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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/01/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session 7ST.ILOU°/FSOFFICIAL MINUTES RK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION January 9, 2006 The meeting convened at 6.33 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Paul Omodt, and Susan Sanger. Councilmember Phil Finkelstein amved at 6:40 pm and Councilmember Loran Paprocki amved at 6:50 pm. Staff present City Manager(Mr. Harmening), Community Development Director(Mr. Locke), Economic Development Coordinator(Mr Hunt), Director of Finance (Ms McGann), Director TSS (Mr Pires), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), City Engineer(Mr. Brink), Fire Chief(Mr. Stemmer), Recreation Superintendent (Mr. Birno), Environmental Coordinator(Mr. Vaughan) and Recording Secretary (Ms. Samson). Others present: Gail Dorfman, County Commissioner District 3; Steve Kelley, Senator District 44; Steve Simon, State Representative District 44A; Ron Latz, State Representative District 44B; Mark Ruff and Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates; John Choi and Stephen Bubul, Kennedy &Graven. 1. Legislative Issues and Priorities for 2006 Senator Steve Kelley began the discussion on priorities and concerns. Senator Kelley said the central business of the 2006 session will be passage of the bonding bill and the bill will be passed on time Representative Ron Latz agreed with Senator Kelley's comment regarding the bonding bill and stated in the end, the voters will judge us (the elected officials) on what is accomplished more than on the process. Representative Steve Simon said the bonding bill probably will be the centerpiece City Manager Thomas Harmening said a sponsor would be needed to pass a bill that would allow homeowners to replace or upgrade relatively simple fixtures and appliances without obtaining an inspection permit. Director of Inspections Brian Hoffman discussed statutory requirements for permits, which should be in rules and not in the statutes. Mr. Hoffman said it should be done under the Minnesota Building Code, so that it would apply statewide. Senator Kelley suggested the City scope it out with the League of Minnesota Cities and see what they want to do. For Mayor Jacobs, the most important issue to be resolved from the Legislative Priorities Report for 2006 is the grade separated crossing at Highway 7 and Wooddale. Representative Latz said he is on the bonding committee, so he and Senator Kelley can sit down and figure out how best to handle this politically. Councilmember Basill said the EDA has been proactive on acquiring property in and around Highway 7 and Wooddale. Mr. Harmening asked the legislators for their support regarding transportation funding issues. Councilmember Sanger asked if anything could be done as part of the bonding bill to earmark money for a permanent solution for Highway 100. Representative Latz said earmarking has not been well received. He added that bonding is a short-term solution Representative Latz would prefer to spend his energies defending the percentages of the amendment that would go toward transit Study Session Minutes -2- January 9, 2006 Fire Chief Stemmer discussed a fire surcharge, i.e , repeal the 0.5% fire insurance tax on residential and commercial properties and replace with a $5 surcharge on residential and $86 on commercial policies The proposed surcharge would raise $20 million annually (as compared to $6.9 million collected under the current tax structure). Fire Chief Stemmer said the insurance industry favors the surcharge. Environmental Coordinator Jim Vaughan discussed pest control funding. County Commissioner Gail Dorfman said the bonding request on reforestation is for$20 million. In regard to eminent domain for redevelopment purposes, Mr. Harmening said the City of St. Louis Park goes to great lengths to avoid the use of eminent domain. Decisions to use eminent domain should be used at the local level by mayors and city councils, as opposed to a one-size- fits all approach at the state level. Senator Kelley said this year or next year a bill will pass, so the three legislators should figure out what to try to delete or what the League of Cities should work on to delete or amend in a bill so that the legislature can establish some general guidelines. Mayor Jacobs is concerned about lone holdouts. Senator Kelley replied we should ask if a bill passes, what it will look like Councilmember Carver said we are not making an argument in opposition nght now—and that is the job of the City Council. He said Hoigaard's is the example of our restraint, we did not seek to take the two properties that held out, we redesigned around them. Mayor Jacobs said, unfortunately, we will get an inferior project because of it Attorney John Choi said his advice is to stay very close to the League of Cities. Mr Harmening asked the legislators for their support for the bonding request that DEED and MHFA are seeking. Mr. Harmening also requested legislators for support to not implement levy limits. In regard to St. Louis Park Family Service Collaborative—Cuts in Funding, County Commissioner Dorfman said one county collaborative would do a lot of the administrative work, which is federally funded; there will be a proposal for new governance. Councilmember Sanger would like