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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/02/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF MINUTES ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING PARK ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA February 3, 1997 1. Call to order Mayor Dorfman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. Presentations Mayor Dorfman presented a proclamation to Dennis Blenis honoring his 48 years of service to American Automobile Association(AAA). It will be presented to him at a party honoring him on February 13. She announced that the City has again received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Finance Director Ms. McBride accepted the certificate on behalf of the City. 3. Roll call The following Councilmembers were present at roll call: Jeff Jacobs, Beverly Flanagan, Sue Sanger, Ron Latz, Robert Young, Jim Brimeyer and 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); Economic Development Coordinator(Mr. Anderson); Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin); Police Chief (Mr. Mitchell); Director of Parks and Recreation(Mr. Gears); Personnel Officer(Mr. Wysopal); City Clerk(Ms. Larsen). 4. Approval of minutes of January 21. 1997 meeting There being no corrections/amendments the minutes were approved as presented. 5. Approval of agenda for February 3. 1997 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve the consent agenda. The motion passed 7-0. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve the _ agenda. The motion passed 7-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 14 RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 8a. 1997 Labor Agreement between the City of St. Louis Park and Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Local#220 Resolution 97-8 Councilmember Brimeyer asked if this agreement included the new flex leave provision. Mr. Wysopal said it did not. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to adopt Resolution 97-8 entitled"Resolution approving the Labor Agreement with LELS Local#220 and the City of St. Louis Park for 1997." The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Authorization of General Obligation Tax Increment Bond Issue Resolution 97-9 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer,to adopt Resolution 97-9 entitled"Resolution authorizing Ehlers and Assoc, Inc. to solicit proposals for the sale of the bonds and Popham, Haik, Schnobrich and Kaufman to prepare legal documents and to authorize staff to participate in the preparation of an official statement for the\bonds and - - to execute and deliver it on behalf of the City upon its completion." • The motion passed 7-0. 8c. Postponement of second reading of Ordinance(s) to revise the Franchise Agreements with NSP and Minnegasco to February 18, 1997 Mr. Meyer noted NSP has proposed changes to the ordinance making it necessary for staff to postpone second reading until there has been time for review. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer, to postpone second reading to February 18, 1997 City Council meeting. The motion passed 7-0. 8d. Traffic Study No. 519: "No Parking Anytime" along the south side of W. 40th St. from the center line of Wooddale Ave. then proceeding east 100 ft. Resolution 97-10 Mr. Rardin explained the logistics of this intersection requiring parking restrictions. It was moved by Councilmember Flanagan, seconded by Councilmember Sanger,to adopt Resolution 97-10 entitled"Resolution authorizing No Parking Anytime along the south side of W. 40th St. from the center line of Wooddale Ave then proceeding east 100 feet." The motion passed 7-0. 15 8e. Traffic Study No. 523: "No Parking Anytime" along the east side of Hampshire from the south property line of 1351 north to the north property line of 1351 Hampshire Resolution 97-11 Mr. Rardin said the same unsafe condition exists here as in the Wooddale report. In answer to a question from Councilmember Jacobs, he said this was permanent in both instances, not just during snow season. It was moved by Councilmember Young, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adopt Resolution 97-11 entitled"Resolution authorizing No Parking Anytime along the east side of Hampshire Ave. So. from the south property line of 1351 Hampshire Ave. So. north 485 feet to the north property line of 1351 Hampshire Ave. So." The motion passed 7-0. 