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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/03/18 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota March 18, 2019 1. Call to Order Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller, and Margaret Rog. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), CFO (Mr. Simon), Director of Community Development (Ms. Barton), Racial Equity Manager (Ms. Sojourner), Management Assistant (Ms. Carrillo Perez), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). Guests: Human Rights Commission members; Martha Ingram and Stacy Kvilvang, Ehlers; League of Women Voters representatives 1a. Pledge of allegiance 1b. Roll call 2. Presentations 2a. Human Rights Award Presentation -2018 Maria Sakio, Chair SLP Human Rights Commission (HRC), introduced the two winners for 2018, Sagal Abdirahman and Nadia Mohamed. Ms. Sakio stated both women have been very active in St. Louis Park and the surrounding communities helping improve understanding of the Muslim culture and connect people . She stated they have done this through a variety of events and classes offered to community members to encourage conversations and relationship building. Ms. Sakio added Nadia and Sagal were nominated because of their continuous dedication, ability to connect and communicate across cultures, and always finding new ways to bridge communities. Nadia and Sagal stated they have wanted to give back to St. Louis Park since they grew up in the city, but with different experiences than others. They want to open awareness of their Somali culture and Islam faith, and thanked the city for allowing them to speak and also thanked the MAC members for supporting them through every endeavor . Mayor Spano stated it is fitting that both women are representing the many communities they do represent, given the events of last week in New Zealand and Pittsburgh, earlier. He stated they are loved and wanted in this community, and he DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3 City council meeting -2- March 18, 2019 thanked them for all they have done to raise awareness and talk to others in order to learn about one another. 2b. Recognition of donations Mayor Spano thanked those who donated recently:  Jan Boyer who donated $50 for educational programming at Westwood Hills Nature Center in memory of Joan Stenberg  Virginia Smereka who donated $2208 for a memorial bench and other needs of Westwood Hills Nature Center in memory of Joan Stenberg and Bee Dickson  MN Society of Aboriculture who donated up to $2700 for city Nature Resources Coordinator Jim Vaughan to attend the 2019 International Society of Arboriculture Conference in Knoxville, TN 3. Approval of minutes 3a. Study session minutes of February 11, 2019 Councilmember Rog noted on page 1, in the 3rd paragraph under Future Study Session Planning, it should read: “Councilmember Rog mentioned she would like to discuss one for one replacement or other approaches to NOAH housing threatened by redevelopment. She noted specific concern for several projects on 31st Street.” It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Miller, to approve the February 11, 2019 study session meeting minutes as corrected. The motion passed 7-0. 3b. City council minutes February 19, 2019 It was moved by Councilmember Hallfin, seconded by Councilmember Miller, to approve the February 19, 2019 city council meeting minutes as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 4. Approval of agenda and items on consent calendar 4a. Approve second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2555-19 amending Sections 36-142 and 36-367 of the zoning ordinance pertaining to small wireless facilities and approve the summary ordinance for publication. 4b. Approve and authorize the mayor and city manager to sign an agreement with Three Rivers Park District for reimbursement to the city for lighting on the Beltline Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail Bridge. 4c. Adopt Resolution No. 19-034 approving acceptance of a $50 donation from Jan Boyer in memory of Joan Stenberg to be used for educational programing at Westwood Hills Nature Center, and $2,208 from Virginia Smereka for a memorial bench and other needs of Westwood Hills Nature Center in memory of Joan Stenberg and Bee Dickson. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3 City council meeting -3- March 18, 2019 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 19-035 approving acceptance of a monetary donation from the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture in an amount not to exceed $2,700 for all related expenses for Jim Vaughan, Natural Resources Coordinator, to attend the 2019 International Society of Arboriculture Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 19-036 authorizing the submission of a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant application in the amount of $100,000 to help with funding the construction of a nature based play area at Westwood Hills Nature Center. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 19-037 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the sewer service line at 3101 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN. P.I.D. 17-117-21-11-0141 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 19-038 requesting comprehensive road and transit funding. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 19-039 authorizing St. Louis Park Lions Club’s request for placing temporary signs in the public right-of-way. 4i. Adopt Resolution No. 19-040 to recognize Fleet Mechanic Rick Bahe for more than 33 years of service. 4j. Adopt Resolution No. 19-041 authorizing condemnation of land for public purposes - Cedar Lake Road Reconstruction Project (4019-1100). It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Harris, to approve the agenda as presented 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 p ublic – None 8. Resolutions, ordinances, motions and discussion items 8a. General obligation bonds. Resolution No. 19-042. Mr. Simon presented the staff report. Ms. Kvilvang stated the city’s credit report under Standard and Poors came back with a AAA rating, and very strong or strong in every category. Ms. Kvilvang announced the lowest bidder was Morgan Stanley and came in at 2.64%, adding funds will close around April 10, 2019. