HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/07/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Jfl St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
JULY 27,2015
The meeting convened at 6:02 p.m.
Councilmembers present Mayor Pro Tem Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne
Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno), Director of
Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Director of Operations & Recreation (Ms. Walsh), 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).
Guests: Mr. Neil Ralston (MAC Planner), Ms Dana Nelson (MAC Manager of Noise and
Environment), Ms. Lisa Peilen (MAC Commissioner), Mr. Blois Olson (Fluence Media), Mr.
Dan Huff(Minneapolis Health Department), Ms. Madalyn Cioci (Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency), Mr Paul Kroening (Hennepin County Environment & Energy Department), Mr. Mike
Levy (Plastics Food Service Packaging Group), Mr. Simon Hefty (LitinEco), Ms Deb McMillan
(TwinWest Chamber of Commerce), Mr Dan McElroy (Restaurant Association of MN), Mr.
Tim Wilkin (MN Beverage Association), Ms. Kate Davenport (Eureka Recycling), and Ms. Lynn
Hoffman (Eureka Recycling).
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—August 10, 2015
Ms. Deno presented the proposed study session agenda for August 10`h.
Councilmember Mavity reiterated her earlier request for a study session discussion about how
the City supports small businesses and whether there are specific zoning and land use strategies
that could help guide and incent small business growth in the City.
Ms. Deno agreed to place this item on a future study session agenda.
Councilmember Sanger requested a study session discussion regarding construction noise in
residential neighborhoods and what kinds of controls the City has in place and/or what kinds of
controls could be added to minimize construction impacts in residential neighborhoods.
Ms Deno agreed to provide information to Council about the City's current ordinance and
additional controls that could be added as well as information about regulations in other cities.
Councilmember Spano requested that staff also provide information about parking and staging of
materials in construction projects.
2. Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Presentation
Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report and introduced MAC Commissioner Lisa Peilen, Ms.
Dana Nelson, MAC Manager of Noise and Environment, and Mr. Neil Ralston, MAC Planner.
Study Session Minutes -2- July 27, 2015
Mr. Ralston provided an update of the 2035 Long Term Comprehensive Plan being developed
for Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) and stated the purpose of the
Comprehensive Plan is to update future airport facility needs through 2035, to serve as a road
map to guide the development strategy and shape the seven year CIP, and to assess when facility
improvements are needed to accommodate projected demand in a safe, efficient and cost
effective manner. He presented a graph depicting actual airport traffic levels and advised that in
2014, MSP accommodated an all-time high of 9 million passenger originations at MSP and
accommodated 17 million passenger enplanements, and by 2035 it is expected that MSP will
accommodate 15 million passenger originations and 27 million enplanements He stated that the
focus areas regarding adequacy of existing facilities include aircraft gates, terminal processors,
concourse sizing, parking, and the departures/arrivals curb fronts and stated that the gates and
terminal processors are largely adequate through the early 2020s and deficiencies are noted in the
parking and curb front areas pre-2020. He stated that new gates at Terminal 2 are required to
accommodate growth and several of the existing facilities at Terminal 1 are strained and there
are projects identified to address these shortfalls. He then presented a rendering of MSP
facilities improvements including expansion of the baggage claim areas and an eight gate
expansion at Terminal 1 as well as the addition of 12 gates at Terminal 2 and improvements to
the ticketing, baggage claim, and international arrivals areas.
Commissioner Peilen pointed out there will be disruptions beginning next year due to
construction projects, including consolidation of the screening points into two larger security
stations and the ticket counters and baggage claim areas are being redone.
Ms. Nelson explained there has been an overall reduction in the 65 DNL contour and the 2035
forecast indicates a total of 7,005 fewer single-family homes and 6,398 fewer multi-family units
inside the 2035 forecast 60 DNL contour. She discussed the day/night average sound level used
by the FAA to determine noise impact around airports and advised that residential homes are
eligible for mitigation within the 65 DNL contour, adding that MAC provides mitigation out to
60 DNL and a mitigation program is currently in place that sunsets in 2023 and provides that if
someone is in a higher noise impact area than the previous program for three consecutive years,
they are eligible for mitigation based on actual noise contours and MAC is currently looking at
possible eligibility for homes south of Lake Harriet. She also discussed the 2035 total operations
forecast of 512,000 and runway use assumptions for 2035 and presented information regarding
total average daily operations, nighttime average daily operations by category and future aircraft
type considerations, stating that Boeing has indicated the newer aircrafts have a 40% noise
reduction from the B737-800. She also presented a comparison of runway use percentages as
well as a comparison of noise contour impact comparison and stated the 2035 forecasted 60 DNL
noise contour is 56.1% larger than the 2014 base case 60 DNL noise contour.
Councilmember Mavity requested MAC documentation regarding noise reduction in order to
compare this information with what the industry is producing.
Mr. Ralston stated that MAC will be meeting with stakeholders before the Long Term
Comprehensive Plan is completed and will schedule a pre-draft publication meeting in August or
September followed by a formal 45-day public review period and two public information
meetings in October.
Study Session Minutes -3- July 27, 2015
3. Polystyrene Update & Experts/Stakeholder Panel Discussion
Mayor Pro Tem Brausen welcomed everyone to the discussion and stated that before making a
decision regarding polystyrene, Council will undertake a robust public process including a
listening session and public hearing. He introduced Mr. Blois Olson, moderator for the panel
discussion.
Mr. Dan Huff, City of Minneapolis Environmental Services Division Director, discussed the City
of Minneapolis's "Green to Go" Ordinance and stated one of the goals was to ensure compliance
by education before moving into regulation and the City of Minneapolis developed a fact sheet
that was mailed to 4,000 food related businesses, in addition, the City of Minneapolis worked
with the business association and held community forums and packaging fairs where distributors
were invited to display their products that meet the Ordinance requirements. He also discussed
the exemptions for some products, e.g., polyethylene coffee cups, and also discussed the phased
implementation of the Ordinance.
