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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/07/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session f/fSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JULY 13, 2009 The meeting convened at 7:10 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs,John Basill, C. Paul Carver (arrived at 7:16 p.m.), Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki and Sue Sanger. Councilmembers absent: None Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), Director of Parks & Recreation (Ms. Walsh), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). Guest: Jim Brimeyer, representative of the Policy Advisory Committee for the Southwest Transitway. 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—July 27, 2009 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for July 27, 2009. Councilmember Finkelstein requested that the Fire Department include in its report a discussion regarding the Municipal Service Center expansion and building plans. 2. Excess Land Sale Proceeds — Survey Results Mr. Locke presented the webpage survey results based on Council's direction to seek community input on the three ideas generated by the Council for the use of the excess land sale proceeds. He stated ninety responses were received and of the three options listed, "environmental initiatives" received the most votes. He added that 28 respondents proposed using the funds to help St. Louis Park schools, and there were several comments suggesting the funds be used to help with the City's operational costs, reducing taxes, or otherwise fulfilling some of the City's basic needs. He indicated the results show a clear preference to use the proceeds in a fiscally responsible manner that benefits as much of the community as possible; as a result, staff is proposing that a sound use of the funds would be for the creation of a more formal boulevard tree replacement program, particularly because the City will be faced with the prospect of losing roughly 4,000 boulevard ash trees to the Emerald Ash Borer. He added use of the funds for boulevard tree replacement would provide a lasting long- term investment in terms of the overall environmental health of the community. Mayor Jacobs stated it was interesting to see all the comments regarding the schools and pointed out the City is trying to help the schools but cannot legitimately use the excess land sale proceeds for that purpose. He added the Council was very specific in its previous discussions that the funds be used for environmental initiatives, for community arts funding, or for community center planning. Councilmember Sanger concurred with Mayor Jacobs and asked if the proceeds would be used only for planting trees or whether enough funds are available to pay for maintaining the trees over time. Study Session Minutes -2- July 13, 2009 Ms. Walsh stated that the City replaced a majority of its diseased elm trees with ash trees, and noted it would be staff's intention to use the excess land sale proceeds to supplement the City's current tree replacement budget. She explained that current City policy states that there is no fee to the homeowner for replacement of a boulevard tree; the homeowner shares in the take-down of the tree and is responsible for watering the tree. Mr. Harmening stated the proposed program would be used for actual tree replacement, with the expense of removal coming from other budget sources. He added staff views this proposal as a capital investment that includes an aesthetic component, a fiscal component, an environmental component, as well as a neighborhood component. He noted there may be some additional outside funding available for tree replacement in the future given the ash borer issue and that these funds could be used as matching funds to any future tree replacement grant programs. Councilmembers Paprocki and Finkelstein stated they were in favor of the proposed boulevard tree replacement program. Councilmember Sanger stated she received a call from a resident asking why a decision needs to be made now about the use of the proceeds and whether the City needs to spend it now. Mayor Jacobs stated one option available to the Council is to hold off and do nothing at this time. Councilmember Omodt stated he was in favor of the program and likened it to an urban reforestation program. Councilmember Sanger stated there needs to be a better system in place for watering the trees. Ms. Walsh stated property owners are encouraged to water their boulevard trees. As there appeared to be Council consensus regarding staffs recommendation, Mr. Harmening stated staff will prepare specific program or policy details for consideration by the Council at a future meeting. 3. 2009 City Council Bike Ride Mr. Harmening presented possible routes for a bicycle ride and suggested that the ride be done on mostly local streets to highlight sidewalk gaps, proposed trails, or other points of interest in the community. It was the consensus of the Council to ride the north-south route suggested by staff; staff will coordinate a Saturday morning for the bike ride. Councilmember Carver suggested adding a component to the bike ride that includes the railroad tracks and getting across the Burlington line. Study Session Minutes -3- July 13, 2009 4. Update on Southwest Transit and Freight Rail Study Ms. McMonigal presented an update on the Southwest Transit and Freight Rail Study and the freight rail options being considered by Hennepin County. She stated staff has been working with the County on the railroad study and has identified several key issues that the County needs to address in its study; as outlined in the staff report on pages 3 and 4. She added staff is taking steps to better understand the City's decision-making and legal role in the freight rail and light rail routing decision, as well as further evaluating the alternative routes for advantages and disadvantages to the community. Mr. Harmening stated the County has attempted to separate the freight rail and light rail issues, but this is difficult because the two are intertwined relative to the Kenilworth