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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/07/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IIf St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA JULY 23,2012 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hal!fin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, and Sue Santa. Councilmembers absent: Susan Sanger and Jake Spano. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Inspection Services Manager (Ms. Boettcher), Chief Information Officer(Mr. Pires), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), Engineering Project Manager(Mr. Olson), Communications Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), Planner (Mr. Fulton), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). Guests: Brady Mueller, Cindy Douthett Nagel, and Kevin Dummer (Krech, O'Brien, Mueller and Associates) and Dan Hunt(Hunt Associates, LLC) and Pete Keely (Collage Architects). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning— August 6 and August 13,2012 Councilmember Ross thanked Mr. Harmening for the'written update on redevelopment projects and EDA contracts. Councilmember Ross suggested staff consider the use of security fobs as part of the first floor remodeling project. 2. Property Acquisition Update — Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue Grade Separated Crossing Project Mr. Harmening presented the staff report. City Attorney Tom Scott was in attendance to discuss the status of property acquisition related to the Hwy 7/Louisiana Ave project and in particular acquisition associated with two billboards in the project area. Mr. Scott stated that Council recently adopted a resolution authorizing the acquisition of property or easements for this project. He advised that the City can either relocate the billboards to a remaining portion of those parcels, which would provide comparable visibility for the billboards, or the City can decide to acquire the billboards in addition to the land, similar to acquiring a business located on the property. Mayor Jacobs and Councilmember Santa expressed support for pursuing relocation of the billboards. Councilmember Mavity asked if the City's current ordinance would allow the billboards to be relocated on the site or whether relocating the billboards would require making an exception for these parcels and whether this would set a precedent. Study Session Minutes -2- July 23, 2012 Mr. Scott advised the City's current ordinance does not allow billboards to be relocated on a site. He indicated the City has a general prohibition for non-conforming signs being moved, and the City may have to amend its Zoning Ordinance. Councilmember Mavity asked about the impact of relocating the billboards in terms of visibility, light, etc., and questioned whether the billboards would need to be significantly taller to achieve the same visibility if relocated on the site. She requested that any amendment to the Zoning Ordinance be sufficiently precise to protect the City's interests. Councilmembers Ross and Mavity expressed support for pursuing relocation of the billboards on the site. Mr. Harmening stated that Councilmember Sanger asked that her comments be provided to Council. He stated that Councilmember Sanger does not support relocation of the billboards and wants the City to keep with its past policy of reducing the number of billboards in the City; she supports the option of buying out the billboards and understands the costs associated with this. Councilmember Santa agreed with the concerns raised by Councilmember Mavity regarding the impact on neighboring properties and the impact on other businesses that derive income from their visibility and that visibility being potentially blocked by the relocation of the billboards. It was the consensus of the majority of the City Council to explore relocation of the two billboards affected by the Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue project, with the understanding that staff needed to assess the impacts associated with a possible relocation. 3. City Hall First Floor Reconfiguration/Remodel Mr. Hoffman.presented the staff report and introduced Brady Mueller, Cindy Douthett Nagel, and Kevin Dummer from Krech, O'Brien, Mueller and Associates. He then conducted a tour of the first floor of City Hall. Mr. Mueller presented drawings of the existing entrance and proposed entrance noting that the vestibule will be extended out to make more room for people inside as well as making an inviting statement for City Hall. Ms. Douthett Nagel presented architectural drawings of the proposed reconfiguration of first floor and stated the receptionist area will be relocated in the front of the entry opposite the elevator and stairs and will be made larger. She stated there will be a small conference area behind the reception area and the stairway will be opened up using glass. She advised the community room will remain the same size but storage space will be added to allow for storage of chairs and tables and windows will also be added. She noted that display areas will also be added to the first floor. She indicated the break room will be enlarged by approximately 300 square feet and will include an area for eating as well as a lounge area with a television. She stated that proposed improvements to the Information Resources area include 6 x 12 work stations, computer work areas, and storage areas. She explained the work stations will include clerestory windows at the top of the work stations to allow light transfer. She added the former garage area will also be reconfigured to allow deliveries to be made in this area rather than through the reception area. Study Session Minutes -3- July 23, 2012 Councilmember Mavity asked if the receptionist space will be adaptable for other uses should the City decide in the future to not have this area staffed. Mr. Hoffman stated the receptionist space can serve as a traditional receptionist area as well as a service counter. Mr. Harmening noted that the City feels it is important to have a receptionist on first floor and the receptionist area will serve as more than an information desk, e.g., offering pool passes so people do not have to go upstairs to conduct simple transactions. Councilmember Ross requested that the City include a lactation area. Mr. Harmening stated the City has a quiet room on third floor that employees can use as a lactation area. Ms. Douthett Nagel presented several concepts for the conference rooms using interior illumination for creating light. She then provided a 3D tour of the remodeling. Councilmember Santa stated the City recently completed construction of two new fire stations and should remain sensitive to costs associated with this remodeling. She expressed support for the proposed remodeling and stated that City Hall was built in the 1960s and the building has been repurposed to