HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004/04/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES
ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
PARK ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
April 19, 2004
1. Call to Order
Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30pm
Council members present: John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, Sally Velick,
and Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present. City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Planning/Zoning
Supervisor (Ms Jeremiah), Director of Finance (Ms. McGann), City Engineer (Ms. Hagen),
Associate Planner (Ms. Grove), City Engineer (Mr. Olson); and Recording Secretary (Ms
Teagarden)
2. Presentations
The Mayor presented Janet Jeremiah, Planning/Zoning Supervisor, with a Certificate of
Appreciation plaque from the City of St Louis Park for her years of service to the city. She is
leaving to take a job in Eden Praine. The City Manager also celebrated her tenure of service
3. Approval of Minutes
a. City Council Study Session Minutes of March 29, 2004
Councilmember Santa: Page 1, Item 1, 2nd paragraph add Councilmember Santa will
serve as the elected official.
Mayor Jacobs noted others interested in being on the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
Corridor Study Group should contact City Clerk Cindy Reichert.
Councilmember Basill Page 4, last paragraph, are not being left out, should read are
being left out.
The minutes were approved as corrected
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
(Alternatively Motion to add or remove items trom the agenda, motion to move items from consent calendar to
regular agenda for discussion and to approve those items remaining on the consent calendar)
4a Motion to notify the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) that the City
Council does not waive the municipal tort liability limits for the annual insurance renewal
4b Motion to accept for filing the Planning Commission Minutes of March 17, 2004
4c Motion to accept for filing the Housing Authority Minutes of February 11, 2004
Council Meeting Minutes -2- Apnl 19, 2004
4d Motion to accept for filing the Housing Authonty Minutes of March 19, 2004
4e Motion to accept for the Parks &Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of February
18, 2004
4f Motion to accept Vendor Claims for filing (Supplement)
Motion by Councilmember Velick, second by Councilmember Sanger to approve Agenda and
Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion passed 6-0.
5. Boards and Commissions
Motion by Councilmember Finkelstein, second by Councilmember Sanger to appoint
commissioners as follows:
Community Education Advisory Council (CEAC): Kristin Piper
Police Advisory Commission. Evy Engrav-Lano, Brenda Hunter, Shayne Karasov
Motion passed 6-0.
The Mayor thanked everyone who interviewed for these commissions, saying that St. Louis Park
is remarkable for the number of people interested in serving by offenng their time and expertise
to make this a better place to live.
6. Public Hearings - None .
7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public - None
8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions
8a. Groves Private Activity Revenue Bond Refunding
Resolution No. 04-053
Groves Academy is requesting approval to refund outstanding Pnvate Activity Revenue
Bonds originally issued in 2001. Ms. McGann discussed that in 2001 the City of St Louis
Park issued the bonds in the amount of $5.4 million on behalf of Groves Academy. The
City is not liable or responsible for repayment of any associated bond debt. A public
heanng is not required for a refunding issue. John Utley from Kennedy & Graven and
representatives from Groves Academy were present at the meeting.
Motion by Councilmember Sanger, second by Councilmember Basill to approve
Resolution No. 04-053 authorizing the issuance, sale, and delivery of its Education
Facility Revenue Notes (Groves Academy Project), series 2004.
Motion passed 6-0.
Council Meeting Minutes -3- April 19, 2004
8b. Request by General Growth Properties, Inc. for a Major Amendment to
their Planned Unit Development to eliminate the previous theater approvals,
and approve modifications to the interior floor plan and exterior
enhancements to the existing building to accommodate a new fitness center
and a relocated/expanded TJ Maxx at Knollwood Mall, 8332 Highway 7
(Knollwood Mall), Case No. 04-07-PUD. Resolution No. 04-054
Ms. Grove presented a staff report. Councilmember Santa sought clarification regarding
the south side of mall, and noted there are very few changes to the parking lot redesign,
although new businesses are going into mall. The theater project had requiied walls on
36th Street, which are no longer part of the design. She admits it is a very challenging
buffer yard. It appears that upgrades on the north side façade will be incremental, as new
businesses come in. She also wondered about the hours of the fitness center, since the
entrance abuts the neighborhood.
