HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/07/28 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session IffSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK,MINNESOTA
JULY 28,2014
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs (arrived at 6:40 p.m.), Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin,
Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: Jake Spano.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Director of Operations & Recreation (Ms.
Walsh), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Economic Development Coordinator
(Mr. Hunt), Communications & Marketing Coordinator (Mr. Zwilling), Recreation
Superintendent (Mr. West), Rec Center Manager (Mr. Eisold), and Recording Secretary (Ms.
Hughes).
Guests: Joe Arko, John Basill, and Steve Rosen (St. Louis Park Hockey Association), Steven
Maurelli (RSP Architects), and Paul Tucci (Oppidan Investment Company).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—August 25,2014
Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for August 25th and noted that the
August 11th study session has been cancelled.
Councilmember Sanger requested that a future study session agenda include an update on the
Connect the Park! project related to the process and timeline for dealing with requests from
residents to add sidewalk segments to the plan.
Mayor Pro Tern Mavity requested that Council's discussion also include a policy update with
respect to filling in sidewalk gaps.
2. Outdoor Refrigerated Ice Feasibility Study
Ms. Walsh presented the staff report and introduced Steve Rosen, John Basill, and Joe Arko from
the St. Louis Park Hockey Association, and Steven Maurelli from RSP Architects. She also
introduced Ryan Harper, the Operations and Recreation intern.
Mr. Arko stated the St. Louis Park Hockey Association has been growing year over year and last
year the Hockey Association spent approximately $35,000 to purchase additional ice time
outside the Rec Center and they believe there is a growing need for an additional ice rink. He
pointed out that the proposed facility would be available year-round and they are interested in
seeing a facility built as a legacy for the City and used for multiple generations.
Mr. Maurelli presented several renderings of the proposed outdoor rink including the upper and
lower level floor plans and explained the changes in elevation and proposed configuration of
locker rooms and bleacher seating. He also presented several renderings depicting non-hockey
uses and an interactive model of the project.
Mayor Jacobs asked about the relocation of the skate park.
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July 28, 2014
Ms. Walsh stated that the most logical place for the skate park appears to be Nelson Park, adding
that most kids get dropped off at the skate park because most users are a younger age group.
Mr. Harmening stated that further analysis would be done related to relocating the skate park and
the associated cost if the City continues to explore this project.
Mr. Rosen stated the Hockey Association provided the City with $200,000 in 2013 and is willing
to provide an additional $300,000 for a total commitment of$500,000 for the first phase of this
project and up to $1 million additional for the second phase.
Councilmember Sanger stated the City has been working for several years on a potential
community center as an addition to the Rec Center and was not willing to have an outdoor
refrigerated ice rink jump the queue ahead of a potential community center and felt this project
needs to be studied in conjunction with a potential community center, including cost, financing,
and whether there is sufficient parking to support all of these activities.
Councilmember Lindberg thanked the Hockey Association for their generous financial
commitment. He stated the potential community center project is important to him and he
wanted to make sure that the potential community center project and possible outdoor
refrigerated ice rink project do not compete with one another and that the City figures out how to
make it work as seamlessly as possible. He was appreciative of the fact that the facility could be
used year-round for other activities and felt it fits with what is going on at the Rec Center.
Councilmember Mavity was supportive of continuing to work with the Hockey Association to
see if this project can be built and stated it would be important to consider this facility's
operating budget and capital replacement costs as well as future pledges from the Hockey
Association. She added she was neutral on the subject of naming rights.
Councilmember Sanger stated her opposition to naming rights and did not think community
buildings should be billboards for corporations.
Mr. Harmening noted that Council would have complete control over naming rights because this
is a City-owned facility.
Councilmember Mavity stated her concern about an equity issue in that the Hockey Association
consists primarily of young white males, which does not represent the St. Louis Park community.
She challenged the Hockey Association and the City to find ways to address this issue so that the
City is not investing millions of dollars on a project that does not advance all members of the
community.
Councilmember Hallfin spoke in favor of the proposed ice rink facility and agreed it would be
reasonable to wrap this facility in with the proposed community center project if possible. He
spoke in favor of sponsorships and was open to hearing more about possible naming rights.
Councilmember Brausen thanked the Hockey Association for its donation and for the great work
they are doing in the community. He stated if this facility was a standalone project and Council
was not discussing a potential community center, this project would be a no brainer given the
fact that the Hockey Association is kicking in a significant portion of the cost of the project.
Study Session Minutes -3- July 28, 2014
Councilmember Sanger stated that Council does not yet have refined cost estimates on the
community center project and did not believe Council could make a decision on this facility until
it has further information regarding the potential community center project.
Council discussed the timeframe for making a decision on the proposed outdoor refrigerated ice
rink as well as the potential community center project.
Mr. Harmening stated that the next step if Council desires to move forward includes schematic
design, refining the cost estimates, and preparation of a funding plan and this information would
be available for Council review sometime this fall.
Ms. Walsh agreed to prepare a plan for next steps and report back to Council in the near future.
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to continue to work with the Hockey
Association on further design and funding for an outdoor refrigerated ice nnk. This project will
be discussed again when the Council talks about the Community Center
3. Redevelopment Proposal for the Former Bally Total Fitness Block
Mr. Hunt presented the staff report and advised that Oppidan Investment Company has an option
to acquire the former Bally Total Fitness property and wants to raze the building and parking
ramp and replace it with a mixed use development. He stated that Oppidan has also proposed to
purchase the EDA property in order to accommodate the development for the entire block. He
then introduced Mr. Paul Tucci with Oppidan Investment Company.
