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Home My WebLink About2021/03/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota March 1, 2021 1. Call to order Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. 1a. Pledge of allegiance 1b. Roll call Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Lynette Dumalag, Rachel Harris, Larry Kraft, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: Nadia Mohamed Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Assistant Zoning Administrator (Mr. Morrison), Senior Management Analyst (Ms. Solano) Guests: Chris Culp, Excelsior Group 2. Presentations 2a. Colorectal cancer awareness month – March 2021 Mayor Spano read the Colorectal Cancer awareness month proclamation for March 2021. 2b. Recognition of donations Mayor Spano noted the following donations and thanked donors on behalf of the council:  A $300 donation from Jody Winger for the purchase of a tree to be placed in Wolfe Park in honor of Bill Rosenfeld.  A $100 donation to the fire department from Bryan and Ronna Bartness for fire prevention programs and equipment. 3. Approval of minutes 3a. City council meeting minutes of Jan. 19, 2021 Councilmember Brausen noted on page 7 the street name is spelled “Burd Place”. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen seconded by Councilmember Rog to approve the Jan. 19, 2021 city council meeting minutes as amended. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent). DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 City Council Meeting -2- March 1, 2021 3b. Special study session meeting minutes of Jan. 19, 2021 It was moved by Councilmember Rog, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to approve the Jan. 19, 2021 special study session meeting minutes as presented. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent). 3c. City council meeting minutes of Feb. 1, 2021 Councilmember Dumalag noted on page 1, 2A it should read “…parking garage” vs. “parking”. Councilmember Kraft noted on page 2, 8th paragraph down it should read, “… don’t know how long, don’t know how much, don’t know when we can tell you how long or how much. He also stated he wanted to know at least a date for when we will know information.” It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Kraft, to approve the Feb. 1, 2021 city council meeting minutes as amended. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent). 4. Approval of agenda and items on consent calendar 4a. Accept for filing city disbursement claims for the period of January 23, through February 19, 2021. 4b. Approve second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2607-21 amending Chapter 36 pertaining to zoning and approve summary ordinance for publication. 4c. Designate Standard Sidewalk, Inc. the lowest responsible bidder, and authorize execution of a contract with the firm in the amount of $188,266.75 for concrete replacement – Project No. 4021-0003. 4d. Designate G.L. Contracting, Inc. the lowest responsible bidder and authorize execution of a contract with the firm in the amount of $526,407.10 for the Alley Reconstruction Project No. 4020-1500. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 21-024 accepting work and authorizing final payment in the amount of $34,121.60 for Project No. 4018-1050, which is the Historic Walker Lake Phase 1 improvement project with Minger Construction Inc., Contract No. 96-19. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 21-025 approving acceptance of a $300 donation from Jody Winger for the purchase of a tree to be placed in Wolfe Park in honor of Bill Rosenfeld. 4g. Adopt Resolution No. 21-026 accepting donation to the fire department from Bryan and Ronna Bartness for fire prevention programs and equipment. 4h. Adopt Resolution No. 21-027 in support of application for MnDOT Local Road Improvement program funding for the Louisiana Avenue/Cedar Lake Road improvement project no. 4023-1101. DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 City Council Meeting -3- March 1, 2021 It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Dumalag, 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 6-0. (Councilmember Mohamed absent). 5. Boards and commissions - none 6. Public hearings 6a. Excelsior Blvd., LLC dba Hazelwood Food and Drink – St. Louis Park Ms. Solano presented the staff report. Mayor Spano opened the public hearing. No speakers were present. Mayor Spano closed the public hearing. Councilmember Harris asked if this is in the Bremer Bank building. Ms. Solano stated it is in the Bridgewater Bank Building. Councilmember Harris asked if this is a locally-owned franchise. Ms. Solano stated the owners have other restaurants under the Hazelwood name . It was moved by Councilmember Kraft, seconded by Councilmember Dumalag, to approve application from Excelsior Blvd., LLC dba Hazelwood Food and Drink – St. Louis Park for an on-sale intoxicating liquor license for the premises located at 4450 Excelsior Blvd. unit 120. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent). 