HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/05/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF City Council Study Session
7SATR.KLOWS May 27, 1997
7:00 p.m.
The meeting convened at 7:10 p.m.
Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Beverly Flanagan, Jeff Jacobs, Ron Latz,
Sue Sanger, Robert Young, Jeff Jacobs and Mayor Gail Dorfman. Councilmember Jim
Brimeyer arrived at 8:07 p.m.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Director
of Community Development(Mr. Harmening); Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin);
Director of Inspections (Mr. Petersen); Supt. Of Engineering (Mr. Moore); Planning
Coordinator(Ms. Jeremiah); Planning Coordinator(Ms. Erickson).
1. NSP Undergrounding
Mike Rardin, Director of Public Works and Carlton Moore, Superintendent of
Engineering met with Council to inform them about the proposed NSP Undergrounding
of overhead power lines along Highway 7 from Hampshire Ave S to Pennsylvania
Avenue S. Mr. Moore gave a brief history of the reconstruction of Trunk Highway 7
Louisiana Avenue area in 1990. At that time NSP and the City had coordinated efforts to
accommodate future undergrounding of overhead power lines. The project has remained
in the Capital Improvement Program and is scheduled for completion this year at a cost of
approximately $100,000. Mr. Moore indicated that Staff needed Council direction on
whether to proceed with the project or to postpone until redevelopment occurs on the site.
He also indicated that a second issue is that of language contained in the existing
ordinance governing undergrounding of power lines.
Staff and Council discussed the franchise agreement which had required that NSP ,
complete all undergrounding work by the year 2000 and were informed that the
agreement had expired in 1985 and was no longer valid. Subsequent franchise
agreements have not addressed this issue.
Council discussed the cost of this project in relation to costs incurred in the
undergrounding done during construction of Cedar Lake Road. It was determined that
only part of the total cost for the Cedar Lake Road project was incurred by the City while
project costs for the Hwy 7/Louisiana undergrounding would be paid for entirely by the
City. Council and Staff also discussed the possibility of this cost being incurred by a
potential developer of the site.
Council agreed that changes to the ordinance is warranted and that the project should be
deferred until a future year.
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2. Wolfe Park Final Master Plan
Council, Community Development Staff, Bob Close (Close Landscape Architecture) and
Randy Manthey, a member of the Town Center East Task Force discussed implications of
the Wolfe Park Master Plan related to cost, funding sources, phasing, and maintenance of
the proposed improvements. The Task Force recommendation to Council was to
complete the Wolfe Park project in one phase in order to save costs associated with
inflation, and to prevent the park from being disrupted by construction activities for
several years. They projected that park construction could be completed during the
spring of 1998 and usable by that summer.
After discussion Council requested that staff bring forward to the next City Council
meeting the Master Plan identifying work that must be done this year as well as work to
be completed in spring of 1998. Work to be done right away would include grading to
address issues related to soils and pond excavation, electrical wiring and the perimeter
walking path.
3. Transit Study Update and Discussion
Judie Erickson and Jim Lasher of LSA Design updated the City Council on a proposed
change in direction of the Town Center Transit Study. This change in direction relates to
having a much broader basedhstudy being done involving not just St. Louis Park, but also
Hopkins and Minnetonka.
Council and Staff discussed the need for all three communities to work together in
determining their transit needs and how they could facilitate the cooperation between the
communities. Several businesses in the area are interested in seeing a transit system in
place in order to avail themselves of a work force which may otherwise not have a means
of getting to work. Some of these businesses are contacting cities to encourage their
participation in the transit study proposed to be conducted for all three Cities.
Mr. Meyer told of a West Metro Cause meeting during which the City Manager's of
Hopkins, St. Louis Park and Minnetonka were asked to urge their City Councils to
support the three-way study.
Mr. Lasher stated that it is feasible to wait a short time before continuing with the St.
Louis Park portion of the study while Mayor, Council and staff work to enlist the
cooperation of the other two cities. It was recommended that the study be put on hold
only 30 -45 days.
4. Neighborhood Revitalization PILOT Grant Program
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Tom Whitlock of the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission and Tom Harmening
gave Council a brief review of the Grant process. He indicated that the Neighborhood
Revitalization Commission is recommending full funding for all 17 proposals submitted
for this round of funding which would total just over$28,166. Council and Staff
discussed the merits of each proposal. Members of Council expressed concern about the
use of City funds for improvements on private or church property, City staff costs for
services and on-going maintenance, etc. (soft costs) on various portions of the proposals,
and whether the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission should review proposals
that affect City park property. Council also discussed the issue of providing funds for
neighborhood parties and asked that staff and the Neighborhood Revitalization
Commission establish guidelines for neighborhood party funding.
Council directed that the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission work at creating a set
of guidelines for grant funding that applies to well established neighborhoods as well as
those in the beginning stages of development and that also addresses the issue of
providing public funds for private property.
5. Budget Policy
Finance Director, Kathleen McBride, addressed the Council and provided information on
the financial outlook for the City's General Fund, its operations for 1998 and the potential
impact of legislation enacted by the 1997 Legislature.
Ms. McBride inquired whether Council was interested in imposing franchise fees.
Discussion regarding how revenue generated from franchise fees could be used and
ramifications of their imposition followed. Council agreed that they would prefer to
discuss this at a later date and that any fees imposed should be tied to a specific targeted
use.
Council also discussed levy limits, state aids (HACA, local government aid and local
performance aid), a request for property tax levy made by the Housing Authority and new
revenue sources. Also discussed were options for presentation of the budget i.e.,
program vs. line item budget.
Mr. Harmening stated that the Housing Authority is interested in a stronger partnership
with the City Council and that the Authority has been working on ways in which they can
develop capital necessary to do more for St. Louis Park's housing. One way to increase
capital would be through a Housing Authority levy. If this tax were imposed, funds
would need to be directed toward broad-based programs to serve the larger community.
The Housing Authority will be holding a retreat in the near future and will be solidifying
their position on housing issues in St. Louis Park.
He indicated that the TRAILS program(which assists low income persons to achieve
self-sufficiency) has encountered an unanticipated lack of funding from HUD and the
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Housing Authority is now seeking permission to fill the gap in finances with a small levy
of$15,000 to $20,000 in order to maintain the status quo of the program. Council did
not support an increase in the levy at this time.
6. Charter Amendment
At the May 19, 1997 City Council meeting this item was referred to Study Session for
further discussion at the request of a Councilmember.
Mr. Young pointed out that the proposed changes to the section covering campaign
contributions seems to be a desire to conform to State statute. St. Louis Park, as a charter
city, is not required to conform and additionally,he is uncomfortable with the idea of
placing into the charter a dollar amount which may change in value. He felt it more
practical to somehow attach an index to the amount.
Ms. Sanger also requested that the Charter Commission review the portion which reads
"or delivered"which would theoretically place every mail delivery person who delivers
campaign contributions in violation with this section of the charter.
It was pointed out that Council has-asked the Charter Commission to reconsider
amendments in the past. Council agreed to send this item back to the Charter
Commission for further consideration.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
t0 -
Gail Dorfman, Mayor /
R cording Secretary
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