HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/04/28 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session OFFICIAL MINUTES
I/I St. Louis Park CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
MINNESOTA ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
APRIL 28, 2008
The meeting convened at 6:03 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran
Paprocki and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: John Basill
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Fire Chief(Chief Stemmer), Public Works Director
(Mr. Rardin), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling) and Recording Secretary (Ms.
Schmidt).
Guest: None
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning
Mr. Harmening and Council discussed study session agenda planning.
2. Municipal Facilities Update
Mr. Harmening presented the staff report, updating Council on the fire station project, the
municipal service center and City Hall facilities.
Councilmember Sanger asked when a decision would need to be made for a north side location. Mr.
Harmening stated it would be desirable to have some type of direction by fall. Councilmember
Sanger asked when Walgreen's would be up and operating. Mr. Harmening stated their intent was
no later than a year after start of construction. Councilmember Sanger suggested it could be a good
opportunity to locate the station at a different corner of the intersection.
Councilmember Carver asked if staff had looked at the area south of Louisiana Avenue near the
railroad tracks. Mr. Harmening stated yes.
Mr. Harmening explained that with the anticipated demolition of fire station 1, the Utilities
Division would be displaced. This occurrence, along with other modifications required to be made
to the MSC, has created the need to conduct a needs assessment at the Municipal Service Center
(MSC). The assessment would evaluate design options for an addition, verify that the site could
accommodate necessary building construction, and storage operations for the City.
Mr. Harmening stated that the exterior of city hall was scheduled to be refurbished this summer as
well as refreshing the landscape and possibly adding some public art.
Mr. Harmening stated there might be an opportunity to stage the financing consequences with the
fire station to create less impact.
Councilmember Sanger asked if the Utilities Division could rent office place for displaced people.
Mr. Harmening stated it was a possibility.
Study Session Minutes -2- April 28, 2008
Councilmember Carver stated he liked the idea of staggering the construction of the stations so they
could have one up and running while other is being constructed. Mr. Harmening stated by
staggering it, they could house station 2 crews at station 1 while station 2 was being constructed.
Chief Stemmer stated that theoretically they could.
Councilmember Finkelstein asked if they could afford to wait on station 2. Chief Stemmer stated
he, as well as staff, felt they could, explaining that the floors in fire station 2, although bad, were not
as bad as the floors at station 1, and that they could continue to operate out of it while station 1 was
being constructed.
Councilmember Sanger suggested factoring in for fire truck activity in the traffic impact study for
Cedar Lake Road. Councilmember Carver stated the fire trucks would still have difficulty during
rush hour on Cedar Lake Road regardless of location.
3. Water Tower Painting
Mr. Zwilling presented the staff report, explaining that displaying public art on the water tower
would be difficult. He suggested keeping the color, name and logo consistent with the other towers.
Council and staff had discussion on staff's recommendations and if there were any marketing and
branding possibilities for public art. The consensus of Council was to agree with staff's
recommendations.
4. Communications (verbal)
Mayor Jacobs stated he would be gone May 12t and Councilmember Finkelstein stated he would be
gone May 19th.
Mr. Harmening stated the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference would be the week of June
12th, stating there were board positions open if anyone was interested.
Mr. Harmening stated staff had some policy concerns relating to board and commission
representatives expressing interest in RFPs for the fire department and/or MSC. He went on to state
that he spoke with the City Attorney and was advised that it would be allowable with the unanimous
vote of the Council. Several Councilmembers had concerns with allowing commissioners to provide
services to the city. Council and staff had discussion on the subjectivity and it was suggested that
more discussion would be needed before formalizing anything.
The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
5. March 2008 Monthly Financial Report
6. Quarterly Investment Report (January— arch, •008
7. Vegetation Ordinance Amendments / /
/L--
Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Jacobs, Mayor