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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/02/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES T. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION PARK February 27, 2006 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki, Susan Sanger, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Councilmember Basill arrived at 8:20 p.m. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening); Community Development Director(Mr. Locke); Economic Development Coordinator(Mr. Hunt); Planning and Zoning Supervisor(Ms. McMonigal); Assistant Zoning Administrator(Mr. Morrison); Senior Planner(Mr. Walther), Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin); Utilities Supenntendent (Mr. Anderson); Housing Program Coordinator(Ms. Larsen); Police Chief(John Luse); Police Lieutenant(Lon Dreier); and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson). Guests present: Alva Rankin, Short Elliott Hendnckson (SEH); Michael Baum, Chair Police Advisory Commission; Maureen Gormley, Vice Chair Police Advisory Commission; Duane Spiegle, Vice President Real Estate Park Nicollet, Ben Oehler, Chairman of EDI Major Gifts Campaign, Carol Tappen, EDI Director of Operations. Joel Jahraus, Department Chairman EDI 1. Sanitary Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Study Alva Rankin from Short Elliott Hendnckson (SEH)presented a report on Sanitary Sewer Inflow and Infiltration (I&I). Mr. Rankin said the sanitary sewer system is a closed system and should only contain sewage; the sanitary and storm systems must be separate. Mr. Rankin discussed inflow and infiltration which are indirect connections He said the sources of inflow and infiltration are public and private properties. Mr. Rankin emphasized that if inflow is reduced, "the surcharge will be solved." Mr. Rankin discussed the Metropolitan Council's requirements and mandates. He said communities with excess I&I in their sanitary will be required to eliminate it with a reasonable time. Communities with an excess I&I will be charged a surcharge. Mr. Rankin said communities served by the regional wastewater system will be required to come up with an I&I reduction plan in their comprehensive plans. Communities will have five years to meet I&I goals and will be charged a surcharge for additional I&I. If a program is in place and if the funding to reduce I&I is equal to what the surcharge would be, there will be no surcharge. If the I&I problem is not solved by 2013, a demand charge would be instituted (up to five times the surcharge amounts) for the communities that fail to meet I&I reduction goals. Councilmember Sanger asked how the City will check out internal connections within pnvate property. Mr. Rankin responded new ordinances may need to be passed to require that no clear water connection to the sanitary sewer exists. The City would have to inspect to determine that, and if not allowed to inspect, the property owner would receive a surcharge on the sewer bill until the property owner allows inspection. If an illegal connection is found, there would be a surcharge until it was disconnected. Study Session Minutes -2- February 27, 2006 Councilmember Sanger asked if the problem is fixed, does the storm water sewer system have sufficient capacity? Utilities Superintendent Scott Anderson said that is an unknown and first we need to determine where the problems are. Mr. Rankin said for every sump pump taken out of the community, a $500 credit is given. City Manager Tom Harmening asked what will happen next. Mr. Anderson said at this time data is being collected and flow monitors are in designated manholes. Staff anticipates returning to the Council mid-summer with additional information. Mr. Anderson said staff would like to capture some rain events. 2. Police Advisory Commission Annual Report Michael Baum, Chair of the Police Advisory Commission, said the first run of the police academy will be open to the public this Apnl for five weeks, and again in the fall for five weeks. Councilmember Sanger asked how the police academy is being advertised to the public Lieutenant Dreier said it is being advertised through the Park Perspective and the Sun Sailor. Councilmember Carver asked for a sense of what took place during the 10 week pilot program. Maureen Gormley, Vice Chair of the Police Advisory Commission, said last time the Chief gave an introduction of the academy, a history of the police department was presented, a dispatcher explained 911 operations, there was one visit to the Hennepin County jail, and a drug task force officer spoke, as did school liaisons. Mr. Baum said for 2006, the Police Advisory Commission is looking to capitalize on the momentum established. Mr. Baum said key objectives for 2006 are: • To continue to find funding sources • To establish partnerships with other constituencies in the community, especially to bring in people to be part of the subcommittees • To continue with the Citizens' Academy • To study traffic issues Councilmember Finkelstein asked if pedestnan safety could be considered as part of the traffic issues, such as enforcement at crosswalks and stop signs. Councilmember Carver said he did not envision the Police Advisory Commission would be talking about traffic concerns. The Police Advisory Commission was envisioned to be a liaison between the police department and community, as Councilmember Sanger mentioned, to create connections between groups that might not feel free or comfortable in talking with the police department. Councilmember Carver asked the Commission if traffic concerns fit squarely within their mission? Mr. Baum said traffic concerns probably do fit because the most common interaction a citizen has with a St. Louis Park officer is through a traffic stop Mayor Jacobs supports the traffic issues discussion and he is highly supportive of outreach. Mayor Jacobs is thankful for the DARE officer assigned full-time to the junior high school. Councilmember Omodt said all of the kids look forward to the DARE officer. 