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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/09/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular III St.NLouis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 1. Call to Order Mayor Pro Tem Sanger called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tern Sanger, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, Paul Omodt, and Julia Ross. Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs and Councilmember Sue Santa. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Controller (Mr. Swanson), Finance Supervisor (Mr. Heintz), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations—None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Study Session Minutes August 8, 2011 Mayor Pro Tem Sanger requested that the second sentence of the sixth paragraph on page 1 be revised to state "She also stated that Council has had discussions in the past regarding safety issues at the Wooddale and Beltline trail crossings and requested that Council revisit those issues and discuss how the City can make these crossings safer sooner rather than later." The minutes were approved as amended. 3b. Special City Council Minutes August 11,2011 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. Special Study Session Minutes August 15, 2011 The minutes were approved as presented. 3d. City Council Minutes August 15, 2011 The minutes were approved as presented. 3e. Study Session Minutes August 22,2011 The minutes were approved as presented. City Council Meeting -2- September 6, 2011 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 Second Reading of Ordinance No. 2403-11 amending City Code Section 2-212 concerning Human Rights Commission membership and approve the summary ordinance for publication. 4b. Designate Northdale Construction, Co. the lowest responsible bidder and authorize execution of a contract with the firm in the amount of$203,434.28 for Taft Lift Station Improvements - Project No. 2007-2400. 4c. Approve Contract with Three Rivers Park District to clear and remove snow from the LRT and Cedar Lake Extension Trails through the City of St. Louis Park for the 2011-2012 Winter Season. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 11-081 certifying the special assessment for Street Improvements at 5700 and 5800 West 36th Street, in the total amount of $13,770.40 -P.I.D. 16-117-21-34-0040 and 16-117-21-34-0068. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 11-082 Accepting Donation from Target Corporation in the amount of$1,000 for Emergency Preparedness Activities. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 11-083 Accepting Donation from Park Coin in the amount of$250 for Fire Prevention and Equipment. 4g. Adopt the Sanitary Sewer Service Line Backwater Valve Program (Revised September 6, 2011). 4h. Approve Change Order No. 3 to Contract No. 99-09, 36th Street Streetscape Project—Project 2008-2600. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 11-084 accepting work and authorizing final payment in the amount of$9,098.29 for the 36th Street Bridge Enhancement Project, Contract No. 36-09. 4j. Approve a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Most Holy Trinity Catholic Parish located at 4017 Utica Avenue South for a Steak Fry Event to be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011. 4k. Approve for Filing Vendor Claims. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Ross, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. Councilmember Mavity expressed Council's thanks to Park Coin and Target for their generous donations to the City for public safety related improvements. The motion passed 5-0 (Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Santa absent). 5. Boards and Commissions Councilmember Mavity advised that Council interviewed two candidates this evening for youth commission openings and asked Council to take action on the appointments. City Council Meeting -3- September 6, 2011 It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Ross, to appoint Emily Goldstein as a youth commissioner on the Human Rights Commission and to appoint Sophia Flumerfelt as a youth commissioner on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Councilmember Finkelstein noted that one youth position remains open on the Human Rights Commission. Councilmember Mavity added that one adult position and one youth position remain open on the Police Advisory Commission. The motion passed 5-0 (Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Santa absent). 6. Public Hearings—None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Adoption of the 2012 Preliminary General Fund and Park and Recreation Budgets, and 2012 Preliminary City and HRA Property Tax Levies Resolution Nos. 11-085 and 11-086 Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and policy questions for Council consideration. He stated that the 2012 combined General Fund and Park and Recreation budgets is $29,765,137, representing an approximate 1.19% increase over 2011. Mr. Swanson presented the preliminary General Fund and Park and Recreation Fund budgets as well as the preliminary City and HRA levies, noting that for 2012, expenditures for the General Fund and Park and Recreation Fund have increased approximately $349,000 compared to 2011. He indicated that the budget was prepared based on a preliminary levy of 5.00% and is intended to maintain service delivery at current levels. He reviewed the City's tax levy allocation and stated that a significant portion of the tax levy increase is attributable to debt service related to construction of the new fire stations. He reviewed the HRA levy which Council has elected to use for future infrastructure improvements in redevelopment areas. He explained that the HRA levy cannot exceed 0.0185% of the taxable market value of the City, resulting in a maximum HRA levy for 2012 of$983,574, or $45,314 less than the 2011 adopted HRA levy. He also reviewed the proposed budget timeline and stated that Council will hold the truth in taxation public hearing on December 5th with final adoption of the 2012 budget on December 19`h Councilmember Mavity requested further information regarding Council's discussions earlier this year regarding a possible 4.05% levy for 2012 and the changes that have resulted in the need to increase the levy to 5.0%. She also requested further information regarding the potential impact to the City as it relates to the State's ongoing budget deficit, including the market value homestead credit(MVHC). Mr. Swanson advised that during the 2011 budget process, Council was presented with a two year budget plan which would require approximately 9% over two years to cover the City's increased debt service for the fire station construction. He stated that Council adopted a 4% levy in 2011 with the understanding that this would help mitigate potential City Council Meeting -4- September 6, 2011 levy increases in 2012 and a 4.05% levy for 2012 was proposed at that time. He indicated that since the time of adoption of the 2011 budget, Council has identified several opportunities for additional funding and requested that the 2012 budget include a 5.0% levy in order to allow Council to further review these potential projects, as well as to increase funding for the Employee Benefits and Housing Rehabilitation funds. He explained that the changes in MVHC are significant and require that all Counties recalculate their MVHC for residential properties; those figures will not be available until September or October. He stated that higher value properties will subsidize the MVHC that lower valued properties receive. He discussed other potential impacts to the City based on the State's budget deficit, noting that the 2012 budget will likely not be impacted but future budgets may be impacted. He noted that because the City does not receive LGA, the City is relatively insulated from the challenges facing the State. He added that the City is committed to making sure it has sufficient funding in place for the long-term. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated that it is important to note that as a matter of State law, the City is required to set its preliminary tax levy at this time, with a final determination regarding the tax levy to be made in December. She explained that the City Council cannot increase the levy at the time of final adoption in December, but it can be decreased. She added that Council will spend the next couple of months refining the 2012 budget and tax levy. Councilmember Finkelstein stated it is important to understand how self-funded the City is, particularly given the elimination of LGA in 2002, which represented approximately 10% of the City's budget. He added the City has been fiscally prudent and is one of the few cities with a AAA rating. It was moved by Councilmember Finkelstein, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 11-085 Approving 2012 Preliminary General Fund and Park and Recreation Budgets, 2012 Preliminary Property Tax Levy, and Setting Public Hearing Date for the 2012 Proposed Budget and Property Tax Levy. The motion passed 5-0 (Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Santa absent) It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 11-086 authorizing the Preliminary HRA Levy for 2012. The motion passed 5-0 (Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Santa absent). Mayor Pro Tem Sanger expressed thanks to Mr. Swanson and Mr. Heintz for their assistance in preparing the preliminary 2012 budget and property tax levy. 9. Communications—None 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. /Ara Nod i ' Nancy Stroth, ty Clerk Susan Sanger ayor Pro Tern