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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/01/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF MINUTES ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING PARK ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA January 21, 1997 1. Call to order Mayor Dorfman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. Presentations None 3. Roll call The following Councilmembers were present: Jeff Jacobs, Beverly Flanagan, Sue Sanger, Ron Latz, Robert Young, Jim Brimeyer, and Mayor Gail Dorfman. Also present were the City Manager(Mr. Meyer); City Attorney (Mr. Fuchs); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Director of Community Development(Mr. Harmening); Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin); Director of Inspections (Mr. Petersen); Personnel Officer(Mr. Wysopal); Fire Chief(Mr. Gill); Director of Finance (Ms. McBride); City Clerk(Ms. Larsen). 4. Approval of Minutes • - a. City Council meeting January 6, 1997: There being no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as presented. b. Joint City Council/Human Rights Commission meeting of December 2, 1996: Councilmember Young asked that the minutes reflect that he was present. There being no additional additions or corrections,the minutes were approved as presented. c. City Council Truth in Taxation hearing December 4, 1996: There being no corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as presented. 5. Approval of agenda It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Sanger,to approve the consent agenda for January 21, 1997. The motion passed 7-0. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer,to approve the agenda for January 21, 1997. The motion passed 7-0. Council, by consent, waived the reading of resolutions and ordinances. 8 PUBLIC HEARING a. First reading of ordinance(s) revising the franchise agreements with NSP and Minnegasco Amendments would establish a different basis for the franchise fee. There being no one present wishing to speak, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen and continue it at a future date. Councilmember Jacobs said it was his understanding action tonight will not impose a franchise fee but will enable the Council to do so in the future if they so desire. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer, to waive first reading and set second reading for February 3, 1997. r Councilmember Brimeyer,acknowledging this is a sensitive issue, wanted to clarify that the Council could impose a franchise fee of up to 5%under the existing ordinance. This action changes that structure to allow for a flat fee if that was the wish of Council. Also the deregulation of the electrical industry may take effect in 1997 pending State action; the State has indicated it plans no action until 1998. This action allows the City to position itself in advance of any deregulation. The motion passed 7-0. PETITIONS,REQUESTS, COMMUNICATIONS None. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 8a. Special assessment of fire sprinkler system at 6651 State Highway No. 7 Resolution 97-4 By consent, Council adopted Resolution 97-4 entitled"Resolution authorizing installation and special assessment of fire sprinkler system at Caryn Modeling and Talent." 8b. Resolution terminating the West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board Joint Powers Agreement Resolution 97-5 Mr. Wysopal explained how the termination is taking place and what the procedure is. St. Louis Park and the other 20 cities using these services have contracted with Northwest Hennepin Human Services in the interim while deciding how future social services will be handled. 111 Councilmember Sanger asked if further claims arise against Suburban Alliance, how will they be resolved. 9 Mr. Wysopal responded that the counsel received to date is that once the Planning Board is dissolved, it is indeed dissolved. As of right now it is believed all claims have been taken care of. By the end of the month, there will be no Suburban Alliance for anyone to make claims against. Mr. Meyer said that in discussing this with the City Attorney, since there will be no Joint Powers Agreement, it would appear anyone coming forth with a claim would have to go individually against all 21 cities formerly participating in that Agreement. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Young, to adopt Resolution 97-5 entitled"Resolution terminating the West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board (Suburban Alliance)." The motion passed 7-0. 8c. Second reading of an ordinance establishing the Flex Leave Program for non-union ` supervisory employees Ordinance 2084-97 It was moved by Councilmember Flanagan, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to waive second reading, adopt the Ordinance No. 2084-97 entitled"An ordinance amending Chapter 3, Part 6 of the St. Louis Park City Code concerning flex leave for supervisory employees", approve the summary and authorize its publication. The motion passed 7-0. 8d. Traffic Study No. 510: Traffic controls on Dakota Ave at W. 27th St. Resolution 97-6 Mr. Rardin said this has been discussed on a number of occasions and was ultimately put on hold until Council adopted a Traffic Control Policy. In light of that policy, it now seems appropriate to proceed with traffic controls at this intersection. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer,to adopt Resolution 97-6 entitled"Resolution authorizing installation of stop signs on Dakota Ave at W. 27th St." Councilmember Brimeyer asked if this meant the signs on 29th St. would remain but the signs on 28th will be removed. Mr. Rardin said this was not figured in because stop signs at safety-sensitive areas would be allowed. IlThe motion passed 7-0. 