Lake Forest community directly from the area designated as Save Cedar Lake Park. He distributed a statment of the committee ' s position. Councilmember Haun asked that if at some future date the trail is completed to the west and didn' t result in a deadend in the 68 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 Lake Forest neighborhood, would you still be opposed. Mr. Carper said, speaking for himself, he is not opposed. Based upon his discussions, if it did not include an entrance into the Lake Forest neighborhood, most members would be in favor. Those most opposed are those adjacent to the ramp; those next opposed are currently being affected by jogging and biking traffic , illegal motorcycle traffic across the bridge. Councilmember Haun felt the Council and people he had talked to were in agreement with Mr. Carper' s views . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to defer action to May 16 . Council remembered the May 16th meeting is moved to May 23 because of a Jewish holiday . Councilmember Young was not available on May 23 . Councilmember Jacobs moved, Councilmember Haun seconding, to defer to June 6 . Councilmember Dorfman, while supporting the concept, was fully cognizant of the Lake Forest neighborhood concerns . She was concerned about putting this so far out in terms of the plans Minneapolis has . Al Singer, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board planner, said the project was on hold awaiting approval from St . Louis Park. 111 The State will not approve the documents without City approval . Further delay means only the portion of the trail in Minneapolis will be in the construction documents . Councilmember Dorfman asked if the City approves, is Minneapolis no longer a part of that section from Ewing to Cedar Lake Rd. , i . e . would this become the responsibility of St . Louis Park solely. Mr. Singer said that was correct, the funding along the rail corridor and the ramp would be St . Louis Park ' s responsibility. A variety of suggestions were presented for discussion. Councilmember Dorfman said there was no thought of thwarting this proposal and she would offer staff to work with Minneapolis staff and that Mr . Singer consider waiting a bit longer until the Council is able to make a decision. Mr. Singer said he was very willing to work with St . Louis Park staff; however, they could not wait until the first week in June. Mayor Hanks said there were a number of concerns to be addressed: people on the bridge liability-wise, lighting, protection, etc. Brian Wuollet, Mike Swart, Joel Glotter expressed their opinions on the project . 69 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 Mayor Hanks invited those present to join Mr. Gears outside of chambers to indicate their interest in meeting on this proposal . Councilmember Haun asked staff to provide an estimate of what it would cost to run the trail from the bridge down to the east side of Hwy. 100 in the general area of the southeast corner. Councilmember Jacobs revised his motion, with Councilmember Haun, seconding to defer the item to May 2 . The motion passed 5-0 . 8b. Ordinance re feeding of deer/raccoons It was moved by Councilmember Young, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve first reading, set second for May 2, 1994 and authorize summary publication. The motion passed 5-0 . REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS, COMMITTEES 9a. Traffic Study No. 476 Stop signs, Utica Ave. /Stephens Resolution 94-50 Drive By consent, motion to adopt Resolution 94-50 entitled "Resolution authorizing placement of stop signs and prohibiting parking in the vicinity of the Utica Ave . /Stephens Dr. intersection along the east side of Natchez Ave. " 9b. Traffic Study No. 477 Stop signs on Salem Ave . at W. 29th St . By consent, authorize staff to hold a neighborhood meeting to discuss proposed installation of stop signs . 9c. Traffic Study 478 Stop signs on Monterey Ave. at 40th By consent, authorize staff to hold a neighborhood meeting to consider proposed installation of stop signs along Monterey Ave. at 40th St . 9d. Traffic Study 479 Traffic controls at W. 49th St . /W. 40th Lane/Natchez Lane By consent , authorize staff to hold neighborhood meeting to discuss proposed traffic controls for the intersection 9e . Planning Commission minutes March 16, April 6 9f. Housing Authority minutes March 8 70 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 9g. Park and Recreation minutes March 16 9h. March 1994 financial report By consent, items 9e-9h ordered filed UNFINISHED BUSINESS 10a. Boards and commissions Appointments It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to make the following appointments: Mary Jean Overend, Chris Nelson and Robert Jacobson to the Community Education Advisory Council . The motion passed 5-0 . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to appoint Ange Hwang to the Human Rights Commission. The motion passed 4-0-1 (Councilmember Young abstained) . It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to appoint Tom Duffy to the Police Civil Service Commission and Ruth Kirschner to the West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board. The motion passed 5-0 . 10b. Update from Councilmember Young 111 Councilmember Young reported on his visit with Terry Lueck at Compass Management at Equitable in the Interchange Building. He said at the April 11 study session he had agreed to discuss with Equitable whether or not they would donate land to a proposed traffic signal intersection at Ford Rd. and Shelard Pkwy. One of the ideas he presented to help support donation of the land was that a City practice, whenever such land is donated, is that there is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in assessed value which would have meant $41 , 000 reduction to Equitable . This did not appeal because they pass along taxes to their tenants . The most appealing argument was that they might be able to write off the donation and Mr. Lueck is going to seek reconsideration by the company. More important, is a question of value of the traffic signal both on Equitable ' s part and Councilmember Young' s part . He questioned whether another signal just a block from Hwy. 169 would alleviate the problem. He felt Ford Rd. south of Hwy. 394 desperately needs improvement and maybe that would be a better use of the funds . At this point, he would withhold recommendation on the whole intersection until Compass Management responds . He thought staff could research whether a signal at Shelard location would satisfy or solve traffic problems at that intersection. A lot of the congestion is caused by the development across the street which is Plymouth. Mayor Hanks suggested this be placed on the June study session. 71 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 NEW BUSINESS lla. Bid tabulation 1994 street materials It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to designate C . S . McCrossan as lowest responsible bidder for conventional/driveway bituminous and Bituminous Roadways for cold patch material and authorize execution of contracts in the amount of $34, 760 and $2, 175, respectively. The motion passed 5-0 . lib. Inspectional Services/Community Development management study It was moved by Councilmember Haun, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs , to award the consultant contract to The Centre for Organization Effectiveness in an amount not to exceed $30, 000 . The motion passed 5-0 . llc. Cable TV transfer of ownership Appointment of legal counsel It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Dorfman, to retain the services of Brian Grogan to perform an evaluation of Paragon to assume control of the Nortel cable tv franchise. The motion passed 5-0 . J lld. Equipment replacement One 3/4 ton van and a cab/ chassis It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Haun, to approve and authorize purchase of vehicles from Midway Ford in the amount of $26, 336 . The motion passed 5-0 . MISCELLANEOUS 12a. Damage claims Rich Daniels By consent, refer claim to City Clerk and City Manager 12b. Communications from the Mayor Mayor Hanks noted City Unity Day will be held on Thursday, April 21 hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities He had received an invitation to meet with the Minneapolis Clean Lakes Task Force and gave a brief update . 72 City Council meeting minutes April 18, 1994 12c. Communications from the City Manager None. CLAIMS, APPROPRIATIONS, CONTRACT PAYMENTS 13a. Verified claims By consent, approve the list of verified claims prepared by the Director of Finance dated April 18 , 1994 in the amount of $637, 710 . 30 for vendor claims and $13 , 571 . 53 for payroll claims and authorize distibution of checks . 14 . Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9 :30 p.m. / Ma •r Hanks PC7 ZilA/U) .6( 'ecording Secretary 73