HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/05/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session OFFICIAL MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
May 22, 2006
The meeting convened at 6:26 p.m.
Councilmembers present: John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran
Paprocki, Susan Sanger, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present- City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke);
Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt); Planning & Zoning Supervisor (Ms.
McMonigal), Management Assistant (Ms Honold); City Clerk (Ms Stroth); City Attorney (Mr.
Knutson) and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson).
Charter Commission Members present:
Lynne Carper, Steve Fillbrandt, Manlyn Hoeft, Jim de Lambert, Brian Fiderlein, Tessia Gardner,
Linda Jennings, Jan Loftus, John Orenstein
Guests present: Tony Solgard from FairVote Minnesota; Roger Knutson from Campbell
Knutson; Mike Gair from McCombs Frank Roos Associates, Inc (MFRA); 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 and Medical Director
of EDI; John Herman, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, C. Bowman,
Park Nicollet Foundation; Mick Johnson, President of Park Nicollet Foundation and Senior Vice
President; Jim Brimeyer, Political Advisory Committee; Katie Walker, Southwest Study
Manager; Kathie Dote, from KLD Consulting and Public Outreach Coordinator from Southwest
Transitway, and Larry Pobuda, United Properties
1. Instant Run-Off Voting (Joint Meeting with Charter Commission)
Tony Solgard, president of FairVote Minnesota, presented information on Instant Runoff Voting
(IRV). Instant Runoff Voting is a ranked ballot voting method that simulates a series of runoff
elections on one ballot. A majority (50% + 1) is needed to win. If there is no winner, the
candidate with the fewest votes is defeated and the votes go to the second choice on each ballot.
Mr. Solgard stated the advantages are the winner is chosen by a majority of voters, ends spoiled
elections, reduces strategic voting, promotes more civil campaigns, and eliminates low turnout
primary elections Disadvantages are some people value primary elections, changes may be
difficult for some voters, and implementation may be challenging. Instant Runoff Voting is not
only about changing how elections are done, but also a core change in what the requirements
were for being elected.
There was discussion regarding the question. Is IRV authorized in statute. Mr. Knutson of
Campbell Knutson said no city wants to risk spoiling an election, and thinks a declaratory
judgment action would not suffice. Mr. Knutson suggested the City should obtain an opinion
from the attorney general's office before changing the Charter. In Mr. Knutson's opinion,
implementing IRV for local elections would likely involve a legal challenge by the State and/or
the candidate who loses the election.
Councilmember Carver said he thinks it would be worthwhile to pursue IRV. Councilmember
Carver called attention to the report in the Council's packet called Non-Partisan Municipal
Study Session Minutes -2- May 22, 2006
Election Results. He said for the benefit of less than 1,000 who came out to vote, the City spent
$20,000 to run the 2005 Primary election for Ward 1 and Ward 4. Councilmember Carver said
from a cost perspective, IRV is worthwhile.
City Clerk Nancy Stroth remarked that municipal primanes are regulated by City Charter which
currently states a primary election occurs whenever 3 or more candidates have filed for office.
Councilmember Sanger said perhaps the current amount of 15 signatures required for the
nomination petition should be increased.
Mayor Jacobs said the consequences to change from the current voting method to IRV could be
catastrophic, he would be uncomfortable changing to IRV until there is clear statutory authority
to do so.
Councilmember Finkelstein requested the Charter Commission look at Councilmember Sanger's
suggestion to require more signatures to get on the ballot as an alternative method and to
consider eliminating primanes, and to study the legality and associated costs of IRV.
Councilmember Sanger said a formal recommendation from the Charter Commission to the
Council is not necessary; she doesn't want this to go to a referendum.
Management Assistant Marcia Honold asked for direction. Councilmember Carver suggested
the timing be controlled by the next legislative session, i.e., introduce IRV to the legislators. A
complete study would probably need to be done by the end of this year.
2. Bass Lake Site Concept Development Plans (Park Nicollet)
Community Development Coordinator Kevin Locke said the goal tonight is not to pick a site
plan or development proposal but to show what could be done on the Bass Lake site. Consultant
Mike Gair, with MFRA, presented 10 exhibits depicting vanous development scenarios
Larry Pobuda, a United Properties representative, presented site plans on EDI and parking
options A-E, and many of the scenanos were similar to those Mr. Gair presented.
Councilmember Sanger asked how many acres would EDI and its ramp take up. Mr. Pobuda
said EDI would cover about three acres on the northern portion of the site.
Mayor Jacobs said an ends discussion is needed for tonight, not a specific design. City Manager
Tom Harmening said the site plans suggest possibilities only Mr. Harmening asked Council if
they think this is a good location for an EDI.
Councilmember Sanger said the staff report seemed to suggest that single-family housing would
not be feasible due soil contaminants. She would like to know more about the soil issues.
