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Home My WebLink About2002/09/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session flISTI CTY LOUIOF S OFFICIAL MINUTES RK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION September 23, 2002 The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m. Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Susan Sanger, Sally Velick, Susan Santa, Chris Nelson, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Mr Pires); Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin); Utility Superintendent (Mr. Anderson); Recreation Superintendent (Mr. Birno); Finance Director(Ms. McGann); and City Clerk (Ms. Reichert). 1. Metropolitan Council Presentation Frank Hornstein, Met Council Representative from Distnct 6, presented `Blueprint 2030: A Plan for Growth and Change" to the council. Mr. Hornstein explained that the document was intended to provide direction to decision makers as the region continues to grow and develop over the next several decades. The blueprint is in draft form and he invited council to contact him at any time to offer their input. Also present was Ann Beckman, Manager of Regional Growth Strategy for the Met Council. Ann is the Senior staff member in charge of Blueprint 2030. She gave a background of the public process that has been used in creating the blueprint to this point. She stated that the goal is to guide, but not mandate, regional development. She also commended the City of St Louis Park for their strong leadership and for serving as a model of modern development in the region. Councilmember Santa stated that availability of effective transportation is of great concern to the residents of St. Louis Park. She commented that consistent bus routes and schedules were needed and pointed out problems with some of the routes planned for SLP that had not come to fruition. Councilmember Sanger asked if in addition to direction for inclusion of new housing stock, if the plan included a focus on preserving and improving existing housing stock. Ms. Beckman said that adaptive reuse is indeed an important tool for development of adequate housing in the region and that the focus was clear in the report. Councilmember Sanger also asked if there was any thought given to re-routing freight rail to areas outside the metropolitan area rather than routing freight through populated areas. She believed that increased freight rail traffic would be a detriment to the community. Mayor Jacobs asked what role the Met Council would play in facilitating discussions between communities and constituents. Mr. Hornstein said that the Met Council's role would be a "convening" role, bring groups together who share common concerns. Councilmember Sanger asked if the Met Council would be developing incentives for growth in availability of affordable housing. Mr. Hornstein said that the issue of affordable housing was somewhat divisive with members of the Met council on both sides of the issue. He personally believed that affordable housing issues have become regional issues with regional expectations. He also believed regional expectations deserved regional funding. Study Session Minutes -2- September 23, 2002 Mr. Meyer asked Councilmembers if they wanted to put together a policy statement regarding the report. Councilmember Sanger responded that she would be more comfortable making that decision after she had had time to review the plan. Other Councilmembers agreed. Councilmember Bnmeyer asked what, other than increasing building density or subsidizing purchase price of homes, could be done to create "affordable" housing. Mr. Hornstein believed that there were no other options. Ms. Beckman believed that it was important for communities to reinvest and rebuild to maintain housing stock at a more affordable level. He said that more people need to recognize that actions to not keep up with rhetoric and it must be recognized that housing problems are public, not private, sector issues deserving of public sector funding. 2. Sanitary Sewer City Public Works staff met with Council to discuss the implementation of a sanitary sewer system rehabilitation program. Mr. Anderson, Utilities Superintendent, began by presenting a series of storyboards which showed the city's sewer system, and locations of district interceptors and lift stations. Councilmember Bnmeyer believed the rehab program should be undertaken but did not want any stormwater funds to go toward funding the sanitary sewer rehab. Councilmember Nelson agreed that funds should not be intermingled. Councilmember Sanger asked if it would be prudent to raise rates to fund the rehab program and future infrastructure repair and development. Mr. Meyer stated that the current rate structure meets current needs, including the proposed rehab program. He also said that there had been a dramatic fluctuation in MCES charges. Within the Sanitary Sewer fund, there were reserves for cash flow reserve, rate stabilization reserve (MCES) and funds to take care of unexpected capital problems. Councilmember Santa asked abut the condition of the lift stations. Mr. Anderson responded that a regular replacement program to ensure that the lift stations remain functional is already a part of the Public Works operating budget 3. Capital Improvement Program Ms. McGann presented two options for funding the CIP at various levels. Councilmembers asked several questions relative to the funding mechanisms, tax levy and projects to be included under each option. Following discussion, Mr. Meyer informed the council that they would be giving initial approval to the CIP at the meeting of October 7th, but that the discussion on funding the projects contained in the CIP would continue at a future meeting. 4. SLP Little League Mr. Birno gave an overview to council of the past and present structure of baseball leagues and associations in St. Louis Park. He informed Council that the Parks and Recreation Commission would be meeting in the near future with representatives of a newly formed baseball group that Study Session Minutes -3- September 23, 2002 was requesting formal recognition and the associated field privileges that go with that recognition He distnbuted a copy of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission policy on sports associations and stated that following that meeting another report would be made to the council informing them of the decision of the Parks and Recreation Advisory commission. Council commended the staff and members of the SLP Baseball Association for their hard work in combining the Park South and Park National Little Leagues into a single association and expressed their support for a single baseball program recognizing the needs of all players in the community. 5. Detached Garages Ms. Jeremiah opened the discussion with a brief overview of the process that had taken place to date in modifying the city's ordinance. Councilmember Sanger asked that the conversation be limited to issues that had come up at 1st reading, specifically the issue she would like addressed is that there is no maximum square footage identified in the ordinance. She was not sure that the other controls placed in the ordinance would be adequate for limiting square footage and believed a maximum area should be stated. Janet responded by identifying other controls in place that would limit maximum square footage and also suggested that a CUP could be required for structures that reach a certain level of square footage area. This would allow for greater flexibility in granting or denying approvals based on a case-by-case review. Following discussion Ms. Jeremiah recapped stating that she had heard the council ask that the 800 foot ground floor area be retained, that the principal structure setback should be maintained and that the garage should remain subordinate to the principal structure. She also offered to bring back language that would allow for the CUP approval process to be built into the ordinance. Councilmember Sanger suggested that no windows should be allowed on the second floor of any garages which would meet the ordinance requirements to allow a second story. After discussion council asked that that provision also be added to the ordinance. Mr. Meyer suggested the City Attorney be contacted to made a determination as to whether the changes between 1st and 2nd reading were substantive enough to require a second public hearing. Mr. Jeremiah also stated that she would be preparing a written report with an analysis of the changes to the ordinance from when first presented to second reading. 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:36 p.m. % _ . � C Clerk .yor a