HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/05 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Study SessionCity Council Special Study Session
November 5, 2007
Westwood Room
Discussion Items
1. 6:00 p.m. 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
2. 6:45 p.m. Marketing and Branding
7:30 p.m. Adjourn
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. To make
arrangements, please call the Administrative Services Department at (952) 924-2525 (TDD
(952) 924-2518) at least 96 hours in advance of meeting.
Meeting Date: November 5, 2007
Agenda Item #: 1
Regular Meeting Public Hearing Action Item Consent Item Resolution Ordinance
Presentation Other:
EDA Meeting Action Item Resolution Other:
Study Session Discussion Item Written Report Other:
TITLE:
Legislative Issues and Priorities for 2008.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff has prepared a draft list of legislative issues and priorities for Council’s review and
discussion. No formal action is required at this time. It is proposed that the City Council discuss
these and possibly other issues and concerns with legislators and appointed officials at a study
session in January 2008.
POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Does the Council agree with the issues identified in the attached report regarding priorities for
2008? What else would Council like staff to pursue legislatively? Is Council satisfied with the
approach that staff and the legislative analysts are recommending?
BACKGROUND:
Staff has prepared the attached preliminary list of issues and concerns that we feel should be
made known to our legislators. As has been the case in previous years, as we near the start of the
session and we hear from you, additional issues may come to light.
It has been our practice to retain lobbying services to help us with legislative and regulatory
issues. Administrative Services has been very pleased with the legislative services of Doug
Franzen and Vic Moore, (formerly of Rider Bennett, now employed with Franzen & Associates),
and Dennis McGrann, Lockridge, Grindal, Nauen. This report addresses the contractual costs of
their services and proposed areas of emphasis for 2008. Mr. Franzen, Mr. Moore, and Mr.
McGrann have been invited to the meeting and will be a part of this discussion.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION:
Overall spending on legislative services has increased since last year because of increased efforts
to seek federal dollars to fund transportation needs in the city. St. Louis Park is seeking funding for
major transportation projects that need state or federal funds to proceed.
The following is a short summary of the dollars that have been budgeted for legislative services.
• The 2007 budget, approved in December 2006, included $15,000 for Legislative Services
(lobbying) from the Administrative Services Department.
• In January 2007, Council approved an additional $36,000 for legislative services for
federal and state transportation issues. This additional amount for Mr. McGrann
(Lockridge Grindal Nauen) was coded to the HRA levy.
• In May 2007, the firm of Rider Bennett closed and our contract with them for
professional services ended. The city continued to retain Mr. Franzen and Mr. Moore and
entered into a new contract with Mr. Franzen’s firm, Franzen & Associates.
• In June 2007, the City Manager approved an additional $3,000 for legislative services for
other legislative initiatives and this was coded to the Administrative Services budget.
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 2
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
• An additional $6,000 was approved by the City Manager for the remainder of 2007
legislative services for preparation of state bonding requests for transportation. This will
come from the HRA levy proceeds.
• For 2008, staff has requested $61,000 total for legislative expenses. This will be used for
Federal, State and Local issues.
Projected expenses for 2008 – EDA/HRA levy budget ($46,000):
• $36,000: Federal lobbying for transportation - Dennis McGrann, Lockridge Grindal
Nauen
• $10,000: State lobbying for transportation - Doug Franzen & Vic Moore, Franzen &
Assoc. (formerly Rider Bennett)
Projected expenses for 2008 – Administrative Services ($15,000)
• Misc. expenses including travel ($2,000)
• Monthly retainer (between sessions for Franzen & Associates - $8,000)
• State lobbying (not related to transportation, other local issues - $5,000
VISION CONSIDERATION:
Under Connected and Engaged, promotion of regional transportation issues and securing
transportation funding is one of Council’s action items. Staff has aligned 2008 activities to
promote specific intersections, transportation corridors and projects
Attachments: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
Prepared by: Marcia Honold, Management Assistant
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 3
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
City of St. Louis Park
2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
1. Glencoe Switching Yard
Purpose: To secure the remaining $2.5 million for a $3.5 million project to construct a rail
switching yard in Glencoe, Minnesota that would create economic development for Glencoe and
would relocate the Twin Cities & Western Railroad’s train blocking operations from St. Louis
Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka.
Status: A capital budget request in the amount of $700,000 was approved during the 2006
legislative session thanks to the tireless efforts of St. Louis Park’s elected officials, and $300,000
in local matches have been secured. Last year, Senators Norm Coleman with the assistance of
former Senator Mark Dayton, were successful in inserting a $1 million request into the FY2007
Trans-HUD bill, which was not acted on last year.
