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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/03/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Ar St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA MARCH 24, 2014 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity(amved at 6:34 p.m.), and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: Susan Sanger. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Chief Information Officer (Mr. Pires), City Assessor (Mr. Bultema), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Civic TV Coordinator (Mr. Dunlap), Communications & Marketing Coordinator(Mr. Zwilling), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). Guests: Cindy Hoffman (Telecommunications Advisory Commission Chair), Bruce Browning (Telecommunications Advisory Commission Member), Jeff McMenimen (HKGi), and Kerri Pearce Ruch (Hennepin County). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—April 21 and April 28, 2014 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for April 21st and the proposed study session agenda for April 28m. 2. Telecommunications Advisory Commission 2013 Annual Report and 2014 Work Plan Mr. Pires presented the staff report and introduced Ms. Cindy Hoffman, Telecommunications Advisory Commission (TAC) Chair and Mr. Bruce Browning, TAC Commissioner. He stated the 2014 Work Plan includes the idea of analyzing TAC's mission and vision going forward and TAC requests input from Council about TAC's future and where TAC should spend its time in representing the community on technology issues. Mr. Browning stated that the crux of TAC's role has changed because of the drastic changes in technology and felt that TAC's role should include technology as part of its focus. Councilmember Spano requested information about the impact on revenue from the Comcast franchise agreement as a result of declining cable subscribers. Mr. Zwilling stated that the City has been budgeting more conservatively and revenues have continued to climb since completing the cable TV study three years ago. He acknowledged that this could change and staff will continue to pay close attention to this fund. He added that a lot of cities are in the process of negotiating their franchise agreements with Comcast and staff is closely monitoring these negotiations. Councilmember Spano referenced the City Assessor's comment in his assessment report about online purchasing and its profound impact on real estate and stated that the online marketplace might be an area for TAC to start thinking about, i.e., the impact of the online marketplace across all platforms of technology. Study Session Minutes -2- March 24, 2014 Councilmember Mavity asked if the City has any tools available to hold Comcast accountable given the number of complaints received. She questioned whether the City should explore making telecommunications services a utility with public ownership as most telecommunications services have become a basic public good that everyone needs. Mr. Pires stated that a few cities, especially those with their own electric utility, have built out the triple play over their fiber optic system resulting in more competition for the cable company and better pricing as well as more responsive service on the part of the cable company. Council discussed fiber connectivity in the City and US Internet's program to run fiber to homes in Minneapolis. Mr. Pires stated the City (and Schools) has run fiber and/or conduit in approximately 32 miles throughout the City and has approximately 125 miles of streets. He added that the estimated cost to bring fiber to every resident and business in the City is approximately$28 million. Councilmember Mavity stated that $28 million is a significant amount and suggested that the City strategically determine how it wants to build out fiber in the City, e.g., within '/ mile of train stations, and felt this was worth exploring and suggested using the Louisiana Avenue station as a pilot project, adding that the City's technology strategies could serve as a catalyst for development. Mr. Pires felt that the City could identify fiber partners and mentioned US Internet is the Minneapolis private wireless partner that has also begun to offer fiber services in limited areas. He stated that TAC has a good platform from which to start with its recent fiber study and TAC could start drilling deeper into that study with a more detailed analysis and consideration of alternative strategies related to fiber connectivity. It was the consensus of the City Council to direct TAC to provide Council with strategies and cost estimates related to complete development of fiber to the premises in the City, including the possibility of public-private partnerships. Mayor Jacobs thanked the Telecommunications Advisory Commission for its report. 