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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/05/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular I/I St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MAY 4, 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), Finance Director (Mr. Dejong), Engineering Project Manager (Mr. Olson), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Public Works Director (Mr. Rardin) and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). 2. Presentations - None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Study Session and Workshop Minutes April 13, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. City Council Minutes April 20, 2009 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. City Council Study Session Minutes April 27, 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 Change Order No. 2 to Contract No. 72-08 for Street Project— Park Place Boulevard— Project 2007-1101. 4b. Approve for Filing Police Advisory Commission Minutes March 4, 2009. 4c. Approve for Filing Vendor Claims. It was moved by Councilmember Paprocki, seconded by Councilmember Carver, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed 7-0. City Council Meeting -2- May 4, 2009 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. Project Report: Alabama Avenue — MSA Street Improvement Project — Project No. 2009-1100 (Continued from April 6, 2009 City Council Meeting) Resolution No. 09-062 Mr. Olson presented the staff report, noting this item was continued from the April 6, 2009 City Council Meeting pursuant to Council's request to investigate the use of traffic calming elements and to determine the feasibility and additional costs involved in adding bump-outs. He stated staff has determined that bump-outs are feasible at the intersections of Oxford Street, Goodrich Avenue, Cambridge Street and W. 39th Street, with new curbing, sidewalks, and storm sewer modifications at each of these locations. He stated the estimated cost for the bump-outs at Oxford Street is $29,620, at Goodrich Avenue $4,075, at Cambridge Street $48,325, and at W. 39`h Street $9,725, for a total additional cost of $91,745. He explained that Cambridge Street will require extensive storm sewer modifications. He added that each of these items can stand alone and Council can choose any or all of the bump-outs. Mr. Olson stated staff anticipated an additional two to three weeks will be added to the project timeline and the intersections will need to be closed while the storm sewer construction work is occurring. Mr. Olson stated that staff has received several bids for the City's annual Pavement Management Project and the new engineering estimate for this project is $837,900 with no bump-outs; adding bump-outs at the four locations would add $91,745 to the project. He stated the project will be funded by State Aid funds and the City's utility fund; as a result of the additional costs to the project, staff will need to re-evaluate the MSA Street Rehabilitation program for the next five years and future projects will need to be delayed. Mr. Olson stated that staff has notified the adjacent residents along Alabama Avenue about adding bump-outs to the project and were invited to attend tonight's meeting. He indicated one resident sent an email asking about project impacts and another resident sent an email expressing support for the bump-outs. He added one resident also expressed concern about on-street parking north of Bunny's and people parking too close to driveways, creating a safety hazard. He stated staff brought this issue to the Traffic Control Committee and the Committee recommended increased police enforcement to ensure cars do not park too close to driveways; residents are also encouraged to contact the Police Department to report parking violations in front of their homes. He added if parking violations persist, additional signage or painting of the curbs within the five foot no parking area may be considered. City Council Meeting -3- May 4, 2009 Councilmember Sanger asked which street improvement project will be delayed due to the additional cost of this project. She stated she understands this project needs to be done and there is value associated with adding the bump-outs, but expressed concern that this could be a harsh trade-off for another project that will need to be delayed. Mr. Rardin replied staff will evaluate the CIP budget before making a determination, and added there are several MSA projects in the budget over the next five years, including Texas Avenue. He stated staff anticipates that all of the projects will be completed, but some projects would likely be deferred. Councilmember Basill stated it is important to keep in mind that the bids came in higher than expected because costs did not drop as much as anticipated, particularly with respect to asphalt paving. He indicated Alabama Avenue is a major north-south route with a significant amount of pedestrian traffic which necessitates adding traffic calming elements. He added pedestrian safety drives his support for the additional dollars. Councilmember Finkelstein asked if the same traffic calming effect would be realized if the City only added bump-outs on Goodrich Avenue and W. 39th Street. Councilmember Basill agreed that Cambridge Street is the most expensive option, but it is also the busiest intersection and has the most pedestrian traffic. He stated he did not agree that only adding bump-outs at W. 39d' Street and Goodrich Avenue were viable options because it does not address concern about pedestrian safety. Councilmember Omodt opined that if the original estimate presented to the Council had included the bump-outs, it is likely the Council would have approved the project with bump-outs included. He stated the only concern he has is with the bump-outs at W. 39th Street. Councilmember Basill stated that as this area continues to get denser, traffic on Alabama Avenue will increase. He added he prefers to see this project completed in the safest way possible and in a way that will meet the long term needs of the community. He agreed with Councilmember Omodt that there does not seem to be value in adding a bump-out at W. 39th Street. It was moved by Councilmember Basill, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to adopt Resolution No. 09-062, accepting the Project Report, establishing Improvement Projects No. 2009-1100 approving plans and specifications, and authorizing advertisement for bids for Improvement Projects No. 2009-1100, including bump-outs at Cambridge Street, Oxford Street and Goodrich Avenue. The motion passed 7-0. City Council Meeting -4- May 4, 2009 8b. Minor Amendment to the West End PUD and Sign Variance, 1600 West End Boulevard and 5370 16th Street West, Case No. 09-07-VAR, 09-08-PUD Resolutions No. 09-063 and 09-064 Mr. Walther presented the staff report, noting that the applicant requests a variance to the total sign area allowed at the Shops at West End to allow individual tenant wall signs that are up to the currently allowed maximum size (300 square feet), but without counting toward the total sign area for the site; additionally, the request is to allow private directional signs that are over 42 inches tall. He stated the applicant is proposing a two-sided monument sign on Park Place Boulevard that identifies the project and up to six tenants in the shopping center; there is also an identification sign proposed on the canopy over the pedestrian arcade which does not count toward the total sign area. He explained the monument sign (500 square feet), directional signs (84 square feet) and Showplace Theater signs (1,174 square feet) all count toward the total sign area and exceeds the 1,000 square feet total sign area allowed. He noted that no tenant signs will exceed 7% of the building wall area and no sign face will be over 300 square feet. He stated the Planning Commission recommends approval of the variance and PUD amendment. Councilmember Sanger asked if any of the signs will be on the outside face of the project, along Park Place Boulevard. Mr. Walther stated there are other exterior signs but no other shopping center identification signs. He added the applicant has identified Buildings 23 and 24 as potential sites where it may exceed maximum signage. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to adopt Resolution No. 09-063, granting a variance from Section 36-362, Table 36-362A of the Ordinance Code relating to zoning to permit a Planned Unit Development sign plan exceeding maximum total sign area for property located in the Office Zoning District at 1600 West End Boulevard and 537016'h Street West. The motion passed 7-0. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Omodt, to adopt Resolution No. 09-064, amending and restating Resolutions No. 08-057 and 08-128 relating to a final Planned Unit Development for the West End Redevelopment Project located at the southwest quadrant of Interstate 394 and Highway 100. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to everyone involved with the annual remodeling tour held yesterday. He stated there were almost 500 people who attended the tour and it was inspiring to see people investing in their homes and community. He also extended the City Council's appreciation to the six homeowners who allowed people to come into their homes for the event. City Council Meeting -5- May 4, 2009 Councilmember Sanger reminded everyone about the citywide meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Rec Center to discuss the proposed route for the southwest regional light rail and to solicit feedback from residents. She stated there will also be information presented regarding the Hennepin County study being conducted on the status of the freight rail railroad tracks within the City to assess their safety for possibly increasing the number of railroad trains going through the community. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. it • Nancy Stroth, ty Clerk Jeff Jaco;/ I ay.