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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/11/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Jft St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 3, 2014 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Scott), Director of Operations and Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Controller (Mr. Swanson), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Operations Superintendent (Mr. Hanson), Utilities Superintendent (Mr. Hall), Public Works Services Manager(Mr. Merkley), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Recognition of Donation Mayor Jacobs expressed thanks to the Golden Kiwanis for its $50 donation and to Leslie Marcus for the $100 donation, both to be used for Westwood Hills Nature Center programs. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Special Study Session Meeting Minutes October 6, 2014 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. City Council Meeting Minutes October 6, 2014 Councilmember Sanger requested the addition of a paragraph after the first full paragraph on page 8 that states "Councilmember Sanger stated that in the future the City needs to do a better job of identifying environmental hazards or poor soil conditions at the beginning of a project rather than being hit with surprise charges later on." The minutes were approved as amended. 3c. Study Session Meeting Minutes October 13, 2014 The minutes were approved as presented. 3d. Closed Executive Session Meeting October 20, 2014 The minutes were approved as presented. City Council Meeting -2- November 3, 2014 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 appropnate section of the regular agenda for discussion. 4a. Adopt Resolution No. 14-132 to disburse remaining Westwood Villa HIA Project Fund Balance of$139,749.56 to the Westwood Villa Association's replacement reserve fund. 4b. Approve second reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2457-14 amending the Business Park zoning distnct regulations, and authorize summary publication. 4c. Approve second reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2458-14 imposing a franchise fee on CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp and authorize publication. 4d. Approve second reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2459-14 imposing a franchise fee on Northern States Power Company and authorize publication in full. 4e. • Approve second reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2460-14 amending the St. Louis Park Code of Ordinances Section 30-158 relating to the Snow Removal Program and authorize publication. • Adopt Resolution No. 14-133, Resolution No. 14-134, and Resolution No. 14-135 relating to the City's Snow Removal Program. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 14-136 authorizing special assessments for the replacements of vanous water service lines. 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 14-137 approving the cooperative agreement with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed Distnct (MCWD) for the construction of a stormwater diversion pipe along Powell Road. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 14-138 and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute the Hennepin County Chiefs of Police Mutual Aid Pact agreement. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 14-139 approving acceptance of monetary donations from Golden Kiwanis in the amount of $50 and from Leslie Marcus in the amount of $100 for Westwood Hills Nature Center programs. 4j. Adopt Resolution No. 14-140, Resolution No. 14-141, and Resolution No. 14-142 authorizing the submission of grant applications to Hennepin County Environmental Services for an Environmental Response Fund Grant, to the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for Contamination Cleanup Grant, and to the Metropolitan Council for the LCA Livable Communities Demonstration Account and Tax Base Revitalization Account Transit Oriented Development Fund. 4k. Adopt Resolution No. 14-143 authonzing installation of restricted parking - loading zone on Excelsior Boulevard, west of Mendian Lane. 41. Adopt Resolution No. 14-144 rescinding the installation of restricted parking - loading zone on Webster Avenue,just north of 36th Street. 4m. Accept for filing City Disbursement Claims for the period of September 27 through October 24, 2014. 4n. Approve for filing Telecommunications Commission Minutes of June 25, 2014. 4o. Approve for filing Planning Commission minutes of August 6, 2014. City Council Meeting -3- November 3, 2014 It was moved by Councilmember Lindberg, 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 7-0. 5. Boards and Commissions -None 6. Public Hearings 6a. Consolidated Public Hearing (1) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service District No. 1. Resolution No. 14-145. (2) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service District No 2. Resolution No. 14-146. (3) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service Distnct No. 3. Resolution No. 14-147. (4) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service District No 4 Resolution No. 14-148. (5) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service District No. 5. Resolution No. 14-149. (6) 2015 Budget & Property Owner Service Charges for Special Service District No. 6 Resolution No. 14-150. Mr. Merkley presented the staff report and proposed 2015 budgets and service charges for the City's six Special Service Districts. He explained that the City sent letters to all property owners in the Special Service Districts notifying them of the September 3, 2014, meeting where the City presented the proposed budgets, service charges, and voting forms; in addition, the City reviewed the services being provided and proposed maintenance planned during 2015. He stated that the 2015 budget and service charges for Special Service District No. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are the same as 2014. He stated that the 2015 budget for Special Service Distnct No. 2 has increased by 2% and the service charges have increased by approximately 9%, adding that the reason for the increase relates to maintenance primanly on the decorative bus shelters. He advised that property owners in Special Service District Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 all voted in favor of the proposed budgets and service charges and there was support by all but two property owners in Special Service District No. 2, who voted against the proposed budget and service charges and requested information about how costs were calculated. Mayor Jacobs opened the public heanng. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 14-145 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No. 1; Resolution No. 14-146 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No. 2; Resolution No. 14-147 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No. 3; Resolution No. 14-148 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No 4; Resolution No. 14- 149 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No. 5, and Resolution No. 14-150 approving 2015 Budget and Service Charges for Special Service District No 6 City Council Meeting -4- November 3, 2014 The motion passed 7-0. 