HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/01/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jfl St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
JANUARY 22, 2013
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan Sanger, Sue
Santa, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Steve Hallfin.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Administrative Services Intern (Mr. French),
Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), Environmental Coordinator (Mr.
Vaughan), Director of Parks and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), and Recording Secretary (Ms.
Hughes).
Guests: Tim Brausen, Tom Hillstrom, Kelly Spors, and Terry Gibbs (Environment/
Sustainability Task Force Members)
1. Recommendations from Environment/Sustainability Task Force
Ms. Gothberg presented the staff report and introduced Environment/Sustainability Task Force
Members Tim Brausen, Tom Hillstrom, and Kelly Spors.
Mr. Brausen thanked Council for the opportunity to serve on this task force and stated the task
force's recommendation is to create the Environment/Sustainability Commission for a
Sustainable St. Louis Park that expands on the traditional model of a commission in St. Louis
Park. He stated the task force feels the appointment of a new commission will further the City's
mission that St. Louis Park is a leader in environmental stewardship, creating the commission
will enhance Council's commitment to be an environmental leader in the State, and will provide
an additional tool to address environmental issues and strengthen the City's commitment to the
environment and sustainability. He indicated the purpose of the commission would be to provide
recommendations to advance the City's goals, policies, and programs as well as provide advice
and assistance through collaboration with citizens, business leaders, and community groups, and
provide leadership in engaging the community and enhancing participation of citizens. He added
the task force wants the commission to serve as a conduit for sustainability information and
direction from citizens to Council and vice versa.
Mr. Hillstrom stated he enjoyed his work on the task force and City staff was helpful in
facilitating their efforts. He advised that the task force received a presentation from Edina's
Energy & Environment Commission, which was helpful to the task force and stated one of the
core structures of the Edina model is the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's GreenStep
program that provides structure about what initiatives to advance. He stated the task force
envisions the commission being a dynamic hub for information that deals with the City's other
commissions and that engages residents by using focus groups to focus on a particular issue, e.g.,
transportation and light rail.
Mr. Brausen stated the task force would like to invite business people to participate in this
process who might have a specific concern and who can offer their expertise. He stated the task
force found there are a lot of people with significant interest and expertise that might be looking
for an opportunity to share their expertise.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- January 22, 2013
Ms. Spors stated there was significant discussion about what this commission would look like
and the task force hopes to create a diverse commission with 11-13 members including two high
school students, two business people, at least one renter, and a representative from the Chamber
of Commerce. She stated the task force also recommends haying two co-chairs, one male and
one female, as well as having term limits as a way to make sure the commission continues
getting new perspectives from people. She stated the task force also recommends providing day
care dunng commission meetings and to have the City subsidize the day care.
Councilmember Ross commended the task force for the significant thought and effort they put
into their work and stated she was impressed with the diversity and dynamics of the task force
She agreed with the recommendation to include a renter on the commission adding this would
provide an opportunity to engage the City's renters in this process.
Councilmember Sanger thanked the task force for their efforts and stated her agreement with the
proposed structure of the commission. She felt the GreenStep model was a good starting point
but did not feel this model covered everything and the commission should have some leeway for
additional environmental focal points, e.g., community aesthetics. She expressed concern about
having term limits and the suggestion about the City paying for daycare, explaining that the
City's other boards and commissions do not have term limits or subsidized day care and this
commission should have the same policies as the rest of the City's commissions.
Councilmember Mavity thanked the task force for their efforts and stated she was impressed with
the idea of using work groups as a way for people to continue to be involved even though there
would be term limits in place for the commission itself. She felt it was important to create a
barrier-free environment for participation in this effort adding she felt that Council should
consider applying the recommendations regarding term limits and subsidized day care to all of its
boards and commissions.
Councilmember Santa expressed thanks to the task force and felt they did an outstanding job.
She asked what the task force identified as some of the first things this commission should deal
with.
Mr. Brausen stated the task force felt that issues around light rail should be addressed, as well as
how to expand the City's processes vis-a-vis the GreenStep program. He added that other
possibilities include recycling, rain gardens, assisting citizens in developing more
environmentally friendly practices in managing their yards, and water resources.
Councilmember Santa indicated the City can go broad and shallow or narrow and deep on this
topic and stated she did not like a broad and shallow approach. She stated it will be important
for Council to set priorities so that Council can give clear direction when the commission
structure is approved.
Councilmember Spano agreed with the recommendation to include a renter on the commission
and was pleased to see the business community included. He also agreed with the concept of
using work groups that are tasked with a specific issue.
Councilmember Sanger felt it was important to include someone on the commission with
technical expertise.
Special Study Session Minutes -3- January 22, 2013
Mr. Gibbs expressed appreciation to Mr. Brausen for the important role he has played over the
years. He also expressed thanks to Ms. Gothberg and Mr. French and all the task force members.
He thanked Council for giving the task force the freedom to come up with its recommendations
and felt the recommendations of the task force offer a truly innovative model that encourages
engagement and participation.
Mayor Jacobs thanked the task force for their efforts.
It was the consensus of the City Council to move forward in implementing the task force
recommendation.
Other Discussion
Council discussed the possibility of a Special City Council meeting on January 28 or 29, 2013.
Mr. Harmening agreed to poll Councilmembers regarding their availability for a Special City
Council meeting.
Councilmember Ross requested further information regarding the City's process for obtaining
bids from veterans, minorities and women-owned businesses.
Mr. Harmening explained that the City has a comprehensive approach for soliciting bids from
disadvantaged business enterprises and the City is statutorily required to accept the lowest
responsible bid. He agreed to provide Council with the City's program for soliciting bids.
Councilmember Sanger stated she has been part of the Lenox Senior Foundation for the past six
years and will be going off the Board this spnng. She stated the Lenox Senior Foundation would
like to have a Councilmember on its Board and indicated if anyone was interested in serving on
this Board, she would pass their name along to the Lenox Senior Foundation.
The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
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