3. Presentation of Southwest LRT Station Area Plans Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and introduced Jeff McMenimen from HKGi and Kerri Pearce Ruch from Hennepin County. Mr. McMenimen explained the Transitional Station Area Action Plans (TSAAP) are intended to promote opening day readiness by bridging gaps between current conditions and future needs by addressing such things as station platform locations, park and ride sites, future development potential, and storm water management options, adding that the TSAAP plans include recommended improvements for opening day as well as long term improvements. He presented the TSAAP plans for the Belt Line station and stated the Belt Line plan includes redesigning and converting Belt Line to a multimodal complete street, a grade separation from freight rail and light rail to reduce conflicts, a new signalized intersection at CSAH 25 and Lynn, and new roads (Lynn and Monterey) south of CSAH 25. He stated the Belt Line plan includes the long-term redesign of CSAH 25 east of Belt Line into a four lane urban boulevard and expanding the street network around the station area. Study Session Minutes -3- March 24, 2014 He stated the Belt Line plan also provides betterment to the Cedar Lake Trail by bringing Belt Line underneath it and if this betterment is not approved, the plan suggests bnnging the trail over Belt Line to reduce conflicts between trail users and motorists. He advised the Belt Line plan includes a surface lot park and ride site in the short term and long term plans call for a structured parking ramp. He presented a conceptual street section drawing of Belt Line and stated there is tremendous development potential around the Belt Line station and indicated that the TSAAP plan includes a list of improvements for each station proposed by the SPO, as well as betterments requested by the cities that are not in the SPO base project along with improvements identified during the TSAAP process to enhance access and connections to the station platforms. Mr. McMerumen then presented two options for the Wooddale Avenue station and advised that the Wooddale West option is part of the SPO base project. He explained that the Wooddale West platform is located east of Wooddale Road and south of the Highway 7 frontage road and the TSAAP plan includes a recommendation to realign the Highway 7 service road east of Wooddale that will create a larger continuous redevelopment site and help resolve redevelopment issues in this area. He stated other improvements include a signal at Xenwood and West 36th and an improved pedestrian crossing at 36th and Wooddale. He stated that long- term improvements include exploring the potential for a pedestrian bridge over Highway 100 to connect to the Park Nicollet complex. He stated the Wooddale station area includes a kiss and ride on Yosemite and on the Highway 7 service road. He advised that one of the Wooddale West station area betterments includes a grade separated crossing with the regional trail with the trail underneath Wooddale. Mr. McMenimen then presented the TSAAP plans for the Wooddale East station that locates the station a few hundred feet to the east of the Wooddale West station location between Yosemite and Xenwood. He stated they looked at taking Xenwood through which would provide greater access to those north of the station with freight rail and light rail crossing at grade, adding that this plan calls for the same realignment of the Highway 7 service road and includes a signalized intersection at Xenwood and 36th. Ms. McMonigal stated that the City has asked what it would cost to put light rail under Wooddale Avenue and that issue is still being discussed but it is not on the official betterments list. She added that the City's engineering department is doing some traffic analysis and will prepare a cost/benefit analysis to see if this would relieve traffic at other intersections and provide better access and circulation in that area. Mr. McMenimen stated the pedestrian and bike connections for the Wooddale East station are similar to the Wooddale West station with some improved connections to those areas to the north. He stated that a kiss and ride is located on 35th across the plaza from the station platform and station area improvements include a larger plaza to make the platform more visible. Mr. McMenimen then presented two options for the Louisiana Avenue station and stated there was discussion during the project charrette to relocate the station further south because of the limited roadway network in this area inhibiting access to the platform. He stated the Louisiana North option puts the station closer to Oxford and long term roadway improvements include realigning Edgewood Avenue between Oxford and Cambridge to provide direct access to Methodist Hospital and a new roadway extending Cambridge west across Louisiana and connecting back to Oxford with the idea of encouraging greater density and an urban pattern around this station. He stated other improvements include a new multiuse connection from Oxford to Louisiana Circle, improved pedestrian crossings along Louisiana Avenue, and Study Session Minutes -4- March 24, 2014 providing connections to the Cedar Lake Regional Trail. He stated the park and ride consists of a surface lot along Oxford with a kiss and ride integrated into the park and ride. He advised that station area improvements include a public plaza northeast of the park and ride lot, extended wayfinding, and several bike facilities at the platform. Mr. McMenimen then presented the Louisiana South option and explained this option includes more significant long term roadway improvements with a