Alan Young, General Manger of Knollwood Mall, 7580 Walnut Curve, Chanhassen
spoke on the proposed hours for the fitness center as 7am to 10pm. It will not be a 24-
hour facility, including weekends. Councilmember Finkelstein remarked hours change as
business changes. Mr. Young said the language of the lease is being negotiated, and the
accommodations of property. Businesses on the property are open past 10pm, such as
Appleby's, and he cited common business practice and the lease. Councilmember
Finkelstein was concerned about the fitness center facing the neighborhood center. The
Mayor wondered if there was something in the PUD that could limit the hours Ms
Grove suggested a revision to the resolution.
Councilmember Velick wondered if construction would affect surrounding business. Mr
Young responded there would be very little impact, as the vast majority will happen
inside the property, except the entrance work.
Councilmember Sanger mentioned she was glad to hear about the improvements. Her
concern is about nonconformities coming into compliance as soon as possible. It appears
those at Knollwood are not brought into greater compliance, but allowed to remain the
same She is concerned about the parking lot, the way it is laid out, wondering why the
compliance changes are not occurring now Ms Grove responded that the ordinance
does allow for conditions to be brought into greater compliance rather than complete
compliance When future enhancements or changes to the parking lot occur, it will
require that the storm water conditions be brought into compliance. Gen'l Growth is
working with the city on that issue, as well. Those are some of the conditions added to
the resolution.
Councilmember Santa said she has heard nothing but positive comments from the
neighborhood regarding this project.
Motion by Councilmember Santa seconded by Councilmember Velick to adopt
Resolution No. 04-054 approving the PUD major amendment subject to conditions as
stated in the resolution
Motion passed 6-0
Council Meeting Minutes -4- April 19, 2004
Councilmember Finkelstein commented on the health club hours, and Councilmember
Santa said they could be left as flexible. At a request for names of other new tenants, Mr.
Young mentioned TJ Max will be relocated as TJ Max and More, a company called
Beauty First, Caribou Coffee, and a restaurant called Asia Fresh.
8c. City Engineer's Report: Alley Paving—7600 & 7700 blocks of Edgebrook
Drive between Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Avenues.
Resolution No. 04-055
Mr. Olson commented on the petition from the residents on this block, and with 78% of
the property owner's approval, the request was made to pave the gravel alley with
concrete The alley abuts Edgebrook Park, one of the parcels owned by the City, that has
60% of the frontage of the alley. It will be specially assessed, generally 100% to
improved costs to benefiting properties. With that there is direct benefit (100% against
access property in footage, and those properties are the ones that have access to the alley)
and indirect benefit (30% of footage cost based on the fact property will see less dirt,
gravel). Staff met with the neighborhood, and after the presentation to 16 people (4
impacted by project), discussed how project carried out. The residents in adjacent block
expressed interest in getting their alley paved, and are seeking interest from their
neighbors.
Estimated cost for project is $38,600 to include cost of construction and 12% for City's
engineering and administration. Funding will be through special assessments, since the
City has 60% of frontage footage, we will pay approximately $23,000. Construction will
begin this summer upon approval of the resolution and acceptance of engineer's report.
Alley will be constructed with concrete, 6" thick, 10" in width. Upon approval, City
would propose a public hearing and assessment hearing for around June 7, 2004,
proceeding with construction in August.
Motion by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to adopt the
Resolution No. 04-055 that accepts the report, establishes the Improvement Project, and
sets a Public Hearing and Assessment Hearing date of June 7, 2004—Project No. 03-15.
Motion passed 6-0
9. Communications
The Mayor reminded everyone of the Youth Summit on April 29, 2004 - 5:30 p m held at
Jewish Community Center on Cedar Lake Road. The Summit will provide opportunity for any
young person 4th through 12th grade to come and talk about issues of interest to them. A
committee of both adults and children has met to pick the topics and train facilitators The kids
run the show; the kids talk and the adults don't. The Mayor said is a fascinating event, and what
the kids have to say in this community is truly remarkable, as well as their ideas and ability to
articulate. This is the 4th annual Summit in St. Louis Park, very collaborative event with all the
schools.
Councilmember Finkelstein remarked on the great spaghetti dinner at the Lennox Center on
Friday night, with good attendance.
Council Meeting Minutes -5- Apnl 19, 2004
The Mayor spoke of Canng Youth Awards last week always a moving event, to hear the kids'
stories and their community spirit, the effort they put into making this a better place, which
should be rebroadcast.
10. Adjournment
Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:15pm.
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