HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005/10/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES
ST. LOUIS
PARK CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA
OCTOBER 17, 2005
1. Call to Order
Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:31 pm.
Council members present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, Jim Bnmeyer, Phil Finkelstein, Paul
Omodt, Susan Sanger and Sue Santa
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), City Attorney(Mr. Jamnik), Community
Development Director(Mr. Locke), Engineering Development Manager(Jim Olson), Housing
Program Coordinator(Kathy Larsen), Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin) and Recording
Secretary(Ms. Stegora-Peterson).
2. Presentations -None
3. Approval of Minutes-None
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. 2301-05 setting 2006 fees called for by
ordinance, approve the summary and authorize summary publication
4b. Approve second reading of Ordinance No. 2302-05 authorizing payment of
claims by the Finance Director, approve the summary and authorize summary
publication.
4c. Adopt Resolution No. 05-143 to enter into a Preliminary Agreement with the
Minnesota Department of Transportation for the replacement of a traffic control
system on Trunk Highway 7 at Aquila Avenue.
4d. Adopt Resolution No. 05-144 appointing a responsible authority and data practices
compliance officer.
4e. Adopt Resolution No. 05-145 authorizing final payment in the amount of
$15,659.16 for completion of contract sealcoating—Allied Blacktop Company
(City Contract No. 82-05)
4f. Adopt Resolution No. 05-146 authorizing a Hennepin County Grant Agreement
to fund the City's curbside recycling program.
4g. Approve 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 2303-05 increasing the Mayor and
Councilmembers salaries, effective January 1, 2006.
4h. Accept Vendor Claim report for filing (supplement)
It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to approve
the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar.
The motion passed 7-0.
Council Meeting Minutes -2- October 17, 2005
5. Boards and Commissions-None
6. Public Hearings
6a Public Hearing on the Levying of Assessments for Delinquent Fees and Charges
Ms. McGann presented the staff report.
Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers present. The public hearing was closed.
It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Sanger adopt
Resolution No. 05-141 to assess delinquent water, sewer, refuse and other fees and
charges.
The motion passed 7-0.
6b Public Hearing and Assessment Hearing: Alley Paving—2900 block of
Ottawa and Princeton Avenue
Mr. Olson presented the staff report.
Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing.
Mark Brandon, 4806 Minnetonka Blvd, indicated his building had 40-45 feet of frontage
and felt he shouldn't be assessed for 65 feet. He only used the garage for winter storage
and didn't have daily access. He argued he had no greater use than the other properties
that had 40-45 feet of assessed value and would like the fees reduced comparably.
Mr. Olson stated the policy was to assess properties based on abutting footage. He had an
irregular property line along the alley. Staff used 65 feet to determine the assessment.
Mayor Jacobs asked if they changed the assessment for this parcel, would it change
assessments for everyone? Mr. Olson replied yes.
Councilmember Omodt asked what Mr. Brandon felt was fair. Mr. Brandon replied he
felt he had a 40-45 foot area fronting the alley.
Councilmember Sanger indicated she was familiar with the garage. She requested staff
review this and make sure the policy was applied in a consistent way, given the unusual
nature of the garage and where it was situated.
Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing.
It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Basil!to adopt
Resolution No. 05-142 ordering the construction of a concrete alley in the 2900 block of
Ottawa and Princeton Avenue, Project No. 2005-1800, approving plans and
specifications and authorizing receipt of bids.
The motion passed 7-0.
Council Meeting Minutes -3- October 17, 2005
It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt to adopt the
attached resolution establishing the assessment, with potential modification of the
assessment for Mr. Brandon's property, should it be determined a change was necessary,
for Project No. 2005-1800.
Councilmember Finkelstein didn't believe that could be done. It needed to be a set assessment.
Mr. Jamnik stated that the resolution established the assessments. If they change one of
the assessments, all of them changed. The preferred method would be to table the item.
Councilmember Sanger withdrew the motion.
It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt to table the
item for two weeks,pending review of the assessments for the project.
The motion passed 7-0.
7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None
8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions
8a Consideration of the use of excess public land to address the need for"move
up" homes for families
Mr. Locke presented the staff report.
Ms. Larsen discussed technical analysis of each parcel. She indicated the studies for the
parcels cost just under$27,000.
Mayor Jacobs thanked people for attending and reviewed expectations for public comment.
