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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/01/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IIISt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA JANUARY 13, 2014 The meeting'convened at 6:33 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tern Susan Sanger, Tim Brausen (arrived at 6:35 p.m.), Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity(arrived at 7:34 p.m.), and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening), Director of Engineering(Ms. Heiser), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Housing Supervisor (Ms. Schnitker), Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg), Housing Programs Coordinator (Ms. Olson), Communications Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). Guests: April Crockett(Mn/DOT) and Jennifer Welch (Collective Wisdom, LLC). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—January 27, 2014 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for January 27, 2014. He indicated that Mayor Jacobs earlier raised the Mayor Pro Tern issue and asked when Council would like to have that item placed on a study session agenda. After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to place the Mayor Pro Tem item on the study session agenda for February 10th or 24th. 2. TH 169—Noise Wall Project Ms. Heiser presented the staff report and introduced Ms. Apnl Crockett from Mn/DOT. Ms. Crockett explained that a noise wall is proposed on the east side of TH 169 near 16th Street and Mn/DOT will remove the existing concrete panels and construct a 20' noise wall ten feet off the property line and will extend the noise wall as far north as possible. She advised that Mn/DOT would like to hold an open house the end of January to get feedback from adjacent property owners. She indicated that Mn/DOT has also been working with City staff on the potential access closure at 16th Street, similar to the closure at 22nd and 23`d Streets where Mn/DOT installed a visual barrier. She pointed out the noise wall and potential access closure would be done in two separate processes. She added the City is looking at some local traffic modeling to see where local traffic would go and Mn/DOT staff will return in February to further discuss access closure. Councilmember Brausen requested confirmation that the upcoming open house is only about the noise wall and not the possible access closure. Ms. Crockett confirmed that the open house is about the noise wall only. Ms. Heiser stated that staff is working on the traffic study and wants to have a good idea about local traffic before the access closure conversation with Mn/DOT. Councilmember Spano asked what the noise wall will look like on the resident side and asked about plans for vegetation in the surrounding area. Study Session Minutes -2- January 13, 2014 Ms. Crockett stated the noise wall would look like the barrier at 22'd and 23`d Streets except it will be 20' tall, adding that the noise wall looks the same on both sides and Mn/DOT maintains a 10' maintenance strip so there will be no plantings in the area. Councilmember Spano stated he was not sure how much space there was between the end of Mn/DOT's property and the curb line and indicated he would like to know if the City has the ability to do any planting on the resident side if residents want that, with the understanding that Mn/DOT would still maintain access to their 10' maintenance strip. Ms. Heiser agreed to review the site plan to determine if landscaping can be installed in or near the right of way. It was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with the open house regarding the noise wall project. 3. 2014 City Council Workshop Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and introduced Ms. Jennifer Welch who will facilitate Fnday's session of the workshop. He suggested the workshop start at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and concludes about 9:00 p.m. with the Friday session starting around 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 4:00 p.m. at a venue to be determined. He suggested the Thursday session be reserved for relational learning and Friday's session focus on housing. He also suggested that a committee of two or three Councilmembers be selected to work with staff and the consultant on refining the outcomes and preparing an agenda for the workshop. Councilmember Spano stated he would like to talk about homelessness, particularly around youth, and referenced an earlier discussion about the number of homeless youth in the community, adding he was not sure if the workshop was the proper venue for this discussion. Councilmember Brausen felt that a discussion about legal principles was important so that Council better understands its role and what latitude it has in making decisions around housing. Mr. Harmening suggested that the legal principle discussion occur on Thursday evening. Councilmember Hallfin suggested that Council review its policy on vacant land and how the City can get further involved in developing vacant land. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger stated this discussion could include whether the City can and should be more proactive in seeking the kind of housing it wants rather than waiting for developers. She also indicated that the City should consider whether to proactively buy land. She requested that Council also discuss whether it is comfortable entertaining a request for TIF assistance for single family move-up housing. Councilmember Spano felt it was important for Council as a group to decide what its prionties are, including whether the City should be purchasing vacant land and whether the City should use an RFP process for vacant land that spells out what the City is interested in seeing on these parcels, i.e., single family, multi-family, affordable housing, etc. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger requested that staff provide Council with the most recent data on affordable housing for both rental and owner occupied housing in the City and surrounding suburbs. Study Session Minutes -3- January 13, 2014 It was the consensus of the City Council to appoint Councilmembers Hallfin, Lindberg, and Spano to work with staff and the consultant on the workshop agenda 4. Architectural Design Standards for New and Remodeled Homes in Existing Neighborhoods Ms. Schnitker presented the staff report. Ms. Olson advised that staff talked to a number of communities as well as the Urban Land Institute and League and learned that most communities are using only their existing zoning and building codes and chose not to move forward with architectural design standards. Councilmember Spano referenced the last sentence of the background paragraph on page 2 of the staff report and questioned how the City would define "existing character of a neighborhood" and whether a design standard takes precedence over the existing character of a neighborhood or vice versa. Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated she has received numerous complaints about the way that houses or additions are designed and that are frequently a major aesthetic detraction because the homeowner did not pay attention to scale, etc. She stated if Council is going to look at this issue, Council should also look at the advantages of having houses that are better designed and how that might improve the City's tax base. Councilmember Brausen felt it was doubtful the City could adopt these types of regulations. Councilmember Hallfin agreed the City cannot dictate what a house or addition looks like and added that design guidelines provide no enforcement power for the City. Councilmember Mavity stated her concern was less about design and more about looking at how new construction or remodeling fits into the overall neighborhood, especially as it relates to massing and envisioned something where a resident can expand up to a percentage increase over what currently exists so that residents can expand but not create huge homes. She stated she did not know if property values are being impacted by these projects and added she was not comfortable with over correcting and did not want to stop people from expanding. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the majority of the City Council to take no further action at this time as it relates to architectural design standards for new and remodeled homes in existing neighborhoods. 5. Review of 2014 Legislative Issues and Priorities Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and draft list of legislative issues and priorities. Councilmember Brausen agreed with continued support for the Southwest LRT project and with the TIF modifications. He stated he also agreed with the sales tax exemption for Joint Powers Associations. He added he was in favor of legalizing medicinal marijuana and would like the City to take a position in favor of the legalization of medicinal marijuana. Councilmember Mavity felt the issue of legalizing medicinal marijuana requires more research and preferred that the City remain silent on the issue and wait to see what happens in those states Study Session Minutes -4- January 13, 2014 where it is currently legal. She stated she was okay with eliminating the requirement for paid publication of legal notices, but wanted the City to continue to communicate through the City newspaper because not all residents have access to the Internet. Councilmember Lindberg stated that while he did not feel strongly on the medicinal marijuana issue, he agreed the issue requires more information and the City should be silent on the matter for the time being. Councilmember Hallfin agreed the City should not take a position regarding medicinal marijuana. He felt that the City should send a strong statement to its legislators about taking a closer look at what is happemng with fiscal disparities. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger agreed the City should not yet take a position regarding medicinal marijuana. She agreed that the statements regarding fiscal disparities should be stronger. Mr. Harmening distributed additional information regarding legislative priorities from Fire Chief Koering and from Mr. Hoffman. He explained that Mr. Koering has asked for Council's support in asking the legislature to authorize the disbursement of the Fire Safety Account money that is used for fire training. He discussed the Community EMT program and stated staff has been talking to Park Nicollet about this program, adding that a lot of cities are looking into the Community EMT program as part of the Affordable Care Act and further information will be presented to Council in the near future. It was the consensus of the City Council to add a priority relative to improved regional transportation funding. It was also the consensus of the City Council to remove the Community EMT program from the 2014 Legislative Issues and Priorities list at this time, as the Council would like to learn more about the program first. It was the also the consensus of the City Council to approve the remaining list of legislative priorities received from Fire Chief Koering and from Mr. Hoffman. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) Mayor Pro Tern Sanger referenced the draft response to the recent email from Safety in the Park and advised that Councilmember Spam suggested a revision to the last sentence, which was approved by all Councilmembers present. She stated she would send the suggested revision to Mayor Jacobs for his approval prior to sending the response. Councilmember Brausen referenced written report #8 regarding PLACE and asked if the City's General Industrial zoning would support residential. Mr. Harmening replied that the area would need to be rezoned. Mayor Pro Tern Sanger suggested that PLACE be required to meet certain conditions and standards that are compatible with residential housing and also suggested that PLACE be required to submit plans for the entire project and not just the digester. Mr. Harmening reported that he has been participating in the Faith Community Table, a group that was put together by several churches and grown to include twelve faith communities in the City, and advised that the Faith Community Table met last week and discussed STEP and the Study Session Minutes -5- January 13, 2014 increasing demand for services. He asked if Council was interested in having the City provide some kind of match incentive for the upcoming Empty Bowls event. Councilmember Mavity expressed concern about doing too much and felt the City should be a little cautious about becoming a grantor for STEP. She stated that STEP recently learned it lost some of their funding for rent subsidies and suggested that the City consider using the HRA to provide some short term rent subsidy gaps. Councilmember Hallfin suggested that the City purchase the compostable materials for the Empty Bowls event to make it a zero waste event. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 6. November 2013 Financial Report 7. Arts and Culture Grant Guidelines 8. Update on PLACE Redevelopment Concept for Former McGarvey Site ----71 -C - // -.mac,✓ Nancy Stroth,'City Clerk Susan Sanger, ayor Pro Tern