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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/08/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CITY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES T. LOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION PARK AUGUST 27, 2007 The meeting convened at 6:32 p.m. Councilmembers present. Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loren Paprocki, and Susan Sanger. Councilmember absent: C. Paul Carver Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening); Community Development Director (Mr. Locke); Public Works Director (Mr. Rardin); Community Development Director (Mr. Locke); Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt); Finance Director (Mr. DeJong); Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling); Management Assistant (Ms. Honold); Police Lieutenant (Mr. Harcey); City Engineer(Mr. Brink) and Recording Secretary(Ms. Stoll). Guest: Greg Anderson, Anderson Builders 1. Future Agenda Planning Mr. Harmening and Council discussed study session agenda planning. Councilmember Finkelstein stated the EcoCenter at the State Fair has information the councilmembers may find interesting about wind power. Councilmember Omodt inquired about the progress of WiFi and the delayed timeline. He noted that they are behind schedule. Mr. Harmening stated that some WIFi areas are working and the city is working to keep the company on schedule. Councilmember Finkelstein stated the business community has been concerned about the delay. 2. Anderson Builders Redevelopment Assistance Mr. Locke presented the staff report and Greg Anderson, Anderson Builders, provided an overview of the project including the size, location, building materials, type of potential tenants, and parking. Councilmember Omodt inquired about the water drainage Mr. Anderson stated there is a pond on the property that is able to handle it. Councilmember Sanger asked about building height, tree coverage and the TIF analysis. Mr. Anderson stated that the trees will need to be replaced and additional plantings will be installed. Mr. Locke stated that they aren't proposing TIF, but there was a partial TIF analysis done to see if it would be worth creating a TIF district. Mr. Locke stated it would be beneficial to analyze the non-financial components of the TIF analysis for similar projects. He stated the project area has been identified as needing changes and the proposed project results in an increase in employment opportunity and tax base in the community. Study Session Minutes -2- August 27, 2007 Mr. Hunt stated that this is a parcel that is specifically noted in the redevelopment section in the comprehensive plan. Councilmember Paprocki stated that his concern is sustainability and the precedent being set in the area, but he is in support of the project. Councilmember Finkelstein inquired if there were standards by which to evaluate these types of requests in the future. He is concerned about the city assisting in the upgrades for properties that don't necessarily need upgrading. Councilmember Basill stated he concurred with Councilmember Finkelstein to be conscientious of using evaluation tools. Mayor Jacobs stated he was initially uncomfortable using TIF, but it is a nice project that fits into that part of town. Councilmember Omodt stated the city previously gave money for a project that is now being torn down. Mr. Hunt stated the owner of that business was reputable and successful at that time. Mayor Jacobs stated that the analysis indicates that it is worth it for this project. There was Council consensus to have staff undertake a dual track to negotiate a development contract with Anderson Builders and develop draft policies for similar future projects. 3. 2008 Budget Mr. DeJong presented the staff report. Councilmember Paprocki inquired about the figures for the pavement management program. Mr DeJong stated that the budget for the pavement management program would dictate the priority for the various projects. Mr. Rardin stated that they plan the road work four years ahead and the pavement management program was developed to keep the pavement management index for the entire system of the roads in fair condition. He stated it may need to be reevaluated in the future. Councilmember Sanger inquired when the limited market value will be phased out. Mr. DeJong stated in about two years. Councilmember Sanger inquired if they should have a slightly higher tax rate for the levy to account for the possibility of residents challenging their assessed values. Mr. DeJong stated that it was already accounted for there is already an allowance for uncollectible taxes. Councilmember Omodt inquired about the HRA levy. Mr. DeJong stated that the effect on property owners would be minimal. Councilmember Finkelstein stated he thinks the Council needs to discuss the funds raised by the HRA levy. Mr. Harmening stated that the HRA dollars are in the development fund and agrees that there needs to be a discussion. Mayor Jacobs clarified that staff would like Council to set the preliminary levy at 6% with the potential of decreasing it. Mr. Harmening stated that it is possible to have a smaller increase, but the Council would need to provide direction about the areas in the budget to cut. Study Session Minutes -3- August 27, 2007 Councilmember Sanger stated she would prefer to know the total amount of money available for projects and services that we were prepared to offer and then prepare the budget. Mr. Harmening stated the budget provided is a baseline budget with some adjustments. He inquired if there was additional information needed to make a decision. Councilmember Sanger stated she is concerned about adequate funding for the civic center, sidewalks and trails. Councilmember Finkelstein stated that he is concerned about funds for surveys, consultants, and vision. Mr. Harmemng stated that some things that aren't necessary to have