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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999/07/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session tfIsDos OFFICIAL MINUTES PARK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION July 12, 1999 The meeting convened at 6.00 p m. Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Susan Santa, Susan Sanger, Robert Young, Chris Nelson and Mayor Jeff Jacobs Councilmember Jim Brimeyer arrived at 6 35 Staff present City Manager(Mr Meyer), Director of Community Development (Mr Harmening), Planning Coordinator(Ms Jeremiah), Economic Development Coordinator(Mr Anderson), Utilities Superintendent (Mr Anderson), Engineering Superintendent (Mr Moore), Public Works Coordinator (Mr Merkley) and City Clerk(Ms. Larsen) 1. Park Commons East and West Staff met with Council to discuss an analysis of various options for funding the Park Commons Phase One project Mark Ruff of Ehler's and Associates was present and presented council with a memorandum describing the results of the current analysis and the issues related to finance options Council discussed existing assets, potential changes to TIF legislation, LGA/HACA penalties, livable communities grant funds, and compared tax increment financing options Mr. Harmening said that there were challenges to the financial component of the project Avalon Bay has asked for some kind of commitment from the City as to the amount of public dollars to be contributed to the project They also asked for formal adoption of the master plan and for a commitment by the city to acquire the remaining properties on the site Councilmember Nelson asked for an update on acquisitions of the existing commercial properties Mr Harmening said that the City was very close to finalizing all negotiations in the phase one area Mr Meyer said that staff recommended creating a new TIF district and using the proceeds from that district to finance the Park Commons development Mr Harmening said that a 33% contribution from the City was at the high end of where he was willing to go Councilmember Sanger said she would like to know what the cost of the city infrastructure would be Mr Harmening responded that the infrastructure would cost approximately $35 M He felt that if Council was not comfortable with that level of support to the project, we needed to state that right now. Councilmember Latz felt that the project should be pursued and that real estate values all along Excelsior Blvd would skyrocket as a result of this development Councilmember Brimeyer inquired about the time frame for establishing the new TIF district Mr 11 Harmening stated that it could be accomplished this fall Study Session Minutes -2- July 12, 1999 2. Sidewalk and Trail Update Mr Rardin and Ms Walsh spoke with Council regarding action taken since the April 12 Study Session Several activities have occurred including Council adoption of the Master Plan, media publication including the Park Perspective, direct mail brochure and Cable TV, presentations to neighborhood groups, completion of a field review and direct response to questions and concerns from the public Councilmember Sanger had received a significant number of comments about the trail proposed for West 28th Street. She felt that the staff and the Council had received enough feedback about this location and that a change to the plan should already have been made Councilmember Brimeyer agreed that a change to location on 28th Street may be a good idea but disagreed with Councilmember Sanger's comments about process He felt that public comments about the plan should be compiled, considered, presented to the council with recommendations from staff and action should then be taken by the Council as a whole He did not want to see a piecemeal approach to modifying the plan Councilmember Sanger did not feel that adequate discussion had occurred regarding the public process and how changes would be made Councilmember Latz disagreed saying that Council had adopted an implementation plan that included public participation and a timeline for adopting changes to the plan He expressed satisfaction with the process currently in place Mayor Jacobs stated that he recalled a specific Council discussion where they had decided that street by street analysis of the plan would not occur until after the public process had occurred Mr Rardin said that staff would be returning to council in early August with a summary of suggested changes for Council consideration Councilmember Santa felt that residents she had spoken to were generally comfortable with the assurances they had received about the public process and opportunity to change those portions of the plan that did not work Councilmember Latz commended staff on the brochure and said that it was written very well 3. Stormwater Utility Fund and Flood Problem Area Update Mike Rardin and other members of the Public Works Department met with Council to provide information about the proposed Stormwater Utility and to discuss related policies and the process associated with implementation Mr Rardin explained that the utility fund would finance a total program of master planning, regulation, routine and remedial maintenance, and