HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998/04/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES
ST. LOill$ CITY COUNCIL MEETING
PARK ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
April 6, 1998
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dorfman called the meeting to order at 7.30 p.m.
2. PRESENTATION
Mayor Dorfman introduced Nancy Swan, Choral Director of St. Louis Park Senior H'igh's
"Park Singers". The group sang three musical numbers.
Mayor Dorfman introduced Jean Peters who recently celebrated her 80th Birthday. Ms
Peters also sang a musical number
3. ROLL CALL
The following Councilmembers were present at roll call. JeffJacobs, Chris Nelson, Sue
Sanger, and Mayor Gail Dorfman. Councilmember Young arrived at 7:55 p.m.
Also present were the Executive Director(Mr Meyer): Deputy City Manager(Ms.
Kutzler); City Attorney(Mr. Scott), Director of Public Works (Mr Rardin); and Chief of
Police (Chief Luse); Zoning Inspector(Mr Moore), City Assessor(Mr Stepnick) and
Housing Coordinator(Ms. Brownstein).
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council meeting of March 16, 1998: With the exception of a correction noted,
add Sue Sanger as present at the meeting, the minutes were approved as presented.
Study Session meeting of March 23, 1998: The minutes were approved as presented.
Special City Council Meeting of March 16, 1998: The minutes were approved as
presented.
5 APPROVAL OF AGENDAS
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve
the consent agenda. The motion passed 4-0
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve
the agenda. The motion passed 4-0
5c. Resolutions and Ordinances
By consent, Council waived reading of resolutions and ordinances.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
6a. Public Hearing and 1st reading of an ordinance to amend City Charter
Chapter
2-Government & Officers, Chapter 6-Taxation & Finance, and Chapter 12-
Code of Ethics.
Ms. Kutzler, Deputy City Manager gave a brief update as staff liaison to the Charter
Commission.
Councilmember Nelson questioned the proposed changes to Section 2.02. Boards. He
believed that the language diluted what the Charter is supposed to be, a constitutional
document, and should not be included.
Ms Kutzler stated that the Charter Commission had a lengthy discussion on this item and
felt that it was necessary to add additional weight to the Charter to specifically include the
requirement
Councilmember Jacobs was not concerned about requirement language and stated that the
requirement was a general policy statement to encourage diversity and allowed Council to
develop operating procedures of implementation.
Councilmember Young asked if the original proposed change to Section 2 02 included
stronger language
Ms Kutzler stated that the final language of the proposed change was a compromise to
ensure support of the majority of the Charter Commission.
There being no further discussion, the Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council
to thereafter reopen it
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to waive
first reading of the ordinance to amend Charter Sections 2 02, 6.05, 6.07, 6 12, 6.14,
12.03, 12.04, 12.05, 12 06, 12.07, and 12.18 and set second reading for April 20, 1998
The motion passed 5-0.
6b. Public Hearing to inform the public and allow for citizen input regarding the
Police Department Budget and the relation of that budget to Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant fund disbursement.
Chief Luse of the Police Department was present to answer questions.
The Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen it.
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve
the grant fund award The motion passed 5-0
6c. Case Number 98-4-ZA
Zoning Code Text and Map Amendment
Mr. Moore, Zoning Inspector briefly reviewed the staff report and stated that the Planning
Commission and staff recommended adoption of the first reading of the ordinance and
zoning map amendments.
The Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen it.
Councilmember Sanger asked if there would be an impact on the need for more residents
to purchase flood insurance
Mr. Moore stated that there would be no change in the number of residents who would be
required to have flood insurance, but the change only required any new development
which was within the 100 year flood plain to raise its ground floor elevation by a foot
Mr Meyer, City Manager asked staff to clarify if there were any properties between the
one foot and two foot level and how they would be impacted by the new requirements in
terms of future additions.
Mr. Moore stated that the number of properties that would be impacted was not known.
He stated that the change would not affect existing properties, but only new additions.
Councilmember Jacobs raised the question as to whether changing the regulation to
require ground floor elevations for new development to be two feet above the 100 year
flood elevation was stringent enough and if the Council had any authority to make it more
stringent
Councilmember Nelson asked how changes would affect study area of Highway 7 and
Louisiana Avenue.
Mr Meyer stated the changes would not adversely impact the development ability of the
study, but potentially improve it.
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger to approve
the first reading of the Floodplain District ordinance to the text and maps and set second
reading for April 20, 1998. The motion passed 5-0
6d. Case Number 98-3-Z
Rezone from "IG" to "0" 7202 and 7252 Excelsior Blvd.
Mr. Moore, Zoning Inspector gave a staff report and stated that the Planning Commission
and staff recommended adoption of an ordinance that changes the zoning designation for
7202 and 7252 to "0" Office The"FF' (Flood Fringe) Overlay Zoning would remain on
those portions within the floodplain
Dan Blomquist of Welsh Development Company was present to answer questions.
The Mayor closed the hearing with the right of Council to thereafter reopen it.
It was moved by Councilmember Nelson, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve
first reading of an ordinance that changes the zoning of 7202 and 7252 Excelsior
Boulevard to"0" Office and set second reading for April 20, 1998 The motion passed 5-
0.
7. PETITIONS AND REQUESTS -None
8. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
8a. CDBG Third Party Agreement with Community Action for Suburban
Hennepin
Resolution #98-56
Mr. Brownstein, Housing Coordinator stated that the use of these funds has been
approved in the past and explained the reason for a new contract with a new provider.
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Nelson, to adopt a
resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to execute Third Party Agreement
with Community Action for Suburban Hennepin. The motion passed 5-0.
8b. Purchase of Permanent and Temporary Easements for Roadway, Traffic
Signal and Watermain Improvements, Projects 85-32, 87-28 and 97-05.
