HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011/08/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jif St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
AUGUST 22, 2011
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Phil Finkelstein, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan
Sanger, and Sue Santa.
Councilmembers absent: Paul Omodt.
Staff present: Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Director of
Community Development (Mr. Locke), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Assistant Zoning
Administrator (Mr. Morrison), Police Chief(Mr. Luse), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin),
Inspection Services Manager (Ms. Boettcher), Controller (Mr. Swanson), Finance Supervisor
(Mr. Heintz), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—September 12 and September 19, 2011
Ms. Deno presented the proposed study session agenda for September 12th
Councilmember Sanger requested that staff provide Council with the plan developed earlier
regarding trails and sidewalks in preparation for its discussion on September 12`h.
Ms. Deno also presented the proposed special study session agenda for September 19`h to discuss
SWLRT and station area planning.
Councilmember Sanger requested further information regarding the workshop in September on
Community Works planning and asked whether this workshop is aimed at councilmembers in
general or to people heavily involved in the Community Works process.
Councilmember Mavity stated it was her understanding that the September workshop is being
sponsored by the Urban Land Institute and is intended in part to raise awareness of the process.
Ms. Deno agreed to send an email to Council with further information regarding the workshop
and the intended audience.
2. Proposed Civil Penalty Ordinance
Ms. Deno presented the staff report and stated the proposed ordinance is intended to expand on
the City's existing civil penalties ordinance by creating a process for assessing penalties to
property owners.
Mr. Locke stated that the proposed ordinance would give the City authority to manage the civil
penalty process all the way through without the need to issue a county citation or filing a
complaint in District Court. He explained that the City Attorney has recommended that if the
City decides to institute this civil penalty process, the City should modify its Charter to make
clear that the City has the authority to do this. He noted that the City Attorney advised that
modifying the Charter is not absolutely necessary but is desirable if the process were challenged.
He indicated that following modification of the Charter, staff would start the process of
amending the City Code.
Study Session Minutes -2- August 22, 2011
Mayor Jacobs expressed support for expanding the existing civil penalties ordinance.
Councilmember Mavity asked if retired judges would be used to conduct the administrative
hearings.
Mr. Morrison stated that the City would maintain a list of attorneys willing to sit as
administrative hearing officers.
Councilmember Finkelstein expressed support for the proposed ordinance. He suggested that
appellants be told that they have 10-15 minutes in which to state their case at the administrative
hearing to limit the length of time for these hearings.
Councilmember Sanger expressed support for the proposed ordinance. She was concerned that if
fines are only certified to the property once per year, the property may be under new ownership
and the City will be unable to collect. She suggested that the City certify the fines to the property
every four or five months if possible. She asked about the process and qualifications for the
attorneys sitting as hearing officers.
Mr. Locke stated that it will be appropriate for the City to develop the qualification standards for
the administrative hearing officers.
Mr. Morrison noted that admimstrative hearing officers should not be residents of St. Louis Park.
Councilmember Santa expressed support for the proposed ordinance. She stated that the process
will result in more work for staff and requested that the fines cover the costs incurred by the City
as a result of the extra staff time as well as the fees paid to the hearing officers. She added that
the City will need to stay on top of this and adjust its fines if necessary to recoup some of the
City's expenses.
Mr. Locke agreed and stated that the current process is very time consuming and staff feels the
implementation of a civil penalty ordinance will be less time-consuming.
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to expand the existing civil penalties
ordinance with an administrative hearing and to create a process for assessing unpaid penalties to
the subject property. It was also the consensus of the City Council to request the Charter
Commission to pursue a Charter amendment to insure successful implementation of the civil
penalty ordinance.
3. 2012 Budget Discussion
Ms. Deno presented the staff report and distributed a listing of the City's CDBG programs and
anticipated funding allocation for 2012. She pointed out the list of funding sources to the City
from the State of Minnesota and funds expected to be received in 2012.
Councilmember Sanger requested further information regarding the ICMA study noted in the
Administration budget.
Ms. Deno explained that the ICMA study represents a study of the police and fire area, current
levels of service, a review of demographics and service needs in the future, and is primarily
intended to assist the City with future planning.
Study Session Minutes -3- August 22, 2011
Councilmember Santa requested an update regarding dispatch services.