the point where the space needs to be remodeled. Mayor Jacobs noted that the City has been setting money aside in the budget for this remodeling. It was the consensus of the City Council to support proceeding with developing a plan to reconfigure/remodel the first floor of City Hall. 4. Eliot School Redevelopment Site Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and introduced Dan Hunt (Hunt Associates, LLC) and Pete Keely (Collage Architects). She provided a brief history regarding the Eliot School site. She stated the City worked with the School District to set up neighborhood meetings, which resulted in a task force being created to address redevelopment of the site, and included a public input process. She indicated the proposed development includes a low rise multi-family residential development, which meets the Design Guidelines developed in 2010. Mr. Hunt introduced himself and gave a brief background of his development experience. He stated that traffic was raised as a significant concern for residents but felt that the traffic issues were solvable. Mr. Keely described the proposed development plan and stated they followed the intent of the Design Guidelines when designing the site and remained sensitive to the site's location in a single family neighborhood. He indicated they reduced the mass of the buildings down to two or three story buildings; in addition, the southwest corner of the site includes green space, which will provide open vistas for traffic to create a calming effect. He stated the other end of the site includes two single family lots to pull the multi-family buildings away from the residential area as much as possible. He indicated the C-shaped courtyard design will pull the mass of the buildings toward the center and provide more green space to the north and toward Cedar Lake Study Session Minutes -4- July 23, 2012 Road to the south. He stated that parking for residents is below ground with 20 stalls provided for guests between the two buildings. Mayor Jacobs asked if traffic studies have been completed; staff indicated they have not been ordered. Councilmember Ross expressed concerns about current traffic issues in this area and the traffic issues created with the redevelopment as well as with the Highway 100 reconstruction project. She felt that traffic studies should be completed regardless of whether the proposed redevelopment goes through. She expressed support for the proposed design but was concerned that if residents are required to pay additional money for parking, they will park on the street. She indicated the City is trying to limit parking in the neighborhoods and has worked hard to minimize the impact on neighbors by keeping neighborhoods separate but accessible. She urged the developer to include parking in the cost of rent and also asked the developer to include a playground in the public space. Mr. Fulton noted that traffic on Cedar Lake Road has been identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan as needing to be studied in this area. Mr. Keely advised that 190 parking stalls are provided under the buildings plus an additional twenty stalls are provided on the road. He stated this translates to one parking stall per bedroom. Councilmember Santa agreed with the concerns raised by Councilmember Ross regarding parking and stated she would like to avoid having residents park in the adjacent neighborhood. She stated that the site is drawing on a neighborhood feel but she did not see a lot of amenities for children planned for the site. She also stated the proposed development is denser than stated in the Design Guidelines and noted there was a strong preference for owner occupied housing on the site. She indicated she was not happy with seeing only two single family lots at the north end of the site. She also asked if the apartment units could be converted to condos if the market changes. Mr. Hunt indicated they cannot meet the guideline of owner occupied housing in the current market. He stated the single family lots are intended to put something between the existing single family homes and the apartment units. Councilmember Ross asked how many three bedroom units are planned. Mr. Hunt replied they are waiting for the market study to be completed, but there are currently no three bedroom units in the development. Councilmember Ross stated she would like to see three bedroom units included in the development. Councilmember Mavity expressed support for the proposed development. She stated she was happy with the height of the buildings and assumed the City will conduct shadow studies. She indicated she was concerned about the number of parking stalls provided, noting that ten of the twenty guest stalls appear to be included in the total bedroom count of 200 bedrooms. She stated that ten cars parked on the street can make a difference in a neighborhood and asked that staff look into this further. She urged the developer and property manager to provide clear expectations to residents with respect to the parking requirements for the apartment buildings. Study Session Minutes -5- July 23, 2012 It was the consensus of the City Council to support the concept plan for redevelopment of the Eliot School site, noting the concerns raised regarding traffic and parking. Councilmember Ross requested further information regarding the process for keeping the neighborhood apprised regarding next steps. Mr. Fulton indicated the City has provided notices to properties further than the required 350' and City staff will discuss ways to make sure communications continue to be sent to adjacent property owners. 5. Fire and Police Analysis for Future Planning Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and advised that Council previously set aside money to allow an analysis to be completed on Police and Fire Department operations related to future resource needs. He stated that the study will address how demographic changes, redevelopment, and SWLRT will impact public safety in the future and will provide information to assist the City in planning for the future. Council discussed the role of the consultants and involvement by Police Chief Luse and Fire Chief Stemmer and their respective staff members. Mr. Harmening stated that an update will be provided to Council by the end of the year. 6. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) Councilmember Ross thanked Mr. Harmening for the written update on redevelopment projects and EDA contracts. Councilmember Ross suggested staff consider the use of security fobs as part of the first floor remodeling project. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 7. June 2012 Monthly Financial Report 8. Second Quarter Investment Report(April—June, 2012) 9. Renewal of Xcel and CenterPoint Energy (CPE)Franchise Agreements 10. Redevelopment Project and EDA Contrac tatu Rep . July 2012 4 Nancy Stroth, C Clerk Jeff J cobs, ayor