Economic Development Coordinator Greg Hunt said this was a dump site. It contains ash
material and general rubbish he said. A 2003 study showed there is about 70,000 cubic yards of
debris, elevated levels of a number of heavy metals, and some petroleum products as well.
Mr. Locke is intrigued by an integration of an arts center and an EDI He noted that
environmental standards for residential uses are much more stringent than for non-residential
uses. There would not be cost effective options for single family homes.
Study Session Minutes -3- May 22, 2006
Councilmember Carver thinks a guiding principle needs to be a shared parking idea, and that
should direct what occurs at this site. He likes the multi-use scenario, the hotel + EDI + heart
center. He continues to favor an arts center or performing arts center. Councilmember Carver
thinks an EDI does fit here. He said there may be an opportunity to go higher here, in terms of
building heights Councilmember Carver doesn't care for any of the residential that was shown
because it doesn't fit.
Councilmember Finkelstein agrees with Councilmember Carver's comments. Councilmember
Finkelstein is concerned about the ownership interest and he mentioned a put option, i.e , in the
event this site is not used as an eating disorder clinic, the city reserves the right to reclaim the
property or to get it back, which should be included as part of the negotiation process. Mayor
Jacobs said one of the guiding pnnciples should be not only shared parking but also to maximize
the benefit to the buildings to be built on that space, i.e., EDI.
Councilmember Paprocki asked about move up housing on the Bass Lake site. Aside from the
soils issues, he took issue with the statement on page four of the staff report: "the Bass Lake site
is not considered a strong single family residential site. This is primarily due to the site's
isolation from other single family homes."
Councilmember Sanger said the environmental problems are a concern but other forms of move
up housing can be considered, perhaps a high-nse condominium building. She agrees with the
concept of shared parking. Councilmember Sanger said retaining public access should be
maintained and there are other institutional uses to consider.
Councilmember Omodt also agrees with many of Councilmember Carver's comments. He
thinks it would be a bad site for single-family homes; he strongly favors working with Park
Nicollet.
Councilmember Basill said his reservation now is with the contamination, and does not think this
site is a good use for single-family homes. He said Council owes Park Nicollet some type of
direction Councilmember Basill said a parking ramp would probably be needed or perhaps
underground parking.
Mr. Harmemng said no one is being asked to make a decision tonight. Mr. Harmening asked if
the Council wants staff to work seriously with EDI and put together a deal, and if so, the next
step would be to come up with a preliminary development agreement. Councilmember Sanger
asked if the entire site would be sold to United Properties, and what controls would Council have
over the remaining 1/3 of the site. Councilmember Basill said the parking issue must be
addressed up front.
The consensus was to move forward with EDI on the site; staff will prepare a draft preliminary
development agreement for Council approval.
3. Southwest Transitway Update (Jim Brimeyer)
Jim Brimeyer represents the city on the Policy Advisory Committee for the Southwest Transit
Comdor study. He said to determine the preferred alternative would be easier than the larger
issue, which is the funding issue. Mr. Brimeyer said a funding subcommittee has been set up,
and a cost effective index (CEI)has been established.
Study Session Minutes -4- May 22, 2006
Mr. Harmening asked if St. Louis Park could receive funding assistance from the Rail Authonty
to help pay for a grade separate crossing at Wooddale and Highway 7. Katie Walker, Southwest
Study Manager, responded with a formula for CEI. Mr. Brimeyer will return in October.
4. Interim Ordinance—Subdivisions in the R-1 Zoning District
Planning and Zoning Supervisor Meg McMonigal presented the staff report, which suggested the
Council discuss the idea of an "Interim Ordinance" for subdivisions in the R-1 Zoning Distnct.
It was noted that since the previous study session, when a moratorium was discussed, two new
subdivision applications had been received. For this reason, the item was brought back to the
Council tonight. A change to the suggested six month timeframe was recommended by the city
attorney, as he believes no extension would be available.
Councilmember Omodt doesn't see a case to be made for a moratorium; he doesn't favor a
moratorium. Councilmember Sanger favors a moratorium to study single-family lots in the R-1
distract.
Ms. McMonigal said the interim ordinance would apply to subdivisions that don't have
preliminary approval yet. Councilmember Carver asked if one is pending now that doesn't have
preliminary approval. Ms. McMonigal replied yes. Councilmember Carver doesn't like the
moratorium idea, an interim ordinance should be used only for study.
Councilmember Omodt said a moratorium makes a bad impression. Councilmember Carver said
it feels ex post facto. Mayor Jacobs agrees.
The next step will be to set a first reading for an interim ordinance on the Council agenda for
June 5th. The Hill Lane item will be on the Council agenda for June 19th for approval or denial of
subdivision ordinance.
5. Future Study Session Agenda Planning
Mr. Harmening and the Council discussed study session agenda planning.
No Council meeting will be held on July 3rd.
The meeting ended at 9:50 p m
--)72etrit'n ,._ _..)".turp4,
City Clerk Ma or 6)--064