HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/08/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session 7CITY OF City Council Study Session
STR.KLOUIS August 11, 1997
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, 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); Economic Development
Coordinator(Mr. Anderson); Finance Director(Ms. McBride); Director of Inspections (Mr. Petersen);
Licensing CSR(Bridgette Boche); and City Clerk(Cindy Larsen).
1. Water Contingency and Conservation Plan
Michael Rardin, Public Works Director and Scott Anderson, Water Superintendent, met with Council to
discuss the adoption of the City's Water Contingency and Conservation Plan. The plan provides the
City and its residents with guidance for water system emergencies and conservation of the City's water
supply. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requires that a plan be adopted by each water
111 utility which utilizes ground water as its source.
Representatives of Enviro Solutions, a consulting engineering firm, were present. The document
outlines several aspects of the City's water use including: water supply system description, water
demand analysis and system adequacy evaluation, contingency planning for emergency situations and a
water conservation plan.
Mayor Dorfman asked what measures were currently being taken to ensure that residents use our water
wisely. Scott responded that when City crews see sprinklers directed into streets or watering being done
during hours banned they knock on doors to inform residents of the situation. In addition, industry
standards are such that only water conserving faucets and fixtures are available in the retail market.
Education in the school classroom is another important aspect of encouraging water conservation and
Mr. Rardin indicated that Scott Anderson was doing a great job in this regard.
Mr. Rardin stated that the Contingency aspect of the plan will be expanded in the future to cover other
contingencies such as environmental disaster.
2. Flex Leave Proposal for Non-Union,Non-Supervisory Employees
Wally Wysopal, Personnel Officer reported to Council that the work of the employee task force to create
a flex leave proposal for non-union, non-supervisory employees was complete and would be brought to
Council in the very near future. The proposed plan would be very similar to the one adopted for the
supervisory group in February of 1997 and has been presented and approved by the employees affected.
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Councilmembers Sue Sanger and Beverly Flanagan questioned why the disability coverage for this
employee group was different than that of the supervisory group. Both indicated that the plan concept
was good, they felt the differential was unfair and contributed to an"us vs. them"environment and that
they would oppose its adoption based on that premise.
Councilmember Brimeyer believed that the City should mandate that all employees participate in the
plan and that no one employee should be allowed to "opt out".
3. Parked Cars Ordinance
Several members of the Community Development Department reviewed with Council the current
regulations which affect the parking of vehicles in residential districts and presented ordinances from
other cities which limit the number of vehicles, including passenger vehicles. They indicated that they
felt this should be part of the proposed Commercial/Rec Vehicle ordinance.
There was a great deal of discussion focusing on options for designing limitations. Options discussed
were: limiting the number of cars per licensed driver in the City; limiting the number of cars parked at
any residence in the City; and, limiting the number of cars based on area in the driveways at residences.
Council agreed that this should indeed become part of the Commercial/Rec Vehicle ordinance and
directed staff to incorporate vehicle limits.
Also present at the meeting was Mr. Paul Moldenhaur who spoke to Council regarding on-going
problems he has experienced with his neighbor's many vehicles.
Councilmembers discussed the level of enforcement they felt the City should engage in and many felt
that the City should become more proactive in enforcement activities.
Council consensus was that the ordinance should be designed around total number of vehicles at any
residential lot regardless of size, and type of vehicle. Staff agreed to incorporate Council's directive into
the Commercial/Recreational Vehicle Ordinance.
4. Tax Increment Financing Policy
Dave Anderson and Tom Harmening solicited further comments from the Council/EDA in connection
with a final draft of a Tax Increment Financing Policy. The policy had been developed through
examining similar policies used in other cities; review of the TwinWest Chamber's position on TIF;
recent legislative changes to TIF; and the principles and objectives of the City's Economic Development
Strategic Plan, Development Fund guidelines, and Vision St. Louis Park. The policy had been
developed as a tool to provide a framework for developers and city staff to follow in preparing
development proposals.
Councilmember Sanger said that she felt there were several areas that needed more work, specifically:
modifications to the housing related sections should include more goals; language referring to the
"living wage"provisions was not strong enough; and that a clause should be included providing that TIF
would not be used for people who merely wanted an easy out from a bad financial deal. Mr. Anderson
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indicated that her suggestion regarding the"easy out"would be prevented by the"but for"test which is
111 part of the plan.
Council discussed the problems currently being experienced by the Park Nicollet development and how
that could relate to future requests for TIF funding.
Councilmember Brimeyer expressed his concern with the Business Council's position that public funds
should never be used for public projects. He felt that if the project were able to meet the "but for" test,
those projects should be considered on the same level as proposals from the private sector. He also
suggested that staff develop a formula that ensured TIF fund expenditures would be limited to a certain
time frame. He didn't find it reasonable for municipalities to hold funds indefinitely.
5. Proposed 1998 Property Tax Levy
Finance Director Kathleen McBride presented an update on the impact of the proposed 1998 Property
Tax Levy and the related issues of the levy limit and property class rate changes enacted by the 1997
legislature. Council reviewed preliminary estimates of the 1998 tax bill for the average home and
commercial property in St. Louis Park and discussed market value and tax capacity trends.
6. Exemption from Lawful Gambling Premises Permit
At its meeting of August 4, 1997, City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance relating to
temporary gambling permits and set second reading for August 18, 1997. Council also requested that
staff provide ordinance alternatives at a Council study session prior to second reading.
Ernie Petersen and Bridgett Boche presented an overview of the process the City undertakes to approve
a temporary gambling license which is issued by the State and offered several alternatives on how the
City could process the applications for Council's consideration.
Following a review of the options and discussion of the feasibility of each, Council directed staff to
amend the proposed ordinance to allow staff to administratively waive the 30 day waiting period unless
there is a compelling reason to pass a resolution of denial and to inform Council of the application and
administrative waiver through the Manager's Digest.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. /
Gail Dorfman, Mayor
R ording Secretary
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