loop road located off Louisiana to the north of the station platform and linking back to Oxford in order to provide access to a shuttle bus drop-off facility and kiss and ride. He stated the Louisiana South option includes streetscape enhancements, improved pedestrian crossings along Louisiana Avenue, connections to the Cedar Lake Trail, and a new multiuse trail connection from the east end of the platform to Louisiana Circle connecting to Methodist Hospital. Council discussed the process for municipal consent. Mr. Harmening advised that staff is currently researching what it means when a city provides municipal consent with conditions and how binding those conditions might be as part of the municipal consent process, including any precedents set when providing municipal consent with conditions. Ms. McMonigal indicated that staff intends to provide further information to Council related to betterments and cost estimates. She advised that most cities and the County have taken action to officially receive the TSAAP plans and requested that Council take action to receive the TSAAP plans as part of its Consent Agenda, adding that this action does not approve the TSAAP plans but is intended to show that the City has officially received the TSAAP plan document. Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to Mr. McMenimen and Ms. Pearce Ruch. 4. 2014 Assessment Report Mr. Bultema presented the staff report and an overview of the assessing process and appeal process. He advised that the City mailed valuation notices on March 21st and the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) will convene on April 28, 2014, noting that valuation changes can be made administratively until ten days before the LBAE convenes. He presented realtor data regarding sales volume over the past three years and valuation trend data for median sales prices and stated the City is in the top five of the metro area in terms of median sale price/value retention. He also presented assessed market values indicating family values are up 5.6%, condo values are up 7.8%, townhome values are up 7.4%, apartment values are up 20.2%, and commercial/industrial values are up 0.4%, for a total valuation increase of 6.2% and a total valuation of$5,440,990,800 as of January 2, 2014. He also presented examples of property tax calculations for pay 2013. He reminded Council that the City must use the traditional market as the basis for its assessed valuations and cannot use foreclosures or short sales. He advised that while the overall median value for single family residential increased 4.7%, 6% of the housing stock was reduced in value, 52% of the stock was increased 0-5%, and 27% of the stock was increased 5-10%. He presented information regarding condo and townhome sales and stated the City had a lot of distressed properties that previously overwhelmed the market and two of the eighteen townhome complexes had adjustments over 10% and these two complexes comprise 18% of the total stock; in addition, approximately 40% of the condo stock will see value increases in excess of 10% and six of the complexes will see increases of 20-24%. He stated that the total valuation for commercial/industrial properties for 2014 is up 0.4% and the City has Study Session Minutes -5- March 24, 2014 performed better than the metro norm. He discussed tax capacity trends and stated that from 2007-2014, the City remained remarkably stable compared to other communities in the metro area, adding that 2013 was the first year that commercial/industrial and apartments overtook residential stock. Mayor Jacobs thanked Mr. Bultema for the update. 5. Update on Bullying Legislation—HF826 Mr. Harmening presented the staff report and advised that staff has learned that most if not all of the earlier objections to the bill have been worked out and the bill is currently on the Senate floor and is eligible to come up for a vote at any time. Councilmember Mavity stated she did not feel that Council needed to do anything further at this time related to the bill, i.e., going on record in support of the legislation. Councilmember Spano pointed out there is no funding mechanism for the bill and stated he was frustrated that private schools have been exempted from the bill. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) Mr. Harmening advised that the recent Children First event would raise approximately $70,000. He requested that Council appoint a Councilmember to CEAC given Councilmember Mavity's conflicts with her schedule. Councilmember Brausen volunteered to serve on CEAC. Mr. Harmening stated that he sent Council a link to the TranSystems final study report. He added he talked to Finance & Commerce today and told them that the City was disappointed in the report. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 6. February 2014 Monthly Financial Report 7. Project Report: Street Maintenance Project — Sealcoat Streets in Area 6 — Project No. 4014-1206 8. Amendments to City Code Chapter 8 Business Licenses; Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy Establishment and Tobacco Products and Tobacco Related Devices 9. Zoning Ordinance Amendments Related to Anaer u s' D' ters —71 Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff J. obs, 4 ay.