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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/07/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular iffSt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JULY 20, 2015 1. Call to Order Mayor Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:43 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: Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Director of Operations & Recreation (Ms. Walsh), Planning & Zoning Supervisor (Mr. Walther), Assistant Zoning Administrator (Mr. Morrison), Rec Center Manager (Mr. Eisold), Junior Leader Coordinator (Mr. Terry), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes). la. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Recognition of Donations Mayor Jacobs expressed the City Council's thanks to Jay Jaffee and Bob Fields for their donation of a trail camera to be used at Westwood Hills Nature Center for wildlife observation He also thanked Sam's Club for its donation of food for the Highway 7 & Louisiana Avenue ribbon cutting event. He also thanked Nordic Ware for its donation of 50 mini Bundt pans to be given as souvenirs to guests attending the Highway 7 & Louisiana Avenue ribbon cutting event. 2b. Playground Junior Leader Recognition Mr. Terry stated there were 38 youth volunteers that completed the program this summer and volunteered over 1,520 hours He thanked the Mayor and City Council for recognizing the Junior Leaders this evening. Mayor Jacobs presented each of the Junior Leaders with certificates of appreciation and thanked them for their service. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. Special Study Session Meeting Minutes July 6, 2015 The minutes were approved as presented. 3b. City Council Meeting Minutes July 6, 2015 The minutes were approved as presented City Council Meeting -2- July 20, 2015 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 appropriate section of the regular agenda for discussion. 4a. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP Meeting Minutes of June 3, 2015. 4b. Approve Temporary Liquor License Premises Extensions for the Frank Lundberg American Legion Post 282, 5605 36th St. W , for their Party on the Pavement Anniversary event to be held August 15, 2015, and for their Annual Hockey Association Golf and Fundraising event to be held September 19-20, 2015. Both occasions will be held in the parking lot at the American Legion. 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 15-094 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3243 Dakota Avenue South, St Louis Park, MN P.I.D. 16-117- 21-23-0107 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 15-095 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3335 Virginia Avenue South, St Louis Park, MN - P.I.D 18-117- 21-14-0034. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 15-096 supporting the City of St. Louis Park as a host site for the Minnesota Green Corps program and authorize staff to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 15-097 approving acceptance of a donation from Jay Jaffee and Bob Fields to Westwood Hills Nature Center of a Trail Camera (Value $129) to be installed and monitored at Westwood Hills Nature Center for wildlife observation 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 15-098 approving acceptance of donations from Sam's Club and Nordic Ware to the City of St. Louis Park for the August 13, 2015, Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue Ribbon Cutting (Value $492)to be given away to event guests. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 15-099 authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) for the redevelopment of Arlington Row. It was moved by Councilmember Mainly, seconded by Councilmember Spano, 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—None 7. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public—None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items City Council Meeting -3- July 20, 2015 8a. Approve Plans and Specifications for Construction of an Outdoor Rink at the Rec Center and Authorize Advertisement for Bids. Resolution No. 15- 100. Ms. Walsh presented the staff report and stated the outdoor rink will have ice approximately five months out of the year and will be available for other activities the remainder of the year She thanked the Hockey Association for their generous donation of$1.5 million toward this project. Mr. Eisold presented several renderings of the outdoor rink. It was moved by Councilmember Hallfin, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 15-100 Accepting the Project Report, Approving Plans and Specifications, and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids The motion passed 7-0 Mayor Jacobs expressed thanks to the Hockey Association for all their work and for partnering with the City on this project. 8b. Resolutions Regarding SWLRT Contribution and Trail Underpass Request. Resolution No. 15-101 and Resolution No. 15-102. Mr. Locke presented the staff report and explained that over the past three months the Southwest LRT Project Office and all of the communities along the light rail corridor have been working to reduce the overall budget for the project and St. Louis Park has been asked to contribute $2 million toward construction of the project. He advised that the cities of Minnetonka and Hopkins have agreed to contribute money toward the project and Eden Prairie is contributing land. He stated that St. Louis Park will receive great value from the Southwest LRT project including upgrading of the freight rail tracks, elimination of siding for storing rail cars, and facilitating the grade separation of the regional trail at Beltline and Wooddale, as well as increased mobility and accessibility. He explained that the Louisiana Avenue trail underpass was included in the original plans but was cut in an effort to save money and this trail underpass is a natural addition to the City's trails and sidewalk system and greatly enhances access from the