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Home My WebLink About2009/12/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ifJSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA DECEMBER 7, 2009 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 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), Human Resources Director (Ms. Gohman), City Clerk (Ms. Stroth), Finance Manager (Mr. Swanson), City Assessor (Mr. Bultema), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). 1 a. Pledge of Allegiance 1 b. Roll Call 2. Presentations - None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Special City Council Minutes of November 9, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. Study Session Minutes of November 9, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. City Council Minutes of November 16, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3d. Study Session Minutes of November 23, 2009 Councilmember Finkelstein requested that the fourth paragraph on page 6 be revised to state "Mr. Harmening stated that staff has learned that the bridge may not be shut down and traffic may be allowed to travel one way in each direction." Councilmember Sanger requested that the last sentence of the fourth paragraph on page 5 be revised to state "She added from her perspective she would be embarrassed if she was a member of the School Board to spend money on this when they are cutting teachers and increasing class sizes, and in addition she has heard no demand for this." City Council Meeting -2- December 7, 2009 The minutes were approved as amended. 4. Approval of Agenda and Items on Consent Calendar NOTE: The Consent Calendar lists those items of business which are considered to be routine and/or which need no discussion. Consent items are acted upon by one motion. If discussion is desired by either a Councilmember or a member of the audience, that item may be moved to an appropriate section of the regular agenda for discussion. 4a. Adopt Ordinance No. 2379-09 amending the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code changing boundaries of Zoning Districts for 3715 Rhode Island Avenue South and 3712 Quebec Avenue South, approve summary ordinance and authorize. 4b. Approve change orders to Contract 79-09 MSC Renovation Project No. 2008-1900. 4c. Authorize execution of a contract with Ostvig Tree, Inc. as the 2010 Boulevard Tree Pruning Contractor in an amount not to exceed $60,000. 4d. Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 127-07 with AECOM for additional consultant services related to the implementation of the Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation (Reilly) Remedial Action Plan (RAP) during year 2009. 4e. Approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 127-07 with AECOM for consultant services related to the implementation of the Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation (Reilly) Remedial Action Plan (RAP) during year 2010. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 09-163 authorizing Final Payment in the Amount of $10,000 for the CSAH 25 Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Improvement Project, City Project No. 2005-2100, Contract No. 150-06. 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 09-164 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3136 Hampshire Avenue South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 09-165 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3661 Glenhurst Avenue South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 09-166 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3701 Glenhurst Avenue South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota. 4j. Adopt Resolution No. 09-167 authorizing final payment in the amount of $27,198.35 and accepting work for the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station No. 17 Forcemain Rehabilitation with G.L. Contracting, Inc, Project No. 2009-2300, City Contract No. 83-09. 4k. Adopt Resolution No. 09-168 accepting the Project Report, Establishing Improvement Project No. 2008-1400, Approving Plans and Specifications, and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids for Improvement Project No. 2008-1400. 41. Approve entering into a contract with the St. Louis Park Hockey Association to allow them to install and maintain an outdoor skating rink at Wolfe Park for the use by the public. 4m. Approve for Filing Vendor Claims 4n. Approve for Filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes September 16, 2009. 4o. Approve for Filing Housing Authority Minutes October 14, 2009. 4p. Approve for Filing Planning Commission Minutes October 16, 2009. City Council Meeting -3- December 7, 2009 Councilmember Omodt requested that the record reflect that he would abstain from voting on item 41. It was moved by Councilmember Finkelstein, seconded by Councilmember Basill, to approve the Agenda as presented and items listed on the Consent Calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 6-0(Councilmember Omodt abstained with respect to consent item 41). 5. Boards and Commissions 5a. Appointment of Citizen Representative to Boards and Commissions It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Finkelstein, to appoint city representative Isabella Stewart as a Youth Commissioner to the Human Rights Commission for the term ending August 31, 2010. The motion passed 6-0. Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to all the volunteers who serve on the City's boards and commissions, and particularly to Ms. Stewart for serving as a youth commissioner. 6. Public Hearings 6a. Liquor License — Homewood Suites Ms. Stroth presented the staff report and indicated the applicant has made application for an on-sale 3.2 malt liquor license with operations beginning January 2010 in the new West End development. She indicated Homewood Suites will have a lounge area and locked gate outdoor patio and intends to offer its guests a complimentary light dinner and complimentary alcohol to be served Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She added two attendants will be present in the designated area with one of the attendants checking identification prior to serving alcohol. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Basill, to approve application from HSSLP, LLC, doing business as Homewood Suites St. Louis Park for an on-sale 3.2 malt liquor license to be located at 5305 Wayzata Boulevard with the license term extending through March 1, 2010. The motion passed 6-0. City Council Meeting -4- December 7, 2009 6b. 2010 Proposed Budget, Tax Levy and Truth in Taxation Public Hearing Mr. Swanson presented the staff report and provided an overview of the Truth in Taxation public hearing process and property tax levy. He noted the process is intended to encourage more transparency between cities and its constituents. He stated the City experienced significant challenges in preparing the 2010 budget, including loss of the market value homestead credit, reduced permit fee revenues, reduced interest earnings, as well as levy limits imposed by the State of Minnesota. He stated throughout the course of 2009 many council workshops were held to develop a balanced budget. In addition, community input was sought to assist staff in shaping the budget via the City's guiding principles to make sure the budget is in line with community goals. He stated the budget includes wage and benefit freezes, staffing reductions, selective line item reductions, fee adjustments, and a modest property tax levy increase. He stated the preliminary analysis included a $1.8 million gap, and he went on to explain proposed 2010 budget changes to close the budget gap. Mr. Swanson explained the property tax process through 2009 and the tax levy. He stated the estimated tax capacity rate shows a 0.30% increase for 2010 and an increase in the tax levy of$650,000. He noted the recent decertification of the Excelsior Boulevard and Oak Park Village TIF districts will boost the City's tax capacity and will help mitigate a potential tax levy increase. Mr. Swanson stated that the City ranks 48`h out of 117 for city taxes (down from 45th the previous year), and for overall taxes the City is 456 (down from 29th the previous year). He presented information regarding proposed decreases/increases in the residential city share of property taxes and stated that homes valued under $200,000 will see the largest decrease in property taxes for 2010. He added 9,700 residential properties will see a decrease in their portion of city taxes. Mr. Bultema explained that the composition of the total tax capacity changes from year-to- year in relation to the valuations for various property types. For the 2009 assessment, residential values declined while commercial properties were relatively stable which led to many residential parcels having lower property tax forecasts for 2010. He stated that as we move forward to the 2010 assessment for the payable 2011 period, this shift is likely to swing the other direction as the commercial sector is anticipated to decline. Mayor Jacobs reminded residents that valuations are typically a year behind. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. William Putnam, 3172 Hillsboro Avenue South, appeared before the City Council and stated he felt the City and City Council were doing a good job and he appreciated their efforts. He asked the City Council to carefully review everything in the budget to see if additional cuts can be made. He noted that the City previously received money from selling a property and the money was used toward buying trees. He stated he would forego having City Council Meeting -5- December 7, 2009 trees if his taxes would go down. He stated the two new fire stations and a possible community center represent more pressure on all the taxpayers. Mayor Jacobs stated the staff has done a good job of looking at everything in the budget and finding ways to cut back. He stated the City is going to face similar pressures in 2011 and the City Council remains sensitive to the fact that there are residents on fixed incomes and who have been laid off. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. Mayor Jacobs stated the City Council will take formal action on the 2010 budget on December 21, 2009. 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public — None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items - None 9. Communications - None 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. L I Nancy Stroth, (ty Clerk Jeff Jacobs, a or