HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/03/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Ifl St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
MARCH 4, 2013
The meeting convened at 7:08 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), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human
Resources (Ms. Deno), Communications Specialist (Mr. Rose), and Recording Secretary (Ms.
Hughes).
1. Environment and Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP
Ms. Deno presented the staff report and proposed Ordinance to establish the Environment and
Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP. She explained that the Ordinance was prepared
using the task force recommendations together with the Rules and Procedures for the City's
boards and commissions. Ms. Deno reviewed the draft and noted that the majority of the
recommendations are included and several such as the task force recommendation regarding
creating barrier-free participation with a subsidy for daycare or a stipend for meetings has not
been included because this recommendation is not consistent with the current Rules and
Procedures. She added that the recommendation that the Commission be led by one male and
one female co-chair was also not included because this recommendation is not consistent with
the Rules and Procedures and the commission structure used by the City is gender neutral,
adding that the proposed Commission can handle this through development of their by-laws and
selection of the chairs.
Councilmember Ross requested that the Ordinance include a residency requirement of one year
particularly as it relates to the residential tenant member of the Commission.
Mr. Harmening indicated the City's boards and commissions currently have a one-year
continuous residency requirement and agreed to verify this requirement.
Councilmember Mavity stated if the residency requirement is in place for all the City's boards
and commissions then it should apply to this Commission but she did not want to have a
residency requirement in place for this Commission only.
Councilmember Sanger stated her agreement with the proposed Ordinance and requested further
information about the process for recruiting commissioners to serve on the Commission.
Ms. Deno explained that the City would publish an announcement regarding the new
Commission and Council would conduct interviews of the applicants.
Councilmember Sanger stated there would likely be a significant number of applications
submitted and suggested that the application form be modified to ask more specific questions
about an applicant's background and their interest in environmental issues.
Ms. Deno stated the application form for recruiting task force members included these types of
questions and a similar application form could be used for this Commission.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- March 4, 2013
Councilmember Spano noted that the Ordinance states that one voting youth member shall be a
high school student of a private or public school and pointed out that some students are home
schooled. He asked if this language was consistent with the City's other boards and
commissions and suggested that the language be revised to state that the Commission shall
include a high school student.
It was the consensus of the City Council to revise Sec. 2-332(e) to state that the Commission
shall include one voting youth member who is a resident and in high school.
Councilmember Mavity requested that Council consider having two youth members serving on
the Commission.
Councilmember Sanger noted that two youth members would bring the Commission total to
twelve and suggested that the Commission consist of thirteen members to avoid tie votes.
Ms. Deno stated the original recommendation was for eight regular members, two youth
members, two business members, and one residential tenant member for a total of thirteen.
It was the consensus of the City Council to revise the membership of the Commission to eight
regular members, two youth members, two business members, and one residential tenant
member.
Councilmember Mavity stated that the name of the Commission uses the term "sustainable"
twice and suggested the name be revised to the"Environment Commission: Sustainable SLP."
Two task force members were present and stated there were a variety of opinions expressed
regarding the name and there was strong consensus regarding the proposed name. He indicated
the term "environment" connects with a lot of people and some people do not readily relate with
the term "sustainability." They combined the two terms into the Commission name with
"Sustainable SLP"more of a marketing term.
It was the consensus of the City Council to make no change to the name of the Commission.
Councilmember Mavity agreed that the Commission should not have term limits but felt that
when a commissioner's term expires, the incumbent should be required to reapply if he or she is
interested is continuing to serve on the Commission. She added she would like Council to have a
future discussion about Commissions, possibly this fall. Council agreed to have a discussion on
commissions later this year.
The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Written Report provided and documented for recording purposes only:
2. Project Update — Sanitary Sewer Project CES Hopkins Interceptor
Rehabilitation)
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Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff Jacobs, M=yo`