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Home My WebLink About2006/06/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session itiST.ILOU°/FSOFFICIAL MINUTES RK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION June 12, 2006 The meeting convened at 6 31 p.m. Councilmembers present: John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs Councilmember Finkelstein amved at 6:50 p.m and Councilmember Basill arrived at 7:35 p.m. Councilmembers absent: C. Paul Carver and Susan Sanger Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening); Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin); Police Chief (Mr. Luse); Police Captain (Mr. Ortner), Police Captain (Mr. DiLorenzo); Police Lieutenant (Ms. Drier); Police Lieutenant (Lt. Kraayenbnnk); Management Assistant (Ms. Honold); and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson). Guests present. Darren Borg, Esq. and Fred Christiansen, Interim Finance Director 1. Police Department Activity Update The Police Department presented an overview of Police Department activities for 2005. Captain Ortner presented a report on patrol operations and said that St Louis Park has 51 sworn officers, 34 of whom are in the patrol division, and they work from the SERA model. The police department is in compliance with FELSA regulations Lieutenant Kraayenbnnk discussed support services operations He said there has been a cultural shift in policing, i.e., 1/3 case management, 1/3 proactive work and 1/3 being involved with in- progress crime. Lieutenant Kraayenbnnk said 30-50 kids are joining in the Thursday night ball games held near Louisiana Court. Captain DiLorenzo reported on public safety dispatch. Captain DiLorenzo said public safety dispatch has migrated to the 800 megahertz program during this last year. Captain DiLorenzo said there are 12 officers on the tactical team plus supervision Lieutenant Drier discussed the information management team, which deals mostly with livability issues Lieutenant Dner said the police department is using Request Partner, which is being used internally for data collection. Lieutenant Dner said livability issues are flagged in Request Partner and followed up. For 2006, the reporting functions on the city's website will be improved Councilmember Finkelstein requested a sample of Request Partner for next year's report. Councilmember Paprocki commended Chief Luse and his staff for being so responsive Mayor Jacobs asked an update on Hopkins Chief Luse said Hopkins Police are short on resources and St. Louis Park Police Department has offered some assistance services to Hopkins. Councilmember Finkelstein complimented Chief Luse and his staff and asked what tools are needed to deal with problem houses Chief Luse said livability issues are not necessarily treated senously by the courts. He would like to address rental noise problems through the licensing process Councilmember Omodt asked what St Louis Park's position is on sex offender tracking. Chief Luse said at the Council's request he would do research and report. Mayor Jacobs credited Chief Luse and his staff for the positive direction in which the police department is going. Study Session Minutes -2- June 12, 2006 2. Trail Crossing Improvements Director of Public Works Mike Rardin presented the staff report regarding changes suggested by staff to be implemented at the Beltline Blvd., Wooddale Avenue and "Hutch Spur" crossings. Mr. Rardin said a consultant is evaluating the traffic implications of a pedestnan crossing vs. a trail crossing at Beltline. Chief Luse introduced attorney Darren Borg to address the education piece. Mr. Borg said the law differentiates trail crossings and pedestrian crossings, e.g., Beltline Blvd. and Wooddale Avenue, which are marked as trail crossings. A pedestnan crossing, where people cross on foot, is one where pedestnans are to cross at a particular location marked by white paint and regulatory signs, and therefore, motonsts are required to yield to yield to a pedestrian in a marked pedestnan crosswalk. Mr. Borg suggested short-term solutions until there is a change in grade. Mr Borg said to make the crossing a pedestrian crossing is not a viable short-term solution. Mayor Jacobs said education is needed. Mr Rardin is aware of a national study which he will obtain for Council's review. For the short-term, Councilmember Basill suggested installing signage from 30 yards back from the road indicating this is not a crosswalk, and per state law, vehicles are not required to stop. Councilmember Paprocki said four lanes is a long distance and a median is needed. City Manager Tom Harmening said the concept of a median on Wooddale is being considered but the safest route may be to direct bikers or trail users to a traffic light Mr. Harmening said a grade separated crossing at Beltline has been approved for funding in the future. Councilmember Finkelstein suggested using temporary barriers to reroute bikers and pedestnans to West 36`h Street. Mayor Jacobs prefers using signage only. Councilmember Finkelstein thinks West 36th Street is the safer alternative to redirect bikers and pedestnans. Mayor Jacobs would like to try that, preferably with just signage. Mr. Harmening said for the short-term, we will put up signage and direct users to West 36th Street. Councilmember Paprocki said a follow-up will need to be done to determine the effectiveness of the redirection This item will be placed on the consent agenda. 3. Review of Preliminary Feasibility Studies for Flood Improvement Areas #24, 25 & #26 Mr. Rardin presented the staff report regarding an overview of the results of the preliminary feasibility studies on three flood improvement projects and to discuss recommended alternatives and next steps. Mr. Rardm also discussed water quality improvements. Mr. Harmemng said the long-term solution for Area 24 is to build a community pond or regional pond, which would help the Fnedell, Marcy and New Hampshire properties. The options are to do nothing, a big fix or an interim fix. Mr. Harmening said the options for improvement areas 25, 26 and 10 are pretty much straightforward. Mayor Jacobs suggested doing an interim approach first so that money can be made available for the reserve fund, in case Lake Pepin comes through and requires money to be spent. If reserve money is not needed for Lake Pepin, the city could go forward with a global fix in some of the flood improvement areas. Study Session Minutes -3- _ June 12, 2006 Mr Harmening said the city received a letter dated June 12, 2006, from Roger Fnedell's attorney, Gary A. Van Cleve for Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, Ltd., regarding property flooding/storm water management problem/ Friedell Architects & Builders-2238-2240 Edgewood Avenue. According to Mr. Van Cleve, the water condition described in the letter constitutes an unconditional taking of his property. Also included was a letter dated June 15, 2005 regarding the storm water management problems affecting Mr. Friedell's commercial property. Councilmember Basill commented that the $200,000 in expenditures is just to help out until the pond is built. Councilmember Basil! is concerned about running the fund too low and he favors moving forward with flood mitigation to help residents Councilmember Basil! and Councilmember Finkelstein would like to bnng the flood mitigation discussion back to Council when all members are present Councilmember Finkelstein said St. Louis Park has more than met it obligation in trying to mitigate flooding Mr. Harmening said he hears consensus that the package Mr. Rardin laid out would be the intenm approach for Area 24 and the more known fixed improvements for Areas 25, 26 and 10. Future discussion will include the full Council and the affected property owners to further discuss these approaches. 4. Boards and Commissions Management Assistant Marcia Honold presented the staff report. Councilmember Basil! would like to see a template for bylaws and he would like to see a yearly addendum for the vanous commissions. Mayor Jacobs said it is a partnership but the work plan should be driven by the Council Councilmember Omodt doesn't want to stifle the commissions. Mayor Jacobs would like to restart the practice of holding an appreciation reception for the commissions Ms. Honold will develop onentation guidelines for new members and for staff liaisons Ms. Honold and Council discussed term limits and chair rotations. Council reviewed the Council's Appendix A Resolution 03-043 for Boards and Commissions and directed staff to make the recommended changes. 5. Future Study Session Agenda Planning Mr Harmening and the Council discussed study session agenda planning. Councilmember Basill requested discussion regarding sewer backup for July 10`h. Councilmember Paprocki would like to discuss how to deal with problem properties Councilmember Omodt requested an update on Flame Metals. The meeting ended at 9:48 p.m. ---)'7a.4.4...c.A0-- g__,.121:X3:2_____:________ :/(17.6e4.1„..\ City Clerk Ma or