Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003/04/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ffCTY OFFICIAL MINUTES irLouOiFs CITY COUNCIL MEETING RK ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA April 21,2003 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m The following Councilmembers were present at roll call. Jim Brimeyer, Paul Omodt, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, Sally Velick, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Councilmember Chris Nelson was absent. Also present were the City Manager(Mr. Meyer); City Attorney (Mr. Scott); Community Development Director(Mr. Harmening); Finance Director(Ms. McGann); Human Resources Director (Ms. Gohman); and Recording Secretary (Ms. Samson). 2. Presentations 3. Approval of Minutes a. City Council Minutes of April 7, 2003 The minutes were approved as presented. b. City Council Special Study Session minutes of April 7, 2003 City Manager Charlie Meyer requested that these minutes be withdrawn and resubmitted at the May 5, 2003 City Council meeting. c. City Council Special Study Session Minutes of March 17, 2003 The minutes were approved as presented. d. Housing Summit Minutes of April 14, 2003 From Councilmember Santa: Under Housing Summit, the last sentence, it should state that representatives were not selected for the steering committee. 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 appropriate section of the regular agenda for discussion 4a Adopt second reading of Ordinance No. 2240-03 adopting optional chapters of the Minnesota Building Code to become effective 15 days following publication 4b Adopt Resolution No. 03-042 approving the 2003 neighborhood revitalization grants for 21 neighborhoods and authorizing the City Manager to execute grant agreements with each neighborhood Council Meeting Minutes -2- Apnl 21, 2003 4c Approve Second Reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2241-03 rezoning the eastern 40 feet of the M-X Mixed-Use District at the northeast quadrant of Park Commons Drive and Grand Way to R-C High-Density Residential subject to approval of the Comprehensive Plan amendment by the Metropolitan Council, approve the summary ordinance, and authonze publication. Case No. 03-11-Z 4d Adopt Resolution No. 03-043 for alley paving the 2700 block between Raleigh and Salem Avenues that accepts the report, establishes the Improvement Project, directs staff to sponsor an informational meeting with abutting property owners, and sets a Public Hearing and Assessment Hearing date of May 19, 2003 4e Accept the Board of Zoning Appeals Minutes of February 27, 2003 4f Accept the Housing Authority Minutes of March 12, 2003 4g Accept Vendor Claims for filing It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion passed 6-0. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed 6-0. 5. Boards and Commissions: None 6. Public Hearings Case No. 03-01-VAR: Walser Ford Staff presented a report on Walser Ford's ("Walser") request. The Applicant is proposing to remove some of the signage as a result of their variance application Staff is recommending the Council uphold the decision of BOZA to deny Walser's application for a variance. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. Don Schilling, Director of Facilities for Walser Automotive Group, and Barbara Jench, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Walser Automotive Group, 5501 Excelsior Blvd., addressed the Council. Mr. Schilling said he found records from 1984 when Walser entered into a development agreement on their current site, in the form of a PUD; and, at that time, the owner signed a plan with that PUD, which approved signage for 1,500 square feet and up to five pylon signs. Mr. Schilling said two separate businesses operate on the premise, and a pending tenant may move in if Walser can provide adequate signage for that tenant's needs. The tenant's name is Walser Collision and Glass Group, however, the two Walser businesses are distinct entities. Mr. Schilling asked the Council to consider if there might be a middle ground in order for Walser to retain their most recent proposal for signage. Council Meeting Minutes -3- April 21, 2003 Ms. Jench said Walser is considering acquiring adjacent properties and then, perhaps, look at a PUD for the contiguous properties. Ms. Jench requested an interim move be made by the City while Walser considers the purchase of the other properties and if Walser should subsequently apply for a PUD. She provided a presentation regarding Walser's signage as motorists approach from various directions. Mayor Jacobs asked Staff about a consideration for Walser as a multi-tenant facility. Staff said that was considered as one option, however, a body shop is not a listed use, i.e., it is exempt under a provision of the ordinance. Councilmember Bnmeyer asked: What is the impact of the 1984 PUD? Planning and Zoning Supervisor Janet Jeremiah said Walser is not in conformance with the old sign plan, and the 1984 PUD was approved by Special Permit, which has since been amended. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. Ms. Jeremiah added that a multi-tenant classification would only allow for additional wall signage, the reader board would still be required to be removed. Councilmember Sanger would like to make a motion that the findings of BOZA be upheld and, she added, Council should not make distinctions in signage ordinances based on different business units and subsidiaries of one large parent corporation. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Velick, to uphold the decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals to deny Walser Ford's application for a variance to section 36-362(f)(20) of the ordinance code to allow more sign area than allowed by code for the property located at 3555 Hwy 100. Councilmember Bnmeyer said the variance is too big to ignore. Ms. Jeremiah said no permit has been located for the reader board and the old sign plan specifically stated that the reader board was not allowed. Mr. Schilling stepped forward and presented a document dated November 3, 1994. Ms. Jeremiah said the document appeared to be an electncal permit to update the wiring on the reader board. If the original PUD allowed a reader board, then Councilmember Bnmeyer would prefer to table this item for two weeks. Ms. Jench said it is the Applicant's understanding that a permit was issued for a freestanding permanent sign. She said the signage files the Applicant has correspond with invoices for the reader board; the invoices total $68,000.00. It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to table this item. Councilmember Sanger said she will withdraw her motion. Council Meeting Minutes -4- April 21, 2003 Councilmember Brimeyer would like to extend this for two weeks to check out the documentation. Councilmember Sanger would like Staff to determine what the permit actually approved, and does it make any difference in the analysis that Staff has presented to Council thus far. Councilmember Sanger withdrew her original motion It was moved by Councilmember Brimeyer, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to continue for two weeks. The motion passed 6-0. 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public: None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions 8a. Labor Agreement with Firefighters for 1/1/03 through 12/31/03 Resolution No. 03-044 Director of Human Resources Nancy Gohman said this is the fifth and final contract for 2003. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 03-044 approving a Labor Agreement between the City and International Association of Firefighters Local 993, establishing terms and conditions of employment for one year 1/1/03— 12/31/03. The motion passed 6-0. 8b. Sale of$4,145,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2003A Resolution No. 045 Director of Finance Jean McGann said, if approved, the proceeds of the bond sale will be used to fund trails, parks, and other recreational improvements in the City. Mr. Meyer stated that Moody's reaffirmed the City's AA-1 rating, and he said Moody's investigation and subsequent rating were predicated on the approach the City is taking to manage the City budget for 2004 and beyond. Councilmember Santa wanted to venfy that the projects being funded have already been started, are let for bid, or already completed Ms. McGann responded, yes, all projects comply with the proposed legislation. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 045 awarding the sale of bonds. The motion passed 6-0. Council Meeting Minutes -5- April 21, 2003 9. Communications From the Mayor: Mayor Jacobs said the Lenox Community Center will have its spaghetti dinner on Friday, Apnl 25`h. 10. Adjournment Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. 5v:..4.42:-._10 .g.a.,-,..41----j— 4 iCi S(./,(— City Clerk Ma or