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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/08/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Jfl St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA AUGUST 19, 2013 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:33 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), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), City Clerk (Ms. Stroth), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Directors of Operations and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Utilities Superintendent (Mr. Hall), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Book Presentation by Dr. Robert Ramsey Mayor Jacobs introduced Dr. Robert Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey stated he has been working on this project for several years to address the major demographic shifts taking place in the country and the opportunities presented with an older population. He stated his book is titled Creating Vital Aging Communities — How You and Your Community Can Age Successfully Together and is aimed at senior citizens and how to live more vitally and is also aimed at communities and how to capitalize on the resources of seniors. He indicated the book is not for sale and is being distnbuted to local leaders and concerned citizens as his gift to the community and recipients are urged to read the book and pass it on. Mayor Jacobs thanked Dr. Ramsey for raising awareness on this important issue and for his commitment to the community. He added Dr. Ramsey has also wntten a book regarding the Children First program. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Special City Council Meeting Minutes July 8, 2013 The minutes were approved as.presented. 3b. Study Session Meeting Minutes July 22, 2013 Councilmember Sanger felt that the second paragraph on page 4 should be amended to reflect Council's discussion in asking for additional financial information and City Council Meeting -2- August 19, 2013 information on property tax impacts to residents and stated the consensus that staff should not proceed at this time to another level of planning was not accurate. Mr. Harmening stated this paragraph refers to whether the architect should prepare another iteration of architectural design work for the community center and agreed to clarify the minutes accordingly. The minutes were approved as amended. 3c. Joint City Council/School Board Meeting Minutes July 29, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3d. City Council Meeting Minutes August 5,2013 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. Accept donation of a spinning outdoor play structure to the City of St. Louis Park and the St. Louis Park School District in memory of Haysem Sani and Mohamed Fofana from St. Croix Recreation Company and installer, Contracting Solutions, Inc. 4b. Accept monetary donations from Tom Grimsrud in memory of Jane Grimsrud in the amount of$30 for the purchase of plants or shrubs at Westwood Hills Nature Center and a donation from Groves Academy in the amount of $32 for programming at Westwood Hills Nature Center. 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 13-117 authorizing final payment in the amount of$42,950.00 and accepting work for Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2 Work Scope 23 (Mechanical) for Project No. 2008-3001 and 2008-3002, City Contract No. 76-11. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 13-118 authorizing final payment in the amount of$7,567.60 and accepting work for Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2 Work Scope 10 (Hollow Metal Frames, Doors and Finish Hardware) for Project No. 2008-3001 and 2008-3002, City Contract No. 41-11. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 13-119 approving the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for St. Louis Park School District#283 (ISD 283) for an addition to Peter Hobart Elementary, with conditions as recommended by staff. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 13-120 approving the Assignment and Assumption of Redevelopment Contract between Duke Realty Limited Partnership and Dolce Living Investments, LLC related to The West End project. 4g. Approve for filing Parks &Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes Apnl 17, 2013. City Council Meeting -3- August 19, 2013 4h. Approve for filing Planning Commission Meeting Minutes June 26, 2013. 4i. Approve for filing Vendor Claims. Mayor Jacobs noted that agenda item 8e (Preliminary/Final Plat - Auto Motion Carwash Addition)has been removed from the agenda. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Spano, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar as amended to remove agenda item 8e; 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. Canvass Results of Municipal Primary Election Held on August 13, 2013. Resolution No. 13-121. Ms. Stroth presented the staff report and advised a primary election in Ward 3 was held on August 13, 2013, and 449 total ballots were cast for a turnout of 6%. She stated that candidates Gregg Lindberg and Sue Santa received the highest number of votes and have been certified as nominees on the general election ballot. She expressed thanks to the election judges who did a great job assisting voters with the new equipment. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavcty, to adopt Resolution No. 13-121 Canvassing Election Returns of St. Louis Park—August 13, 2013 —Municipal Primary Election. The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Resolution Confirming Appointment of Debra Heiser to the Position of Engineering Director. Resolution No. 13-122. Ms. Deno presented the staff report and introduced Debra Heiser who was recently selected by the City Manager to fill the position of Engineering Director and requested confirmation of the appointment by Council. Mr. Harmening stated that Ms. Heiser will start with the City on September 12, 2013. It was moved by Councilmember Hallfin, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to adopt Resolution No. 13-122 Confirming the Appointment of Debra Heiser to the Position of Engineering Director. The motion passed 7-0. City Council Meeting • -4- August 19, 2013 8c. First Reading of Zoning Ordinance Amendment Pertaining to Repair of Leaking Water Service Lines. Ms. Walsh presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Jay Hall, the City's new Utilities Superintendent. She explained the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment allows the City to have a leak repaired if a property owner does not make arrangements to repair the leak after being given 24 hours notice and also allows the City to assess the cost of the repairs to the property owner's taxes. Councilmember Ross asked how the 24-hour period is calculated on weekends and holidays. Mr. Hall replied that the 24-hour notice is intended to provide time for the property owner to make arrangements to repair the leak. Once a property owner receives the packet of information from the City, they have 24 business hours to find a contractor(not including weekends or holidays). Mr. Harmening stated the City is not trying to be punitive and the City wants to make sure that repairs are made quickly to prevent damage to the street and to avoid wasting water. Councilmember Hallfin asked if there is a significant difference in the price between having a contractor perform the repairs or having the City perform the work and charging the property owner. Ms. Walsh stated it would be in the property owner's best interest to shop around for a contractor, adding that the City will find a contractor to get the job done and it may not necessarily be the lowest bidder. It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Hallfin, to approve First Reading of Ordinance Relating to the Repair of Water Service Lines, Amending Section 32-202 of the St. Louis Park Code, and to set Second Reading for September 3, 2013. The motion passed 7-0. 