7. Requests, petitions, and communications from the public – none 8. Resolutions, ordinances, motions, and discussion items 8a. First reading of ordinance pertaining to signs on rooftop screening Mr. Morrison presented the staff report. Councilmember Dumalag recused herself from the discussion and vote due to a conflict of interest, as she is employed at JLL and HDR is a corporate clint of JLL which is entering a long-term lease agreement with Excelsior Group. Councilmember Brausen asked the size of the proposed sign of the 10 West office building. Mr. Morrison stated a 300-square-foot maximum sign is proposed on the exhibit, but the proposed HDR sign is considerably smaller. DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 City Council Meeting -4- March 1, 2021 Councilmember Brausen stated he trusts staff and understands how large of a sign this will be. He asked if adoption of this ordinance will apply to other buildings as well. Mr. Morrison stated given the criteria of the building having to be zoned PUD and at least 8 stories and an office building, 10 West is the only building this applies to at this time, so it is narrowly defined. Councilmember Brausen asked if the ordinance points out that signs can only advertise businesses in that property. Mr. Morrison stated yes. Councilmember Brausen stated he will support this. Councilmember Rog stated she is hesitating on this. She asked about the language related to special provisions for political signs, directional signs, and real estate signs and for clarification. Mr. Morrison stated those signs are permitted with their own set of conditions and reiterated that the sign can only advertise businesses in that building and are bound by the square foot limits. Councilmember Rog asked about rooftop screening. Mr. Morrison stated this usually surrounds HVAC equipment. He noted the screening on the 10 West building was intentionally oversized to cover more of the roof to incorporate it into the overall design of the building. He stated rooftop screening is required by code. Councilmember Rog asked about buildings that may not have those components on the roof, and thus no screening, or are within the structure of the building, would the ordinance still allow for signs on the rooftop. Mr. Morrison stated that’s the advantage of only allowing it in the PUD districts, the building design would be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the planning commission and the city council. Councilmember Rog stated she prefers less large advertising and is not a big fan of this . Councilmember Harris asked how what’s proposed, signage on screening, is different than what other buildings have done. Mr. Morrison stated currently these signs are on the sides of buildings, sometimes covering windows. He noted on 10 West, with the PUD, the sign is incorporated into the design of the building. Councilmember Harris asked if there are other businesses in the building. Mr. Morrison stated yes, and they would be allowed smaller signage on the side of the building . Councilmember Harris asked if this screen structure design element is more of a high- end signage. Mr. Morrison stated that’s the intent to have it incorporated into the design of the building. Councilmember Harris stated she will support the ordinance. Councilmember Kraft asked about 8 story versus 7 or 6 story. Mr. Morrison stated staff looks at the code to be consistent with other similar code provisions and not create various tier levels. He added 8 stories gets above most residential buildings. DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 City Council Meeting -5- March 1, 2021 Councilmember Kraft noted he does not view the PUD process as positive as it requires so much subjectivity. Mr. Morrison stated that is correct, but the alternative of trying to draft a general code provision that allows it city wide with specific conditions is a big task in trying to catch all the unintended consequences. He added the PUD process has advantages by allowing the planning commission and council some input into the design of the screening structure and signage. Mr. Morrison stated the PUD helps avoid variances as well. Councilmember Kraft added his concern is if we are making an exception for one property or does this allow for an evolution as to how the city thinks about this. Mr. Morrison stated the PUD option makes architects and property owners think about how they can incorporate signage into the design of the building as opposed to treating signage as an afterthought. Councilmember Kraft stated he is will support this as it addresses the evolution of the process. Mayor Spano asked how many buildings in the city are 8 stories or higher. Mr. Morrison estimated about four office buildings, but none are zoned PUD. Mayor Spano stated he does not have a problem with signs like this on high buildings, adding he understands why the ordinance changed in the 1970s because of aesthetics . He noted many signs in various cities become iconic. Mayor Spano stated we should not be so concerned about them and pointed out he lives behind Park Nicollet and their signage is acceptable and appropriate and he will support this. Councilmember Brausen stated the illustration in the packet gives reference to the size of the sign. He asked about the message on the sign proposed. Mr. Culp stated the sign will be the name of a tenant in the building. He noted “HDR” will be on the sign, the name and logo of an engineering firm, and they are limited to 60 square feet per the lease agreement. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Harris, to approve the first reading of Ordinance amending Section 36-362(h) pertaining to signs on rooftop equipment screening structures and set second reading for March 15, 2021. The motion passed 5-0 (Councilmember Dumalag abstained, Councilmember Mohamed absent). 9. Communications Mr. Harmening reminded the council of the Children First virtual breakfast on Thurs day March 4, noting that sign up can be done on the website. 10. Adjournment DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7 City Council Meeting -6- March 1, 2021 The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 39D8DBC7-1D7F-42B1-A0C3-1B23821A18A7