HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/06/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes
City council meeting
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
June 20, 2022
1. Call to order
Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
1a. Pledge of allegiance
1b. Roll call
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Larry
Kraft, and Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: Nadia Mohamed
Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), HR Director (Ms.
Timpone)
Guests: Members from Sherman and Associates
2. Presentations
2a. Recognition of donations
Mayor Spano thanked CenterPoint Energy and the American Legion for donations of
$2,400 each for remote controlled vehicles for the police department.
2b. Minnesota Recreation and Park Association award for W estwood Hills Nature
Center Hobbs Pavilion
Mayor Spano thanked Maurice Hobbs for his donation of $310,000 for the pavilion in
memory of his wife Barbara.
A presentation was given by Sonya Rippe, a parks and recreation commission member.
She stated the Hobbs Pavilion was nominated for the MRPA award and noted out of 35
applications in all categories -- 26 awards were given. She presented the award to the
city in honor of the Hobbs Pavilion project in the sponsorship and partnership
categories, nominated by Mark Oestreich. She also thanked staff for their ongoing work
in St. Louis Park.
Mr. Hobbs thanked the city and stated his wife would be so happy to see this award
given for the pavilion in her memory.
Mayor Spano thanked the generosity of donors and all the work of the park staff in
projects such as this.
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Councilmember Rog also thanked Mr. Hobbs and gave her sympathies for the loss of
Ms. Hobbs, noting this pavilion was her idea for the children to enjoy. She thanked Mr.
Hobbs for this generous donation and he and his wife’s vision in helping children enjoy
the nature center.
2c. 2021 Human rights award winners
Ms. Timpone and Katie Lawler-Turnbull, HRC vice chair, presented the award, noting a
business organization and an individual were chosen this year, as there were so many
wonderful nominees.
Ms. Lawler-Turnbull stated the owners of The Block, David Benowitz and Luke Durheim,
were chosen as one of the recipients this year because of their influence in the service
industry as leaders in the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, noting creation of a
DEI manager position, as well as activities during Black History Month and Pride Month,
and have donated monthly to various employee-requested charities. She stated during
the pandemic they have served meals to hospitals all over the Twin Cities, totaling over
20,000 meals to date. She added The Block has great food and staff, and stated she and
her family and dog attend The Block regularly.
Ms. Timpone presented the individual award to Cory Litzo-Lawrence. She stated she has
been a multi-lingual teacher at St. Louis Park high school since 2005 and makes the
community a more welcome place for immigrants, who happen to be mostly students of
color. She connects students to social workers and counselors when needed and she
cares deeply about each of her students.
Ms. Litzo-Lawrence stated she is honored to have received this award and thanked
Roger Israel and Mark Schwartz for their volunteer work.
Mr. Benowitz and Mr. Durheim also thanked the community and their work team
especially over the past three years and their DEI manager for leading their 450
employees in these efforts.
Mayor Spano stated these three people represent two big communities within our
community and all they have gone through since 2020 . He stated this has been hard for
kids, parents, and businesses noting he appreciates everyone working together during
this challenging time.
Councilmember Brausen stated four councilmembers have been past members of the
HRC, and he thanked the Human Rights Commission for their work in recognizing
citizens with these awards. He stated the council is happy to recognize them and so
many others in the community who do what they do.
Councilmember Rog added it was such a joy to hear the award winners speak about
their love of community and their efforts to make the world a better place.
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3. Approval of minutes
3a. City council meeting minutes of April 4, 2022
Councilmember Kraft noted a change on page 12, it should read “…reduces the flexibility
we have when utility costs are approved later this year.”
It was moved by Councilmember Rog, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to approve
the April 4, 2022, meeting minutes as amended.
The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent).
3b. City council meeting minutes of May 16, 2022
It was moved by Councilmember Kraft, seconded by Councilmember Budd, to approve
the May 16, 2022, meeting minutes as presented.
The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent).
4. Approval of agenda and items on consent calendar
4a. Approve second reading of Ordinance No. 2651-22 amending Chapter 36
pertaining to PUD 10 to amend the site plans for Chick-fil-A and approve the
summary ordinance for publication.