corridor. He indicated from a technical perspective, the Kenilworth corridor likely makes sense; however, if light rail is put on the Kenilworth corridor, the question is raised as to whether freight rail can exist there. He stated staff believes the City should hire a consultant to advise the City on this issue and to assist the City in making the best possible decision. Councilmember Sanger stated the information contained in the staff report provides useful background information and the question that needs to be addressed is what needs to happen next. She stated that a number of cities are being very vocal in stating their position as to where light rail should go and it does not appear that St. Louis Park has done that. She stated there are a number of items that need to be addressed by the County in terms of freight rail, including the question of who decides what mitigation is performed if the County moves freight rail to St. Louis Park, as well as differentiating between mitigation versus betterments. She asked what kind of input residents will have and specifically, what kind of input they will have in deciding what mitigation is done. She stated she felt the Council should adopt a resolution to the effect that it does not want freight rail traffic dumped on St. Louis Park and the need for the County to hear this. Mr. Brimeyer agreed the City should do everything it can to protect the community, and stated he did not feel the City should do anything until after the PAC meeting on July 29th. He added the County's freight rail study needs to further address mitigation. The City Council discussed mitigation versus betterment and the County's role in providing mitigation funds. The Council also discussed re-routing of freight rail traffic in the City and its impact on neighborhoods. Ms. McMonigal stated the County has hired TKDA to perform engineering work on the freight rail study; the County has also hired another consultant to review all route alternatives. Ms. McMonigal stated staff has not yet received any information from the County with respect to costs and ridership for the LRT alternatives. "Councilmember Sanger stated the 11t/12t Street alternative makes the most sense and ridership would be much higher. Mr. Brimeyer agreed." Study Session Minutes -4- July 13, 2009 Councilmember Basill stated it will be important for the City to remain reasonable on all aspects of the project and to ensure that light rail becomes a reality in the City. Mr. Harmening presented proposed next steps, including a formal request to the County to address the questions raised by staff with respect to the Hennepin County study. He stated staff will continue to work with the City Attorney on the City's legal position both in terms of freight rail and light rail. He stated staff would like to bring on additional expertise from a rail perspective, particularly freight, to provide assistance as the County continues its freight rail study. He stated staff feels it should push the County harder with respect to the entire freight rail issue in terms of impact to the community if the County proposes re-routing traffic, and the consultant could help staff evaluate the quality of that analysis. Mr. Locke pointed out the City is not moving the route and the rail is on the Kenilworth corridor because the County said it could be there temporarily; if the County tells them to get out, it must give them a reasonable acceptable alternative location. He stated right now, a reasonable alternative does not exist and this is the County's problem, but the City needs to understand how much leverage it has and to make sure the County acts responsibly on this issue. He added staff is waiting for a couple of key technical memos from the County regarding cost and ridership for LRT, which will provide key data for moving forward. Mr. Harmening suggested a draft resolution stating the city's position be prepared to be considered following the coming additional information and PAC meetings. Councilmember Sanger stated it might behoove the City to involve the School District since the possible re-routing will have an impact on the high school. Councilmember Paprocki requested that any report prepared by the City's consultant be as non- technical as possible so that people can easily understand the report. Councilmember Finkelstein stated he wants to make sure the SWLRT keeps its place in line for transit funding. Councilmembers Sanger and Paprocki agreed. 5. Minnehaha Creek Partnership Mr. Harmening presented a proposed resolution authorizing participation in a Minnehaha Creek Regional Partnership. He stated the partnership is intended to coordinate efforts for the betterment of the creek. It was the consensus of the City Council to approve the proposed resolution. Study Session Minutes -5- July 13, 2009 6. Communications (verbal) Mr. Harmening stated that National Night Out is scheduled for August 4th and in the past, the Police Department has been put in the uncomfortable position of being asked to have Council candidates or State House candidates ride with them. He stated Chief Luse has asked whether a policy should be adopted that prohibits candidate ride-alongs for National Night Out. It was the consensus of the City Council to adopt a policy stating that candidates will not be allowed to ride along with Police Department staff during National Night Out activities. Mr. Harmening stated the Galaxy Drive-In recently opened; staff has discovered that some of the features on the site are entirely on the City's easement. He stated staff is working with the owner to resolve the issue, and asked if the Council wanted to give consideration to allowing private use on a public right of way. He added the City needs the easement for snow storage. Councilmember Omodt stated it was not the intention of the owner for the site to be on a city easement, and felt the City should work with the owner to resolve the issue. It was the consensus of the City Council to discuss private use of public land at a future study session meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. (7/ \., Nancy Stroth, tity Clerk aco os, Mayor