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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996/08/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session ff-CITY OF MINUTES ST Louis STUDY SESSION ARK ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 12, 1996 Present were Councilmembers Mayor Gail Dorfman, Jeff Jacobs, Jim Brimeyer, Sue Sanger,Jeff Appelquist, Ron Latz and Robert Young. Also present were the City Manager (Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Admin Asst/City Clerk(Ms. Larsen), Director of Community Development(Mr. Harmening), Housing Coordinator(Ms. Mullen), Economic Development Coordinator(Mr. Anderson), Director of Parks and Recreation (Mr. Gears); Manager of Park Buildings and Structures(Mr. Panning), Police Captain(Mr. Walker), Director of Inspections (Mr. Petersen), Director of Finance (Ms. McBride), Assistant Finance Director(Mr. Felton). 1. 1996 Revised and 1997 Proposed Budget Councilmembers received a report providing an overview with specific highlights of the 1996 Revised and 1997 Proposed Budget in a presentation made by Ms. McBride and Mr. Felton. An in-depth budget document will be presented to Council at the next Study Session. Council discussed the property tax levy and budget for 1997. A hearing date will be set for early December. 2. Recreation Center Construction Costs (moved to end of session-see below) '3. Proposed Railroad Route Council discussed the proposed railroad route being considered by CP Rail. While City can provide input, the decision of where to route train traffic will be made by the CP Rail and the Hennepin County Rail Authority. Funding for the project comes from MNDot. Council questioned the impact this proposal will have on St. Louis Park trails and light rail transit in the future. After discussion Council agreed that a neighborhood meeting should be hosted by the City which would provide a forum for discussion between affected residents and representatives from the decision making bodies. Staff will continue to keep Council informed on the situation. 4. Assisted Living Project-Review of Business Points and Financing Request Dave Anderson, Economic Development Coordinator and Tom Harmening, Community Development Director presented for Council review the business points which were outlined at the August 5th EDA meeting. During the discussion they outlined the financing details and implications of using a Housing Tax Increment Financing District for the project, compared and contrasted the current financing program with the previous financing proposal and discussed physical design and development issues surrounding the proposal which influence the potential development of a second phase. Councilmember Sanger questioned why the City is supporting this project and asked what made this project different from others that would not be approved for TIF funding. Councilmember Jacobs indicated that a past Council had agreed to finance the project and felt that we should honor that agreement. Councilmember Applequist pointed out that Council needs to have broad discretionary approval of projects which receive TIF funding. Council agreed at the end of discussion to go forward to the next phase of the project. 5. Habitat for Humanity Projects The City has acquired $150,000 in funding for the purchase of two HUD properties(located at 3035 Colorado Ave S and 3536 Texas Ave S). Staff requested support from Council in turning these properties over to Habitat for Humanity for rehabilitation. If Council wished to pursue this project, a meeting between neighbors and Habitat for Humanity would be organized. Following that meeting a purchase agreement would be offered to HUD. Following the discussion, Council directed staff to continue the process. 6. Preliminary Tax Increment Application (Hwy 7 and Louisiana) During this discussion Council reviewed the preliminary application for tax increment financing assistance from Frauenshuh Companies who have requested$2.5 million in Tax Increment Finance Assistance to cover the costs of environmental remediation and land acquisition costs associated with the development of a Grocery Store and Retail Village at Highway 7 and Louisiana Ave S. Councilmember Latz raised concerns over the use of what is considered to be park and open space for a major retail development. Council was informed that improvements to the park and soccer fields at that location were a priority and part of the developer's plan. Other Council members also questioned the use of that particular corner as a site for the development. Options for other sites were discussed. Questions arose as to how this project ties in to the Livable Communities concept which the City wishes to apply to all future development. Tom Harmening voiced concern regarding the availability of City staff to take on a project of this magnitude while still working on the development at Town Center. Jim Brimeyer raised concerns about the accuracy of soil borings at the site and questioned where the borings were actually done. Councilmember Sanger asked what environmental problems still existed at the site to require remediation. After much discussion Council arrived at a consensus that prior to going ahead with a project of this scope and magnitude, staff needed to present to Council criteria for evaluating proposals in terms of their compatibility with the City's design plan incorporating Livable Communities concepts. 7. Council Policy Issue (Latz, Sanger) -Limiting Access of Tobacco to Minors Council members agreed that the City should enact stricter ordinances to limit tobacco use by minors. Staff agreed to develop a model ordinance incorporating information Councilmember Latz and Susan Sanger shared with staff. This issue will appear on a future study session agenda. 2. Recreation Center Construction Cost Status Cris Gears informed Council that the bids for Bid Package C had come in much higher than anticipated. Though some parts of the bid package were in line with expectations, other areas were extraordinarily high. Council questioned the accuracy of estimates made by the design team and expressed concern over the discrepancies. Don Hackert, Construction Manager for the project, agreed to speak with companies which had submitted particularly high bids to discuss options for lowering costs. It was determined after much discussion that staff would prepare information for the next study session outlining what cuts could be made to bring costs more in line with previously projected costs. Mayor Dornan encouraged staff to make only those cuts which would not compromise the integrity of the project. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m. I ' JO --k - ., payor Cer-- ). dc,...-4---,-D— Recording Secretary