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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/05/29 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IIISt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA MAY 29, 2012 The meeting convened at 6:55 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tem Susan Sanger, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Clerk (Ms. Stroth), City Engineer (Mr. Brink), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilhng), Planner (Mr. Walther), Environmental Coordinator (Mr. Vaughan), Utilities Superintendent (Mr. Anderson), Engineenng Program Coordinator (Ms. Adler), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—June 4 and June 11, 2012 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for June 4, 2012, and the proposed study session agenda for June 11, 2012. He indicated the June 4 special study session will be a closed executive session to discuss an employment claim asserted by a former firefighter. 2. Voter ID Constitutional Amendment Ms. Stroth presented the staff report. She advised that the proposed Constitutional Amendment would affect the City Council ward election in November 2013 if adopted, but not the pnmary election. She stated the City's estimated cost is $11,000 to purchase special ballot boxes and to cover the cost of extra election judges and supplies. She added the cost would be higher in a presidential election year. Councilmember Mavity suggested the City move forward with a resolution similar to the City of Minneapolis resolution as described in the staff report. Councilmember Ross agreed and stated the proposed Constitutional Amendment is unnecessary and the City does not need to incur additional costs. Councilmember Mavity stated she would prefer that the City's resolution not refer to this as "voter ID" in the resolution because it is unlikely that this will be the official name of the amendment on the ballot. Councilmember Santa suggested the City's resolution state that the City opposes the Constitutional Amendment outlining the criteria for voting in the State of Minnesota. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a draft resolution and forward it to Mayor Pro Tern Sanger for review and comment and to place the resolution on the June 18, 2012, City Council agenda for adoption. Study Session Minutes -2- May 29, 2012 3. Storm Water Follow Up—Wetlands Inventory Mr. Rardin presented the staff report and introduced Ms. Adler, Mr. Vaughan, and Mr. Anderson. He pointed out that the report refers to everything as a "water body" and was intended to provide a perspective on the City's surface water management plan as part of the overall storm sewer system. He discussed the exhibits and stated the entire plan is aimed at addressing water quantity and water quality. Councilmember Santa requested further information regarding the Novartis site and the potential wetlands impact when the site changes hands as well as potential use of the site in the future. Ms. Adler advised the Novartis wetlands area is protected by the Conservation Act and the Conservation Act does not allow the wetland area to be filled in. She added that the wetlands should not impact the type of business on the site because the wetlands are separate from the building. Councilmember Santa noted that the City's funding goals call for continued use of the City's storm water utility fee as well as additional funding methods and opportunities and requested further information regarding funding sources. Ms. Adler explained that BWSR may have funding available as well as the Watershed District or the State, which is typically project-based funding. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated that one policy issue is the importance of prevention of degradation of water quality. She requested that Council have a policy discussion regarding what the City can do to strengthen its ordinances to minimize runoff into wetlands of materials that degrade water quality and whether there are other practices the City should consider adopting to strengthen the water quality or prevent degradation. Councilmember Mavity requested further information about the City's water quality monitoring and testing and the results of that testing. She asked that the City provide information on current testing, when the last testing was completed, how regularly the testing is being done, how widely the testing is being done, and the results of that testing. Councilmember Santa also requested information on the cost of the testing. Mr. Rardin advised the City has been monitoring the City's water quality for ten years through the CAMP program. He indicated that staff has been working to establish a water quality monitoring program which will be implemented this year and will include sampling and official testing. Mr. Anderson indicated that funding for the water quality monitoring program will come from the City's storm water fund and will be carried out by the City's seasonal part-time staff. He stated that baseline sampling of all water bodies will be taken in mid-June and will look for four different contaminants as a baseline to get event sampling. Councilmember Mavity expressed frustration with the delays by the State in promulgating its new regulations and in the meantime, there are some indications that the City has some impaired water bodies but the City does not have the information it needs to address the issue. She stated she was concerned the City was doing nothing while it waits for the State to take action. Study Session Minutes -3- May 29, 2012 Mr. Anderson stated the City's waters have been tested and the City has the results of that testing because the City must adhere to Federal and other agency regulations. Councilmember Mavity felt the City should start testing now to determine if the City has any severely impaired waters and did not agree the City should wait for the State's rules. 'She indicated she would like to have information on the health of each of the City's water bodies and where impairment might be occurring so the City can determine where it should be investing in prevention, education, or treatment and whether it should be more aggressive in its treatment program. Councilmember Ross felt it was more important for the City to do testing on its larger water bodies because testing all of the water bodies would be cost prohibitive. She stated she felt the City could wait until June or July pending publication of the State's regulations. Mr. Harmening stated the City has tools available to ensure water entenng the City's water bodies is as uncontaminated as possible. He indicated the City will consider whether additional measures can be taken, e.g., banning sealcoat materials on driveways. He stated the City will also make sure it has systems in place to measure whether or not the City is successful in measuring the condition of its water bodies in a way that will help the City understand what it can be doing differently. He added the City has been trying to be fiscally responsible and not spend money until it knows what the new rules will be. Mr. Rardin indicated that staff has been working on putting a plan in place to test the City's water bodies this year and the City will continue to keep an eye on what the State is doing. He stated he felt the City's water bodies were in good shape and there is nothing to indicate otherwise He agreed to bring the City's overall plan to Council for review including prevention measures and prevention plan improvements that might be needed. Councilmember Hallfin stated that nobody swims in the City's water bodies and that should be taken into consideration as it relates to water quality. He added he felt the City was moving in the right direction and has been a good steward of the City's bodies of water. 