Staff and Mayor Jacobs, along with delegations from Hopkins, Minnetonka and Glencoe, have
been working to secure the remaining $2.5 million from the federal government. Most recently,
Mayor Jeff Jacobs traveled to Washington D.C. and met with staff aides for Congressmen
Peterson and Ellison, Senators Coleman and Klobuchar on October 9, 2007. Congressman
Peterson, whose congressional district includes the City of Glencoe, drafted a conferee letter in
October 2007 asking that the conferees include funding for this project in the FY2008 Trans-
HUD bill. Staff does not know the status of this request; however, there is strong support for this
regional project from Minnesota’s delegation for this project in the Senate’s transportation bill.
Background: In 2001, the St. Louis Park Railroad Advisory Task Force recommended that the
Twin Cities and Western Railroad’s (TC&W) blocking operations be eliminated in St. Louis
Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka and relocated to a new switch yard west of the three cities. The
TC&W blocking operations generate noise levels that exceed the state of Minnesota nighttime
noise standards. In addition, the switching operations cause vibrations and they often disrupt
local transportation systems because at-grade crossings are temporarily blocked by trains
conducting switching operations.
The Glencoe Railroad Congestion Mitigation Project involves constructing four siding tracks to
accommodate the anticipated amount of rail car maneuvering/switching operations at this new
facility. It is a nine acre site and the City of Glencoe was selected as the preferred site for a
switch yard because it would consolidate operations, it would provide for noise mitigation for
residents in Glencoe (existing rail car maneuvers would be relocated to the west or east side of
town), and it would provide opportunities for economic development.
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 4
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
Anticipated project costs of $3,500,000 for the yard include the land acquisition and design
costs. Proposed funding sources include $3.2 million of federal and state funds, and $300,000
from a local match e.g. cities, railroad etc. The site will be owned by the McLeod County Rail
Authority and be operated by TC&W. Construction start date, assuming funding is secured, is
planned for September 2008; the yard is expected to be fully operational by the fall of 2009. If
federal funding is not approved, staff will prepare a request for funding in FY2009 sometime in
February 2008.
2. Grade Separated Crossing at Hwy 7 and Wooddale
Purpose: To secure an additional $9 million to construct an $18 million grade separated
intersection (interchange) at Highway 7 and Wooddale Avenue.
Status: Staff successfully secured $5.8 million in STP funding through the Metropolitan
Council’s TAB process in March 2006. More than $3 million in right-of-way purchases have
been completed by the city at its cost and initiative in anticipation of this project. The city
submitted a request for the 2008 bonding bill for $9 million for the rest of this project.
Background: This project will require a combination of local, county, state and Federal dollars to
finance the reconstruction of the at-grade intersection of Highway 7 and Wooddale Avenue in St.
Louis Park to a grade separated intersection.
Currently, the capacity and safety of this at-grade signalized intersection could be characterized
as poor at best. Based on a recent traffic analysis, the intersection is currently operating at a
level of service D, and is projected to decrease to a level of service F by 2007. MnDOT staff
have identified significant safety (crash) concerns in this corridor (Hwy 7 from Hwy 169 to Hwy
100) with the east half of the corridor of particular concern.
This intersection is utilized frequently on a daily basis by our Fire Department to respond to calls
for service (Station No. 1 is located just to the south). Pedestrians and bicyclists currently use
this intersection to access mass transit, the regional trail system, the community center, and the
High School. In addition, significant traffic as a result of redevelopment and from an adjacent
industrial/commercial complex to the south also uses this intersection as a major access point.
This project is of both local and regional significance. This project will allow for the separation
of regional and local traffic which will vastly improve the regional transportation systems. The
regional systems alluded to are Hwy 7, the Southwest LRT Regional Trail immediately to the
south, and the proposed future dedicated bus way or LRT system. Currently, as part of Hennepin
County’s Southwest Corridor transit study, a transit station is proposed adjacent to the
intersection of Hwy 7 and Wooddale. Without this intersection improvement project, these other
regional systems will likely not be possible or the operation of existing ones will continue to
worsen due to congestion and safety concerns. In addition, future anticipated renewal and
redevelopment in the area will be stifled. Reconstruction of this intersection to a grade separated
intersection is the only practical long term solution to this infrastructure problem.
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 5
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
3. TH 100 Full Build Project
Purpose: To keep the TH 100 Full Build Project on track for its’ proposed 2014 letting date (or
sooner via MVST monies) and to identify future funding sources for the city’s expected
significant financial contribution to the project.
Status: MnDOT completed construction of the TH 100 interim project last fall and is in process
of shoring up structurally deficient bridges at Hwy 7 and Hwy 5 spanning TH100. The full build
project is on MnDOT’s advanced design list, so with the passage of the MVST amendment, it
could be let as early as 2009, although staff believes that this scenario, given MnDOT’s existing
transportation obligations, is extremely unlikely. The project will cost approximately $150
million, of which St. Louis Park may be expected to contribute up to an estimated $10 million.
