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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/04/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session il(([CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION RK APRIL 23, 2007 The meeting convened at 6:37 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Susan Sanger and Loran Paprocki. Councilmembers absent: C. Paul Carver Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Public Works Director (Mr. Rardin), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), Community Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), Planning & Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Planning Commission Vice-Chair (Mr Morris), Planning Commission Chair(Mr. Carper), Planning Commissioner(Mr. Robertson) and Recording Secretary (Ms Schmidt). Guest. Pat Mascia, Duke Realty Duke Realty Team 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning Mr. Harmening and Council discussed study session agenda planning. Councilmember Omodt asked what Anderson Builders was requesting. Mr. Harmening stated they proposed a medical building on Walker Street Councilmember Finkelstein asked when Council would have information from legislature about the local government aid. Mr. Harmening stated the House Tax Committee is still discussing this. Councilmember Finkelstein asked if, for the purpose of discussion on May 14th, the presumption is it will be the same. Mr Harmening stated yes, unless something dramatic happens between now and then, assume no local government aid. Mayor Jacobs reminded Council it's not free money. Councilmember Sanger asked when they would be having a tenant landlord session. Mr. Harmening stated May 29th. 4. Planning Commission 2006 Annual Report Ms McMonigal presented the staff report. Mayor Jacobs asked when the Comprehensive Plan was due. Ms. McMonigal stated 2008. Chair Carper suggested adding more rest areas with benches. He also stated the transit areas are not pedestnan friendly. Mayor Jacobs agreed. Chair Carper commended staff's involvement with banging things forward as an initiative and working with them. Councilmember Sanger stated she would like to see more ideas initiated by the Commission and would like to see more bike trails added. Study Session Minutes -2- April 23, 2007 Commissioner Robertson stated their momentum got going with the housing summit getting excess land. Councilmember Finkelstein would like to see something happen with excess lots that have not sold, and possibly look at different methods of getting moderate and low-income owner occupied housing Commissioner Robertson would also like to look at a way to increase square footage without increasing number of household density. Vice-Chair Morris stated he would like more connectivity. Mayor Jacobs stated it has been the direction the Community has wanted for years. Ms. McMonigal reminded Council and the Commission there would be a Community Workshop on May 17th. Council commended the Commission for their invaluable work. 2. Highway 100 Reconstruction (Full Build) Project Mr. Rardin presented an update report on the Highway 100 Project. He stated staff is recommending a traffic study and looking for direction from Council. Mr. Harmening asked if Mn/DOT was ready to move forward on the preliminary design and was waiting for the City's lead on the underpass option. He asked if the City asked Mn/DOT to put the project on hold, would it just sit there. Mr. Rardin stated that Mn/DOT has this project on hold now pending City direction on the underpass and southbound Hwy 100 on-ramp locations. Mn/DOT's schedule will depend upon City input and availability of state funding. Council had discussion on the reconstruction and underpass options. Councilmember Finkelstein wondered if they should have this discussion after the legislative session is complete. Council agreed and thought perhaps having some type of public involvement plan ready may be advantageous. 3. Duke Realty's Concept Plan and Preliminary TIF Request Mr. Locke presented the staff report. He stated staff is looking for direction on how to proceed. Pat Mascia, Duke Realty, presented the updated site plan. He stated they have made the changes requested by Council and have looked at the aesthetics on the ramp along with the indoor and outdoor public places He also stated they have expanded the atrium on both levels, added connections through the skyway, expanded the green space on West End boulevard and added a community room on the second level. Mr. Mascia stated they would be adding 20,000 — 30,000 square feet of office space on the second level, which would be connected by elevators and a central lobby. He showed the green spaces with visual corner identities and an outdoor seating space. He asked staff for suggestions on determining the best use for the green areas, possibly providing a water fountain, which would require a slight road adjustment. He stated they have removed the signs from the parking ramp and would place the billboards on pylon or monument signs on the corners, stating they would at like to dress up the ramp. Study Session Minutes -3- Apnl 23, 2007 Mayor Jacobs asked staff