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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/05/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular ifSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MAY 20, 2013 1. Call to Order Mayor Jeff Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Susan Sanger. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Fire Chief(Mr. Stemmer), Police Chief(Mr. Luse), Director of Engineering (Mr. Rardin), Directors of Operations and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Utilities Superintendent (Mr. Anderson), Orgamzational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), Controller (Mr. Swanson), Finance Supervisor (Mr. Heintz), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Presentation of CenterPoint Energy Grant Mr. Stemmer introduced Ms. Sue Spanus from CenterPoint Energy. Ms. Spanus stated that CenterPoint Energy has a community partnership grant program providing over $1 million in grant donations to cities and local fire and police departments. She presented Mr. Stemmer with a $2,500 grant to the Fire Department for the purchase of a civil defense outdoor warning siren at Westwood Nature Center. Mr. Stemmer thanked Ms. Spanus and CenterPoint Energy for their generous donation. 2b. Retirement Recognition for Utilities Superintendent Scott Anderson Mayor Jacobs recited the Resolution recognizing the contributions of and expressing appreciation to Mr. Anderson for over 31 years of dedicated service to the City and presented a plaque to Mr. Anderson in recognition of his years of service. Mr. Anderson expressed thanks to the City Council and to everyone he has worked with over the years. He also expressed a special thanks to his wife, Jo. 2c. Retirement Recognition for Fire Chief Luke Stemmer City Council Meeting -2- May 20, 2013 Mayor Jacobs recited the Resolution recognizing the contributions of and expressing appreciation to Mr. Stemmer for over 36 years of dedicated service to the City and presented a plaque to Mr. Stemmer in recognition of his years of service. Mr. Harmening stated that Mr. Stemmer worked hard to stabilize the Fire Department and improve the City's relationship with its firefighters, adding that Mr. Stemmer did a great job on the two new state-of-the-art fire stations. He stated Mr. Stemmer is leaving the Fire Department in much better condition than when he took over and the City will miss him. Mr. Stemmer expressed thanks to the City Council and to everyone he has worked with during his tenure at the City. He also expressed a special thanks to his wife, Julie. Mayor Jacobs recessed the City Council meeting at 7:53 p.m. Mayor Jacobs reconvened the City Council meeting at 8:02 p.m. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Study Session Meeting Minutes April 22, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. Special Study Session Meeting Minutes May 6,2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3c. City Council Meeting Minutes May 6, 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 Nos. 13-072 and 13-073 to recognize Utilities Supenntendent Scott Anderson for his 31 years of service and Fire Chief Luke Stemmer for his 36 years of service to the City of St. Louis Park. 4b. Approve a temporary on-sale intoxicating liquor license for the St. Louis Park Public Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 16367, St. Louis Park, for an event to be held on October 5, 2013, at the Warehouse Winery located at 6415 Cambridge. 4c. Approve Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2441-13 amending the St. Louis Park Code of Ordinances Chapter 16 relating to criminal history background checks and approve summary ordinance for publication on May 30, 2013. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 13-074 providing sale of $4,165,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2013A. City Council Meeting -3- May 20, 2013 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 13-075 approving acceptance of a monetary donation from the St. Louis Park Crime Prevention Fund in the amount of$5,000 to use toward the purchase of a robot for the Police Department. 4f. Accept Grant from CenterPoint Energy in the amount of$2,500 for a civil defense outdoor warning siren. 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 13-076 accepting a donation to the Fire Department. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 13-077 approving acceptance of a $300 donation from the family of Patrick J. McCashin for the purchase and installation of a Sugar Maple tree at the Dakota Park Dog Park in memory of Patrick J. McCashin. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 13-078 approving acceptance of a monetary donation from the 2013 Friends of the Park tree sale in the amount of$75 for the purchase of trees for the parks. 4j. Adopt Resolution No. 13-079 identifying the need for Livable Communities Transit Oriented Development funding and authorizing an application for grant funds. 4k. Moved to Action Item 8d (Extension for Duke Realty to file Final Plat and Final PUD Application for The Towers at West End) 41. Adopt Resolution No. 13-080 appointing Perry Edman as a member to the Technical Advisory Committee for the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC). 4m. Approve for filing BOZA Meeting Minutes October 25, 2012. 4n. Approve for filing PRAC Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013. 4o. Approve for filing Vendor Claims. Councilmember Ross requested that Consent Calendar item #4k be removed and placed on the Regular Agenda. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar as amended to move Consent Calendar item #4k to the Regular Agenda as item #8d; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Sanger absent). 