6b. Groves Academy — Private Activity Revenue Bonds Host Approval Resolution. Resolution No. 14-151. Mr. Swanson presented the staff report and explained that in June 2010, the City issued Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds on behalf of Groves Academy in the amount of $4.6 million and Groves Academy is now seeking to refund the bonds and issue an additional amount to finance capital items at the school. He stated these bonds are part of a negotiated sale with Wells Fargo and need to be bank qualified; as a result, the City must not issue more than $10 million of debt in a calendar year and since the City is proposing to issue $10 million in bonds for Connect the Park!, Groves Academy must look to a qualified city to issue the bonds and the City of Mayer is willing to act as the issuer for these bonds. He added the City must provide its host approval to the project and consent to the redemption and prepayment of the bonds. Mayor Jacobs opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Jacobs closed the public hearing. Councilmember Spano requested confirmation that the host approval does not obligate the City to this debt. Mr. Swanson stated that this was correct and the City has no responsibility for the repayment of the debt. Councilmember Sanger asked if Groves Academy plans to make any exterior changes to the property. A representative from Wells Fargo Bank, representing Groves Academy, stated that the new money will be used to make internal changes to the school and no exterior changes are planned at this time. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 14-151 Giving Host Approval to the Issuance of Educational Facility Revenue Bonds under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 through 469.1655 (Groves Academy Project). The motion passed 7-0. 7. Requests, Petitions, and,Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Authorize Pre-Sale of 2014 G.O. Bonds for Sidewalks, Trails and Utilities. Resolution No. 14-152. Mr. Swanson presented the staff report and explained that the City proposes to issue bonds for the first phase of Connect the Park! and for the Water and Storm Sewer funds in order to finance all or a portion of planned projects over the next two years. He advised that G.O. Charter Bonds will be issued for Connect the Park! in an amount not to City Council Meeting -5- November 3, 2014 exceed approximately $5.2 million and G.O. Revenue Bonds will be issued to finance the capital projects within the Water and Storm Water funds in an amount not to exceed approximately$4.8 million. He explained that Council is asked to approve $10 million at one time because it provides a larger bond issue thus attracting more investors and a lower rate. He stated the G.O. Charter Bonds debt service will begin in 2017 in the amount of approximately $600,000-$625,000 per year via tax levy and this has already been factored into the Truth in Taxation statements. He stated the Utility Bonds debt service is approximately $550,000-$575,000 and will be paid from utility rates that have been built into the Long Range Financial Management Plan and utility rates adopted by Council on October 20, 2014. Mr. Harmening pointed out that the issuance of this debt will be paid with the property tax levy and the City does not need to increase the property tax levy to pay back the debt, adding that several years ago, the City Council began creating levy capacity for capital improvements anticipated in the future so the City has the capacity to repay these bonds. He stated that property taxes are not going up next year to repay this debt. Councilmember Sanger requested comment on the City's low use of bonds relative to other cities. Mr. Swanson stated that compared to other cities, St. Louis Park has low outstanding debt and its legal debt margin, which is based on the overall valuation in the community, is $140-150 million. It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Spano, to adopt Resolution No. 14-152 Providing for the Sale of$10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2014A The motion passed 7-0. 8b. Ownership of Residential Water Service Lines Mr. Hanson presented the staff report and explained that St. Louis Park homeowners currently own their water service lines from the house all the way to the water main connection while in most other cities, the homeowner owns the line from the house to the curb stop and the city owns the line from the curb stop to the connection to the main and any breaks to that section are covered by the city. He advised that the City is proposing to accept ownership of the service line from the curb stop to the main and accepting the financial burden of any repairs to that portion of the line. He added that the cost of this program could be absorbed for the next two years with no increase in utility rates. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Hallfin, to approve First Reading of Ordinance Relating to the Cost of Repair and Replacement of Water Service Lines, Amending Chapter 32 of the St. Louis Park City Code, and to set Second Reading for November 17, 2014. Councilmember Brausen stated this program will spread the cost of repairs among the entire community rather than having individual homeowners bear the cost of repairs to the City's aging infrastructure. City Council Meeting -6- November 3, 2014 Councilmember Spano noted the City also has a service line warranty program offered through a private entity. Mr. Hanson explained that Service Line Warranties of Amenca offers insurance to property owners for their water and sewer lines. He advised that Service Line Warranties of Amenca is aware of the pending change in policy related to ownership of the service lines and the company has offered to reduce its insurance rates from $7 per month to $5.25 monthly or $58 annually if paying in full. He noted that the insurance is available for both water and sewer lines and homeowners can choose coverage for one or the other or both. He indicated that the planned start date of the ownership change is January 1, 2015, and the service line insurance rates will also change January 1st. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs reminded residents that tomorrow is Election Day and encouraged everyone to vote. He stated the polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and residents may contact the City Clerk or the League of Women Voters with questions. Councilmember Spano stated that the League of Women Voters website is a great resource for voters; in addition, the Minnesota Secretary of State website has a poll finder and is another great resource. Councilmember Lindberg stated the Texa Tonka neighborhood is holding a neighborhood-organizing meeting on Thursday, November 13th, at the Louisiana Court community room and encouraged everyone in the Texa Tonka neighborhood to attend. 10. Adjournment Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 7:59 ..m. Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff J.lois a or