HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/06/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session fitSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
JUNE 7, 2010
The meeting convened at 6:16 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, (arrived at 6.19 p.m.),
Paul Omodt, and Sue Santa.
Councilmembers absent: Councilmembers Julia Ross and Susan Sanger.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Police Chief (Mr. Luse), Police Lieutenant (Ms.
Dreier), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr.
Hunt), Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), Director of Inspections (Mr.
Hoffman), Inspection Services Manager (Ms. Boettcher), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes).
Guest: Lisa Peilen, from the Minnesota Housing Association
1. Proposed Rental Licensing Ordinance Changes
Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report and the proposed changes to the rental licensing ordinance
and introduced Lisa Peilen from the Minnesota Housing Association. He stated the goal of the
proposed changes is to address issues when a property is not being managed properly. He explained
that the ordinance has been crafted to include a provisional license which would be triggered when
deficiencies lead to one or more of three conditions developing, i.e., (1) a high number of police calls
for nuisance and criminal activity in the preceding 12 month period based on average per unit, (2)
serious egregious activity, e.g., gang-related activity, and (3) unresolved property maintenance issues
from poor management of the building or property. He stated the provisional license would
establish a mitigation plan for the owner with specific requirements to assist in returning the
business to a regular license. He stated the appropriate threshold number will require further
research to ensure fairness and noted that the number of police calls would not include domestic
abuse or medical calls. He added that the ordinance proposes to include a 100% surcharge at the
time a provisional license is issued which is intended to cover added costs for the city. He stated the
next step is an informational meeting with the current license holders for further discussion. The
final ordinance would then be presented to Council for consideration at a first reading.
Councilmember Mavity asked if there could be a situation where a particular property could have a
provisional license for three years.
Mr. Hoffman replied that would be unlikely and stated that if a property fails to come into
compliance, the license would go into non-renewal or suspension and the City would pursue a court
order directing the property owner to address the problems.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- June 7, 2010
Councilmember Finkelstein stated that he was in agreement with the proposed changes, particularly
the provisional license component, and noted that the ordinance will encourage property owners to
be responsible and to work on improving and making changes to their property when necessary. He
added that staff will work with the property owners in that regard and the proposed changes are not
directed at any specific property. He added that the Council is interested in keeping the City a
livable place and the proposed ordinance changes are well within the City's police powers.
It was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with the proposed ordinance changes and to
notify the current multi-family property owners about the ordinance changes, including scheduling
an informational meeting for further discussion.
2. Update on Convention and Visitors Bureau
Mr. Hunt presented the staff report and stated that staff has been discussing the convention and
visitors bureau (CVB) concept with local business owners and the TwinWest ,Chamber of
Commerce board. He indicated that staff and the President of the TwinWest Chamber have also
been talking with local hoteliers about the CVB concept. He stated that from a general business
perspective, most people think the CVB would be favorable to the community; for the hoteliers, the
reaction has been mixed. He presented a memo from Mr. Bruce Nustad, President of TwinWest
Chamber of Commerce, summarizing recent visits with local hoteliers. He suggested that the next
step would be to bring the stakeholders together as a whole to obtain their input, to determine if
they are willing to participate in the organization, and to discuss how the organization would be
structured. He stated that the organization is proposed to be funded with a 3% local lodging tax,
which is allowed by state statute. He then presented a draft concept plan for creation of a
convention and visitors bureau.
Mr. Harmening stated that the concept plan lists potential CVB focus areas and noted that the focus
areas are intended to promote overall tourism in the community, including leisure tourism,
meetings, conventions and events, as well as promoting economic growth in the community. He
stated that it is proposed to create a separate 501(c)(3) organization with representation on the board
by key stakeholders, including the City.
Mr. Hunt stated that if a CVB is created, the hotels would collect the local lodging tax, send it to the
Department of Revenue, and the Department of Revenue would then send it to the City for
operation of the CVB; the City can take up to a 5% administrative fee.
Councilmember Mavity asked if the proposed budget was drafted basedon the full 3% local lodging
tax being collected.
Mr. Hunt stated that it makes sense to charge 3% at the outset because that is when the organization
is most in need of money to fund upfront costs, etc.
Councilmember Omodt stated he was in favor of the CVB concept and encouraged staff to keep
moving as fast as possible on the creation of a CVB. He recalled an earlier comment by someone
that there appeared to be some overlap with other convention and visitors bureaus.
Special Study Session Minutes -3- June 7, 2010
Mr. Hunt stated that the Marriott currently pays a fee into the Minneapolis Convention and
Visitors Bureau, but there is no active promotion of facilities here in St. Louis Park.
Mayor Jacobs stated it will be important to work with the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and
other organizations, including the Minnesota Twins, to do some promotional work with them.
Councilmember Santa asked that Three Rivers Park District be included as a stakeholder as a means
of promoting biking tours throughout the area.
Mr. Harmening stated that staff intends to hold one more stakeholder meeting, which will include
local restaurants, and to then present Council with documents that create the CVB and put the local
lodging tax in place.
It was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with formation of a convention and visitors
bureau for St. Louis Park.
Mr. Harmening acknowledged the efforts of staff, including Mr. Hunt, Ms Gothberg, and Mr.
Zwilling.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
3. Fire Stations & Northside Park Updates
Nancy Stroth, 'Clerk Jeff J cobs, ayor
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