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. Bid Tabulation: Street Project — Highway 7/Louisiana Avenue Interchange Project—Project#2012-0100 Mr. Rardin presented the staff report and advised that C.S. McCrossan Construction, Inc., was the lowest responsible bidder with a bid of $22,295,084.23, noting this amount is slightly under the City's estimate. He stated the total estimated project costs, including the Met Council interceptor sewer relocation, is $31,458,500 and will be financed through a variety of sources including Federal, State, Met Council, and City funds, City Council Meeting -4- May 20, 2013 adding that the City's estimated cost is $12,070,060. He added that a groundbreaking ceremony will be held June 5th as well as a citywide open house the same evening. Mayor Jacobs thanked staff for all their work on this project and for working with the area businesses and residents to make sure access will remain open during construction. Mr. Harmening indicated the City has been working on this project for a number years and Mr. Rardin and his staff have worked tirelessly on pursuing funding for the project. Councilmember Ross stated she was happy to see the estimated project costs were on target and the project was moving forward. She expressed thanks to Mr. Rardin and his staff for all their hard work on this project. Councilmember Mavity expressed thanks to staff for their efforts in working with the community to make sure access to the area remains open during construction. She requested the City continue to provide detailed communications to residents and the business community to make sure they have good access dunng construction and to minimize the disruption caused by this significant project. Councilmember Santa stated she was pleased to see this project getting underway to relieve traffic in the area. She acknowledged that in the short term it will be tough to get around the construction area and stated the City remains committed to continue to provide good communication to residents and businesses in the area. It was moved by Councilmember Santa, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to designate C.S. McCrossan Construction, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder and authorizing execution of a contract with the firm in the amount of$22,295,084.23 for the Highway 7/Louisiana Avenue Interchange Project—Project#2012-0100. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Sanger absent). 8b. Eliot Park Apartments Rezoning, Final Plat and Final Planned Unit Development—6720 and 6800 Cedar Lake Road. Ordinance No. 2442-13,Resolution No. 13-081, and Resolution No. 13-082. Mr. Walther presented the staff report and explained this is the second reading of the Ordinance to rezone the apartment parcel from R-2 to R-4 multi-family residential. He stated the Final Plat would subdivide the parcel into four separate units including a 3.78 acre apartment site, two single family residential lots, and an outlot. He noted that the Planning Commission reviewed the Final Plat and found it to be consistent with the Preliminary Plat and recommended approval with one additional condition of approval that Outlot A on the east side of Hampshire Avenue be combined with Lot 1, Block 1 in order to avoid the potential for tax forfeiture, adding the outlot is unbuildable and does not serve the new development. He presented the site plan and advised the apartment parcel will consist of 138 units in two buildings and 178 underground parking stalls with the garage entrances split between Hampshire and Idaho Avenues. He stated the landscape plan provides new plantings, preserves nine existing trees, and provides 47% green space including a play area that the developer has agreed to maintain for equal use of residents and the public, adding the site plans meets all landscape and DORA requirements. He stated the majority of the building elevations are 38 feet tall except a City Council Meeting -5- May 20, 2013 portion of the north building where the driveway enters the underground garage has an elevation of 43 feet; in addition, a portion of the south building has an elevation of 43 feet due to grade changes in that area. He stated the project has an overall density of 33 units per acre and the apartment lot alone has a density of 36.5 units per acre. He advised that 198 off-street parking stalls are provided and 40 on-street parking stalls are available adjacent to the apartment development. He reviewed the setback requirements and stated the proposed setbacks are all allowed with the PUD. He explained that a traffic study was conducted by SRF Consulting that concluded all intersections were acceptable with the worst movement resulting in a delay up to 55 seconds, adding the traffic study concluded no mitigation was required based on the proposed development. He stated that Council requested the City consider adding a traffic signal at Hampshire Avenue, however, the traffic study results indicate that a traffic signal at this location would be of no benefit. He indicated that staff also recommends adding a condition of approval that the owner submit a parking management plan for review and approval by the City which is intended to memonalize the shared goal of the developer to generate revenue for underground parking and of the City to reduce on-street parking. Councilmember Ross thanked Mr. Walther and the City for addressing the neighborhood concerns. She felt that Mr. Hunt had done an amazing job incorporating an apartment building with a townhome feel for this area and stated Mr. Hunt has made modifications to meet the requests of the neighborhood, e.g., the tot lot and maintaining green spaces, and she was pleased with the project overall. She stated she wants to make sure there are not too many cars on the street creating a traffic headache and indicated her biggest concern was making sure that cars have a place to go when they need to be moved for snow plowing, etc. It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to approve Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2442-13 Amending the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code Changing Boundaries of Zoning Districts. It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 13-081 Approving Final Plat of Eliot Park Apartments, as amended by adding a condition of approval that the owner combine Outlot A and Lot 1, Block 1, Eliot Park Apartments, into one PID for tax purposes. It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 13-082 Approving a Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) under Section 36-367 of the St. Louis Park Code Relating to Zoning for Property Zoned R-4 Multiple Family Residence Located at 6800 Cedar Lake Road, as amended by adding a condition of approval that the owner submit a parking management plan for review and approval by the City in order to avoid undue on-street parking from the development. Councilmember Hallfin stated he recently had a conversation with a resident who does not live near this project who was angry with Council for moving forward with the project and who felt this area'should have single family homes. He stated he has always been a proponent for single family homes and even though he felt this was a good development overall and Mr. Hunt had done a good job, he felt this land would be better served with single family homes. He added if residents of St. Louis Park do not like what Council is doing and want to have a voice, they need to tell Council earlier in the process instead of waiting to read about it in the paper and then getting mad about it, adding he City Council Meeting -6- ' May 20, 2013 would be voting against this project because he continues to feel this is a perfect piece of land for single family homes but understands it is the will of Council. Councilmember Mavity thanked the developer for his work with the neighborhood and the City and acknowledged there was not unanimity for this project. She felt the developer worked well with the residents and this project reflected the developer's good faith efforts to address the neighborhood concerns. Councilmember Ross stated she rejects the notion of Councilmember Hallfin's statement that it is the will of Council and indicated it has always been the will of Council to support a single family development for this site, but the fact remains that this property sat vacant for a number of years with no offers. She did not think it was fair to penalize Mr. Hunt for being the first person to come forward with an offer. She stated she would have loved to see single family homes on this site but that just did not happen and she did not want to stall this out any longer hoping to get a single family development. The motions passed 5-1 (Councilmember Hallfcn opposed; Councilmember Sanger absent). 8c. Redevelopment Contract with Eliot Park Apartments, LLC. Resolution No. 13-083. Mr. Hunt presented the staff report and referred to the action taken earlier this evening by the EDA on this Redevelopment Contract. It was moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to adopt Resolution No. 13-083 Approving a Contract for Private Redevelopment with Eliot Park . Apartments, LLC. The motion passed 5-1 (Councilmember Hallfin opposed; Councilmember Sanger absent). 8d. Approve an Extension until May 31, 2014, for Duke Realty to File the Final Plat and Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) Application for The Towers at West End Councilmember Ross requested further information regarding Duke Realty's request for an extension to file the Final Plat and PUD. She also requested an update on the project and the impact of the extension on the TIF District. Mr. Locke explained that the reason for the extension has been the extended slow economy that has affected the market for office buildings. He stated that Duke Realty continues to market the property aggressively but is not currently in a position to commit to building an office building on this site. He indicated it is not unusual for projects to go slower than expected and to extend approvals adding that Duke Realty has a lot of financial incentive to construct an office building once it has tenants in place. He stated that the office site will remain in the TIF district, and until buildings are constructed, the site will not generate the amount of TIF that was expected. He added that staff believes it is appropriate to extend the deadline for one year. City Council Meeting -7- May 20, 2013 It was moved by Councilmember'Ross, seconded by Councilmember Hallftn, to approve an extension until May 31, 2014,for Duke Realty to file the Final Plat and Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) applications for The Towers at West End. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Sanger absent) 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs thanked all the volunteers who participated in the ice cream social. He also reminded residents that Parktacular will be held June 14-16, 2013, and further information is available at www.parktcular.org. Mr. Harmening stated that Parktacular buttons are now available at several locations including the Lenox Center, Citizens Independent Bank, and City Hall for $5 or four buttons for$15. Councilmember Santa stated that a Memorial Day service will be held at Wolfe Park on Monday, May 27th, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Councilmember Ross announced that she will not be seeking a second term as Ward 4 Councilmember and stated her decision was based in large part on health issues of several members of her immediate family that will require more of her time and she will not be able to provide the necessary commitment to her duties as Ward 4 Councilmember. She stated this decision was not made easily and she has enjoyed her time on the City Council, adding that she will fulfill her current term. She expressed thanks for allowing her to represent Ward 4 and the City. Mayor Jacobs stated Councilmember Ross has done a great job on behalf of Ward 4 and the City and wished her and her family the best. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Gln I Nancy Stroth,CY1y Clerk Jeff ":col, a; •r r