Ms Madalyn Cioci, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, stated the MPCA does not have a
position specific to polystyrene take-out containers and the MPCA supports policies that result in
a net total waste generation reduction and other outcomes such as reduced air and water
pollution. She indicated the Metropolitan Solid Waste policy plan has a goal of 6% reduction in
total generation of waste, whether disposed, recycled or composted, and of that amount the
MPCA wants 60% of that material to be recycled She stated that substituting one container for
another raises similar questions to the issues regarding single use plastic bags and she would like
to see what a community could do by promoting a reusable takeout food container program,
adding that the City of Portland has a"go box" reusable takeout food container program.
Mr. Paul Kroening, Hennepin County Waste Management, stated that Hennepin County has not
taken a position on polystyrene, has not considered any regulations, and the County Board has
not asked staff to prepare anything for the Board's consideration. He stated the County's priority
is to increase recycling and availability of organics collection He stated the market for
polystyrene recycling is nonexistent in Hennepin County, particularly food service polystyrene
packaging, adding that polystyrene represents approximately 1.5-2% of the waste stream in
Hennepin County.
Councilmember Spano requested further information about the MPCA's goal of 6% reduction in
total waste.
Ms. Cioci stated that organic material represents approximately 31% of the waste stream and
textiles in the waste stream are growing and represent 4-5% of the waste stream. She agreed to
provide the State's waste composition study to provide more detail in that regard.
Mr Mike Levy, Plastics Food Service Packaging Group, discussed their support of polystyrene
and stated that 254 million tons of trash is generated each year and all forms of polystyrene
represents less than a percent of total waste. He discussed the life cycle of polystyrene and
recycling options and urged the City to fully consider recycling options versus a ban on
polystyrene.
Councilmember Mavity requested that City staff see if any research has been done on
polystyrene impacts in Minnesota lakes.
Study Session Minutes -4- July 27, 2015
Mr. Simon Hefty, LitonEco discussed alternative food packaging to #6 plastic polystyrene,
including Bagasse clamshells, bowls, plates and cups. He stated that plant fiber to go containers
are made from wheat straw obtained after grain extraction and can withstand temperatures up to
200° F He presented examples of PLA clear-hinged containers that are 100% compostable and
indicated the compostable products industry continues to develop products to meet the needs of
alternative packaging.
Ms. Deb McMillan, Director of Government Affairs, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, stated
that St. Louis Park has been a leader in adopting policies to incentivize recycling and TwinWest
encourages the City to consider carefully what it wishes to accomplish and to devise a system
that meets those goals and that will not inhibit business growth and retention. She stated the
business community has concerns about a policy that is onerous, burdensome and not required in
other communities, adding that TwinWest Chamber of Commerce favors efforts to encourage
recycling and believes that an approach to reducing plastic and polystyrene that is incentive
based, includes stakeholders in the process and takes business and consumer interests into
consideration works best
Mr. Dan McElroy, Minnesota Restaurant Association, stated they are concerned about the cost of
alternative packaging, including the Bagasse product, which is dramatically more expensive. He
stated many of the restaurants in St. Louis Park are franchised restaurants that buy their products
through national contracts and a polystyrene ban would require them to order non-standard
products in small quantities, adding it was not reasonable that someone would want to pay more
for a product in St. Louis Park than the same product in a neighboring community He stated
they are also concerned about enforcement and availability of exceptions
Mr Tim Wilkin, Minnesota Beverage Association, stated there is no economical alternative to a
PS lid, which is the standard in the industry for cold beverages and an exemption for these lids
was provided by the City of Minneapolis.
Ms. Lynn Hoffman, Eureka Recycling, stated that Eureka Recycling strongly supports
elimination of polystyrene packaging and products. She stated that 8% of worldwide oil
production is feedstock and production for plastics, including polystyrene, and a third of this is
used as packaging and other short-lived applications. She discussed ways in which polystyrene
endangers Minnesota wildlife and marine life, stating that microparticles are 24% higher in the
Great Lakes and these toxins enter the food chain where it is expected to have deleterious effects
on both wildlife and human health.
Ms. Kate Davenport, Eureka Recycling, stated Eureka Recycling has not found consistent,
reliable markets for polystyrene or Styrofoam and encouraged the City to ask questions of the
MRF about this issue. She stated there are 87 communities across the country that have
implemented bans and felt this was an exciting opportunity to build on the momentum created by
Minneapolis.
Councilmember Mavity stated there is little information available about measuring what is
coming out of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) and formally requested Hennepin
County to provide the City with a report on the waste from the HERC that goes airborne.
Councilmember Lindberg stated it would be helpful for Council to have a conversation with
representatives of the HERC.
Study Session Minutes -5- July 27, 2015
Councilmember Mavity requested further information about the New York study and Great
Lakes study referenced by Eureka Recycling.
Mayor Pro Tern Brausen thanked all the panelists for participating in the discussion and stated
that the public listening sessions will be held soon and encouraged any interested persons
including members of the Environment & Sustainability Commission to provide comment
Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
None.
Mayor Pro Tern Brausen adjourned the meeting at 9.12 p.m
Written reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
4. June 2015 Monthly Financial Report
5. Second Quarter Investment Report (April—June 2015)
6. Cityscape Apartments — Special (Conditional) Use Permit Major Amendment &
Variances at 5707 Hwy 7
7. Shared Services Agreement with City of Golden Valley for Central Park West
8. Business Terms for Redevelopment Contract with Shoreham Apartments, LLC
9. Dementia Training Update
10. SWLRT Update
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Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk Tim Brausen, Mayor Pro Tem