4b. Approve second reading of ordinance amending Chapter 36 pertaining to
electronic signs and approve the summary ordinan ce for publication. (This item
was removed from the consent calendar and considered as regular agenda item
8a.)
4c. Establishment of Bridgewalk Condominium Homeowners’ Association Revised
Housing Improvement Area (HIA)
Adopt Ordinance No. 2652-22 establishing the Bridgewalk Condominium
Homeowners’ Association Housing Improvement Area, approve and approve
summary ordinance.
Adopt Resolution No. 22-092 to impose fees.
Authorize execution of contract for private development and any other
related documents, by the mayor and city manager, between the city and the
Bridgewalk Condominium Homeowners’ Association, in a form consistent
with the terms of the ordinance and resolution.
4d. Adopt Resolution No. 22-093 approving the conditional use permit to operate an
assembly use at the existing building at 6518-6524 Walker Street subject to the
conditions recommended by staff.
4e. Adopt Resolution No. 22-094 authorizing the city’s participation in local
performance measurement program.
4f. Adopt Resolution No. 22-095 approving acceptance of a monetary donation
from CenterPoint Energy to purchase a Tactical R/C Remote Visualization vehicle.
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4g. Adopt Resolution No. 22-096 approving acceptance of a monetary donation
from the St. Louis Park American Legion to purchase a Tactical R/C Remote
Visualization vehicle.
4h. Adopt a Resolution No. 22-097 authorizing the special assessment for the repair
of the sewer service line at 2701 Glenhurst Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN.
P.I.D. 31-029-24-41-0007.
4i. Adopt a Resolution No. 22-098 authorizing the special assessment for the repair
of the sewer service line at 2928 Alabama Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN.
P.I.D. 09-117-21-33-0117.
4j. Adopt Resolution No. 22-099 approving the Contract for Private Development,
the AHTF deferred loan, and related documents between the city and Beltline
Station Limited Partnership (an affiliate of Sherman Associates) related to the
affordable housing component of its Beltline Blvd Station Development.
4k. Record the covenant for the parcel of land, located in Westwood Hills Nature
Center.
4l. Accept Human Rights commission minutes of April 5, 2022.
4m. Accept Park and Recreation Advisory Commission minutes of March 23, 2022.
4n. Accept Park and Recreation Advisory Commission minutes of April 13, 2022.
4o. Accept Planning Commission minutes of May 11, 2022.
Councilmember Kraft asked to make a comment regarding consent calendar item 4l
related to the Human Rights Commission minutes of April 5, 2022 . He stated he was
encouraged to see there is a survey being conducted with the police advisory
commission related to policing in the community adding he looks forward to the results
of that survey.
Councilmember Brausen requested that consent calendar item 4b be removed and
placed on the regular agenda to 8a.
It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Dumalag, to
approve the agenda and items listed on the consent calendar as amended to move
consent calendar item 4b to the regular agenda as item 8a; 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 – none
7. Requests, petitions, and communications from the public – none
8. Resolutions, ordinances, motions and discussion items
8a. Approve second reading of Ordinance No.2653-22 amending Chapter 36
pertaining to electronic signs and approve the summary ordinance for
publication
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Councilmember Brausen stated this is the second reading and he noted he was not
aware this applied to all electronic signs within the city and thought it applied only to
the Rec Center sign. He stated this is the appropriate place to consider putting in a
lights-out provision to require electronic signs to go dormant from midnight to 6 a.m.,
and to save energy and cut down on light that impacts wildlife and nature. He wanted to
highlight this and bring this back to council for further consideration at a later date.
Councilmember Kraft commended Councilmember Brausen on his thoughts here and
stated he looks forward to this coming back to council as an amendment.
Mayor Spano noted Councilmember Brausen has brought this concern up before and
when this conversation does come back up, he wants to ensure it is looked at broadly
and thoroughly.
It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Kraft, to approve
second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2653 -22 amending Chapter 30 pertaining to
electronic signs and approve the summary ordinance for publication.
The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent).
9. Communications
Ms. Keller thanked the community and staff and Parktacular staff as well as those who worked
on and attended the city’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration .
Ms. Keller also noted there are three open positions on city staff at this time: Administrative
Services Director, Race Equity and Inclusion Director, and an Elections Specialist position. She
stated more information is available on the city website.
10. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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