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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/08/26 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session (If St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA AUGUST 26, 2013 The meeting convened at 6:30 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), Director of Operations and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Park Superintendent (Mr. Beane), Recreation Superintendent (Mr. Birno), Communications Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—September 9,2013 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for September 9, 2013. Councilmember Sanger requested that the agenda item regarding ownership and replacement costs in the right-of-way include a discussion regarding who owns the right-of-way from a legal standpoint and who is responsible when someone is injured in a right-of-way. 2. Park Shelter Restrooms Ms. Walsh presented the staff report and policy question for Council consideration. She also introduced Angela, the City's summer intern. Councilmember Hallfin stated that he would like the City to initiate a pilot program to have the restrooms put on a timer at Browndale Park and perhaps one or two other parks in the City. Councilmember Sanger stated the City currently spends money to keep the restrooms clean and requested that staff provide information about the potential increased cost of keeping the restrooms clean if they are kept open for longer periods of time. She suggested that the City consider hiring a teenager to open and close the restrooms during the season. She also suggested that the City install a camera on the outside of the restroom doors for security purposes. She felt that the restrooms should be available for everyone to use and not just the athletic associations. Councilmember Spano stated he was supportive of using cameras outside the restrooms and that he would like to use a phased approach to increasing restroom hours in the City's busiest parks. He suggested using a program similar to the Park Program where the kids open and close the restrooms. Councilmember Santa stated it was important to remember that some of the restrooms are located inside a building while other restrooms have a door to the outside and indicated she was less inclined to keeping restrooms open that are located inside an enclosed building. She agreed with the use of electronic locks and cameras on restrooms that have a door going to the outside, adding she felt that a mix of portable restrooms and expanded restroom hours made sense. Councilmember Mavity agreed with the idea of trying electronic locks on a couple of parks and felt the City would be well-served by using a volunteer from the community to open and close Study Session Minutes -2- August 26, 2013 the restrooms. She suggested sending a request to the neighborhood groups advising them that the City is going to choose some parks for a pilot program and see if the neighborhood groups can put together a volunteer schedule for opening and closing the restrooms. Councilmember Ross agreed with the use of cameras but was not in favor of putting a youth or volunteer in charge of the restrooms because of safety issues. She suggested the City consider using key fobs that can track movement and who is using the restrooms adding this would eliminate the need to make sure someone has locked the restrooms. She added she did not agree with having expanded hours for restrooms only in certain parks. Councilmember Hallfin agreed with the use of motion cameras as well as appropriate security signage outside the restroom doors. Mayor Jacobs requested that staff provide information on the cost of installing cameras and signage. He stated the City would have to be selective about which park restrooms are open all the time noting it does not make sense to have bathrooms open at Wolfe Park because of its close proximity to the Rec Center. Councilmember Spano asked if the $13,000 cost for a new server would cover all parks. Mr. Beane replied in the affirmative and stated the City's current server is at capacity and cannot accommodate any additional buildings. He added the $15,000 cost for electronic locks is for activating one entrance door and two bathroom doors. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to provide further information regarding the cost to install cameras and signage at the City's park restrooms and to implement a pilot program at a couple of parks. Mayor Jacobs thanked Mr. Birno for his many years of service to the City and wished him well in his new position. 3. Business Park Rezoning Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and provided background information regarding the Business Park Zoning District classification. Councilmember Mavity agreed with the intent of the Business Park classification but felt it was too restrictive. She stated the SWLRT Community Works Committee has been looking at land uses around light rail stations and a panel of developers that reviewed the Business Park Zoning District felt it was too restrictive, adding she felt the City should have a light touch in response to the market. She indicated in the last couple of years, American Tire has invested millions of dollars in upgrades to its facility and did not believe the City should rezone their property. Councilmember Sanger supported the proposed Business Park Zoning District and supported rezoning all of the properties, including the five properties that have objected to the rezoning because she felt the City should have consistent zoning and she was not in favor of spot zoning. Councilmember Mavity stated the Bemis plant at Wooddale and 36th was recently sold to Nordic Ware and noted the underlying Comprehensive Plan has this area designated Moderate Study Session Minutes -3- August 26, 2013 Residential. She asked if the owners would have been able to sell the property if the Business Park classification had been in place and applied to that location. Ms. McMonigal replied in the affirmative and stated they can continue the use and sell the property to another user. She distributed a handout prepared by the League that addresses the issue of non-conforming properties. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the majonty of the City Council to direct staff to schedule First Reading to rezone the properties with the Planning Commission recommendation to except those properties whose owners formally objected to the proposed rezoning. 4. Southwest LRT Update Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and draft Guiding Principles prepared by the Community Works Steering Committee and advised the goal is to have all the cities adopt the Guiding Principles. Councilmember Mavity advised that a request was submitted to move the Louisiana Avenue station closer to Methodist because the proposed location would limit a lot of economic development and limit access to the largest employer along the SWLRT, i.e., Methodist, as well as the affordable housing at Meadowbrook, which represents the largest density of affordable housing anywhere along the line. She also pointed out that the implications for freight rail and the switching wye in the current Louisiana Avenue station design are such that the trains may continue to switch all the way back through the Wooddale station. Councilmember Santa pointed out it also removes the tracks that are located next to the wetland. Mr. Harmening advised that the Corridor Management Committee is meeting on Wednesday to review the scope of the project and betterments that St. Louis Park and other cities have requested, including the proposed adjustment to the Louisiana Avenue station location, adding it is expected that the CMC will make a recommendation next week to the Met Council on the light rail design generally and the City believes it is important to make sure the CMC understands why the City has requested station area improvements at Wooddale, Louisiana and Beltline, and how these relate to the Guiding Principles adopted by the Met Council. Councilmember Ross felt that the draft Guiding Principles should be expanded in terms of expectations relative to a livable community adding she felt the document was a little weak as it relates to the language around housing choices in terms of proximity and access. Councilmember Sanger stated the Guiding Principles do not include having green space near station areas; in addition, the Guiding Principles do not include any references to having educational services, entertainment, or medical services in the station areas and felt these were important land uses to include. She also requested that the statement on page 6 to "develop a station hierarchy for users related to station typologies that will guide modal investment priorities"be revised. Mayor Jacobs stated that a letter has been drafted in response to former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew's recent commentary in the Star Tribune. Study Session Minutes -4- August 26, 2013 Mr. Harmening explained that former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew's commentary referenced an agreement that the City and County entered into in 1998 related to the Golden Auto site. He stated the County was interested in studying the feasibility of a rail interconnect on the site and the City was interested in studying redevelopment on the site, adding this was a preliminary agreement and nothing came from it; however, former Commissioner Andrew's commentary implied that the City did not live up to its commitment. He requested direction from Council regarding whether to respond to former Commissioner Andrew's commentary. Mayor Jacobs felt that the City should respond to former Commissioner Andrew's commentary in a fact-based letter that sets forth the City's position that there was no agreement by the City at that time to agree to any reroute of freight rail and the City only agreed to study certain things and the City lived up to its obligations. He suggested that staff prepare a fact-based response to former Commissioner Andrew using Councilmember Sanger and Councilmember Spano's draft letter as a starting point. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a response to former Commissioner Andrew's commentary and to have Mayor Jacobs sign this response. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) None. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 5. July 2013 Monthly Financial Report 6. Highway 100 Project Update 7. Powell Road Storm Sewer Diversion—Minnehaha Creek Watershed 8. 2013 Semi-Annual Housing Programs R• : 9. The West End AUAR Update 10. Open to Business Program Update .i/ / 4 Nancy Stroth, ay Clerk Jef ac• ,: Mayer