what the next step would be Mr. Locke recommended some type community planning process, stating it would be desirable to proceed with a two-prong(dual-track) approach. He stated it seems more work will need to be done on the retail, but the goals of the basic framework and office piece seem to be agreeable. He stated there are some market opportunities to pursue that would be beneficial for both the City and Duke. Mr. Locke suggested having staff work with Duke and develop a preliminary development agreement to lay the groundwork for an actual redevelopment contract. He stated staff would like to make some preliminary commitments to move forward in a timely manner. Mr. Locke asked how extensive the retail pieces would be, whether just tweaking or more dramatic. He stated they would need to get a market analysis done to make sure it will work and hold its value. He also stated the amount of TIF seems to be an issue, stating an ideal target would be below 20 years. Mayor Jacobs liked the idea of proceeding with two-step process and would like to get the office piece moving. He stated he would like to see more discussion on the retail piece, parking ramp, public plaza and the green space. He stated he liked the changes Duke has submitted. Councilmember Paprocki stated he felt DUKE has been responsive to Council's requests, but is still concerned with the TIF Councilmember Omodt stated he is conceptually comfortable with the two-prong approach, but would like some proof that the retail will not be volatile. Councilmember Sanger stated she appreciated the changes made by the developer, but doesn't agree that all items were addressed. She stated concern with the 25 years of TIF and asked how the TIF would be structured to address the known and the unknown. She questioned if all should be retail or should a portion be office, suggesting the City possibly purchase a portion if a public need is identified. She stated Golden Valley stated they had no interest in a joint powers agreement Councilmember Finkelstein stated he agreed and would like to start the office building, but look at more options for the retail. He is concerned with the amount of TIF and would like to know the break down. Councilmember Basill agreed on the two-prong approach and would like to move forward. He complemented Duke on the changes made. Mr. Harmening re-iterated that Council is interested in the dual-track process with everyone conceptually agreeable on the office site. He also stated the consensus is to continue to work with the west side design plan, but requested. clarity if that meant fine-tuning and further evolving or starting over. Councilmember Finkelstein stated it also depends on the amount of money and where it would be spent. He stated that if the City puts in TIF, they become partners. He stated it was already stated Duke would likely sell the retail, but the City would be involved for the length of the TIF. Study Session Minutes -4- April 23, 2007 Councilmember Sanger stated she did not want to set it aside, but wanted to look at more alternatives. Councilmember Paprocki stated concern about the TIF and the term. He suggested focusing on the presented design so they could identify TIF a little more appropnately. Mr. Hunt stated they have received a list of eligible expenses. He stated once staff receives direction they would go through the due diligence process and look at the numbers. He asked if Council wanted to set it aside and look at alternative options or are they reasonably satisfied with the proposal to move forward and work with Ehlers and market analyst's to make it work. Councilmember Sanger stated staff was asking Council to make a decision without all the information. Mr. Hunt stated Council needed to provide staff direction. Mr. Harmening stated it is not a signed agreement. He asked if Council was interested enough to continue working with developer in getting the office piece going and further evolve the western portion of the site, at least the ball would still be moving forward. He stated that by entering into a preliminary development agreement, they're agreeing to work in good faith. Mr. Locke suggested drafting the preliminary development agreement, which would include the layout type of process to use, the retail piece, the time line, the due diligence type of things and the TIF. He suggested staff come back with the proposed process. Mayor Jacobs stated concern with the lack of true St. Louis Park public process. He suggested including a broader community base, perhaps getting the"wow" suggestion they are looking for. Councilmember Finkelstein stated Duke has stated they had other alternatives for the retail site, but Council hasn't seen them. Council advised staff to proceed forward on the two-prong approach. The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 5. Relocation of Polling Locations for Ward 1, Precinct 3 & 4 6. Financial Report(March 2007) 7. Quarterly Investment Report(January-March 2007) 8. Wireless Update 9. Proposed Changes to Bassett Creek Water Management Commission CIP 10. Recreation Center—East Arena Light Res •cement /\ Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff 'acot, ayor