HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/07/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jif St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
JULY 13,2015
The meeting convened at 6:33 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Pro Tern Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne
Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Director of Human
Resources (Ms. Deno), Director of Community Development (Mr. Locke), Director of
Operations & Recreation (Ms. Walsh), City Clerk (Ms. Kennedy), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther),
Solid Waste Program Coordinator (Ms. Fisher), Public Works Services Manager (Mr. Merkley),
Public Works Superintendent (Mr. Hanson), Communications and Marketing Manager (Ms.
Larson), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Hughes)
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—July 20 & July 27, 2015
Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for July 20th and the
proposed study session agenda for July 27t.
2. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor Licensing
Ms. Deno presented the staff report and advised that staff consulted the City Attorney regarding
whether the City can impose size limitations for off-sale intoxicating liquor establishments. The
City Attorney has indicated that the City Council would need to establish sound rationale for the
regulation of maximum square footage for these establishments and would need to describe how
the regulation benefits the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
Councilmember Mavity stated that Council previously talked about allowing specialty beer or
wine stores in the light rail station areas and questioned whether the City could make an
exception related to zoning that was specific to the light rail station areas and that included a size
limitation.
Councilmember Lindberg stated that he originally raised this issue in response to resident
concerns about the proximity and concentration of liquor stores. He stated that Council must be
able to provide sufficient rationale from a health, safety, and welfare perspective that imposing a
limitation on square footage is appropriate from a policy perspective, and he did not believe that
a size limitation was the proper way to address the issue and did not see any justification for the
imposition of a size limitation.
Councilmember Mavity reiterated an earlier request that Council have a discussion about how
the City can best support small businesses She stated that small businesses support the local
economy and the dollars stay local at a rate much higher than that of any big box business. She
wants to support small businesses because of their value to the local economy and because of
their value to the character of St Louis Park, a part of what will continue to make the City a
unique community She stated that the City invested a lot of money in redeveloping the
community to create a neighborhood character, and the City needed to sustain that character,
adding she would support limiting the number of liquor licenses in the City
Study Session Minutes -2- July 13, 2015
Councilmember Sanger stated she was not sure there was sufficient legal justification for
imposing size limitations and did not agree that the City should limit the number of liquor
licenses because the market would determine if there are too many liquor establishments.
Councilmember Hallfin felt that ultimately the market would resolve the issue and he could find
no justification for imposing any size limitations.
Councilmember Mavity did not agree with the free market argument and felt the City needed to
impose size limitations. She expressed an openness to establishing specific zoning that would
allow for liquor establishments around the light rail stations.
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen stated he was not in favor of adopting size limitations or putting a cap
on the number of licenses and was okay with limiting the number along the light rail comdor,
adding he did not see this as a problem that the City needed to address.
Mr. Harmening stated that Mayor Jacobs sent him an email today indicating he felt the City
should leave this issue alone and not impose size limitations.
Councilmember Lindberg stated he did not feel that a size limitation solved the problem, and he
continued to believe there is a proximity and saturation issue that needed to be addressed.
Councilmembers Mavity and Spano stated they were in favor of regulating the size of off-sale
liquor establishments.
Councilmember Sanger stated she could support size limitations
Councilmember Hallfin stated he would be okay with regulating the size of off-sale liquor
establishments but had not yet heard proper justification for it
Councilmember Sanger stated she would not support size limitations that would create non-
conforming uses amongst existing retailers or limitations that would prohibit existing retailers
from being able to make improvements to their stores.
Mr. Harmemng stated retailers could make improvements, but they could not expand their
establishments if size limitations were adopted. He suggested having staff provide Council with
alternatives on various size limitations and the corresponding implications of those limitations.
Councilmember Mavity stated that the City's moratorium was still in place and felt that the City
should limit the number of off-sale liquor licenses as well.
Councilmember Lindberg stated he was interested in pursuing a cap on the number of off-sale
liquor licenses as a way to address the concerns regarding concentration of liquor stores.
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen referenced an email from the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce stating
their position that the Chamber does not want to see any additional regulation on this issue.
3. 2015 Omnibus Liquor Bill Update
Ms. Kennedy presented the staff report and explained that one of the amendments recently
adopted by the legislature allows the sale of growlers on Sundays by licensed brewers. She
Study Session Minutes -3- July 13, 2015
stated that the other amendment allows on-sale Sunday license holders to expand their hours of
operation to start serving on Sundays at 8:00 a m. instead of 10:00 a.m She added that the
legislature did not regulate the hours of operation for the sale of growlers on Sundays and each
city can decide hours of operation on their own.
It was the consensus of the City Council to adopt ordinance changes to establish hours of
operation for growler sales between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Sundays It was also the
consensus of the City Council that no other changes should be made to the current ordinance
provision regulating hours and days of sale of alcoholic beverages.
Mayor Pro Tern Brausen requested that staff provide information about license fees for tap
rooms and stated tap rooms are evolving into competitors for bars and the tap rooms have a
much lower licensing fee.
4. Single Use Plastic Bags Discussion—Debrief& Next Steps
Ms. Fisher presented the staff report and distributed a redlined revision to section 5 of the plastic
bag expert/stakeholder panel summary clarifying the definition of the terms "biodegradable,"
"compostable," and "degradable." She noted the report included goals that the MPCA suggested
that Council could consider when they establish the City's goals for banning plastic bags and
reviewed proposed next steps and stated that staff is suggesting that the City hold another
listening session with retailers prior to solidifying the direction Council wants to take on the ban,
followed by another listening session in September or October with all interested parties in order
to receive public comment on the proposed policy.
