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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004/08/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF ST. LOUIS OFFICIAL MINUTES PARK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION August 23, 2004 The meeting convened at 6.30 p.m Councilmembers present were John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, Sally Velick, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Community Development Director(Mr. Locke), Planning and Zoning Coordinator(Ms McGonigal), Police Chief(Mr. Luse), Police Captain (Mr. Ortner), Operations Superintendent (Mr. Hanson), Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin), and City Clerk (Ms. Reichert). 1. Brookside Community Center Council and staff met at the Brookside Community Center to view the site. Following the site visit council returned to city hall and reconvened at 7:23 p.m. Councilmember Basill inquired about the financial impact of alternative plans for the site. Mr. Locke explained the development alternatives in terms of the number of single family units and the cost of public assistance that would be needed for each proposal. Councilmember Velick felt the density as originally proposed did not fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. Mayor Jacobs stated that there was hardly any traffic currently in the area and adding density would cause impact traffic flow. Councilmember Sanger stated that the estimated$1 8 million amount was based on the concept of the Independent School Distnct 281 without consideration for needs of neighborhoods or whether the Council would approve rezoning of the property to allow for the proposed development. Councilmember Finklestein stated that it was too late to renegotiate pnce, and he believed that development could be done on the site which worked with the school's asking price. He felt the city should keep in mind the school's budget situation. Councilmember Sanger suggested that more single family homes could be provided on the site if the school reduced the asking price and the City provided tax increment financing. Councilmember Santa felt they should keep the discussion to the best use of the property. Re- use of the school building would keep the historic character of the neighborhood intact. She liked the idea of"ramping down" the building heights and density by renovating the school, then placing condos next to it and single family homes along the Webster Street. Mayor Jacobs felt they should save the building and go with the five single family homes facing Webster Avenue. Councilmember Finkelstein did not want to use tax increment financing on the Study Session Minutes - 2 - August 23, 2004 site if we did not have to. Councilmember Omodt stated that he preferred single family homes on the site. Mr. Harmening stated that the school district may be willing to grant more time to get the deal closed. He would like to communicate to the school distnct that the city needs to do due diligence. He also stated that they would like to do a "but-for" analysis. Councilmember Basill inquired about the timing and Mr. Locke stated that Steve Bubul of Kennedy & Graven suggested refraining from re-zoning the site until the City receives a full tax increment financing analysis. Councilmember Omodt suggested that they discuss the working relationship with the School Board at a future meeting. Mr. Harmening reported that he has already talked to the distnct superintendent about holding a facilitated workshop wit both Council and the School Board. Councilmember Basill suggested that council direct staff to work with Option#1 as presented as it contained the most single family homes on the site, while keeping the TIF contnbution required by the city to facilitate the development. Mr. Harmening recapped the council direction received stating that staff would be coming back to council at a future meeting with a detailed pro-forma for option #1. 2. Snow Removal Operation Mr. Harmening reported on last snow season's operations with the changes that were implemented and also reviewed the enforcement policy. Mayor Jacobs felt the current practice was okay and Councilmember Finkelstein congratulated staff on the job well done with on plowing the previous year. Councilmember Basill felt that ticketing should be more aggressive. Councilmember Sanger inquired if compliance was better or worse than before. Mr. Hanson replied that there are more cars on the street that are not in compliance before 8 a.m. Chief Luse felt that the question in policy was whether they tagged cars for being on the street when there is more than three inches of snow or when the plows go around cars left on the street. After discussion council and staff agreed that the tngger for ticketing should be violation of the 3-inch snow level parking ban. It was also agreed that the Police Department would need to use discretion about timing of when tickets are issued based upon whether police personnel were occupied dealing with more pressing emergency situations. This issue will be revisited issue again after the first of the year. Mr. Harmening felt that public education was key and a resolution clarifying the policy should be passed. Study Session Minutes - 3 - August 23, 2004 3. 2005 Budget Ms McGann presented a narrative descnption of the budget to Council Councilmember Velick inquired if the six percent levy would cover the needs of the City. Ms. McGann replied that it would. Council discussed revisions to the proposed 2005 budget and increases in funding of non-profit organizations. Councilmember Finkelstein would like to see a funding source created for public art Councilmember Sanger inquired whether inspection fees for one and two family rental housing would cover the cost of the program. Ms. McGann said she would follow-up on that and the budget would be coming back to Council on Sept. 7th 4. Communications Council discussed an appointment to the Planning Commission. 5. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. . L, Ci Clerk M. or I