Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CTY OFFICIAL MINUTES T. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION RK NOVEMBER 5,2007 The meeting convened at 6:03 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), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), City Engineer (Mr. Brink), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Management Assistant (Ms. Honold), Chief Information Officer (Mr. Pires) and Recording Secretary (Ms. Schmidt). Guests: Vic Moore and Doug Franzen, Franzen and Associates; Dennis McGrann, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P; and Jim Detmar and Tara Meagher, Periscope. 1. 2008 Legislative Update Ms. Honold presented the staff report. Mayor Jacobs stated his biggest concern was transportation. Councilmember Paprocki suggested seeking money for rail removal as a part of the Glencoe Railroad Mitigation project. Councilmember Sanger asked if there would be any lobbying for funding for the LRT. Mr. McGrann stated the numbers and political dynamics indicate it is a great project and with its links into suburbs it is has a potential to be an extremely popular project. Councilmember Sanger suggested if the LRT received funding that there also be funds allocated for mitigation of noise and vibration. She inquired about the pawnshop bill activity. Mr. Moore stated the bill was introduced and still alive, stating the Police Chief Association was also opposing the bill. Mr. Moore went on to state the bill was brought in as a two-part bill by Pawn America in an effort to reduce fees that people pay. Mr. Franzen stated the City of Minneapolis was also very interested in the bill. Councilmember Sanger asked if legislation would be able to override City Ordinances. Mr. Franzen stated they would have the ability with certain ordinances, but not all. Councilmember Sanger also stated concern with houses in foreclosure and the impact on the surrounding neighbors, stating once a homeowner is notified, properties are not always maintained. Councilmember Finkelstein stated concern with the rail car storage and would like to see controls on the number of group homes and sober houses. Mr. Moore stated he would be looking into these concerns. Mr. Franzen explained that the Federal government cases pre- empted what they could do with respect to rail car storage. Mr. McGrann stated the railroad has certain unique jurisdiction when it comes to the statute. He stated he would give an update on the regulations to Ms. Honold. Councilmember Finkelstein also inquired about leasing versus owning the track options. Mr. McGrann stated that would be something they could pursue. City Council Special Study Session -2- November 5, 2007 Mr. Harmening asked about proposing legislation to require MnDOT to prioritize funding, such as viewing a priority for Highway 7 & Wooddale and also Highway 7 & Louisiana. He stated the City has received Federal and local support in funding, but has not received any State support. Mr. Harmening suggested the City lend MnDOT its share of money to ensure the City would not lose Federal funding, stating the County would be providing some funding for Highway 7 & Wooddale and possibly Highway 7 & Louisiana. Councilmember Sanger stated concern as to whether they would ever receive repayment. Councilmember Sanger also asked if they did this for this particular intersection, why it couldn't be done for others. Mayor Jacobs reminded everyone that the funding is project specific. Mr. Moore stated they would not need legislation to fund the money to MnDOT. Mr. Harmening stated that MnDOT had set priorities on the Federal funding and in 2010 the money would disappear if it wasn't applied to the project. There was Council consensus to have staff rework the legislative priority document to include sober homes, LRT and railroad storage concerns and to meet with the legislature for more firm action. Mr. Moore stated that on November 30th the Senate Bonding Committee would be visiting the City. 2. Marketing and Branding Mr. Zwilling presented the staff report. Mr. Detmar updated Council on their choice for the City's messaging and motto and stated their preferred recommendation would be "Experience Life in the Park." He further stated that the message implied experiencing nature, diversity, business, the arts and neighborhood living in the Park. Mr. Detmar, Council and staff had discussion on the presented logo. Mr. Zwilling stated that people surveyed were indifferent with the logo. The Council liked the overall proposed tagline, however, stated uncertainty with the word "experience" and requested other word choice alternatives. Council liked the fact that "City of' would be taken out and inquired about font style and color changes, stating the logo looked tired. Mr. Zwilling stated it would be quite costly and require changing everything associated with the current logo, such as signs, documents and City vehicles. Mr. Zwilling suggested dropping the "City of' as they go forward, but keeping the existing emblem and St. Louis Park logo. Mr. Detmar stated the logo comes alive by how it's being used. There was Council consensus to take the "City of' out of the logo, soften the bold and to come up with modifier for the word"experience"in the tagline. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Ja bs, Otyor V"