Councilmember Sanger agreed with the goals in the report and suggested adding a fifth goal of
finding ways to promote the use of reusable bags by consumers.
Mayor Pro Tern Brausen agreed with the goals listed in the report and agreed that banning plastic
bags is a small step that the City can take toward zero waste. He stated he was okay with the
proposed listening session with retailers, adding he would like to finish the process before
November.
Councilmember Mavity stated she did not want to add the time necessary for another listening
session with retailers and did not believe this additional session was necessary.
Councilmember Lindberg questioned if a ban on plastic bags represented the right avenue to
achieve Council's goal of being an environmental leader and whether a ban on plastic bags
provided the most bang for the buck He stated it would be important to clearly articulate the
City's goals, as well as the resources required to reach the goals, and questioned whether there
were other things the City could be doing in terms of staff time and resources that could have a
more immediate impact He opined he would like to explore alternatives to a ban on plastic
bags He also questioned whether it might make more sense to consider an incentive-based
approach and was struggling with banning a product and placing a fee on the use of paper bags
as he wanted to be sensitive to imposing a fee on residents.
Mayor Pro Tern Brausen acknowledged Councilmember Lindberg's concerns. He suggested that
the City consider distributing cloth reusable bags to residents to assist in the transition from
plastic bags. He stated he was in favor of banning plastic bags with a $.10 fee for paper bags as
a way to encourage people to use reusable bags.
Study Session Minutes -4- July 13, 2015
Councilmember Hallfin felt it was important to get away from what is cheapest and easiest
because that is not always the answer when it comes to being an environmental leader. He
supported the current path the City was taking on this issue and was supportive of the proposed
listening sessions with retailers as well as the listening session with the public.
Councilmember Spam felt it was important to hear from the business community as well as from
residents and to not presuppose the end result and to let the facts dictate the policy along with
what the community wants.
Council discussed the role of the Environment & Sustainability Commission in this matter.
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to schedule one listening session with all
interested parties, including St. Louis Park retailers, as soon as reasonably possible. It was also
the consensus of the City Council to invite the Environment & Sustainability Commission to
attend the listening session and provide input as the City Council develops its policy related to a
ban on single use plastic bags. It was also the consensus of the City Council to approve the goals
outlined in the staff report with the addition of a fifth goal of finding ways to promote the use of
reusable bags by consumers when they shop.
Councilmember Sanger requested that staff provide Council with an updated document that
captured everything discussed by Council.
5. Southwest LRT Update — Supplementary Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(SDEIS)
Mr. Locke presented the staff report and draft comments on the SDEIS and noted that the
deadline for submitting comments was July 21, 2015. He advised that Met Council concluded
that all cities need to go through the municipal consent process again and on July 23`d, Met
Council will be submitting the official plans to each of the cities and Hennepin County for
municipal consent. Met Council and the County will hold a joint hearing on the official plans on
August 27, 2015, and each city then needs to hold a hearing within 45 days after the joint
hearing, or by October 11, 2015. He stated that the SPO has offered to host an open house to
give residents a chance to ask questions and review the official plans. He explained that Met
Council has requested that cities adopt a resolution supporting local funds for the project. He
distributed a copy of the proposed resolution prepared by Met Council and noted that Council
will need to adopt a separate resolution related to the City's request to include the Louisiana
Avenue station trail underpass in the project.
Councilmember Lindberg asked if staff has any further information about funding the additional
contribution or a payment structure for the money being committed by the City.
Mr. Harmemng stated this would be discussed further with Council, adding that there will be a
formal agreement in place for these funds.
Councilmember Mavity asked if the LRCI at Beltline was included in the base budget.
Mr. Locke replied that the improvements the City asked for are not in the base project and would
be designed as a bid alternative so that once bids are received, the City can decide whether to
move forward with the improvements
Study Session Minutes -5- July 13, 2015
Councilmember Sanger requested that the City's comments on the SDEIS incorporate by
reference all of the previous comments submitted by the City. She referred to the analysis of
alternatives and mitigation and stated the document indicates that all these changes have no
impact on the bike trail system. She felt this statement was not accurate and requested that the
City include a comment that these changes bolster the need for grade separation She stated
there is also no mention of the alternative of running freight rail and light rail at grade in the
Kenilworth corridor, which was in the original DEIS, and felt it needed to be reflected as another
possibility that has been considered, particularly in light of the joint agreement between
Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis that came to light indicating the bike trail would
be moved to create room for transportation purposes in the Kenilworth corridor. She disagreed
with the statement in the SDEIS that indicates the southern interconnect would have a positive
impact due to the removal of the wye and would have a potentially negative impact by permitting
more and longer trains traveling south to Savage but the SDEIS did not address the mitigation
needs such as addressing traffic concerns. She pointed out that her comments are meant to
address what is not in the SDEIS comments but that are still relevant and that might be important
should the City's comments be reviewed for legal or other reasons.
Mr. Locke requested that Council provide him with any other comments on the SDEIS.
Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
Mr Harmening requested direction from Council regarding the Fire Civil Service Commission
vacancy as noted in his earlier email to Council.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council for the City Manager to confirm with
Mr. Bob Tift that he would be interested in being appointed as Commissioner to Fire Civil
Service Commission.
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen referred to the written reports and asked if Council would be having a
discussion regarding naming rights on the outdoor rink project.
Mr. Harmening replied that this item would come back to Council for discussion at a later date.
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen adjourned the meeting at 8 51 p.m.
Written reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
6. New Minnesota State Commercial Building and Energy Codes
7. Update on Outdoor Rink Project—Hockey A sociatio. : .reeme A
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Melissa Kennedy, City Cler i'i� Tim Brausen, M.yor Pro Tem