8f. Emergency Ordinance giving City Manager authority to restrict parking on narrow streets Ordinance No. 96-01 Guidelines were distributed to Councilmembers and Mr. Meyer briefly reviewed them. Staff is in the process of finalizing them. He said the ordinance would be in effect for 61 days, expiring at - the middle of April. It was moved by Councilmember Young, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adopt the emergency Ordinance providing the City Manager with temporary authority to restrict parking on narrow streets. - In answer to a question from Councilmember Latz re towing provisions under the emergency ordinance. Mr. Meyer said towing is part of the existing ordinance structure and this is just an additional placement of parking restrictions. Councilmember Sanger asked about the emergency ordinance being City-wide. Mr. Meyer hoped that would never be implemented; at this point it is planned implementation of the emergency ordinance would be street-by-street. The motion passed 7-0. 8g. Change Order No. 4 to Contract No. 3052 with Orr-Schelen-Mayeron Assoc. (OSM) for professional services on the Cedar Lake Road reconstruction project Resolution 97-12 It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer, to adopt Resolution 97-12 entitled"Resolution authorizing execution of Change Order No. 4 to Contract No. 3052 in the amount of$64,878 subject to receipt of waiver for any future claims for 16 additional compensation. Councilmember Brimeyer asked if NSP had been paid yet and was told the City has not. The motion passed 6-1 (Councilmember Young opposed). REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS, COMMITTEES 9a. Minutes: Board of Zoning Appeals Jan. 7, 1997 By consent, minutes were received for filing. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS lla. Request for renewal of licenses for Minnesota Recreation & Park Association (MRPA) to sell pulltabs at Classic Cafe and Gippers Sports Bar Jon Gurban, Executive Director of MRPA was present to answer questions. Councilmember Young asked about the organization's successes and where some of the funds have been expended. Mr. Gurban responded that all of the money taken in is distributed to a broad range of causes.. For example, a number of youth tournaments have been held--basketball, soccer, volleyball . among them. They have contributed to playground upgrades including the winter activities at Oak Park. Safety camps have been held Community events such as Party in the Park have been recipients. Grants have been given to educational institutions for scholarships nondenominationally. It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Latz, to approve the renewal of licenses to sell pulltabs for MRPA at the Classic Cafe and Gippers Sports Bar. '- The motion passed 7-0. b. Deer Management Policy and program changes. Resolution 97-13 Mr. Gears spoke to this item. The language in the original policy is now three years old and in need up updating. Staff was seeking direction from Council re deer management activities in accordance with the Deer Management Program. 17 Councilmember Sanger said she had received calls from residents of Twin Lakes and Lake Forest neighborhoods about the over-abundance of deer in those areas. She would not wish to advocate shooting of deer, but she has come to the conclusion that the deer, with their large appetites for homeowners' vegetation, don't seem to fit in an urban environment. Reluctantly she has come to the conclusion that they need to be removed . It was removed by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve the modifications to the moratorium policy and allow staff to go ahead with the removal of the deer in the targeted areas as long as it be done safely and that any removal from private property be done with the consent of the property owners and to adopt Resolution 97-13 entitled"Resolution amending St. Louis Park's Deer Management Program(adopted February 22, 1994)and rescinding a moratorium on requests for the removal of deer from private property (adopted October 17, 1994). Councilmember Young, in studying the proposal, acknowledged the program was in need of some refinement. In 2b and 2c he noted the City was pretty much locked in to discontinuing reduction of the herd by sharpshooter if and when an immunocontraceptive would be available He was concerned that tied staffs hands too much and would cost more for the taxpayers. He suggested an amendment to the motion to delete Sections 2b and 2c, replace them with 2d and 2e as well as changing Section 3c to refer to Section la. Mayor Dorfman asked the City Attorney for some clarification on viability. Does this language - -. require the City to use immunocontraception if it is available or is it up to the Council to determine whether it's viable based on whether the technology is available factoring in costs and whether it makes sense for the community. Mr. Fuchs read it as this would be a viable method, that it is physically feasible and the City would be required to use it. Councilmember Sanger suggested in 2b instead of the word"will", change it to read"a viable method of immunocontraception may also"be used . In answer to Councilmember Young's question, Mr. Meyer responded that in order for the City to continue doing what it is presently doing, a separate action every year