Mr. Luse explained that the reduction in dispatch staff has gone smoothly and the dispatcher's
schedules were revised to accommodate the staff reduction. He stated that the City has been
working in cooperation with Minnetonka to help manage call loads which gives the City
flexibility to manage the peaks and valleys in call volume.
Councilmember Sanger asked if plans are in place to correct the underfunding in the housing
rehab fund and employee benefits fund.
Mr. Swanson explained that a dedicated funding source would be ideal and the City is exploring
options that would free up resources to reallocate to the employee flex fund and housing rehab
fund, e.g., franchise fee increases and/or funding from the Park Center TIF. He added that the
deficits are not insurmountable but the City needs to dedicate dollars to these funds if it intends
to continue the programs.
Councilmember Sanger stated she would be agreeable to increasing the levy in order to address
the deficit in these funds.
Councilmember Mavity stated that it might make sense to take a deeper look at all of the
programs in the City and the return on investment to make sure the programs represent a correct
fit for the City.
Councilmember Finkelstein expressed concern about the increased demand at STEP and
suggested that the City consider increasing its contribution.
Councilmember Mavity felt that the St. Louis Park Foundation could be used to generate
investment by the community in STEP instead of filtenng it through property taxes.
Councilmember Santa stated that some residents may feel that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer
monies. She agreed that the foundation could be more proactive as a supporter of STEP which
would provide an avenue for residents to support STEP. She added that the demand for STEP
services and other nonprofits continue to increase and the City may want to consider building a
cushion into its nonprofit payments.
Mr. Swanson agreed to review the budget and provide a recommendation to Council for
increasing the City's payments to nonprofit organizations, including STEP.
Councilmember Mavity stated that the City needs to remain cognizant of its role related to
payments to nonprofits and cautioned against funding ongoing operations of these organizations.
Council discussed the increased demands on the Police Department, particularly related to the
West End, and the addition of one police officer in 2012.
Mr. Luse stated that the Police Department is in the process of reorganizing the patrol districts in
the City and plans to incrementally build a schedule for one person to be at the West End four
days per week from 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. to meet the increasing demands of that area. He
added that volunteers are used as much as possible in the West End.
Study Session Minutes -4- August 22, 2011
Mr. Swanson reviewed the City's tax levy history and proposed levy options for 2012. He
explained that if a 3% levy is approved, approximately $311,000 needs to be cut from the
proposed budget. He stated that a 4.05% levy will leave the City with an approximate $65,000
funding gap. He advised that if the City approved a 5% levy (option#3), additional resources of
$155,000 would be available while also providing for a balanced budget; these resources would
give the City an opportunity to revisit the parks and recreation feasibility study and/or tree
watering program previously discussed by Council. He noted that the levy can be reduced by
Council at the time of final adoption on December 20.
Councilmember Sanger agreed that option #3 gives the City flexibility in setting the preliminary
levy in order to allow for unanticipated expenses, such as the significant fiscal disparities charge
experienced last year by the City. She requested that Council have a future study session
discussion regarding the implications of the wholesale structural changes made by the legislature
with respect to MVHC and how that affects payment and calculation of taxes.
Councilmember Santa stated her agreement with a preliminary levy of 5%.
Councilmember Finkelstein stated he would like to further consider the 2012 preliminary levy.
Councilmember Ross stated she was comfortable with a preliminary levy of 5%.
Councilmember Mavity stated that a preliminary levy of 5% seems high, but she recognized the
City's budget needs and public safety needs.
Mayor Jacobs stated his agreement with a preliminary levy of 5%.
Councilmember Sanger requested that Council have a future discussion regarding the Highway
7/Louisiana Avenue project and its funding requirements.
Mr. Rardin briefly discussed the funding for Highway 7/Louisiana Avenue and stated this capital
project could be funded in a variety of ways, including HRA funds, the HRA levy, and/or by
issuing bonds. He indicated that Council will receive an update regarding the project in
September including revised estimates for the project.
Councilmember Santa asked that the revised estimates for the project be broken down by
potential funding source and the City's expected share of the project.
4. Communications/Meeting Check-in (Verbal)
Councilmember Ross requested that a future study session agenda include a discussion regarding
the City's building codes and whether to install dual flush toilets in those buildings that use a lot
of water, such as the Nestlé site. She also requested that the City offer weather radios to
residents at a discounted price the next time an open ho •e of event is held.
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Nancy Stroth, ty Clerk Jeff Jacobs, Mayer