3. Park Nicollet Eating Disorder Institute Chairman of the Eating Disorders Institute (EDI) Ben Oehler said St. Louis Park would be the ideal location for EDI. Mr. Oehler described his family's personal and professional experiences with eating disorders Director of Operations Carol Tappen said EDI has an identity in St. Louis Park; EDI has been in St. Louis Park for 20 years and EDI needs to stay in St. Louis Park. Study Session Minutes -3- February-27, 2006 Councilmember Sanger asked when EDI moves, how large will EDI want to grow its patient numbers? Vice President of Real Estate for Park Nicollet Duane Spiegle responded that EDI currently has six separate locations. Five locations are in St. Louis Park and one in Chaska. Park Nicollet would like to have EDI in one location. They hope the outpatient population would grow to 900, and Park Nicollet hopes to provide teaching opportunities for psychiatrists, doctors and clinicians. Mr. Spiegle would like to have a facility with 80,000-90,000 square feet. Park Nicollet'has looked at 14 sites; eight of those sites are in St Louis Park. Park Nicollet listed the Bass Lake site as their number one choice, the Wayside House site was a close second, and the third preference is to consideration to build onto the Park Nicollet campus. Councilmember Carver said he would love to see EDI and Park Nicollet stay in St. Louis Park. Councilmember Finkelstein wants EDI to stay in St. Louis Park. Councilmember Finkelstein asked if there are any other sites in St. Louis Park on EDI's list, Mr. Spiegle said no. Councilmember Finkelstein asked: When would you like to break ground? Mr. Spiegle said as soon as possible, but Park Nicollet needs to identify a site before the fall of 2006. Councilmember Omodt said there is a lot of pressure on this site. Mayor Jacobs said he would like to see EDI stay in St. Louis Park. Mayor Jacobs would like to see concept plans for the Bass Lake site. Mr. Oehler said if EDI were to use the Bass Lake site, it would create more jobs and a tax base. Councilmember Sanger asked: What does "partnenng"mean to Park Nicollet and are you asking for city money? The response was no, they are not asking for city money. Park Nicollet would like to buy the property from the city and develop it in an acceptable manner to the city. Mr. Harmening said the city is not committing to provide this site to Park Nicollet, however, the Council is willing to look at concept designs to get an understanding as to how an EDI could be placed on this site and allow vanous other uses on this site. Regarding the Wayside House site, Councilmember Sanger asked if Park Nicollet is willing to reopen the discussion with Wayside and come up with a win-win approach for Wayside and Park Nicollet. Mr.'Oehler said he and Mick Johnson would be happy to work with Wayside, not only to help them find another location but also help them raise money. Mr. Oehler thinks it could be successful. Mr. Oehler said if Wayside House is willing to sell, Park Nicollet would be willing to bid on it and compete with others, but Park Nicollet would need direction and a certain timeframe. Councilmember Sanger said in order for Wayside to sell, they would need a place to go to, which is a time-consuming and expensive proposition, and that is where the help is needed. Mr. Harmening summarized: For Park Nicollet/EDI, do some concept planning on the Bass Lake site and undertake another conversation with Wayside House as to possibilities of some kind of deal associated with that property. Study Session Minutes -4- February 27, 2006 4. Zoning Ordinance Amendments Planning and Zoning Supervisor Meg McMonigal presented a staff report. Ms. McMonigal said two of the issues concern front yard setbacks and changes to the garage regulations Councilmember Sanger said she had concerns about what was being proposed. She felt the main reason people wanted to add onto the front of their homes was to have entryways as opposed to walking straight into the living room. Councilmember Sanger listed two proposals. Council and staff discussed the five scenarios for determining the front yard setback listed in the staff report. Councilmember Paprocki likes Scenario B, which is average setback. Councilmember Finkelstein is concerned about unintended consequences such as "creep." Mr. Harmening said the primary problem with the current ordinance is that it is extremely cumbersome and confusing for residents. The Council consensus is a preference for Scenario D, which is fixed setback, with exception. Councilmember Sanger said Scenario B is preferable to Scenario D. Mr. Harmening asked: What needs to return for further conversation? Councilmember Sanger is concerned about the proposed lot divisions, which are listed on page 5 of the report She commented that, hopefully, we can get away from windows on second story garages. Councilmember Paprocki called attention to page 9, c4 of the staff report, which reads: Floor drains in garages and other accessory buildings must be connected to sanitary sewer as approved by the city. He said, currently, that would be contrary to I&I. Mr. Harmening said staff will check on that. Councilmember Basill said the changes are reasonable and Councilmember Omodt agreed. Councilmember Sanger would like to have architectural design standards. Everything except the lot division item will return to Council at the next available meeting, the motions will be separate. 5. 2004 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Reallocation Housing Programs Coordinator Kathy Larsen presented a staff report. Councilmember Omodt raised concerns about the report and he would like to know what other programs would be eligible for CDBG funds. Mayor Jacobs agreed. Ms. Larsen said the CDBG reallocation fund is a revolving pool of money with very specific guidelines and deadlines. Councilmember Finkelstein and Mayor Jacobs are troubled by the reallocation. Ms. Larsen said CDBG reallocation is very restrictive. Mr. Harmemng said this item will be on the agenda for Monday, March 6th Study Session Minutes -5- February 27, 2006 6. Alternate Sources of Energy for City Buildings Mayor Jacobs requested this subject be discussed. Mayor Jacobs spoke on the subject of alternative sources of fuel. He asked: Is it worthwhile to have staff investigate the notion that the city pursue alternative sources of energy? Councilmember Carver and Councilmember Finkelstein think it would be a good idea to explore the pros and cons; Councilmember Sanger agreed and she suggested perhaps looking at hybnd city vehicles. Mayor Jacobs likes the idea of researching natural gas powered vehicles, hybnd vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, and perhaps a small wind-powered generator as a Children First type of project. Councilmember Finkelstein said alternative sources of energy would be an ideal subject for the League of Cities or the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, perhaps a conference on how cities can promote alternative energies. Mr. Harmening said, let us do some research and return to Council with information and ideas. Councilmember Omodt left the meeting at 9:45 p.m. 7. Future Study Session Agenda Planning A study session is scheduled for Monday, March 6, 2006 at 6:30 to discuss Highway 100. Councilmember Finkelstein requested Council receive a short verbal or written report on land sales. The meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m. ")qtaAizig- -)ertcc# ?W45,15 City Clerk Mayor