10 8e. City Engineer's report: Reroof and energy upgrades to the Municipal Service Center Resolution 97-7 It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adopt Resolution 97-7 entitled"Resolution accepting the City Engineer's report,establishing Improvement Project No. MB-94-02, ordering Improvement Project No. MB-94-02, approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids for Improvement No. MB-94- 02." The motion passed 7-0. 8f. Void 8g. City Engineer's report: Street reconstruction at Zarthan Ave and the I-304 south frontage road- Project 93-25 Councilmember Sanger said she has received no complaints about the current configuration of the intersection. She was not sure why$92,000 was proposed to be expended for some motorists getting confused about the route when a few dollars expended for a sign would probably handle the situation. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Young, to deny this project. Mr. Meyer briefly explained how this proposed project became a part of the planning process dating back a number of years ago before the Honeywell project got underway. Councilmember Young was opposed to this proposal and recalled at a study session the consensus was that there was little interest in moving forward on it He did not believe it was a good use of GO moneys,that it was cosmetic in nature and the existing roadway is in good shape. Councilmember Brimeyer opined the only justification that might be made is that people might be going straight east thinking that's the frontage road along I-394 and end up going through the parking lot by the hotel. Perhaps this project might be considered as the Honeywell development takes place down the road. Councilmember Jacobs wondered if it wouldn't make sense to re-sign the area indicating the frontage road goes to the right and putting up a stop sign just on the eastern side of the intersection as indicated on staffs diagram The motion passed 7-0. 111 11 REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS, COMMITTEES 111 9a. Minutes: Board of Zoning Appeals January 7, 1997 By consent, minutes received for filing UNFINISHED BUSINESS 10a. Bid tabulation: Combination aerial-pumper fire apparatus Councilmember Young asked Fire Chief Gill how he responds to a former firefighter's comment that a truck this size is needed only 2-3 times per year. How often is crucial to an operation. Chief Gill said the statement was incorrect, that such a truck was needed substantially more often than that. He said the difficulty the department has is when a call comes in they have no _ knowledge of a fire's severity. They would respond with a truck such as this, perhaps 10-12 y times per month. Councilmember Young asked if the possibility of contracting for this equipment(the aerial)with a neighboring community that has one was feasible. Chief Gill said they could certainly explore contracting; however, he felt that had the potential to lead to excessive response time wherein the truck is needed here in St. Louis Park. He felt that - , consolidation long-term might require different types of fire organization. One problem is with the full-time fire force in St. Louis Park and the volunteer and part-time in many of the neighboring communities. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Latz to designate KME the lowest responsible bidder for one combination aerial pumper fire apparatus(Quint) and authorize execution of a purchase agreement with KME in the amount of$445,601. The motion passed 6-1 (Councilmember Young opposed). NEW BUSINESS lla. Contract extension for Woodlake Sanitary Services for residential garbage, refuse recycling and yard waste collection services. It was clarified that staff would be looking at qualifications at this point, not a request for proposals. Councilmember Brimeyer thought a matrix of what the City wants to have accomplished by a hauler would be a valuable tool in the process. III Councilmember Jacobs echoed Councilmember Brimeyer's comments recalling a few years back when the lowest bidder was selected and the service rendered was truly poor with many unhappy residents. He felt this approach was the way to go to avoid that sort of thing happening again. 12 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to authorize execution of an extension to Contract No. 1519-94 with Woodlake Sanitary Services, Inc. through August 31, 1997 with the City's right to extend for an additional six months. The motion passed 7-0. MISCELLANEOUS No business CLAIMS,APPROPRIATIONS, CONTRACT PAYMENTS 13a. Verified claims By consent, claims approved and checks authorized to be distributed. . 14. Boards and Commissions No appointments 15. Communications a. From the Mayor--No communications b. From the City Manager-No communications Councilmember Brimeyer brought up the subject of public art as part of the Rec Center Renaissance project. He said St. Louis Park sculptor Evelyn Raymond has agreed to commission one of her pieces to be used at the Center provided the City can raise the funds for construction. He said the anticipation was that art benefactors and other donors would provide that funding. He said he had met with a member of Friends of the Art, albeit not accepted at the level of enthusiasm he would have liked.Now, the piece has to be commissioned if it is to meet the June opening of the Center. He hoped the City still planned to go ahead with this. The money needs to be raised as soon as possible. He will have available at the study session a schedule outlining the process of what has to be done. 16. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. on a motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger. Pn-CA-- --D-0-1k,u,____ ayor Dorfman 1 ( Recording Secretary 13