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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/03/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL II March 21, 1994 1. Call to order Mayor Pro Tem Allen Friedman called the meeting to order at 5 :30 p.m. 2 . Roll call The following Council members were present : Jeff Jacobs, Ron Latz, Robert Young. George Haun and Gail Dorfman arrived shortly thereafter. Staff present included the City Manager (Charlie Meyer) ; Director of Community Development (Dave Hagen) ; Director of Public Works (Jim Grube) . Making presentations during the meeting were Director of Finance (Mac McBride) , Director of Parks and Recreation (Cris Gears) , Assistant to the City Manager (Bob Larson) and Personnel Officer (Wally Wysopal) . Prior to addressing the agenda items, Mr. Meyer gave an update on the deer management program. a. Curb cuts at intersections This item concerned a proposed change in Zoning Ordinance language which included a revision of driveway setbacks from 50 to 30 feet . It was the consensus of Council that the ordinance language not be changed and any applicant for reduced setback could go through the variance process . Second reading of the ordinance incorporating this proposed change, which was continued from December 20, 1993 will be placed on the April 4, 1994 agenda. b . Impact of reducing refueling spaces from 10 to 8 in C-1 Districts Council was apprised that reducing the number of refueling spaces from 10 to 8 in C-i Districts will not make any of the existing stations in that district non-conforming. Council was agreeable to the reduction. The item will go first to the Planning Commission for review and then come to a formal Council agenda. c . Incubator businesses Genesis Business Centers is interested in locating an incubator facility in St . Louis Park. An incubator business is a facility which is available to start up companies at a modest cost where certain services and equipment are shared to reduce start up costs . Council encouraged staff to continue working with Genesis to find available space. Council spent some time talking about their desire to become more aggressive or pro-active relative to economic development . Instead of just reacting to inquiries from businesses interested in locating to St . Louis Park, Council would like to see staff actively pursuing and encouraging businesses to locate in the City. Staff was directed to return to Council in the future with their ideas to implement this plan. d. Charter amendment : Purchasing and contracts At issue was a revision of purchasing/contracting limits contained in City Charter Sections 5 . 05 and 5 . 06 from $15, 000 to $25 , 000 which would bring these sections into line with State Statutes. It was Council consensus that this was worth pursuing and staff was directed to take the matter to the Charter Commission for review and recommendation. On a related subject, Mr. Meyer updated the Council on his and Mr . Grube ' s recent meeting with representatives of the Association of Minority Contractors who are interested in the City' s bidding process for construction contracts . Council will be kept apprised of this matter as staff gathers additional information. e. Lead water service update Mr. Grube gave an update of the existing lead water service lines serving homes in the City and action being taken to ensure their replacement . Community Development Block Grant funds can be utilized to help defray the costs of replacing the lines in six of the homes and money from the Water Utility operating budget to pay for the remainder. This matter will come to a formal Council meeting for action in April . f . MWCC rates issue Mac McBride reviewed her report . When approving the sewer rate increases last year, Council stipulated the MWCC' s rate increase not be paid until satisfactory answers were received as to MWCC' s allocation methods . She noted that unpaid balances are accruing penalty charges and it is important the matter be settled. She believed, from conversations with the agency' s controller that any penalty incurred so far would be negotiable and was encouraging Council action to pay the increased charges . From her 111 research, she said she understood their methodology and that it comes close to any City-wide system she ' s worked with. She said if further action were to be taken, it would have to be through the Legislature. It was the consensus of Council to place this item on the April 4 agenda for formal action, and also that a letter be sent to the City' s Legislators outlining the City' s concerns . g. Open Meetings Law - Legal defense costs reimbursement policy The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust offers a new policy which would reimburse public officials for law defense costs in defending themselves on charges of violating the Open Meetings Law. Council agreed that it would be prudent for the City to arrange for this additional coverage and directed Ms . McBride to follow- up. h. ISTEA grant application proposal Mr. Gears explained that development of a pedestrian/bike trail along the Hutchinson spur was removed from the 1994 budget before its approval . He has been contacted by Hennepin Parks ' personnel about linking the Minneapolis trail system at Cedar Lake Park to the Hennepin Parks trail system in Hopkins. It has been suggested the City apply for ISTEA funds to acquire and develop the system and concerned agencies have offered some level of funding support . Council discussed a map showing the proposed trail system with an alternative bike/walk path running from west to east on 28th St . Council . Council expressed interest in the system over the Hutchinson spur but was not in favor of the W. 28th St . option. They encouraged community input and directed staff to proceed with the grant application. i . Community Development Block Grant applications With time running short, a full, in-depth review of this report was not possible . It will be considered on the April 4 , 1994 agenda under Public Hearings. It was suggested a number of the applications could be partially funded from the City ' s General Fund and that some should be rejected completely. j . Proposed ordinance on licensing of pawnbrokers Time did not permit discussion of this item and it will be placed on an upcoming study session agenda. Adjournment The study session adjourned at 7 :28 p.m. FIr Recording Secretary