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Home My WebLink About2003/11/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF ST. LOUIS OFFICIAL MINUTES PARK CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 3, 2003 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The following Councilmembers were present at roll call: John Basill, Jim Brimeyer,Paul Omodt, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Councilmember Sally Velick was absent. Also present were the City Manager(Mr. Meyer); City Attorney(Mr. Scott); Community Development Director(Mr. Harmening); Police Sergeant(Ms. Dreier); Director of Finance(Ms. McGann); Human Resources Director(Ms. Gohman); Director of Parks and Recreation(Ms. Walsh); Environmental Coordinator(Mr. Vaughan); Recreation Superintendent(Mr. Birno); and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson). 2. Presentations: None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Minutes of October 20, 2003 The minutes were approved with the following changes: From Councilmember Santa: Item 8d,page 9,paragraph 1. Councilmember Santa thinks that Ms. O'Kane did not make a statement that she was harassed by the City but indicated she was harassed by her neighbor, therefore, delete she has been constantly harassed by the City, and Froth Councilmember Sanger: Item 8c, pages 6 and 7, paragraphs 1, 4, and 6 (on page 6) and paragraphs 1 and 2 (on page 7) correct the following names: Lou Shane to Lou Schoen; Ron Warner to Jake Werner; Judy Com to Judy Kahm; Michael Schup to Michael Shoop; and a resident to Susan Gross. 4. Approval of Agenda and Items on Consent Calendar NOTE. The Consent Calendar lists those items of business which are considered to be routine and/or which need no discussion.Consent items are acted upon by one motion.If discussion is desired by either a Councilmember or a member of the audience,that item may be moved to an appropnate section of the regular agenda for discussion 4a Approve 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 2252-03 setting 2004 fees called for by ordinance, approve the summary and authorize summary publication 4b Approve 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2253-03 amending Section 1-19 of the St. Louis Park Code of Ordinances relating to fees and the process whereby fees are established, approve the summary and authorize summary publication Council Meeting Minutes -2- November 3, 2003 4c Accept for filing Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of May 21, 2003 4d Accept for filing Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of July 9, 2003 4e Accept for filing Board of Zoning Appeals Minutes of September 25, 2003 4f Adopt Resolution No. 03-160 that accepts this report considering major equipment replacement scheduled and budgeted for 2004 4g Accept for filing Telecommunications Advisory Commission of January 23, 2003 4h Accept for filing Telecommunications Advisory Commission of May 8, 2003 4i Accept for filing Telecommunications Advisory Commission of July 24, 2003 4j Adopt Resolution No. 03-161 that declares the petition adequate for the purposes of preparing a formal City Engineer's Report on the feasibility and costs associated with a proposed alley construction project in the 4200 block of Ottawa Avenue 4k Approve the Subordination Agreement between U.S. Bank National Association, the City of St. Louis Park, and the St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority and Excelsior &Grand II LLC relative to the Excelsior and Grand Phase II Project. 41 Approve Second reading of Ordinance No. 2254-03 to vacate alley north of Block 7 Oak Park Village originally platted in 1887 Rearrangement of St. Louis Park plat, to approve summary and authorize publication CASE NO. 03-63-VAC, approve the summary and authorize summary publication 4m Approve Second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2255-03 amending St. Louis Park Ordinance Code(Zoning)relating to defining ornamental structures and standards for their size and placement in yards; approve summary ordinance and authorize publication Case No. 03-45-ZA 4n Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute Cooperative Agreement for Elmwood Area Redevelopment Project with Hennepin County 4o Adopt Resolution No. 03-162 authorizing installation and special assessment of a fire sprinkler system at 6215-6225 Cambridge Street and directing the Mayor and City Manager to execute a special assessment agreement with the property owner 4p Adopt Resolution No. 03-163 accepting construction of the Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park—Sunram construction 4q Adopt Resolution No. 03-164 accepting construction work on the 2002 Sidewalk construction project—Thomas and Sons 4r Adopt Resolution No. 03-157 accepting work on entrance signs—Tekton Construction 4s Accept vendor claims for filing 4t Approve Stormwater Facility Maintenance Declaration with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to inspect and maintain Lamplighter Pond It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed 6-0. Council Meeting Minutes -3- November 3, 2003 5. Boards and Commissions: None 6. Public Hearings 6a. Year 2003 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Police Sergeant Lori Dreier reported on the 2003 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. As a recipient of a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program award, the St. Louis Park Police Department is requesting disbursement of$10,896.00 in grant funds from the US Department of Justice to be used for career development training for department personnel. A public hearing is held 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. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to approve grant fund award. The motion passed 6-0. 6b. Public Hearing to Consider 2004 Utility Rates Director of Finance Jean McGann reported on 2004 utility rates. This is the first reading of an ordinance amending rates charged for water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utility. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. Councilmember Santa asked if water fees and sewer fees are tied together, and Ms. McGann said the water and sewer fees are tied together in the respect that sewer fees are based on winter consumption of water, for example, if one sprinkles their lawn a lot during the summer, one is not charged a higher sewer fee because of that. Councilmember Sanger asked about cash flow balances being maintained for at least a few months reserve, and Ms. McGann said for each of these funds the City estimates retaining a three-month cash flow reserve. It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to approve 1s1 reading and set second reading for November 17, 2003. The motion passed 6-0. 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public: None Council Meeting Minutes -4- November 3, 2003 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions 8a. Establishing employer contribution_for employer-provider cafeteria style benefit programs for 2004. Resolution No. 03-158 Director of Human Resources Nancy Gohman presented a report regarding employer contribution to the Cafeteria Benefit Plan; the amount is based on market and increased insurance premiums. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to adopt Resolution No. 03-158 approving a $45/mo. increase in the employer contribution for the cafeteria benefit plan for 2004. The motion passed 6-0. Councilmembers Basill and Sanger thanked Ms. Gohman for her extraordinary work on the Cafeteria Benefit Plan, and Council is very pleased with the outcome of her negotiation efforts. 8b. Appointment of Thomas K. Harmening as Interim City Manager effective November 17,2003. Resolution No. 03-159 Ms. Gohman reported on the resolution to appoint Tom Harmening as Interim City Manager effective November 17, 2003. Ms. Gohman said approval will grant Mr. Harmening the full authority to act as City Manager on behalf of the City of St. Louis Park, along with the authority to act as Executive Director of the Housing Authority, Economic Development Authority, and the financial authority that is wrapped in an interim position. It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to adopt Resolution No. 03-159 appointing Thomas K Harmening as Interim City Manager effective November 17, 2003. The motion passed 6-0. 8c. First reading of the Tree Ordinance Revisions Director of Parks and Recreation Cindy Walsh reported on an ordinance that is being revised to reflect changes in the maintenance and removal costs for boulevard trees. Ms. Walsh listed transitional measures, and said the proposed fee policy will be presented to the Council on November 17, 2003. It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve first reading and set second reading for November 17`y. The motion passed 6-0. Councilmember Sanger said the extent of compliance should be monitored, along with problems in turning this over to residents; Mayor Jacobs agreed. Council Meeting Minutes -5- November 3, 2003 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs urged residents to vote on November 4th. Mayor Jacobs extended his appreciation to those who will serve as election judges on election day. 10. Adjournment Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. 9,..-4.4 ? g..a....--/----j— (. . 9(LtObi City Clerk May) ay r 4