Mr. Tucci explained that Oppidan has a Purchase Agreement for the Bally site that includes a
26,000 square foot grocery store concept with a liquor store that will require a separate entry. He
stated the proposal also includes 157 apartment units consisting of approximately 60-65% one-
bedroom units and 35% two-bedroom units and two levels of underground parking. He noted
that they have talked to third party professionals about the right mix of apartments on this site
and whether the market can support three-bedroom units and the fairly resounding answer was
that three-bedroom units would not work on this site. He presented several preliminary drawings
of the proposed redevelopment and advised that their market study indicates rents in the
$1.90/square foot range and there is a need for TIF assistance in the amount of approximately$4
million.
Councilmember Mavity expressed support for the redevelopment of the site and stated that this
project will need to go through a neighborhood process and encouraged the developer to get the
neighborhood involved early. She stated the City has worked hard to make sure that its public
spaces are vibrant and engaged and was concerned that the preliminary drawing shows almost an
entire block with a door on one end and a door on the other end with nothing in between and this
is not what the City is trying to create on Excelsior Boulevard. She was amenable to considering
some TIF assistance but felt that $4 million in TIF assistance was high.
Councilmember Hallfin stated it would be important for Council to remain mindful of the
Bndgewater Bank redevelopment proposal that includes apartment units. He added that Council
has also not seen any traffic studies on this.
Councilmember Sanger stated she would be willing to sell the EDA parcel and also agreed that a
mixed-use development makes sense on this site. She shared Councilmember Mavity's concerns
Study Session Minutes -4- July 28, 2014
about the look of the grocery store building and the dead spots and stated she wanted to see a
much more architecturally appealing building. She expressed continued concern about the
number of one-bedroom apartment units being built in the City and was concerned about what
happens in ten or fifteen years when this demographic group is not renting all these apartments.
Councilmember Mavity referenced the Met Council and Thrive MSP projections to 2040
indicating that only 1 in 5 households will have children and the rest of the households represent
aging baby boomers and others, adding that three-bedroom units have the highest vacancy rates
and studios and one-bedroom units have the lowest vacancies.
Councilmember Brausen spoke in favor of the redevelopment concept adding that he agreed the
developer could do something on the streetscape to make it more inviting. He stated that he
would like to see 15% affordable housing at 60% AMI in this project, especially since the City is
being asked to provide TIF assistance.
Councilmember Lindberg spoke in favor of the redevelopment proposal and stated he was in
favor of selling the EDA parcel and was willing to consider TIF assistance, adding that he
wanted to see this type of project built in this area and to make Excelsior Boulevard as walkable
and pedestrian friendly as possible.
Councilmember Mavity indicated her concern that this area was losing its local flavor with the
local businesses and suggested that Council consider providing density bonuses in this area
and/or other ways to incent local businesses in this area as part of Council's discussion of its
housing policy.
It was the consensus of the City Council/EDA to direct staff to continue working with Oppidan
Investment Company on the mixed-use redevelopment of the former Bally Total Fitness block,
including an affordable housing component; the exterior building design related to the Excelsior
Boulevard frontage; parking and traffic issues; and a process for community engagement. There
also was consensus support for selling the EDA parcel as part of the proposed redevelopment;
and for considenng a request for TIF assistance with requiring further information prior to
making a commitment of a precise amount.
Councilmember Mavity suggested the developer consider putting in an "hour car" whereby the
City could possibly provide some reduction in the number of required parking stalls.
4. Meeting with Congressman Ellison
Mr. Harmening stated the meeting with Congressman Ellison is on Friday, August 8`h, at 9:00
a.m. and Congressman Ellison has indicated he is interested in hearing more about the City's
organics program. He also requested input on topic areas that Council would like to discuss at a
future meeting with Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene.
Councilmember Mavity requested that the meeting agenda with Congressman Ellison include a
discussion about the effort being led by Senator Klobuchar on freight safety and what it means
for the City's station areas. She also requested that Council discuss with Congressman Ellison
the possible pilot project related to fiber at the Louisiana Avenue station area.
Mr. Harmening suggested that the meeting agenda with Congressman Ellison include a
discussion of transportation funding in particular Southwest LRT.
Study Session Minutes -5 July 28, 2014
Councilmember Brausen suggested that Council discuss with Congressman Ellison the use of
joint development funds toward station area planning.
Councilmember Sanger suggested that Council discuss with Congressman Ellison the situation
with child refugees coming to Minnesota from Mexico and the reports indicating that the
agencies cannot handle all the refugees.
It was the consensus of the City Council that the agenda for the meeting with Hennepin County
Commissioner Greene should include TSAAP station area planning, joint development, and
Southwest LRT.
Councilmember Mavity suggested that Commissioner Greene be provided a briefing on the
City's affordable housing policy.
Councilmember Mavity sugg.ested inviting Commissioner Greene on the City Council bike tour
scheduled for September 2r.
Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
Councilmember Brausen stated that Jim Brimeyer has been an advocate for a more aggressive
affordable housing policy and last week when the Met Council was ready to adopt a plan that
had been amended by the housing committee, it was voted down as too aggressive and he
suggested working with the housing advocacy community on this issue.
Mayor Jacobs agreed to discuss this issue with Mr. Brimeyer and report back to Council.
Mr. Harmening advised that the Wooddale Flats groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday,
July 30th, at 11:00 a.m. and Mayor Jacobs and Councilmembers Lindberg and Mavity would be
attending.
The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
Written reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
5. June 2014 Monthly Financial Report
6. Second Quarter Investment Report(April—June 2014)
7. Project Update — Sanitary Sewer Project (MCES Hopkins Interceptor
Rehabilitation)
8. Update on Pop-Up Event
9. Cable TV Franchise Fee Compliance Auditor S• •cted
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Nancy Stroth, ity Clerk Jeff Jaco a s or