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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/08/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota Aug. 8, 2022 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Mayor Pro Tem Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: Jake Spano, Larry Kraft Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Engineering Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan) Guests: none 1. Sidewalk policy – draft Ms. Heiser presented the report. Councilmember Brausen asked about a map on average daily vehicle counts. He noted a few areas in his ward that were excluded from Connect the Park and noted they were possibly on the cusp. He stated he is interested in seeing data on this but is generally in support. He also noted he has concerns on budget to pay for the sidewalk policy and is hesitant to add any new spending that is not essential. He added he would be in favor of a study on this. Councilmember Mohamed added she likes this policy but wants to know how much money needs to go into the project. She stated that because of the structure of this with high and low volume, continuous sidewalks, and which sidewalks qualif y, it will be important to have clear definitions available for constituents. Councilmember Budd asked if the sidewalks in the capital improvement plan (CIP) are known. Ms. Heiser stated currently staff does not have the exact locations of where sidewalks would be proposed in the CIP, however, they can study that and bring the information back to council. Councilmember Budd stated she likes the idea of a policy but asked if because of that, it will involve extra cost. Ms. Heiser stated if a policy is proposed, from staff perspective, money would be added to the CIP. She added if the 10-year CIP is looked at, and there is too much tree impact, perhaps we wouldn’t build out the sidewalks, but at least the money would be in the budget. Councilmember Rog stated she supports greater clarity for residents and staff when looking at all these iterations. She appreciates the draft policy and the staff report detailing two side, one side additions, and added she supports the policy suggestions streamlining the program. She asked if there is any more information on the financial impacts. Ms. Heiser stated that information will come with the study. Ms. Heiser stated if an additional million dollars is requested, bonds would be sold and then paid back over 10 years. She stated costs would depend on where existing sidewalks are along the street segments being reconstructed. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91695294-2AA1-4E86-8FF2-F9554C99CF74 Study session minutes -2- Aug. 8, 2022 Councilmember Rog stated she is supportive of the policy and a study and noted she would also like to see more opportunities to evaluate as the city continues to add things, and what tradeoffs might be made over time. She stated strategically this will be good to look at going forward to identify tax revenues sources to pay for them. Mayor Pro Tem Dumalag agreed and indicated she is also supportive of this and in favor of a more consistent process. She stated for staff planning, this is a worthwhile exercise, while adding budget considerations will also be important to review. Ms. Heiser stated staff will review the CIP to identify sidewalk segments, create cost estimates and come back to council with the policy and updates before adding the sidewalks to the CIP. 2. Public parking Ms. Heiser presented the report. She noted there are 3 options for council to review, it will cost approximately $1.3 million to re-construct all the lots proposed. She noted assessments were used to construct the lots. She also noted that franchise fees could be used for the reconstruction. She added doing an overall study to see if parking lots are still needed or if on- street parking is better could also be done, similarly to what was done in the Historic Walker Lake area. Ms. Heiser stated staff’s recommendation is to complete a study of the 4 lots in question, which would cost $50,000. Councilmember Rog stated she will need to look at this further. She asked how public parking is defined relative to municipal lots. Ms. Heiser stated if it is city-owned, maintained, and managed, including snow removal and repairs, then it is a municipal lot . Councilmember Rog asked if business owners can restrict parking to customers that use their businesses only. Ms. Heiser stated they are not supposed to be, but she believes some may have done this. Councilmember Rog asked if those business owners are paying an assessment . Ms. Heiser stated not at this time and added that no assessment has been paid since 1964, when the lots were built. She added that in 2019, assessments were discussed to fund reconstruction. Councilmember Rog asked what the typical cost is to a business owner on an annual basis. Ms. Heiser stated she would have to investigate this further. She added an assessment would be over 10 – 15 years, depending on what council decides. Councilmember Rog asked about restricting parking for restaurant pick up and wondered how this can be included into the conversation . Ms. Heiser stated staff did not discuss timed parking, but in some areas, it might make sense, although it is enforced only through complaints. Councilmember Rog asked about metered parking. Ms. Heiser stated that has not been discussed and there are costs involved. Councilmember Rog stated the costs here and sidewalks cost s are great examples of when council must choose, and if she had to choose, she would choose sidewalks. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91695294-2AA1-4E86-8FF2-F9554C99CF74 Study session minutes -3- Aug. 8, 2022 Councilmember Budd asked about municipal lot examples. Ms. Heiser described the municipal lots adjacent to the businesses along Lake Street across the street from the stadium. These businesses are surrounded by municipal lots that are on public property, with an alley behind them. Ms. Heiser added a benefit of the study will show that the municipal lots are needed, before they are redone. Councilmember Mohamed stated she is interested in doing the study. Councilmember Brausen asked if the city will ask the property owners if they are willing to continue to pay an assessment. Ms. Heiser stated none of the existing owners have ever paid assessments. She added a public process could be held but doing a study first will be beneficial. Councilmember Brausen stated he is in favor of doing the study and asked if a phone survey of the business owners might be worthwhile to ask if the continuation of a mun icipal lot would be something they would like to pay for through an assessment , noting the answer will most likely be no from most business owners. He added he is not interested in paying for public parking for private business owners either, so if it is needed, the city will need to work with business owners to find a solution. Mayor Pro Tem Dumalag stated she is in favor of a study and sees this as future land use if the council decides certain lots are no longer needed. She stated the study could help to show if parking is needed, and then obligations for the costs of maintaining the lots. Councilmember Budd added she also would support the study. Ms. Heiser stated the $50,000 for the study is not in the current budget but is a part of the 2023 budget request. Councilmember Rog asked what the city will specifically get from doing the study. Mr. Sullivan stated for the four lots, they will look at utilization, what times of day they are utilized, and who is using the lots. He added there might be synergy in uses and shared spaces throughout portions of the day. He stated some of these lots are on parcels of land that could be sold or could have other uses, and some are on city right-of-way. Councilmember Rog asked how long information from the study would be considered valid. Mr. Sullivan stated we would use the consultant’s judgement on duration and residential versus commercial areas. He stated it would also depend on the surrounding land use. Councilmember Budd asked if the study would look at the Mexico City business lot in the Historic Walker Lake area. Ms. Heiser stated the lot in that area has already been looked at for utilization. Councilmember Rog asked if staff has any theories on utilization yet . Ms. Heiser stated she has seen the lots are highly utilized, except for the park and ride, but available off-street parking has not been looked at by staff. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91695294-2AA1-4E86-8FF2-F9554C99CF74 Study session minutes -4- Aug. 8, 2022 Ms. Heiser stated staff will do the study and then come back before the 2024 budget process; however, noted this may not be back to council for 6 months. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) Ms. Keller reminded residents to get out and vote tomorrow, Aug. 9, 2022, and noted voters should double check that they know where their polling place is located since some changes were made during the redistricting process. Councilmember Budd noted the book festival at the St. Louis Park High School going on today, featuring free books, with today August 8 being the kickoff day. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 91695294-2AA1-4E86-8FF2-F9554C99CF74