8d. Major Amendment to the Final PUD for the West End Redevelopment Project Regarding Restaurants. Resolution No. 13-123. Mr. Walther presented the staff report and explained the developer has requested a change to the PUD to allow additional square footage for restaurants within West End. He stated the original PUD limited the square footage of restaurants to 82,277 square feet and the applicant is requesting an increase of 8,543 square feet or approximately 10% to a proposed limit of 90,820 square feet. He stated the Zoning Code requires a ratio of parking based on types of uses and the total required parking for the site is 4,184 stalls and the current number provided is 3,292, however, this ignores the benefit of mixed use development and shared parking. He advised that a parking study was done that reviewed the shared parking. The analysis projected parking surpluses in the office towers and projected a parking surplus year-round for the development as a whole, except during the week after Christmas where there was a potential weekday shortage of eleven City Council Meeting -5- August 19, 2013 spaces. He indicated this shortage was deemed manageable in both the office towers and at West End, adding the developer has an approved plan in place for managing employee parking to avoid any parking shortage and to resolve any potential shortfall. He then introduced Mr. Pat Mascia from Duke Realty. Councilmember Ross indicated these numbers are based on full occupancy of both the retail and office spaces and there is currently a lot of vacant office space. She urged the City to remain mindful of parking issues in the future to make sure that parking continues to be managed on the site. Mr. Walther stated the shopping center is 80% leased and the parking study indicated that adequate parking is available. He added that one of the issues is getting visitors familiar with parking in the office ramps, and additional directional signage has been suggested as a means to direct dnvers to park in the office ramps. Councilmember Sanger stated that Council discussed the idea of including a condition in the resolution that the developer could not come back in the future and ask for another increase in the amount of square footage for restaurants and requested that the resolution be amended to include this condition. Mr. Walther stated that Council could include this in the conditions of approval; however, like any PUD condition of approval, the developer can still request an amendment to that condition of approval in the future. He added the developer feels the requested increase represents a cap in the amount of square footage they need for restaurants and this has been reflected in the Planning Commission and City Council Study Session minutes. Councilmember Sanger agreed that this would not preclude the developer from asking for additional square footage in the future, but felt it was important to have something specific in the resolution and stated she would feel more comfortable if the resolution contained a clear statement stating that no further requests for an increase in the amount of square footage for restaurants would be entertained by Council. Councilmember Ross stated that she was not clear about why Council would limit this adding the City does not know what the market is going to be in the future. She indicated the restaurants at West End are very successful and did not understand why you would want to limit those types of restaurants. Councilmember Sanger stated one of her concerns is making sure the site has more retail and not just restaurants aimed at a specific demographic as well as making sure the area is attractive to more members of the community as a whole, particularly since the development received TIF assistance. Councilmember Ross indicated this project benefits all residents of St. Louis Park and benefits the tax base of the City. Councilmember Mavity stated that Council's study session discussion did not include consensus that a condition of approval should be added prohibiting the developer from asking for another increase in the amount of square footage for restaurants. She City Council Meeting -6- August 19, 2013 reiterated her belief that this is a situation in which government should have a light touch and stated every development in the City is not going to be the right fit for every resident. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Ross, to approve Resolution No. 13-123 amending and restating Resolution Nos. 08-057, 08-128, 09-040, 09-064, 10-093, and 11-016 relating to a Final Planned Unit Development for the West End Redevelopment Project Located at the Southwest Quadrant of Interstate 394 and Highway 100. Councilmember Spano noted that Mr. Mascia indicated during the study session discussion that the Shops at West End buildings are configured in such a way that they cannot support any more restaurant space. He added that Council's responsibility is to make sure the City's taxpayers are paid back and the vitality of this area is a testament to that. The motion passed 7-0. 8e. Preliminary/Final Plat — Auto Motion Carwash Addition (3901/3921 Excelsior Blvd.) This item was removed from the agenda and not considered by the City Council. 9. Communications Councilmember Spano stated he recently observed mill and overlay work being done in his neighborhood and the trucks performing the work were from the City of Minnetonka. He indicated in this instance, Minnetonka has some trucks and equipment that the City does not have and the work was performed through a cooperative agreement with Minnetonka and with City staff supervising the work. He stated this type of agreement makes the best use of funds available and is an example of working with other communities. Mr. Harmening announced that the Aquatic Park's last day of the season is Sunday, August 25th, and will be open from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. He stated admission is $1 if a donation is brought in for STEP. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m. r. Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Jac �s g ayir 1