Richard Kelber, 2600 Monterey, stated environmental concerns about building on some
of the parcels with wetlands(2600 Natchez) and felt aesthetic and environmental
considerations were not given enough weight.
Deborah Fowler, 2605 Natchez, wanted to know when a vote would be taken, and how
Councilmembers and candidates would be voting on the issue. She was opposed to the
sale of 2600 Natchez because of green space, woodlands and wildlife concerns and didn't
make economic sense.
Billy Ellis, 4253 Browndale Av, indicated kids utilized the Browndale property frequently
and neighbors interact there. This decision is irreversible. If they build 17 homes, they
don't make much of a footprint out of 12,000 homes. The green space is critical.
Shane Ellis, 4253 Browndale Av, stated that he plays with friends at Browndale Park and
has developed memories there. It would negatively affect many in the community.
Council Meeting Minutes -4- October 17, 2005
Bridgid O'Hara Hoppman, 4324 Coolidge Av,represented Browndale and commented that
she was not sure the issue of move-up housing was still pressing. Three houses on her
block had been on the market for 60 days or longer. She believed this lot should be tabled.
Malcolm Chatfield, 4252 Toledo Av S, stated he was opposed to the sale of the parcel on
Morningside because it was unique and integral to the park. This decision cannot be
reversed. This was a legacy decision and hoped they would retain the parkland for the City.
Mike Foley, 5100 Morningside, opposed sale of Morningside parcel because he didn't
want parkland diminished to make a few extra dollars in taxes.
Peter Lenzen, 4300 Browndale Av, indicated he was opposed to the sale of Morningside
parcel because they didn't have a lot of parkland. Browndale had a higher amount of
children than other neighborhoods. He asked if affordability had been taken into
consideration with this.
Jeff Fisher, 4068 Toledo Av S, stated he used this parcel (4525 Morningside) as a part of
the park and believed it was important because of the trees and shade. 200 people signed a
petition. Only one family would benefit if this were sold, all residents benefit if it was kept
as a park.
Maureen Febel, 4312 Browndale Av, suggested that the four lots be taken off the table.
A realtor indicated 46 homes were for sale in St. Louis Park that fit the task force
parameters for move-up housing and 3/4 were affordable. People were also doing
renovations on homes. That didn't affect green space.
Gloria Niehans, 4331 Browndale Av, indicated she agreed with previous speakers
regarding 4525 Morningside. This lot was distinctive because it was grassy and shaded
and used by the neighborhood. It was an integral part of the park. There are other ways
of providing move-up housing, including remodeling. She proposed this be formally
added to the park.
Patsy Monson, 4240 Browndale Av, stated she would like to know the position of
Councilmembers before the election. She asked Ms. Larsen if her totals of residents
opposed included those who had signed the petition from Browndale neighborhood? Ms.
Larsen replied the total was of calls, Emails and letters she had received. She noted in
the summary of public comments which petitions had been received.
Ms. Monson believed the petitioners should have been included in the percentages.
When they indicate they had numerous parties interested in buying parcels, was that
different people for each parcel? Ms. Larsen replied some individuals were interested in
one parcel and others were interested in more than one.
Glen Sorenson, 4340 Browndale Av, agreed with previous comments regarding
Morningside parcel. It is a great place and hundreds of kids use the park. No other
neighborhood has a higher population with a lower percentage of parks and open space
and commercial land than Browndale. He also had concerns about safety.
Council Meeting Minutes -5- October 17, 2005
John Lawson, 4320 Browndale Av, agreed with previous comments regarding
Morningside parcel and added he considered this parcel part of the park and was shocked
it was not. He recalled history of the street and parcel. He urged the Council to make the
land part of the park.
Susan Cantor, 4249 Utica Av S, stated she was opposed to the sale of the Morningside
parcel. The shade on the lot was important. Selling this land penalized those who were
already committed to St. Louis Park and staying in the neighborhood.
Man Salveson, 4309 Browndale Av, is opposed to the sale. She would like to know what
the money was going toward. The lot will sell for$300-350,000, if the money goes back
to benefit the park, the neighborhood would like to use the money to buy the parcel and
keep it vacant. She questioned if there was demand for a new home or move-up homes?
