HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/03/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
Monday, March 7, 1994
111
1 . Call to order
Mayor Hanks called the meeting to order at 5 : 00 p.m.
The following Councilmembers were present at roll call : George
Haun, Gail Dorfman, Robert Young, Lyle Hanks . Councilmembers Ron
Latz, Jeff Jacobs and Allen Friedman arrived as the meeting was
in progress .
Also present were the City Manager (Mr . Meyer) , Director of
Public Works (Mr. Grube) and Director of Community Development
(Mr. Hagen) .
Item 1
Surface water management plan requirements
Mr. Grube reviewed the report before Council . Legislative action
of a number of years ago requires municipalities and watershed
districts in the metropolitan area to prepare local surface water
management plans . The plan will focus on five goals : Reduce as
much as possible public spending to control runoff; Improve water
quality; Prevent flooding/erosion from surface flows; Promote
groundwater recharge; Protect/enhance fish, wildlife habitat and
water recreation.
Mr. Grube said staff was seeking Council authorization to solicit
consultant proposals for assistance in the development of the
plan.
It was Council consensus to place this item on an upcoming formal
agenda.
Item 2
Extension of special permits
This report continues discussion on an approach that could be
used to extend special permits granted under the previous zoning
ordinance in light of passage of the new Zoning Ordinance in
December 1992 . Council has continued to seek ways to simplify and
streamline any process that is created.
Mr . Meyer distributed and discussed a matrix that presented a
number of options for extending the special permits . It was the
consensus of Council that undue hardship to property owners not
be created and that any solution be of a long-term, futurist
nature. It was noted the focus of the Zoning Ordinance Task Force
was how should the City look.
Mr. Meyer said a consideration was for equal protection, i . e .
similarily situated properties. An ordinance containing relevant
language could be developed which would serve to support any
Council action.
A suggestion was proposed that the current 17 non-conforming uses
be reviewed individually to determine if conformity could be
achieved by changes to the Zoning Ordinance text or districts,
but if not that these properties continue to be treated as non-
conforming.
Relative to dimensional and performance standards , the "low
process approach" to resolving the special permit extension
question as outlined in staff ' s report was agreeable to Council
and staff was authorized to prepare appropriate ordinance
language for an upcoming public hearing. Permitees would be
required to comply with transitional standards and improvements
or rebuilds would conform to new standards .
Councilmember Latz mentioned that at a League of Minnesota Cities
orientation, there was a discussion re open meetings and
insurance coverage for Councilmembers relevant to that subject .
It was the consensus the City Manager get a quote on the cost of
such insurance .
It was the consensus of Council to hold a study session prior to
the March 21 Council meeting rather than on Monday, March 14 .
The meeting adjourned at 6 : 55 p.m.
ecording Secretary