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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/11/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IflSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 24, 2014 The meeting convened at 6:30 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), Senior Engineering Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Director of Engineenng (Ms. Heiser), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Communications & Marketing Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Staple). Guest: None. 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—December 8 and 15, 2014 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for December 8th and the proposed study session agenda for December 15`h. He stated that it has been the practice to not hold the second study session of the month during December and confirmed that the December 22nd meeting will be canceled. Councilmember Sanger stated that she has been approached with two proposals regarding smoking, specifically whether e-cigarettes should be banned in a similar method to cigarettes and the second regarding second hand smoke. She requested that the Council discuss those items in a future study session. Councilmember Hallfin stated that he has also heard the complaint regarding second hand smoke and was willing to consider discussing the issue at a future study session Councilmember Brausen stated that he would like to see the Council discuss green technologies and sustainability discussed at a future study session. The Council supported that direction on a visioning level to discuss as a topic for the annual retreat. Mr. Harmening stated that he could obtain an update from the Environmental and Sustainability Commission, as well. Councilmember Mavity stated that there is a petition circling requesting that the designation as a Municipal State Aid (MSA) be removed from 38th Street and she had been asked to bnng the issue forward. The consensus of the Council was not to discuss that item further at this time. 2. Southwest LRT Update Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report. She provided estimated design costs and timelines for the Xenwood station along with the estimated construction costs. Councilmember Mavity referenced the bridge structure identified in the SPO budget and questioned if that would be a pedestrian bridge. Study Session Minutes -2- November 24,2014 Ms. McMonigal explained that the City would have to pay for the design but the Metropolitan (Met) Council would design the badge, which would accommodate the train. She confirmed that this would also accommodate bicycle and pedestnan access and trail connection. Mr. Harmening explained that Three Rivers Park District and Hennepin County are partnenng to provide the grade-separated trail under Wooddale. Councilmember Sanger questioned if the initial design costs would be funded through the TIF Distnct. Ms. McMonigal stated that depending upon the type of development that would occur in those areas, some of the funds could be generated from the TIF District that would be created. Councilmember Brausen asked for additional detail on which properties are developable surrounding the station areas. Ms. McMonigal identified the potential development opportunities nearby the station locations. Councilmember Mavity proposed that the City move forward on the issue of the Xenwood station, contingent upon the finalizing of a final package. It was the consensus of the City Council to continue to move forward on the design plans for Xenwood station as proposed. Councilmember Brausen stated that he is not committing to the full project but simply the design phase at this point. Councilmember Sanger referenced the EDA owned land near some of the station locations and stated that she is not interested in giving land to the Met Council, noting that if the Met Council needs the land they could purchase the land. Ms. McMonigal presented the Beltline station plans along with the estimated design costs and timeline as well as the estimated construction costs. Councilmember Mavity questioned if the City would have any further input into the design that will not be funded by the City. Mr. Sullivan stated that the project office is working with Hennepin County as the lead municipality, noting that the City has been working to provide input. Councilmember Mavity stated that she is opposed to the design. She stated that the residents put a large amount of effort into developing the Beltline design guidelines for this area and questioned which aspects of those guidelines are even being considered. She did not remember when this Council decided that this is the plan that they wanted and questioned why the other options were not included in this plan. She asked for additional information on the input that was received from the public process Councilmember Spano clarified that the Council did not decide on this plan and explained that this is the design that the Met Council has presented. He stated that it was his understanding that the Council would like to place additional options for this location as a top priority. Study Session Minutes -3- November 24,2014 Ms. McMonigal explained that staff discussed several things during the design guidelines and circulation plan. She stated that the decision regarding frontage road access for Nordic Ware trucks had not been made at this time. Councilmember Sanger asked that staff review the various improvements requested for the area and provides a sense of pnority for those options, specifically which items would need to be completed now compared to later. She questioned if the City has the ability to deny the design plans and whether that would provide an opportunity to further negotiate this area. Mr. Harmening advised that the surface lot was included in the base plan. He explained that the City is asking for the additional items, not the Met Council. It was noted that the surface lot was already approved through municipal consent for the base plan. Councilmember Lindberg stated that in his opinion this plan must be approved in order to obtain the backage road to facilitate development. Councilmember Lindberg stated that in his opinion this plan must be approved in order to facilitate development." It was the consensus of the City Council to continue to move forward on the design plans for Beltline as proposed. Ms. McMonigal shared four potential station platform designs that will be presented at the SW Corridor Management Committee Meeting next week. She explained that the Master Funding Agreement will be the mechanism for exchanging funds. She stated that a draft of that agreement is not yet available but believed that it would come before the Council in the next month. She advised that two Committees will be restarting including the Business Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee. She stated that she did ask the level of interest from previous members. It was the consensus of the Council to post the Committee positions to the general public, ask interested existing and previous members to reapply, and to interview the applicants. 