HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/02/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session f// St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
FEBRUARY 11, 2013
The meeting convened at 6:35 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Steve Hallfin, Anne Mavity, Julia Ross, Susan
Sanger, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Sue Santa.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling),
Director of Public Works (Mr. Rardin), Utilities Superintendent (Mr. Anderson), Public Works
Coordinator (Mr. Merkley), Environmental Coordinator (Mr. Vaughan), and Recording
Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—February 19 & 25, 2013
Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for February 19th and the
proposed study session agenda for February 25`h.
2. Storm Water Follow-Up—Water Quality Activities
Mr. Rardin presented the staff report, Annual Water Quality Monitoring Plan, and Summary of
Water Quality, Management Classifications, and Goals. He added the City's Storm Water
Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is now available on the City's website.
Councilmember Mavity encouraged the City to continue to provide opportunities for residents to
ask questions and participate in the City's water quality activities.
Councilmember Sanger indicated that Twin Lakes continues to have a poor grade for water
quality and asked about the City's efforts to improve the water quality in Twin Lakes.
Mr. Rardin explained the City developed its Annual Water Quality Monitoring Plan in 2012 and
includes monitoring of 27 water bodies in the City during June, July, and August annually. He
stated that Bass Lake and Twin Lakes would be sampled during specific runoff events to
determine contaminants in the water during these runoff events.
Councilmember Mavity stated the City has four water bodies that are classified as impaired and
requested further information about what the City is doing to address these impaired waters.
Mr. Rardin advised that some of the City's water bodies are intended for runoff and hold the
sediment and phosphorous, etc., and are being monitored by the City. He indicated that the
storm water capital improvement program (CIP) includes projects that will maintain or improve
the water quality as it leaves the community.
Councilmember Sanger agreed that the City needs to figure out why some of its water bodies are
impaired and requested that staff inform Council if there is nothing that can be done with its
impaired waters so that residents do not have the expectation that the City will be able to do
something about its impaired waters.
Study Session Minutes -2- February 11, 2013
Mr. Rardin advised that Council will review the City's storm water Capital Improvement Plan in
the near future and one of the first projects involves aesthetic improvements at Bass Lake.
Mr. Harmening stated that Council's discussion regarding the CIP would include timing, cost,
and funding for the projects. He added that the Engineering Program Coordinator's position will
be focused solely on surface water quality management issues.
Councilmember Ross questioned whether the City's current street-sweeping program was
sufficient. She also asked about the City's efforts to use grating to keep pollution from going
into the storm water system.
Mr. Anderson advised the City has installed catch basins near Minnehaha Creek and the City
always uses best management practices to catch pollutants as close to the source as possible. He
added that every construction project in the City has an erosion control program in place before
and after construction.
Councilmember Ross felt the City could do a better job of captunng medicines that enter the
sewer and stated she would like to see more drop boxes in the City for medicine disposal. She
also felt the City should do more education about household cleaners and how they impact water
quality.
Councilmember Mavity requested that Council's discussion of the CIP include options available
for treating its water bodies, including natural treatments.
Mr. Harmening advised that Council will continue this discussion at its March 11, 2013, study
session.
3. 2013-2018 Solid Waste Collection Program Update
Mr. Harmening presented the staff report.
Mr. Rardin advised that staff has had discussions with vendors related to organics collection. He
indicated the City could offer organics recycling through a subscription process and added the
City does not have a sense of how many residents would sign up for organics recycling.
Councilmember Spano indicated that residents who subscribe to the organics recycling could be
used as ambassadors to educate their neighbors about the organics recycling program.
Councilmember Sanger stated that residents have indicated they liked the idea of organics
recycling but have expressed concern about storage of additional carts and the odor from
organics recycling materials. She asked if it would make sense to have designated locations in
the City for collecting organics recycling instead of having the pickup service.
Councilmember Mavity stated she did not think residents would drive somewhere to drop off
their organics recycling and supported the idea of offering organics recycling on a subscnption
basis at least initially.