regional trail. He stated that the FTA would pay half the cost of the trail underpass or $300,000 and the City would be required to provide a local match of$300,000. He advised that Hennepin County indicated a willingness to serve as a financing entity for any communities that want help with financing their contribution and the funds would not be required until the project is under construction. He stated that the City would be provided with the official revised municipal consent plans for the project this week and each city and Hennepin County are being asked to go through the municipal consent process again. Councilmember Spano stated his support for both resolutions He stated this Council has been discussing the issue of safety at Beltline, Wooddale, and Louisiana Avenue for many years as well as possible safety upgrades even if the Southwest LRT project was not built He noted the City's cost to construct these upgrades would have been much higher without the Southwest LRT project and the City's $2 million contribution ensures that the City will receive the grade separations for the trail at a fraction of the cost. He expressed thanks to Hennepin County and Three Rivers for their willingness to City Council Meeting -4- July 20, 2015 participate in these improvements and stated when viewed in the context of all the things this $2 million provides, it is a good investment for the community to make. Councilmember Sanger also supported both resolutions and felt that the $2 million contribution was reasonable given all the benefits the City will receive. She was disappointed that the City of Minneapolis has thus far refused to make a contribution and was hopeful that the City of Minneapolis would make a contribution to make sure this project is constructed. Councilmember Hallfin stated the City did a temporary fix at Beltline in anticipation of the permanent fix that would be installed with the Southwest LRT project He stated the money the City is putting toward the project is a lot less than if the City had done a permanent fix at Beltline and is part of the greater good of the project itself It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Mayfly, to adopt Resolution No. 15-101 Supporting $2,000,000 in Local Funds to the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project (Metro Green Line Extension) The motion passed 7-0 It was moved by Councilmember Spano, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 15-102 Supporting Local Funds to the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project (Metro Green Line Extension)for Design, Environmental Review, and Potential Construction of a Trail and Underpass at Louisiana Station The motion passed 7-0 8c. Second Reading of Zoning Ordinance Amendment Related to Signs. Ordinance No. 2473-15. Mr. Morrison presented the staff report and presented examples of permanent signage and multi-tenant signage He stated the proposed amendment eliminates the I-G category and combines it with the I-P and BP districts with all three categories treated the same A category of properties over 400,000 square feet has been added that allows a maximum total area of 400 square feet. He explained that the Highway 7 Corporate Center does not currently qualify for the multi-tenant exemption and has no branding signage and the multi-tenant exemption would allow this property to have up to 150 square feet per sign He stated the amendment proposes to apply the same sign regulations in the M-X district as are allowed in the C-2 district and this would allow the M-X district to take general signage and apply it to branding, adding this has historically been done in the past through the PUD approval process and the regulations have always coincided with the C- 2 district. He presented a summary of the elements of the multi-tenant exemption and stated that tenants must be located on the ground floor, the sign area shall not exceed 7% of the exterior wall, the sign must be placed on the exterior wall, and no sign shall exceed 150 square feet except in the C-1 district. He presented photographs of the CVS sign, which is 133 square feet in area and CVS could have a sign up to 150 square feet as long as it falls within the 7%maximum wall sign He pointed out that the proposed Ordinance has been revised since the time of the First Reading to limit the maximum sign face allowed from 150 square feet to 100 square feet. He stated Council also raised questions about the impact of signs on residential units above retailers and stated tenant signs can City Council Meeting -5- July 20, 2015 be either wall or blade signs and staff has not received any resident concerns about either type of signs and no revisions have been made in the Ordinance He advised that window signs are treated the same as any other type of wall sign and are included in the maximum signage allowed. He stated the City does not have any regulations requiring signs to be turned off at a specified time and if Council is interested in pursuing this type of regulation, staff could research the issue further and present options to Council. Councilmember Sanger thanked staff for addressing Council's concerns and requested that Council have a study session discussion in the near future about requiring signs to be turned off at a specified time. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to approve Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2473-I5 Amending Chapter 36 of the St Louis Park City Code Pertaining to Signage The motion passed 7-0 9. Communications Mayor Jacobs invited residents to the "Community Link" event on August 19th from 5:00-8:00 p.m at the Rec Center. He expressed the City Council's condolences to the family of Elliott Royce and stated that Mr Royce was an amazing person with a positive spirit who did not let his age stand in the way of connecting with people of all ages and he will be deeply missed 10. Adjournment Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 8.32 p.m. O ' A 1 / Meli sa Kennedy, City Clerk Je c• ,,s/ a or