The city will need assistance to fund this expected share of this project of regional significance.
Staff has submitted a request to the state for $10 million in 2008 bonding funds for St. Louis
Park’s portion of the project.
Background: MnDOT spoke to the Council in March 2006 and while they would not make a
written commitment, MnDOT reassured the city that the construction of the interim project
would not delay the full build project. MnDOT considered removing the TH100 Full Build
project from their 10 Year Plan last year and after considerable opposition from the city and
legislators, the projects remained in the plan.
The interim project added a third lane in each direction by decreasing lane widths from 12 feet to
11 feet and eliminating or severely reducing shoulders along that stretch of highway. The third
lane is required for the full build project so that MnDOT can keep a minimum of two lanes open
in each direction during construction.
Improvements not included as a part of the interim project include construction of the noise
walls, which MnDOT agreed to construct no later than 2015, width expansion of lanes,
construction of on/off ramps, and bridge and storm water improvements. Bridges spanning TH
100 at Hwy. 7 and Hwy 5, and storm sewers conveyance systems have no more than 10-15 years
of useful life left and are deteriorating. In addition, there are approximately 20 residents who
live in uncertainty because their homes are within the future right-of-way of the new project.
4. Grade Separated Crossing Project at Highway 7 & Louisiana Avenue
Purpose: To secure $10 million to construct a grade separated intersection (interchange) at
Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue.
Status:
The project is programmed to be constructed in 2011-2012, and would provide for a separated
grade interchange. This project will not only mitigate congestion and accidents at the
intersection itself, but will accommodate further growth and redevelopment in the immediate
area, including current expansion at Methodist Hospital, a future nearby light rail station, and
other adjacent redevelopment activity.
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 6
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
In July of 2007, the City of St. Louis Park submitted an application for federal funds for the
proposed reconstruction of the intersection of Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue. The
application was submitted to the Metropolitan Council and Transportation Advisory Board in
accordance with the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP). The project application was
reviewed by a committee and scored against several other applications submitted by other cities
and counties metro-wide. SRF Consulting Engineers assisted the City in putting the application
together.
The Highway 7/Louisiana Project’s score ranked at the top of its category (Principal Arterials).
Although there are still a couple of procedural steps in the process, the project appears to be
assured of being awarded the federal funds. The estimated project cost at this time is $9.2
million. The federal grant would provide $ 7.0 million with the remaining $2.2 million requiring
a match from the city and/or state.
Background: The city owns the property or right of way in all four quadrants of the intersection
so right of way acquisition for this project will not be necessary. It is expected to construct this
project between 2012 and 2015.
This project will require a combination of local, state and federal dollars to finance the
reconstruction of the at-grade intersection of Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue in St. Louis Park
to a grade separated intersection.
5. Levy Limits and LGA
Background: Any move to mandate levy limits is a concern. If the legislative session outcomes
contain levy limits, then the formula used to calculate the limits needs to be reviewed. The
formula used in the past results in St. Louis Park having an extremely limited ability to even
account for inflationary increases. Staff would like to see the state adopt an LGA formula
distribution that would establish some minimum per capita amount for cities currently not
receiving any aid before any increases to other cities already in the distribution.
6. Transportation Funding Increases
Background: In general the City of St. Louis Park needs increased revenues to support the two
street systems we own and maintain; the Municipal State Aid system (MSA) which comprises
20% of our street mileage and our local street (residential) system which is the remaining 80% of
the mileage we own.
The MSA system is funded primarily by the state. Increasing statewide transportation funding
(via gas tax, license tab fees, motor vehicle sales tax revenues) will increase MSA funding for
the City of St. Louis Park. The local street system is funded 100% by property taxes or special
assessments, of which neither method is necessarily preferred by residents / taxpayers.
The other area the City of St. Louis Park struggles with is advancing improvements to the State
transportation system in our community. State revenues have not kept pace with state
transportation needs and improvements in our community have been significantly delayed due to
the lack of state funding (TH 100, TH 7, and Transit).
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 7
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
Solutions:
Provide increased funding for our MSA system (20% of our city streets)
o This can be via a gas tax increase, MVST transfer, increase in vehicle registration
taxes, provisions for a wheelage tax, and special funding for cities burdened with
excessive cost participation responsibilities.
Transportation Authority - enabling legislation to provide local funding options, such as
explicit authority to impose street utility fees, which would allow cities to raise the
dollars necessary to adequately fund local roads (80% of our city streets) and transit.
Full funding of state transportation projects and special state funding to local agencies for
regional transportation purposes.
7. Future Capital Budget Requests
Background: The following two pedestrian / trail connections are important to our community.
