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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING PARK ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 5, 2007 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki and Susan Sanger. Councilmembers absent: None Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), HR Director/Deputy City Manager (Ms. Gohman), HR Coordinator (Ms. Fosse), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), Inspections Director (Mr. Hoffman), City Engineer (Mr. Brink), Communication Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Asst. Planner (Mr. Fulton), Planning/Zoning Supervisor(Ms. McMonigal) and Recording Secretary(Ms. Schmidt). Guests: Bob Friddle and Jessica Vogel, Ellerbe Becket; Dr. Joel Jaros, United Methodist Hospital; and Mick Johnson; Brian Carey; Dave Nash; Tom Wittlock., Park Nicollet. 2. Presentations—None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Minutes October 1, 2007 It was noted on page 6, item #8a, the fourth paragraph, should state: "...What is a pawn shop doing in a residential area?" It was noted on page 3, item #4 after agenda approval paragraph, it should state: Councilmember Omodt wished to have the minutes of October 1 reflect that he abstained from voting on Consent Calendar Item 4h regarding Park WiFi." The minutes were approved as amended. 3b. Special City Council Minutes October 8,2007 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. City Council Minutes October 15, 2007 It was noted after agenda approval paragraph, it should state: Mayor Jacobs wished to have the minutes of October 15 reflect that he abstained from voting on Consent Calendar Item 4a regarding Mayor compensation". The minutes were approved as amended. City Council Meeting -2- November 5, 2007 3d. Special Study Session Minutes October 15, 2007 It was noted on page 1, item# 1, the sixth paragraph should state: "... along the paths and also along the signal lights where it may be too far for senior citizens and disabled persons to make it all the way across." The minutes were approved as amended 3e. Special City Council Minutes October 22,2007 The minutes were approved as presented. 3f. Study Session Minutes October 22, 2007 It was noted on page 2, item#2, the third paragraph, last sentence should state: "...as they are completed. Council stated that some residents were losing confidence in ARINC's ability to deliver a quality project due to its repeated revisits and efforts to try to make the system operational in Phase 1." It was noted on page 2, item #4, the second paragraph, fifth sentence should state: "...staff discussed a possible increase in franchise fees." The minutes were approved as amended. 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 appropriate section of the regular agenda for discussion. 4a. Motion to approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract 50-07 Highway 100 Reconstruction(Full Build). 4b. Motion to approve Change Order No. 1 to Contract 16-07 - Recoat Reservoir at Water Treatment Plant. 4c. Motion to approve Change Order No. 1 to Contract 37-07 — 2007 Local Street Improvement Project. 4d. Motion to approve Change Order No. 1 to Contract No. 60-07, Flood Improvement Project. 4e. Motion to approve Second Reading of an ordinance adopting fees for 2008. 4f. Motion to approve Encroachment Agreement with Methodist Hospital -- 3930 Louisiana Circle. 4g. Motion to approve Resolution No. 07-130, ordering abatement of a hazardous building at 3056 Nevada Ave South. 4h. Motion to approve Resolution No. 07-131, authorizing Worker's Compensation Insurance renewal. 4i. Motion to approve for filing Planning Commission Minutes September 19, 2007. 4j. Motion to approve for filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes September 19, 2007. City Council Meeting -3- November 5, 2007 4k. Motion to approve for filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes May 16, 2007. 41. Motion to approve for filing Telecommunications Advisory Commission Minutes August 2, 2007. 4m. Motion to approve for filing Vendor Claims. It was moved by Councilmember Carver, seconded by Councilmember Finkelstein, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Boards and Commissions - None 6. Public Hearings -None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Resolution Approving 2008 Employer Benefits Contribution ' Resolution No. 07-124 Ms. Fosse presented the staff report. Councilmember Sanger stated she was glad they were finally getting to the full equalization on the medical benefits for exempt and non-exempt; however, she asked why there was still a difference between exempts and non-exempts on the disability and life insurance. Ms. Gohman stated it was a long standing policy in the City where the richer benefit had been offered to the exempts and staff chose not to bring it forward. She further stated they would have to do an analysis on the costs if they were going to bring the other groups up to that point stating it would be a costly additional benefit program. Councilmember Sanger would like to know what the numbers were and would like to work toward minimizing the remaining differences between exempt and non- exempt employees. She further stated she felt all employees were all equally valuable to the City, regardless of being exempt or non-exempt. Councilmember Finkelstein complimented staff on their hard work on the equalization, stating that in terms of insurance benefit negotiations, they like to compare internally and see that internal consistency on all of them. Councilmember Omodt agreed with Councilmember Sanger and suggested that staff do an analysis on internal equality and bring it back to Council. Councilmember Paprocki suggested that staff consider both raising the lower and/or lowering the higher. City Council Meeting -4- November 5, 2007 Councilmember Basill also agreed that staff should do an analysis. He asked about the 14 percent increase in Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA), and if any of the increase was due to adverse selection of healthy people going into VEBA and causing the increase to the rest of the plan, asking what caused the increase. Ms. Fosse stated there were some high outstanding claims this year, but expects it will average out in the long term. She also stated there is a healthy population on the VEBA plan, which are often the healthier employees. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to approve Resolution No. 07-124, approving 2008 Employer Benefits Contribution. The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Melrose Institute — Preliminary and Final Plat and Planned Unit Development, Conditional Use Permits for grading and floodplain mitigation. Resolutions No. 07-125, 07-126, 07-127 and 07-128 Mr. Fulton presented the staff report. Mick Johnson stated Ken Melrose was really the surrogate leader in the project and thanked staff and everyone involved for their cooperation in the project. He stated the project wasn't just a business deal, but a Child First project as well. He also stated they are calling the project a best practice when at conferences because they had never seen a relationship like this work as well as it has. Dr. Jaros gave Council an update on the project, stating they appreciated all the effort the City has put into the project. Brian Carey stated his appreciation for all the input and cooperation from staff and Council in the project. Bob Friddle presented a film and update on the project designs. Councilmember Finkelstein asked how many overnight patient rooms there would be. Mr. Friddle stated there were 39 overnight beds, which are all on the third floor. Councilmember Finkelstein asked how many FTE's they expected to staff the facility. Dr. Jaros stated approximately 320. Councilmember Finkelstein asked how many RN's. Mr. Jaros stated he would have to check. Mr. Friddle stated majority would be outpatients, which would consist of approximately 1,000 patients that would be on various appointment schedules. Councilmember Omodt asked if the outpatients would be coming from other medical facilities, private or group homes, or what the relationship would be. Dr. Jaros, stated a number of different referral sources, such as self-referrals, individual providers, clinics, colleges,basically all over because the services aren't very common. City Council Meeting -5- November 5, 2007 Councilmember Paprocki asked if the parking ramp would be open for after hour public parking. Mr. Friddle stated it was intended to be open after hours for City use, stating it was designed for expansion of up to an additional 100 cars if the City chose to do so. Councilmember Paprocki suggested there be signage identifying it as open parking and suggested a sign indicating that there was a park on the southern part of the property. Mr. Friddle stated there would be a sign with the name of the park posted. Councilmember Sanger stated she would be opposing the motion because she was not certain it was the best land use. Councilmember Finkelstein stated he was in an unusual situation with the Melrose Institute and felt he should explain his position to the residents of St. Louis Park and the nurses at Methodist Hospital in the Twin City area. He stated the City Attorney advised him it was appropriate for him to vote on the issue, stating it was his obligation and duty to do the right thing and he would be in support of land use issues. He further stated the clinic was sorely needed and would save lives, stating that there are many people who desperately need the services. Councilmember Finkelstein went on to state that currently there was not enough room at the hospital, although the EDI patients would often be medically fragile and would need seven day a week, 24 hour a day nursing care. With that in mind, he further stated the hospital would not commit to the nursing positions being Minnesota Nursing Association (MNA) contract positions. He reminded everyone of the fact that the work was being transferred to less than two miles away from the hospital, where the nurses had been covered under the Minnesota Nursing Association labor contract and MNA pension for the last twenty years. He stated as the Minnesota Nurses Association Union Attorney he would be doing the right thing regarding the opening of the facility at the new EDI site. Councilmember Finkelstein stated that unless Methodist Hospital and Park Nicollet recognized the role of the union, the nurses would face the difficult choice of keeping their pay, pension, and other benefits or following the job they loved. He further stated that doing the right thing did not just apply to Councilmembers or union attorneys, but also applied to large health care corporations, stating sometimes large non-profits needed to be reminded of that. It was moved by Councilmember Basill, seconded by Councilmember Carver, to adopt Resolution No. 07-125, approving the preliminary and final plat of Melrose Institute with a subdivision variance for easements; adopt Resolution No. 07-126, approving the preliminary and final PUD for Melrose Institute; adopt Resolution No. 07-127, approving a Conditional Use Permit for grading; adopt Resolution No. 07-128, approving a Conditional Use Permit for floodplain mitigation. The motion passed 6-1. Councilmember Sanger opposed. 8c. Approve Engineering Services Contract for the Park Place Boulevard Street Project—Project 2007-1101. Mr. Brink presented the staff report. Councilmember Sanger asked if the specs called for a plan for bike lanes or a safe bike path on Park Place Blvd. Mr. Brink stated the plan was to expand the west side sidewalk of Park Place Blvd. for multi-use to meet the needs for both pedestrians and bicycles. City Council Meeting -6- November 5, 2007 It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to approve to approve a contract with SRF which provides engineering consulting services for the Park Place Boulevard Street Project—Project No. 2007-1101. Councilmember Finkelstein asked if there were any plans for bus and mass transit. Mr. Brink stated they have had discussions with Metro Transit, discussing their various route possibilities to accommodate this development. Councilmember Sanger also suggested staff discuss the bus shelter and safe passage to get to and from the Sunset Ridge Condo's with Metro Transit. The motion passed 7-0. 8d. Adoption of the fmdings and decision regarding suspension of rental housing licenses for: 2621 Xylon Avenue South, 8300 Virginia Circle North, and 2500 Quebec Ave South—(Mr. Michael Zurbrigen—owner). Resolution No. 07-129 Mayor Jacobs asked Mr. Zurbrigen if he wished to comment on anything. Mr. Zurbrigen replied no. It was moved by Councilmember Carver, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve Resolution No. 07-129, accepting the findings and decision as prepared by the City Attorney. Councilmember Finkelstein stated he reviewed the materials and did not find anything that the ADA or EEOC or any of the Supreme Court Decisions cited that would change the Council's opinion that the taxes needed to be paid by anybody. Councilmember Omodt agreed with Councilmember Finkelstein, stating he didn't find anything that would compel him otherwise. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded everyone to get out and vote on Election Day, stating there was nothing more important to represent a democracy than the participation of its residents in the process. Councilmember Paprocki suggested residents review the resources out there to know who to vote for. He also reminded everyone to fly their flag on Veteran's Day. Mr. Harmening reminded everyone that America Recycles Day is November 15th. Mr. Harmening also stated Mayor Jacobs received a Resolution, adopted on October 16th, from the City of Golden Valley thanking the City of St. Louis Park and its staff for their help that was provided in September as a result of a severe thunderstorm. Mayor Jacobs thanked staff for all their efforts. City Council Meeting -7- November 5, 2007 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. .r) � — Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff acob' :yor