4. Storm Water Follow Up—Pond Classification and Treatments Mr. Vaughan presented the staff report and a chart of pond classifications and size information. He stated that most cities do not treat all or a majority of lakes and only spot treat based on recreational needs. Councilmember Mavity stated there are a lot of treatments available to treat waterways that do not include chemicals and urged the City to use non-chemical treatments. Councilmember Santa stated the most common complaint is odor and requested further information regarding the causes. Mr. Vaughan explained that small and shallow water bodies get full of vegetation quickly which causes the odor. He stated that Twin Lakes gets a lot of vegetation on the perimeter that does not die out. He added that the dredging of the Twin Lakes holding pond last winter should help with the odor. Study Session Minutes -4- May 29, 2012 It was the consensus of the City Council to agree with the pond classifications developed by staff. Council discussed the existing policy related to aquatic pond treatments. Mr. Harmening stated the current policy states the City does not provide treatment for aesthetic purposes, excessive weed growth or algae and a starting point might be to address complaints received by the City. Councilmember Spano stated he was okay with treating the water bodies identified as long as treating them does not create a negative impact to its actual use. Councilmember Ross agreed and stated the City has received complaints about Lamplighter which is one of the lakes where people fish. She stated if any treatment kills the fish, people will have to live with the odor. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated there has been no public input and the City does not know how residents feel about dumping chemicals into the lakes. She indicated she would like to learn more about treatment options and costs then have a public forum to get input. It was the consensus of the City Council to further discuss chemical and non-chemical treatment options for the water bodies identified by Council, including Lamplighter, and to also discuss cost and the positive/negative impacts of treatment. It was also the consensus of the City Council to undertake a public process if treatment options are to be pursued. 5. Pedestrian and Bicycle System Implementation Plan and Policy Review Mr. Rardin presented the staff report and proposed Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. He also presented the ten-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with priorities developed after Council's earlier study session discussion. Councilmember Santa stated that Item #11 on Exhibit G references a bikeway and felt this area needs a sidewalk first because the current sidewalk is in extremely poor condition. Councilmember Ross stated that Item #145 currently has a partial sidewalk on the north side of the railroad bridge and there is a deep drop-off if you are coming out from under the bridge and heading south. She requested that a complete sidewalk be installed in this area rather than a bikeway. Councilmember Mavity stated it was not clear what the City is planning with the light rail stations and circulation issues at Louisiana Avenue vis-à-vis sidewalk planning. She indicated the sidewalk connections in that neighborhood are inadequate to meet the needs at the light rail station in this area. She stated the SWLRT Community Works Committee has been discussing the proposed remeander of the creek behind Meadowbrook and how to bring residents from Meadowbrook to the light rail station and one proposal includes adding a sidewalk or path along the edge of the MSC. She requested that Council discuss a sidewalk connection along Oxford and felt it would be a good gesture on the part of the City if the City were willing to put in that sidewalk connector. Study Session Minutes -5- May 29, 2012 Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated she was fine with this but wanted to make sure this segment is compatible with other trails along the creek and to make sure the City does not negate future progress in this area. It was the consensus of the City Council to pursue a sidewalk connection along the south side of Oxford to Louisiana Avenue at the City's expense. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger agreed with staff's proposed prioritization scheme but felt that the City ought to be giving priority to those sidewalks or bikeways that are on roads that are high vehicle traffic roads. She specifically referenced France Avenue. Councilmembers Ross and Santa agreed. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger requested that Council provide staff with any suggestions for moving priorities up or down as soon as possible. Councilmember Spano suggested that staff consider listing the projects in tiers, e.g., tier 1 represents the top 15 projects, in order to give staff flexibility to move things around as needed. 6. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) Councilmember Ross thanked Mr. Rardin and his staff for all their work on the storm water discussion and pedestnan and bicycle system implementation plan. Councilmember Spano stated his agreement with the proposed appointments to the SWLRT Business Advisory Committee (BAC) but questioned whether Council should consider appointing a representative who is south of Highway 7 adjacent to the light rail station. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger indicated some residents have questioned why Mark Wegner or Bob Suko from TC&W have not been appointed to a committee and felt they should be given an opportunity to participate. Councilmember Mavity felt that Mr. Curt Rahman was a good choice but expressed concern that there was not a lot of diversity on the committee. She stated the railroads have been involved in all discussions and have been generally well represented in the process. Councilmember Santa cautioned the City against relying on the same people all the time and did not want to see the City rely solely on Mr. Rahman when it could foster new relationships with other businesses. It was the consensus of the City Council to move forward with the recommended appointments to the SWLRT Business Advisory Committee to represent St. Louis Park businesses and commercial property owners in the station areas. Mr. Harmening requested input regarding a meeting with the School Board this summer before a regular Council meeting. He suggested the summer meeting include a lighter agenda with possibly one topic for discussion, followed by a more formal meeting in the fall. Councilmember Santa requested that the meeting include a free-flow discussion of ideas as opposed to more structured presentations. Study Session Minutes -6- May 29, 2012 It was the consensus of the City Council to hold a short, informal summer meeting with the School Board followed by a formal meeting in the fall. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 7. April 2012 Financial Report 8. Miscellaneous Minor Code Amendments for Animals,Nuisances and Licensing 9. Environmental/Sustainability Task Force Process Update 10. Project Update: Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Hopkins Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation—Cedar Lake Area Improvements 11. SWLRT Business Advisory Committee (BAC) Appointments 12. Update on 2012 Parktacular Block Party at West End Nancy Stroth, ZClerk Susan Sang , Mayor Pro Tern