HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/09/02 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session I/f St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
The meeting convened at 7:40 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs,John Basill, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran
Paprocki and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: C. Paul Carver.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Parks and Recreation (Ms. Walsh),
Human Resources Director/Deputy City Manager (Ms. Gohman), Park Superintendent (Mr.
Beane), Recreation Supervisor (Mr. Birno) and Recording Secretary (Ms. Schmidt).
Guest: None
1. Vision Strategic Directions Update — Preserving, Enhancing and Providing Good
Stewardship of our Parks
Ms. Gohman introduced the Council item and Mr. Beane.
Mr. Beane provided an overview of the report, which included staff's recommendation to create an
Internal Guide and have the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) review and
prioritize the items.
Mr. Harmening clarified that once PRAC prioritized their ideas on this Vision area, they would
report back to Council.
Mayor Jacobs stated he would like to encourage prairie grass plantings, which would be an
environmental and cost savings.
Councilmember Sanger felt the list was a good starting point and complimented staff for their hard
work.
Councilmember Paprocki, Councilmember Omodt and Councilmember Finkelstein felt the report
was well done and recommended staff continue to move ahead.
Councilmember Omodt suggested the City consider subsidizing private tree planting to make it
easier for people and to also keep graffiti concerns in mind.
Mr. Beane informed Council that we currently recycle in the parks. Councilmember Finkelstein
indicated he wants us to do more.
Councilmember Sanger suggested expanding the Commission to include people who have expertise
in environmental practices or when vacancies occur to look for candidates with this type of
experience.
Study Session Minutes -2- September 2, 2008
Mr. Beane updated Council on the Emerald Ash Borer.
The consensus was to have PRAC review the list of priorities and report back to Council.
2. Vision Strategic Directions Update — Exploring Creation of a Multi-Use Civic Center,
including indoor/winter use
Mr. Birno presented the staff report.
Ms. Walsh stated staff would like a numbers survey to gather ideas on what the public wants to see.
Currently the top three are an indoor unstructured active recreation space; a healthy lifestyle — low
impact programming space; and an artist space (education, display and performance).
Mayor Jacobs stated he would like to see a community safe place hangout place for kids and
multigenerational usage.
Councilmember Basill agreed with staff's recommendations and felt it was a great vision and they
should consider multiple locations, including possibly partnering with the school district on property
they own on or around the current high school sports field.
Councilmember Paprocki suggested looking at what summer activities are underutilized in the
winter months and try to accommodate those.
Councilmember Sanger stated that indoor space is critical and suggested creating a partnership with
the health clubs in town to make their usage more economical and feasible for the public to use. She
also suggested making the needs decision first and then look at location within the City.
Councilmember Finkelstein stated concern with the cost and annual maintenance. Mr. Birno stated
affordability was brought up in the public input process and staff would be looking into it.
Mr. Harmening stated that the strength of community is partnerships in community, further stating
it would be logical to partner with existing fitness centers.
Councilmember Sanger also stated concern with activity transportation. Mr. Birno stated it is staff's
goal to eliminate the barriers.
It was the consensus of Council to follow the current strategic direction.
3. Communication
Mr. Harmening mentioned that Eden Prairie PD had requested a Mutual Aid Alliance with a
possible protect that may occur at Tech System, stating six off duty officers would be available to
help out.
Study Session Minutes -3- September 2, 2008
Mr. Harmening stated that Hamline University would be moving into the 1600 building.
Mr. Harmening advised Council that Char Rohlik from the Public Works Department would be
traveling to Washington DC with WWII veterans on an Honor Flight next week and suggested
Council send Vmail to the soldiers on that flight.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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Nancy Stroth,' ity Clerk mss, i ayor