done immediately, but they are important. Councilmember Paprocki stated that he thinks that it is valuable to have employee development based upon past success. Councilmember Finkelstein inquired if there were standards by which to alleviate these types of requests in the future. He was also concerned with the precedent they were setting by doing it on a piecemeal basis when they did not have standards in place first. Councilmember Sanger inquired about the addition of an intern in communications and the amount of money for the school/city calendar. Mr. Zwilling stated cost of the calendar is shared equally with the school district. Mr. Harmening stated that there have been a lot of changes within communications and there are a lot of demands for the communications. He recommended not cutting back on the communications. Councilmember Omodt stated the rates for consulting for communications are good and the improvement over the last few years is dramatic. There was Council consensus to set an increase of 6% for the HRA funds with the potential of reducing before the levy is adopted. 4. Tobacco Penalties Ms. Honold presented the staff report. Councilmember Finkelstein inquired if there were repeated problems at the same places or if the problem has increased. Mr. Harcey stated the issue that has nsen is because a store who has received a violation starts the one year cycle over. He explained that if they were monitored over a two or three year period for violations, the violations would decrease because of the tougher penalties. Councilmember Basill inquired if the ticket goes to the person who sold it. Mr. Harcey stated that the citation goes to the person making the sale and the violation goes to the business. Councilmember Sanger stated she thinks the second violation should be more than a fine and there should be a 36 month cycle. Ms. Honold stated that they were advised by the attorney that they can check more than once per year. Ms. Honold stated that a suspension has a larger impact on the business owner's revenues than fines. Councilmember Paprocki stated that he concurs that the suspension should occur sooner. He inquired if the products for making paraphernalia such as wrapping paper and pipes were regulated. Mr. Harcey stated that he doesn't think it is regulated by the State, but it could be regulated by ordinance. Mayor Jacobs inquired if there was a process they should follow to increase the penalties and get feedback from the license holders. Ms. Honold stated the process used when they were working on the alcohol issue was useful. Study Session Minutes -4- August 27, 2007 Mayor Jacobs stated that he wants penalty hearings to be handled administratively. Councilmember Basill inquired if the suspension would be for the store or the tobacco sales. Ms. Honold stated it would be for the tobacco sales. Councilmember Basill stated that he would like it to be drafted similarly to the alcohol. Councilmember Paprocki stated that there will be a larger constituent for the cigarettes. Councilmember Sanger inquired about the number of businesses that sell cigarettes. Ms. Honold stated there are about 33 license holders. Mayor Jacobs stated he would like to see it be drafted similarly to the alcoholic beverage ordinance. There was Council consensus to begin drafting an ordinance amending Sec. 8, Subd. X regarding tobacco violations and penalties similarly to the alcoholic beverage ordinance. 5. Storm Water Project Update — Flood Mitigation Area 24 (Hampshire Townhomes) Project 2003-1600—MPR Version Mr. Brink presented the staff report. Mr. Rardin stated that solving the flooding issue could be done privately or publicly. He stated they have been unable to develop a mutually agreed upon solution that is amenable to the affected property owners. He stated that they are leaving it up to the property owners to participate in the program that is currently available. Councilmember Sanger inquired if the objection is that they don't have the money to pay for it. Mr. Brink stated that cost is a concern. Councilmember Omodt inquired about whose water it is and who should be held responsible for assisting in the solution. Mr. Brink stated that in similar situations they have conducted public fixes,but the property owners still needed to fix the problems within their property. Councilmember Basill clarified that the owners have an issue because of the cost. He inquired about the reason the businesses aren't part of the solution. Mr. Rardin stated the business owners have varying opinions and have not come to a consensus on a solution. Mayor Jacobs inquired if there was anything that could be done to develop a single project that works for all. Mr. Rardin stated that he doesn't think so at this time. Councilmember Basill inquired if there was any liability for the filling one of the owners has done. Mr. Harmening stated that condemnation and using eminent domain would be a way to move the project forward. Mr. Rardin stated that they aren't planning to do a public project, but there are programs the homeowners could participate in. Councilmember Sanger inquired about a grant from the DNR. Mr. Bnnk stated that it expires at the end of this year and there is another one for next year. He stated there was already an extension. Study'Sess'ion Minutes -5- August 27, 2007 Updates Councilmember Sanger stated she;attended the Twin West Chamber and Metropolitan Association - meeting,about the issue of requesting'funding for TH 100. She also attended a,meeting called,by R.T. Rybak about the Clean Water Partnership with the intent to clean up the lakes: The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only 6. July Financial,Report 7. ' Police Advisory Commission Mid-Year Report 8. St. Louis Park Arts & Culture Grants 9. Wolfe Lake Condominium Association HIA (Housing Improvement Area) 10. Vacant°City,Land,,Update 11. WiFi Update `./ j_WitaAP-.) Nancy Stroth,'Ci ' lerk Jeff aco s, ayor