Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/09/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ffir St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 20, 2010 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan Sanger, and Sue Santa. Councilmember absent: Paul Omodt. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Finance Supervisor (Mr. Heintz), City Clerk (Ms. Stroth), Housing Program Coordinator (Ms. Larsen), Community Development Director (Mr. Locke), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Wirth). Guests: Mr. Utley, Briggs &Morgan 1 a. Pledge of Allegiance presented by the Boy Scout Pack 225. lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations - None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Minutes September 7, 2010 Councilmember Finkelstein requested the following addition to page 1, the last paragraph of 2a: "Councilmember Finkelstein noted the Council did not have a meeting last week because of Labor Day. The purpose of Labor Day is to thank working people and retirees because without their efforts, there would not have been health insurance and, over time, a 5-day work week, pensions, and indeed it took the Teamster's Strike in 1924 that resulted in the death of four being shot by police cannons that led to the adoption of the Labor Relations Act. He commented that we need to remember what led to its passage and asked that all pause and reflect on that." Councilmember Sanger requested that the second to the last paragraph on page 9 be correct to indicate "...the City was receiving $2_1 million in LGA..." Councilmember Ross requested that the last paragraph on page 4 be revised to state: "Councilmember Ross agreed with Councilmember Omodt and stated she would like more information on how similar organizations work..." She also requested that the last paragraph on page 7 be revised to add: "Mr. Culp also stated he had not given much thought and did not know about guest parking." City Council Meeting -2- September 20, 2010 The minutes were approved as revised. 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 Resolution No. 10-095, authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the water service line at 3740 Pennsylvania Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426—PI.D. 17-117-21-33-0087 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 10-096, authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 4240 Utica Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 — P.I.D. 07-028-24-32-0208 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 10-097, approving the Assignment and Assumption of Redevelopment Contract between Duke Realty Limited Partnership and The Excelsior Group related to The West Endproject. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 10-098, rescinding Resolution 89-121. 4e. Approve for filing Vendor Claims. 4f. Approve for filing Human Rights Commission Minutes February 16, 2010. 4g. Approve for filing Human Rights Commission Minutes March 16, 2010 4h. Approve for filing Human Rights Commission Minutes April 20, 2010 4i. Approve for filing Human Rights Commission Minutes June 15, 2010 4j. Approve for filing Human Rights Commission Minutes July 20, 2010 4k. Approve for filing Park & Recreation Advisory Minutes April 21, 2010 It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Finkelstein, to approve the Agenda as amended to remove item 6c and items listed on the Consent Calendar;and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Boards and Commissions - None 6. Public Hearings 6a. Public Hearing and Final Bond Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Private Activity Revenue Bonds for Urban Park Mr. Heintz advised it is consistent with City policy to issue private activity revenue bonds and recommended the Council hold a public hearing and adopt the final bond issue resolution for the Urban Park project. City Council Meeting -3- September 20, 2010 John Utley, Kennedy & Graven, reviewed that the City had financed Urban Park in 2002 and West Suburban is now requesting the City issue private activity revenue bonds for the purpose of refunding existing debt from that 2002 bond issue. He explained the rationale for this request due to the outstanding debt being highly rated and secured by a letter of credit but the Bank of America no longer wants to secure the debt. Mr. Utley advised this is a revenue bond, not a general obligation debt, and payable solely by revenues derived by this privately owned project. If this project gets into trouble, they are not permitted to come to the City for its assets or taxing power. Mr. Utley assured the Council that this kind of debt has no impact on the City's own borrowing and cannot impact its bond rating. Mayor Jacobs noted this is a revenue bond so one-eighth of one percent of the outstanding amount is paid annually into the City's rehabilitation fund. Councilmember Mavity asked whether there are any limits to the amount of revenue bonds the City is able to issue per year or in total. Mr. Utley explained that theoretically there is not a limit; however, the federal government severely limits who qualifies as borrowers for this option. Councilmember Mavity noted this creates another way for the City to facilitate affordable housing and, in this case,without City money being involved. Councilmember Sanger concurred and noted that in this project, affordable housing will be mixed in with market rate housing. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. It was moved by Councilmember Finkelstein, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Final Bond Resolution No. 10-099 authorizing the Issuance of Private Activity Revenue Bonds for Urban Park. The motion passed 6-0. 6b. Public Hearing—Wine & 3.2 Liquor License—Wok in the Park Ms. Stroth presented the staff report recommending approval of a wine and 3.2 liquor license for Wok in the Park. She stated this business has been open since September 1, 2010, and is under the ownership of Hannah Johnson, Charis Fishbein, and Grace Johnson. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. Councilmember Finkelstein noted the Police Department conducted an investigation of all holding the license and found no concerns. It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Ross, to approve application from A Wok in the Park, LLC, dba Wok in the Park for an on-sale wine and 3.2 City Council Meeting -4- September 20, 2010 malt liquor license to be located at 3305 Utah Avenue South with the license term through March 1, 2011. The motion passed 6-0. 6c. This item was removed from the agenda. 6d. Public Hearing to Consider 2011 Fees Ms. Stroth presented the staff report and asked whether the Council agrees with the proposed revisions to the 2011 fee schedule to reflect adjustments to fees charged for programs and services called for by ordinance. She explained that some fees were adjusted in accordance with the City's ordinance while other fees are set administratively. All fees are reviewed each year based on comparisons with other metro area cities, changes in regulations, and to make sure the City's business costs are covered. Ms. Stroth advised that the proposed fee increases were incorporated in the proposed 2011 budget. Second reading is scheduled for October 4, 2010, and if approved would become effective January 1, 2011. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve First Reading of Ordinance adopting fees for 2011 and set Second Reading for October 4, 2010. Councilmember Mavity referenced language pertaining to community development fees and the installation of permanent signs. She asked when those fees would apply and if they would be assessed to individual home owners. Mr. Locke explained the sign ordinance varies by zoning district so residential signs would be for an apartment complex or something more substantial than a single-family home. He advised that signs such as "permit parking only" are considered city signs and would not be assessed to home owners. Councilmember Sanger stated support to increase fees to cover staff costs. The motion passed 6-0. 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public— None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Resolution to Join ICLEI — Local Government for Sustainability Ms. Larsen presented the staff report and explained that ICLEI is an association of local, national, and regional government organizations that promote sustainable development and practices. She explained that locally designed initiatives are an effective way to obtain City Council Meeting -5- September 20, 2010 sustainability goals. By joining ICLEI the City will have access to ICLEI's technical assistance including software to comprehensively measure all energy use, water and solid waste citywide, to determine the community's carbon footprint. The membership fee is $600 and the draft resolution indicates the City will take a leadership role in supporting sustainable development. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. 10-100 to become a member of ICLEI's Local Governments for Sustainability and begin undertaking five milestones to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas, and air pollution emissions in the City. Mayor Jacobs thanked staff for assuring the City will become more environmentally responsible and reduce its carbon footprint. The motion passed 6-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded all of the Lenox waffle dinner, craft and bake sale this Friday at the Community Center. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. Nancy9i, _ Clerk JeffJacg •s/a or Stroth, CiryJey