would not be required. At time that immunocontraception became viable in the Council's opinion,he would assume policy would be set at that time. It would probably be a fixed time period commitment. Mr. Gears made a clarification on the sections being referenced. Councilmember Dorfman asked if this item were passed by vote, when would deer reduction in the Lake Forest be accomplished. Chief Mitchell said he thought the process could commence within 2-3 weeks. Councilmember Young amended his previous amendment to clarify, in No. 2b, change the word "will" to "may". Under C the entire section would be deleted, rename D to C and rename E to D. 18 Mayor Dorfman had concerns about this program in a residential neighborhood that is not secure and was concerned about some of the safety aspects. From a philosophical standpoint, shooting should not be the solution to the problem. She would prefer to look at avenues of education, enforcement of the feeding ban,repellents, education of the public in terms of plants that deer do not like to eat, etc. The motion passed 6-1 (Mayor Dorfman opposed). Councilmember Sanger asked what options are available to those residents who may also be opposed to shooting, but also want deer discouraged from visiting their property. Mr. Gears responded that three years ago, materials were put together in conjunction with the DNR and working with Community Education. Available to the public is a video tape which teaches how to apply repellents and how to fence property; the other is a brochure which describes the different repellents,the pros and cons of how to use them,plant materials that are suitable or unsuitable for deer to eat. Mayor Dorfman said she felt it very important that the public be informed fully about the plan that staff comes up with so that all residents are informed as to what is planned concerning the deer. - - Councilmember Young asked if there were any plans for education of the Lake Forest neighborhood as well as elsewhere in the City regarding, as an aspect of the program, banning the feeding of deer and what enforcement might be put in place. Chief Mitchell said no enforcement has taken place of violations of the feeding ban. He was aware of only one specific violation. Mr. Meyer said when this problem was first brought to staffs attention, one of the Animal Control officers walked the neighborhood and did not find any evidence of people feeding deer. MISCELLANEOUS No business. CLAIMS,APPROPRIATIONS, CONTRACT PAYMENTS 13a. Verified claims By consent, claims were approved and payment authorized. 13b. Contract payments By consent, the following contracts were approved and payment authorized. 19 Final CONTRACTOR PROJECT NO. CONTRACT NO. AMOUNT Hardrives, Inc. 93-23 3068 $69,806.74 Street Reconstruction, Street Lighting and Traffic Signal Systems Partial . Rec Center Renaissance Contracts: CONTRACTOR !PROJECT NO. CONTRACT NO. AMOUNT Spancrete Midwest Co. Al &A2 4080 $ 10,139.08 r LeJeune Steel Co. A3 4079 $ 19,000.00 Nova-Frost, Inc. Cl 4098 $ 58,437.35 Midwest Asphalt Corp. C2 4113 $ 22,791.45 Maertens-Brenny Const. C4& C5 4094 $ 33,159.45 George F. Cook Construction C7 4104 $ 9,312.71 Brent Anderson Assoc. C8 4106 $ 8,064.65 Empirehouse, Inc. C 11 4119 $ 50,412.70 Lagerquist Corporation C26 4118 $ 20,065.90 Gorham-Oien Mechanical C27& C29 4110 $ 71,217.70 Falcon Fire Protection, Inc. C28 4121 $40,052.00 Ridgedale Electric, Inc. C30 4096 $ 31,825.00 Wanzek Construction C31, 32, 33 4114 $ 115,890.50 Other Contracts: Hardrives, Inc 96-19& 90-54 4086 $69,844.62 Street and Signal System Improvements Midwest Asphalt Corp 90-51 4057 $68,816.27 Utility and Street Construction Phase II CS McCrossan Construction 90-51 4027 $134,542.90 Storm Sewer and Street Const 20 14a Reappointment to Boards and Commissions It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs,seconded by Councilmember Young,to make the following reappointments to Boards and Commissions: Sharon Hanson- Fire Civil Service Commission Tom Powers -Neighborhood Revitalization Commission Jim Gainsley - Board of Zoning Appeals • Joel Brand- Cable TV Advisory Commission Bruce Browning - Cable TV Advisory Commission Jane Turk- student representative Human Rights Commission Pete Chubb -Park and Recreation Commission James Martin-Park and Recreation Commission Christine Stephanson- Park and Recreation Commission The motion passed 7-0. Councilmember Jacobs noted there were two openings on the Community Education Advisory Council to be filled by City Council appointments. Also there remains a seat to be filled by another City Council member. 15. Communications a. From the Mayor-None b. From the City Manager-None 16. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:10 on a motion of Counci +ember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger which passed 7-0. Air 1:e-741 Mayor Dorfman / Recording Secretary 21