They need to help middle-class residents stay without developing these properties. When
they change the compositions of the parcels, they can never get them back. They are
environment assets to the community. In 2006 they are going to be reviewing the seven
visions. One is whether or not to include health and environment in the visions. They
should talk about health and environment before they vote and take the controversial
parcels off the list.
Ruth Steege, 2530 Flag Av,presented a petition from Cedar Manor. She was pleased the
recommendation was to pull that parcel.
David Hinze, 2550 Pennsylvania, stated he moved from South Minneapolis because of
the wooded area behind his house. He asked that the Council look at the property and
aesthetic considerations before selling them. Mayor Jacobs responded they had.
Gary McGurgan, 4164 Xenwood Av S, stated support for selling the parcels because many
families with children on his block had moved out. He agreed with the initiative to look for
move-up housing, and thought these were great places to do that. The task force did a good
job and pointed out clearly that the lots were acquired for reasons that were no longer valid.
Stuart Brodsky, 2811 Huntington Av, stated he was not sure they had excess green space
and play space, which was different from excess land. Fern Hill was important to him
and he'd hate to see it go away(2600 Natchez).
JC Beckstrand, 4386 Wooddale Av, indicated he was opposed to the sale of Morningside
parcel because the communities were dying by"overdevelopment disease" and this would
be losing a little of what they had. The area had been left for the use of the community.
What he did not see in the Task Force report was criteria for removing space that shouldn't
be there. He asked they consider a criteria, such as if it was adjacent to parkland. Hennepin
County considered this Park district area. They should consider other options for people to
move out of existing homes.
John Madole, 5617 Wood Lane, stated he supported keeping the Wood Lane site open
space. The philosophy of in-fill development was good. There are a number of sites that
need to be removed from the list. There needs to be balance between development and
open space. The Watershed District wants to purchase the land, which was reason enough
for this to be removed from the sale list.
Council Meeting Minutes -6- October 17, 2005
Kate Sage, 5617 Wood Lane, acknowledged the City for initiating a legacy of creating
the Wood Lane lot as open space. It was something to be honored and continued. The
Watershed wants to buy the lot,which would honor the original intent of the City and
keep it open space. Everyone would win.
Betty Hanson, 4359 Brook Av S, indicated she had used the lot in Browndale for many
years. They needed the green space and children use it. She wondered if they needed to
sell the lot with all of the condos being built and people putting additions on. The lot was
important to the neighborhood.
George Petros, 5637 Wood Lane, stated he shared the environmental concerns previously
stated. None of these sites were sites he would want to put housing on,by railroad tracks,
building on a slab and restricting the footprint of the properties. They should be left as-is
and kids can use them. The economics were not there to build houses on these sites and
the homes would be similar to what people already had. He also hoped they asked if the
sites met the criteria of move-up housing and the economics of providing housing for
people to move-up to. He never saw reasons why people move out of St. Louis Park, and
they should focus on keeping people in St. Louis Park.
Adam Ruggiero, 3244 Webster Av S, indicated he was a journalist at the University of
Minnesota covering this issue. He grew up in St. Louis Park and took a lot of pride in being
a citizen. What amount of public opposition, if any, is sufficient to block the development?
Mayor Jacobs replied they did not know, and that he and the Council had been given a lot to
think about when trying to make this decision. If a decision had been made, they wouldn't
have had this meeting and they needed to hear from people before making a decision.
Dan Breyak, 4306 Browndale Av, stated that the potential sale of this parcel
(Morningside)was based on Park and Rec. Board findings that were over ten years old,
saying that this was not an integral part of the park. The neighborhood vehemently
disagreed with those findings. They should take usage stats. 56 kids live on Browndale
Avenue from Morningside to 43rd. You will find many community events in that park.
Neighborhood parks are planned and built for the enrichment and betterment of the
neighborhood they are placed in. The neighborhood had spoken loud and clear that they
want to keep the park as it is.
John Heitzinger, 3828 Joppa Av,believed this had been an open process with a lot of
opportunity for people to get information and express opinions and the task force did a
wonderful job. He was looking for move-up housing. He reviewed each parcel and
concurred with task force recommendations and technical funding, although he felt in
some instances they should construct fewer homes. Regarding the Browndale site,many
people were vocal about opposition. He viewed that site about 30 times over the last few
months and there was a lot of activity in the neighborhood,but he had never seen a single
person on that lot. He knew people in that neighborhood that didn't want to speak
because of the vocal group in the neighborhood and they were intimidated. The sales
process made sense with design guidelines and objective criteria. Price didn't indicate if
a house was a move-up house, it indicated demand. He hoped they looked at the
community in its entirety.
