The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1996/05/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session MINUTES STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL May 13, 1996 The meeting commenced at 7.00 p m. Present were Councilmembers Gail Dorfman, Jeff Jacobs, Jim Brimeyer, Sue Sanger, Robert Young, Jeff Appelqujst and Ron Latz. Also present were the City Manager(Mr. Meyer), Deputy City Manager (Ms Kutzler); Director of Community Development (Mr. Harmening); Director of Public Works (Mr Rardin); Director of Parks and Recreation(Mr. Gears); Fire Chief(Mr. Gill), Suesan Pace 1. Update of draft agreements-Ryan Companies Mr Harmening and Ms. Pace gave this report. They discussed the Development Agreement, Special Assessment Agreement and Supplemental Development Agreements. They pointed out the following issues. If closing on the property doesn't occur within one year, the whole deal collapses, Ryan Development will be covering all attorney fees, at issue is whether Arby's 600-800 sq. ft. increase is major or minor amendment -- if major, the PUD must be amended Councilmembers Sanger and Brimeyer sought information on where the project is They expressed concern regarding separate agreements/separate requests as Honeywell sells the land off Ms Pace explained that the conditions of the PUD will control individual landowners. Councilmember Sanger asked for a list of all the outstanding items negotiated and agreed to such as parking, materials, etc. This item is scheduled for the May 20 Council agenda. 2 4820 Excelsior Blvd. -Relocation issues Steve Kaye from Popham, Haik was present to discuss this item. Mr Kaye discussed the City obligation and lack of obligation to pay relocation benefits Dave Anderson noted four options for new lease agreements. (1) new lease with rent adjustments; (2) new lease with proviso of no benefits/waiver, (3) new lease and compensate for future claims; and (4) observe status quo, i.e. rented on month-to-month basis. It was Council consensus to move forward at this juncture and to offer new leases. 1 3. Rec Center Renaissance update Mr. Gears explained the next step in the process was to go out for bid Package A which includes such things as pre-cast, structural, excavation. Schedule for completion is June 1997. No action was required on this item this evening. 4. Discussion of purchase of Nader Noory Shokry property Councilmember Young was concerned about paying for a park here, the on-going maintenance costs. It seemed to him there was some problem funding the existing parks. He asked if any thought had been given to bond financing for overall City park improvements. He would not want to see this property taken off the tax rolls when funding issues have not been resolved. Councilmember Jacobs saw this as an opportunity to provide a park in a neighborhood that needs it. He could see the use of Development Funds on an interim basis only He urged the matter get resolved as quickly as possible Mr. Harmening said staff was recommending a due diligence period of up to 90 days to resolve the contingencies as noted in staff's report, i e geotechnical analyses on the site, environmental issues; an analysis of wetland and floodplain issues, road access; billboard currently on the site; and standard title work. It was Council consensus that staff proceed with due dilegence on the noted items and negotiate an agreement with conditions with Mr Noory Shokry. 4.5 July 4th Party in the Park festival --Beer tent at Oak Park Village Mayor Dorfman noted that the Party in the Park committee was really seeking money for fireworks. Councilmember Jacobs said he would be uncomfortable changing the City's policy of no liquor in City parks Councilmembers Latz and Young said they would support a beer tent with all necessary safety precautions in place Mayor Dorfman was concerned that this would be perceived as a City event It was Council consensus that there be no beer served in any park or in the street and that Louisiana Ave be closed for the festival. I 2 5 Traffic control policy , 01 A suggestion was offered that a committee be formed to develop criteria and policy for a traffic control plan rather than Council creating it. Councilmember Sanger was not opposed to this but would want assurance of Council input and review Councilmember Brimeyer advocated looking at outcomes rather than political decisions. Councilmember Young indicated support for a moratorium on future placement of controls while the policy gets developed Councilmember Sanger pointed out the issue is really how to control speed. Other discussion included control of speed, a more rational approach to placement of controls as opposed to political considerations, installation of islands in intersections to slow traffic; give consideration to more dead-end streets, use of neighborhood grants to install speed humps; use of traffic calming; use of traffic humps Mayor Dorfman said she supported neighborhood planning to minimize on-going requests. Councilmember Jacobs pointed out the need for education of the public relative to the cost of traffic controls, i e. air pollution, noise, study costs, etc Mr Rardin said staff would proceed to develop a comprehensive neighborhood plan and commented if any signs were to be removed, it would be easier to do so with an overall traffic control strategy He felt there would probably be a need for resources to prepare and institute neighborhood education He noted the request at Dakota/W. 27th St. will be on the May 20 agenda 6 Twin Lakes dredging Councilmember Sanger had been advised the shoreline can't be restored to its original configuration and this probably could not be attempted But something should be done to ameliorate complaints, i.e. partial dredging at the three properties, along with other options. Mayor Dorfman was in favor of revisiting the issue in June to see how the situation stands Council agreed this was an appropriate action at this time Council also directed staff to determine costs to address the following items. (1) west end of the lake; (2) limited improvements, (3) restoration of footprint, and (4) respond to all residents' requests. 7 Paid-on-Call supplement update/Performance bonus and pay scale 3 Chief Gill was present for this item. It was Council's consensus to proceed with the program111 Councilmembers Young, Brimeyer and Jacobs did not support pension relief. This item will be on the May 20 agenda for formal action 8 Special assessment policies Councilmembers Jacobs, Brimeyer and Mayor Dorfman supported an administrative fee and adding 1%. This would not apply to ageements in progress Also, Councilmembers Young and Jacobs support an administrative fee only for single-family residential, not apartment or commercial properties 9 Bid tabulation items on consent agenda It was Council consensus that if bid tabulation reports are of a routine nature, wherein the bids are not out of line with the engineer's estimate, etc., they can be placed on consent. 10. Council retreat Council had a brief discussion on the composition of a retreat, perhaps two sessions--first an informal get together to discuss items such as Livable Communities and Vision, e g. 5 00-9.00 p.m. on a Thursday evening; and then an all-day session in the Fall with a facilitator to be more in- depth. The meeting adjourned at 9 50 p.m. i ' ao i / ecording Secretary I 4