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3 City council meeting -4- March 18, 2019 Councilmember Harris thanked staff for the report and asked how the 2.64% rating compares to the past. Mr. Simon stated in 2018, the bond interest rate was 2.815%, so it is lower this year versus last year, with nine bidders as well. Councilmember Brausen stated the anticipated rate was 3.3 – 3.57% range, and asked if the 2.64% rate will cut the city’s costs significantly over 15 years. Ms. Kvilvang stated yes, that is correct, adding this is a net cost decrease of $800,000 . Councilmember Mavity thanked staff for their work on this, and thanked this council and previous councils also for their work, which ultimately will save money for city residents over time. Councilmember Miller stated typically when large projects such the Westwood Hills Nature Center are funded, the charter procedure is used. In this case, tax abatement bonds are being used, adding there is nothing about the nature center that warrants tax abatement bonds. He added he is disappointed that there are not 6 votes in favor, and this does not follow the charter bonds. He understands staff took direction from council on this, but the charter lays it out, that if the city is going to borrow a large amount of money such as this, there needs to be 6 votes approving it for charter bonds. Councilmember Miller stated he thinks the project and the funding are inseparable and he finds it difficult to separate these two concepts. He stated of course everyone wants a beautiful new nature center; however, it is the council’s responsibility to connect the project with the funding and ask is it worthwhile to do this, and to tax our citizens like this. Councilmember Brausen stated Councilmember Miller has presented a slight mischaracterization on charter bonds and tax abatement bonds. With charter bonds, the city can issue bonds without a public hearing and yet a public hearing was held on this, and no one attended. He added he did his own research with family members on this, and the family members did not want to pay for this through a levy. Councilmember Brausen stated the council has been responsible with this, and 5 of 7 voted to do this, adding this reflects the work staff does to responsibly manage the resources of the city. Councilmember Rog thanked staff for executing the will of the council, adding in the future it might be good to discuss how financing fits into a project. She added this will be a beautiful project; however, she will be voting against the bonds. Councilmember Mavity pointed out a correction for the record, and stated the council did not change the charter rules here, city laws facilitate that the council can do this, and can direct staff to do this, and staff used the tools they have to complete this . Mayor Spano stated when the public hearing was held, he did vote against the motion because Councilmember Miller had asked to delay the hearing so he could speak, and he wanted to support him. Mayor Spano stated he will vote in favor of this now, adding with past councils, when the majority voted in favor of an item, those against did DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3 City council meeting -5- March 18, 2019 change over and vote to support the financing; however, it is fully within the prerogative of the councilmember to vote against the financing, adding that fundamentally the majority rules. It was moved by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to adopt Resolution No. 19-042, awarding the sale of General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds, Series 2019A. The motion passed 5-2 (Councilmembers Miller and Rog opposed). 8b. Equal rights amendment to the Minnesota constitution. Resolution No. 19-043. Councilmember Rog thanked the members of the League of Women Voters for bringing this forward. She stated she was pleased on behalf of her female colleagues to propose this as a study session item, and interested to learn that 76% of the population thinks that we already have an Equal Rights Amendment. Councilmember Harris thanked Councilmember Rog for forwarding this on, and noted as a young girl in the 1970’s she was introduced to books that said women can do anything, and yet she finds herself dismayed there still isn’t the gender equity that seemed so possible in those stories. She is thankful that the League of Women Voters are championing this. She stated this very much has her support. Councilmember Brausen stated it is about time and it’s also time for the city to forward this to the state and federal governments, as this has been in the works too long . He stated he is fully supportive. Mayor Spano read the resolution into the record. It was moved by Councilmember Rog, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 19-043, in support of an equal rights amendment to the Minnesota constitution. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Councilmember Brausen noted he is wearing his St. Louis Park city pin on his jacket lapel. Councilmember Rog stated there is an open house for the Dakota bike project on Tuesday, March 19, at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. She also noted the food insecurity discussion will take place on Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Lennox Community Center. Councilmember Harris stated there is a mini winter clean up on Sunday, March 24, at South Oak Park parking lot, where paper for shredding, holiday lights, and batteries can be disposed of. It is free to St. Louis Park residents. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3 City council meeting -6- March 18, 2019 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. and the study session reconvened immediately. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk Jake Spano, Mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 1BF025CC-3915-4C1F-9EE5-2F8E59C561C3