Council Meeting Minutes -7- October 17, 2005
John Ullmann, 5622 Wood Lane, stated he and his wife were opposed to selling the lot at
Wood Lane. He was disappointed with staff's inability of being a neutral broker on this
issue. The property on Wood Lane was not surplus or excess property because it had a
purpose. The people who determined this said that there was an urgency to buy that
property because there was such a demand to overdevelop along the creek. He believed
the public policy issue had been mis-framed throughout this process. The process was
not to find some land to sell that somebody would want to buy. When they put that piece
of property into a public sector, the City Council they should honor that. If five residents
oppose the sale of the lot, it shouldn't be sold.
Nancy Gibson, 2712 Glenhurst Av, indicated she was proud of the residents for wanting
to save open space and green space. She looked at the 2600 Natchez site and was
disgusted by the amount garbage at that site and invited homeowners to help clean up.
She asked that they reframe the issue and think of some of the parcels as opportunities for
green space and open space.
Amy Dvorak, 6019 Minnetonka Blvd, stated she didn't have the luxury of having green
space and was thankful to have a sidewalk. She thought the excess land was a good thing
for people who wanted to build larger homes and stay in St. Louis Park. She saw the
opposition and decided she wouldn't want to go there. There were probably a lot of
people that would love to build a home,but were afraid because of so many people
opposed to it. There are many parks in this City and she thought this was a wonderful
opportunity. She has children and drives to or walks to parks. The neighborhood was
upset, but for the people that got one of the lots it would also be very special and they
would build a beautiful home and possibly plants trees and flowers. She hoped they
would be neighborly to the new neighbors. She encouraged the council to sell the
parcels.
John Schenk, 2605 Natchez Av, indicated he had been to the meetings about the
proposals and found out new things along the way. They didn't know what the money
would go for. It went into the general coffers. One of the sites had two 100-year old oak
trees on it. It was not about development versus the tree huggers. He thought they could
hold competing concepts and develop intelligently. He used Browndale Park and canoed
on Minnehaha Creek. The whole community was their back yard.
Claudia Johnston-Madison, 3931 Joppa Av, stated she was on the Excess Land Task
Force. Minikanda Vista didn't have a really nice park like Browndale did. They had two
lots in their neighborhood. For years residents had been asking City Council and staff
about move-up housing. Residents have an opportunity to offer lots in their
neighborhoods so families can move in. This was an emotional issue. Please consider
selling all of the lots identified on the list to be sold. The task force noticed there were a
lot of people at the meetings interested in purchasing lots to build move-up housing. As
time went on those people that expressed their opinions didn't go to another meeting.
They were waiting for the decision. There were a lot of people organizing opposition.
She didn't have a problem with people having an opinion,but agreed that they should
keep in mind that the comments tonight opposing the sale represent a vocal minority of
people. There are people that had expressed an interest.
Council Meeting Minutes -8- October 17, 2005
Mayor Jacobs thanked people for coming to the meeting.
Amy Ellis, 4253 Browndale Av, asked if these all needed to be voted on as one package?
Mayor Jacobs replied they hadn't made a decision how they would do that. He didn't believe
there was anything set in stone that they needed to be voted on individually or as a package.
Ms. Ellis asked when the New Vision feasibility study results come out? Mr. Harmening
replied they were undertaking the process of getting public input through a series of
interviews. That work should be done by the end of the year. They hoped to have
community forums in January or February.
Ms. Ellis asked if there would be a decision on this before then? Mr. Harmening responded
the schedule would be on November 14th the Council will hold a study session to discuss it
and prepare to take action at a subsequent meeting. The tentative schedule is to bring this
back to Council on December 5`h, at which time they could chose to take action.
Ms. Ellis asked if one of the Councilmember's could make an amendment to wait until
they hear the end of the feasibility and if one of those is more green space or health and
environment? Mr. Harmening responded there was no mandate that this had to be acted
on in December. It was up to the discretion of the Council.
Ms. Ellis commented that she respected the people that came out and spoke up in support of
selling the parcels.
9. Communications-None
10. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
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