to start a discussion on group homes and get the same ability as Minneapolis and St. Paul have to require those homes to be 1/4 mile apart to avoid concentration of group homes on the same block. County Commissioner Dorfman announced that the County is prepared to install a traffic light at the intersection near Lenox Community Center at no cost to the City. The County would like to do it this year. County Commissioner Dorfman said the Highway 100 closing should not coincide with the bridge work on Minnetonka Blvd by Aquila She will wait to hear from St Louis Park Staff. Senator Kelley, County Commissioner Dorfman, Representative Simon, Representative Latz and Mr. Choi left the meeting at 7:32. Study Session Minutes -3- January 9, 2006 2. CSAH 25 Pedestrian Crossing Project Update–City Project No. 2005-1800 City Engineer Scott Bnnk informed the Council on the status and progress for the CSAH 25 Pedestrian Crossing Project. Mr. Brink said the tunnel, as opposed to a bridge, is slightly less. There have been no public meetings yet. Mayor Jacobs commented that the bridge is better. Councilmember Sanger said a tunnel would create safety issues The consensus from the Council is to go with a bridge. Director of Public Works Mike Rardin said because the County is involved, a stipulation from the County would include a compromise for their participation—the County will require that the pedestrian crossings at CSAH 25 and Beltline/Ottawa be removed (i.e., not be a pedestrian crossing). Mayor Jacobs' preference is to place a bridge as close as possible to Ottawa to provide a safer intersection at County Road 25 and Beltline, and he would like to connect the trails too, but both probably cannot be accomplished with one bridge Most of all, Mayor Jacobs wants a safe intersection at Ottawa. Mr. Harmening said we can do that - it dust might be on our nickel. Councilmember Finkelstein thinks both can be done. He said the City may lose County money but it can be designed so that the City can accept money from Three Rivers Park District and connect to the trail, and yet shift it to the east somewhat so we have that and the crossing at Ottawa. Councilmember Sanger suggested a wider median so that pedestrians could have refuge halfway across, then it wouldn't be so bad if the bridge is closer to Highway 100. Councilmember Basill said we must have public input meetings. Mr Harmening said this item will come back for more discussion. Councilmember Carver requested cost figures for each of the choices. Staff will return with information. 3. Tax Increment Financing 101 Director of Finance Jean McGann introduced Mark Ruff from Ehlers & Associates. Mr. Ruff was accompanied by Stacie Kvilvang, also from Ehlers & Associates. Mr. Ruff provided a presentation on the basics of tax increment financing, i.e., the tools of tax increment financing and the policy issues Stephen Bubul from Kennedy & Graven was present for the discussion. 4. Tax Increment District Update Mr. Ruff reviewed the City's financial condition, debt management and future value of the City's tax increment districts. A City of St. Louis Park Executive Summary -- EDA Financial Plan report and a map of TIF distncts were distributed to the Council. Study Session Minutes -4- January 9, 2006 5. Developer Background Checks Councilmember Finkelstein would like to do more to gather information on the backgrounds of developers. Economic Development Coordinator Greg Hunt assured Councilmember Finkelstein that Staff has the bases covered to scrutinize developers Mr Harmening said the three areas of concern he has been hearing are. The City's financial risks associated with being involved with unsavory developers, the City's reputation for being associated with a developer gone bad; or a project being half done. Mr. Harmening continued, the first and third scenanos are not really serious issues; in terms of the City's financial risk (e.g , TIF) the way the deals are structured the City is not at a financial risk. Councilmember Finkelstein said when the City is using TIF money the City should put a higher degree of scrutiny on the project/developer. Councilmember Finkelstein would like more information on developers, (i.e , what they have done, background information, explanations about the companies and what they do), and get that information into the Council's hands. 6. Agenda Planning Mr. Harmening asked the Council for comments to make meetings as productive and policy based as possible. Councilmember Sanger said it is draining to have so many controversial items on the same agenda. Councilmember Omodt said it was wrong to put out those who came to speak at a recent public hearing which lasted until midnight Councilmember Carver said it does matter how late the Council convenes in terms of what treatment an item receives Councilmember Sanger would not want to set time limits on items. She would prefer the Council receive more written information in advance, and don't have Staff repeat what is in the written reports. Also, don't give a summary of Staff reports but use the time on the agenda strictly for purposes of discussion and questions and answers about what has already been read. Councilmember Carver agreed, and Councilmember Omodt favors a general guideline. The meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. C .--) 7C(_i./teg )d-tcrpic -) (,.&(/ U / I City Clerk Mayor