Mr. Rardin explained that organics recycling options include picking up organics and yard waste
together or having an organics recycling cart by itself; either option would require residents to
separate their organics. He advised that a third option is available that requires residents to
separate their organics and place the organic material in a biodegradable blue bag specially made
Study Session Minutes -3- February 11, 2013
for organics material that can be placed in the trash can for collection. He stated this service is
available from Randy's and is currently available on a subscription basis in the western suburbs.
Councilmember Ross expressed support for the blue bag concept and felt this method would be
convenient for residents to use. She added this might also be another way of detracting raccoons.
Councilmember Spam expressed support for organics recycling and stated the City should be
willing to take a risk with this type of recycling program. He also expressed support for the
biodegradable blue bags offered by Randy's.
Councilmember Sanger expressed support for the biodegradable blue bags offered by Randy's
and did not support the use of an additional cart. She felt if the City decides to try organics
recycling on an experimental basis, those residents volunteering to participate in the organics
recycling should not be charged to participate, adding she would rather not charge for organics
recycling and charge more for trash that is not recyclable.
Mr. Rardin stated the City has looked at a number of combinations for collecting materials and
the City currently spends $2.9 million per year for solid waste collection. He stated the City
projects it will spend an additional $150,000 to $490,000 per year if organics recycling is added.
Councilmember Ross felt these were all good ideas but urged Council to prioritize its projects
and to remain cognizant of the cost to the City's taxpayers. She stated this is an issue that the
Environmental Commission should work on as well as the issue of water quality.
Mr. Rardin indicated that staff will provide Council with further information regarding collection
options in the near future. He advised that staff will work with the City Attorney regarding a
public discussion about the vendor proposals and the City's right to keep vendor names
confidential during negotiations.
Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
Councilmember Ross requested further information relative to the recent news story about the
potential for cities to sell resident's email addresses.
Mr. Zwilling advised there is pending legislation that would ensure that this data remains private
and the City supports this legislation. He stated the City Attorney has provided an opinion that
the City cannot release this data because the City uses a third party vendor and this data does not
belong to the City. He stated the City has a disclaimer that states the City will not use or
otherwise publish this information.
Councilmember Mavity requested confirmation that the City's agreement with its third party
vendor states that the data is not subject to FOIA and that the third party vendor cannot release
the data.
Mr. Zwilling stated this is correct and added the third party_vendor is contractually prohibited
from releasing any data and is not subject to the Data Practices Act.
Councilmember Ross requested that the City make sure residents are aware of this prohibition
and added residents might be more comfortable releasing their information to the City if they are
aware of this prohibition.
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Study Session Minutes -4- February 11, 2013
Mr. Harmening requested input from Council regarding the City's deer management policy. He
stated he has received questions from the public about whether the City will reopen its deer
management policy, including questions about whether it is reasonable to assume that a firearm
can be safely discharged in the City, questions about the notification policy, and questions about
the methodology for determining how many deer can be carried in the habitat in the community.
Councilmember Ross stated she would like further information about what other communities
are doing as it relates to notification.
Councilmember Mavity stated the discussion should include not only deer management but also
all wildlife. She felt the City should not allow discharge of firearms in the City and added she
did not believe there was a need to have the deer culled and felt that Council should revisit the
policy. She added that residents should be allowed to participate in this conversation with
Council.
Councilmember Spano stated he previously raised objections about shooting firearms in the City
limits and not informing the public and felt that discharge of firearms for this purpose was
unsafe. He was supportive of having a further discussion on the deer management policy adding
he was okay with taking deer and coyotes as long as it does not endanger residents.
Councilmember Sanger agreed the human safety issue is important and stated she was concerned
about tying the recent events with the City's overall policy. She stated she was not interested in
opening up the entire policy question again and saw no reason to overturn the basic policy.
Mayor Jacobs stated there is a clear division of opinion in the community and felt Council
needed to have a discussion about the policy.
Council discussed options for the public process to be used relative to wildlife management.
Councilmember Sanger expressed support for a community meeting versus a task force approach
to address the issue. She added it might be useful to have someone else's opinion on this issue as
well as information regarding other approaches available to the City.
It was the consensus of the City Council to have a study session discussion regarding the wildlife
management policy and to invite a DNR representative to attend the study session.
The meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only.
4. Policy for Spending Lodging Tax Revenue
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Nancy Stroth, ty Clerk Jeff Jacobs,M. �or