The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2014/01/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Iif St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JANUARY 21, 2014 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Steve Hallfin. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), Director of Operations and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Fire Chief (Mr. Koering), Recreation Superintendent (Mr. West), Rec Center Manager (Mr. Eisold), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). Guest: Brad Meier(President, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce) la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Update Mayor Jacobs introduced Mr. Brad Meier, President of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Meier thanked Council for the opportunity to present and also thanked Mr. Harmemng for his service on the TwinWest Board. He discussed TwinWest's mission and 2014 State pnorities and advised that the Chamber's priorities include repealing the three business-to-business taxes; in addition, TwinWest has written a letter to the Governor supporting the shallow tunnel proposal for SWLRT. He advised that TwinWest's other State priorities for 2014 include environmental permitting and the minimum wage issue. He indicated that local priorities for 2014 include continued participation in its member's State of the City events and distributed a schedule of 2014 State of the City events. He advised that TwinWest is also working with NAIOP on their local government transparency efforts pertaining to the budget. He reported that the TwinWest Foundation has collected and distributed approximately $1 million to high school students to use for their education and is currently in the second year of a pilot program at Meadowbrook funding a teacher in preschool and they have seen good results with this program. Councilmember Mavity expressed her appreciation for TwinWest's support of SWLRT and asked about TwinWest's position or ideas on financing the SWLRT project. Mr. Meier replied that TwinWest would like to see the light rail project funded through bonding, adding that TwinWest will look to be a part of the financing discussion. City Council Meeting -2- January 21, 2014 Councilmember Brausen asked about TwinWest's position on the minimum wage issue. Mr. Meier replied that TwinWest would like to see Minnesota conform to the Federal minimum wage of$7.25 per hour, adding there has been some discussion about training wages or tiered wages for younger persons. Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to Mr. Meier and stated the City enjoys a strong relationship with its business community. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Meeting Minutes January 6, 2014 Councilmember Mavity requested that the second sentence of the first paragraph on page 3 be revised to stated "She requested that the City consider a process similar to the way Councilmembers are reelected whereby every time there is an opening or term renewals the position would be open to anyone interested in applying, including the sitting commissioner., in order to provide opportunities for everyone who is interested in serving on the City's boards and commissions." The minutes were approved as amended. 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. Adopt Resolution No. 14-005 Prioritizing Bridge Rehabilitation and Replacement Projects. 4b. Approve right of way purchase in the total amount of $68,000 for Parcel 5 (3745 Louisiana Avenue So. — Sam's Real Estate Business Trust), and authorize the City Attorney to execute the stipulation of settlement. 4c. Accept a$50 Donation from Park Coin. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 14-006 authorizing a grant application for Federal funding of a pedestrian and bike grade separated crossing of the BNSF rail line. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 14-007 to disburse remaining Greensboro HIA Project Fund Balance of $41,451.23 to the Greensboro Square Condominium Association's replacement reserve fund. 4f. Approve 2013 Pay Equity Report. 4g. Reappoint the following Commissioners as representatives to the Community Education Advisory Commission with titles and terms as listed: Name Title Term Expiration Gregg Lindberg City Council Representative 6/30/2015 Julia Ross At-large Commissioner 6/30/2015 City Council Meeting -3- January 21, 2014 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 14-008 ratifying reappointments of Jim de Lambert as Commissioner, Justin Riss as Alternate Commissioner, and Phillip Elkin as the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) member to the to the Basset Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) to serve terms beginning February 1, 2014 and ending on January 31, 2017. 4i. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP Minutes of December 11, 2013. It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to approve the Agenda and items listed on the Consent Calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Hallfin absent). 5. Boards and Commissions -None 6. Public Hearings -None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances,Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Accept Monetary Donation from the St. Louis Park Hockey Association. Resolution No. 14-009. Ms. Walsh presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Jason Eisold, Rec Center Manager, and Mr. Jason West, the new Recreation Superintendent. She also introduced Mr. Chad Nicholls and Mr. Steve Rosen from the St. Louis Park Hockey Association. She advised that the Hockey Association has donated $200,000 to be used for improvements at the Rec Center and perhaps other hockey related improvements in the City's park system. She pointed out that staff will make a formal presentation to Council on these improvements in the near future and the $200,000 donation will be placed in the Park Improvement Fund. She added that one project is currently underway to replace the public address system in the west arena at the Rec Center. Councilmember Spano indicated the City accepts a lot of donations that are typically placed on the Consent Agenda, however, given the size of this donation, he and Councilmember Hallfin wanted this item placed on the Regular Agenda to make sure the public understands what the donation will be used for and that Council's acceptance of the donation does not obligate the City to any particular improvements at the Rec Center until Council has an opportunity to discuss the improvements. Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to the St. Louis Park Hockey Association for their generous donation. It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 14-009 Approving Acceptance of Donation in the Amount of$200,000 from the St. Louis Park Hockey Association for Capital Improvements at the Rec Center or other Hockey Related Improvements within the City. City Council Meeting -4- January 21, 2014 The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Hal fin absent). 8b. 2014-2015 International Association of Firefighters(IAFF) Local #993 Labor Agreement. Resolution No. 14-010. Ms. Deno presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Eric Bakken, Firefighter and Union President and Mr. Steve Koering, the City's new Fire Chief. She advised that the City and International Association of Firefighters Local #993 have reached agreement on a two-year contract. The agreement includes a wage increase of 2% for 2014 and a 2.5% wage increase in 2015, and benefit contribution is consistent with other employee groups for 2014 and 2015. She stated that a new pay type was introduced this year that provides thirty minutes of overtime pay to Fire shift personnel for those unscheduled times when they are required to move their shift to another station because they come in early and gather gear needed and equipment and set up at the other station, adding that the new pay type will be reviewed and will expire on December 31, 2015. . It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Lindberg, to adopt Resolution No. 14-010 Approving the Labor Agreement between the City of St. Louis Park and International Association of Firefighters, Local #993 (January 1, 2014 — December 31, 2015). Mr. Bakken stated the negotiations went well and they have always been able to work out their issues at the bargaining table, adding that the meetings, are productive and are not contentious at all. He thanked the City Council for its support of the Fire Department. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Hallfin absent) 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded residents about the `Bundled Up!" event sponsored by the Rotary Club being held on Saturday, January 25th, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Park. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. ---)1 - �`— / I. Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff J •;ribs Mayor