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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/04/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular IJIJt.NLouis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA APRIL 20, 2009 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki and Susan Sanger. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Assistant Planner (Mr. Fulton), Facilities Superintendent (Mr. Altepeter), Inspections Director (Mr. Hoffman), Environmental Coordinator (Mr. Vaughan), Housing Program Coordinator (Ms. Larsen), Finance Director (Mr. DeJong) and Recording Secretary (Ms. Schmidt). Others Present: Jeffrey Oertel, Oertel Architects 2. Presentations 2a. Proclamation for Tree City USA Designation and Arbor Day Mr. Vaughan stated that May 28th is St. Louis Park's 29th year of being a Tree City USA community and the City is also celebrating its 30th Arbor Day in combination with Earth Day on April 22"d. He further stated there would be a celebration at the Westwood Nature Center on Saturday,April 25`h from 10 a.m. to noon. Mayor Jacobs recognized St. Louis Park as a Tree City USA community and read a proclamation, recognizing April 25, 2009 as Arbor Day and the month of May 2009 as Arbor Month in the City of St. Louis Park. Mayor Jacobs thanked Mr. Vaughan and the entire department for their hard work. 2b. Proclamation for National Volunteer Week Mayor Jacobs recognized St. Louis Park volunteers and read a proclamation declaring April 19 — April 25, 2009 as National Volunteer Week. Mayor Jacobs thanked the over 1,400 volunteers for their donation of over 15,000 volunteer hours given to the community. 2c. Proclamation - Beautify the Park and the Minnesota Energy Challenge Mr. Vaughan gave an introduction to Beautify the Park and the Minnesota Energy Challenge. He stated that Beautify the Park encourages residents to pick up trash throughout the community. Mr. Vaughan stated the Minnesota Energy Challenge consists City Council Meeting -2- April 20, 2009 of increasing the environmental consciousness and responsibilities in all areas of City business. He stated the City is asking a minimum of 1,000 residents to participate in the on- line challenge to have the highest participation rate in the State as a first step to decreasing the City's overall energy consumption. Mayor Jacobs read a proclamation declaring Earth Week 2009 as the kick-off of the Beautify the Park initiative and participation in the MN Energy Challenge; and called upon all citizens in the community to join in the activities. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Special Study Session Minutes April 6, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. City Council Minutes April 6, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 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. Approve the 2009 Neighborhood Grants. 4b. Authorize the Mayor and City Manager authority to enter into a contract with Homes Within Reach (HWR), also known as West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust, to establish a $100,000 revolving line-of-credit designated for providing financial assistance with the cost of housing maintenance, repairs and rehab to affordable homeownership units purchased in St. Louis Park. 4c. Approve an extension until May 31, 2010 for Duke Realty to file the final plat and final planned unit development (PUD) applications for The Towers at West End, and an extension until May 31, 2010 for the conditional use permit for excavating, filling, and grading. 4d. Designate ASTECH Corporation the lowest responsible bidder and authorize execution of contract with the firm in the amount of $1,392,181.65 for the 2009 Local Street Rehabilitation Project—Area 5, Project No. 2008-1000 and 2009-1300. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 09-057, establishing a special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3140 Hampshire Avenue South. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 09-058, establishing a special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3953 Zarthan Avenue South. 4g. Approve for Filing Human Rights Commission Minutes January 20, 2009. 4h. Approve for Filing Housing Authority Minutes March 11, 2009. 4i. Approve for Filing Vendor Claims. 4j. Approve for Filing Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 2009. City Council Meeting -3- April 20, 2009 It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Finkelstein, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Boards and Commissions - None 6. Public Hearings - None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public— None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. St. Louis Park Municipal Service Center (MSC) Expansion Resolution No. 09-059 Mr. Harmening gave a brief background on the condition of city facilities and events leading up to the MSC improvement project. He stated with the expansion of the MSC, it would become the permanent location for the Utility Operations Division and allow temporary accommodations for fire apparatus and personnel while the fire stations are being rebuilt. Mr. Fulton presented the staff report, noting that the variance request for an accessory structure at 7305 Oxford Street has been withdrawn. Mr. Hoffman stated staff continued to work with the architect following meeting with the Planning Commission, to finalize plans for the accessory structure to make the project functional, work for staff, be environmentally sound, and provide the best value. He stated the variance is no longer required because the existing building can be relocated to the proposed location and will comply with zoning requirements. Councilmember Finkelstein thanked staff and the architect for being mindful of costs for taxpayers. Councilmember Sanger stated she felt this was a much better solution. She also asked about the cost effectiveness. Mr. Hoffman stated reusing rather than tearing down would save on removal and disposal costs, as well as adding new screening which would be a great economic saving. Mayor Jacobs commended staff and the consultants for taking the time to come up with a much better solution. It was moved by Councilmember Basill, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to adopt Resolution No. 09-059, amending and restating Resolution No. 87-171 adopted on October 5, 1987, and granting amendment to existing special permit under section 36-36 of City Council Meeting -4- April 20, 2009 the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code relating to zoning to allow expansion ofa public service structure for property located at 7305 Oxford Street. The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Municipal Service Center Project Report— Project No. 2008-1900 Resolution No. 09-060 Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report, stating part of staff's criteria was to maximum the utilization of the site, improve energy efficiency and bring the building and site into compliance. Mr. Oertel, Oertel Architects, presented an overview of the project. Mr. Harmening explained the project's total estimated cost, including architecture services, project management and construction, would be approximately $7 million. He stated that some of the site's current components, such as paving and the fuel tanks would all have to be upgraded at some time in the near future if they were not being combined into this project. Mr. Harmening stated the project is warranted by the need to replace the fire stations. Councilmember Basill stated Council and staff spent a lot of time to make sure the project is functional and cost effective. He suggested staff check on having the automatic vehicle wash equipment as a bid alternate and to see what other cities are doing and if they are functional and/or necessary. It was moved by Councilmember Basill, seconded by Councilmember Finkelstein, to adopt Resolution No. 09-060, accepting the project report establishing MSC Remodeling Improvement Project No. 2008-1900, approving plans and specifications, and authorizing advertisement for bids. Councilmember Paprocki also felt the project add-ons should be looked at and stated this was a very prudent and well thought out project. The motion passed 7-0. 8c. Call for Sale of Taxable General Obligation Tax Increment Refunding Bonds Resolution No. 09-061 Mr. Dejong presented the staff report, asking Council to adopt a resolution providing for the sale of$2,020,000 Taxable General Obligation Increment Refunding Bonds. It was moved by Councilmember Omodt, seconded by Councilmember Carver, to adopt Resolution No. 09-061,providing for the Sale of$2,020,000 Taxable General Obligation Tax Increment Refunding Bonds, Series 2009A. City Council Meeting -5- April 20, 2009 The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs stated that the Bookmark in Park Project organizational meeting will be Wednesday, April 22nd at 4 p.m. in the Westwood Room at City Hall. He thanked the Bookmark in the Park Project for the ongoing success in encouraging reading throughout the community. Mayor Jacobs stated the Peter Hobart Elementary School will be having its Imagination and Invention Fair on Thursday,April 23, at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Jacobs also stated the annual Belgian Waffle dinner at Lennox is on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Mr. Harmening reminded everyone that Sunday, May 3`d was the annual remodeling tour from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Councilmember Paprocki reminded everyone that Saturday, April 25th is the 21st annual Kiwanis kite fly at Louisiana Park. He also stated Creekside Park is a great place to canoe. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. GCS P Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Ja .bs, ayor