HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/01/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES
T. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
RK January 22, 2007
The meeting convened at 7:03 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basil!, Phil Finkelstein, Loran Paprocki, Paul
Omodt, and. C. Paul Carver(arrived at 7:20 p.m.).
Councilmembers absent Susan Sanger
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmemng), Management Assistant (Ms. Honold), Community
Development Director (Mr. Locke); Inspections Director (Mr. Hoffman); Assistant Zoning
Administrator (Mr Morrison); Assistant Planner (Mr. Fulton); Housing Program Coordinator (Ms.
Larsen); Housing Supervisor(Ms. Schnitker); and Recording Secretary(Ms Samson)
Guests present: Jeff Knstal, Texa-Tonka Lanes; Vic Moore R & B and Dennis McGrann, Lockridge
Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P.
1. Transportation Funding Strategies
Ms Honold reviewed the staff report requesting Council direction on its desire in devoting
resources to actively pursue federal funding. Transportation authonzation is a 6-year funding
cycle which would require significant staff resources and assistance from Mr. McGrann in order
to seek funding. Mr. McGrann discussed past success with other municipalities, the upcoming
rewnte of the federal transportation bill, and how Minnesota is poised with change in leadership
and with Senator Oberstar, as the chair of transportation committee.
It was the consensus of the Council that staff should work with Mr. McGrann to pursue federal
funds for transportation projects.
2. Liquor License Violation—Texa-Tonka Lanes, 8200 Minnetonka Blvd.
Mr Harmening presented staff report asking Council for direction on how to proceed with a
liquor violation of Texa-Tonka Lanes regarding food-to-liquor ratio Texa-Tonka Lanes has a
full on-sale intoxicating liquor license which requires at least 50% of gross receipts attnbutable
to the sale of food. Reported food sales for Texa-Tonka Lanes was 47 42% for 2006 City
ordinance requires licensees to be in compliance for March 1 renewal of license each year
Jeff Knstal, Manager of Texa-Tonka Lanes, stated that numbers have changed dramatically due
to the smoking ban. He stated bowling has stayed the same (70% of business), liquor sales have
decreased, and food sales have increased.
Councilmember Carver inquired about future non-compliance issues and if there was a need for
revisions to the current ordinance. He stated he preferred Option 1 allowing the renewal license
to be issued for 2007 with the expectation of gross food receipts meet or exceed 50% in 12
months in order to be reissued an intoxicating license in the future.
Ms Honold stated current City ordinance allows on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses to be issued
to restaurants, hotels, and clubs only and not to bowling alley operations.
Study Session Minutes -2- January 22, 2007
Councilmember Omodt suggested a further study be done on the food-to-liquor ratio for bowling
alleys
It was the consensus of the council to issue the on-sale intoxicating license to Texa-Tonka for
2007 with the expectation for food receipts to meet or exceed 50% in 12 months time, and to
study the issue further.
3. Grant Year 2007 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds Proposed
Allocation
Ms. Larsen presented the staff report and requested Council direction prior to the CDBG public
hearing on February 20. She stated all prior year CDBG funds have been expended and that the
focus this year is on the 2007 CDBG funds.
Council inquired if all affordable housing providers had been notified Ms Larsen responded
that letters had been sent out to all affordable housing providers and that proposals were not
solicited from other service providers
Council inquired if there were other places for funds to go Ms Larsen replied that additional
CDBG funds could be used for the low income housing deferred loan program, which rehabed 8
homes under that project, but that revenue is generally received for that program when a home is
sold or refinanced. She stated however, there are other alternatives for funding this program if
needed.
4. Review of proposed Landscaping and Parking Ordinances
Mr Momson presented the staff report regarding proposed revisions to the landscaping
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance He stated that St. Louis Park was one of the first cities
to have a landscaping ordinance and the revisions were to simplify the landscaping and screening
regulations without reducing the requirements.
Mr. Fulton presented the staff report regarding proposed revisions to the off-street parking
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed amendments would make the ordinance
easier to use by consolidating and simplifying the language, without creating major changes to
the requirements. Changes to the parking ordinance include the addition of a bicycle parking
requirement for all new developments. Council was concerned that the bicycle requirement
would not create more bicycle riders and that we were requiring too much parking Other
provisions include permitting flexibility and stating the council can modify the zoning ordinance
based on certain cntena pertinent to specific development with unique circumstances
5. Future Study Session Agenda Planning
Mr. Harmening and the Council discussed study session agenda planning.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. '
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City Clerk (/ Ma e r