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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/08/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Iff St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA AUGUST 5,2013 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mayfly, Julia Ross, Susan Sanger, Sue Santa, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Associate Planner (Mr. Kelley), Organizational Development Coordinator(Ms. Gothberg), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Westwood Hills Nature Center Junior Naturalists Recognition Mayor Jacobs thanked the Junior Naturalists for all their efforts and stated there were over sixty youth volunteers in this year's program. Ms. Came Mandler introduced Ms. Sarah Skinner, Program Coordinator for the Junior Naturalists program. Ms. Skinner stated the energy, skills, and commitment of the youth volunteers is critical to the Nature Center's ability to continue to offer high quality nature camps to residents of St. Louis Park and surrounding communities. She indicated the youth volunteers have volunteered over 1,600 hours and the program seeks to provide an enjoyable environment in which volunteers can foster leadership skills, take on new levels of meaningful responsibility, and gain experience working with children, caring for animals, and assisting adult staff members. She expressed thanks on behalf of the entire staff at Westwood Hills Nature Center to all the youth volunteers involved in the 2013 program. Mayor Jacobs presented certificates of appreciation to the Junior Naturalists and thanked all of them for their service. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Study Session Meeting Minutes July 8, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. Special Study Session Meeting Minutes July 15, 2013 The minutes were approved as presented. City Council Meeting -2- August 5, 2013 3c. City Council Meeting Minutes July 15, 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. Approve Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2444-13 amending Chapter 36 of the City Code pertaining to parking uses, and to approve the summary ordinance for publication. 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 13-109 accepting work and authorizing final payment in the amount of$4,540.08 for the 2012 Beltline Boulevard Trail Realignment project with Midwest Asphalt. —Project No. 20112-1307, Contract No. 116-12. 4c. Approve contract with WSB and Associates, Inc. for engineenng consulting services related to bridge program administration and design for bridge rehabilitation projects as identified in the Capital Improvement Program (C.I.P.). 4d Adopt Resolution No. 13-110 authorizing installation of parking restrictions on the south side of Excelsior Boulevard at 4811- 4815 Excelsior Boulevard. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 13-111 authorizing installation of parking restnctions at the Municipal Lot located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and Alabama Boulevard. 4f. Confirm appointment of Jack Sullivan to the position of Intenm Engineering Director effective July 15, 2013. 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 13-112 authorizing final payment in the amount of$76,008.65 and accepting work for Fire Station No. 1 Work Scope 24 (Electrical) for Project No. 2008-3001, City Contract No. 37-11. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 13-113 authorizing final payment in the amount of$36,246.05 and accepting work for Fire Station No. 2 Work Scope 24 (Electrical) for Project No. 2008-3002, City Contract No. 40-11. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 13-114 authorizing final payment in the amount of$72,487.11 and accepting work for Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2, Work Scope 01 (Earthwork, Building Demolition, Excavation & Utilities) for Project Nos. 2008-3001 and 2008- 3002, City Contract No. 60-11. 4j. Adopt Resolution No. 13-115 authorizing final payment in the amount of$11,515.00 and accepting work for Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2, Work Scope 25 (Landscaping) for Project Nos. 2008-3001 and 2008-3002, City Contract No. 74-11. 4k. Approve for filing Housing Authority Meeting Minutes June 12, 2013. 41. Approve for filing Vendor Claims. City Council Meeting -3- August 5, 2013 It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, 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 It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Spano, to appoint Paul Beck to the Housing Authority for a term expiring on June 30, 2014 The motion passed 7-0. 6. Public Hearings -None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances,Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Health in the Park Initiative/Blue Cross Blue Shield Funding Ms. Gothberg presented the staff report and explained that the City is one of nine areas selected across the state for this three-year initiative with first year funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in the amount of $149,990. She stated the City intends to engage the community and have residents tell the City what active healthy living should look like in the City. Councilmember Spano expressed support for the initiative and asked if BCBS has indicated whether funding will be available for years two and three. He also asked if the City's share of funding for years two and three would be available, adding he did not want this initiative to be funded for only one year. Ms. Gothberg advised that BCBS has indicated a willingness to fund the City for the next two years and BCBS has stated they were excited the City is partnering with Twin Cities Public Television to document this initiative. Councilmember Sanger requested information about deliverables and how the City will know whether the initiative has been successful. She also asked if data will be gathered on people's health and whether their health has improved as part of this initiative. Ms. Gothberg stated reports will be provided that outline plans developed with the other partners and BCBS will be looking at any policy changes and how those changes are being implemented, as well as sustainability and creating an environment for livability. She stated that Park Nicollet will look at health data and this data is not within the purview of the City or School District, adding that Park Nicollet will be involved in the community-wide dialogue. , Councilmember Mavity stated she was excited about the project and thanked staff for their efforts to secure funding. She asked if the School District would be a partner in the initiative. City Council Meeting -4- August 5, 2013 Ms. Gothberg stated the School District will be a partner in this project and acknowledged the School District's omission in the staff report. Councilmember Santa requested confirmation that the City will not have access to an individual's private health data that is protected under HIPAA and the data would only be used by health professionals involved in the project. Ms. Gothberg stated that this was correct. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Santa, to authorize execution and implementation of the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Active Living Master Agreement for the "Health in the Park"Initiative. The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Comprehensive Plan Amendment from CIV— Civic to RM- Medium Density Residential,Wooddale Flats. Resolution No. 13-116. Mr. Kelley presented the staff report and proposed amendment to the City's land use map for the former Most Holy Trinity site from CIV — Civic to RM — Medium Density Residential, which allows a density of six to thirty units per acre. He presented an aerial photograph of the site and a drawing of the existing land use map and stated the development proposal includes one two-story building and five three-story buildings for a total of 34 units with a density of 14 units per acre and all units are intended to be for sale with no rentals. He stated all parking is provided on site in garages and surface lots and there are rooftop decks on the three-story buildings. He stated that traffic concerns were raised at the neighborhood meetings and SRF conducted a traffic study that found the proposed use would have similar trip generation as the former church/school with a reduction of daily trips on Toledo and an increase of daily trips on Utica, as well as lower a.m. peak hour trips and similar p.m. peak hour trips. He indicated the developer proposes to fill the site to approximately the same grade as the adjacent streets and construct an underground storm water management system that connects to the City's storm sewer and this system will require a variance from the Watershed District because no water currently leaves the site and approval of this variance is a condition of approval of any future applications to the City. He presented a concept rendering of a two-story building and the three-story building and a comparison of the existing church/school building height of approximately 38' compared to the three-story building height of approximately 48', noting that the height may change based on technical issues with filling the site. He stated the proposal meets several of the City's housing and land use goals including promoting and facilitating a balanced and sustainable housing stock that meets diverse needs and the proposed development meets the goals and strategies of the Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Mavity stated the City went through a similar process with the Eliot site where the Comprehensive Plan was amended first followed by rezoning and approval of a PUD. She requested confirmation that a designation of Medium Density Residential means a maximum of thirty units per acre would be allowed. She also requested information about the maximum height that would be allowed under this proposal. City Council Meeting -5- August 5, 2013 Mr. Kelley advised the maximum units per acre allowed under Medium Density Residential would be thirty units and the rezoning would reflect that as well. He stated the Comprehensive Plan does not dictate height limits and staff believes the correct zoning for the site would be R-4 because that classification most closely matches the land performance standards of the proposal, adding that some of these performance standards may be modified under the PUD. He indicated that Council's action this evening is to allow a different type of development to occur on this site and future Council action will include rezoning and site plan review as well as the PUD. Councilmember Mavity asked if Council would have an opportunity to add additional requirements such as noise limits for the rooftop decks during the PUD process. Mr. Kelley replied in the affirmative. Councilmember Mavity noted the project will be built as units are sold and expressed concern about a construction process that could go on for years. She stated that managing the construction process and making it work for the neighborhood was key to her approval and requested that staff continue to work with the developer on this issue. She also expressed concern about making sure there is sufficient financing for the storm water improvements. Ms. McMonigal indicated the development agreement will include financial guarantees and time limits for several items, including the storm water improvements, adding the storm water improvements must be done before anything is built on the site. Councilmember Hallfin asked if the project is contingent on approval of the variance from the Watershed District. He also requested information about the developer's plans for the site while waiting to sell additional units. Mr. Kelley explained that the Watershed District variance is to allow water to leave the site through a pipe connecting to the City's storm sewer system and is intended to address storm water management on the site. Mr. David Carlson, Gatehouse Properties Ltd., appeared before the City Council and stated they have a total of ten reservations at this time and they are only taking reservations through the fourth building to keep control of the inventory and for financing purposes. He stated they intend to raze the site and start with a three-story building and the remaining land will likely be hydro seeded. He added the design is unique and sought after and he was confident the units would be sold in rapid succession. Councilmember Hallfin felt this was an interesting project and liked that it was owner occupied housing. He acknowledged this is a difficult location for traffic and was a little apprehensive about the traffic impacts to the neighborhood. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to adopt Resolution No. 13-116 approving an amendment to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan for the City of St. Louis Park under Minnesota Statutes 462 351 to 462.364 — 3998 Wooddale Avenue South and 4017 Utica Avenue South. The motion passed 7-0. City Council Meeting -6- August 5, 2013 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded residents about Night to Unite tomorrow evening. He stated there are over 130 block parties scheduled and expressed the City Council's thanks to all the block captains and neighborhood association leaders as well as the many volunteers for their work on this event. He stated residents can contact Ken Sysko in the Police Department or their neighborhood association with any questions. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m. -r 1 Nancy Strothity Clerk Jeff Jac,•s ► a •r