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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/12/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regularfff St. Louis Park MINNESOTA Call to Order Mayor Spann called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. OFFICIAL MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA DECEMBER 5, 2016 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), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Fire Marshal/ Assistant Fire Chief (Mr. Smith), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Chief Financial Officer (Mr. Simon), City Assessor (Mr. Bultema), Traffic Engineer (Mr. Iverson), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). Guests: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Members Ia. Pledge of Allegiance lb. Roll Call 2. Presentations 2a. Introduction and Welcome of New CERT Members Assistant Fire Chief Cary Smith presented the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members who, since 2013, have helped St. Louis Park be better able to respond in emergencies. He added that these 31 members provide assistance to victims; provide help sandbagging the creek when flooding becomes a problem; and help search for evidence or help with city events during the course of the year. They also have done multiple installations of fire alarms in residences across the city. New members to the group were introduced: Liz Goldstein, Angela Lofgren, Joshua Nemitz, Mike Peterson, Noelle Racette, and Kathy Sotak. Councilmember Brausen thanked all of the CERT members for their time and efforts, noting this is typical in St. Louis Park, where people are engaged in helping their community. Mayor Spano thanked the CERT members on behalf of the entire council for all of the time they give to the community during the year. He encouraged others in the city to join them in their work. 3. Approval of Minutes 3a. City Council Special Study Session Minutes November 7, 2016 It was moved by Councilmember Lindberg, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve the City Council Special Study Session Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2016 as presented. The motion passed 7-0. City Council Meeting -2- December 5, 2016 3b. City Council Minutes November 7, 2016 It was moved by Councilmember Mavity, seconded by Councilmember Sanger, to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2016 as presented. The motion passed 7-0. 3c. City Council Special Study Session Minutes November 21, 2016 Councilmember Brausen noted his comments on the Westwood Nature Center were incomplete. He revised them to say the following: "Councilmember Brausen stated the council should revise this to pursue a net 0 policy and demonstrate to the community how we can reduce our net impact on the environment and hope we can obtain somerip vate funding for that, and would volunteer to work on major fundraising. Additionally, initial cost to do it right is small compared to the lon -tg erm gain if it's made net 0 for energy, waste and water, and that it be built with long lasting and sustainable materials that can evolve as a living building." Councilmember Miller noted on page 3, his comments should read: "...focus more on the balance between the nature programming and renting space." Councilmember Miller also noted on page 5, his comments should read: "He cautioned that unless the steering committee is truly representative of St. Louis Park, the members may dismiss the data." Mayor Spano noted on page 4 he stated that he "had a couple names" not "several names to provide..." It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Miller, to approve the City Council Special Study Session Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2016 as corrected The motion passed 7-0. 3d. City Council Minutes November 21, 2016 It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Miller, to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2016 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 October 29 through November 25, 2016. 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 16-151 authorizing the special assessment for the repair of the water service line at 1829 Jersey Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN P.I.D. 05-117- 21-43-0056. 4c. Approve the November 7, 2016 City Council Meeting Consent Agenda as presented and items listed on the Consent Calendar•, and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. City Council Meeting -3- December 5, 2016 5. 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 16-152 accepting work and authorizing final payment in the amount of $92,987.46 for Project 4015-1003 Pavement Management (Area 3) with Park Construction, Contract No. 34-15. 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 16-153 approving acceptance of a monetary donation from the Association of MN Building Officials (AMBO) in the amount of $310.20 to reimburse travel cost for Brian Hoffman to attend an AMBO conference. 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 16-154 approving acceptance of a monetary donation from the American Legion Post 282 in the amount of $3,000 to fund the police department's bike patrol program. 4g. Approve for filing Fire Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes February 29, 2016. 4h. Approve for filing Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Minutes June 23, 2016. 4i. Approve for filing Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes September 7, 2016. It was moved by Councilmember Hallfin, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, 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. Boards and Commissions - None 6. Public Hearings 6a. 2017 Proposed Budget, Tax Levies and Truth in Taxation Public Hearing Mr. Simon presented the staff report pertaining to the 2017 budget, preliminary property tax levy, and other general tax and budgetary information. The city council has a proposed 2017 final property tax levy of $30,264,073, a 5.80% increase over the 2016 final property tax levy and a decrease from the preliminary levy of 6.5%. Along with this information, the 2017 preliminary general property tax and HRA levies were presented. Mr. Simon provided information on the tax impacts to residential property, along with utility rates that were approved on October 17, 2016. Mr. Simon added that the proposed tax levies and approved utility rates will help support necessary city services, capital improvements, and debt service obligations for fiscal year 2017. Mayor Spano opened the public hearing. Stan Jorgenson, 2309 