capital projects needed to correct stormwater problems. The fund is needed to finance corrective work for existing flood areas, operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities, erosion and sedimentation control and wetland preservation and water quality control Study Session Minutes -3- July 12, 1999 Councilmember Sanger asked why two separate water utilities were needed Mr Rardin responded that current utility rates are based on drinking water use It would be difficult to justify how that relates to storm water run off Councilmember Sanger suggested that public expectations should be managed and that the public needed to be well informed about the benefits of this utility fund to our community Staff asked for direction on several questions of policy After discussion, Council determined that they did with to take a proactive approach to manage storm water, they did feel that the proposed utility was consistent with the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan and that money generated by the utility should be dedicated for the exclusive use of the stormwater management plan Council did not want to establish a separate review committee for stormwater related issues Discussion also occurred about when public dollars should be used to fund a project located on private property Council felt that when flooding occurs as a result of run off caused by public infrastructure or from public land, it would be appropriate to utilize public dollars If flooding is caused by a privately owned and controlled use and occurs on privately owned and controlled land, civil action between the two private parties would be more appropriate It was recognized that some cases would need to be looked at and decided upon on a case by case basis. Carlton Moore also presented to Council an update of the 22 flood problem areas previously identified Councilmember Latz asked if the School Board had been informed about plans for Lamplighter Park and if the flood control plan fit in with their plans for the future of the property Councilmember Santa asked about Knollwood Mall's participation in the plan and if changes proposed at Knollwood meshed with the City's plan Mr Moore responded that they had not yet submitted a redevelopment plan to the City, but that when it was submitted storm water run-off would be addressed Mr Moore stated that two public projects were already underway and that those projects were funded entirely with public dollars Councilmember Brimeyer suggested presenting a report to the Business Council about the Storm Water Utility and Flooding Problem Areas 4. Railroad Study Phase Two Council discussed a memorandum submitted by Richard Koppy, Railroad Project Manager which outlined progress made on Phase I of the railroad study and suggested activities for Phase II of the study Mr Meyer stated that the County had funded Phase I but not the noise study with Hopkins and Minnetonka Additional support from the County would be needed to complete Phase II activities Councilmember Young stated that he was not in support of this project when it was originally enacted and that he did not want any additional St Louis Park to be used to fund the study d 4 Study Session Minutes -4- July 12, 1999 Mr Meyer said that they would add a list of possible funding sources to the scope of services for Council consideration Councilmember Sanger asked that a study of train speed, noise and vibration be part of Phase II Mayor Jacobs asked that staff determine what the city can do to enforce roadbed maintenance by the railroad Mr Koppy stated that at the end of Phase H criteria and standards for many rail operations will be clear Councilmember Nelson asked if activity at the wye was considered"yard operations" Mr Koppy said that it was Mr Meyer stated that attorneys for the 3 cities involved disagreed about whether yard operations can be regulated through a zoning ordinance Mr Koppy informed Council that the railroad would be spreading blocking operations out over the 3 cities by purchasing new switching equipment Mr Meyer said that Minnetonka and Hopkins may participate in the purchase of the switching equipment Mr Koppy also said that the TC&W is interested in placing blocking and switching operations in Glencoe near their main office With the exception of Councilmember Young, Council directed staff to move forward with the study Mr. Meyer asked if monetary contribution from the city should be made Councilmember Sanger questioned the use of public dollars to mitigate problems in one neighborhood while allowing problems elsewhere to continue Councilmembers Latz, Jacobs and Brimeyer all expressed their belief that it would be impossible to address all problems relating to railroads simultaneously, that railroads affect the public in general, and that it was appropriate to expend public dollars to alleviate problems where it was possible to do so Even though the city would not be able to address all areas of concern at once, it was still appropriate to expend the public dollars 5. Communications Mr Meyer informed Council that the Nevens site DTED grant had been approved 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9 30 p m . 414 Ci y Clerk ay., ,