HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/05/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IfsSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
MAY 12, 2008
,
The meeting convened at 8:21 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul
Omodt, Loran Paprocki, and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: None
Energy Efficiency Task Force Members present: Craig Panning, Mark Oestreich, John Altepeter
and Cary Smith.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Finance Director (Mr. DeJong), Director of
Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Director of Park and Rec (Ms. Walsh), and Recording Secretary (Ms.
Hughes).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning— Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mr. Harmening stated the May 27 Study Session agenda will be devoted to financial issues.
Councilmember Sanger requested that the agenda item regarding Highway 100 reconstruction be
postponed since she will not be in attendance on May 27.
It was the consensus of Council to postpone consideration of the agenda item regarding Highway
100 reconstruction.
2. Vision Strategic Direction Update — Expanding Energy Efficiencies in City Operations
Mr. Hoffman presented a proposal to improve energy efficiency by developing a comprehensive
understanding of current energy usage in the City, including conducting a comprehensive energy
audit and improvement plan for City operations, establishing a Council policy to incorporate LEED
principles and methods into the design and construction of all new/remodeled City buildings, and
establishing a Council policy for the City to consider seeking energy efficient and environmentally
safe options during daily operations. He stated the City's current expenditure for all forms of energy
used is approximately $1.8 million per year. He explained the action team members propose to hire
a consultant to perform the detailed audit, establish an energy usage baseline for all City facilities and
operations, and develop a plan of improvement possibilities for the City to consider; this audit will
cost approximately $12,000-$18,000.
Mayor Jacobs stated he was in favor of hiring a consultant and added it is important to look for ways
for the City to save money. He stated he felt the Council should have a policy that encourages the
maximum possible energy efficiency and in terms of specifics, the Council should wait until the
audit comes back.
Councilmembers Sanger and Finkelstein concurred.
Councilmember Paprocki concurred and stated it will be important for the City to remain good
stewards of its resources over the long term.
Study Session Minutes -2- May 12, 2008
Mayor Jacobs stated he is less concerned about LEED certification and added it costs money to
become energy efficient; however, over the course of time, the City will save money.
Mr. Harmening stated the goal will be to meet LEED principles, but to forego some of the
paperwork costs associated with it.
The Council discussed having measurable goals and ways to show improvement in areas that show
tangible results.
Mayor Jacobs stated at some point, he would like to see the City become a clearinghouse for
residents and businesses so they have data and information on being energy efficient, etc. and this
may have a ripple effect into the private market.
Councilmember Basill stated he wants any plan to provide an impact and the City needs to be
cognizant of the types of things it can do. He stated with respect to a policy that selects energy
efficient and environmentally safe options, the policy should specify research.
Mr. Harmening stated there was a biomass energy producing plant proposed in Minneapolis that fell
through and he was recently contacted by one of the representatives from that company to further
discuss their plans to build something like this. He added from time to time, he and the Mayor are
contacted about the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement; a decision was made over a year ago to
hold off on this and if this is something the Council wishes staff to pursue, he requested the Council
to let him know.
The Council discussed biomass, how successful it has been, the impact on surrounding
neighborhoods, and how a City benefits from it.
It was the consensus of Council to direct staff to retain a consultant for the purpose of conducting a
comprehensive energy audit and improvement plan for City operations, to establish a Council policy to
incorporate LEED principles and methods into the design and construction of all new/remodeled City
buildings, and to establish a Council policy for the City to consider selecting energy efficient and
environmentally safe options during daily operations.
3. Vision Strategic Directions Update—Arts & Culture
Ms. Walsh stated staff requests direction regarding the next steps in the Vision item relating to
promoting arts, culture, and community aesthetics in the City, including (1) whether the City
should implement a one percent funding requirement for the arts, (2) whether the City should create
an Arts Fund, (3) whether the City should officially adopt a Public Arts Policy, and (4) whether the
City should be proactive in identifying future sites where public art would be appropriate. She
explained that initial conversations with the City Attorney have indicated the one percent funding
requirement is not a common occurrence in Minnesota and the City Attorney would have to
perform further research to determine if the City has the legal authority to implement this
requirement. She explained that staff is proposing to utilize some of the money budgeted for vision
to work with the City Attorney and Mr. Becker; at this time, the cost to work with these consultants
is not expected to exceed $3,000.
Mayor Jacobs stated he is in favor of the one percent funding requirement.
Study Session Minutes -3- May 12, 2008
Mayor Jacobs stated he is in favor of the one percent funding requirement.
Councilmember Sanger concurred.
Councilmember Finkelstein stated he wants to see the City do more with the arts but is concerned
with the one percent requirement given the tough economic times.
Councilmember Paprocki stated this is a nice goal to have but did not like having a set figure.
Councilmember Sanger requested clarification regarding public art and stated it will be important to
determine who will decide what is defined as art. She stated she would like to see this concept
included in heightened architectural requirements without having a one percent funding
requirement.
The Council discussed ongoing efforts of Friends of the Arts.
It was the consensus of Council to direct staff to work further with the City Attorney regarding the
one percent funding requirement and to present the results of his research to the City Council.
4. Fernhill Park Capital Improvements
Ms. Walsh presented a proposal for redevelopment of Fern Hill Park to make the existing facilities
more useable to residents and athletic teams who use the park. She stated the proposal includes
reconstruction of the parking lot (with a cost sharing of 25% to be paid by Torah Academy),
drainage improvement in the entire park, reconstructing the basketball court, reconstructing the
baseball field, addition of a safety light by the playground equipment, the addition of a trail that
surrounds the park, the demolition of existing storage building and the construction of a new picnic
shelter. She indicated that following several meetings with the neighborhood, it became apparent
that they would like to have tennis courts added to the park; because of size limits, a compromise
was reached for one single tennis court.
Councilmember Basill stated the proposed reconstruction of the park looks good and pointed out
that the Council and staff need to remain cognizant of the fact that the City has previously received
a number of requests for tennis courts that have been turned down.
Ms. Walsh stated the estimated cost of the project could exceed the budgeted amount by $100,000;
options for financing the additional cost include authorizing staff to spent the additional amount
from the Park Improvement Fund, or the Council could choose to make changes in proprieties in
the proposed 2008 CIP projects by delaying the Frisbee golf course project (estimated at $50,000),
or the Council could choose to complete the project in phases and add a tennis court at a later date;
however, this may increase the cost of adding the trail and tennis court since there are some
economies of scale associated with doing all the paving work at one time.
The Council discussed using environmentally friendly design standards where possible on the
building. Council concurred delaying the Frisbee golf course project and using the additional
$50,000 from the park improvement fund to complete the project.
Study Session Minutes -4- May 12, 2008
5. 2008 Council Canoe Ride
Mr. Harmening asked if the Council is interested in taking a canoe trip again this year and suggested
making the trip a more productive exercise by inviting a representative from the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District and Three Rivers Park District to attend a study session following the canoe trip
in order that these organizations can share information about ongoing initiatives and joint programs
that exist with other cities.
Councilmember Paprocki suggested starting the canoe trip further upstream and inviting
Minnetonka to attend.
It was the consensus of Council to schedule a canoe trip in June.
6. Communications (verbal)
Mr. Harmening stated he spoke to Tom O'Keefe at MnDOT and Mr. O'Keefe indicated the City
should not plan on Highway 100 reconstruction getting moved up before the 2014 date.
The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purpos •nly:
None.
li
Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Jacob •r