HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998/06/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session ,r
CITY OF
ST. Collis
OFFICIAL MINUTES
PARK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
June 8, 1998
The meeting convened at 5:40 p.m.
Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Jeff Jacobs, Chris Nelson,Robert Young, Tim
Brimeyer and Mayor Gail Dorfman.
Sue Sanger arrived at 6:00 p.m. and Ron Latz at 6:35 p.m.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer);Director of Community Development(Mr. Harmening);
Planning Coordinator(Ms. Erickson);Planning Manager(Ms. Jeremiah);Economic Development
Coordinator(Mr. Anderson);Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin);Housing Coordinator(Ms.
Brownstein);EDA Attorney(Mr. Lindahl); City Attorney(Mr. Bubul)and City Attorney Staff
(Mr. Ja nnik).
1. Park Commons Discussion
a. Wolfe Park Construction Issues
Janet Jeremiah, Planning Manager and Greg Ingraham, Planning Consultant(Ingraham& Voss
Inc.), presented outcome of the bids for the main park pavilion and picnic shelters and status of
the budget as outlined in the staff report and indicated that staff recommended awarding the
contract for the pavilion(with fireplace) and one picnic shelter.
Council reviewed alternatives for award/rejection of the bids, discussed anticipated usage of
picnic shelters, parking options, and construction schedule.
The architect reviewed the location of the construction on the site and changes to the design of
the pavilion and picnic shelters for Council. Ms. Jeremiah noted that the shelter dividers originally
discussed were not included in the construction cost, but could be considered in design and added
later. She also indicated that the dividers were not necessary until types of shelter use were
determined. Council agreed that the goal was to create an infrastructure for a Town Center with
a lot of development around it.
Council recommended accepting the low bid for the pavilion and the two picnic shelters which
would minimize future disruption to the park and would involve some cost savings compared to
building the second shelter at a future time.
b. Park Commons Regulatory Plan
Janet Jeremiah gave a staff report and requested that Council initiate amendments to the
Comprehensive Plan"M-X" Mixed Use District to facilitate redevelopment in the Park Commons
A
area. The proposed amendments would ensure that any redevelopment would conform with the
vision for the area. Staff also requested that Council initiate rezoning the Park Commons Phase I
area to the amended"M-X" Mixed Use District.
Judie Erickson stressed the importance of having regulations in place before development plans
are submitted. She indicated that revisions to the Comprehensive Plan should be completed by
the end of the 1998 but that an extension could be filed.
Council discussed the need for flexibility in the"M-X"Mixed Use District and suggested adding
language to incorporate livable communities principles. Mayor Dorfman asked about the status of
the development of architectural design standards. Ms. Erickson stated that standards are all
together and will be tested by individual scenarios. Mr. Harmening believed that keeping area
businesses informed of the overall vision for the area had been helpful in keeping the cooperation
of owners in complying with the standards.
Ms. Jeremiah asked if Council was willing to continue to meet regularly before study session
meetings to discuss items relating to Park Commons. Council agreed to meet once per month for
the time deemed necessary to review issues.
Mr. Harmening informed Council that a purchase agreement for the Evelyn Raymond property
could be completed by the first City Council Meeting in July and indicated that the City had
received several calls from single family home owners in the Wolfe Park area who were interested
in starting the appraisal process. He indicated that next year temporary parking lots would need
to be developed to accommodate business owners during transition and implementation of the
first phase.
2. Civic Club Memberships
Mr. Meyer explained the results of a recent informal poll he took of six nearby cities in the
western suburbs that determined if cities paid for civic memberships for the City Manager, Senior
Staff, Mayor and Councilmembers. He asked the City Council if they had any concerns about
paying for memberships for department heads at the discretion of the City Manager and if they
would like to see a policy developed for paying for such memberships for Mayor and City
Council.
Councilmember Sanger questioned the definition of a civic club and Council recommended that
some guidelines be developed to determine the legitimacy of the club membership.
The Council agreed to pay membership dues for department heads involved in local civic
organizations at the discretion of the City Manager, but didn't find it appropriate for the City to
develop a policy to pay for such memberships for the Mayor and City Council.
3. Funding for Public Art-Evelyn Raymond Memorial
Councilmember Brimeyer gave a brief history of a plan to develop an ongoing fund for Public Art.
He stated, that if Council was in favor of the idea, the next step would be to go the Friends of the
Arts and ask them how a plan could be adopted and then determine if the Evelyn Raymond estate
would be interested.
Councilmember Nelson recommended that in the future a historical society building or room be
developed to preserve art work. Mayor Dorfman noted that there had been a recommendation to
recreate a studio that looked similar to Evelyn's studio and recommended that pictures be taken
before building was demolished.
Councilmember Sanger asked if the purpose of this fund was the same as the art fund already
established.
Councilmember Brimeyer stated that the purpose was the same, however attaching Evelyn's name
to it gave it stature that the fund didn't have before.
The Council discussed the Friends of the Arts and their role in developing the fund and
recommended having a representative attend a meeting to explain their vision.
Councilmember Brimeyer indicated that the work of Evelyn Raymond was permitted to be on
display, but not permitted to be sold.
4. Louisiana Court- Sidewalk and Streetlighting Improvements
Councilmember Latz gave an update on the status of the coalition of the property owners and
indicated that the group would not be able to meet a time line consistent with the decision of the
Council because the landlords have not been able to get together.