Westridge Lane, stated the people inside the residential and commercial buildings are the ones paying taxes — not the buildings themselves. He added that each year the levy percentages increase. Residents are spending more of their disposable income on city taxes. Mr. Jurgenson noted the levy percentages in 2013, 2014, and 2015, stating that many residents live on a fixed income and rely on their Social Security check, which has not increased at the same rate as the levy. Mayor Spano closed the public hearing. City Council Meeting -4- December 5, 2016 Councilmember Mavity responded to the comments, noting that understanding the formulas for the levies are complex. She added that home values went down because of the 2008 recession. Now with the economy picking up again, home values are moving upward again. Mr. Bultema concurred, adding that during the recession in 2008-2011, home valuations dropped but did not decline in St. Louis Park as much as in other communities around the state. Homes held their values, and as the city moves forward, apartments are also improving in value. Mr. Bultema added as the economy improves, taxes tend to even out. Mr. Simon explained that the value of a median home went up 5%, but some go down in value, and some go higher than the median. He noted there are lots of mechanics involved, including market value exclusion. He invited residents to call him or staff for further information and explanation of the formulas at any time. Requests, Petitions, and Communications from the Public — None 8. Resolutions, Ordinances, Motions and Discussion Items 8a. Traffic Study No. 671: Installation of Stop Signs on Natchez Avenue at 311t Street. Resolution No. 16-155 Mr. Iverson presented the staff report. He stated in August the city received a request to evaluate the intersection of Natchez Avenue and 31St Street. The intersection is currently uncontrolled, and the request was to install stop signs on the north -south legs of the intersection, stopping at Natchez Avenue. Mr. Iverson continued that the city installed traffic tubes, and an internal traffic committee working group studied the intersection. They determined it did not meet the criteria for a stop sign and recommend it remain as is. The residents submitted a petition signed by 70% of residents within a 600 -foot radius of the location. The cost to add signs would be minimal and would come out of the city's operating budget. Councilmember Sanger stated she is very much in support of this. She added that one of the reasons to approve this request is because those who live near it will be safer as pedestrians in the area. She noted it probably won't affect people who don't live in the neighborhood; however, it is important the council honors this request. Mayor Spano invited residents to come forward and speak about the issue. John Sellies, 3057 Ottawa Ave., stated he is a father of two children and has a dog. He said it is important to control neighborhood traffic. He stated this is a matter of safety for the neighborhood and urged the council to consider it. Jen Beach, 2038 Monterey Ave., stated she is a mother of two children and has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years. She said it is challenging to walk, and there are not a lot of sidewalks in the area. She stated it would be helpful to have a stop sign. The day she submitted the petition, she watched a bus almost get "t -boned" in the intersection. City Council Meeting -5- December 5, 2016 Debby Shay, 3049 Natchez Ave., stated traffic at the corner of Natchez and 31" is really bad, and people do not care. She is worried that someone will be hit, about children in the area, and about cars that park near the corner. She stated the police need to ticket and tow those cars and encouraged the council to approve the two signs. Councilmember Mavity stated she has had the privilege to represent this neighborhood in the past, and she appreciated the residents coming to the meeting. Councilmember Brausen stated he supports this and noted the residents will have to be the ones to stop the most. He added that since the neighbors are in favor of it, he will support it. Councilmember Miller thanked the residents for coming to the meeting and stated the neighbors know the context of this issue better than anyone. He thanked them for organizing the petition to get the signs. Mayor Spano added he lives in the area near Methodist Hospital where there are no sidewalks. He noted there are drivers who come around the corner very fast, so he can understand and appreciate where the residents are coming from on this issue. Mayor Spano stated he generally trusts and respects staff on issues such as this, but in listening to what the residents had to say, he understands their viewpoints. Councilmember Sanger thanked the residents fiom her ward for coming tonight and for organizing and signing the petition. It was moved by Councilmember Sanger, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt Resolution No. 16-155, resolution authorizing the installation of stop signs for the north. - south leg of Natchez Avenue at 31" Street. The motion passed 7-0. 9. Communications Councilmember Hallfin, who is on the board of STEP, stated the Holiday Train is coming to St. Louis Park on Saturday afternoon. It is a great honor to have them come here and is a fundraiser for STEP. He asked residents to come out and support STEP with food, toys and monetary donations during the holidays. He added he looks forward to seeing many residents on Saturday at the Holiday Train event. Mr. Harmening added the streets will be closed at the free event, beginning at 3:30 p.m., and there is more information on the city website. Everyone is encouraged to attend this very fun and free event. Mayor Spano noted the Holiday Train will be lit up and their will also be music at the event. He thanked Councilmember Hallfin for serving on the board of STEP and also all those who donate to STEP. Mr. Harmening announced the new outdoor rec facility — the ROC — is now open for outdoor skating, and everyone is very excited about it. He stated the rink is open all winter and for more information on open skating and hours to call 952- 924-2540. City Council Meeting -6- December 5, 2016 Mayor Spano added that Perspectives is having a toy drive on Fri., Dec. 9, and he encouraged folks to drop off toys. Mayor Spano added that Tom Friedman, a former St. Louis Park resident, has released his new book, which talks about growing up in St. Louis Park. 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. c Melis Kennedy, City Clerk