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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/07/28 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF City Council Study Session ST. LOUIS July 28, 1997 PARK 7:00 p.m. The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Beverly Flanagan, Ron Latz, Jim Brimeyer, Robert Young, Jeff Jacobs, Sue Sanger, and Mayor Gail Dorfman. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Director of Community Development(Mr. Harmening); Planning Coordinator(Ms. Erickson); Planning Coordinator(Ms. Jeremiah); Economic Development Coordinator(Mr. Anderson); Administrative Analyst(Paula Graff); City Clerk (Cindy Larsen) 1. Purchasing Policy Item Ban Sue Sanger raised the issue of a purchasing policy ban to prevent the purchase of items which may have been made by child labor or in sweat shops. She presented examples of language used in other organizations and asked the City Manager to direct staff to research the feasibility of adopting similar language in the City's purchasing policy. 2. Annual Financial Report Rob Tautges, partner with Tautges, Redpath & Company presented an overview of the city's financial position based upon the annual financial report for the year ended December 31, 1996. He stated that the report was impressive and very complete. Items noted were relative to changes in reporting standards, accomplishments of the finance department, general fund funding sources,LPA vs. HACA funding, minimum levels of balance in the general fund, water fund operations, and recent changes in governmental accounting reporting standards. Points raised by council were related to the fund balance, collection of delinquent property taxes, and the difficulties small cities may have in conforming to proposed changes in accounting rules after the year 2001. 3. Wolfe Park Update Janet Jeremiah and Tom Harmening updated the Council on the status of the proposed improvements to Wolfe park. The update included information regarding the process, status of the design work and anticipated construction impacts on existing single-family homes. Ms. Jeremiah also shared an artist's rendering of the proposed park landscape. Staff suggested to Council that it would be wise to postpone completion of work proposed for fall of 1997 to spring of 1998. A postponement would allow for settlement of soil resulting from grading completed this summer. They anticipated that despite proposed changes in the construction schedule, the park is anticipated to be usable in the summer of 1998. 1 Council expressed concern with the loss of vegetation growing on a hill proposed to be graded and asked questions related to the status of the single-family homes proposed for demolition. Sue Sanger questioned whether it would be more wise to move the homes to available city-owned lots for resale. Ms. Jeremiah agreed to research the possibility. Ms. Flanagan asked whether plans for the proposed amphitheater are included in current construction documents. Ms. Jeremiah indicated that it is not included at present but will appear when construction documents for the"Town Green"area are complete. 4. Renaming"Town Center" Roy Wallace of the Wallace Group was in attendance to discuss his recommendations for renaming the "Town Center" redevelopment area. He explained the process used to reach the names presented to Council for final selection. Council then voted on the names presented using the "fist or five"method and determined that the name best suited for the area is"Park Commons". Staff agreed to research an potential conflicts related to the name and will report to Council their findings at a later date. 5. Refuse Staff and Council met to consider the finalists' qualifications, proposals and the Evaluation Committee's comments. Staff presented Council with a hand out reflecting costs projected over a five-year scenario. Council agreed that service must remain at its present high level. Also discussed was the recycling program, incentives to increase garbage and recycling abatements, transition from our current hauler to a new contractor and the proposed distribution of biodegradable yard waste bags. • Staff was directed to continue negotiations. 6. Review of Upcoming Comprehensive Plan Revision: Process, Content and Schedule Judie Erickson and Tom Harmening updated the Council on the proposed process for revising the Comprehensive Plan and sought Council's opinions regarding the public input process proposed to be used as a part of updating the Plan. Ms. Erickson reminded the Council that the Comprehensive Plan must be updated by the end of 1998. The intent is to involve neighborhoods in the process and to seek support and input from the residents through a series of meetings and surveys, both phone and mail. Mayor Dorfman asked if it would be possible to ask other questions as a part of the survey, Ms. Erickson stated that it was possible, but that questions should be kept at a minimum to focus attention on the Comprehensive Plan. Preliminary discussions about the survey have been held with Decision Resources, Inc. and projected costs for its completion are projected to be approximately$10,000. 7. Storm Water Update 2 Mike Rardin and Scott Anderson of the Public Works Department reviewed maps of the City's storm water management system and pointed out areas where storm water problems were encountered during the heavy rains this summer. They indicated that calls are still coming in reporting damage and that other suburbs in the metro area have been similarly affected. The ground is saturated and all holding ponds are full leaving the ground water nowhere to go. Many homes were built directly in flood plains, and have had a history of flooding. Mike indicated that plans are already in place for a comprehensive system review, analysis and evaluation of problem areas, Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan improvements. Staff is currently exploring ideas for funding mechanisms to make improvements to the storm water system. - Housing Coordinator, Joanna Brownstein informed Council that the Small Business Association has made loans available to home owners and business owners who have been affected. The Emergency Preparedness Office of Hennepin County has requested presidential declaration of disaster. Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Administration will be touring St. Louis Park very soon to assess the situation. 8. Communications The City Manager informed Council of two fires which have taken place in recent days. Sue Sanger asked if plans for bike paths in St. Louis Park would be part of the updated Comprehensive Plan. Mr. r Meyer indicated that this was included as part of the Parks and Recreation budget. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m. I merit! ail Dorfman,Mayor/ R cording Secretary 3