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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/04/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session ffiSTILOUOisCTY F OFFICIAL MINUTES RK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Minutes of April 8, 2002 The meeting convened at 7.00 p.m. Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Jim Bnmeyer, Ron Latz, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, Sally Velick, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer), Director of Community Development (Mr. Harmening), Planning and Zoning Supervisor(Ms. Jeremiah), City Engineer (Ms. Hagen), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Director of Parks and Recreation (Ms Walsh), and City Clerk (Ms. Reichert). 1. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Update Nancy Nelson, Commission Chair, and Tom Worthington, Commissioner, were present at the meeting. Ms. Nelson reviewed the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission's activities for the past year. She stated that the Commission had organized a meeting for all St. Louis Park Youth Athletic Associations to discuss issues with staff and the Commission, adding that the Commission would like to meet with Association representatives annually. Athletic Associations' website addresses are all linked and posted on the City's website. Ms. Nelson stated that the Commission has been reviewing and advising on park development projects and recommends to Council the name of"Louisiana Oaks Park" for the Oak Park Village site. The "Roll into Spring" Bike and Blade Event will be held on May 11th and the Commission has been assisting in that effort as well She reported that the Commission is continuing to look for funding sources for the Fee Assistance/Scholarship Fund. Councilmember Sanger stated that she would like to have a bike parade in conjunction with the opening of the new trail. Councilmember Bnmeyer agreed with encouraging participation among the youth associations, but also cautioned against losing focus in the programs offered. Mayor Jacobs would like to be sure that youth could participate on some level in the programs, especially youth that may not be long term residents of St. Louis Park. Ms. Nelson stated that the Commission is also working on a field use policy. 2. Detached Garages Greg Ingraham, Planning Consultant, was present at the meeting. Mr. Ingraham presented Council with the various options for addressing detached garages as well as the staff recommendation for garage setbacks and height restrictions. Councilmember Nelson spoke about the issues that have been brought up in regard to measurement clarification. Study Session Minutes -2- April 8, 2002 Councilmember Latz did not want a policy that was tailored to address a specific neighbor conflict and felt that a balance of resident's needs has to be achieved. Councilmember Nelson agreed with staff's suggestion of measuring from the slab to peak but felt that large garages should meet the same setback requirements as principal structures. Councilmember Sanger stated that she did not want windows and gables looking over neighboring structures. Mayor Jacobs felt that both the height and the setback should be simplified. Councilmember Bnmeyer believed that the placement of windows in a garage structure makes for architectural interest. Councilmember Velick agreed. Council came to the consensus that two-story garages should be allowed but with certain parameters for setback and height. They also agreed that pitch limitations under fifteen feet could use the two foot setback and those over fifteen feet had to meet the same setback requirements as those for pnncipal structures. Ms. Jeremiah added that literature to help residents better understand height and setback requirements was needed. 3. Review of Sidewalk/Trail Design Guidelines Council discussed a letter from Chnstie Stephanson dated April 8th Councilmember Bnmeyer said that guiding principles were already in place and does not want to see every sidewalk rediscussed as we move forward with implementation. Several councilmembers were concerned that revisiting this issue for this particular project would open the floodgate to speculation and appear to the public that the previously adopted plan is being adhered to inconsistently. Mr. Rardin stated that he had enough information to move forward and make adjustments based on the guiding principles. 4. Lawful Gambling—Trade Area Restriction The Trade Area Restnction on lawful gambling was discussed in terms of the outcome council wished to achieve. That outcome remains the same as when originally adopted, and is intended to ensure that profits derived from local residents gaming in local establishments supported local organizations and charities Representatives of the SLP Hockey Association and SLP Traveling Basketball Association were present and agreed with that premise Also discussed was the option of limiting licenses to those organizations who were based within the city limits of St. Louis Park. After discussion it was agreed that the TAR which allowed organizations in neighboring communities to operate in SLP was reasonable and did achieve council's objectives Study Session Minutes -3- April 8, 2002 Councilmember Nelson stated his opposition to lawful gambling. City Clerk, Cindy Reichert, also informed council that she would soon be meeting with representatives of the gambling associations currently operating to discuss forms and paperwork required by the ordinance. 5. Redistricting—Precincts and Polling Places Ms. Reichert presented a plan for precinct boundaries and polling locations to the City Council and indicated that if the plan as presented was acceptable to the council, it would be brought forward at the next regular meeting. Council asked questions specific to polling locations and voter access and after discussion indicated that they were in agreement with the proposed precinct configuration. 6. Developer Compliance • Councilmembers Sanger and Velick felt that developer compliance was not what it should be and would like staff to look at the issue and options the city may have for gaining compliance. 7. Architectural Standards The item was deferred to a meeting sometime in the future. 8. Communications Mr Meyer spoke of the upcoming Cultural Competency Forum to be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2002 • Mr. Meyer also reported that former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, is to speak at Beth El Synagogue at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:32 p.m. `~'1 /// Ci Clerk Ma.or