Councilmember Latz stated that he had received an apology from Bill Christoferson, one of the
property owners for the way the issue was handled at the last City Council meeting. The group
still desired to work together and discussions among the owners have been held. Councilmember
Latz reviewed a list of initiatives and/or agreements owners were willing to undertake to better
standardize the maintenance and management of Louisiana Court.
Council discussed options to proceed with the original assessment of 70% and perhaps at a later
date direct additional CDBG funds to the project.
Mr. Meyer stated that the Crime Free Multi-Housing program had really worked out a lot of these
standards, was in operation nationally, and will be given priority to Louisiana Court for the
program and give them a start on some of the items on the list of initiatives/and or agreements by
property owners.
Joanna Brownstein, Housing Coordinator, noted that following publication of an article in the Sun
Sailor she had received 13-14 calls from tenants in Mr. Bain's buildings describing significant rent
increases over the last year. The article indicated that owners had promised not to raise rents as a
result of the proposed project, and tenants expressed their distrust that Bain would pass on these
costs. She shared Jeannie Seeley-Smith's(Perspectives)disappointment that the owners did not
feel that Perspectives was their partner at the table.
Council indicated that the City was committed to work to provide incentives for property owners
to invest and be involved in Louisiana Court, discussed how they desired to see commitment of
the property owners to be formalized, commented on the proposed assessment process and
reviewed the original intention of CDBG funds. They commented on Louisiana Court
improvements being maintenance versus investment and having any imposed tax assessments
reconsidered after improvements were made.
Council directed staff to explore options to accomplish the vision and to design incentives to
encourage property owners to participate in this mutual agreement.
Vanessa Brown gave a brief update on a recent neighborhood meeting at the new community
room. She was concerned that if the 30%was taken back it would be devastating to the progress
that had already been made with property owners, and that many of the tenants on limited or fixed
incomes could lose their housing.
5. Billboard Site Acquisition Relating to the Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue
Development Proposal by Frauenshuh Companies
Dave Anderson, Economic Development Coordinator gave a staff report and reviewed the
options for addressing the billboard issue on the subject site and handed out a memorandum from
Tom Scott, City Attorney that addressed the issue of P.U.D.
Mayor Dorfman asked if it was the developer's first choice to remove the billboard from site.
Mr. Anderson stated that if economics were not a factor, removal of the billboard from the site to
allow development would be the best case scenario. He also said that the City Attorney had
indicated that movement of the billboard could be allowed under a PUD while still maintaining the
integrity of the rest of the city's ordinances relative to billboards.
Mayor Gail Dorfman asked what legal precedent would be set for other legal non conforming
issues down the road.
Joel Jamnik stated it should set little or no precedent legally, but from a policy perspective there
may be a conflict.
Mr. Lindahl stated that legally condemnation could be justified.
It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Young to convene to
Executive Session. The motion passed 7-0.
(At this point Council recessed. The topic of billboard acquisition was discussed.)
It was moved by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Brimeyer to adjourn
Executive Session. The motion passed 7-0.
(Council reconvened in the Council Chambers)
Mr. Anderson stated that if amenable to the City Council, the developer would be interested in
exploring the options to relocate the billboard on the project site
Council reviewed the proposed development design in regards to the billboard and discussed the
site line and visibility as it relates to the relocation of the building and the height of the proposed
building. Options of moving the billboard or leaving it in place were discussed.
Mike Denny stated that leaving the billboard in its current location would not be feasible from the
developers perspective.
Mr. Anderson indicated that another alternative may exist with the SPS Companies site. He
explained that there are two existing billboards on that property and an agreement requires that as
of March, 1998 and May, 1998 the leases not be extended without authorization of the EDA. It
may be possible to move the existing Fairway billboard to the SPS site as a means to provide a
relocation alternative. Reconstruction costs, land market value, and ordinance requirements
would be examined as considerations.
Mr. Meyer stated that the options were to actively pursue relocation verses pursuing
condemnation in the area and the SPS Companies option may be added.
Mr. Anderson believed that moving the billboard to another location on the site presented the
most economical approach, and perhaps looking at the SPS option as a relocation alternative.
Privately negotiated acquisition would be a secondary option and lastly, condemnation.
Mayor Dorfman stated that the best case scenario would be a negotiated agreement with the
owner and then a development agreement with the developer.
The Council expressed their view that condemnation was the least preferred option and all other
options should be explored before condemnation was considered
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6. 1998 Neighborhood Revitalization Program Grant Applications
Council reviewed the 1998 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Program applications and briefly
discussed the reason for not granting NRC funds to the Birchwood neighborhood for a study on
the impacts of the railroad.
Councilmember Sanger explained that the Birchwood neighborhood request was for education
materials and they were aware that they could not do any environmental studies.
Mayor Dorfman stated that NRC grant money was not to be used to duplicate money being used
by other City departments. She questioned the intentions of the neighborhood who desired to do
a separate study and recommended that they wait for the results of the studies being conducted by
the City. She indicated that this was not the only mechanism to raise issues that were of concern
to them in their neighborhood
Councilmember Sanger understood that the study was intended be supplemental in nature.
Ms. Brownstein indicated that that the Neighborhood Revitalization Committee denied the
neighborhoods request because the application was incomplete and the only specific activity that
was described was hiring legal research staff. Ms. Brownstein allowed the neighborhood
additional time to provide more information, but they did not provide more information and
couldn't come to the meetings.
Ms. Brownstein briefly explained a new type of request made by the Femhill Neighborhood
Association to develop a mini-grant program.
7. One Year Review of Economic Development Strategic Plan Activities
Staff updated Council on development activities.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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Ci Clerk Mayor