Resolution # 98-57
Mr. Stepnick, City Assessor gave a brief staff report
Councilmember Young asked if the Plymouth City Council was going to fund the
Plymouth portion of the roadway
Mr. Stepnick stated that the Plymouth City Council was-going to fund the Plymouth
portion and the temporary easements that were North of Shelard Parkway.
It was moved by Councilmember Young, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to adopt
the resolution authorizing the purchase of the temporary and permanent easements from
Willow Creek Plaza Ltd Partnership for$10,500 and WHIOP Real Estate Limited
Partnership for$60,400 for construction of Projects 85-32, 87-28 and 97-05. The motion
passed 5-0.
8c. Cooperative Agreement with Hennepin County for new Traffic Signal
System at the intersection of France Avenue(CSAH 17) and Excelsior
Boulevard (CSAH3).
Resolution # 98-58
By consent, Council adopted the attached resolution authorizing the Mayor and City
Manager to execute Hennepin County Agreement No. PW 08-05-98.
9. REPORTS FROM OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
9a. Housing Authority Minutes of February 11, 1998
By consent, Council accepted report for filing.
III9b. Planning Commission Minutes of March 4, 1998
By consent, Council accepted report for filing.
9c. Vendor Claim Report
By consent, Council accepted report for filing.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10a. Board and Commission Appointments
It was moved by Councilmember Nelson, seconded by Councilmember Young, to appoint
John Archbold to the Human Rights Commission and Ken Gothberg to the Planning
Commission The motion passed 5-0.
11. NEW BUSINESS
lla. Consider proposed plan for 1998 biodegradable bag pilot program
Mr Rardin, Public Works gave a staff report and recommended that the pilot program be
adopted for implementation in 1998
Councilmember Jacobs asked staff to comment on the cost, description and disbursement
of biodegradable bags
Councilmember Sanger commented that staff presented the pilot program at a recent
Fernhill Neighborhood Association and was well received. She recommended that
communication be provided at other neighborhood meetings in the future.
Mr. Rardin stated that residents would be provided with the number of biodegradable bags
needed .
Mr. Meyer, City Manager briefly commented on other environmental issues of concern,
(leaves left in streets and lawn chemicals washing into the chain of lakes) in the community
and stated that in the future, the communication plan would include these concerns as well
as yardwaste composting to make residents aware of all the issues. He stated that
yardwaste pick-up would begin on April 13, 1998
Councilmember Young believed that there was no compelling reason for the program and
implementation would be an administrative and resident nightmare. He was opposed to
the pilot program and recommended aborting it
Councilmember Jacobs commented on the concerns raised when implementing the initial
recycling program and its eventual successful adoption by the community. He believed
that the program was justified and that the conducting a pilot program would iron out any
problems of implementation.
Councilmember Sanger stated that raising the environmental consciousness of residents
would be most beneficial for the community in the long term.
Councilmember Young stated that a landfill problem did not exist .
Councilmember Nelson was in favor of the pilot program and felt that although the initial
implementation may be slow, the concept would eventually be embraced.
Mayor Dorfman stated that the community had generally embraced the recycling program
and the biodegradable yardwaste pilot program would introduce them to another
environmentally sound program and provide important feedback to the city to determine
feasibility of implementation.
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger to approve
the biodegradable yardwaste bag pilot program The motion passed 4-1 (Councilmember
Young opposed).
11b. Request for qualifications for planning, design and preliminary engineering
services for development of a City-side trail and sidewalk plan.
By consent, Council authorized staff to issue RFQ to qualified firms and initiate the
interview and selection process as outlined in the RFQ
11c. First Meeting of the City Board of Equalization
Mr. Stepnick, City Assessor, briefly outlined the process required by residents who desired
to come before the Board of Equalization.
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Sanger to set the
initial meeting of the City Board of Equalization for Monday, April 20, 1998. The motion
passed 5-0 .
11d. 1998 Dutch Elm Disease Tree Removal Bids
By consent, Council designated Asplundh Tree Expert Company as the lowest responsible
bidder, and authorize execution of a contract for the 1998 Dutch Elm Disease Tree
Removal Program in an amount not to exceed $85,173
lle. Bid Tabulation: Excelsior Boulevard Streetscape from France Avenue to
Monterey Drive Project No. 96-22.
By consent, Council designated Hardrives, Inc the lowest responsible bidder and
authorized execution of a Contract with the firm in the amount of$2,089,174.50
llf. 1998 Arbotect Injection Contract
By consent, Council designated Rainbow Tree Care, Inc. as the lowest responsible bidder
and authorized execution of a contract for the 1998 Arbotect 20-S Elm injection program
at a cost of$7.73 per diameter inch
12. MISCELLANEOUS -None
13. CLAIMS. APPROPRIATIONS, CONTRACT PAYMENTS
a. Contract Payments -Final
Resolution s #98-59, 98-60, 98-61, 98-62
1. Valley Paving, Inc. - Contract No 4157 $9,994.68
Watermain replacement and pavement mill and overlay
(Shelard Parkway from Nathan Lane to I-394)
2. Midwest Asphalt Corp - Contract No. 4113 $16,853 27-
Rec Center Renaissance Project No. C2
3 Crawford Door Sales Co - Contract No 4117 $1,439 85
Rec Center Renaissance Project No. C12
4. Acoustics Assoc., Inc. - Contract No 4103 $783.25
Rec Center Renaissance Project No C15 & C17
By consent, Council adopted resolutions.
14. COMMUNICATIONS -None
15. ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Jacobs, and seconded by -
Councilmember Sanger. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p m. The motion passed 5-0
Rout:f 74
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Mayor Gail Doran
CI
C' Clerk 42- -1 -- I