We would request that these be included in any future special funding bills considered by the
legislature:
•Pedestrian / Trail bridge over the BN RR @ Hwy 100 and Cedar Lake Road - $3,000,000
(100% of total estimated costs; construct 2014; currently unfunded)
•Pedestrian / Trail bridge over the BN RR @ Hampshire Ave - $3,000,000 (100% of total
estimated costs; construct 2009; currently unfunded)
8. Other Legislative Issues
Group Homes
Senator Ron Latz, Representative Ryan Winkler and Representative Steve Simon started
working with legislators during the 2007 legislative session about the need for cities to have the
authority to establish spacing for group homes with six or fewer residents. At the present time,
only cities of the first class have this authority. St. Louis Park and other cities would like to see
this authority extended to first-ring suburbs and/or cities of the second class.
City Manager Tom Harmening has been encouraging the AMM and the LMC to consider
adopting a legislative platform for this 2008 Legislative Session that would allow cities to
establish minimum distances for group homes with six or fewer residents. The response he
received from both organizations has been positive and both the AMM and LMC are considering
adding this to their list of legislative issues for 2008.
Senator Ron Latz and Representative Ryan Winkler are working to create a broader coalition on
the group home spacing issue and have been holding stakeholder meetings to gain a better
understanding of the needs of cities and of the disabled community. Staff will ask Senator Latz
and Representative Winkler to provide an update for Council at our study session in January.
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item No. 1) Page 8
Subject: 2008 Legislative Issues and Priorities
Additional Items for the LMC and AMM:
In addition to the Levy limits and concerns about the state’s distribution of LGA, there are three
other financial issues that the city would like to see addressed:
• No sales tax on city purchases similar to school districts
• Truth-in-taxation notices – state should change the form so it shows change in property
value and increase in city levy
• Market Value Homestead Credit – index the formula for inflation
Meeting Date: November 5, 2007
Agenda Item #: 2
Regular Meeting Public Hearing Action Item Consent Item Resolution Ordinance
Presentation Other:
EDA Meeting Action Item Resolution Other:
Study Session Discussion Item Written Report Other:
TITLE:
Marketing & Branding Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Although no formal action is requested, staff hopes to achieve the following with the City
Council:
a. Receive an update on marketing and branding activities from Jamie Zwilling,
communications coordinator, and representatives from Periscope.
b. Receive direction from Council with regard to official messaging strategies to be used as a
key element in future marketing initiatives. The proposed messaging strategies (e.g. taglines),
along with other basic design elements, will be presented during the meeting.
POLICY CONSIDERATION:
a. Does Council want staff to move ahead with the implementation of marketing and
branding initiatives as outlined by staff?
b. Is Council comfortable with staff developing communications materials using the
messaging strategies provided at the meeting?
BACKGROUND:
In 2006, Council directed staff to pursue increased marketing and brand development of the city.
This directive was based on conversations with the school district and other community
members. At the time Council adopted the 2007 budget, funding was included for consultation
services related to marketing and branding.
City staff solicited interest in this initiative from consultants through a Request for Information
process. In July, Council accepted the staff recommendation to pursue a contract for services
with Periscope.
Since July, staff has worked closely with representatives from Periscope to conduct new research
and review research previously conducted as part of Vision St. Louis Park, to better understand
our community attributes and how best to market those assets.
In September, Council received research results and provided feedback to the staff about possible
messaging strategies and directed staff to continue moving forward in the process. Since that
meeting, much time has been spent developing the actual visual elements that staff would
recommend be used as standards in strategic marketing. Staff has shared the recommendations
for specific taglines, color treatments, etc. with the Department Directors and now looks to the
City Council for its feedback.
If Council is comfortable moving forward, the next step in the process will be to take the agreed
upon messaging strategies, taglines, color palettes, etc. and develop an official style guide that
will include communications templates, a style manual for city publications and other
Meeting of November 5, 2007 (SS Item 2) Page 2
Subject: Marketing & Branding Update
communications collateral as well as develop training for staff about how to incorporate these
messages into our everyday business. Staff, in conjunction with Periscope is prepared to move on
to this next step in the coming weeks, so the messaging strategies, logo treatments and taglines
will be visible beginning in January.
The strategic marketing messaging and taglines will be used in city publications, in an update to
the website planned for 2008, in Cable TV programming, and will also be made available to
partner organizations throughout the community.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: The work completed to date and that
outlined above was approved as part of the 2007 city budget. Much of the messaging and design
recommendations will be implemented into city publications, advertising, etc. seamlessly.
However, the introduction of consistent marketing and messaging will take place over time and
there may be future recommendations from staff for additional marketing materials in future
years.
VISION CONSIDERATION:
Vision St. Louis Park calls for a commitment to be a connected and engaged community.
Consistent, frequent communication is one way that the city can exemplify this commitment.
Prepared by: Jamie Zwilling, Communications Coordinator
Reviewed by: Clint Pires, Chief Information Officer
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager