HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/08/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOR. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
M I N N E s a r A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
AUGUST 1, 2016
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, Gregg Lindberg,
Anne Mavity, Thom Miller, and Susan Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Planning/Zoning
Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Communications Specialist (Ms. Pribbenow), and Recording
Secretary (Ms. Pappas).
la. Pledge of Allegiance
lb. Roll Call
2. Presentations - None
3. Approval of Minutes
3a. City Council Study Session Minutes June 27, 2016
It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to
approve the June 27, 2016 City Council Study Session Meeting Minutes as presented.
The motion passed 7-0.
3b. City Council Study Session Minutes July 11, 2016
It was moved by Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve
the July 11, 2016 City Council Study Session Meeting Minutes as presented.
The motion passed 7-0.
4. Approval of Agenda and Items on Consent Calendar
4a. Accept for filing City Disbursement Claims for the period of July 9 through July
22, 2016.
4b. Approve entering in to a two-year lease agreement between the City and
Meadowbrook Manor apartment complex relating to allowing public park
equipment and activities within the Meadowbrook Manor apartment complex.
The current lease expires on August 31, 2016.
4e. Approve Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2496-16 amending Division
10. Floodplain Districts Section 36-292(f) of the City Code to allow
compensatory flood storage be provided using accepted engineering practices to
achieve the goal of eliminating any increase in flood stage as a result of a project,
and authorize publication of summary ordinance.
City Council Meeting -2- August 1, 2016
4d. Approve a Temporary On -Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Church of the
Holy Family at 5900 West Lake Street for their event to be held September 10,
2016.
4e. Adopt Resolution No. 16-090 authorizing the installation of stop signs on 29th
Street at Blackstone Avenue.
4f. Adopt Resolution No. 16-091 authorizing the installation of stop signs on
Alabama Avenue at 34th Street.
4g. Adopt Resolution No. 16-092 accepting work and authorizing final payment in
the amount of $30,022.06 for Project 2013-1000 Pavement Management Project
(Area 2) with Valley Paving, Inc., Contract No. 48-14.
4h. Adopt Resolution No. 16-093 accepting donations to the Fire Department.
4i. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
of March 2, 2016
4j. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
of April 6, 2016
4k. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
of May 4, 2016
41. Approve for filing Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
of June 1, 2016
4m. Approve for filing Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2016
It wets moved by Councilmember Lindberg, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to
approve the Agenda as presented and 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 Public — None
8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items
8a. 1st Reading of Zoning Ordinance Amendment Related to Temporary Health
Care Dwellings
Mr. Harmening and Mr. Walther provided background information. On May 12, 2016,
Governor Dayton signed into law the creation and regulation of temporary family health
care dwellings. The law defines Temporary Health Care dwellings, establishes
regulations for them, and requires municipalities to permit them in accordance with the
regulations established by the statute. The same statute also gives cities the option to opt -
out of the statute, without needing to provide a reason for opting out or providing an
alternative or similar option. It simply has to pass an ordinance stating that the city is
opting out. On July 20, 2016, the Planning Commission held a public hearing for the
proposed zoning ordinance amendment. No one was present to speak, and the Planning
Commission recommended approval of the ordinance to opt -out of the statute on a 5-0
vote.
City Council Meeting -3- August 1, 2016
Councilmember Sanger stated that in addition to being in conflict with the zoning laws of
the city and the building code requirements, the statute is not practical.
Councilmember Mavity stated she supports opting out. She added the intention of this
statute is that not everyone's home is suited to have a mother-in-law suite to
accommodate the care of family members in an affordable or accessible way. While the
statute is not appropriate in St. Louis Park at this time, it is a creative option for the future
and a good idea.
It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Halffin, to
approve the first reading of an Ordinance amending the zoning ordinance to opt -out of
Minnesota Statutes Section 462.3593 which defines and regulates Temporary Family
Health Care Dwellings, and to set the second reading for August 15, 2016
The motion passed 7-0.
8b. Assessment Policy. Resolution No. 16-094.
Ms. Heiser referred the council to the final draft of the assessment policy that staff has
been working on since November, 2015. It was last updated in 2000, and changes and
updates have been discussed over the last few months at several study sessions. Since the
last update in 2000, council direction, improvement costs, and infrastructure needs have
changed in a number of the areas covered by this policy. Additionally, public
improvements not included in this policy and will be paid using franchise fees, municipal
state aid, general obligation bonds, and utility funds.
Mr. Harmening thanked the council and Ms. Heiser for work done on this policy, and
added that staff is ready to keep moving forward.
Councilmember Brausen thanked staff and stated he is confident the policy will spread
the burden of street, alley, and infrastructure improvements throughout the community.
He added the cost to construct parking lots will stili be assessed to business land owners,
who are the primary beneficiary of the improvement. However, in the vast majority of
cases, all citizens will benefit from the improvements provided to public transportation
and municipal infrastructure, and all should share in these costs. Councilmember Brausen
stated he does want to specifically note there have been some questions as far as public
benefit to city residents in improving the less than six miles of alleyways in St. Louis
Park; however, there is a distinct public benefit. Improving the alleyways will make it
easier for the city to plow, which will save money, and will provide access for emergency
equipment. The costs will be spread over 10 years and will be paid from franchise fees.
He added everyone is benefitting, and everyone will share in these costs. He stated he
will support this policy.
Councilmember Lindberg also thai*ed staff, noting the city is now in a good place. He
added the discussions on unimproved alleys, as well as infrastructure improvements and
use of franchise fees for improvements, has been beneficial. He stated this will make it
easier to budget for improvements vs. imposing large special assessments, and will
provide a good way to move forward on projects. Councilmember Lindberg stated he is
looking forward to seeing these improvements.
City Council Meeting -4- August 1, 2016
Councilmember Sanger agreed with the comments of Councilmembers Brausen and
Lindberg. Additionally, she noted in her tenure on the council, she has repeatedly been
asked by residents that the city not nickel and dime the public with fees, and that the fees
for any projects that benefit the general public should be built into property taxes, noting
this policy meets that goal. Now the public will pay for street and alleyway
improvements on a shared basis, and this is important. She added it was unfair to put
costs on property owners who are adjacent to where infrastructure improvements are
needed because they are not necessarily users of that infrastructure. This is a good step in
the right direction. Councilmember Sanger stated there are still some unimproved alleys
in the Sorenson Neighborhood, so she is glad to now have a plan in place to bring them
up to meet standards.
Councilmember Hallfin stated he is very happy and proud to be on the council when
items such as this come forward and are passed. He added he has had questions from the
public as to why he likes being a council member, and approving this policy is one of the
reasons. He stated this is one of the proudest things the council has completed, and he is
looking forward to its implementation.
Mayor Spano agreed and stated the large bill a resident had to pay in the past for a break
in their water service was unfair. This policy is the result of the discussion of fairness in
the city's infrastructure; helps make funding more predictable from an operational
standpoint; and addresses the fairness and equity standpoint.
It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Lindberg, to
waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. I6-094, rescinding Resolution 00-078 and
approving updated City Assessment Policy.
The motion passed 7-0.
9. Communications
Mayor Spano noted that National Night Out is Tuesday, Aug. 2 and is an opportunity for
neighborhoods to gather together. He added there are 140 known parties that will occur
in the city on Tuesday evening.
Councilmember Brausen added that not every neighborhood party is organized with the
city, so residents should check with their neighbors. Also, if any of the parties are
interested in having a visitor from the city, local authorities, fire trucks, or city trucks,
they can contact the city offices to organize a visit. IIe commended staff for their work
on this.
Councilmember Lindberg invited Ward 3 to attend a conversation he is conducting on
Wednesday, August 3, at 6 p.m., at the Oak Hill Park shelter.
Councilmember Mavity asked to wish her son Henry a Happy 21" Birthday.
Mayor Spano stated he will have his next open house on August 13 at 9 a.m. and invited
the public to visit with him while walking around Bass Lake. He noted folks can meet
lrim just north of the Melrose parking lot to walk and chat.
City Council Meeting -5- August 1, 2016
Mayor Spano added that last month the League of Minnesota Cities chose members of
distinction from the state legislature, and Senator Latz and Representative Youakim,
both representing St. Louis Park, were chosen for this distinction. He congratulated them
both for being recognized.
10. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Melissa ICennedy, City Clerk