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Home My WebLink About2013/11/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ifsSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 4, 2013 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations -None 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Study Session Meeting Minutes October 14, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. Special Study Session Meeting Minutes October 21, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. City Council Meeting Minutes October 21, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 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. Adopt Resolution No. 13-162 authorizing award of the 2014 St. Louis Park Arts and Culture Grants. 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 13-163 updating the Car Allowance policy and adding an On- Call Pay policy to the City of St. Louis Park Personnel Manual. City Council Meeting -2- November 4, 2013 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 13-164 to approve the application for ERF Funding from Hennepin County for the removal of contaminated soils on the Highway 7 and Louisiana Interchange Project. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 13-165 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the water service line at 3208 Florida Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN P.I.D. 17-117- 21-14-0059. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 13-166 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3200 Texas Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN P.I.D. 18-117-21- 14-0098. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 13-167 authorizing Worker's Compensation insurance renewal for December 1, 2013 —November 30, 2014. 4g. Approve for filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes August 21, 2013. 4h. Approve for filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes September 18, 2013. 4i. Approve for filing Planning Commission Minutes September 18, 2013. 4j. Approve for filing Vendor Claims. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Hallfin, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances The motion passed 7-0. 5. Boards and Commissions -None 6. Public Hearings-None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances,Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Second Cooperative Agreement with MCWD — Minnehaha Creek Reach 20 Trail—Project No. 2014-1010. Resolution No. 13-168. Mr. Walther presented the staff report and Second Cooperative Agreement with MCWD related to the trails elements of this project. He explained this phase of the project is the City's responsibility to pay for, own, and maintain certain elements, including an 8' trail from Meadowbrook Road to Louisiana Avenue and a pedestrian bridge over the creek designed to handle both bikes and pedestrians, as well as maintenance vehicles or a police car. He indicated the City will also be improving some of the existing foot paths coming down from Meadowbrook Manor with crushed granite and connecting to the paved trail; in addition, there is a scenic spot called out in the plans as a wet prairie glade. There are also overlooks where benches will be installed that were donated by the St. Louis Park Rotary. He stated that MCWD's share of the project is approximately $1.1 million and the City's share is up to $460,000 for a total project cost of approximately $1.6 million. City Council Meeting -3- November 4, 2013 Councilmember Mavity requested further information about when the trail on the western edge will connect to Blake Road with the rest of what the Watershed District is doing on the trails. Mr. Walther replied the timing of this connection is not yet known and advised that MCWD has purchased the Cold Storage site and the project has been adopted in MCWD's comprehensive plan. Councilmember Santa asked if the City portion of the trail will be plowed and open year- round. She noted the City entered into agreements to plow and maintain other trails owned by Three Rivers and asked if this had been considered for this project. Mr. Walther replied that it was the City's intention to have the City portion of the trail plowed and kept open year-round. He stated the MCWD boardwalk does not lend itself to clearing snow and will most likely be closed over the winter months. Councilmember Ross asked how access might be impacted by the potential relocation of the light rail station and how the trail being closed in winter might impact people in the Meadowbrook area who want to walk to the light rail station. Mr. Walther explained there are some barriers along Louisiana Avenue because of the steep grade changes and added that more direct routes to the future LRT platform, is one of the issues being explored in the station area planning. Councilmember Spano requested information about lighting on the trail and asked if the trail will include emergency phones. Mr. Walther stated the project does not include lighting or emergency phones. Allowing for lighting to be added in the future could be explored when MCWD and the City prepare a Management Plan for the project area. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 13-168 Authorizing Entering into a Second Cooperative Agreement with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for the Minnehaha Creek Reach 20 Trails — Project No. 2014-1010. The motion passed 7-0 8b. 2014 Employer Benefits Contribution. Resolution No. 13-169. Ms. Deno presented the staff report and stated the City proposes a $50 increase to the monthly employer contribution for benefits. She noted the City gives the same dollar amount to all employee classifications that are benefit eligible. She stated the City went out for bid on its health insurance and received three bids with HealthPartners providing the most favorable rate with a two-year rate guarantee and a 12% increase for 2014 and 2015. She also reviewed the other benefits offered to the City's employees. Councilmember Santa declared her intention to recuse herself from voting on this matter since her employer, ING, is one of the deferred compensation plan providers. City Council Meeting -4- November 4, 2013 Councilmember Sanger requested information about the wellness incentive program and asked how the City will evaluate whether this benefit has been effective in improving employee health and wellness. Ms. Deno explained the City is currently gathering wellness data and is hopeful that the long-term trend shows a reduction in the City's experience. She added that 170 out of 250 employees are participating in the voluntary wellness program. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 13-169 Establishing 2014 Employer Benefits Contribution. The motion passed 6-0-1 (Councilmember Santa abstained). 8c. First Reading of Ordinance Repealing Section 16-33 of the Code of Ordinances Ms. Deno presented the staff report and explained that in the past the City was required to have an ordinance stating that the City is allowed to do background checks but during the 2013 legislative session, a law was passed that eliminated that requirement. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to approve First Reading of Ordinance Repealing Section 16-33 of the St. Louis Park Code of Ordinances Relating to Criminal History Background Investigations and to set Second Reading for November 18, 2013. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded residents that Tuesday is Election Day and the ballot includes all of the City Council ward seats as well as the School Board election and three referendum questions. He encouraged residents to contact the City Clerk with questions about where to vote, adding the League of Women Voters can help with that as well. Councilmember Santa reminded everyone that November 14th is Give to the Max Day and suggested residents consider donating to STEP or the St. Louis Park Public Schools Foundation. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Nancy Stro , City Clerk Jeff Jac'''. , or