3. West End Redevelopment Update Mr. Hunt presented the staff report related to the proposed Central Park West Master Plan. He believed the Amendment to the Redevelopment Contract will come before the Council on December 15`h Councilmember Mavity commended this plan for their thought towards pedestrian and traffic flow. Mr. Harmening discussed the electronic communication aspects of the project including the location of fiber connections. Councilmember Sanger noted that this plan has been changed from the original and development will now be split further with Golden Valley and questioned the tax implications that would have. She referenced the timeline for construction of the parking ramps and confirmed that adequate parking would be provided throughout the first phases of the project. Study Session Minutes -4- November 24,2014 Ms. McMonigal noted that the Planning Commission did discuss parking and advised that the plan would be tweaked slightly to ensure adequate parking will be provided throughout each phase of the project. Councilmember Brausen referenced certain aspects of the project including the 11 units of affordable housing, hoping that those units would all be located in St. Louis Park. He also questioned whether the apartment building split by the city boundaries would be entirely located in one city or split, for mailing and voting purposes. He also inquired as to how the pnvately owned public open space would operate. Mr. Hunt provided details as to how the privately owned public open space would operate.. Councilmember Lindberg stated that he would like to see the hotel developed as soon as possible and not limited by the construction of parking ramps. Councilmember Mavity referenced a pedestrian crossing at a blind intersection and wanted to ensure that was adequately marked and safe. 4. City Manager's 2014 Performance Evaluation Mr. Harmening presented the staff report with options for the evaluation. Councilmember Sanger stated that she would like to see the supervisory skills evaluated over the outcome of the goals. Commissioner Brausen confirmed that Mr. Harmening would find the more formal evaluation beneficial. Councilmember Mavity stated that she would be in favor of using a multi-year approach, using the 360 degree tool only every four years or so. Councilmember Sanger stated that if Mr. Harmening desires the 360-degree review she would be in agreement but stated that it probably is not necessary because of the great performance of the City Manager. Mr. Harmening stated that the City Council is doing a lot right now and he would like to have a discussion with the Council in order to determine the most important items the Council should be focusing on in the next two to three years. He noted that he had a similar discussion with the City staff recently. Councilmember Mavity stated that if time would be better spent on other items she did not see the purpose of doing the 360-degree review this year. Councilmember Brausen stated that he would find it beneficial to have the input of staff. Mr. Harmening stated that all other staff receive an evaluation on an annual basis. It was the consensus of the City Council to review the performance of the City Manager in a similar method to what has been done in the past. Study Session Minutes -5- November 24, 2014 4. 2015 City Council Workshop Mr. Harmening presented the staff report. He confirmed that the Council could discuss the prionty focus for the next few years, and also in that regard to review the input that has been received from staff on that issue. Councilmember Spano stated that the Council frequently talks about large scale and small scale, often shifting to the smaller scale. He suggested that the Council engages in the discussion regarding what future residents will desire in a city He stated that he would like the Council to consider what the future generation of residents will desire in the future rather than focusing dust on what is happening now. Councilmember Sanger stated that the Council must also consider the residents here now, including seniors, to ensure that there are residents in the future. She stated that she would also like to discuss the potential community center and an overall financial picture. Commissioner Brausen agreed that the Council should consider goals setting and discussions for the future. Mayor Jacobs confirmed that some team building could take place on Thursday night and then discussions could focus on large-scale visions. He agreed that it would be beneficial to have the input of the younger generation and to have a long range visioning discussions. Councilmember Mavity stated that it would also be beneficial to have more information regarding long-term financial stability for the City including the implications that certain items, such as a community center, would have. She believed that item could be relatively short with a written report provided in advance. Mr. Harmening suggested that Thursday night be reserved for governance and relational learning, which are very beneficial activities. Councilmember Brausen stated that he would also like to hear the goals of the department heads. Councilmember Sanger stated that she would also like to see comparative information to other cities in terms of long-term financial plans. Councilmember Hallfin stated that perhaps a Subcommittee should be formed with some staff members in order to better set the agenda for the retreat Councilmembers Brausen, Sanger, and Mavity volunteered to join the Subcommittee. Communications (verbal) None. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p m. Wntten Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: Study Session Minutes -6- November 24,2014 6. Friends of the Arts Update 7. October 2014 Monthly Financial Report 8. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy Proposal 9. East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Update 10. Update on 40`h and France Nancy Stroth,/ ity Clerk Jeff J ob�liMayor